pink rickshaw

peach ice cream

"There are a whole lot of things in this world of ours you haven't even started wondering about yet.” -James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Along with being Father's Day, Sunday also marked this year's summer solstice--the official start of the northern hemisphere's summer season (and fun fact I always forget: the longest day of the year!). It seemed fitting on such an official summer day, to check-in on the progress on my 2015 summer to-do list (you can track my progress on Instagram @pinkrickshaw). At the very top of the list was making this quintessential summer treat: peach ice cream. Peach ice cream is one of those very classic, old-fashioned summer ice creams that you should not be in a rush when making or eating. This recipe results in a subtly flavored, refreshing and very creamy variety of the frozen fruit delight. It is perfect served right after it's been churned with a sprig of mint and a side of reminiscing about past summer memories. (For extra nostalgia points, tell people you hand-cranked this peach ice cream for hours. Just be sure to act like your arm is really sore and of course, hide your ice cream maker.)

This recipe requires peeling your ripe peaches which was honestly the only intimidating part of this recipe. I used this method to peel the peaches by first scoring the skin with a "X" with a sharp knife, immersing them in boiling water for about 40 seconds and them shocking them in an ice bath. (If that just sounds like too much work on a lazy, summer day, this is an alternative recipe that mashes the peaches instead using a potato masher and does not require peeling.)

Peach Ice Cream (makes about 1 quart)
Recipe from The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

1 1/3 lbs. ripe peaches (I used local, Texas peaches...yee haw!!)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice
Fresh mint sprigs for garnish

1. Peel the peaches (see method above), slice them in half and remove the pits. Cut the peaches into chunks and cook them with the water in a medium, nonreactive (i.e. stainless steel or tin lined) saucepan over medium heat, covered, stirring once or twice, until soft and cooked through. It takes about 10 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat, stir in the sugar and then cool to room temperature.
3. Puree the cooked peaches and liquid in a blender with the sour cream, heavy cream, vanilla, and lemon juice until almost smooth but slightly chunky. 
4. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker. 

image source: SD

-SD

indian inspired cheese plate

Sweet dreams are made of cheese
Who am I to diss a brie?
I cheddar the world and the feta cheese
Everybody’s looking for stilton
-A  perfectly cheesy parody of this classic song

A good cheese plate is a go-to staple when entertaining or even for a simple night-in. But where I have been stumped in the past is where is the easy cheese plate equivalent when serving an Indian meal? (Note: Indian hors d'oeuvres are typically as labor intensive (if not more) than the entrees themselves and therefore the last thing I want to make in addition to the meal.) To remedy this, I put together an Indian inspired platter that is still a basic cheese plate but incorporates in some Indian flavors and items. What definitely made this a bit more challenging is that cheese is not typically a part of Indian cuisine (with the exception of paneer..more on that later), so it does take a little bit of creativity and a few specialty items.

Like with any cheese plate, you want to stick to your basic cheese board principles by including a variety of textures and flavors which typically includes: one aged cheese, one soft cheese, one firm cheese and one blue cheese. Then you can add in your various accompaniments which include seasonal fruit, sweet preserves or honey and savory snacks like nuts or cured meats. Here's what I tried, but really there are endless possibilities.

art: dallas art fair preview

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."-Thomas Merton

The Dallas Art Fair returns for its seventh year this weekend and the event has steadily grown in both international recognition and local popularity. GOOD magazine probably put it best saying that the contemporary art fair is "the newest in a series of international art events vying to become the next Art Basel Miami Beach." And the event may get there soon with its increasing ability to attract some of the best and established contemporary art galleries from all over the world. This year's fair has over 90 galleries exhibiting from Latin America, Europe, the U.S. and Mexico. And to add some local flair, renowned and newer galleries from Dallas and Houston are also in the mix. Here's a look at some of the offerings from a few of the galleries. 

 1 and 2. Artist Despina Stokou (Derek Eller Gallery, New York)
The Derek Eller Gallery is doing a solo booth of Stokou's work which utilizes "cyber language" in her works. In her painting on the left, gallery Director Brian Faucette told me that she googled the word "avocado". She then incorporated the html code of the google results into the work (which is the lettering that you see). 

3. Artist Carlos Cruz-Diez (Sicardi Gallery, Houston)

4. Artist Lauren Luloff (Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton)

5. Artist Manolo Valdes (Marlborough Chelsea, New York)

6. Artist Keith Mayerson (Marlborough Chelsea, New York)
Ok, just when you were starting to get all arty and take yourself too seriously.. how great is this Miss Piggy? 

7. Artist Jesus Rafael Soto (Galerie Perrotin, Paris, Hong Kong, New York)
Galerie Perrotin has one of the most anticipated exhibits of the fair with works from renowned artists like Venezuelan Jesus Rafael Soto (who passed away in 2005) and Daniel Arsham. Arsham (his work is pictured above in the title picture) casts materials such as volcanic ash and glacial rock dust into objects like laptops, cameras and musical instruments. Collectors of his art include JayZ and Pharrell.  

home: globes

"I promised her the world, but instead I bought her a globe."-Jarod Kintz

It is funny that the more our lives are enhanced by technology, the more nostalgic we are for those obsolete objects that have been replaced (Q: If we think it is cool to have a vintage typewriter or rotary phone as decor today, will our grandkids be decorating with iPhones?)

One home accessory that has somewhat stood the test of time is the trusty globe. Sure, you probably have more updated means to get your geographic information , but isn't there just something magical about having a tangible, mini-Earth in your hands? Beautiful globes have long been a staple accessory in home decor adding a bit of gravitas to any room. (How can you not look scholarly when you have a globe on your desk?) I absolutely loved the big globe my parents had in our study growing up. My brother and I would close our eyes, spin it, and play "Where will you live?" landing on an unknown, exotic place we had never heard of (or the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.. which thankfully, granted you a second spin). Even today, whenever I spot the globe in my own living room, it is such a great reminder to plan that next trip or read about a new place. If you are feeling truly nostalgic, the best source for a good vintage (and inexpensive) globe is often flea and antique markets and garage sales. But lately, I have noticed several high and low end home decor sources all carrying interesting, new  globes and a plethora of cute, globe DIY projects around the web. Here is some decorating inspiration and sources for globes.

If you are wanting to start a collection, vintage globes are pretty easy to score at flea markets (and online) but there are also a wide variety of new ones at retailers right now. (I found the vintage inspired globe shown above in the title picture at Home Goods for less than $20). Here are a few more from around the web.

india fashion week: part 2

"Every day is a fashion show and the world is your runway."-Coco Chanel

Closely following Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai, fashion lovers' attention quickly turned to the ramps in New Delhi last week for Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015. (It was the first year for Amazon to be the title sponsor so it will be interesting to see if next year the models are replaced with drones. What? You know I had to throw in at least one lame Amazon joke.) On a more sartorial note, the fall lines are the most anticipated and well-known names like JJ Valaya and Namrata Joshipura did not disappoint. It was also a great showing for up-and-coming designers. Here are some of the best looks from the runway.

india fashion week: part 1

"A woman's dress should be like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view."-Sophia Loren

 

It can get a little difficult to keep up with all fashion weeks around the world. I usually start losing interest early in "fashion month" somewhere between London and Paris. But after a bit of a runway slumber, I do make sure to mark my calendar for India's two fashion weeks in Mumbai and New Delhi. In the past, it was one of the only ways to get a glimpse of the latest in ethnic Indian wear (saris, lehngas, bridal wear) from well-established Indian designers and a chance to see the hottest Bollywood celebs walking the ramps. But over the years, both cities' fashion weeks are showcasing younger, edgier and new Indian designers who are not just showing their modern takes on traditional wear but also contemporary styles. (Interestingly, one thing that has not changed is the number of celebs that still walk the shows).

Indian designers are getting international recognition and it is no surprise when you take a peek at some of these inventive lines.  Today in Part 1, is a  recap of  the Summer-Resort edition of Mumbai's Lakmé Fashion Week. (Later this week in Part 2, will be a look at Amazon India Fashion Week that just wrapped up Sunday in New Delhi.) 

The contemporary lines really showcased some of the budding creativity amongst Indian fashion designers. One of the highlights was Jatin Varma's line of  bold hued, structured dresses with beautiful laser cutwork. (The dresses are made of the it-material: neoprene). Also, notable were the fun designs from Pankaj and Nidhi whose line can be found here in the US at Anthropologie. Pankaj and Nidhi's fall line shown in New Delhi is amazing (more on that in Part 2). The crop top trend was also very prominent in numerous lines. (This actually made me think : Duh! Of course, Indian designers would embrace the crop top. After all, wasn't the sari blouse like the world's first crop top?!?)  
Pictured above: 
1. Ridhi Mehra 2. Harpar's Bazar Inspires Mulmul show (various designers) 3. Jatin Varma 4. Mirage by Parul Bhargava 5. MadSam TinZin 6. Pankaj and Nidhi 7. Sahil Aneja (Reboot by Anuj Bhutani and Dhruv Kapoor and Sahil Aneja show) 8. Pankaj and Nidhi 9. Babita M 10. Sahil Aneja (Reboot by Anuj Bhutani and Dhruv Kapoor and Sahil Aneja show); Inset: Sabyasachi Mukherjee

vietnamese coffee ice cream

“My love is a flower shaped like a snowflake. It won’t melt, so perhaps ice cream should be made out of it.”-Jarod Kintz

It has been an especially harsh and long winter for most of the country (you know things are especially bad when even folks like us in Texas are over the snow and low temps). But you know what that say, when life gives you snow...make snow ice cream. Well, at least that's what this Missouri reporter suggests. When I came across this video, I thought, "wow, what a novel, albeit, crazy idea." But turns out snow ice cream is a traditional treat that has been enjoyed for generations. Just take fresh snow, mix with condensed milk (or milk) and vanilla extract and voila!  I cannot vouch for how this tastes (or the sanitary aspect of it) but if you are need of an alternative winter ice cream fix, I can suggest one of my favorite ice cream recipes. It also uses condensed milk, is rich in flavor, and is delicious. No snow required.

Ice cream in the winter is a wonderful time to try some of the deeper and richer flavors that might seem too heavy in the warm, summer months. I absolutely love rich and sweet Vietnamese coffee, so I was super excited to try the ice cream version. This easy recipe from The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz (aka the ice cream bible. If you make ice cream at all, this book is fail proof and the best. You will notice almost every ice cream recipe on Pink Rickshaw is from Lebovitz's amazing book)

Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream (Makes about 1 quart)
1 1/2 cups sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups brewed espresso (or very strongly brewed coffee, preferably brewed in a French Press)  (I used this instant espresso coffee  and it was excellent)
1/2 cup half-and-half (or whole milk if you prefer)
Pinch (I used about 1 teaspoon) finely ground dark roast coffee

Whisk together the condensed milk, espresso, half-and-half and ground coffee. Chill the mixture thoroughly (took about a couple of hours) and then throw it in the ice cream maker. 

image source: SD

-SD

art: dfw south asian film festival

"A film is a petrified fountain of thought."-Jean Cocteau

This weekend is the Dallas area's inaugural DFW South Asian Film Festival. The event should be a treat for local film lovers and is a rare opportunity to view new, independent South Asian films right here in Texas. The line-up is a mix of shorts, documentaries and feature films from South Asian filmmakers and filmmakers around the world. Many of the films and documentaries tackle important social issues of the region. I know I am especially looking forward to (and willing to brave the snowy weather for) two notable films that have been making their way through other festivals: the opening film, Brahmin Bulls and the centerpiece film, Sold. Both screenings will be followed with Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. 

homemade ricotta cheese

"The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese."-Gilbert K. Chesterton

The idea of making homemade cheese is fairly intimidating. There are animal enzymes involved (rennet is equal parts amazing and gross), patience and more patience. But in the quest to try new things, I purchased this kit and was looking forward to giving it a whirl. Okay, actually I was terrified. So in the spirit of easing into the adventures of cheesemaking, I needed to start with something whey simpler (I allowed myself one cheese making pun. There will be no more, I promise). Inspired by my favorite local Italian restaurant, Carbone's, who serves their delicious housemade ricotta with warm garlic bread as an antipasti, I thought it would be fun to try a homemade version. Traditionally ricotta is made from heating the leftover whey from other cheese making projects but fortunately there are simplified methods to make ricotta like this one. The recipe is easy with no special kit or ingredients required. Commence the cheesemaking.

art: india

"There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won't go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds... I had been seeing the world in black & white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolor."-Keith Bellows

With all the recent media attention on India, (Hello, Narendra Modi name suit. Jokes aside, the man does have some serious style), it seemed quite timely to highlight some of the beautiful photography of the everyday India. Capturing the candid people and places of India has to be a photographer's dream. Every corner you turn in the country is a juxtaposition of old and new, wealth and poverty, grime and vibrant colors. Just a beautiful mess. There are countless Indian, America and European photographers with outstanding Indian based portfolios but here are two that caught my eye recently.

The first is a striking series of photographs from Danish photographer Ken Hermann. His project "Flower Man" captures the flower vendors of Mallik Ghat Flower Market, a gigantic floral market along the banks of the Hoogley River under the famous Howrah Bridge in Kolkata. The market is one of the largest and oldest flower markets in India and it is quite the colorful, chaotic maze with flower vendors and buyers running through the area with flowers on their heads and carried in their arms. Hermann told the Daily Mail he was inspired by the unique ways the vendors carry the flowers and the "quirky contrast between the delicate flowers and their masculine owners". Hermann got some of the vendors to move a little bit away from the chaos of the market and pose in front of the river with their flowers.