You Say Potato, I Say Kryptonite

You Say Potato, I Say Kryptonite. . .

There is NOTHING that tempts me like a potato~ well, maybe HomeGoods :) ~  but when it comes to food, potatoes are my weakness. Anyway you serve them or slice them. . . mashed, scalloped, baked. . . and I guess now’s as good a time as any to confess:

 I do NOT share French Fries very well.

Since we are having a small-scale Thanksgiving this year, I thought this recipe for Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust from Southern Living might do double duty~ since it blends sweet potatoes with Yukon gold potatoes. Although truthfully, I’d prefer to skip the turkey altogether and feast on sweet potato casserole AND mashed potatoes. . .but some family members would protest. . . *sigh* . . .

This recipe starts with prepared piecrusts~ a layer of chopped fresh rosemary, shredded Gruyère cheese and black pepper~ sandwiched between two layers of piecrust. Rosemary can overwhelm a dish~ you’ll want to use it sparingly unless you’re fond of it. I used a little more than the 1 Tablespoon called for, for our taste buds, since it’s a flavor we enjoy.

  Press the layered crusts in the bottom and up sides of a 9-inch springform pan~ fold edges under if needed and chill.

 Peel and thinly slice Yukon gold and sweet potatoes. Layer one-third each of Yukon gold potatoes, sweet potatoes, and salt in prepared crust. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup  Gruyère cheese. Repeat layers twice, pressing layers down slightly to fit.

Microwave 2/3 cup of heavy cream and 1 minced garlic clove in a 1-cup microwave-safe measuring cup on HIGH 45 seconds; pour over potato layers in pan.

 Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Cover pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet.

  Bake at 450° for 1 hour. Uncover and bake 25 minutes or until potatoes are done and crust is richly browned. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully transfer to a serving plate, and remove sides of pan. If desired, carefully slide gratin off bottom of pan using a long knife or narrow spatula. Garnish, if desired.

 In addition to your turkey, this gratin would be wonderful with beef tenderloin for the holidays~

You can find the complete recipe from Southern Living here~ it looks beautiful & impressive presented on a cake pedestal!

 Wishing you a Delicious & Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

•  Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~

•  Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Nesting Instincts

 

I’ve been feathering my nest twig-by-twig lately. . .

. . . tidying, sorting, consigning, donating~

 There always seems to be nesting going on around me. . .

 I’m long past due taking stock. . .

. . . cleaning out & preparing for Fall with October’s arrival around the corner~

I thought I would follow the birds’ lead and bring my nesting instincts to the table this week ~

And since birds of a feather flock together~ I decided these teapots & pitcher should come home to roost with my set of four fledgling plates~

  Gracie China Victorian Bird tea pots along with a pitcher, took flight from TJ Maxx to follow me home~

Filled with an assortment of white blooms serving as vases~ for a flower-filled habitat for my table.

I used my fledgling dishes on a table here, back in January.

On a lark, browsing tablescapes on Pinterest, I discovered that a photo from that post migrated to a blog on tumblr and was then reblogged by tumblr bloggers over & over :(

I noted on the photo on Pinterest that I was the original source and emailed tumblr about copyright violation sending a link to my post.  I received a reply within 30 minutes that the media file had been removed.

I’ll be watermarking my photos now and pinning with more interest & an eagle eye in the future :)

Have you made an interesting or disturbing discovery on Pinterest?

Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Birds in Flight~ sprinkled with sanding sugar~

Perched on a soft landing of lemon curd, berries & whipped cream~

Nesting Table Twig-by-Twig Details:

Nesting Pillow/ Pottery Barn

Bird Plates-Gracie China, Napkins & Napkin Rings/HomeGoods

 Gracie China Victorian Bird Tea Pots & Pitcher/ TJ Maxx

Dishes/ Oneida Westerly Basket

Chargers/ Pier 1

Tablecloth- Quilt

Flatware/ Horchow

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

• A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

•  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

•  Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday~

• The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Figuratively Eating

 

 

I’ve had an ongoing love affair for a while now. . .

 

 

My husband knows all about it. . .

Figs. . . sweet, savory, sliced, diced, baked, puréed or sautéed. . .

By themselves or with blue cheese, goat cheese, mascarpone, prosciutto, carmelized onions, arugula. . .

 

 

Our neighbors have a ginormous fig tree that we are welcome to help ourselves to.

Last year, annoyed by its vigorous spreading growth~ they severely pruned it . . . 

So, no figs :(

   

 

This year, it grew back bigger, stronger, faster. 

 We battled the birds and walked away victorious with some of its delicious fruit~

 

 

 One of several quick ways we enjoy them~

 Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

 

 

Spread with goat cheese while baguette slices are warm, add figs, drizzle with honey and some cracked black pepper. 

 

 

If you’re not in too big of a hurry~ add a bit more goat cheese on top of the figs, pop in the oven for 5 minutes for the goat cheese to melt a little and warm the figs.

 

 

We’re usually in a hurry :)

 

 

At the end of summer, I had the fig blues. . .

The tree was done. The figs at the Farmers Market were gone.

My love affair had come to its “Same Time Next Year” phase.

 

 

 My sister turned us on to figs in a jar to satisfy our cravings~

 

 

And this tasty trio of flavors~ Dalmatia® Fig Spread, Brie & Meyer Lemon Cookies~

 

 

 

 

So figs in a jar would have to do~ since figs we typically find in the grocery store are over ripe & overpriced.

 

 

Last week, I opened House Beautiful’s October issue, in search of The 2011 Kitchen of the Year Tyler Florence designed at Rockefeller Center and spied a recipe of his I had to try~ 

 Fig and Ricotta Pancakes. . .

 

 

Desperate for figs, I was afraid I would have to fly to California to visit Jain~ who has been tempting me with her fig ice cream, cake, pizza & chocolate-dipped creations~ and return with a stash in my suitcase.

Fortunately, my grocery store saved me airfare with a pristine shipment just in~ beautiful, big figs~ not over ripe~ and on special, no less :)

The October House Beautiful issue is appropriately titled, “Happiness starts here!”

 

 

From Tyler’s Kitchen, courtesy Tyler Florence

Spiced Fig and Ricotta Pancakes

Serves 4, makes about 12 pancakes

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole-milk ricotta

• 4 large eggs, separated

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon each ground allspice, cloves, and cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

•  unsalted butter

• 10 fresh figs, thinly sliced

 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, add the ricotta, egg yolks, buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest and stir until well blended. Stir in the allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla.

2. In another bowl, or parchment paper, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a third bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form.

4. Fold the dry ingredients together with the wet, then carefully fold the egg whites into the batter.

5. In a large nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat.

6. Arrange one large fig slice for smaller pancakes or three small slices in a circular pattern if making larger ones. Carefully ladle the batter over figs and cook until bubbles rise in the center of each pancake. Turn pancake over and cook for another two to three minutes. Repeat with remaining batter and figs, adding butter to skillet as needed.

7. Serve with real maple syrup and any remaining fig slices.

 

 

Happiness does start here. . .

and a  2,500 square-foot dream kitchen complete with Mauviel cookware doesn’t hurt either :)

 

  

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

• Little Red House for Mosaic Monday~

•  Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Purples, Plums & Petunias

While the calendar says September, we’re still having summer weather~ thankfully with some lower humidity.  A teaser of fall-like temperatures are on the horizon for the weekend.

 I set a transitional table reflecting the bit of summer we’re still in the midst of~ enjoying the last of the summer annuals.  Petunias~ still blooming after a long, hot summer and some fruits in season~ Plums and local Muscadine Grapes from the Farmers Market.

I picked up these dishes a month ago at T J Maxx for a song~ each plate costing less than my former daily Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte.

 It seems I’ve traded my Starbucks habit for a Dish one :-)

Originally thinking I would use them in the spring, I decided I could enjoy them now~ accessorizing with amethyst goblets & napkins and using an assortment of deep rich purple & plum-colored fruits for a centerpiece. . . my favorite kind of centerpiece~ one you can eat later :-)

 Adding a few petunias scattered among the plums, red and champagne grapes and local black muscadines~ enjoying the flowers while they are still busily blooming.

My two-tier server I used before here, is lined with salad savoy leaves for color and a foundation for the fruit~

 The lacy pattern on the stand and woven scalloped chargers led me to a loop edged ribbon to tie on the napkins in lieu of napkin rings~

A Nordic Ware Petits Fours Pan for mini flowers~ four different garden varieties~ dusted with powdered sugar~

I used a boxed mix~ dividing the batter between petit fours & some cupcakes, since each petit four only requires a tablespoon of batter~ that’s a lot of flowers :-)

Plates~ Royal Stafford/ T J Maxx

Tiered Bird Stand/ HomeGoods

Napkins & Chargers / World Market

Goblets/ Target.com

Flatware~ Portmeirion Botanic Garden/HomeGoods

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

• A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

•  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

•  Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday~

• Sweets for a Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Less Labor Day Picnic

 

We’re enjoying a lakeside picnic over the holiday weekend~

I’m testing the theory that everything tastes better out of a jar~ it certainly is more fun :-)

 

 

A layered salad made in advance~ a minimum of 8 hours or up to 24~ chilling for the flavors to meld. 

You can enjoy the fruits of your labor later ~ since that’s  the point of this summer holiday :-)

 

 

Tasty & satisfying~ and a salad that my husband enjoys.

 Note to self:  Pack individual salad jars next time, so serving is less problematic & less labor is required  :-)  

 

 

Layered Cornbread-and-Turkey Salad, recipe courtesy of Southern Living, here

 

  

I substituted some chickpeas for yellow bell peppers~ not as colorful~ but pleasing to our taste buds and used a blend of Monterey Jack & Cheddar cheese instead of Swiss since that’s what I had on hand. 

  

 

 

Skewers of cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, prosciutto, cheese, olives, & cheese tortellini~

 

 

 

 

 

Citrus infused water with lemon & orange slices~ refreshing & thirst quenching~

 

 

 

 

 Dessert in a jar with very little labor using fruits in season~ plums, peaches, berries of any kind or combination. 

 Peach-and-Blueberry Parfait, recipe & inspiration courtesy Southern Living here.

 

 

Instead of making a custard, I mixed a jar of lemon curd with 8 oz of  1/3 less fat cream cheese~ (less labor :-)

Layer custard or lemon curd mixture with the angel food cake (or pound cake), peaches & blueberries. Assemble, chill & enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing you some food and fun in your weekend~

Have a Safe & Labor-Free Holiday :-)

 

 

 Plates/ Kohl’s

Flatware/ HomeGoods

Napkins/ World Market

Beverage Dispenser/ Pottery Barn

 

 

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

•  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

•  Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Corn Utopia

 

My palate and my table are in a state of Corn Utopia this week~ a place where these little kernels are bursting with the sweet flavor of summer.

 

 

I borrowed my mother-in-law’s Fitz and Floyd Corn Pitcher, Salt & Pepper Shakers and last but not least, Butter Dish, for summer’s sweetest vegetable~ and the essence of the season~ at its peak of flavor & availability now.

 

 

 

I picked maize-colored placemats with a kernel-like texture at Kohl’s and shucked napkins from the shelves at Beth Bath & Beyond~

 

 

 

 

Corn on the Cob Cupcakes~ directions and video courtesy Hello Cupcake~

 

 

Jelly Belly corn kernels and Laffy Taffy banana-flavored butter pats~ complete with black sparkling sugar masquerading as pepper~

 

 

 

 

 A-maize-ing corn facts~

 

• The average ear of corn has 800 kernels, arranged in 16 rows.

• There is one piece of silk for each kernel~ (I had no idea but I can believe it :-)

• A bushel of corn contains about 27,000 kernels.

• Each tassel on a corn plant releases as many as 5 million grains of pollen.

• Corn is an ingredient in more than 3,000 grocery products.

• One bushel of corn can make 33 pounds of sweetener, 32 pounds of starch, or 2 1/2 gallons of ethanol fuel.

 

 

 

 

 Tomato & Corn Pizza~ courtesy of Mother Nature’s bounty and bumper crop of basil & tomatoes~ and a recipe from Southern Living, you can find here.

 

 

Pesto, fresh corn kernels, tomatoes & mozzarella~

 

 

 

A trio of summer flavors in  served up in every slice~

 

 

 

Corn Utopia Details:

Corn Pitcher, Butter Dish & Salt & Pepper/ Fitz and Floyd- Omnibus- 1990

Plates/ Oneida Westerly Basket

Woven Chargers/World Market

Napkins/ Bed, Bath & Beyond

Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn

Placemats/ Kohl’s

 

 

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

• A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

•  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

•  Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~ this week’s letter is U for Utopia~

•  Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Grandmother’s Flower Garden

 

 

I recently unearthed a quilt that came from my grandmother, that was tucked away and forgotten (translation: I cleaned out a bedroom closet :-)

 The hexagon pattern is known by several names. . . French Bouquet, French Rose Garden, Hexagon Flower Garden, or more commonly, Grandmother’s Flower Garden.

 

The quilter’s identity is uncertain~ but it is thought to have been quilted by neighbor and friend of my grandmother.

 

 

My grandmother, Lottie, was born in 1901. She was one of nine children and raised her three younger brothers after her mother died. She married at the age of 26 (an old maid in 1927!) and attended Elon College (now University) for one year. She passed away in 1993.

 

 

While I’m sharing this table now, I brought my Grandmother’s (x 2 :-) Flower Garden Quilt outdoors to set this table back in May~ in honor of her birthday and to celebrate my reunion with her quilt~

 

 The little hexagons of calico are breathing a deep sigh . . .

 

. . .  enjoying the fresh air and mingling with the other blooms & flower prints on the teacups & china.

 

 

 

 

My Grandmother’s favorite flowers were roses. I can remember her filling vases after cutting them first thing in the morning.

 

 

There are no roses in my garden, but rose-folded napkins are tucked into tea cups along with roses climbing across the china, that once upon a time, belonged to her sister.

 

 

 

A demitasse spoon, disguised as a silver leaf, is tucked into the rose folds of the napkin~

You can find an easy-to-follow & beautiful tutorial for these rosette folded napkins from Yvonne at StoneGable here.

 

 

I piped frosting onto little brownie bites I picked up from Target’s bakery and added some edible (organic!) violas to embellish them for a quick, sweet treat~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My grandmother confessed she always wanted a tea set growing up but never had one, which prompted her to buy one for my sister and me to use when we visited her.

 

 

We have fond memories of her making our breakfast. . . she would serve our juice and scrambled eggs on our little plates and cups.

 

 

It’s hard to say who enjoyed it more . . . my sister & me eating off of it, or my grandmother playing with it as she prepared our breakfast and served it :-)

 

 

And remarkably, after 40 plus years, it is still intact except for one missing saucer and one plate that was painstakingly glued back together many years ago.

 

  

 Hexagon quilts made in the Grandmother’s Flower Garden pattern, contain a center hexagon~ traditionally yellow~ to represent the flower’s center. The flower center is circled by six colorful printed or solid hexagons with another row of 12 hexagons surrounding the six. This quilt pattern blossomed in popularity in the thirties~ it’s easy to see how the calico prints forming cheery garden flowers would brighten one’s day in a depression-era time.

 

 

 

 

 I was thrilled to have found lilacs sold in bundles at Trader Joe’s back in May when I set this table. . . a surprise as delightful to me as their fragrance . . . and the only way to enjoy them here since our climate is too hot to grow them.

 

 

 

 

I stacked two plates with an inverted tea cup on a pedestal to serve these little flower bites~

 

 

 

 Open Face Cucumber Sandwiches are decorated with more edible violas along with parsley & basil~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Collecting can start with the jog of a childhood memory—perhaps a swirl of rosebuds recalls some long-ago cup in which an adored grandmother offered you a bit of sweet, milky tea scenting with cinnamon.” ~ The Essential Tea Companion

 

 

Flower Garden Table Details:

Dishes~ G. Demartine & Cie

Portmeirion Botanic Garden Flatware~ HomeGoods

Leaf Demitasse Spoons~ Two’s Company~ Tuesday Morning

Assorted Tea Cups & Tea Pots~ HomeGoods

Napkins~ Pier 1

White Plates (as chargers) & Pedestal~ Maxera Cora Blanca~ HomeGoods

Vintage Chintz Pitcher~ Gracie China~ HomeGoods

 

 

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

 

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

• A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

• Lady Katherine for Tea Time Tuesday~

•  Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday~

•  Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~  

• Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~ this week’s letter is T, for Tea

• Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday~

• French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday~

•  Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

Happy Birthday Rachel!

My favorite niece, Rachel, is turning 14 on August 25th. . .

. . .technically, she’s my only niece, but if I had another, she would still be my favorite :-)

 I saw this cute idea for birthday cake-pancakes in the August issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray~ and thought it would be fun to join along with Lynn’s Celebrity Cook-Along with  Rachael Ray~

A fun coincidence since Rachael Ray also celebrates a birthday on August 25th :-)

 These birthday pancakes are one several cake ideas in honor of Rachael Ray’s birthday month in the August issue, using a boxed mix~

You can add sprinkles to your cake mix batter or use a Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix.  I added them to my powdered sugar glaze instead of the batter~

Mix your boxed yellow cake mix according to package directions~ I used a Pillsbury Moist Supreme Yellow Mix.

Ladle the batter into a nonstick skillet or griddle, and cook like you would cook pancakes~ I got 9 pancakes~ approximately 8″~  out of the box mix, but only used 7 for this cake~

Mix powdered sugar with 2 -3 T of water, milk, or orange juice and drizzle over your stack of “pancakes” and add sprinkles~

Rachel~ We blew out your candles and made a wish that you would come visit us soon!

Happy Birthday Rachel (and Rachael :-)

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

• Pig in Mud’s Celebrity Cook-Along, with Rachael Ray~

•  Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~ this week’s letter is R, for Rachael Ray & Rachel :-)

• Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

More Loggerhead Love

 

My lovefest with Loggerhead Sea Turtles continues this week at the table. . . 

 

 

  Our family vacation to Harbor Island was most memorable due to all the turtle activity this year. . .

 

 

By the end of our week’s stay, the 3 mile-stretch-of-beach, had a recorded number of 64 turtle nests~ closing in on the record of 66 nests set in 1999~ twice as many than in 2010~

 

 

Since we’ve returned the number of nests has surpassed the record set in 1999~ bringing the nest count up to 67 :-)

 

 

The greatest threat to Loggerhead Turtles is loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, predation of nests, and human disturbances (such as coastal lighting and housing developments) that cause disorientation during the emergence of hatchlings.

Other major threats include incidental capture in longline fishing, shrimp trawling and pollution. All shrimp boats in South Carolina are equipped with turtle excluder devices (TED)~ Yay!

 

 

I found turtle chocolate molds from Amazon, here, that I used to mold brown sugar~

 

 

 Despite the threat to our waistlines~  white & dark chocolate hatchlings emerged to accompany chocolate & real shells on a brown sugar beach~

 

 

 

The turtle hatchlings are as challenged climbing the frosted cupcake as they are making their way to the ocean~

 

 

 I’m afraid these particular hatchlings’ days are numbered. . .

 

 

 

I used Shell molds from Wilton  to sculpt sand shells & fill with chocolate~

 

 

Approximately 25 volunteers participate in the Harbor Island Turtle Project, searching each morning at sunrise for turtle tracks and nests. All nests are monitored until they hatch and data is submitted to the SC Department of Natural Resources and SeaTurtle.org

 

 

The nest is probed to locate the eggs. The sand is removed to confirm that eggs have been laid. If the nest is in a safe location, the sand is replaced and the nest is marked.

 

 

The eggs are then placed in a new hole that has been dug to the same depth as the original nest. The nest is staked and covered with a protective barrier net.

 

 

After 45 to 75 days the eggs hatch. The babies stay in the sand for several days before emergence. A characteristic indentation is visible when the babies have hatched and are beginning to dig their way to the surface.

 

The baby turtles usually come out  or “boil” in the middle of the night.

 

A nest is inventoried three days after evidence of a “boil”. The hatched shells and the unhatched eggs are counted. If any of the unhatched eggs are considered viable, they are reburied.

 

Occasionally, there are stragglers found in the nest when it is inventoried. These babies are placed on the beach so that they will find their own way to the water.

 

 

We were thrilled to be able to watch the release of 8 stragglers early one morning~ a first for us. . .

 

 

You can’t help but cheer them on, keeping your fingers crossed, knowing how many predators~birds, crabs & fish~ they are up against. 

 

 

It is estimated that only 1 in 1000 hatchlings make it to adulthood~ with mature females returning, sometimes over thousands of miles, to the beach where they hatched to lay their eggs.

 

 

Female Loggerheads lay 4 to 7 nests per season, typically about 14 days apart. 

 

 

 

These little turtle napkin rings had just hatched from a UPS box during my visit there~

  I snapped them up to protect them from any predators that might be lurking and released them onto my table :-)

 

Crabs, ants, raccoons, foxes, and birds target turtle eggs and hatchlings. If they are lucky enough to reach adulthood, sea turtles are relatively immune to natural predation, except for the occasional shark attack.

 

 

Dogs can be a threat to turtles nests, digging for eggs, if unsupervised on the beach~

 

 

Unsupervised dogs can also be a threat to unsuspecting starfish for tablescapes. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loggerhead table details:

Ivory Chargers/Plates- Pier 1

Hurricanes, Shell Bowls, Dinner Plates, Placemats – Kohl’s

Napkins- Pottery Barn, last year

Turtle Napkin Rings – shop in St. Helena, SC

Flatware, Woven Chargers – World Market

 

 

 

Thank you for your visit, I’m happy to be joining :

• StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

•  A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

• Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays~

• Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• Sweets for a Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

• Everyday Sisters Sharing Sundays~

The Peach Keeper

The Peach Keeper ****

by Sarah Addison Allen

An Edible Book Review inspired by Jain at Food for Thought, a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word.

“The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Chased the Moon welcomes you to her newest locale: Walls of Water, North Carolina, where the secrets are thicker than the fog from the town’s famous waterfalls, and the stuff of superstition is just as real as you want it to be.”

I’m long overdue in sharing this book that I read back in April~

I always look forward to Sarah Addison Allen’s books~ I had pre-ordered it, anxious for its arrival. It was waiting for me like a nice, juicy peach ready for me to sink my teeth into, when I returned from vacation. I took these photos and cooked this book back when the azaleas were blooming, and although I had shelved this review, I didn’t shelve this book until after I read it cover-to-cover in two days. . . one day if I hadn’t had to unpack & bathe :-)

My intention was to take a little road trip to tie in to this review, and visit Transylvania County in Western North Carolina ~ the area that the town of Walls of Water is based on, and home to over 250 waterfalls. It became apparent that was not going to happen and though it’s still on my list to visit, it looks more like it will be the fall when the weather is not in the triple digits.

My other excuse is that I got waylaid by another book about peaches  . . .

The long-buried secrets and mysteries of The Peach Keeper continued to haunt me to return to it & Walls of Water ever since~  most recently by an article in Our State Magazine.

Full of North Carolina native, Sarah Addison Allen’s trademarks~ magic, small town charm, and FOOD~ The Peach Keeper is easy to devour in one sitting~  and is a great book to tuck in your beach bag or keep by your night stand.

In keeping with this book, I set a simple table where peaches are the stars. Peach blossom-inspired napkin rings from Pier 1, napkins from Stein Mart, Napoleon Bee flatware for the buzzing of the bees & a tablecloth from Kohl’s~

“A cool breeze floated eerily by, smelling of peaches.”

“If anyone had been paying attention to the signs, they would have realized that air turns white when things are about to change, that paper cuts mean there’s more to what’s written on the page than meets the eye, and that birds are always out to protect you from things you don’t see.”

“There was a slight hint of peaches in the air, but it didn’t scare her.”

Tucker Devlin:

“What I know, what I’m best at, is peaches. Peach juice swims in my veins. When I bleed, it’s sweet. Honeybees fly right to me.”

“He looked like the world was a ripe peach and he was ready to bite it.”

There was plenty to tempt my palate between these pages~ Oatmeal Cookies with Coffee Icing, Double Chocolate Espresso Brownies, Lemon-Chicken Salad, Lemon and Broccoli Mini-Quiches, Angel Food Cake, Honeymoon Pie. . .but it just seemed criminal not to use peaches in this edible review~

“Cups of lemon crème layered with hazelnut shortbread crumbles, pansies, lavender, and lemon verbena.”

I layered peaches, store-bought hazelnut shortbread cookies, lemon curd & whipped cream~ and garnished with edible violas for an individual, easy trifle~

“Lunch was then served, beautiful food garnished with edible roses and tasting of lavender and mint and lust. People closed their eyes with each bite, and the air turned sweet and cool. The quartet played ravishing melodies that were strange and exotic. There was a curious sense of longing in the air, and everyone felt it. People began to think of old loves and missed opportunities. Unlike most of these functions, no one wanted to leave. Lunch lingered for hours.”

“So it was with Claire Waverley, a beautiful, mysterious caterer who it was rumored could make your rivals jealous, your love life better, your senses stronger, all with the food she created. Her specialty was edible flowers, and once it got out that she had something no one else had, everyone wanted her.”

I highly recommend sipping on a Peach Bellini on a Saturday or Sunday morning as you read this book :-)

Paxton:

“ ‘Can you really make people feel differently with the food you cook, with the drinks you prepare?’ ”

 

A savory recipe for your peaches~ A Stacked Peach & Mozzarella Salad~

Grilled Peach-and-Mozzarella Salad, recipe courtesy Southern Living

Served with baby spinach and a cilantro-lime vinaigrette~ Delicious & definitely a Keeper recipe :-)

  “Just as they turned to walk back up the steps, the scent of peaches permeated the air for a moment, thick and cloying, before it faded into the night, crossing the moon in a wisp of smoke, then disappearing.”

“Resonant with insight into the deep and lasting power of friendship, love, and tradition, The Peach Keeper is a portrait of the unshakable bonds that—in good times and bad, from one generation to the next—endure forever.”

 “North Carolina novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction — a captivating blend of fairy tale magic, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility.”

Thank you for your visit, I’m happy to be joining :

• StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

• Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~ this week’s letter is P, for The Peach Keeper

  • Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

  • Sweets for a Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies~

  • Sweet Indulgences at A Well-Seasoned Life~

Catch of the Day

 

 

  I’m tackling a little tabletop fishing~ after a week with family at Harbor Island surf & pier fishing~

 

 

My mother-in-law’s fish planter is angling to function as a wine chiller for this Pinot Grigio I was able to catch ~

 

 

 I cast a look into my husband’s grandfather’s tackle box for a couple of old reels & lures for the table. . .

 

 

 

Our surf fishing landed a few small sharks. . .

 

 

 

 

  

 A trip to Stein Mart landed some green & blue fish that I fell for hook, line & sinker. . .

 

 

 

 

 

We catch our bait with a cast net. . .

 

 

I usually catch up on my reading while I catch some rays :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there is always “the one” that got away at the pier . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing always nets a few surprises. . .

 

  

 

 

 

 

While sharks & stingrays were plentiful, imagine my surprise when I reeled in a PureHeart Seedless~

 

 

 I chose to release my catch of all its watermelon goodness :-)

 

 

You can find directions to reel in your own here.

 

 

There are plenty of other fish in the sea, in the way of watermelon inspiration, at the National Watermelon Promotion Board’s site here.

 

 

 

Catch of the Day details:

Fish plates/ Vitali from Stein Mart

Dinner plates/ Oneida Westerly Basket

 Tablecloth/ Food Network for Kohl’s

Chargers, Napkins & Flatware / World Market

 Blue Goblets/ Dollar Tree

 Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn

 

 

Thank you for your visit, I’m happy to be joining :

 

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

• StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

• Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

You Say Tomato. . .

 

 

You Say Tomato, I Say Fresh. . .

 

 

 

You Say Tomato, I Say Summer. . .

 

 

 

 

You Say Tomato, I Say Italy. . .

 

 

 

You Say Tomato, I Say Salsa. . . 

 

 

 

 

You Say Tomato, I Say Pass the Bacon, Lettuce & Duke’s Mayonnaise :-)

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

However you slice it, nothing says ”summer” like a fresh-from-the-garden tomato. . .

 

 

We plant our favorite tomato varieties each year. . . German Johnsons, Purple Cherokees & Pink Brandywines. . . 

 

 

Add a couple of Carolina Golds from the farmers market and you have one of our favorite ways to enjoy heirloom tomatoes. . .

 

 

Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio Salad~ heirloom tomatoes~ sliced extremely thin~ onion, capers, shaved parmesan, basil, olive oil, salt & pepper. You can also add pine nuts, shaved fennel, or balsamic vinegar~ whatever ingredients you prefer.

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re looking for inspiration with your surplus of summer tomatoes, you can find some fresh ideas for tomatoes from Southern Living, here.

 

 

 

 I spied this recipe for Heirloom Tomato Pie on the cover of the July/August issue of Food Network Magazine. . . it looked so mouth-watering, I had to try it.

 

 

We were not disappointed! Definitely worth the effort and so much better than another tomato pie I’ve made~

 

 

The key to this pie for me is the cornmeal crust, and the addition of thyme and manchego cheese. . .

 

 

You can find the recipe at Food Network’s site, here.

 

 

“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”  

~Henry David Thoreau

 

 

 You Say Tomato Table Details:

Tomato Salad Plates & Dinner Plates/ Pier 1

Placemats/ Bed, Bath & Beyond

Napkins & Goblets/ HomeGoods

Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn

Chargers/ World Market

 

 

I could rhapsodize on about tomatoes~ for more tomato love, see my friend Jain’s Edible Review of Tomato Rhapsody and prepare for some serious cravings for Lemony Tomato & Panzanella Salad & Margherita Pizza. . .

 

 

Thank you for your visit, I’m happy to be joining:

 

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

•  A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

• Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

•  The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Anchors Aweigh

 

 

Before weighing anchor & setting sail for the beach, I created a nautical nook on my porch . . .

 

 

 

I hope to return buoyed~ after enjoying a week in the sun with the sand between my toes. . .

 

 

I’m looking forward to some coastal scenery. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m filling my beach bag with a few books that will float my boat. . . 

 

 

And looking forward to a week of wading thru the pages and the surf. . .

 

 

 

 In anticipation of my voyage, I decided to set sail with Tomato Mozzarella Basil Stacks. . .

 

 

With the wind behind a Basil Leaf Sail~

 

 

A little balsamic drizzle to keep the Tomato Mozzarella Stack afloat. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We cast our net into the tidal pools to see what bait fish we can catch for surf fishing. . .

 

 

The results are surprising, but usually we pull in shrimp. . . which explains all the trawlers we see. . .

 

 

Shrimp Bruschetta~

 

 

Easy & crowd pleasing for sailors & landlubbers alike. . .  shrimp, chopped tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper~ if you’d like a recipe you can find one from Coastal Living, here.

 

 

 

 

Wishing you a week of Calm Seas & Smooth Sailing~

 Sea you soon :-)

 

 

Nautical Nook Details:

Melamine Striped Plates, Bowls & Cups/ Target 

Boat Appetizer Plates/ Stein Mart

Flatware & Napkins/ World Market

 

 

Thank you for your visit, I’m joining :

 

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

• StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

•  A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

• Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~ this week’s letter is N, for Nautical Nook~

• Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

Southwest Flavor

I’m enjoying a little southwest flavor inspired by Lynn’s Celebrity Cook-Along with Bobby Flay.

Bobby Flay, whose signature style~marrying the flavors of southwest with his love of grilling~ and known for his bold flavors & zingy spices, prompted a trip to the Farmers Market for this Cook-Along. . .

for a medley of veggies. . .

and for flowers. . .

Where I married my farmers market purchases with some bold, colorful patterns in salad plates, bowls & placemats for the table. . .

 and blended some fruits for Sangria. . .

 

It’s always fun to play with my food~ economical & convenient, when today’s centerpiece is also this week’s dinner :-)

I spied this Bobby Flay recipe in the May issue of Food Network Magazine~

Red Chile Short Rib Tacos, recipe courtesy Bobby Flay for Food Network Magazine

We enjoyed these and will definitely make them again! I made a few changes~ omitting the port, (using red wine only) ; substituting beef stock for chicken; and using only ancho chile peppers since I was unable to find cascabel & New Mexico peppers. After browning the short ribs, instead of turning on the oven & the heat up in the kitchen, I put everything in crock pot on low for 8 hours, turning heat up in the tacos with a few jalapenos.

Recipe for the Red Pickled Onions included in the Chile Short Rib Taco recipe:

Bring 3/4 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup each red wine vinegar and sugar, and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and let cool, 5 minutes. Toss with 1 thinly sliced red onion in a bowl; cover and chill at least 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Rosé Sangria Spritzer, recipe courtesy Bobby Flay

 I also added some peaches to the Sangria from the farmers market.

Southwest Flavor Table details:

Salad Plates & Bowls/ Kohl’s-  Corsica Home/Tivoli

Placemats & Napkins/ Kohl’s

Napkin Rings & Urn/ Pottery Barn

Dinner Plates/Pier 1

Tray/ Stein Mart

Pitcher, Chargers & Flatware/ World Market

Thank you for your visit, I’m happy to be joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

•  A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

• Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• Pig in Mud’s Celebrity Cook-Along, with Bobby Flay~

• Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~ this week’s letter is M, for marrying flavors of the Southwest, a medley of veggies & Farmers Market~

• Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

Lilacs & Daylight

I was thrilled to have found lilac bundles at Trader Joe’s about six weeks ago, which was the inspiration for this table~ a surprise as delightful to me as their fragrance~ and the only way to enjoy them here since our climate is too warm for them to grow.

I pulled out my Mikasa Daylight Dinnerware for this table~ instead of dining with butterflies, I’m feasting on quilted fields of flowers with the lilacs~

Little clusters of flowers on the lilacs diffuse their heady fragrance, that I arranged with white hydrangeas and the new, green blooms of Chinese snowball viburnum  for a centerpiece~

I love the viburnum’s first lime-hued blooms, that appear before they transition to white. . .their arrival holding the promise of the flowers to come. . .

. . .and whose blooms are the same vibrant shade of the leaves on my Mikasa Daylight pattern~ a hue that reminds me of the energetic, new growth of spring~  trailing across the plates, winding their way inside the bowls & outside the cups.

Since our style is relaxed at the lake, quilts are my table covering of choice~ since they serve double-duty on beds as well as the table and best of all . . .don’t require ironing :-)

A few open-face cucumber sandwiches garnished with the last of the violas (organic!) and basil leaves for fresh-from-the- garden flavor~

And a cup of Chilled Berry Soup, recipe courtesy Southern Living

While the recipe called for blueberries, I used a medley of berries that I had in the freezer~

Refreshing and light for hot summer weather . . .

 And fun for a lunch with the girls, served with a salad garnished with the last of the violas and edible organic nasturtiums. . .

Strawberry Fields Salad, recipe courtesy Southern Living

A flavorful as well as colorful combination of strawberries, nectarines, feta cheese, green tomatoes, glazed pecans, and fresh basil~ on a bed of mixed baby salad greens~

 This 5- Star rated recipe is served with Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing. Not a huge fan of Poppy Seed Dressing, we enjoy Balsamic or Raspberry Vinaigrette on this salad. Adding chicken from a deli roaster, would make this an entrée salad to be enjoyed in hot weather without heating up the kitchen!

“What makes lilacs treasured is not the years they can accumulate, however, but the beauty of their flowers, which come just as the last memory of winter and its ice and snow and barrenness are passing away in the May sun. They flower exuberantly then, hundreds of cobs of bloom appearing over gaunt, gray trunks. That conjunction is itself an emblem of the renewal of the year, but we wonder whether without the fragrance peculiar to lilacs they would matter so much.”

 - Our Life in Gardens

Please Eat the Flowers  :-) Lunch Menu

Lemonade Iced Tea~ with Floral Ice Cubes, how to courtesy Martha Stewart

Open Face Cucumber Sandwiches~ a mosaic “how-to” can be found in my post here.

Chilled Berry Soup~

Strawberry Fields Salad~

 Lilac & Daylight Table details:

Dishes/ Mikasa Daylight Dinnerware

Contoured chargers/ World Market

Flatware/Portmeirion Botanic Garden/HomeGoods

Green Goblets & Napkins/HomeGoods

Bird Napkin Rings & Green Urn/ Pottery Barn

Thank you for your visit, I’m happy to be joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

•  A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

• Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

• French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday~

• The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday~

• Rose Vignettes for Fresh-Cut Fridays~

•  The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~

Oh, Say Can You See. . .

 

A 4^th of July Table with simple white dishes and red & blue accents~ where the food and the party favors are the stars & stripes. . . to celebrate Independence Day~

 

 

On the fourth, there will be 17 of us celebrating family members’ and Uncle Sam’s birthday~ while enjoying food, some boating fun, & fireworks on the lake.

 

 

I found these little vintage greetings-inspired buckets at World Market last summer and thought they would make the perfect pails for party favors.

 

 

A trip to Dollar Tree kept me from liberating all of the cash from my wallet~ where I filled my pails with Red, White, & Blue goodies. . . including a battery operated Fan, Patriotic Tootsie Roll Midgees & Pops, mini Flags and Sparklers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A family favorite~ Our Flag Was Still There Fruit Pizza

 

 

A cookie dough crust using Pillsbury refrigerated cookie dough~ sugar cookie or our preference, chocolate chip~ with a layer of sweetened cream cheese, and the fruit of your choice. Brush apple or apricot preserves over the top of the fruit if desired. Fun to make in a flag formation with blueberries, cream cheese and red grape/raspberry stripes, but we enjoy maximum fruit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land of the Free Lemonade~ recipe courtesy Southern Living

 

 

A refreshing combination of pureed watermelon & lemonade~ garnished with some watermelon stars and with the addition of some blueberries~

 

 

Quench your thirst with an adult version, by adding citron vodka~ just sip sloooowly through your straw :-)

 

 

 

 

What So Proudly We Hailed Watermelon Cupcakes

 

 

I had a trial run at these”cupcakes” with my nephews who were visiting this past weekend. The reviews were mixed~ with the adults more impressed than the boys.  Since I pledge allegiance to any frosting~ the best part of a cupcake to me~ watermelon was a surprising & fun frosting-delivery method :-)

 

 

I cut pieces of seedless watermelon with a cookie cutter the approximate size of the cupcake liner~ added pineapple cream cheese frosting and decorated with sprinkles. After punching the watermelon pieces out, I placed them on paper towels to absorb some excess moisture, then put a little piece of wax paper in the bottom of the paper wrapper to prevent the “cupcakes” from weeping through the decorative liners. Next time, I’ll make them & frost ahead and put in the liners at the last minute~

 

 

 

 

 

 Dawn’s Early Light Pretzel Sparklers~ sure to be extinguished quickly :-)

 

 

Pretzel Sparklers, directions courtesy Martha Stewart

 

 

 I found these festive metal pails in the dollar bins at Super Target~

 

 

 

 

Oh, Say Can You See Table details:

Napkins/ Kohl’s

Plates/ Oneida Westerly Basket

Flatware & Placemats/ HomeGoods

Matelasse Coverlet used for tablecloth

Vintage Greetings-Inspired Pails, Hobnail Pitcher & Glasses/ World Market

Metal Patriotic Pails/ SuperTarget

Blue Goblets/ Dollar Tree

 

 

A Star- Spangled Menu

 Banner Yet Wave Burgers

Home of the Brave Hotdogs

Broad Stripes Broccoli Salad

Bright Stars Baked Beans

Rocket’s Red Glare Potato Salad

Proof Through the Night Pasta Salad

Our Flag Was Still There Fruit Pizza

What So Proudly We Hailed Watermelon Cupcakes

Dawn’s Early Light Pretzel Sparklers

Land of the Free Lemonade

 

 

Wishing you a Safe & Happy 4th~ with Liberty & Potato Salad for All!

 

Thank you for your visit, I’m happy to be joining:

•  StoneGable for On the Menu Monday~

•  A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday~

• Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday~

• Jenny Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday~ this week’s letter is K,  for Francis Scott Key’s  Star-Spangled Banner~

• Common Ground for Patriotic Vintage Inspiration Friday~

• Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday~

•  Sweet as Sugar Cookies for Sweet for a Saturday~

• I Savor the Weekend for Patriotic Linky Party~

• The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~