Showing posts with label around home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label around home. Show all posts

May 9, 2013

begin at the beginning

























Where to begin? 
Coffee was sipped & plans hatched. 
Snow melted, sap ran, & strange & beautiful signs started appearing, mostly because we noticed.
Peepers' & wood frogs' & humans' lustiness emerged from winter sleep. 
Art was drunk in & conversations flowed.
Music insinuated itself into the light that warmed our rooms.

We've decided to be more brave & see where it takes us.

What's new with you?

September 24, 2012

early fall flavors


A friend gave me this recipe a few years ago, for a deliciously different way to prepare the never-ending supply of zucchinis growing this time of year, & a great way to savor the last of the season's sweet corn. I added diced onion & bell pepper for a zesty & sweet counterpoint, as well as smoky "bacon" & a chipotle remoulade to round out all the flavors. 


corn & zucchini fritters


for the fritters
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
fresh cracked pepper
combine dry ingredients in a bowl & mix well

2 Tbsp. melted butter, cooled to room temperature
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 c. + 2 Tbsp. milk
combine in a smaller bowl & mix well.
add to the dry ingredients & mix well.

1 1/2 c. grated zucchini
2 c. fresh corn kernels
1 red onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
4 slices of crisp cooked bacon, or a vegetarian "bac'n" alternative
add to the batter & stir until well covered & incorporated

heat a deep frying pan with a few Tbsp. of cooking oil ( I used olive).
plop a wooden spoonful of batter onto the hot oil, & press down with the spoon to flatten.
brown each side, pressing down on the fritter with a spatula after flipping.
serve warm with chipotle remoulade.

for the remoulade
1/4 cup mayonnaise - homemade is best
cayenne chili powder to taste (start with 1/2 tsp. & build up to suit your heat level)
2 tsp. fresh lemon or lime juice
fresh chopped cilantro to taste
salt & fresh pepper to taste

July 16, 2012

sultry summer days



Another heat wave has descended upon us, which may be just as well since I injured my back & must slow down & allow it to heal (ha! easier said than done - I think my patience ran out after all of one day). I'm sad to miss out on showing some new friends who are visiting from across the pond around our beautiful surroundings.

Fresh line-dried muslin sheets, which I'd hand-stamped with one of my favorite antique Indian woodblocks, helped keep us cool & our little sleeping nook cheerful, & will hopefully help melt my grumpiness away. That, good films & iced drinks (with a kick) should do the trick for a bit. Well, here's to un-planned mini-vacations of sorts!

July 13, 2012

happy weekend

Slow down, recuperate, appreciate.

July 3, 2012

June 21, 2012

melt my heart




Hot & humid weather has descended upon New England, & I must say, I just wasn't made for these temps. Indubitably, neither is chocolate. Earlier this week my kitchen was a whir of activity as I assembled a small herd of chocolate mendiants for a wedding this coming weekend, luckily finishing before the brunt of the heat hit.

Now that it is officially summer, it's time to shut down the chocolate kitchen for the season, & dive into other projects that have been simmering on the back burner. My cool little subterranean studio has never looked so appealing...

May 26, 2012

May 2, 2012

spring kitchen






We are finally getting more much-needed rain, & the views outside our kitchen window are exploding with color & texture against a soft, grey sky. 

Fiddleheads have shown themselves, one of the much anticipated springtime edibles that appear for just a short time: tender & tangy little curled up ferns, picked right before they unfurl. Steamed & tossed with minced garlic, crushed toasted sesame seeds, toasted sesame oil, tamari & a dash of mirin is my new favorite preparation, while our traditional approach, sautéed with butter, white wine, garlic, fresh parsley, & a dash of lemon juice, is a close second. The bounty begins...

February 13, 2012

homely comforts





A weekend of simple & hearty food, & the simple pleasure that comes from caring for people, the objects you live with, & enjoying your immediate surroundings is a satisfying weekend indeed.

January 9, 2012

atelier love







I'm happy to say my studio space is clean & organized. I've come up with two new collections of designs which will soon be available, & plan to start taking commissions for monogram necklaces this week. That & the new year have left me feeling excited & energized.