Wednesday, November 30, 2011

O Christmas Tree

Tonight is the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza... a spectacular show.  Despite the throngs of tourists, a visit to the tree is always on my holiday activity list.  It is more breathtaking in person and fun to watch the ice-skaters below (I've even caught a few proposals-- how romantic).   
Our Christmas tree went up on Friday-- a smaller tree since we'll be with my family in California for the holiday.  We had champagne and "hot dates" (bacon-wrapped dates, a favorite around here) to celebrate our first tree-trimming as a married couple... I hope a tradition was born!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Triple Threat

 I am loving the triptych artwork featured in these rooms...
The size of the installation makes a statement without the cost of a large original piece.
Do you have a big blank wall in need of something beautiful?  The triptychs above are available through Trowbridge Gallery.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Wake Up in the Morning Feeling Like...

P. Diddy?  No.  Ina Garten actually.  I was having a leisurely Saturday morning in bed, watching Barefoot Contessa, and Ina made chicken and shallots that looked too tempting not to try. 
I looked through my latest Ina cookbook, a bridal shower gift (thanks Deb), and there is was.  Saturday night's dinner was Chicken with Shallots paired with her Snap Peas with Pancetta, also found in How Easy is That?  Both dishes were absolutely amazing, and I'll be adding them to the rotation.  Next time I'll serve the chicken with mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious sauce, but we needed a carb-break around here after going a little crazy on my Aunt's world-famous stuffing at Thanksgiving.

If you don't have this cookbook, I suggest you click here and purchase it right away.  Ina created the menu for no less than three of our dinners last week alone-- that woman really can do no wrong!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Holiday Card Inspiration

Some inspiration for those of you who take photos for your holiday cards on Thanksgiving.  The Kardashian/Jenner clan doesn't look awkward or anything.  Some other gems...
I mean... I can't.
Lovely.
If you receive any similar cards this season, you'll know what gift to send in return: pre-paid therapy for the children!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

White Pumpkin Wonders

Is there anything more elegant than a white pumpkin on a Thanksgiving tablescape?
Go the extra mile and give your guests a white pumpkin welcome...

All of these examples of Thanksgiving decor can be put together with little effort-- pick up some white pumpkins right at the market when you buy your turkey, accent them with leaves and flowers from your garden and place them all in vessels you find around your house.  And, never forget the candles!

all images via my Pinterest

Monday, November 21, 2011

Every Good Cook Deserves a Copper Pot

If you don't get the title of this post, you clearly haven't seen Martha, Inc.  And I highly suggest you see it immediately.  SO many amazing one liners from the domestic goddess herself.  

Speaking of Martha, I always make her Maple Pumpkin pie to bring to Thanksgiving.  It's a good thing.
Image and recipe via Martha Stewart

Ingredients
            Pate Brisee
            3 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
            3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
            1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
            1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
            1 teaspoon coarse salt
            1 teaspoon ground ginger
            1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
            1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
            1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
            1/2 cup pure maple syrup
            1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
.    On a lightly floured work surface, roll 1 disk of dough to 1/8 inch thick. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Trim edges flush with rim. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
.    Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut a 13-inch round of parchment, and place on top of chilled piecrust. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Freeze for 10 minutes.
.    Bake piecrust for 10 minutes. Remove weights and parchment, and continue to bake until barely golden brown, about 5 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
.    On a piece of lightly floured parchment, roll out remaining disk of dough to 1/8 inch thick. Transfer parchment with dough to an inverted baking sheet (this will make it easier to slide it onto pie). Top with an inverted 9-inch pie plate or a cake ring, and gently press to make a light indentation (this will be your guide for cutting the leaf lattice to fit the pie). 
Using a 2-inch leaf cutter, cut a pattern out of the round, spacing leaves 1 inch apart and leaving a 1/2-inch border around edge. 
Transfer leaves to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a paring knife or a pizza cutter, cut out the round, leaving an additional 1/2 inch of dough beyond the marked circle. Place in refrigerator while you etch the leaves.
.    Using a paring knife, etch veins in each leaf. 
To make egg wash, whisk together egg yolk and 1 tablespoon cream. in a small bowl. Remove leaf lattice from refrigerator, and lightly brush with egg wash. Arrange leaves around edge of lattice, making sure they do not extend over edge or they will brown too quickly. 
Lightly brush top of each leaf with egg wash as you work to help them adhere. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
.    Bake lattice on inverted baking sheet until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. The thin spaces between the leaves will brown before the rest of the crust; tent with foil if crust browns too quickly. Let cool.
.    Reduce oven to 350. Combine sugar, flour, salt, and spices. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, maple syrup, vanilla, eggs, and remaining 3/4 cup cream. Whisk in flour mixture.
Place partially baked piecrust on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour filling into crust. Bake until slightly puffed and almost set (it should jiggle slightly when shaken gently), 35 to 40 minutes. Remove pie from oven. Using one or two large spatulas, place leaf lattice onto pie. Center it carefully; once lattice has been placed, it cannot be adjusted without smearing the filling. Bake until all but the center of the pie is set, 7 to 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.


Friday, November 18, 2011

Holiday House NYC

The fourth annual Holiday House benefitting the Susan G. Komen breast cancer organization launched this week in NYC.  Held in a beautiful historic mansion on the Upper East Side, the designer show house features rooms decorated to celebrate festive events that occur year-round, not limited to the December holidays.  
The Mother's Day room by Ally Coulter is one of my favorites.  It's a modern salon that would be the perfect setting for afternoon tea and midnight champagne parties alike.  
The Easter room from Duneier Designs looks like a pretty dish of Jordan almonds.  It makes me want to throw on some Lilly and sip on a Southside...
The Oscar Night room from Deb Landis Design is a modern example of the media room.  No chance you'll mistake it for a basement in Omaha, as is the case with many media rooms that become far too literal.
As a newlywed, I love the idea of this Marriage Proposal room from Charles Farruggio.  Be still my heart, he even used my crystal!

The Holiday House, at 2 East 63rd Street, is open daily from 11am-5pm through December 11th, with some evening events too.  Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.  For all you swooning over Celerie Kemble's new book, she'll be there signing it (along with Campion Platt, Amy Lau and other designer/authors) from 6-8pm on December 8th.  

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

My House. My Rules. My Pleasure...



The ad for Donatella Versace's H&M capsule collection is provocative, dark, and a bit twisted.  Does it confirm my suspicion that Donatella is a little scary?  Yes.  Do I want every dress in the collection? Absolutely...

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Earn Your Stripes

Stripes always make a statement...
Horizontal...
Or vertical...
In fashion...
And home decor...
How do you style with stripes?

Monday, November 14, 2011

Parisian Princess Party

Every November, I eagerly await snapshots from the birthday patries my friend Whitney throws for her twin girls.  Expertly styled as usual, this year the twins turned five, and the theme was Parisian Princess Barbie. 
No princess is too young for a makeup lesson!
She is truly a cake-pop master!
Wouldn't your five-year-old-self have died and gone to heaven?  I can't wait to see how she outdoes herself next year!
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