Nest by Tamara

14 days of love for Valentine's Day: Day 12 choosing a quality wine for the occasion

2012-02-12T10:58:00.002-05:00

As I plan my menu for Valentine's Day,

I contemplate the wine for our Valentine's meal...

a good bottle of wine compliments a meal

Since I will keep our meal light this Valentine's Day,

I may buy a bottle of my favorite summer Rose from local Bridgehampton vineyard, Wolffer Estates. If you take a drive out on route 495 East to the tip of long island, you will note many wine vineyards dotting the side roads and highways.

Wolffer Estates in Sagaponack is one of my East End favorites --

you can pick up a bottle here

and save the drive.

my favorite Rose - Wolffer Grandiose Rose 2010 at $29.00 per bottle

Wolffer wine is made and bottled in Sagaponack, Long Island.

The Rose is one of the local favorites, and pale pink color, and has flavors of pear, apples and citrus. With all the pricey French roses available, I almost always reach for the "natural" special Rosé Wolffer produces locally. Because 2010 was one of the driest, warmest seasons of history in the area, the Rose from that year is one of their best.

Gabby riding in Sagaponack

My daughter is an avid equestrian and has ridden at many of the area's horse stables. She rode at Wolffer stables in 2007 - it is one of her favorite barns. Did you know the vineyard has a world class equestrian riding center as well as wine vineyard?

The local ocean air, farm land and cool nights all add up

to a perfect blending of good conditions for wine making. Serve this Rose chilled,

and pair it with hors d'oeuvres, like smoked salmon, lobster, shrimp, marinated meat, and soft cheeses.

But if you do head out, you will most certainly be impressed with the natural beauty -- it is truly God's country. Wolffer estates is especially beautiful and stop into their vineyard for a wine tasting next time you're in the area. The Tuscan-style villa set on a picturesque property and overlooking horse farms, will delight!

Check out this sunflower field I shot next to Wolffer estates last summer.

Wolffer Rose is one of my summer favorites and great,

light drink for a beach picnic or summer dinner serve al fresco,

however, even in winter

this wine is perfect when put together with lighter fare

people may not always think of the natural beauty of the Hamptons with all the social activities going on out there,

but the combination of farm stands, ocean and beautiful light makes the Hamptons one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen -

a perfect place for wine growing

Wolffer Rose goes well little nibble of cheese and fruit or a light meal of seafood or pasta....perfect for Valentine's Day

for a hearty red wine,
I opt for something a little farther west - Napa valley, perhaps?

During our last trip to California we stopped into Hall Vineyard, and picked up these wines with hints of blackberry and cocoa. All the reds at Hall are delicious, but this Cabernet is a worth the $140 splurge for a very special occasion

Hall Cabernet

This is a delicious wine with hints of blackberry, cassis and cherry, even a taste of chocolate. It's full bodied with a toasted woody flavor and even some licorice notes.

After our last visit to Hall we sent our favorite wine drinkers bottles of their various reds and many went back for more, and now include Hall as their favorite California vineyard.

Cheers!

Hall Vineyard with owners walking the property

14 days of love: day 11 how about a Valentine Sunday afternoon tea?

2012-02-11T11:20:00.006-05:00

Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland

A festive Sunday Afternoon Tea

to enjoy Valentine's Day

a perfect way to celebrate with little tidbits of food and sips of tea.

Source: weheartit.com via tamara on Pinterest

I love this look with vintage tablecloth and mix and match cups and plates

Our Sunday Valentine Brunch Menu:

hot and iced Harrods English Blend Tea w/mint and lemon

cranberry harvest muffins

fresh berries

caramelized grapefruit halves
deviled eggs
selection of finger Sandwiches - check out these
recipes offered up on Oprah's website

Get the kids involved in the preparation,
and these mini crust less peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are adorable -
if you can't find a pretty box like these below, wrap the bottoms with wax paper

Source: designdazzle.blogspot.com via Liz on Pinterest

A Sunday Valentine Brunch is easy to assemble,
don't forget to break out your nice china,
iron a pretty tablecloth
and add a small bouquet of fresh flowers.
You may remember I offered up a tea party post awhile back,
but unlike a more formal English-style tea,
a Valentine Tea is a time to get creative and add some whimsy.

components of a good afternoon tea:

good quality tea, fresh fruit,

delicious baked goods and small finger sandwiches

try Ina Garten's Cranberry Harvest muffin recipe for moist and delicious bites

While in London recently I stopped into Harrods to pick up some of their famous teas.

Happy to note Harrods sells their teas online -- check out harrods tea guide

how to make the perfect cup of tea by Harrods

1. Use a top quality loose-leaf tea Making tea in this simple way will ensure a great tasting cup
2. Make sure the tea has been stored properly, ideally in a re-seal able airtight bag or tin. This is particularly important for teas with more delicate flavours, such as green and white teas.
3. Use a small teapot. Small teapots allow you to control the infusion of the tea much better than larger teapots so we would recommend using one that is no larger than 300ml. With top quality loose tea you can infuse the tea more than once for multiple servings.
4. Be generous with the leaf. It is important to be generous with the tea and make sure you decide on the amount to use by weight and not volume. Use around 5g for a 300ml teapot.
5. Ensure the correct water temperature and quality. Green teas, white teas and yellow teas taste best when infused with 60°C-80°C water. Black teas, oolongs and puerh taste best with near boiling water. It is best to use the highest quality water you can find – filtered or bottled water is fine.
6. Infusion time. Infuse the tea for 3 minutes and make sure that you pour all of the infusion into a cup that is the same size or larger than the teapot. It’s very important not to let the tea stew by leaving it in the teapot, as it will become bitter.

Making tea in this simple way will ensure a great tasting cup but you can always experiment with larger servings of tea and shorter infusions to find the right taste for you.

my family loves any tea iced with mint and lemon

so for those not a big fan of hot tea,
mix it up a little with an iced tea party
and simply brew your tea, then ice it and
add a sprig of fresh mint and lemon wedge just before you serve.

finger sandwiches: use thinly sliced bread, cut the crust off and make any combination of butter, cream cheese, avocado, sliced cucumber, thinly sliced meats.
You can serve either open faced or closed for a more traditional style

Other fun, yet easy ideas for a festive brunch:

caramelized grapefruit -
a little bit of brown sugar and pop it under the broiler - a delicious treat.

Source: williams-sonoma.com

For a Sunday Tea, think small bites -- that's why I make deviled eggs,
sometimes we add chives and touch of paprika.

Source: rochellerella.blogspot.com via tamara on Pinterest

14 days of love: Day 10 - Dazzle them with festive heart shaped cookies by Hey Cookie!

2012-02-10T08:44:00.002-05:00

Lighten your cooking load
this Valentine's Day
by ordering up

these delightful cookies from

Hey Cookie!

I have featured Kathryn Collin's Hey Cookie!

on Nest before.

These bespoke cookies are not just beautiful,

but delicious as well.

You may remember Kathryn generously offered up complimentary cookies last year for my

Culinary Group's Italian Holiday Dinner.

I presented her creations in pretty paper poinsetta boxes for my guests to take home

Kathryn's Valentine designs are ever so sweet...

be still my beating heart -

these cookies are almost too pretty to eat

It's Friday and a few days until Valentine's Day.

Want to dazzle someone at the end of a delicious meal on Tuesday?

Take a look at these "love" inspired cookies
she serves up special for Valentine's Day.

Check our her Facebook Page to order them in time for the big day

Order Valentine Cookies from Hey Cookie!
or email her at kathryncollins@heycookie.com

Left: Trio of Hearts in a Bag, $12.50 each.

Right: Classroom Treats, $3 each.

One mini heart cookie.

14 days of love for Valentine's Day: Day 9 - order them personalized stationery to show you care

2012-02-09T08:27:00.005-05:00

I am dreaming of special,
thoughtful gifts to bestow upon my family

for Valentine's Day,

and with February 14

only a week away what's on my list?

I know I would relish a box of these pretty note cards

when sitting at my desk to send a handwritten note.

Source: littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com via tamara on Pinterest

This Valentine's Day why not adorn your loved one with a box of these gems?

There are many stationery companies,

but what I like about William Arthur is the sublime quality,

yet they are easy to order online.

With a simple click of my computer keys,

I can order personalized stationery, photo cards, boxed stationery and note cards

and they will be delivered to my door in 3-5 business days.
We all enjoy chocolate and flowers on Valentine's Day,
and that's a given, but what piques my interest
is anything personal.

How romantic to share lush personalized stationery with someone you love...
This long format from William Arthur
with an elegant monogram is lovely.

Ecru Long Format Personalized Correspondence Card

How about this square note card

with sweeping ampersand from Vera Wang?

There are many styles to choose from,

and all can be personalized for couples at
William Arthur couples stationery

Vera Wang Oyster White Small Square Notes

My friend Barbara Mangini, author of the creative and inspiring blog

My Dog Eared Pages,

introduced me to this 60 year-old company,

which is one of the finest makers of luxury stationery.

for the dreamers in your life - a journal to capture their stories?

With five days left until Valentine's Day,

why not head on over to William Arthur

and pick up a little something special.

14 days of love for Valentine's Day: Day 8 make a festive batch of cupcakes for your family

2012-02-08T08:12:00.006-05:00

Cupcake obsession!

Our family has gone through a bit of a cupcake craze the past couple of years. For goodness sakes there's an entire television show dedicated to making cupcakes. What is this cupcake frenzy about? Maybe it's because baking cupcakes seem less of a commitment than creating an entire cake, but whatever the reason these lil' cakes are fun to make and decorate. My daughter Gabby became fascinated with designing these scrumptious cupcakes, and even picked up two unique cookbooks with recipes and tutorials on decorating and baking them.

Who doesn't love a cupcake?

You can arrange them and stack them, or serve them simply one at a time...

even though it's lots of work to make, these flower petal cupcakes delight --

recipe from Hello, Cupcake...each petal is a cut piece of marshmallow

Gabby's flower petal cupcakes

from bunnies and chickens to flower petals these cupcakes will charm

Check out their website Hello, Cupcake
they even have "how to" videos on their cupcakes

follow Hello, Cupcake onTwitter @Whatsnewcupcake

some more of Gabby's Nest-y creations for Easter

Easter cupcake recipe from Hello Cupcake

Gabby made a simpler batch for a summer beach picnic in a nautical theme

Gabby's apple designs for a barn party with riding friends...

psst the stems are tootsie rolls

I made these for Gabby's sweet 16 --

mini cakes for each guest festooned with flowers and confetti

This Valentine's Day why not pick up this creatively written book,
offering page by page descriptions for the baker in your life?

Or, grab a copy for yourself, and whip up a batch of Valentine cupcakes for someone you love?

I plan to make this batch of cupcakes from their collection called cookbook
LOVE NOTES cupcakes

photograph courtesy of Hello Cupcake website
all other photographs from Gabby Stephenson and her collection

14 days of love for Valentine's Day: Day 7 bring them Old English Roses and they will swoon!

2012-02-07T10:27:00.003-05:00

photograph and collage courtesy of Gabby Stephenson

Let's talk flowers

on Valentine's Day!
With an overwhelming variety of flowers offered at almost every market these days,
it is difficult to choose an arrangement for those you love
on Valentine's Day.
Still, you just can't go wrong when giving flowers,
from fresh cut tulips, orchids, peonies, lilacs, sunflowers...
they're all tokens of love and offer up their own special, unique story

fresh cut orchids

There are thousands of species of orchids,
yet fresh cut orchids make for a delicate yet elegant bouquet.
Their exotic allure is associated with love, beauty, wealth and strength.
Popular since the ancient Greek times, the orchid's history runs deep,
and at times it has been used for medicinal purposes.
They are valued not just for their beauty, but symbolize strength and prosperity as well.

Of course, their light fragrance is intoxicating.

To me, tulips feel fresh and new and often are the first spring flowers to peek from the soil.
Their only potential down side is their lack of fragrance,
so a great choice for those with allergies.

Source: maryruffle.tumblr.com via tamara on Pinterest

Let's be honest,
roses are the quintessential gift
for Valentine's Day.
The color you choose tells a special story.
Red symbolizes true love, yellow friendship, white purity and pink everlasting youth.
Dispense with the filler flowers like baby's breath and how about opting for a classic hand tied arrangement for an elegant sophistication?

Source: tumblr.com via tamara on Pinterest

or maybe a looser arrangement in an unusual container such as a wooden or lacquered box?

Source: shabbyfrenchforme.blogspot.com via tamara on Pinterest

roses just off the truck at NYC's early morning wholesale flower market

my trip to the London flower district in September

and in the Rose world,

the Old Garden varieties

are the cream of the crop...

love this arrangement at the champagne lounge at Decorex in London in September -
the loosely arranged flowers feels just plucked from the garden

Garden variety roses are often called English Roses or Old Garden Roses. These are quite different than your regular run of the mill roses we see today. They date back centuries, and are great grandparents to the smaller, tighter bud roses we see in many of today's florists. These can be traced back to the Roman Empire, and were used in the affluent family's to signify wealth and decadence. The Garden varieties have larger, looser buds, and sometimes look more like a Peony. Quite fragrant they practically scream "love" so ask for them by name at your local florist - you will be smitten.

not near a good floral shop?

You can

Order Roses Online Here
Although reluctant at first, I have ordered flowers online quite a bit recently,
and find the quality generally good.

Old Garden Roses

have a delicate beauty,

and because there are many varieties

it is hard to explain their one defining characteristic,

but you will swoon when you behold them!

14 days of love for Valentine's Day: Day 6 - Toast with homemade French Martinis

2012-02-06T07:05:00.000-05:00

Source: hwtm.com via tamara on Pinterest

I plan to whip up a couple of sweet and delicious
French Martinis
on Valentine's Day.
This cocktail is my favorite and the fruity sweetness
with bite of vodka is a perfect cocktail for this romantic evening.
We often order up French Martinis when at Balthazar, one of our favorite restaurants
in New York City. They add Chambord to the French Martini recipe, which gives it a sweet and mellow taste
I recently tried this recipe from the

New York Times French Martini Recipe

the salted apple bites add an even more special touch.

14 days of love for Valentine's Day: Day 5 bestow a handwritten poem to show your love

2012-02-05T09:55:00.003-05:00

How about a good old fashioned
handwritten note with a

poem for your loved on?

Source: littleloulouhandmade.com via tamara on Pinterest

If in the area, stop on over to my very favorite Italian paper store on Lexington Avenue and pick up a beautiful hand made note card at Il Papiro

this flame paper comes in many colors and note card versions

Il Papiro is on Lexington Avenue at 73rd Street in NYC

photograph credit: http://mydogearedpages.com/

I love the custom wax seals at Il Papiro

Over the years I have bought many paper items from this shop in a variety of their classic flame patterns - from napkin rings, note cards, hat and card boxes, pencils and even personalized wax seals. Il Papiro is from Florence, Italy with locations throughout Italy and Europe. The small Lexington Avenue shop feels as if walking back in time. With a plethora of beautiful hand made paper products, it's a perfect stop in to nab a card for your
handwritten Valentine love letter.

Now for the poem -

Here's a collection of poems by the
Huffington Post: 10 top favorite love poems
just in time for Valentine's day.
Not listed,
but this is one of my very favorites
by Robert Frost:

To Earthward

Love at the lips was touch

As sweet as I could bear;

And once that seemed too much;

I lived on air

That crossed me from sweet things,

The flow of – was it musk

From hidden grapevine springs

Down hill at dusk?

I had the swirl and ache

From sprays of honeysuckle

That when they’re gathered shake

Dew on the knuckle.

I craved strong sweets, but those

Seemed strong when I was young;

The petal of the rose

It was that stung.

Now no joy but lacks salt

That is not dashed with pain

And weariness and fault;

I crave the stain

Of tears, the aftermark

Of almost too much love,

The sweet of bitter bark

And burning clove.

When stiff and sore and scarred

I take away my hand

From leaning on it hard

In grass and sand,

The hurt is not enough:

I long for weight and strength

To feel the earth as rough

To all my length.
by Robert Frost

14 Days of Love for Valentine's Day: Day 4 - get cozy and rent The Way We Were

2012-02-04T15:05:00.002-05:00

Source: google.com via tamara on Pinterest

With Valentine's Day on the way how about
getting cozy on the sofa,

maybe pop some corn and snuggle up

watching one of the most romantic movies of all time.

I absolutely loved

The Way We Were

with
Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford.

These two unlikely talents were paired together for this melancholy romance
in another era with great music to boot!

check out the trailer of the movie
The Way We Were trailer

Source: Uploaded by user via tamara on Pinterest

14 days of love for Valentine's Day: day 3 scones and jam - breakfast in bed

2012-02-03T08:55:00.003-05:00

more thoughts on serving breakfast in bed

to someone you love this Valentine's Day

There's nothing like a flaky scone slathered with your

favorite jam and clotted cream...

maybe a spot of tea or strong brewed coffee as well?

a delicious scone recipe

Sarabeth's Kitchens Jam
Sarabeth's Peach Apricot is
my absolute favorite -
now you can buy it online.

Break out the good china for the occasion, pressed linens,
and fragrant fresh cut flowers adds an aromatic touch

a little bit of fuss goes a long way
when pampering someone you love!

14 days of love for Valentine's Day: Day 2-breakfast in bed

2012-02-03T08:25:00.003-05:00

Source: getthewordsout.blogspot.com via tamara on Pinterest

Who doesn't love breakfast in bed?

It was a family tradition in our home to be honored with

breakfast in bed for special occasions,
and we happily served our mom

a tray of homemade treats each year for her birthday.

It feels decadent to be served a small meal,

with flowers and in the comfort of your bed!

photo credit: la-belle-vie-tumblr.com

Add a poem or a note, and now you've put it over the top.

I say, go on and pamper someone you love on Valentine's Day...

the morning paper, a steaming cup of hot coffee, scones...

maybe their favorite jam.

photograph credit: pier1.com

no need to cook an elaborate meal,

and even a bowl of cereal and fresh cut fruit
will feel special when served up with love
on Valentine's Day

14 days of love on Valentine's day: day 1: chocolates from Maison du Chocolat!

2012-02-02T08:46:00.004-05:00

Go on get Classic

and pick up someone you love

a delicious box of chocolates!

Not just any old chocolate...

make it special with rich and creamy

La Maison Du Chocolat

Several years ago our family took a trip to Paris,
and of course we embarked upon a wonderful experience.
It is a beautiful city and both delicious to the eyes and palette.
I stopped into a gem of a chocolate store - La Maison du Chocolat - and was impressed with the rich treats, beautifully handcrafted. I scooped up several of these brown stylish boxes to bring home to my loved ones.

As I was leaving the store I asked (in my very poor French) if there were any of locations in the States....to my astonishment there is a boutique just four blocks from my apartment in New York City --
Now the Madison Ave/79th street location is my "go to" chocolate store for holidays and special occasions.

Miles absolutely loves the daily chocolates they offer up in the window, and the hazelnut crunch (round delight) is exquisite. Another added bonus is they offer their chocolates online now -- so go ahead and order up for your valentine this year --

Our Culinary Club's Sublime Indian Dinner, complete with saris, bindis and flower petals

2012-01-28T22:46:00.004-05:00

glimpses of a beautiful and delicious

Indian Dinner Party

a room filled with rose petals,

an elaborately set table

and our host's daughter

(Libby)

greeting us in an Indian sari

the home's European architecture
(check out that fireplace)
combined with the Indian flavors and decor
made us feel as if we had stepped back in time

Ed and Susan's Mulligatawny soup
started our dinner
on a flavorful note
the rich, complicated soup warmed up our palettes.
I have had this soup before, but what was particularly interesting about this version is the especially polished, creamy ending after the initial surprise
of many blended flavors.

we donned bindis,

nibbled on naan bread
with chutney, curry puffs

and sampled Kingfisher beer and wine

Melissa's eggplant dip

I learned a great deal about the complicated layering of Indian food.

The chutneys and dips are some of the most important features to the meal,

and the melding of spices takes you on quite a culinary journey.
I am impressed with how much I learn

each time we embark upon another collaborative dinner.

Quite frankly, I had been a tad intimidated to prepare Indian food before, yet now I feel up to the challenge.

Diana's curry puffs

Our Indian Menu

Irene's Spiced Nuts

1 cup of each raw, unsalted hazelnuts, almonds and cashews. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Mix the nuts, add cumin, cayenne, sugar and chopped up candied ginger. Roast in the oven for a few minutes until lightly browned.

Melissa and Barry's Indian eggplant and onion dip

Melissa's Naan bread: recipe below

Diana's Curry Puffs

note: Curry puffs are like the cousins of Samosa. Diana's were delicious and potato and chicken filled. In India, they can be found at most popular Indian food stands and because they are so prevalent in India, many people buy them. I came across this blog, which outlines in detail how to make them with chicken and potatoes. MySimpleFood Blog's Curry Puffs recipe

Diana's cucumber yogurt dip: allrecipes.com cucumber cilantro raita yogurt

Diana's note: yogurt cucumber dip is nice with anything spicy-Indian version is called raita

Chutneys: cilantro chutney, mint chutney from Patel Brothers in Norwalk, CT

Ed's Mulligatawny Soup inspired by Julie Sahani's Indian cookbook

Ed's notes: The book is Classic Indian Cooking, by Julie Sahani: copyright, 1980.

Gail's Chicken Tikka Masala: Gail and Brian shared this delicious recipe from currydishes.com
One of my favorite dishes of the evening and this is simply the best Chicken Masala I have ever had!

Rob's coconut rice he used his own concoction, here's a good alternative Epicurious Coconut Rice

Rob's Lamb Saag: recipe below

Rob's notes: I adapted the recipe from many sources and then added tomato paste, using frozen chopped spinach, salting the meat when it is being seared, and cooking it in an oven.

Rob and Irene's grilled Shrimp and tomato skewers
Tamara's Aloo Gobi : Chef Aarti Sequeira's Aloo Gobi recipe I am usually confident enough to add my own twist to most recipes but since I'm new to Indian cooking, I made it exactly as Aarti prepares in this recipe -- was quite good and although a very flavorful potato and cauliflower side dish, it works as a nice compliment to seafood, chicken and lamb or beef.

Mango Cheesecake Epicurious Mango cheesecake

note: Irene used mango pulp from Indian grocery store instead of mangoes; Indian mangoes are much richer/riper or something, so that pulp gives a much richer mango taste. Use only boxed cream cheese, not whipped
A variety of tasty Indian cakes and treats

this potato and cauliflower side dish filled my kitchen with rich aromas

Rob's Lamb Saag

• 2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds

• 1 teaspoon cumin seed

• 2 teaspoon black mustard seeds

• 2 cinnamon stick

• 12 cardamom pods

• 4 tablespoons oil

• 4 lbs boneless lamb leg or shoulder, well trimmed and cut into 1 inch cubes

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 4 onions , chopped

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 2 green chilies (jalapenos or anything with similar heat), seeded and minced

• 6 garlic cloves , minced

• 4 cm fresh ginger, grated

• 4 teaspoons ground turmeric

• 2 teaspoon ground cumin

• 2 teaspoon chili powder

• 2 teaspoon ground coriander

• 4 bay leaves

• 4 cups lamb or beef stock

• 40 oz frozen chopped spinach (4 packages)

• 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

• 2/3 cup plain yogurt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

2. Place a dry skillet over high heat. Add the fenugreek, cumin, mustard and cardamom seeds and the cinnamon stick. Toast spices until seeds begin to pop, about 1 minute. Set aside.

3. Place a large pot or dutch oven over high heat. Add oil and head until oil is shimmering. Salt the lamb and brown well in 3 to 4 batches. Set aside.

4. Add onions to pot and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Use the liquid from the onions to deglaze the pot.

5. Create a well in the center of the onions and add the tomato paste. Fry the paste for 1 minute. Stir to combine.

6. Add toasted spices, garlic, ginger, chilies, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, coriander and bay leaves to the onions. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute.

7. Add lamb and stock to the pot. Bring to a boil.

8. Place pot in pre-heated oven and cook for 2 hours.

9. Thaw spinach in microwave. Combine with yogurt.

10. Remove pot from oven. Remove cinnamon sticks and bay leaves. Place over low heat.

11. Add spinach-yogurt mixture, stirring to combine. Heat through.

12. Stir in cilantro.

13. Serve over hot basmati rice.

fluffy yet flat Naan is an everyday food on the typical Indian dinner table. This bread is readily available in a variety of specialty markets, from herb onion to potato flavors. Melissa and Barry brought at least seven different styles for us to sample.

Melissa putting out a wide array of Naan

Brian Logsdon's
Homemade Naan recipe

My friend Paul Anater (talented designer and author of kitchen and residential design.com blog) sent over this recipe from chef Brian Logsdon of the GE Monogram Cook Center in Lexington, Kentucky. You may remember I was sponsored by GE back in June and cooked with Brian in their Kentucky cooking headquarters. Paul's passionate about Indian fare, and when he heard about our Indian dinner he generously passed on this recipe. He cooked with Brian at the Monogram center and got to know the chefs there quite well, and came away from the GE experience a fan -- check out the All In Good Food Blog where the GE Monogram chefs share their recipes often. It can be made in a conventional oven too.

Paul's notes: The measurements can be tricky so I use a scale. That's another trick I learned from Brian -- I like salty na'an so I sprinkle them with fine salt after I brush on the oil. I like to sprinkle anise or caraway seeds too. Give it a go.

5 oz, bread flour

1-1/2 oz. sugar

.6 oz, salt

2 tsp garlic

1 egg

3 Tbsp. milk

2 oz. melted butter

.2 oz. yeast

Water as needed

In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together the flour, sugar, salt, yeast and garlic.

Add the egg and butter and mix until combined.

Add enough water (a little at a time while the dough hook's still mixing) to form a dough that only sicks to the very bottom of the bowl.

Turn the dough out onto a floured counter and knead until you can stretch out a small piece without tearing it.

Refrigerate overnight to let it rest.

The next day, let the dough come to room temperature and then cut into 3 oz. portions.

Set them on a baking sheet lined with parchment, cover with plastic wrap and let them rise until they're doubled in size. Stretch them into a round-ish shape, brush lightly with olive oil and then bake at 350 degrees until they're golden brown.

Gail and Brian's Chicken Tikki Masala

Rob and Irene's grilled shrimp and Lamb Saag

go on, try your very own Indian dinner.

We have done the hard work,
and given you these recipes after testing them together --
now it's your turn!

Thank you to Rob and Irene

for a beautifully presented dinner with delicious food.

A special thanks to Libby for assisting her parents throughout the evening -- now that's a wonderful teenager - Cheers!

My Vote on HGTV magazine's latest issue, which just arrived at my doorstep!

2012-01-22T10:54:00.003-05:00

HGTV Magazine’s

Feb/March issue hit newsstands nationwide

January 17!

Thank you

HGTV magazine

for reaching out to me

and sending me a copy to peruse.

I love the colors used on the cover --

who doesn't love blue and yellow combined?
The easy-to-read format
and
the authentic editorials put this magazine
on the top of my reading list.

Beginning on page 5

with the

hot pink front door,

I am a captive audience.

I love the fresh approach the magazine is taking,

and it is quite helpful to offer up this visual,

yet follow up with all the sources from the door, paint name and number

(one of my favorites by Fine Paints of Europe), to front door mat.

The magazine takes print medium to the next level by sharing all the details of how to attain this look.

you may remember I wrote about my passion for

Fine Paints of Europe

on Nest recently. Because of the superb quality of this luxuriously thick paint, I usually only apply one coat when painting furniture with FPE.

I transformed a 1940s chipped dressing table with a glossy, mint green sheen (color is called Vreeland)

from Fine Paints of Europe.

On page 10 The Cover Star section shows the same bed made up in various color color palettes. I plan to participate in the

"Win Our Cover Bed" giveaway,

and hope you will as well. Take note: the contest began Friday, January 20, and you can enter to win the headboard, mattress set and bedding which all appear on the cover.

go to

bedgiveaway.heartsmags.com

to enter.

photo courtesy of the hyperbalist.com
and this zigzag rug (Chevron) uses high style concepts
and offers it up for a bargain at urbanoutfitters.com

Other fun sections include Bank For Your Buck on page 64
where the magazine has clearly sourced stylish bargain items for the home. I love the zigzag rug (Chevron pattern) from urbanoutfitters.com and the very modern architecture-like bird feeder from umbra.com I'll be certain to check back here again soon.

Next stop on the HGTV magazine tour:
a fun glimpse of Genevieve Groder's NYC brownstone,
and unlike other magazine's formats with super edited and glossy pictures we are brought into this HGTV lifestyle host's home in a way that feels real, as if we stopped over for dinner.

I enjoy the real estate section of Which House Has Your Name On It because it brings real-life homes into the shelter magazine realm, showing readers all the possibilities based upon budgets. It's about time a magazine incorporates the real estate market and their considerations when looking at interior design because as this ever changing market ebbs and flows so do our design considerations.

It certainly doesn't hurt to hear from Curb Appeal's hunky Chip Wade

and what advice he wields on everyday household issues...

right ladies? It's hard to decipher when to hire a professional and when to try and Do-It-Yourself and Chip's advice proves quite helpful because with all the DIY philosophies running amok, we all know sometimes we can get into a lil' trouble if we get in over our head.

All in all I give HGTV magazine a top rating,

yet wouldn't it just be perfect if they added one more column?

I vote for an interior design blogger's section called
Design Blogger On The Move
where the magazine brings in the honed and on-point views
from talented bloggers who are providing much fodder to the industry.

Can't you just picture it?
A Design Blogger On The Move column
where HGTV magazine readers
follow design bloggers on their daily musings

Design Blogger On The Move:
reporting on London Design Festival at the Chelsea Design Center

Design Blogger On The Move:
shopping the NYC wholesale flower market

Design Blogger On The Move:

interviewing fabric designer Eileen Kathryn Boyd
at the Hampton Designer Show house

let me know what you think on Twitter @nestnestnest

Bravo HGTV

hope you can pick up this issue of

HGTV magazine

my fabric obsession continues: Brunschwig & Fils, Clarence House, Hinson, Travers, Kravet and Rose Cummings

2012-01-18T14:45:00.013-05:00

Who doesn't love
Brunschwig & Fils?
Say the name five times quickly...
I have heard a variety of pronunciations for this fabric house!

using toile does not have to be all gussied up and overdone.

I like the fresh, almost modern appeal of how this toile works in the room,

from

thedesignersattic.blogspot.com

did you know toile comes from the French words

"canvas" and "linen cotton"?

a B&F country toile I have used a number of times

It's safe to say that one of my most favorite areas of design is putting together fabric schemes. While it can be interesting, it can also pose a challenge for clients because it is difficult to visualize how a fabric swatch will look on an entire curtain panel or sofa, not to mention how it will meld with all the other moving parts of the room.

I don't regularly take my clients shopping because it takes up lots of time and often confuses the process, but at least once in the beginning of the design process, it is a good idea for us to hit the D&D together to see the various showrooms and styles of fabrics. Usually after one morning, a new client has a better understanding of the importance of layering with fabrics. Today, many of us don't want as much layering as in the old days, but with a more edited eye. Still, there's no doubt good fabric pairings can finish a home.

I am totally obsessed with toile, and not used in your grandmother's clutter variety, but mixed in a way that is nicely edited. Sometimes toile used repeatedly can make a small room feel bigger - ironic!

bold use of fabrics and toile wallpaper
from
Chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com

But either way, my very favorite fabric company has always been Brunschwig & Fils. Since the early days when I was fresh out of design school, I toted that black and white bag around while freelancing for other designers and shopping for clients. The French country influences tug at B&F, and originally made in the finest European workrooms, the fabrics are rich, detailed and varied. I know I can count on them to offer up great pairings of colors together with patterns. I am fond of Rose Cummings fabrics too with their dramatic patterns, which harken to days gone by in English castles, and of course the regal fabrics of Clarence House and Scalamandres impress. I enjoy the variety of fabrics Kravet has to offer as well, but Brunschwig & Fils still gets my vote every time -- thank you Kravet for picking them up and adding them to your wonderful collection of fabric houses!

I associate cotton stripes like this tan and white painted one above I used for

beach house roman shades from Hinson

with Albert Hadley,

and his gentlemanly approach to combining fabrics

We can count on Brunschwig & Fils to keep bringing

us interesting, new fabrics such as these two (above printed cotton and below, Ikat)

a fine example of fabric adding layering:

photograph I took at this summer's Hampton Designer Showhouse.

This room was designed by designer Eileen Kathryn Boyd. She utilized many of her newly released fabrics, which are available at Duralee

I often design pillows using two different fabrics: combining heavier more ornate fabrics with lighter patterns for a clean aesthetic.

This Clarence House shell ensconced fabric put together with a fine cotton pinstripe

and tape trim illustrates my point -

I designed these for a screened in porch

when shopping through the rows of fabrics and handling the rich detailing of the wovens and prints over at B&F, I'm reminded of the talented designer's before us who combined fabrics in a sophisticated manner, and laid a rich foundation for us to add upon, edit and bring into current day.

Billy Baldwin's designs

Elsie de Wolfe

Stop back soon for profiles

of some of my favorite designers from the past -

I plan to show examples of their influence still at work today

Tamara's design journal of creating a cozy kitchen nook & banquette

2012-01-14T22:35:00.009-05:00

Let's Talk Kitchens

my two favorite features to a well designed kitchen:

a cozy eating nook, and a good, quality stove/oven

photo source massuccowarnermiller on Pinterest

I love banquettes
in a kitchen,

don't you?

photograph credit: Houzz.com

In my own kitchen, I dream of creating a perfect banquette with cushy built in seating where we can all cozy up on a cold winter's eve and drink hot cocoa near the roaring fireplace.

The only problem is my pre-war new york city apartment

does not have a fireplace in the kitchen,

but a girl can dream, right?

For the culinary talented a Wolf stove
is the top of the line in my book...

Wolf Stove photograph from Pinterest

here I am cooking on Wolf stoves and ovens
in
Madison, Wisconsin

at their headquarters with in-house chefs and other designers

Cassandra of Coco+Kelley blog and I
were the two blogger & designers added to this designer-only event.
It was fun to bring our journalistic perspective to the experience. Read one of my stories about the trip HERE

It was perfect timing this summer when I returned from a trip to Wisconsin and an inundation of the Wolf/Subzero products, and was hired by a new client who was in the beginning stages of redesigning their entire pre-war apartment. The kitchen was completely replaced and with a contractor in the throes of tearing down walls and re-shaping the apartment, one of the first decisions was which appliances to choose. Armed with my new plethora of information about the company and products, I enthusiastically convinced them to purchase a Wolf stove and double oven. Now, several months later and with a brand spanking new apartment, walls painted and floors stained and finished we move onto the furniture, light fixtures and window treatments.

Check out the Kitchen Pinterest Board

I curated to get me started on visuals for this project.

The board shows you links and credits for all these

great photographs and sources.

the apartment in the end stages of construction
during

September & October

A finished Kitchen:
simple, yet with the finest of details and quality,
and now we need to add those special touches...
photograph taken with iPhone

Are you catching a glimpse of those famous red knobs?

the fabrics have all been ordered and are en route to the workroom.
I used mostly Kravet and Brunschwig & Fils fabrics in a muted blue/green and brown/grey tones to complement the adjoining den we painted a glossy grey color

(one of my very favorite paint colors, Grey Gull from Pratt & Lambert).

With brand spanking new dark wood floors, a new wine refrigerator, and all new appliances, this banquette needs to pop and bring in the needed colors. First I scoured many sources to find the perfect pendant light over the eat in kitchen banquette. The light will hang over the Tulip table that I ordered from Lexington Modern. I came up with many great light options from Circa to Vaughn. In the end, we wanted something with clean modern lines but with traditional sensibilities, and of course a little pizazz. We chose an antique light fixture from Remains.

after much shopping, we settled on a light from Remains

Remains has two NYC locations:

one in the throes of the flower district on 130 West 28th Street,

and one next to the D&D building on

213 East 59th Street.

They sell beautiful, quality lights both modern and antique

check out the stats of this cool light

we added an extension rod to lengthen the entire light so it hangs 42" from the ceiling. It's hard to see on the photograph but this vintage light has a very unusual prism-like diffuser with cut glass. The light should arrive any day and will look extra cool over this tulip table...

these are the fabrics we've settled upon

the solid linen will be the roman shade, the dot the window seat cushion with contrast welting from the solid, and the green and blue/brown

ikat and solid will be the back pillows

the glossy walls and trim in the gray next to the kitchen

stay tuned there will be more updates
as this cozy nook gets lit and comfy...

An insider's view of the decadent Soho Mondrian Hotel in New York City

2012-01-08T22:59:00.003-05:00

Are you tired
after holiday

"nesting"

and need a break from

cooking and entertaining house guests?

head on over to the

Soho Mondrian Hotel

for an indulgent weekend...

our friends Craig Wood and Tracey Thatcher of Cape Advisors

invited a group of us for a spectacular weekend in their fantastic hotel -

come take a look at some of the amenities.

After reading this story

you may be packing
your overnight bag for a weekend away
at the Soho Mondrian

This hotel will knock your socks off...the food is a fabulous fusion of culinary styles, the rooms are chic, and that rocking club downstairs is just over the top

(and I mean over the top),

so if you are in for a fun, grown-up evening head on over.

Our great friends Craig and Tracey conjured up something special in the Soho neighborhood on Crosby Street.

They brought together a group of friends to celebrate their labor of love...

I took these photographs with my iPhone as we arrive -

exciting!

room photos - Tom Sibley

we checked into our room,

which was quite stylized with interesting details and killer views,

then headed off to dinner

Restaurant Imperial 9
photograph by Tom Sibley

it's even more dramatic and enchanting
all lit up at night, taken with my phone

We were treated to an extravagant celebration at the hotel's restaurant Imperial 9 where a Beauty and the Beast feast inspires nightly. The garden building houses the restaurant beneath a dramatic glass roof. The large-scale glass sculpture was created by Beth Lipman and references John Cocteau's La Belle et Le Bête story
in which a seductive feast is prepared nightly.

I couldn't get enough of these dripping chandeliers

Interior Design Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz created a fantasy world throughout the hotel. Inspired by this Beauty and the Beast theme, he weaves this philosophy throughout the hotel, restaurant and rooms. Inundated with decadence, seducing with a soothing blue palette, great music, food and drinks, one can feel the Beast's devotion as he offers Beauty a plethora of sensory experiences. The artistic hand blown glass sculptures greets front and center at the hotel's restaurant, Imperial 9, which is just off the main lobby.

We embarked upon a magical evening connecting with old friends.

with inspiring design, delicious food and spirits,
the experience was topped off
with great company

college friends reunite

let's talk about the food
there seemed to be a little bit of something for everyone at
Imperial 9. We shared some delicious plates of food, and the menu starts with a sophisticated seafood foundation,
but there is a melding of styles with strong Asian influences.
As I write this they are tweaking the menu to add even more choices and
items, so stay tuned...

Both the dinner and brunch (the next morning) were delicious
but highlights include the Oysters, Beef Culotte a la Plancha with dashi,
and the Duckfat roasted peanut potatoes!

behind the beaded curtain at Mister H

Next,

we head over for after-dinner festivities downstairs

Mister H

A slightly different bent than the rest of the hotel, Mister H was

created by Armin Amiri (also designed Socialista in the West Village), and has an old-world feel conjuring an opium den in Beijing in the 1930s, and compliments the hotel experience. Decorated with curated objects of interest from birdcages to Chinese rugs, the club is set behind beaded curtains. You feel as if you are entering another era straight from a movie set. There are plenty of cocktails to choose from, and we were generously gifted with a pricey bottle service. There was a DJ spinning fabulous tunes and oh, a very scantily clad dancer, and the attentive bottle server kept us thoroughly quenched. I am certain it is a difficult club to get into with the long lines, but worth the wait...

I say,

schedule the sitter

and make a weekend of it!

our friend Steve an architect samples a lobby chair

hope to see you there, and until then,

"happy nesting"

hotel notes:

hotel owners: Cape Advisors, Inc., and the Morgans Hotel Group http://www.mondriansoho.com/

Design Architect: Barry Rice Architect PC

Architect of Record: H. Thomas O’Hara, Architect PLLC

originally built: 1914

opening date: March 1, 2011

Interior Design: Benjamin Noriega Ortiz
Hotel Features: 270 Rooms, Suites & Penthouse Apartment with Terraces

photograph from Tom Sibley

A festive MadMen themed Dinner Party brings us back to the stylish past

2012-01-03T14:05:00.011-05:00

Do you watch Madmen?

We re-created a dinner emulating this television series about the advertising industry in the 1960s

above: a typical dinner party during the era

Our Culinary Dinner Club

serves it up with a stylish Madmen dinner
and classic American fare

During the Holidays we embarked upon a fun dinner with our Culinary Dinner Group, and this time we decided to mix it up a bit with a full on theme dinner. As if a torn page straight from a 1960s magazine, we focused on the television series Madmen. We headed back in time to reminisce about days gone by, complete with festive cocktails, kitschy food, stylish dress, and lots of dry humor. Although the food may not be the most challenging to prepare, the entire evening was one of the most festive dinners we've had. The menu, dress and chit chat brought us back to our parent's generation

Randy and I about to catch a cab, and off to our host's home

with our contribution --

Scalloped Potatoes!

the ladies dressed for the occasion -- pearls, sweater sets and cocktail dresses

looking like from the archives of Madmen

our host and hostess

dressed appropriately in vintage smoking jacket and cocktail dress with pin lapel

the ladies offering a toast!

Gail and Brian's home is the perfect forum for this dinner, and their eclectic art collection combined with the beautiful Art Deco decor set the tone for a festive evening. Ironically, the prolific painting above them by Kelly Reemsten would fit nicely in the Madmen set - that dress! Read more about Kelly's art on her website - fascinating.

The guests arrive bearing gifts and food

a beautiful table set with holiday-inspired flowers, sparkling accoutrements and American cuisine - each place setting assigning us a character from

the Madmen series

once we found our place settings the conversations spilled over. I'm not too familiar with Madmen but I was assigned to (Joannie Harris) quite the controversial gal around the office - and I soon found out more than my share about the show.

I need to catch up on reruns now that I have been infused with the culture

Diana dressed perfectly for the part

we felt dressed up, and even by NYC standards - love the satin gloves.

Once we discovered which character we were to portray the evening instantly was filled with laughter.

the food brought us back to our childhood -

the scalloped potatoes recipe is from my mother in-law. I made it while she talked me step-by-step on the telephone, and although quite simple, there is absolutely no cheese. This recipe from Gourmet magazine is the closest to mine, however, replace the nutmeg
with fresh thyme and ground pepper for a more interesting flavor (in my opinion)
Gourmet magazine's scalloped potatoes

Madmen Dinner Menu:

cocktails:

Manhattans
(Esquire Magazine's perfect Manhattan recipe)

Sidecars

appetizers:

brie en croute

shrimp cocktail mushroom rolls

salmon roe triangles

dinner:

wedge salad w/ bacon and roquefort dressing

creamed spinach

scalloped potatoes

Beef Wellington with peppercorn sauce

Dessert:

Baked Alaska

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

wedge salad with bacon and blue cheese -- what's not to love?

the sidecars were delicious - a complete throwback to another era

our hosts thought of every little detail,
and even Lucky Strike cigarettes
(with no filters, can you believe?)
were available -
heck, everyone smoked in the 1960s, right?

the conversation quickly turned to the various roles of the cast of characters on the show, how much our society has changed over time, and yet how much we remain the same. The food and lifestyle created lots of dinner conversation, and we laughed a great deal. Brian gave us quite the historical background on main character Donny Draper, explaining his serendipitous journeys. We may feel a little bit more sympathy for his cad-like behavior now, no? Read here for tidbits on Donny Draper and see who his character is loosely based upon.

it was time to break out the vintage purses - very lady like!

simple food, yet hearty and delicious

Shrimp Cocktail chilling!

Food Network's perfect Beef Wellington Recipe
from Tyler Florence
I can honestly say I had never eaten Beef Wellington en croute before
and it is delicious --

a couple of notes about the Beef from our hosts:
for delicious Beef Wellington and Green Peppercorn sauce, choose Prime Filet Mignon wrapped in fat (not completely “trimmed” per recipe.) Searing beef is critical step. Rolled pastry dough (Pepperidge Farm) to about 1/16 inch, rather than ¼ normally called for; results, in my mind, in a more delicate encasing for the beef. Lastly, note the addition of prosciutto to the wrapping. As for the peppercorn sauce, it literally was about 4 hours or reduction, so do prepare early!

Baked Alaska from Epicurious

Melissa and Barry's Baked Alaska was the icing on the cake! The combination of the warm meringue and cold ice cream delights.

Irene and Rob's Pineapple Upside Down Cake was divine...

I cannot remember the last time I had either of these desserts but while I was growing up we knew we were in for a treat if our family broke out the Pineapple Upside Down Cake, and only our favorite "fancy" restaurant offered Baked Alaska.

All the kids would squeal with delight when being served this treat -- where did these dessert go? I say bring them back and offer them up to your kids for a walk down memory lane...

In true Madmen style Gail breaks out the fancy rubber gloves to wash dishes -

Barry cuts the cake for all to "ooh and aah"

As we plan this week's Indian dinner,

I am up for the challenge on a cuisine I am not too familiar --

stay tuned!

reflecting on the East Hampton Historical Society's House Tour

2011-12-26T13:21:00.016-05:00

a detailed column at my favorite garden on the

East Hampton Historic House Tour

photography by Gabby & Miles Stephenson

interior photography provided by the East Hampton Historical Society

I enjoy house tours because it gives us a modern glimpse into these historic gems and how people are adapting them to every day living. In addition, we learn the history of our neighborhood in an authentic manner. I want to share my enthusiasm for the annual East Hampton Historic House Tour. Each November I look forward to this event, and since many of my viewers live too far away to attend, I'm adding a re-cap of the entire affair.

The uber modern Arc House was on the tour this year

You may have read the editorial I wrote for
East Hampton magazine Dan's Papers
about the event's details

The five homes on the tour this year were located in the East Hampton Village neighborhood. They were eclectic, ranging from cozy 18th century shingle cottages to a large Queen Anne style mansion. The Arc House ended the tour, and evoked forward thinking sensibilities with a modern approach by architect Maziar Behrooz. I appreciate the arc shaped roof and the home's setting - we walked a path of pine needles and lined with evergreen trees to enter the house. The historical society thinks long and hard about which homes to add to the tour each year, offering a comprehensive look and wide range of homes which illustrate various ways people live in the Hamptons.

Here are some of my favorite highlights:

a weather vane adorned with the character Puck
from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream

This historic house on Huntting Lane was built in 1894 on the Woodcroft estate. The original, three-story tower holds the home’s kitchen and living spaces, there is now a second-floor bedroom and a small room on the third floor as well. This attic room is adorable - and we took turns navigating up the narrow steps to peek in the small bedroom. As you approach the house a weather vane finishes off the tower and a detail of Puck perches...you may remember Puck is the mischievous elf from Shakespeare's
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
This was an unexpected detail.

The Windmill Tower House

There was a Federal-style home, which had originally been built in 1853 on Division Street in Sag Harbor for Captain Wickham S. Havens. It was moved to East Hampton in 1960. When I had read this fact it makes sense to me since there are many Federal style homes dotting the village of Sag Harbor as you drive towards the harbor.

The Captain Wickham S. Havens House
in the Federal Style

I love the quirky nature of this little cottage/shed in one back yard --

with the greenery growing over it.

manicured hedges and beautiful landscape - even the smallest homes have well cared for privet and gardening -- very quintessentially Hampton style. This shows the beauty of the area dating back centuries.

a group photo of us meandering from house to house on a beautiful, sunny day.

These classically designed rooms with nautical touches and interesting spurts of color feel very appropriate for the beach setting and age of these homes

this attic-like bedroom is sweet

and the two charming beds mirror the matching windows well

The annual kick-off party rings in the festivities. The very first cocktail reception was held several years back and hosted at the famous Grey Gardens home -- of course that party set the tone for future kick-off events. This year's celebration kept its promise of offering wonder and merriment. We wandered the cavernous home, marveling at the intricate details, noting the home is steeped in the area's history.

a photo as we approach the The Charles H. Adams House, which hosted the cocktail party

The Charles H. Adams House is on Lee Lane, just a few short blocks to my favorite beach called Georgica in East Hampton. This house was also on the tour, but the evening's event gave us a more in-depth look at this extravagant home. It was originally designed by William B. Tuthill , the architect of Carnegie Hall, in 1891 and for only a mere $20,000 . The home is vast and detailed, and designed in the Queen Anne style. It is larger than many of the original cottage-style homes from this era.

To me, the homes were all interesting and fascinating, but my favorite highlight was this incredible garden included on the tour.

The ornamental details throughout this garden were a beautiful artistic venture...antique columns, lions and gates. I am certain this project took years to complete. Of course there is also topiary, hedges, plantings, beds and incredible landscaping all completed by
Marders in Bridgehampton

This reminded me of my very favorite book growing up The Secret Garden, and as we turned each corner it was like discovering a beautiful hidden treasure trove of green and stone.

the walk up the stairs to the Grecian-esque pool feels decadent

a pair of sphinx to add to the drama

I particularly enjoyed the mixture of gardening styles from Classic English to manicured French and beautiful over-the-top Italian ornate elements -- these gardens are an exploration in creativity

espalier at its finest

Miles leads us on our incredible maze-like garden tour

That's my take on all of it!!

I hope you feel as if you've explored a little bit along with me.

Happy New Year!

Stop back next week for a stop into our

Culinary Club MadMen themed dinner,

complete with Americana fare from the 1960s

Day 25: Merry Christmas -- the origin of the tree, plus a gift from Lisa Porter -- homemade orange glazed cinnamon rolls

2011-12-25T01:31:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

Today ends this 25-day Countdown to Christmas festival. It was so much fun to think about an inspiration each and every day of December leading up to this special event.

Let's end with some tidbits about

the origins of the Christmas Tree - Miles got me thinking about Christmas trees when he asked me where they came from. Funny how kids can do that to you, and their inquisitive nature can snap you out of your routine and start to question exactly what your doing. Seems an understandable question to ask why the heck we drag a tree into our home every year, string lights all over it and place wrapped gifts underneath it. So, together we
"Googled" the origins of the Christmas tree and this is what we came up with from Wikipedia...

"The custom of erecting a decorated Christmas tree can be historically traced back at least as far as 15th century Livonia and 16th century Northern Germany. According to the first documented uses of a Christmas tree in Estonia, in 1441, 1442, and 1514, the Brotherhood of Blackheads erected a tree for the holidays[clarification needed] in their brotherhood house in Reval (now Tallinn). At the last night of the celebrations leading up to the holidays,[clarification needed] the tree was taken to the Town Hall Square where the members of the brotherhood danced around it.[9] In 1584, the pastor and chronicler Balthasar Russow wrote of an established tradition of setting up a decorated spruce at the market square where the young men “went with a flock of maidens and women, first sang and danced there and then set the tree aflame”

A Christmas tree for German soldiers in a temporary hospital in 1871In the German Middle Ages, mystery plays at Christmas time within churches often featured an evergreen "Paradise tree" from which an apple was plucked. The first evidence of Christmas trees outside of a church is of the 16th century, with trees in guild halls decorated with sweets to be enjoyed by the apprentices and children. (A Bremen guild chronicle of 1570 reports that a small tree decorated with "apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers" was erected in the guild-house for the benefit of the guild members' children, who collected the dainties on Christmas Day.) Soon after, they are seen in the houses of upper-class Protestant families as a counterpart to the Catholic Christmas cribs. In the 18th century they begin to be adorned with candles, which were expensive items. Only in the 19th century did they come into use more widely, often in schools and inns before they appeared in homes. A decisive factor in winning general popularity was the German army's decision to place Christmas trees in its barracks and military hospitals during the 1870-1871 war. Only at the turn of the century did Christmas trees again appear inside churches, this time in a new brightly lit form.

The modern Christmas tree . . . originated in western Germany. The main prop of a popular medieval play about Adam and Eve was a fir tree hung with apples (paradise tree) representing the Garden of Eden. The Germans set up a paradise tree in their homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. They hung wafers on it (symbolizing the host, the Christian sign of redemption); in a later tradition, the wafers were replaced by cookies of various shapes. Candles, too, were often added as the symbol of Christ. In the same room, during the Christmas season, was the Christmas pyramid, a triangular construction of wood, with shelves to hold Christmas figurines, decorated with evergreens, candles, and a star. By the 16th century, the Christmas pyramid and paradise tree had merged, becoming the Christmas tree"
- Wikipedia description

And, now some inspiration from my bloggy friend Lisa Porter

photo courtesy from Lisa Porter Collection -- merry merry!

It's a busy day today, so I made these delicious homemade
orange glazed cinnamon rolls for my family to start our morning. My friend Lisa Porter sent these over last Christmas for my bloggy trading party, and now I have adopted them into my Christmas morning tradition. Lisa pens a beautiful and informative blog called the Lisa Porter Collection and after following her musings for over four years, I have immense respect for her viewpoint. Lisa is the stylish, smart friend you just have to check in with daily and see what she weighs in on everything from blueberries to fashion. She is a fabulous cook and baker, and you just know she creates a beautiful Nest for her family in Lexington, Kentucky --...I love how she champions artists and talents and their perspective on her blog too -- check out this incredible recipe she has shared...

Dough:

¾ cup warm orange juice

1 package active dry yeast

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg, beaten

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons grated orange zest

3 to 3½ cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

½ cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Orange Icing:

1 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar

¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

1 to 2 tablespoons orange juice

Tip: Use a citrus zester and citrus juicer for fresh zest and freshly squeezed juice. Use standard measuring cups and spoons or scales for accurate measuring.

Directions:

Dough:

In a large mixing bowl, combine warm orange juice and yeast; stir and let sit until yeast is dissolved, about 10 minutes. Add sugar, egg, melted butter, salt, and orange zest; beat until mixture is smooth. Add 2 cups flour; stir until well mixed. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured pastry mat or pastry board; knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes, adding additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time if dough is too sticky.

Place dough in a well greased bowl; turn dough over once to grease the top. Cover bowl with a small kitchen towel and let dough rise is a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.

Prepare one 13x9x2 inch oblong pan; lightly grease the pan with shortening.

Punch dough down then turn onto a lightly floured pastry mat or pastry board; knead dough briefly, 4 to 5 times. Roll the dough into an 18 inch by 9 inch rectangle.

Filling:

using a pastry brush, brush the top of the dough with melted butter to within ½ inch of the edges.

In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle sugar cinnamon mixture evenly over buttered dough to within ½ inch of the edges. Sprinkle with raisins and pecans (optional). Roll-up dough jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch the seams together to seal. Slice dough into 1½ inch pieces and place about ½ inch apart in baking pan.

Cover and let rolls rise is a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Bake:

Bake rolls 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove rolls from oven. Place pan on a wire cooling rack to cool.

Orange Icing:

In a small bowl, combine confectioner’s sugar, butter, vanilla, orange zest, and enough orange juice to make a good spreading consistency. Spread icing onto still slightly warm rolls.

Makes 12 rolls

Tip: This recipe takes a little extra time so I always double the batch!

I hope you and your loved ones have a Very Merry, Joyous & Peaceful Christmas celebration..

Lisa Porter's delicious orange glazed cinnamon rolls

Countdown to Christmas: Day 24 The Evolution of Christmas realized: make your own family traditions today on Christmas Eve!

2011-12-24T13:09:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas Eve

Check out this interesting video of the evolution of Christmas

and how the holiday has changed over the years.

It's all about celebrating in the home now --

rejoice!

Video of The Evolution of Christmas

Let's talk about Christmas Eve traditions...

It seems all families I know celebrate this holiday with a completely different set of traditions. Many of my Latin American friends ring in Christmas Eve as the big event. The entire evening is filled with exchanging gifts, eating a big meal with a large family gathering, whereas Christmas day itself is a smaller affair. Many of my NYC friends are a combination of Jewish and Christian faiths, and I have seen a myriad of traditions melding together. Some have a tree and a Menorah, while others only celebrate one faith. It does seem there is a great deal of inclusion of religions these days, at least in our world of the melting pot surrounding New York City. Christmas has become more of a celebration of family and friends to many, rather than a true religious holiday.

My own Irish-Catholic grandmother took on Christmas with religious fervor, while my Presbyterian grandmother of German descent celebrated in a seemingly less religious tone heavily laced with her family's traditions going back to Darmstadt, Germany. I will always remember Gammy baking her German Laced cookies. When Gammy's son (my uncle) was in World War II, it was a dark time for my mother's family, and I remember seeing the trinkets Henry sent back from Germany: advent calendars and tree ornaments. My very own brother was in the first Gulf War and my own immediate family was laden with the perils of war and worry. It seems Christmas marks important points in our lives, punctuating the good and the bad. It's a time to get together, talk, laugh, play board games, sometimes squabble and raise a glass to each other in union. In my family (a combination of European cultures -- Irish, Spanish, German and English) as long as I can remember on Christmas Eve we stay home, invite friends and family over for hors dourves, sometimes trim the tree, and always exchange one special gift before midnight, then we attend a midnight church service.

Gabby's homemade pierogi

Christmas morning we happily eat a casual breakfast while exchanging our stockings filled with small and inexpensive gifts. When I was small my mom laid out small bites to eat - fruit, tea and cheeses on the table while we opened our stockings. I still carry this tradition with me, and we relax at home spending time together as a family. A fairly new tradition is we spend the late afternoon making homemade pierogi (my Ukrainian mother in-law taught Gabby how to make this from scratch when she was only 9 years old). Pierogi are small dumplings and we fill them with potato, sauerkraut and top with carmelized onions. They are not easy to make and you must roll out the dough and hand cut each dumpling, but they are delicious. Because they are time consuming to make and quite heavy, we only eat them once a year. Christmas dinner is our formal dinner and we sit down to a roast, a green salad and Gabby's homemade pierogi.

photograph from Pinterest

This year for dessert I'm adding my friend Barbara Mangini's English Trifle to our Holiday table. You may remember I introduced Barbara's Trifle last year during my bloggy trading party. I made this for my family and they've been asking for it ever since.

Authoring a blog has been a fabulous experience for me and my business, but some of the most rewarding experiences have been connecting with some special people in a way that I had not anticipated. Barbara and I have shared quite a bit, and I am tapped into much about her life. Her blog -- My Dog Eared Pages -- is a poignant look at art, culture, poetry, fashion and design. One read of her posts it is plain to see she is quite a talent, and her warmth and generous spirit shine through on the screen.

I am making it this year in individual sized champagne glasses since we are a smaller group. This dessert calls for a special occasion, and Christmas is the perfect time to bestow this upon your friends and family. This is rich, delicious and pretty.

Have a Very Merry Christmas Eve

may I suggest you add something new to your Christmas Eve tradition today!

Barbara offers up her version of

John Clancy’s English Trifle

Barbara Mangini -- author of
My Dog Eared Pages

Barbara Mangini's

Christmas Eve English Trifle recipe:

Serves 8-10

Barbara wrote:

"I’ve had this recipe for so long it’s on faded fax paper! It was originally published in Gourmet magazine {I’m not sure of the issue date}. I absolutely love English Trifle for a holiday dessert! It’s clean and fresh with an elegant sherry twist."

Note: Instead of making the Genoise*, I usually shop in Boston’s Italian North End for freshly baked Lady Fingers or my local gourmet food store for Madeleines. Buy enough to roughly equal three layers of a10-inch layer cake.

Genoise*
6 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons of butter, melted and cooled
Custard
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
2 egg yolks
2 ¼ cups of milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Fillings & Whipped Cream
Fillings & Decorations {fresh raspberries, strawberries, if available}
1 cup of good raspberry preserves
1 cup of dry sherry
1 cup of toasted slivered almonds
2 cups of chilled heavy cream {whipped & flavored with 2 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar}
To make Genoise
1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Generously butter and flour 10-inch layer cake pan.
2. In saucepan, whisk 6 eggs and 1 cup of sugar over low heat until warm.
3. Pour into large mixing bowl, beat with ½ teaspoon of vanilla at the highest speed of electric mixture, triples in size and runs off the beater in thick ribbons.
4. Add 1/3 cup of flour at a time, sifting evenly over the egg mixture, and then folding in with a large, rubber spatula. Watch carefully for any pockets of dry flour and then fold in.
5. Add butter, 2 tablespoons at a time. Drizzle over egg mixture and fold i
6. Pour into prepared pan. Drop pan gently on counter to release any air.
7. Bake on the middle rack of 350° F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until the cake is a light golden brown, shrinks slightly from sides of pan, and springs back when gently touched in center.
8. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rackTo make Custard
1. Combine 2 tablespoons of sugar and cornstarch in small, heavy saucepan {not aluminum}. Mix well.
2. With a small whisk beat in egg yolks to form a smooth yellow paste.
3. Gradually whisk in milk in thin stream to avoid lumps. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture boils and thickens.
4. Remove from heat, whisk in ½ teaspoon of vanilla. Pour into storage container and place plastic-wrap directly on surface of sauce. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 4 hours.
To assemble Trifle
1. Slice the cake in three layers and let them dry out for a few hours. Or slice the
Lady Fingers or Madeleines through the middle to create two layers. Spread the layers with raspberry preserves, and reassemble them, gently pressing layers together. Cut the filled layers into large cubes and place in a deep glass-serving bowl.
2. Sprinkle cubes with half of the sherry, then toss and sprinkle with remaining sherry.
3. Fold in the toasted slivered almonds then the custard.
4. Decorate the top with the whipped cream and strawberries, raspberries, and almonds.
Serves 8-10

Countdown to Christmas: Day 23 thoughts on my holiday table: interesting color combination, plus vintage lithopane collections out for the occasion...

2011-12-23T12:31:00.001-05:00

our sugared pink church

It's two days until Christmas --

time for me to pull out the antique silver, polish it up, and think about our Christmas dinner and table.

Today I hope to inspire making a beautiful table for our celebration. I like to use unusual colors, and this year I added pink and cranberry colors to the mix.

The time is now to pull out your unique collections
and mix the best china
with the quirky items
you have squired away.

I say be creative with your holiday table,
and don't be afraid to take it a little over the top --
it's sugarplums and fairies for goodness sakes...

The holidays are a perfect time to bring out my vintage collection of tea pots and cups. I love my Lithopane collection, which are from the World War II era -- with a surprise hologram of a Geisha at the bottom of cup you finish your last sip with a lovely vision. I like that the cups are small enough for a bit of tea after dinner. I've created quite a collection over the years and curated my sets all over the country from South Dakota to Long Island.

What is a lithopane?

"A lithophane is an etched or molded artwork in thin very translucent porcelain that can only be seen clearly when back lit with a light source. It is a design or scene in intaglio that appears "en grisaille" (in gray) tones. The word "lithophane" derives from Greek "litho", which is from "lithos" which means stone or rock, and "phainein" meaning "to cause to appear" or "to cause to appear suddenly"

-Wikepedia

Those are my table thoughts,

and please stop back tomorrow for details on what I'll be serving
Christmas dinner --

a slow-cooking roast, homemade stuffed periogi, a green salad and

topping it all off with rich and delicious English Trifle,

thanks to my dear friend Barbara Mangini

over at My Dog Eared Pages --

there will be recipes to boot.