Thought I'd give you one more peek at my kitchen. Photographer Susan Gilmore came back for a second photo-shoot; this time for Real-Life Kitchens & Baths -- Winter 2012 (now on newsstands). I'll be taking a short break from LivingTastefully the next couple of weeks. The upcoming wedding of our daughter is consuming my days... Homemade marshmallows for guest favors, a continental breakfast in this kitchen the following morning, etc., etc. You get the picture... Maybe there will even be photos. Will someone remind me to charge my camera's battery? TAKE a LOOK:
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I had the pleasure of making dinner one night this week for two women I haven't seen in over 23 years. My friends from Asiatica in Kansas City, were in town for the Hot Art Cool Jazz benefit at the Textile Center of Minnesota, and subsequent trunk show of their exquisite clothing, handmade from vintage Japanese kimono fabrics, contemporary Japanese textiles, and Italian linens and wools. I became acquainted with Elizabeth after attending the Kansas City Art Institute in the early 1970's. Through Elizabeth, I was fortunate to have access to pieces of vintage Japanese silks and linens from Asiatica's vast collection; small remnants I used to line my one-of-a-kind crocheted tapestry bags. The impromptu dinner party meant I'd be able to spend the entire day in my element; ingredients were purchased, red cabbage were harvested from my garden and surrounded with fresh sage for the centerpieces, the table was set, and the afternoon spent chopping, baking, roasting, and grilling. + Cheese Plate, Grilled Swordfish, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Tiny Roasted Potatoes, Lemon Meringue Tart, Good Wine The evening could only have been more special, had one other person been able to attend. I hope you know who you are... TAKE a LOOK: My daughter's wedding is approaching... approaching quickly. I wake in the middle of the night far too often, thinking about everything that is still on my to-do list. And as you can see... Pipi's dress has yet to be finished. It's still in the planning stages. Hmm... just a skirt? Or do I add a tulle bodice? Lots to think about. Little time. Whatever the end result, I'm certain she will be ravishing. TAKE a LOOK: I took a break from all of my commitments (i.e. pre-wedding responsibilities, home repairs, and my French Bulldog Pipi). I visited my family, now all living in Ohio, and had the best, restorative time while there. That was due, in part, to my stay at the Hotel Kelsey -- the name I gave to my niece's resort... I mean... home. It's a very special place. I loved the time with my niece, her husband, and their little boys, but I also felt very pampered while there. My niece is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in NYC, so the food is always good! The outdoor space is incredible (no photos of me spiraling down the water slide, however ;-) But my favorite thing about the Hotel Kelsey is the interior space. Thanks to Antique-of-the-Week Susan, my niece's home is full of objets d'art I love. When Susan and I were in Paris a year ago, we stumbled upon a small restaurant on the right bank with its walls covered in vintage, wooden, gold gilt mirrors. It became the inspiration for the wall in the photo below. I initially envisioned the mirrors hung on a Zuber wallpaper remnant, but the stenciled walls are equally beautiful. Squeaker, the resident Jack Russell, in his preferred lounging spot below the mirrors. An old German trade sign from a watch shop. An old French advertising poster purchased at a farm auction! Caladiums on the porch. We also spent time at The Willow Tree, my nephew and his family's new home. The 1830's historical property is a venue for weddings and celebrations that take place on the grounds and in the large barn. The property boasts the oldest "spring house" in the state of Ohio. My favorite part of the house? The blue kitchen door. Antique-of-the-Week Susan will occupy one of the buildings on the property with her antiques shop, Needle-in-a-Haystack, opening sometime next year. It needs a bit of work before it's habitable (and that's putting it mildly). Preparing for a wedding that took place the following day. Chandeliers in the celebration barn. Seating for the wedding ceremony. A first, and a last -- I climbed three stories to the top of the Widow's Peak at The Willow Tree to take photos. I will not do this again. I'm back at home tackling more preparations for my daughter's November wedding. Still lots to do. Hopefully, I will spend some time in my kitchen! We have to eat!! TAKE a LOOK: It's July 1st and my garden has been planted for weeks. Tomatoes are on the vines. I've been picking and eating green beans for days. The zucchini plants are covered with squash blossoms. It is always hard for me to leave and go anywhere (even France!) this time of year. I worry about what will happen to my vegetable plants when I'm not around. Will the green worms devour my cabbages? Will the birds eat my strawberries? But most of all -- will my plants get enough moisture? After the recent heavy rains Minnesota has received, it's hard to believe watering should be a concern. But things have dried up and we are now experiencing extreme heat. So, what to do when it's the week of the 4th of July and my husband is ready to head "up north"? Well... what you do is, devise a platform to attach the oscillating sprinkler to, secure it in place on top of the rose arbor, and put an automatic timer on the outdoor faucet. During the practice run, it seemed to work just fine. I have the timer set for one hour of early morning watering -- which seems a bit excessive -- but by the end of a 90 degree day the plants are desperate for more. Potted plants were moved near the arbor to benefit from the new sprinkling system, leaving the patio looking very bare. So now, we can all relax for a few days (?) TAKE a LOOK: When we moved to St. Paul, Minnesota some 26+ years ago, there was a French bakery in our neighborhood named Napolean's. It was good. Really good. Actually, no...I'd have to say it was exceptional. So exceptional, that even though it's been gone now for some 20 years, I still think about it whenever I pass by its incarnation (of which there have been many). To this day, there has not been a bakery in St. Paul that even comes close to producing the same quality of French pastries. One winter when my daughter was about 4 years old, we had a huge snow storm. Suffering some cabin fever, I was desperate to get out and decided to go to Napolean's for a cappuccino and a treat, with promises to my daughter of hot chocolate. Of course, with the heavy snows, there was no way I was going to get in a car and drive. The chances of getting stuck were too great. I bundled up my daughter and myself, put her on a sled, and pulled her the approximate mile to Napolean's. After trudging through knee-deep snow with frigid, whipping winds, we arrived, only to find that it was closed -- due to the weather. (It never occurred to me to call first... duh!) The pastries and coffees served at Napolean's were worth risking life and limb (or at least frostbite). One thing I always purchased on a visit to Napolean's was a cappuccino. But the cappuccino made there didn't consist of just espresso and steamed milk. There also happened to be a big chunk of chocolate at the bottom of the cup; plus... whipped cream on top! A café mocha, actually. And, it was divine! It's what I've been making recently at home. Not every day, of course. Only when I feel I need a little treat. • big chunk of chocolate • double-shot of espresso • hot steamed milk • sweetened, whipped heavy cream Serve with croissant aux amandes if possible TAKE a LOOK: I took a couple of weeks off from Living Tastefully's Passions to Pastry -- to get caught up on all of the things I need to do. I am more anxiety-ridden at this time of year than any other. The vegetable garden must be planted. Recently (and not so recently) installed windows need painting. Interior projects (i.e. more painting). Chores that I am off-the-hook on during the winter months are now everywhere I turn -- mowing the lawn -- trimming the hedges -- figuring out what to do with all of the rhubarb! Our daughter needs to be packed up from school and moved home for the summer. Oh... did I mention a wedding? All just the tip of the iceberg. The sad thing is... I don't feel like I accomplished very much of what is on my must-do list. I keep telling myself... it will get done. It always does. But, I also had some fun... I biked a lot. I did a photo shoot for my kitchen designer and friend, Kathy. and, I spent time in my kitchen. The Sourdough with Avocado, Poached Egg, and Salsa was our breakfast yesterday. Simple preparation and delicious. It left me craving more. RECIPE: Toast a thick slice of tangy sourdough bread. Fan a sliced avocado half over the toast. Top with a poached egg, and load on the salsa! TAKE a LOOK: |
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