part of how i gained 7 pounds in 10 days while in paris.

alex's birthday dinner and necklace night

i told my friend alex i would make her the meal of her choice for her birthday,  she was quick to request my traditional Ukrainian meal. i had made it for her once before, and much to my surprise instead of lobster or beef wellington she wanted good old baba's sunday meal to grace her birthday table (alex gets what she wants). i think i did baba proud.  also i  had just finished a necklace which was on display on my judy.  alex modeled it for me to adjust the chain length and as soon as she put it on (and although i had designed it with another friend in mind) i knew it was hers. she wouldn't let me photograph it properly on the judy, but i mean it does look much better on a real live neck. i have titled this one "am i gonna stand here being a bitch?". enjoy alex!

sea scallops on braised red cabbage with coriander pesto

I ordered a dish like this in New York over the holidays (can't remember the restaurant's name) but did manage to figure out how to how to recreate it back home. The coriander pesto was my addition and a welcome one at that.