Cooking with Didi - Homemade Ravioli

This year, I skipped St. Patrick’s Day festivities for the first time in five years to make homemade pasta. On Sunday, I walked to Diane (my cousin, fondly known as Didi) and her husband Chris’ (remember them?) apartment while people swarmed around me in mini-golf grass green attire on the streets.

We got to cooking.

Their loft kitchen is a dream. They have a stainless steel island the size of a twin bed, natural light streaming in from floor-to-ceiling windows and plates and bowls and cutlery that match!! This was an apartment for two, not the mismatched twenty-something kind.

I said I'd get married just to register for the stuff. (*Clearly indicates that I'm nowhere near ready for marriage).

Didi indicated that skipping a day-drinking event is the first sign of “getting old.” I rambled all of my life updates and she deduced, as my wiser, older cousin that I’m torn between two worlds: one of settling down and one of setting off.

“You’re going to confuse the universe,” she said.

After all of our hard work, we realized that we didn’t even have enough food for leftovers, so we started again. We commented how our grandmothers could have made triple the amount in the same time it took us to make a dozen. I introduced her to Girls, and she let me wear her apron even though we both agreed it was too girly for me. At the end of the afternoon we were both exhausted, but the results were worth it.

Below is our cooking adventure making homemade ravioli with ricotta cheese & parsley stuffing. Similar recipe version here. Enjoy! x

^^Someone is in need of a TAN^^

If You Believe...

This morning my mom told me: "If you believe you will have a good day, you will."

While I don't quite like pep talks, or rather talking at all, early in the morning, I thought about what she said on my drive in to the city. I thought about the sweet long weekend that I had with my family.

With the new baby-blue eyed girl who's getting squishier by the minute and her bubbly brother Little, who may not be able to hold that nickname for too much longer. The way my grandmother, who seems to be getting older with each holiday, still manages to bring over spaghetti she made with her hands. How my cousins and I watch the same home movies and laugh at the exact same parts each time. The sound of my parents' silly arguments over each side dish before the guests arrive. The abundance of traditions, like how we must eat seven pies and go for a stroll after lunch. How if the cherry red walls in my aunt's dining room could talk, they would have nothing to share but photo book memories.

I thought about how when life is good, we don't seem to understand how good it actually was until someone is missing at the family dinner table the next year. Even my commute this morning wasn't so terrible.

Because the sky was spilling pink lemonade out of its pores, and my mother is always right.

Mom & Dad are here! Mom & Dad are here! - NYC Diaries

I don't just love my parents, I like them as people.

I remember when I was a teen and the thought of going anywhere cool with my parents was mortifying. I love how things have changed. My parents are pretty fantastic. They are young in spirit and always up to try new things. We are never stuffy with each other and over the years I've come to really appreciate our relationship. I couldn't imagine being formal or awkward with them.

Though we've gone many weeks without seeing each other in the past, this time it felt a bit longer than usual. We spent the weekend walking (a lot), eating (a lot), inquiring about future life plans, commenting on every single dog that walked by and missing the other addition to our core-four (my sister who will be visiting at the end of the month).

I also showed them around my hood in Brooklyn and they actually enjoyed their introduction into hipster culture. My Dad kept referring to himself and my mother as just plain, "hip." They met my roommates for lunch (and loved them) and we ended the trip by watching Rent and strolling around Times Square for 15 minutes as it is my least favourite place to be, ever.

I took advantage of their foodie personalities and booked some restaurants that I've been dying to go to  I knew they would enjoy. Though I'm no food critic, below are some recommendations if you find yourself in this big city looking for some good eats and atmosphere:

• Locanda Verde - Chef Andrew Carmellini and Robert Deniro's Italian restaurant in TriBeCa. The beet and goat cheese stuffed Raviolini was the perfect mix of savoury and sweet; but I'd order more of the crostini if I could. 

• Eataly Rooftop Birreria - The perfect after-work drinks spot (if I actually worked in Manhattan) on the roof of Mario Batalli's Eataly mecca. Without pizza or pasta on the menu, their local meat, fish, cheese and mushroom selections are perfect for sharing. The view of the city is pretty great too. 

• Big Gay Ice Cream - The best ice cream you will ever have. Ever. With ingredients like sea salt, dulce de leche and Nutella, and creations called "Salty Pimp" you know you're in for a good time. Order: The Monday Sundae. It was the only thing my mother could talk about for the next 2 days.

• Momofuku Noodle Bar - My parents couldn't believe their eyes when I, a former vegetarian (who still doesn't eat much meat) sunk my teeth into a pork belly steamed bun. (It's chef David Chang's specialty! I had to). Fan of ramen? You'll get the freshest noodles here. 

• Fornino - This pizzeria in Williamsburg creates authentic, thin-crust wood oven pizza. The kind that made four Italians give their salivary stamp of approval.

All in all, I'm grateful to have these two wonderful and supportive people in my life. Thanks for visiting Mom & Dad. (Yes, they read my blog).

Below are some photos from their trip! Enjoy xx

Be Grateful - Not A Model Mantra

Lately, I can't help but become unbearably sad when I read the newspaper. Lately, I can't help but question the world that I live in. 

Today, be grateful.

Today, there is no lack in your life and if there is, put it away for one second. Instead, think of everything (little and large) that you are thankful for.

For me it's:

Shoulders that like to kiss the sunlight, a good friend to call on the phone, the sound of laughter that travels to my toes, a fresh vegetable salad, a frigid glass of beer, the morning sunshine, the afternoon storm, a roommate who lets me nap in her bed because hers is more comfortable, the way that I can read this sentence right now, comprehend it, walk away from it, and remember it; a body with working limbs to carry me from place to place, a fridge with food in it, discovering a new album that ignites my elbows, a firm pillow, a place to take a warm shower, a desire to be better, the fact that I'm only gone for eight weeks and my parents are flying over to visit me this weekend. 

The way that the moment you start listing all the things you have to be thankful for, you realize there is not one extra thing you could need.

This week's mantra is as follows: 

"A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have."- anonymous 

The Tea Party

Over the weekend my sister, father and I surprised my mom for her 50th birthday. Even though my mom insisted that she did not want any kind of party, we decided to defy her. Since she is the most important woman in our lives, we wanted to do something special for her without pushing her into a situation where she should would feel uncomfortable.

Cue: The Tea Party.

For the past few years, the ladies in our family have started a high-tea tradition around the holidays and we thought that this would be the best setting to celebrate our mom.

From the hand-created floral arrangements to the colour coordinated cake and macarons, the place looked perfect. Upon receiving any sort of praise from the guests, I ensured every single person that the beauty of the room was all due to my amazing sister. She was the one who planned the entire party down to the very last detail. (Note: I know this makes me sound uninvolved, but this is my sister's area of expertise. I tried to pick a colour for the tea pots and was instantly told that they clash! I helped with the set-up, guest list and put my PR and writing skills to use by having the responsibility of saying a speech). 

When it was time for the big unveil my mother was the MOST surprised, surprised party person ever. She even burst into tears. I can't say my eyes were dry either, since I couldn't finish my speech without getting emotional.

It's been said before, but my mother is the greatest woman I know. There is no one whose advice I trust more and spirit I hope to emulate. She's kind, passionate and definitely never boring.

The best kind of woman.

Below are a few snapshots from the party. Enjoy! xx

*If you are ever planning an event in Toronto, consult with my sister Melissa DiPasquale. She has professional experience working in events (weddings, special occasions) and also does gourmet baking. Contact her at melmarie23@gmail.com.

Family Ties - Be Back Soon

Not A Model is off on a family vacation.

For this one, it's not just the core four as in Mom, Dad, sis and myself. This time we're bringing along the cousins, aunts, uncles and BABY for the ride. You may wonder, "Who is excited to go on a vacation with their extended family in their mid-twenties? Boooooooring." Well, I am.

Growing up in an Italian family meant that my first friends were my cousins, my "nannies" were my grandparents and most of my extended family lived within a walking distance of each other. We are a close bunch (and while we're not bringing everyone along - there are a lot of us) I can't wait to spend a sunny week with them.

While I'm not one for forced holidays (*cough cough St. Valentine) here in Canada we have family day coming up on Monday. I hope everyone spends time with the people they care about, or whomever they call their clan. I'll be with mine, slushy drink in hand.

In the meantime, below are some of my favourite fashion advertisements for spring from Escada, Massimo Dutti, Mulberry, Hermes and Versace. Enjoy!

Not A Model will be back soon.

The Parentals Make It To 25 Years

This weekend, we celebrated my parents' 25th wedding anniversary.

The milestone was reached with friends and family and a fantastic party. I couldn't be happier for my parents. I have been blessed to be raised by two people who are still crazy in love with each other, and yet worked hard over the years to make their relationship work. My amazing sister Melissa really helped to make the night special. She created the flower arrangements, cookie place settings, and co-ordinated the whole event. She is an event planning goddess in the making, and I am so proud of her.

Everyone danced their faces off, and the night ended with our very own family re-make of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." As for my outfit, I bought a really interesting dress I found at a store called White Crow on Queen St. I was hesitant about it at first (it's not your traditional family gathering dress) but I loved the coral detail and the different lengths of texture, so I decided to rock it.

For a full photographic recap, see below! Enjoy!

The Room

The place settings

Candid Mom & Dad goofing around

The Dress

Little and his pasta

My best girl Dana and our surprised reactions

The sis, making sure everything is perfect

Thriller line-up

The flowers

Vintage 25 Years Earlier

Doesn't my mom's dress look a bit like Kate Middletons? I think it's the long sleeved lace.

I'm also off to California for the week for a little vacation! I will have more travel diaries to share while I'm gone! See you soon. xo