Living MacTavish

My friend Susan throws amazing house parties.

Those lucky enough to be invited are always delighted by her whimsical, classy and real (read: elegant but unpretentious) style. Everything from her constantly-changing menu of home-cooked multi-course fare to the finer details like cocktail labels made out of vintage tie-on tags. Not to mention her equally enticing mix of friends. She's like Martha Stewart, but way more hip/sophisticated/fab - and less prone to insider trading.

The thing I admire most is that Susan makes it all look effortless. Whether connecting friends from different parts of her life, making oyster shucking look sexy, or whipping up a salt cod brandade using whatever she has on hand, she's a natural at hosting and connecting interesting people. It's no surprise she runs the 'best' PR firm in town.

The good news? You too can aspire to replicate parts of Susan's wonderful style - just check out Living MacTavish. Add it to your blog list - for awesome recipes, trendy style tips, cute home decor and hosting ideas, and really hilarious commentary on what WASPs would - or wouldn't - do.

I Made the Cover of Bon Appetit

The cover of this month's Bon Appetit has the MOST delicious looking pie on it.

I'm often skeptical of the recipes provided in these cooking magazines. They often require a lot more massaging and a few attempts to get right.  This can be particularly true for those recipes involving more intricate dishes.  And this pie looks particularly intricate - it has an italian meringue topping, on top of a home made lime curd with wine-soaked blackberries and made-from-scratch crust.

But, I'm happy to report that I followed the recipe nearly to the letter with very delightful results.  See for yourself!

So go ahead and try this recipe yourselves at home.

The only modifications that I would recommend is perhaps use one fewer yolk in the lime curd if you prefer your curd on the more-sweet-less-eggy side.

I Have Met My Match and its Name is Chocolate Cake

I have been experimenting with chocolate cake recipes for years.  Years. And I don't even like chocolate.  And yet somehow, creating the perfectly rich, dense and moist flour-based chocolate cake continues to elude me.  I have gone everywhere from Food TV to the Joy of Cooking to secret family recipes. Nothing seems to result in a perfect chocolate morsel. Each attempt has resulted in cakes that are close in taste but lacking in appearance, or beautiful to look at but desperately disappointing at first bite.

And so after 6 months of not baking, I regathered my courage and attempted to conquer the chocolate challenge once and for all.  I was armed with a highly rated online recipe, and a very cool new Nordicware mini bundt pan that my friend Melissa got me for my birthday.  The recipe had everything going for it - an unusual aromatic spice to add depth (cardamom), dried fruit to balance the rich chocolate, and three types of chocolate (cocoa, semisweet pieces, and dark pieces).  I tried friendly tips - mixing the cocoa with hot water first to create a paste, soaking the currants in brandy and hot water, greek yogurt and milk to ensure moistness and density, coating the baking pans with flour and butter to ensure the molds made perfect little cakes.

The result was aesthetically pleasing.  The cakes emerged perfectly, no strange sticking or deformities. . . I overconfidently posted to Facebook about my succes. And yet, at first bite. . .the little buggers were so disappointingly dry!  Chocolate cake and I are officially over.  This is one baking challenge that I just can't manage to crack. . .

But I am very open to suggestions.  Have tips? A fool proof recipe?  Please share !