Summertime Cuisine

Time to stash the soup pots and hot cocoa....summertime is upon us. In our house, this is when cocoa turns to iced sun tea and soups turn to salad. In the last couple of weeks, we have planted our very own backyard vegetable garden full of zucchini, squash, fresh herbs and even pumpkins that will ready to harvest just in time for fall! So with this in mind, we plan to be 'designing' and eating a lot of fresh vegetable salads this summer. The only thing that has been bothering me is the though of picking all of the delicious, organic vegetables right outside the back door and pouring on some store bought dressing. It seems criminal doesn't it? So I have been testing some homemade dressings that can be made with the herbs from the garden. Here is the one that I made today that I thought was delicious and definitely for anyone who likes their dressing tangy!

Thyme Mustard Vinaigrette

3/4 c olive oil
2 T minced fresh thyme
1 shallot, peeled (I like to use 2 or 3)
1 garlic clove (I like to use 2)
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
2 T whole-grain mustard

Directions:

1. Heat 1/4 c oil with 1 T of the thyme in medium saucepan over medium heat until thyme turns bright green, about 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat and steep 5 minutes.

2. Process shallot, garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper, mustard and remaining thyme in blender until shallot and garlic are chopped fine. Add in remaining oil and steeped thyme and process until smooth. This dressing can be refrigerated in air tight container for up to 3 days. So, in order to make the most of it don't limit yourself to salads, you can put this on roasted veggies, chicken, etc.

I encourage all of you to plant some fresh produce in your yard as well. It is a rewarding experience that also saves money! This is a great activity to do with kids too...it will teach them the responsibility of maintaining their garden, where the food on their plates come from and might even get them a little more excited about eating those greens! At the very least, go grab a couple of inexpensive terra cotta posts and plant some fresh herbs that you can use in your kitchen, after all the more flavor that you put in your food...the less fat that you have to use to make it flavorful. The pots in this picture were mine from last year and only used for decoration now that we have the garden. All I did was simply take a magic marker and decoratively write the names of each herb on the pot. After being in the elements for a year they are now weathered and vintage looking....something that would cost 15.00 each at your favorite shop!

tablescapes

the table setting is a key ingredient for a successful event. whether you are hosting a sit down dinner with friends or a buffet style party, it is important to have a eye catching and inviting table setting. a few things that should be taken into consideration are:

• is your event themed in color or a particular holiday
• will food be easily available to your guests
• do you have to proper serving pieces to accommodate hot and cold dishes if need be

this particular table setting was for our Christmas party last year. a few tips that we used that might help you in design and with saving money are:

• using artificial and real flowers...as seen here, the magnolias are real
• the gold fabric used here were drapes that had previously hung in this room by the former owners
• the pine cones were painted gold with spray paint from the craft store
• books were strategically placed under the wine barrel lazy susans to add height to the table and once the food was placed there were fresh green and red grapes that cascaded down them
• always be sure to use your finest serving pieces for your events and please do not forget to polish them beforehand

your tablescapes will surely set the tone for your event so take the time to put a lot of thought into it when planning!

shop local

shop local

one very good reason to shop at your local farmer's market rather than a large chain store is the difference in freshness of the produce you eat. on average, it takes a minimum of 4-7 days for produce to reach your local grocery chain after it has been picked and that is assuming that it is from the united states. produce from other countries can take substantially longer to get on your plate. buying local not only helps out local farmers but captures the ideal freshness that you want in your cuisine.

random etiquette

it is ALWAYS better to overdressed, rather than underdressed...

Cake Decoration Idea

A quick and easy way to decorate any cake is add fresh flowers and a personalized note. On this cake I cut each flower off of the stem and put a toothpick through it which I stuck into the top of the cake. For the personalized note I attached a nice scalloped note card to a skewer stick with a piece of double sided tape and another on the back. This particular cake was a vanilla almond cake with amaretto buttercream that was made for my mother's 60th birthday but this personalized decoration could be used for anything from birthdays, to graduations, to baby showers.

Happy Baking!

the bare necessities

The Little Black Dress...

A staple of any closet, the little black dress is an elegant and versatile necessity for every lady. Putting quality over quantity, one should never skimp on this item as it will carry through the ages for any occasion. Don't hesitate to dress it up with diamonds, a girl's best friend, or add a dash of bold color to liven it up!

When the little black dress is right,

there is nothing else to wear in its place.

Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor

random etiquette

Although I have been guilty of this on more than one occassion, when crossing your legs as a lady they should always be crossed at the ankles, never at the knees...

queen bee

noun

a female who is in a favored or preeminent position;

the mother of all the bees in the beehive

Homemade Gifts in Jars

I always like to have gifts on hand to give as hostess gift or for teachers at the end of the year or around the holidays. Even just to give to a friend when I want to let them know how special they are. It can be expensive though to stockpile gifts year round at your house and in my experience there are not a lot of gifts that you can buy in bulk that say "from the heart." A wonderful way to store gifts on hand without breaking the bank is to make homemade gifts. A tasty way to do this is to measure out all the dry ingredients of your (or your recipient's) favorite recipe and layer them in a mason jar. There are several ways to present this gift but my favorite is to wrap a bow around the jar with a nicely written copy of the recipe and instructions on it. You can also add a unique touch by tying a wooden spoon or small whisk on it as well. These gifts can be kept in your pantry or even as decoration in your own kitchen until a special occasion arises. Any spices can be place in a smaller piece of cellophane and attached to the ribbon. Here is a recipe for chocolate chip muffins...a great breakfast treat for your hostess the morning after a dinner party!

Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

Ingredients:
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine sugar, flour, salt, and baking powder. Place in quart jar. Add chocolate chips.

Option: Substitute raisins, dried cherries, dried cranberries, or nuts for the chocolate chips.

Information to attach to the jar: "Chocolate Chip Muffins"

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup melted butter, and one egg in a large mixing bowl. Add ingredients from jar and mix gently; do no overmix. Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Mother's Day

M...is for the Many times she is been there for me

O...is for the Open arms she has for me

T...is for the Time that she devotes to me

H...is for the Help she gives me when I am in need

E...is for Every holiday that she makes special

R...is for all the other Reasons that make her the best mother one could have!



With Mother's Day right around the corner, I hope that everyone will take some time to thank the mothers in their lives and let them know how truly special they are. Whether it is a card sent from across the miles, a day spent at the local spa, or an elegant brunch hosted in her honor, treat your mother to something that tells her how much she is appreciated!

I want to share with you a recipe that my paternal grandmother used to make that would compliment a Mother's Day brunch so nicely. This cake is effortless to make and can be a delicious and easy dessert for even the novice baker to make...

"Sock-it-to-Me" Cake

Ingredients...

1 package of store bought butter cake mix
1/2 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of canola oil
4 eggs
1 cup of sour cream
3 T brown sugar
1 t cinnamon

Preparations...

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Grease and lightly flour bundt pan
Mix all ingredients, except brown sugar and cinnamon, together in an electric mixer until well blended. In a separate small dish mix brown sugar and cinnamon together. Pour 1/3 of the batter into your pan. Sprinkle 1/3 of the cinnamon mixture on top of the batter. Pour half of the remaining mixture into the pan and repeat with the cinnamon. Pour remaining batter into pan and sprinkle the last of the cinnamon on top. Bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour.

The Mint Julep

Southern born in the eighteenth century, the Mint Julep is recognized as the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby. The Mint Julep is a bourbon cocktail that is deeply rooted in Southern history and has been enjoyed and passed down through many generations. In celebration of this year's Kentucky Derby we would like to share with you a most perfect Mint Julep recipe that will be served to our guests on derby day!


Ingredients...
3 fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon of mint simple syrup
Crushed ice
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) bourbon
1 coffee straw
1 fresh mint sprig
Powdered sugar
1 large Kentucky Derby hat


Preparation...
Place mint leaves and Mint Simple Syrup in a chilled julep cup. Gently press leaves against cup with back of spoon to release flavors. Pack cup tightly with crushed ice; pour bourbon over ice. Insert straw, place mint sprig directly next to straw, and serve immediately. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Apply large hat and enjoy!

Mint Simple Syrup

Ingredients...
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
10 to 12 fresh mint sprigs

Preparation...
Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Boil, stirring often, 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; add mint, and let cool completely. Pour into a glass jar; cover and chill 24 hours. Remove and discard mint.

so·cial

adjective

inclined to seek out or enjoy the company of others; marked by friendly relations or companionship; a social event