3.18.2012

Spring Forward

I think I officially have spring fever. Spring is here and all I seem to be doing lately is daydreaming. Remember when you were little and when the first bout of spring-like weather came along, all you wanted to do was stay up late, be outside ALL the time, and run around barefoot inside and out. That is how I feel right now.

But last week, with the warmer weather, I spent my days dreaming of a boat in the Caribbean called the Butterbean. In a little over a month, Boo and I and four of our other girlfriends are "sailing" in the British Virgin Islands (we really just cruise around from island to island). It is a Moorings catamaran and we took the trip two years ago and now it is time to return in May.

You have a crew that takes care of you: cooks for you, drops you off at deserted islands to swim ashore and look for coconuts, mixes you fruity cocktails, and picks up after you, hangs up your wet bathing suit and folds all the towels. You don't have to think about anything. At home with two kids, I take care of them day and night: clean the house, the highchair, the food off the floor, administer medicine when they are sick in the middle of the night, get them dressed, comfort them when they are upset and can't find the words to tell me what's wrong. I am their caretaker, their mom and I love being their mother.

But the Butterbean and this trip is all about me and my girlfriends...enjoying ourselves. Period. No plan or schedule. No decisions. This is a picture I took on our last night of another sailboat. I find peace in the ocean, the water refreshes me. Snorkeling and swimming and lazing around in the sun, this vacation restores me and revitalizes my spirit so I can again return to my family and get back to crewing my own ship at home. A little liberty indeed.

3.14.2012

Sweet Dreams

elle decor

Once you have a taste of good quality it is hard to look back. Whether it be a nice cup of coffee, the discovery of a local cheese shop or fine wine. These goods are better, but as with everything there comes a cost and usually these items are pricer than their lower counterpart. One such luxury I will pay the extra buck is bed linens...

I am lucky because my mom appreciates fine bedding and therefore I grew up sleeping on soft sheets. It was not until a sleepover later in life that I realized not everyones sheets are the same. Now that I am responsible for clothing the beds of my house, I have an even greater awareness of thread count and Egyptian cotton.

There are some many wonderful options out there of fine linens, some of my favorite's being Matouk, Leotine Linens, John Robshaw, Dea Linens. I am somewhat conservative when it come to dressing my bed - keeping it simple with white crisp sheets - perhaps with a nice color edging. When I do bring more color in (usually with the kids) John Robshaw has beautiful patterned sheets and I love Little Auggie. Regardless of the color or print - the stitch of 500 plus thread count Egyptian Cotton will make your bedding quite delightful and should brings sweet dreams...


lonny magazine

3.08.2012

Pink Eye

pink eye

I have invented the perfect cocktail for when your husband is away on business for 6 days, your almost 4 year old has the worst cold/flu in history, your 10 month old has pink eye, and you can't get in touch with your pediatrition...kind of cocktail sort of situation.

So you are crying in the middle of the pharmacy. The Dr was supposed to call in the prescription, but nothing has been done. YOU arrive with two children in tow because your husband is out of town....and you are told the medicine can not be filled at that particular pharmacy because they are clean out of that prescription. Everyone starts crying...including you, the baby and the almost 4 year old, well, screaming, actually, because, well, it is almost supper time.

Finally you get the meds after another trip in the car and are headed home. Put the kids to bed: feed, bathe, story time, tuck in, say prayers, lights out.

Now, mix one part of tequila + a splash of Jack Rudy tonic (http://www.jackrudycocktailco.com/) + a small handful of muddled rosemary leaves + the juice of two blood red oranges + half a juiced lemon or lime + a splash of sparkling water...shake well with ice and pour into a cocktail glass. I like my cocktails on the rocks but whatever you prefer. These were all the ingredients I had on hand and you know, it worked for me. Garnish with a slice of lemon or lime and a twist of blood orange.

Shake and drink. Realize blood orange and tequila are good friends and everything will be better in the morning. Put yourself to bed. Tomorrow is a new day.

3.06.2012

Inspiring Chefs

summer farro / winter farro

As Allison had mentioned in the previous post, the Wine and Food Festival came to Charleston this past weekend. Despite the nasty weather of wind and constant rain, we and other dedicated foodies participated in the festivities. As part of my early birthday celebration (thanks to Allison) we went to meet a small group of well known chefs. Having no clue of what to expect of the afternoon - I was more than pleasantly surprised by these talented cook's and writer's warmth and welcome. It was much more personal than I had anticipated. We got to really talk with the chefs about food and life in general. It was very casual and easy. We all could have hung out well into the evening.

I bought two cook books - 'Salt to Taste' by Marco Canora and 'Cooking in the Moment' by Andrea Reusing. I have been to Canora's restaurant Hearth in New York City many times. Not only is is an exceptional meal - but conviently located right down the street from my sister's apartment. I have not yet made anything from 'Salt to Taste' but have bookmarked a lot of recipes. I can not wait to try both of his farros - they look amazing. This cook book is a beautiful example of Canora's talent with fresh foods.

I was so glad we got to meet Andrea Reusing, chef and owner of Lantern Restaurant in Chapel Hill, NC. I felt like I was hanging out with a friend. It was both comfortable and fun. Having spent four years as an undergrad in Chapel Hill, I have strong ties and appreciation for this unique place. The area is very fortunate to have such wonderful local resources of farms and markets. Andrea's food reflect the local abundance with an asian twist. If you have not been to her restaurant, it is definitely worth the visit.

3.05.2012

A Little Birthday Sunshine

Meyer Lemon Cake-Domino Recipe

Today is Boo's birthday! We celebrated on Saturday afternoon by going to the Charleston Wine and Food Festival's celebrity author reception, then cocktails and dinner. We were blown away by everyone we were so fortunate to meet: Gabrielle Hamilton, Hugh Acheson, Marco Canora, John Besh, Andrea Reusing, and Nathalie Dupree. I came home with 5 cookbooks. I know...how crazy am I??? I could not stop myself.

Cooking is a passion of mine, a stress reliever, a love. It makes me so happy. I think it's funny that when my mom comes to visit and I make dinner, she always says in her Southern accent, "Please don't go to any trouble." And I always laugh because it is no trouble at all, it is peace to me. A time of day when I get to nourish the ones I love and sit around my great grandmother's table and enjoy the food I have made, the day and my family and friends. Not every day is peaceful and that's okay...on most days there is a hungry baby crying, a three year old unhappy about something and a frantic dog pacing the kitchen right under my feet.

But on the days when I can pull it together, I sit and savor every bite and more importantly, I enjoy what it took to get me to the plating of our meal: the perusing of cookbooks, finding just the right recipe, going to the grocery store, farmer's market, butcher or seafood shop, selecting each and every ingredient, getting all my goods out of the car and bringing them inside, cutting the vegetables, standing in my galley kitchen over a hot stove...cooking with a full heart.

So Saturday was really fun. Meeting chefs who I admire. Talking to them about food or family or just about Charleston and hanging out with Boo on her almost birthday and also with three of my other best girlfriends. All drinking wine, catching up, and eating. You would have never known it poured rain the entire day...and yet it all felt so sunny. Happy Birthday Boo! And to all the other foodies out there, these are the cookbooks I brought home. More to come on those this week...





2.29.2012

Lemon Happy

Three years ago my mom bought me a small Meyer lemon tree. With the love of water, sun light and warmth on chilly nights, my little plant has blossomed and grown - producing many lemons. The thrill some people feel when winning a tennis match, I get from my happy plants. This Fall I had enough fruit - that I perserved some using one of my favorite cookbooks, Canal House Cooking. It is quite simple needing just Kosher salt and lemons.
Charleston is a great climate for having citrus plants. The winters here are not too cold. This year it has been particularly mild and therefore my lemon tree is bursting with loads of buds. Although it make it easier, you don't have to live in a mild climate in order to have these wonderful fruit bearing plants. They like lots of sun light and need a well draining pot. They will need to be brought in when it is below freezing and brought outside it time for the bees to pollinate the flowers that create the wonderful lemons.... isn't nature beautiful...


Bursting With Buds

My Little Lemons

2.24.2012

Wallflower


Flower Quince by Clarence House, unknown photo

Boo and I are trying to find the perfect wallpaper for our client's foyer. She wants geometric; but there is something so lovely and inviting about a floral pattern. I feel you can really go for it with a floral motif and cover the whole entryway. And for some reason the wilder it is, I feel the less tired and boring it will be later down the road. The only rule is, you have to LOVE it, the colors, the design...you have to fall head over heels in love with one wallpaper. It is easy to do and once you find it you just know. Take these for example...and imagine opening your front door to walls of flowers...a warm welcome indeed. (I had to include paisley...because even though it's not floral it has the same feel of abundance.)

Traditional Home
Timothy Whealon interiors
IVM wallpaper

2.12.2012

Staghorn Ferns



photos by Christopher Baker for Architectural Digest


photo by Allison Abney

Recently I was flipping through the latest issue of Architectural Digest and I came across Julianne Moore's Manhattan garden that I thought to be so beautiful and understated. Brian Sawyer(http://www.sawyerberson.com/) designed it and the garden is filled with boxwoods, staghorn ferns and ivy. Simple, green and verdant...her garden is so soothing and at the same time a bit moody, but possesses a quiet, peaceful mood, I think. I have always loved the sculptural beauty of staghorn ferns, and these photos of JM's garden shot by Christopher Baker inspired me to finally get some of my own. Friday was a perfect day for perusing Hyam's on James Island and so my 9 month old, Celia, and I found three ferns we liked, brought them home and hung them in the sunroom. She's good with a hammer. Needing not much more than filtered light, misting once daily and a good soak in the tub once a week, the staghorn ferns(not the baby!) are low maintenance. I plan to bring them outside in the spring and summer and hang on the wall of my porch. Boo tells me she sees them all the time in Florida hanging on trees, like orchids. I love the tropical and wild feel of them, don't you?

2.07.2012

The Dining Table

The Dining table... it is so much more than just a table. It is a place for comfort whether from food or conversation. It is where families come together and create memories. It does not have to be anything fancy or elaborate - it is just a place we join to celebrate, catch up and enjoy good food.

I love eating and there is nothing better than sharing that with my favorite people. Cooking is a joy of mine. Bringing food around a table makes it complete. Depending on the day, it could be a simple dinner with my husband, pancake breakfast with my little girls, a dinner party or out at a favorite restaurant, the dining table serves me well.

2.01.2012

A Walled Garden






City living always comes with a certain lack of privacy. When one walks outdoors, one sees neighbors, friends immediately. I live on a very busy street in downtown Charleston and I love city life: the energy, the social run of it all. I enjoy public parks and spaces as if they were my own. But I do crave some solitude after a long day and I dream of a walled garden, a place to escape with just my family and friends. I imagine mine to be simple with stucco walls overgrown with fig ivy, three hornbeam trees bordering the wall that faces my busy street, plenty of green and white plantings, and a big table for my 3 hour family lunches on Saturday and Sunday. A place to retreat, sit a spell and unwind.