Fire Roasted Tomato + Veggie Orzo

Right off the bat there are a couple of pretty fantastic things about this recipe. First, it’s easy and delicious. (Duh.) Second, You can essentially use whatever vegetables or cheese you have on hand, or whichever you like best. Third, it’s just as delicious cold as it is hot. Versatility is a big selling point for any recipe that makes itself a regular in my kitchen, and this one definitely has it.

 

Fire Roasted Tomato + Veggie Orzo with Asiago

• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 large minced shallot
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 zucchini diced into matchsticks
• 1 C halved grape tomatoes
• 2 C uncooked orzo
• 1 (14.5 oz) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 3/4 cup grated Aiago cheese

Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the minced shallots and garlic, sauté until fragrant. Then add the zucchini to the pan and continue to sauté until softened. In the meantime, cook the orzo according to the package or until al dente. Stir in the fire roasted diced tomatoes and heat through. Turn off heat and incorporate grape tomatoes and cheese. Lastly, toss in the orzo. And now you’re done and ready to serve four people.

2

Drawing For Dogs

 

When artists use their talents to give back I swear my heart grows three sizes. Hannah Rowlands is using hers to support Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and the animals who are there waiting for their forever homes. For £12 (about $19.50 US) Hannah will draw a custom portrait of your dog and donate £10 of the proceeds. She’s accepting order requests until December, the perfect gift for a dog lover! (via Creature Comforts)

0

Pantone Meets Apple

Pantone, Apple, and neon. Three of my favorite things all rolled into one! These PANTONE UNIVERSE and Case Scenario iPhone 4S/4 cases came into my life at the exact moment I was starting my annual case replacement search. They’re a little thinner than previous ones I’ve owned, but that hasn’t compromised the safety of my phone and my clumsy ways one bit. In fact, I hardly notice it’s there which is nice. I snagged the neon pink for myself, and you can get your own Apple.com or an Apple retail store. Which is your favorite neon?

3

Gem and Stone

 

Macro photography is like a private investigator, revealing everything we take for granted or never knew about an object. Jen Altman’s Gem and Stone: Jewels of Earth, Sea, and Sky does just that with 50 different gems, from diamonds to petrified wood. The stones’ chemical makeups, metaphysical properties, and associated folklore accompanies each and every one. My coffee table just put this book on its’ Christmas list.

 

1

2013 Calendars – Part 1

 

1. Rifle Paper Co.’s 2013 Cities Calendar  2. Linda & Harriett’s 2013 Letterpress Calendar
3. 2013 365 Fonts Page-a-Day Calendar  4. Rifle Paper Co.’s 2013 Fruit Calendar
5. onecanoetwo’s Wood Stump Calendar  6. DC Studio’s Harvest 2013 Calendar
7. Rob Ryan’s 2013 Calendar  8. Violet May’s 2013 Animal Collective Mini Calendar
9. Naomi Leeman’s 2013 Midwest Harvest Calendar  10. Miriam Bereson’s 2013 Yearly Planner

 

Have you signed up for the 2013 Calendar Swap yet? You know you wanna.

1

Public Works

 

You’ve heard of Public, yes? The San Francisco-based bike company recently invited 27 designer-types to create a poster that reflected on what the idea of “public” means to them, with a focus on reclaiming urban streets, sidewalks, and other spaces in the Public Works project. The series turned out great (big surprise) and now you can make them your own. Which one is your favorite?

 

 

0

From Here to There

I’m off to Italy for Design Lab a week from today! International travel always feels way different than domestic to me. Of course there’s the extended time in the air and the time change to contend with. But for me it’s always a matter of what to do while in-flight. My usual go-tos are reading, writing, and attempting to catch a few Zs. There’s also the small matter of making sure all of my immediate necessities are within arms reach, I never pack anything I can’t go without for at least 12 hours after arrival (blame that on one too many lost bags). Throw in a tote to carry it all and we’re airborne!

Clockwise from top left: Sally Passport Holder from Lisa Stickley, Smith’s Rosebud Salve, F1 Go Clean Set, Holly GoNightly Sleep Mask, BAGGU Zipper Bag Set,  Scratch Travel Journal, Aztec Print Shopper Tote, Berry Tree Notebook from nollison

0