Pairing Stripes - Part One

How can one resist a classic striped tee? I am still searching for an answer (or not). All of us have worn it - when we dress up, when we don't, at school, when we run to the store or even the gym. It is a wardrobe essential. A classic.

 

Pairing stripes is so much fun without having to try too hard (or look like you did!). This will be the first of a three part series where I shall play with stripes. I wore a striped dress with tangerine accents in the past, but, in this series the outfits will use multiple pieces of clothing, so we maximize the potentional of the humble striped tee.

 

Here's the first look. I call it the Color Cave because the bold colors cave in on the striped tee. While the look is centered on the tee, the stripes become a canvas to the red and yellow pieces. I matched the shoes to the blazer which bind the whole outfit together. Try this look with other complimentary colors - how about fuchsia with lime green, or blue with orange?

 

 

Shorts: Forever21 (Similar at J.Crew)

Top: Banana Republic

Linen Blazer: Charlotte Russe (Other pretty options)

Shoes: Naturalizer (Similar option here)

 



Enoki stir-fry

 

Mushroom recipes are my go to on lazy days. They require little preparation, cook fast and are brimming with nutrition. 

 

While I am a sucker for the earthy flavor and chewy texture of Shiitake, Enoki is a close second thanks to its versatility. Use it sparingly with stir fried meat dishes or make it a meal in itself. It's mild flavor and bean sprout like crunchy texture make it a great choice for single bowl dinners.

 

Ingredients (serves one)

 

Enoki mushrooms - 2 stalks

Ginger - chop or shred about 1/2 inch

Garlic - a couple of cloves chopped fine

Green chillis - at least one; tone it up as per taste

Soy Sauce - about 2 teaspoons
Water -  sprinkle about 2 teaspoonsful just to bring all the flavors together
Butter/sesame oil - some (and, some more if you use butter)
Sugar - just a pinch (if that)

Salt and pepper to taste

Get started

Heat some butter in a wok; add the green chillies and garlic. Saute for about two minutes; make sure you don't burn the garlic. Then toss in the sliced ginger and mushroom. Stir fry for a couple of minutes and add soy sauce. Sprinkle the sugar. Continue to saute until the mushrooms are almost cooked (about four minutes) while sprinkling the two teaspoons of water as it cooks. Make sure you don't add too much water at a time, as that would soggy up the mushrooms while making the flavor bland.  Season with salt and pepper, and, garnish with chopped spring onion (IF you want to dress it up)

Try this on a bed of steamed jasmine rice or brown rice for a fuller meal.

You can also add bell peppers, julienned onions, shredded carrots and sliced bamboo shoots to make it a truly robust meal. However, those upgrades would disqualify this recipe from my list of lazy meals!

Suggested wine pairing - Fruity whites (Chenin Blanc, Riesling)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunny Winter Afternoons

 

                                                                                                                                                             © www.downtownphoenix.com

Jacket: Thailand (Similar and running out soon!)

Sweater: GAP

Pants: Zara

Shoes: Old (Similar at ALDO and Steve Madden)

Bag: Zara

One of the perks of living in the Southwest - this is a January afternoon!

While I am still enthralled by snow (coming from hot hot India), I like the fact that I can choose to see the snow rather than being forced to shovel it every morning. I love pulling all my blacks out for the short winterish season we witness between December and February. Black definitely takes a back seat rest of the year when its either 'almost Summer' or Summer.

Wore this for a run to one of our favorite coffee shops - Cartel Coffee Lab. This place could easily be dismissed as another hipster coffee joint, but, they take their coffee so seriously you cannot have the Cappuccino to go. Why? A perfect cup of Cappuccino is to be served in a porcelean cup with a handle and a rounded base. Isn't that fussiness alone worth giving a shot?