Jean Harlow Cocktail

I feel like I live my life partially in the 1930's and partially present day (and if I had a choice...). It's so bad that sometimes I feel like film archivist, TCM and I are really close friends (I'm dying for the day you replay Way for a Sailor by the way!). 

One of my very favourite 30's actresses is Jean Harlow, the original blonde bombshell. She had a fascinating screen personality that was shockingly sexual for the time and even now, though it may seem more obvious than we're used too, is relevant. Miss Harlow was also rather famous for refusing to wear undergarments. 

Jean achieved her superstar status under contract to MGM in the 30's where she was often paired with Clark Gable (films such as: Platinum Blonde, Red Headed Woman, Red Dust and Bombshell).  Post code she was famous for China Seas, Wife vs. Secretary, Libeled Lady and Saratoga. Her sudden death left what could have been her biggest role to be filled by Far Wray in King Kong.

Conversely Jeans personal life wasn't so rosy. She eloped and moved to Los Angeles at 16 where she lived as a wealthy (and heavy drinking) socialite with her 20 year old husband off his inheritance. They eventually separated and she later married Paul Berns, who committed suicide while she was filming the movie Red Dust. Lastly, she was romantically involved with William Powell, though they were never allowed to marry (by the MGM studio managers) because her 'floozy' image would have been detrimental to his public persona. She died suddenly of undiagnosed renal failure at age 26. 

Jean Harlow was famous for her striking platinum hair and risqué style but personally was known for her sense of humour and kindness. 


Red Dust trailer:

And of course, one can't be this famous without inspiring a cocktail!

The Jean Harlow

The Jean Harlow is a simple and sweet rum martini.

2 oz. light rum

2 oz. sweet vermouth

lemon peel for garnish

Add the rum and vermouth to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

champagne coupes : kate spade, dress: the outnet, ring: kate spade, necklace: bhldn.com 

My favourite image of Jean Harlow.

Kate Spade

Um, yes, I do need a hedgehog coin purse...

Rae & Jerry's

There's a place in Winnipeg that time forgot: Rae & Jerry's. And thank goodness! It's perfectly marvelous. Rae and Jerry's is a steakhouse from the late 50's and nothing, not the menu, not the interior, not the cocktail list, has been changed since then. If you ever feel like dolling yourself up Betty Draper style (and who among us doesn't?) then hitting the town this is the place to go. It has a special authenticity to those of us who grew up hearing about their grandparents good times there. The deep red hues and candlelight have a wonderful effect on my confidence, I can't help but feel a little more elegant the moment I walk in the door. And the food is simply great too!

 

Rae & Jerry's

1405 Portage Avenue  Winnipeg, MB R3G 0W1, Canada(204) 783-6155

Pugs

Smoked Fish

Smoked salmon is a staple of my family's holiday parties. It's there Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, a summer barbecue or just anytime we get together. Of course we had to have an evening that included smoked salmon when I was home recently.  It's never been my favourite but I'm starting to warm up to it, perhaps since I've been exposed to so much gravlax (which I like an awful lot) here in Sweden? 

We also eat smoked goldeye, a fish local to the area of Canada I'm from. It's called 'goldeye' because of the iridescent red/gold colour it turns after smoking. It's a very intense smoked fish, if you're not a fan of smoked salmon then I suspect you won't like it. We serve both smoked goldeye and salmon with rye bread, butter, capers and onions generally. Sour cream, dill and lemon sometimes too. 

On this particular evening we also had raw oysters, Swedish caviar and champagne! It was lovely.

Oh, and lastly a little Winnipeg trivia: our local baseball team is called the Winnipeg Goldeyes!

Underpinnings

Lacy, silky, soft and wonderful. Beautiful underthings can give you so much confidence I think, sometimes they just make your day. Here are some of my current favourites!

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Cocktails at Peasant Cookery

Happy hour cocktails at my favourite restaurant back home.

Peasant Cookery

100-283 Bannatyne, Winnipeg, MB

Canada

Turkey: before and after

Our Thanksgiving turkey, a little belatedly. I'm not much of a carver, as you can see. It was delicious and juicy nonetheless! I credit the 24 hours of brining we did before roasting our bird. We've done this for time immemorial in  my family and we haven't yet had a bad Thanksgiving (or Christmas!) turkey.

Pretty Pink and Blue Thoughts

typewriter, train case, pink candy dish, blue earrings,

tea strainer, 'hers' tea cup

Roast Leg of Lamb

I love the cookbook Jamie's Dinners, it's sort of my go to anytime I'm blanking on dinner ideas. There's nothing about it that's really flashy or eye catching but the more I use it the more I realize how realistic and wonderful the recipes are; they always work, they're never beyond my skill level and (most importantly!) they're always, always delicious. I especially love the way he cooks large pieces of meet, the method and ingredients tend to be simple and fresh but the result is terribly impressive (have I spoken of his roast beef? It's sort of legendary in my family). I made this lamb recipe this past summer on the barbecue but it works equally well in a regular oven (I like the barbeque since there's a little less clean up that way).

Roast Leg of Lamb with Chickpeas from Jamie's Dinners

1 leg of lamb, butterflied and opened up like a book
1 teaspoon coriander seeds

4 large cloves of garlic, peeled

large bunch of fresh cilantro
large bunch of fresh mint, chopped
1 x 14 oz. can of chickpeas, drained
salt and freshly ground black pepper
juice of 1/2 a lemon (or more if you like lemons as much as me)
1 x 500ml tub of natural yogurt
12 baby turnips, scrubbed
2 yams peeled and cut into large chunks
a bunch of baby carrots, scrubbed, tops left on
1 butternut squash, unpeeled, cut into 8 wedges
2 red onions, peeled and quartered
1 whole bulb of garlic, broken into cloves
2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 tsp cinnamon
extra virgin olive oil

• in a food processor or using a mortar and pestle blitz/grind together : coriander (fresh & seeds), mint, garlic, chickpeas until they form a thick paste. Then mix in yogurt, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Sore the lamb on both sides. Add half the yogurt mixture to a large plastic bag and then add in the lamb. Seal the bag and massage the mixture into lam until the lamb is completely coated. Marinate in fridge like this for at least an hour or up to 24 hrs. Keep reserved yogurt mixture for later.
• Set oven to 200C/400F. Place carrots, turnips, yams, squash, onions and garlic in a roasting dish. Drizzle on olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle on cumin seeds and cinnamon and mix so vegetables are well coated in oil and spices. Place in the oven on a lower rack.
• Remove lamb from marinade and place directly on oven rack above roasting vegetables (so they catch all the delicious lamb drippings!). Smear reserved yogurt mixture on top of lamb so it is thickly coated on top. I like to save a little more to serve with later too).
• Roast for about 1 hour. Stir the vegetables on or twice throughout (if they're aren't crisp enough on top leave them in under the broiler for a moment before serving).
• Slice lamb and serve along side roasted vegetables and a little yogurt sauce!

Chokladfabriken

Hot chocolate on a blustery afternoon at Chokladfabriken. With marshmallows of course.

Dark chocolate for me...

White chocolate for my boyfriend.

Chokladfabriken

Renstiernas gata 12, 116 28 Stockholm
Tel: +46 (0)8 640 05 68

Opening hours
Monday-Friday 10.00-18.30
Saturday 10.00-17.00

Cocktails

{Playing with Instagram is fun. Kir Royales are fun too.}

Sheepskin

I see them all the time here in Stockholm and they're so cozy looking! We definitely need one for the cold Swedish winter coming. I purchased the white one for my mom and I'm a bit jealous. Now, grey or white?

one: from Bolia

two: from Malmsten

Last Nights Dinner: Stir Fry & Quinoa

Bacon Donut

A maple bacon donut from Jelly in Calgary. I really like the idea of bacon donuts, I'm not sure why but they're so fun! And delicious of course.

Jelly, modern donuts

100 1414 8th Street W

Calgary, AB, Canada

T2R LJ6

A Little Pick Me up

I'm finally back in Sweden now and gosh it's a little gloomy. My irregular hours mean I see only about an hour of daylight and while I'm rather pleased to be developing a lovely porcelain pallor I'm afraid it's a bit hard to be as cheery as I'd like. Solution? Eggnog bubble bath, rosé champagne, a jazzy playlist and some online Christmas shopping! Yes, I'm already feeling better. I wish I could show my purchases but (hopefully!) my nearest and dearest read this and that would ruin their surprise. Here are some lovely gift ideas and decorations for the coming holiday season though!

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