ALECIA STEVENS: Blogger, really?

Favorite Magazines for Inspiration

British House and Garden - Reading this in Rome and tearing out lots of pages - always a good sign.
Vogue Living Australia (NOT Vogue Living, which is not much more than Vogue set in living rooms of the rich and famous of New York. I mean, do you wear a purple satin ball gown in YOUR living room?) Australia's version is chic, creative, forward-looking. I always get a few ideas.
World of Interiors - My #1!!! Find it at a bookstore or order a subscription online. From London, your subscription will take a few months to begin. The very best of what I call "non-design".

Favorite Foods for Now - What I'm in the Mood For

Steel cut oats for breakfast. Cooked like oatmeal. Add organic maple syrup, cinnamon, chopped walnuts and a bit of whole milk or if you are really bad, half and half. So satisfying.
From last night with friends: polenta with baby peppers roasted in the oven in olive oil, garlic and sea salt. Saute shrimp in the juices at the end. Serve over the polenta.
Our favorite salad: cucumbers, thinly sliced red pepper, feta. Add olive oil and rice vinegar. A little pepper. Even my husband can make it. And eats it by the bowl full. Great with the lentils and chicken tangine - below.
Hummos, olives cured in peppers, triple cream brie and lavosh. For me, the perfect appetizer. Well, with wine, of course. Hummos recipe coming soon.
Grilled Tuna with a side of red potatoes, green beans, red onion and olives. Drench in olive oil and balsamic. Just a giant Nicoise salad and so elegant and easy.
Chicken Tangine: I had it in Amsterdam and I was determined to make it. It was my favorite meal in Europe this summer. All stewed in the oven, I included small yellow, purple and red peppers, onion, garlic, garbanzos, sqaush and zucchini. With chicken and olive oil and cinnamon. Exotic and delicious.
Lentils with a touch of curry, carrot, potato and spinich. With olive oil and blasamic. Add a chunk of French bread, vino rosso and a fire.