Pomegranate Obsession

I officially became obsessed with pomegranates this year. I first realized that it was a full blown obsession when I started stocking up on 6 at a time.

I rationalized that I wanted to make good use of the 3 for $5 sale at the grocery store. But then a man walked up mistakenly to my cart, saw the fruit, and hollered to his wife in shock and disdain, “Elaine, what the heck is wrong with you? Why would anyone need so many pomegranates?!”

Poor Elaine and her frustrated husband! I found it hysterical, it still makes me snicker. I jumped over to the cart to defend my loot, and we all had a hearty laugh about the mix-up.

Last week, I contemplated buying 8, but felt that equated to crazy cat lady type numbers in regards to fruit. Though at least this addiction is full of antioxidants!

I love to eat them in a little bowl with a spoon. They're incredible sprinkled over Andrew Swallow's Grove Salad from Mixt. They're a great addition for a crunch pop in a fruit salad, or over yogurt and granola.

I’m the type of person who does all the work of seeding the pomegranates first, and enjoying the literal fruits of my labor later.

I’ve sketched up my current present way of removing the arils (in a bowl to avoid stains, and in front of my television because that’s how I roll, but on the floor because I love my sofa).  It’s a relaxing, meditative like ritual, and the arils keep well in the refrigerator.

Though my way works for me now, I’m absolutely trying this easy and logical technique via Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn next time. Hopefully, there is a next time. I don't know when they go out of season, but I nearly shed tears at ShopRite last week when I thought they were out.

Can you tell how  much fun I had with my hot pink inks?! I forgot how much I miss drawing. I can't wait to do more this year.

Ode to Josef Frank Kitchen

When I was studying interior design in college, my favorite part of every project was the schematic and conceptual work.  I would scrounge magazines and books for inspiration with multiple cups of coffee at my favorite bookstore, sketch furiously and take pages of notes.  I'd always find an excuse to buy more beloved Tria markers from Pygmalion's Art Supply for my renderings. I loved it because it's that exciting stage where anything seems possible.  You can go crazy with ideas, options and color before you need to rein it in and focus.  Plus, I love to draw with pen and ink, and use watercolors and pens.

It's a place where you can decide to create an entire kitchen based on wanting to use a beloved Josef Frank textile as wallpaper paired with a lemon-lime SMEG refrigerator.

I miss doing this type of work.  Since I don't currently have a job where I get to help clients in this way, or a home to renovate yet, I remembered my fictional clients from college and drew upon them for inspiration.  I'm vowing to do this at twice a month to keep these creative juices alive.

Enter Molly Albers, a young librarian living in Astoria who inherited a small apartment from her dear Grandmother Mil (short for Mildred).  It's small and the kitchen doesn't have the best work triangle, but she makes it work.  She had a bit of money saved up and spent it doing some small cosmetic kitchen renovations.

Molly is somewhat reserved at work, so when she comes home, she likes to let loose with color and pattern.  She fell in love with the Josef Frank Hawaii 315 Fabric while browsing through books at work, and splurged on the wallpaper.  Her very hip grandma Mil happened to have this fridge (let's just go with it).  Molly is learning to cook more, and decided to go with less counter space for this kitchen so that she could have a larger island with seating and workspace (she's learning to bake bread).  Plus she had limited options without changing the water and gas lines.

She decided to leave the existing stove, and installed white subway tile with light gray grout to balance out the black wallpaper and colorful floral print.  When they ripped up the parquet flooring, there was some concrete underneath that they stained with a slight violet gray.

She installed butcher block countertops and simple white shelves to hold her tableware, cookbooks, vases and dry goods.  She likes how the open shelves allow more of the beautiful wallpaper to show.  There is also additional storage under the island on the side opposite the seating.

Molly waited patiently for a year searching, and finally scored a pair of hot pink Tolix Marais Counter Stools on eBay, which she lugged back on the subway with her best friend Peter.  She put her unwanted Ikea stools on the curb to pass along the good karma to someone else.

The last detail we noted was the red library stool from the basement in the library that her sweet boss insisted she take after hearing she needed one to reach her growing library of cookbooks.

Thanks for accompanying me in letting my imagination run wild with me tonight!