Inspiration for November 27th

This time of year is all about cooking to me and I loved this quote......
"A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness.”


― Elsa Schiaparelli

Happy Thanksgiving (albeit a day or two late)!!!!

“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.”

― Aesop

I am a day or two late but I wanted to share happy thanksgiving wishes to my friends and family.....this is one of my favorite holidays for several reasons: it means eating, shopping, football and decorating for Christmas!!!!!

Some of the things I am grateful for:

1)  My wonderful parents who love me, spoil me and inspire me to be the woman I am becoming.

2)  My health....this is one of things I am most grateful for as I know I should never take it for granted.

3)  My family.  I have a very small immediate family but I am blessed with a large extended family that I don't see as often as I'd like but  when I do it is truly wonderful.

4)  My friends.  I have lived so many places so I have friends spread out all over the world and all of them hold a special place in my heart.

5)  Kosi.  He was a birthday gift and one of the gifts that continues to bless me with his unconditional love and reminds me that I am not alone.

This list is certainly not inclusive of everything I should be thankful for but it is a start......

Mountain Mama!

I have a serious love for the mountains, some of my best memories are grow ing up on the slopes in Europe. If I could do it, I would move to Switzerland and ski every day during the winter and wear fun clothes like these....can't you see it now?

Verbier, Switzerland

Gorsuch, Lilly Montana Jacket
$1598

Minka ski suit, Bogner
$2278

Nelia Cashmere Sweater, Bogner
$899

Who doesn't love sparkling for the Holidays?

The holidays are my favorite time of year, I love the parties and all of the celebrating and who doesn't love sparkly things like these?

Jimmy Choo
$465

Michael Kors
$145

Tory Burch
$395

Tory Burch
$235

Ice Queen Bib Necklace
Kate Spade
$595

Pave Iridescent Pump
Giuseppi Zanotti
$1195

Christian Louboutin
Venus Orlato Suede Ankle Boots
$1395

Spooky time.....

Halloween is just a few days away and I have stumbled on some fabulous pictures that I just have to share....

Jeweled skull

Wicked witch (I totally know who this is.....)

Spooky-looking candy apples

Candles

Skull and roses: opposites attract?

Wishing for snow.....

It's a few days before Halloween and it is going to be over 80 degrees tomorrow here in Richmond.  I am not a fan of this kind of heat.....we will probably go straight to Winter and not even have a crisp, Fall day :(  But if that is the case, wouldn't it be nice to have a day that looks like this.....

Fall into a new season....

Fall is my favorite time of year....

Pack Football

Pumpkin patches

Warm scarves

Hot soup

Pretty day in Luray

Inspiration for October 20th

"Imagine that the whole world belongs to you. The birch trees in New Hampshire's White Mountains are yours, and so are the cirrus clouds in the western sky at dusk and the black sand on the beaches of Hawaii's big island.


You own everything, my dear sovereign - the paintings in all the museums of the world, as well as the internet and the wild horses and the roads. Please take good care of it all, OK? Be an enlightened monarch who treats your domain with reverent responsibility. And make sure you also enjoy the full measure of fun that comes with such mastery. Glide through life as if all of creation is yearning to honor and entertain you."

-Rob Brezsny
American Author, Storyteller and Rock Musician

Maine Cooking School

I LOVE to cook, I can't say that I'm great at it yet but it is something to relaxes me and maybe one day will factor into my life more :)

Maine Cooking School
Hartstone Inn
Camden, Maine

Sweet Potato and Green Apple Soup

Slicing the sweet potatoes into “planks” allows more surface for caramelization when roasting. Try this technique when serving sweet potatoes as a side dish.

• 1 large sweet potato, peeled, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick “planks”

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Kosher salt and ground white pepper

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter

• 1 cup chopped onion

• 1 cup peeled, diced rutabaga

• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, diced

• 1 quart chicken stock or reduced sodium chicken broth

• 1 cup whipping cream

• 1-1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

• 1 recipe Maple Cream (below)

• 1/4 cup croutons

• 1 tablespoon thinly sliced green onion

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper; place sweet potatoes on prepared sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle lightly with kosher salt and pepper. Roast 30 minutes or until tender.

In large saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, cook and stir 3 minutes. Add rutabaga and apple; cook 3 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add chicken stock and sweet potatoes. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 minutes.

Remove from heat; cool slightly. Process until smooth with an immersion blender (or blend or process mixture 1/2 at a time in blender container or food processor). Return mixture to saucepan. Add whipping cream and maple syrup. Season to taste with kosher salt and ground white pepper. Cook and stir until heated through.

Top each serving with Maple Cream, croutons, and green onions. Makes 6 servings.

Maple Cream:

In chilled mixing bowl beat 1/3 cup whipping cream on high speed of electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and dash each of kosher salt and ground white pepper. Beat just until stiff peaks form.



Stilton-Shrimp Tarts

Proper chilling makes the pastry dough flaky. Use it for quiches, hors d’oeuvre shells, and custards as well as this rich tart. The dough can be made up to 24 hours ahead.

• 1 recipe Pastry Dough (below)

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

• 12 large fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed

• Salt and ground white pepper

• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 3 ounces Stilton cheese, crumbled

• 1/3 cup whipping cream

• 1 egg yolk

• 1-1/2 teaspoons snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

• 1 recipe Chive Beurre Blanc (below)

• 1 medium ripe Bosc pear, cored, sliced in thin wedges

• 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat six 4-inch tart pans with removable bottoms with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. Cut six 6-inch rounds of parchment paper*; set aside. Roll out Pastry Dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into six 5-1/2 inch circles, rerolling scraps as needed. Press each circle into sides and bottom of prepared tart pans. Place parchment round on top of each tartlet; fill with dry beans or pie weights.

Bake 25 minutes or until pastry is set and lightly browned. Remove beans or pie weights and parchment paper.

In large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add shrimp; cook 1 minute on each side, searing shrimp, but not cooking through. Remove from skillet to plate; season to taste with salt and white pepper.

In medium bowl combine cream cheese and Stilton cheese. Beat with electric mixer on medium to high speed until smooth. Add whipping cream, egg yolk, and 1/2 teaspoon parsley. Beat until combined. Season with salt and white pepper.

Divide cheese mixture between tart pans. Place two shrimp on each tartlet. Place tartlets on baking sheet; bake 35 minutes or until golden and set.

To serve, remove sides of tart pans. Place each tartlet in center of plate; surround with a few tablespoons of Chive Buerre Blanc, pear wedges, and pine nuts. Sprinkle remaining parsley. Makes 6 servings.

Pastry Dough:

In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Cut 4 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter into fine cubes; mix into flour until mixture resembles fine meal. Add 1/3 cup shortening; mix 30 seconds. Add 1/4 cup cold water; mix just until combined (do not overwork). (Or in medium bowl combine flour and salt. Using pastry blender cut in butter and shortening until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon water over part of flour mixture; gently toss with fork. Push moistened pastry to sides of bowl. Repeat moistening flour mixture, using 1 tablespoon water at a time, until all the flour mixture is moistened. Form into ball.)

Remove from mixer; form into ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

Chive Beurre Blanc:

Bring 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut up, to room temperature (about 30 minutes). In small saucepan heat 1-1/2 teaspoons canola oil over medium heat. Cook and stir 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 2 minutes (do not let brown). Add 1/4 cup white wine and 1 tablespoon dry white wine vinegar. Simmer until most liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally (do not let brown). Add 1/4 cup whipping cream; simmer until liquid has reduced by half, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; whisk in butter until well incorporated. Strain through fine mesh strainer into small bowl, discarding solids. Season to taste with salt and ground white pepper. Stir in 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives. Keep warm until ready to serve.

*Alternatively, tartlet pans can be lined with double thickness of aluminum foil.







Have you missed me?

I'm terribly sorry about how MIA I have been as of late but life has been so extremely busy and my creativity has not been where it needed to be.....after a week of car trouble, getting towed twice in the same week, I finally decided to break down and buy a new car (well, slightly used).  I am so happy to not worry anymore about my car and know that I can head anywhere, anytime.  Good times!!!

Alluring animal prints in living spaces

Animal prints are all the rage for Fall (although they are always high on my list of fashion must's) and I love how designers are using these prints in these fabulous living spaces....

Fancy breakfast room
Photographer: Reed Krakoff

Gorgeous use of color!!!
Photographer: Simon Upton

Ghost chairs and zebra, ultra-fab!!
Photographer: Minh + Wass

Closets to die for....

As a little girl, I loved playing dress-up in my Mother's clothes...and nothing seems more appealling than having a fun dressing room as a grown-up.  Now most of you know that I turned a guest bedroom into a closet but it is not nearly as fancy as some of these.  Maybe in my next house I will go full-on glam!!!!

JCrew's Jenna Lyons
Photographer: Rebecca Greenfield

Nanette Lepore's dressing room
Photographer: William Waldron

Kate did it again!

Kate Spade has truly got to be one of my favorite designers.  Everything she comes out with is fun, classic and so rich looking!!!  Here are some of my favorites:

Kate Spade
Chariot
$398



Galleria Bette dress with Bow
$395



Street Car Darya
$1295

Palace of Mirrors Bib Necklace
$595

Twirl Karolina
$350

LOVE these fun things for fall....

Divine Necklace
Tory Burch
$350

Leopard print Holland Satchel
Tory Burch
$525

 

Toundra Fur Boot
Christian Louboutin
$2095

I know how completely impractical these are and there is NO WHERE you could wear these without looking crazy....except maybe St. Moritz and Siberia....but I LOVE them!!!



Shoes on Sunday....

I think I may end up being the old lady who lives in her shoe....but hopefully, they will be designer :)  Here are some of my current favs....

Christian Louboutin
Relika Patent Mary Jane Pumps
$835

Christian Louboutin
Loubout Wool Peep-Toe Ankle Boots
$995

Christian Louboutin
Declic Glitter Pumps
$675

Christian Louboutin
Miss Fast Ankle Boots
$995