Weekend Getaway

I think Nikki Minaj says it best "let's go to the beach, each, let's go get away"

I hope each one of you can find a little getaway for the weekend, and it should probably include water, it is the only way to beat this heat!

How amazing are these photos taken from a helicopter but not just any helicopter, a "doorless" helicopter?  Talk about a dream job.   From the Hampton's to St. Tropez.

Lisbon

Hampton's Beach Surfers

Secret Beach St. Tropez

Malibu Beach

St. Tropez

All photographs taken by Gray Malin

Maison Gray

-Enjoy your weekend! Megan 

Freebirds World Burrito

I don't know if you have ever heard of Freebirds World Burritos, but they just opened their first location in Kansas City this past weekend. We waited 25 minutes in line to see what this California-based, Chipotle competitor was all about!

It is very similar to Chipotle, but with a lot more choices (meat, tortillas, beans, rice, sizes etc.), they're  all about freedom of choice.

The interior is bright and colorful, with this Statue of Liberty on a motorcycle, supposedly named "Libby", hanging above the ordering line.

You walk through the line, as the employees takes your meal down the assembly line of ingredients, choosing your entree first (burrito, salad, burrito bowl, or nachos). You then have many options as far as burrito size, tortilla (flour, wheat, cayenne, or spinach), meat (chicken- white or dark, steak, or carnitas), rice (cilantro lime or spanish), beans (pinto, black or refried), and toppings (veggies, salsas, queso, cheese, sour cream, guac, etc.)

 You can make a meal out of your entree by adding chips and guac or queso, and a drink. They even have a margarita bar, where they make fresh squeezed margaritas, and offer other adult beverages.

Now for our orders: A burrito bowl with steak, spanish rice, black beans, shredded jack cheese, corn salsa, pico de gallo, grilled veggies, lettuce and queso. 

Consensus: AMAZING! The spanish rice is key, I don't like Chipotle's cilantro rice, so this gives Freebirds a huge leg up for me. The grilled veggies (peppers and onions) were too big of pieces, so I think I would skip them next time. I wasn't sure of what sauce/dressing to choose, but I had to go with the queso and it was a great decision!

We also got the freebird white chicken burrito meal in cayenne tortilla with spanish rice, black beans, corn salsa, mixed cheese, queso, tomatillo sauce and their infamous Death Sauce. Consensus: Again, the Spanish rice was a great change from Chipotle's rice; the Death sauce added just the right amount of kick, not overbearing whatsoever; the cayenne tortilla really added a nice subtle flavor to the burrito; and finally, the queso is always a good addition. The guac gets an A, and chips, standard goodness.

We wanted to try their famous "pot brownie", but unfortunately they were all out. Definitely will have to try one next time. 

Overall, I would highly recommend that you give Freebirds a try, I don't think you will be disappointed. I can't wait to see more of these open up throughout Kansas City, hopefully in my neighborhood. Their next location in Westport, is scheduled to open in the Fall.

-Whitney

Grilled Portabella Pitas

This entree is great for both lunch and dinner.  The flavor from the grill is so summery and although you are missing the meat its still so filling.  This pita goes perfectly with the Balsamic Quinoa Salad and completes the perfect meatless meal.  

Ingredients: 

4 large Portabella Mushroom Caps

4 Whole Wheat Pita Pockets

1 1/2 teaspoons Minced Garlic 

1 teaspoon Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

1 large (home-grown) Tomato

1/3 cup Honey Goat Cheese 

1/2 cup Fresh Basil 

Directions: 

1. Turn on BBQ grill to medium heat.

2. Combine the garlic and the olive oil and brush onto the mushroom caps and the whole wheat pitas, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. Place the mushrooms on the grill (after spraying with cooking spray) and cook for eight minutes, about four minutes each side.  During the last four minutes throw on the pitas and toast them alongside the Portabellas. 

4. Spread the honey goat cheese over the tops of the mushrooms letting the heat melt the cheese. 

5. Top with a fresh slice of tomato and garnish with the basil.  

6. Enjoy with sides, Balsamic Quinoa Salad seen here. 

yum.

-Megan 

Balsamic Quinoa Salad

We are always looking for new ways to spice up quinoa, and this sounded like a perfect way to incorporate our home grown tomatoes and basil. If you like basil and balsamic vinegar (if you don't, you're crazy), then you will love this recipe. 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed well

3 cups vegetable/chicken broth (sometimes this is too salty, so we did 2 cups water, 1 cup chicken broth)

1 small onion, chopped

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup basil leaves, torn or julienned

1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted

1/3 cup edamame, cooked and shelled (most grocery store salad bars have these if you need a small amount like this)

1 tsp minced garlic

1 large tomato diced (or you can halve a 1/2 cup of grape/cherry tomatoes)

pinch of salt

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

In a medium sauce pan, combine quinoa and broth (or broth/water mixture) and bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the liquid is completely absorbed.  Set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes, add julienned basil and fluff.

In a small skillet over medium heat, combine olive oil, garlic and onion. Saute 10-15 minutes, until caramelized. Set aside to cool.

Combine the quinoa/basil mixture, onions and garlic, pine nuts, edamame, tomatoes, salt and vinegar. Serve and garnish with basil leaves. Enjoy!

This dish paired perfectly with our Grilled Portabella Pitas!

Recipe adapted from Epicurean Mom

Run Shorts Run

Shorts are a must during the summer and I love the idea of a fancy running short.  Its a great trend that can transform from day to evening in a flash. 

Torn Margie Scarf Short - shopplanetblue.com

Cute Color Block Short - lulus.com

Aztec Sequin Running Short - topshop.com

Ganni Tile Print Running Short - asos.com

Resistance Dyed Short - tobi.com

Bold and Wild Short - tobi.com

Ikat Running Short - urbanoutfitters.com

Orissa Running Short - piperlime.com

This style is a must this summer! So don't walk but RUN to get a pair of your own. 

-Megan 



Hung

Need an easy and inexpensive way to hang art?? How about using pant hangers? It gives your art a different look, and you can switch out your prints easily as often as you want.

We found these pant hangers on sale for just $2, for a set of 2. We knew they would work perfectly for the fern prints that we printed off of the the NYPL Digital Gallery for free! They had been collecting dust because we hadn't taken them to get framed at matted. This method was way easier, and cheaper, and I think it adds a little character to the prints.  

We had a narrow wall that was really in need of some artwork, and these pant-hanging ferns worked perfectly!

They hang right on a regular nail.

You could even stain or paint your hangers if you wanted to add a personal touch to them.

Bottle Fish

I am blown away by this fish installation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These fish are made of discarded plastic bottles!!

The installation on Botafogo Beach, is part of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. (Rio+20). At night, the fish are illuminated from the inside. I really wish I could see this work of art in person.

-Whitney