Monthly Archives: September 2010

Just another fall day

29 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food

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Since FALL is one of my favorite seasons (I love SPRING equally; I feel a bit guilty that I don’t love SUMMER and only like WINTER!)  I thought I’d post these images that I stumbled upon while visiting various blog sites that I love.

Alright all of you traditionalists, have you ever bought one of these beautiful blue-gray pumpkins? They really are beautiful. Image via Country Living

There is something wonderful about fall's natural bounty on an antique table that just feels like home. Image via Country Living

Doesn't this image conjure up a hike on a brisk, fall day? We Southern California folks might have to endure a Santa Ana condition (warm winds) but a girl can dream, right? Image via Country Living

If YOU love FALL you may be inspired to put out some pumpkins, bake a pumpkin bread (recipe below) or curl up with a good book…OR, if you’re like most in my family, watch football!

Fight on!

Note regarding this recipe:  My friend Alison has a wonderful blog site called paper{whites} and she posted about this pumpkin bread which came from a site Tulips & Flight Suits—I knew the recipe had to be good when “Tulips” says that she believes this recipe is 40% of the reason her husband married her! 🙂

Pumpkin Bread

Bread (found on Tulip & Flight Suits via paper{whites} )

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INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/4 cup pumpkin pie puree (Libby’s)
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat oven to 350° F. Oil a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin pie filling, oil, sugar, syrup, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Slowly stir the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture.

Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack for 10 minutes. Using a knife, loosen the bread from the pan. Serve warm. Can also be frozen

Planning ~ Dreaming

27 Monday Sep 2010

Posted by in Renovating

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plan – 1.  to devise a scheme for doing, making or arranging  2.  to have in mind as a project or purpose;   dream – a fond hope or aspiration

Cart before the horse…I’m always dreaming of the next “thing” (code for project) I’d like to do to my home.  The project list is long and money (money being the horse in this whole cart horse scenario)  is usually the only hiccup in starting on that project, but that doesn’t stop me.  I’m forever thinking of things I’d like to do to our home.  I know some you must feel the same way—when you love doing something it occupies your thoughts more often than not, right?

Oh yeah, this is on the list as well---I've even talked to a friend who is a contractor and he said it wouldn't be that difficult to build!

That said, I was reminded recently how dreaming it is only the first step in the process, duh.

Carol and Barry, good friends of ours, recently did a major remodeling job on their home.  It took months of working with an architect to determine how the exterior of the home would change, to how each room within the new space would work.  Carol is an exercise buddy and know how much time and energy went into the planning process for her remodel, but it was only the tip of the iceberg.

I'd love a little playhouse in the back yard. Image via House Beautiful

As the construction began there were additional details and decisions that had to be made—what kind of hardware for the cabinetry, appliances for the kitchen, flooring, paint color, tile selection, marble/granite, finish on the floors, carpet (where used), lighting and on and on.

The learning curve is very steep on a major remodel, kind of like the learning curve on planning a wedding—there are always things that come up that are somewhat unexpected.

Love the wood walls. Image via KML Design

A recent guest blog on one of my favorite sites, Velvet & Linen, was given by Interior Designer Gwen Driscoll and it addressed this very topic.  She said that she feels the most important part of her work with a client is A MASTER PLAN.  Read her feature HERE.

…and my point you ask?  I believe that dreaming about the next big project could be very helpful if and when that lottery money arrives (no, I don’t actually buy lottery tickets but maybe I should).   I’ll have some of the planning done and be better equipped to remodel that guest bathroom that is currently in a sad state to be sure!

I've priced vanities, mirrors, wall sconces and hardware for this bathroom...now all I need is the money, easy-peasy!

Note:  I’m happy to report that my friend’s house is close to being finished and I believe it’s going to be amazing.  I hope to talk her into a few pics for my blog!

Red rooms vs. white rooms

24 Friday Sep 2010

Posted by in Decorating, DIY (do it yourself)

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I don’t think I’ve ever thought of myself as a “follower”; in fact I’ve usually thought that if anything, I had the ability to be a “leader”—although I don’t especially like to be in charge so maybe that whole “leader” thing is something I imagined about myself, or my mom told me I was a leader when she wanted me to do something…(Moms can be clever that way).

Hold that thought—so about 1 ½ years ago, when I seriously discovered the wide world of blog sites that featured interior design (a self-admitted passion (interiors) since I was a pre-teen) I have found myself torn between what I like and what I think I might like due to the influence of others.

I’ve never been afraid of color in rooms…my family room exhibits this fact.

White is my accent color in my family room.

Red anyone?

But—I love this look.  I keep thinking of rooms that I could change to create this look.  What do you think?  Can a girl who is usually thrilled with the drama of a red family room ever find true love in a white room?

There is something so fresh about white wood and white dishes.

Image via a Better Homes and Gardens piece on French rooms...so pretty, love the symetry.

I first saw this image on Melissa Michael's site, The Inspired Room. Image via Country Living

My friend, Alison, over at paper{whites} once posted that white was her favorite color, I can see why.

I love the white table and chairs and the white salt/pepper grinder.

Layla Palmer at The Lettered Cottage redid their dining room wall—how great is this, white never looked so good.

Layla & her talented husband created this dining room in white. Visit the link to see how they did this...amazing talent!

Things that Inspire did a post about choosing a fireplace mantle for her home and most of the rooms were shades of white {ohhh, sigh}.

I realize the walls aren't white-white but the overall effect is soothing with white chairs and white fireplace.

A Country Farmhouse just redid her dining room.  I love the clean lines and brightness of this room.  Her whole house is so fresh.

A Country Farmhouse has an incredible house---most of her rooms are white. This reminds me of the "less is more" philosophy.

Then I stumble across these images and I think, I must have some red in my house.  Don’t get me wrong, I only have a red family room/kitchen.  I haven’t gone completely overboard.  But I do love red.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens---too much for a small space? Maybe.

I'm not sure I'm bold enough to put red on the wood (mostly because I'd be afraid I'd tire of it and it would cost a lot of money to re-do, right?

Faithful friends/readers will already know that I love toile and red is just fine, thank you.

Ditto.

See, I’m really attracted to white, but I love other colors (red, blue & white, black, taupe, gray) too.  Wait, am I whining?  Maybe just a little—I just love so many beautiful rooms and I’d have to have a 30-room house to accommodate all of them!  What do you do when you see something you love but aren’t sure is really YOU?

Winter house vs. summer house

22 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by in Decorating

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I’ve come to realize our home is truly more of a winter house than a summer house.  Don’t get me wrong, I change the accessories to reflect the seasons and I pack the wool throws in the closet once spring arrives but I still believe the overall feel of our home screams winter.  Part of the reason is that the family room is painted red.

Our family room mantle

My husband and I love cool weather.  We are both native Southern Californians but we often joke that we could live in the Pacific Northwest, rain and all, without a problem.

Our family room sofa and red walls.

My question is…do you think that since we prefer cool weather that I have subconsciously decorated for fall/winter?  What season does your home reflect?  Does it correlate with your preference for a certain season?

Side table in our red family room.

Does this room scream winter to you?

Is it fall yet?

20 Monday Sep 2010

Posted by in Dessert, Entertaining, Food

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When typing this title I had to smile because it reminds me of the classic whine of a child regarding lots of things but mainly car rides, “are we there yet?”  I feel a little like a child in anticipation of the upcoming season—fall.

So, this past weekend, to busy myself in an effort to make the time go by more quickly I decided to prepare a new dessert (new to me) that I found on Epicurious.  If you like to cook you will enjoy this site—one of my favorite features is that when you read a recipe if there are any reviews, and there usually are, you can find out what the other cooks found, tips, changes, etc.  The recipe was first published in Gourmet magazine in 1997.

Caramelized Upside-Down Pear Tart. (Full disclosure: This photo was from the Epicurious site.

Caramelized Upside-Down Pear Tart

Dessert  (Originally in Gourmet Magazine, November 1997)

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Ingredients – serves 8

1 pie crust (can be made or frozen; if frozen, thaw first OR you can use frozen puff pastry, thawed)

Filling:

  • 4 large firm-ripe Bosc pears (2 pounds total)
  • ½ stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation Instructions – Preheat oven to 425°

Peel and halve pears, the core (preferably with a melon-ball cutter).  Heat butter in a 9- to 10-inch well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then stir in sugar (sugar will not be dissolved).  Arrange pears, cut sides up, in skillet with wide parts at rim of skillet.  Sprinkle pears with cinnamon and cook, undisturbed , until sugar turns a deep golden caramel.  (This can take as little as 10 minutes or as much as 25, depending on pears, skillets and stove.)  Cool pears completely in skillet.

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 12-inch round and trim to a 9 ½ to 10 ½ inch round.  Arrange pastry over caramelized pears, tucking edge around pears inside rim of skillet.  Bake tart until pastry is golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.  Cook on rack 5 minutes.

Invert rimmed serving plate (slightly larger than skillet) over skillet and , using pot holders to hold skillet and plate tightly together, invert tart onto plate.  Serve tart warm or at room temperature.

This would be a great recipe to entertain with because you could bake it just before your guests arrive (what a wonderful scent) and then serve it room temperature.

A few more details on Napa Valley

18 Saturday Sep 2010

Posted by in Uncategorized

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I thought I’d add a few more of my favorite stops during our vacation in Napa Valley—

While the wine country offers incredible wine tasting, and I do enjoy a glass of wine now and then {ahem, smile}…our band of merry-makers enjoyed a farmers market in Napa, a delicious visit to Dean & DeLuca (an incredible specialty market that could convert anyone who visits into a “foodie”) and some charming shops in St. Helena.

Saturday morning we decided that since we were renting this wonderful house with a well-equipped kitchen we should pick up some food items to nibble on as well as suitable food for a dinner we planned to host for the grooms parents.  We headed into Napa thinking we would try to find a Costco (can’t beat their meats, produce and even their selection of wines).  Unfortunately, the closest location, according to the Costco website, was in Santa Rosa and the traffic (due to the holiday) made us decide we could make-do with Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s—if you call that “making do”.

We enjoyed breakfast at a delicious little cafe called Graces Table Global Kitchen,  and then stumbled upon a farmers market on our way to the car.

The farmers market near our home in Southern California has always been a go-to place for freshly picked produce of all kinds and varieties, and other novelties...the bakery is great too and Napa's Oxbow Public Market was no exception.

What is it about home grown tomatoes? We all nearly fought over them---we purchased these and some heirlooms that were mouth-watering good!

On Sunday we headed into St. Helena and stopped along the way at Dean & DeLuca.  This is a specialty market that carries artisan cheeses, every imaginable kind of coffee, tea, candies, condiments, breads, desserts, wines, beers—well, you get the idea.

This is such a fun market---even if you don't buy any of their slightly pricey goods you will enjoy browsing the aisles of this well-equipped "gourmet" market.

As we drove into the little town of St. Helena we were charmed by the age and architecture of some of the buildings.

The ladies in my group ducked into Napa Valley Vintage Home gift store and we were so happy we did! I wanted 1 of everything!

There was definately an old world influence going on here and so many of the items were French or English in design---my favorite! {sigh}

Napa Valley Vintage Home

It was a very relaxing vacation and I can highly recommend the region whether you enjoy wine or not!  What are some of your favorite vacation spots?

Wedding in the wine country

17 Friday Sep 2010

Posted by in Drink, Food

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As I may have mentioned HERE, we were invited to a wedding of the son of dear friends we’ve known since we were first married—37 years ago.  Have I mentioned I was a child bride?  {smile}.

There were 2 other couples (close friends)  invited to Jeff & Allison’s wedding and we decided to rent a house rather than stay in a hotel.  The wedding was over Labor Day weekend and we knew Napa Valley would be teaming with wine enthusiasts and other vacationers.

On the other side of the pool is Robert Mondavi vineyards.

One of the couples had stayed at homes found on VRBO and we put them in charge of finding a suitable house to rent.  Mr. S. delivered in spades…he found a 4 bedroom/2 bathroom home on a private drive in Oakville (just south of St. Helena).  The house called “Winemakers House”  has a view that’s amazing.  We found out that the home is surrounded by Robert Mondavi vineyards so the feeling of being in the wine country in our own home was wonderful.

The six of us decided to caravan in 2 cars packed with essentials we felt we needed for the weekend—we left at o’dark thirty (as hubby likes to say) on Friday.  We had decided in advance we had to make a stop in Oakland at Bake Sale Betty’s for Alison Barakat’s (owner/founder) famous fried chicken sandwich.  Worth the wait in line and the slight detour!

This is the view with your back to the vineyard---Winemakers House

Once we arrived at Winemakers House we worked on the centerpieces for the rehearsal dinner (a request by mother of the groom).  Fresh sunflowers and wonderful vineyard vases made for a great table decoration!

Centerpiece for rehearsal dinner

We then dressed for the rehearsal dinner, hosted at Tri Vigne—about 15 minutes from our home.

The day of the wedding we visited St. Helena’s lovely little main street.  {more details on this portion of the trip tomorrow} There are some wonderful shops and the weather was very comfortable—I believe it got into the high eighties but really felt perfect (maybe it has something to do with being on vacation).

Note:  We choose not to visit any wineries that day knowing there would be plenty of wine at the wedding and dinner that followed.

The bride's colors were plum and a sage green, it is only coincidence that this guest had on a similar color and happened to get in the picture.

The wedding was held at V Sattui.  I believe it’s a newer vineyard—in any case, the building was beautiful and the wedding was held outdoors in a stone courtyard.  Above we were surrounded with flower boxes filled with ivy geranium, hydrangea and vines.  I think this is one of the prettiest settings for a wedding I’ve ever attended.

This photograph doesn't do the flowers and vine justice, trust me...the setting was beautiful.

The reception was magical…it was held in a room with wine barrels on 3 of the 4 walls.  There was a stone floor and overhead were rustic, iron chandeliers that were lit with candles.  There were votive candle holders placed on the wine barrels at each opportunity and the effect was so beautiful.

On Sunday we visited one of our favorite wineries, Newton’s.  The back story for Newton’s is too lengthy for me to send here but the overall story is that Sir Peter Newton started this winery and even after selling to a larger company have kept it small and boutique like, producing less cases per year than most larger wineries.

The tour itself includes the grounds,  caves and a formal knot garden complete with fountain.  They finish the tour with a sit-down tasting in the dining room, which enjoys a 180 degree view.  Small plates of a variety of foods are presented with the various wines for taste-compatibility.

Monday we enjoyed a tour at Cakebread Cellers and Chimney Rock Winery.  Each evening we brought wine, cheeses and artisan breads home for our appetizer hour, followed by a simple meal we all chipped in to prepare.

More wine country details tomorrow...I'm going to go in and enjoy a glass of wine with hubby now!

Mention of Napa Valley and the region by The Style Saloniste stayed in Healdsburg in what sounds like an incredible place…see her account of a beautiful weekend in this amazing part of the country.

More tomorrow on a few of the retail spots we visited during our stay in Napa Valley.

Off to Austin

16 Thursday Sep 2010

Posted by in Misc

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I’ll be headed to Austin tomorrow morning.  I’m attending a baby shower for my daughter-in-law and GRAND BABY #1 for moi!  Can’t wait.

It’s also going to be fun for me to see Son#1 and his lovely bride’s new home—not brand new, but their first home that they own!  I hope to get some pictures for you—places to eat, things to see.  I’ll be back next week.

Meanwhile—I’ve scheduled my Friday/Saturday post on our trip to Napa Valley for a wedding.  Very fun.

Why is it I don’t travel for months and months and then have 2 trips within the month?  Go figure.

Have a great weekend and I’ll catch up to you next week!

Real men do eat quiche

15 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by in Entertaining, Food, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

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When Mr. B and I got married I knew I wanted to improve my cooking skills (if you can call the spaghetti recipe and country style ribs recipe skilled cooking).  Mr. B had a vested interest in this goal as well.

The apartment complex we lived in brought in a cooking instructor and scheduled classes in our apartment club house.  I can’t remember her name but her cooking school was called Bon Ton.  A friend who speaks French said she thinks this might mean “good food”.  I’d love to know—any French speaking readers out there?  Let me know.

And despite the 1982 book authored by Bruce Feirstein, “Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche” Mr. B loves this recipe.  I use a frozen pie crust, Marie Callendar and it is very flaky and delicious and EASY!

Yum...great with a mixed green salad!

Basic Cheese/Bacon Quiche

Eggs (Bon Ton Cooking School)

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Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Pinch of nutmeg & pepper
  • 1 cup cheddar, grated (or cheese of choice)
  • 5 slices of bacon, cooked crisp, crumbled (more if you love bacon)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 9” pie crust (I used Marie Callendar’s frozen pre-made crust)

Preparation Instructions

Pierce pie crust and add pie weights or dried beans (to keep crust from puffing up).  Bake at 375° for 10 minutes.  Cool slightly; add other ingredients, dot with butter and bake at 375° for 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

I’d love to live in a stone cottage

13 Monday Sep 2010

Posted by in Antiques, Decorating

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What is it about stone walls in a room that conjures up coziness?  I love the ‘look’ and have often wished I could live in a stone cottage or at the very least, have a stone wall in my home.

I found this stone cottage on the wonderful Brabourne Farm site.

I love the plate rack and pewter with stone as a backdrop. Image via Country Living

Stone can add to any decor, French, Italian or Western. Image via Country Living

A few years ago hubby and I added some stack stone to the front of our house.  You may have noticed that I’ve never included pictures of the front of my house.  The reason is that the 1968 architectural style (or lack thereof) is not my idea of what a cottage should look like.  I guess I fancy our smallish home to be a cottage and the exterior architectural lines of our house doesn’t comply.

A stone wall creates such a cozy ambiance, don't you think?

Just imagine how great blue/gray painted furniture would look up against a stone wall! Image via Country Living

I used to dream that one day I’d add a pitch to the roof on the left side (we have a flat roof on one side of the house) and dormers to the steep pitch that extends over the garage on the right side of the house.  That never happened so when I see photographs of stone rooms I immediately slip into ‘dream land’ and imagine a stone cottage in the Cotswold’s or Irvine, I’m not that particular!

Talk about "visualization tactics" ...I can see myself reading a book by the fire in this stone walled room! Image via Country Living

Do you dream of a cottage in the Cotswold’s?

Images via Brabourne Farm