Ok I know Halloween isn’t even here yet and I don’t like to jump the holiday gun (although my husband would beg to differ as he thinks I start the Christmas music a wee too early… he’s right), but I can’t help thinking about my Thanksgiving table. We’ll be hosting dinner this year with my in-laws at their Harlem brownstone. I’m bring the table stylings and cook the crunchy squash & sage, Texas-style cornbread stuffing, roasted sprouts and pecan pie. We’ll all have a hand in the turkey I imagine but for now, I’m dreaming of the table. A gorgeous Mexican vintage farm table that bears an old door as its tabletop, the table itself is a little work of art so we don’t need much in the way of styling.
Here’s what I’m thinking:
I like to keep it simple because let’s be honest, the food’s the thing. A few little simple and thoughtful touches make for a gracious table. I was perusing through Paper Source the other day with the bebes and I picked up a few things.
Menu/Tasting Card:
I’m thinking about using this harvest corn rubber stamp with a pretty silvery metallic ink on the menu/tasting cards. I’ll do a wine pairing with dinner (but of course!) so I like to do a tasting card, listing out the wine with each course and leaving room for notes. I find it engages conversation about the vino and that always makes for happy talk.
A Touch of Thankfulness:
I picked up these sweet placecards that say “I am thankful for” and thought that we could each write down something that we are particularly grateful for on that day. Since childhood, we have had a tradition of going around the table before the feast commences, voicing what we are each grateful for that day. I love it. The little placecards will crystalize that moment in writing.
Placecards & Napkins:
I’ll use the back of the card as a proper placecard and handwrite the guests’ names. I love pinning placecards to fruit and vegetables, so I think I’ll use tiny pumpkins on each plate flanked by these polka-dotted Pehr napkins. Cute right?
Flatware:
I’ll bust out the gold flatware I bought on sale at One Kings Lane- score!- (here’s a similar set at West Elm) and throw some spray mums from Trader Joe’s in a few different vases (mason jars and these zinc buckets that I use for everything) and… done.
How will you style your Thanksgiving table? Tell me about some of your Thanksgiving traditions.
Oh Julia, ’tis true. Happy Weekend dear readers. I hope this finds you all cozy and warm. We are having a big cold spurt here, the first of the season. My mom is in town so we’re going to hit up Mount Vernon for its annual fall festival and a local Halloween parade on Sunday. What are you all up to?
What I’m Drinking This Weekend:
You guessed it, it’s another Central Coast Pinot. I’m still loving on these Pinots (always will but having a particular taste for them at the moment), good stuff and great for fall. I’ll be chewing and swirling this one around with some honey-drizzled and ricotta-topped figs. Recipe to come.
Clever. The answer to all of my closet-less woes. An Ode to the Pax by the genius DIY’er Jenny Komenda. This customed wardrobe is no big box closet. It is swank-a-roo. Less than half the cost of a custom built closer, I am filing this one away for the dream house. Fo Sho.
Brilliant. Sam Wasson brings his Jazz Hands A game to this short teaser for his new Fosse bio. Nathan Lane, Andrea Martin and the almighty Liza make cameo appearances. Hilarious. If you know anything about the brilliant dance maker Bob Fosse, you’ll love this. All That Jazz is required viewing for maximum appreciation. Plus, if you haven’t seen it then… well, why not? I’m talking to you Lauren, it’s only one of the greatest movies ever made in my humble and Fosse-fanatic opinion.
Creative. The Yellow Table’s Anna Watson Carl realizes a dream. She’s writing a cookbook and has given herself 5 months to create 100 recipes. Follow along with The Cookbook Diaries.
Repulsive. On all levels. In light of our recent government meltdown, we’ve taken to watching the West Wing and longing for a better era. That show just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy unlike the current state of American politics. Ugh.
Cool! A stick figure baby for Halloween. I might have to do this next year.
Kind. Tell a friend (or a stranger) that she’s a good momma. A little goes a long way.
Creepy? Justice Scalia believes in the devil. This piece is Halloween apropos.
Spooky. According to a recent study, the country of Japan will have its last Japanese baby in the year 3000. Say what? The Last Japanese Baby- it sounds like a new Sci-Fi film starring Will and Jaden Smith. Can they save the last Japanese baby? What do you think? There have been lots of books released lately on the issue, an interesting topic.
And lastly:
What will you be this Halloween? I mean you, grown ups. We are invited to a kids birthday party for Halloween and the adults are required to dress up. I’m not usually one for a lack of interest in dreaming up these kinds of things but time is of the essence here. I’ve got two days to pull something together with no budget. What are some funny and easy costumes that you have all thought up over the years? I was once the Night Sky and just wore all black and stuck glow in the dark stars all over myself, but this party’s during the day so that won’t work. I’ve been a Black-Eyed Pea, that one’s easy. C and I went one year as 2 Peas and iPod (get it- yuck yuck). Let me know if you have any easy quick costume ideas.
Happy Weekend dear readers. How great is this Minimalist Spook dining room. My good friend Kristen decorated this year at her 5 year-old son’s request. She lives in a beautiful Scandinavian-like home in Connecticut and did this just right, I think. I love her style.
What are you all up to this weekend? We’re going to the Circus! I cannot wait. This will be the bebes’ first time under the big top and we have ringside seats. I’m so curious as to what they will think of it all. They’re still pretty young so there’s no telling how long they’ll be game, if they’ll like it, be scared, I don’t know- all bets are off with two 16 month-old little people. Chances are one will love it and the other- not so much, that seems to be the way things go around here. Cin Cin and Happy Weekend!
What I’m Drinking This Weekend:
Cold Heaven Makepeace Pinot Noir: from the Santa Rita Hills in the Central Coast of Cali. Morgan Clendenden is in charge here. Yes, of those Clendendens. She’s married to wild man Jim, the legendary producer of Santa Barbara’s Au Bon Climat, one of the first wines made in the French style to really put the Central Coast on the international wine map. We served Au Bon Climat’s Chard at our wedding. Big fan.
I can’t get enough of the St. Rita hills ever really, but particularly at this time of year. Their pinots are earthly and mellow but yet bright with ripe fruit and spice. They don’t tend to carry that heavy barnyard note that Willamette Pinots do (though I love that too), these Pinots are of a different breed. They go terrifically with fall fare. I’m thinking about making a roast chicken with some roasted carrots and maybe some red roasted potatoes with fresh rosemary- a real roast fest to pair with this beauty. If you have any good roast chicken tips, please send them my way!
I’ve been visiting this wine region since I was an wee Angeleno back in the late 90s, just out of school. Dare I say, it is my most favorite wine region anywhere. A pre-Sideways devotee, I’m always true to these parts. With wacky Dutch-influenced Solvang a few miles down the road, the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, an ostrich farm and Pea Soup Anderson’s in nearby Buellton, this region is right up my alley. I’m a happy camper when the Santa Rita hills are in my house.
A Few Things:
1. A nice reminder of what the weekend is for via Kinfolk Magazine. It would be great to live the weekend this way at least once in a while.
2. I need to get myself an espresso maker on the double so that I mix up these bad boys- Easy Espresso Martinis- a fun idea for a late Sunday brunch party.
3. These Halloween looks are killing me. Little Miss Wintour. Toddlers as fashion icons- come on- these are great. Oh Happy Day rocks out the homemade Halloween goodness with killer creativity and style- three cheers for Jordan Ferney. (Her artist hubby, Paul Ferney, is creating a canvas of our bebes for Christmas via his Commission Project- I can’t wait to see it, what a talented couple). Check out these great homemade Halloween looks via her blog as well- I love that robot, so old school.
4. The ultimate IKEA hack, this kids’ bike was purchased as a stool. Yes, you read that right. I would like to meet the mind of the person that thought this up. Talk about thinking outside the box- how do you look at a stool and think- bike!? I love it.
5. These shoes. Not in the budget I’m afraid, but a girl can dream.
6. This clutch. From one of my favorite etsy shops, somebody better buy this before me.
7. Holy fall feast- I made this salivatingly good mushroom herb lasagna this week via this month’s issue of Sunset Magazine. Made with béchamel sauce and lots of fresh herbs, it’s is completely awesome. For those of you who read this blog, you know I love my Sunset Magazine. It’s a hold-over I think from all the dreamy western trips I took as a kid. That and my mother-in-law used to save her issues and give them to me each month. After she passed away, I subscribed myself and look forward to it every month. For me, their recipes have never failed to make our mouths very happy. I love their travel, wine, interior and outdoor features as well. Big fan, all around.
8. This is hilarious. Real men posing like male underwear models. Bravo guys!
Russian billionaire Dmitry Itskov has vowed to cure death within the next three decades with his “2045 Initiative”. Say what? It’s all very Avatar involving cyborgs and the “quantum nature of consciousness” and the like. Trippy.
Paintbrush-free indigo mountains by artist Lynn Pollard. These are so dreamy and zen-ful. Lynn paints the mountains near her Atlanta home using a special dipping technique the involves a vat of dye and paper- no paintbrushes here. Check out her work at u-gallery.
For all of us that fancy ourselves little Liebowitzes, here’s an easy guide to shooting interiors that I find works well with other still life too. I love that stick figure drawing. I’ve caught myself in that position on the floor many times never to any success.
Diesel has launched a home collection. Look at this crazy couch!
A Francophilian playlist via Anthropologie. I’m always in the mood for some Frenchie tunes. I’ve been listening to the bebes French music lately. They take a little French class every Wednesday morning which is hilarious. They bop around and listen to tunes, play with a giant marionette and tiny papillons. It’s super cute although I’m not sure they’re really learning anything, they do love it. I love it too though mostly I sit there in a full-out sweat hoping that my little man doesn’t throw a fit when he has to put back his rubber serpent or vache. Mon Dieu!
{Images: Halloween Dining Room: Kristen Schaefer, Matches: Kinfolk, Espresso Martini: Emma Chapman, Lasagna: Annabella Breakey, Mini Anna: Sarah Hebenstreit, Ikea Bike Hack: Coroflot}
My friend Lora’s daughter Lola is turning one this month and she is throwing her a super cute Pumpkin Patch Birthday Party. I love the idea, I only wished I lived closer so that I could see it in person. She asked me to put together some ideas for Lola’s big day, so here are a few things that caught my eye. There are some fun ideas here for an adult autumn-themed party as well.
DECORATE
Stack them, group them, write on them, fashion them into flowerpots, and make a pretty wreath out of the minis- there are so many fun ways to utilize your main party prop.
A pumpkin as a flowerpot- sweet. Grab some sunflowers or wild flowers from your local farmer’s market and trim the stems so that they just peep out.
I never think to write on a pumpkin, but I love the way this looks. You could welcome your party guests this way, paint your little one’s name, Happy Birthday, or their age on a pretty pumpkin. I love cursive on a pumpkin.
Stock up on lost of pretty pumpkins (I am partial to these Cinderella pumpkins they always have at Trader Joe’s). Grouped together and stacked on top of each other, they make for instant decor- very bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.
Get yourself some hay bales, arrange them in a semi-circle, throw in some pumpkins and call it a pumpkin patch complete with comfy straw seating.
Bust out the paint and bump up the glam.
Chalk Painted Pumpkins: For a matte and sophisticated look, these pumpkins are gourd-geous. (sorry, couldn’t resist.)
Metallic Painted Pumpkins: I like the neutral tone of these metallic beauties, they would look great on a mantle.
Graphic Painted Pumpkins: chevrons are fun but I love plain old stripes, thin stripes, bold stripes any stripe is fun.
Lighting really is everything, isn’t it.
Martha Stewart shows us how to DIY an ordinary paper lantern into a pumpkin lanterns or you could just buy these pre-made Pumpkin Paper Lanterns and save yourself the effort. Affordable and cute, these lanterns would be so pretty strung indoors or outdoors.
Fairy lights: a must if you’re outdoors and your party goes through the early evening. These are available everywhere, I love their round, globe shape. You can get them at ebay, Pottery Barn, Amazon- anywhere.
Autumn Luminarias: I love a luminaria (I have a thing for Santa Fe so of course I do). What a great idea for fall.
Celestial Pumpkins: Just a few dots and zigzags will really give your pumpkins a sophisticated luminescence.
Squash Jack-O-Lanterns: these oblong gourds are just asking to be carved into these cute ghostly jack-o-lanterns. I love the way they look.
Ok, I know it’s a children’s birthday party, but this is my blog afterall. I know many parents who choose not to cater to the adults at their children’s parties and really want it to be about the kids. I think that’s awesome and wish I were that noble. In the meantime, pour me a drink.
A few ideas for a quick bar/food table: it’s all about tin, reclaimed wood and hay. One or all of those elements is pretty great.
Tin is a great look for a rustic pumpkin patch party. I love the tin garbage can table. Using the trash cans for the base is genius. A festive tablecloth could mask an unsightly piece of plywood that would do the job just fine. Cute. And that tin trough with the reclaimed wood piece on top is beautiful if you could find a cool piece of wood or an old door. The hay bales and wood top are great and easy too.
The thermoses adorned with nifty tags are a great reminder that this IS a kid’s party and that is what matters most.
You could go a little overboard with all the hay, but if you’re not using it elsewhere and want a seated table, this is pretty cute. The simple white tablecloth kind of makes it. If there kiddos are tiny, I probably wouldn’t do a table but for older kids, I like this idea.
S’mores Pops: let’s face it, s’mores are awesome and cake pops are awesome, this combination is pretty fun.
Candy Corn Coconut Orange Jello Bites: you can also add some alcohol to these and put a few on the bar but that may be asking for trouble. The recipe here calls for alcohol, you can easily omit it.
Salted Caramel Apples: because come on- what’s a pumpkin patch party without some candy apples?
We’re keeping it simple because this is a kid’s party not a 5 course meal. Easy to eat soup, stew, cheese and crackers, crudite and cheese sandwiches sound like a winning combo to me.
A Shot of Carrot Soup: I like the cinnamon stick and flag detail.
Jack-o-lantern Cheese Sandwiches: I want one. Use some nice thickly sliced cheddar to make your life a little easier.
Turkey Chili Bar: everyone loves a chili bar.
Arrange your crudite in the shape of a pumpkin, it will get messed up pretty quickly but it was cute while it lasted.
Look at that cheeseball. I dig it. Stick a stalk of celery on top and call it a pumpkin.
Sugar Free Carrot Cake: Call me what you will (no fun, a killjoy) but I just couldn’t stomach feeding my bebes a super sugary cake on their first birthday. Sure they’ve tried a spoonful of ice cream here and there, but they’re still not on the sugar train- I’m hoping to keep them off of it for as long as I can. I baked the bebes this carrot cake (with finely chopped raisins) with this cream cheese frosting. All sugar free, no Stevia- only honey which is a great substitute provided they are not allergic.
Apple Cider Donut Cake: For the adults, not that you don’t have enough sweets on the table, but again what good is a pumpkin patch party without an apple cider donut? I would stack your donuts in a tower-shaped cake so that guests can pick their donut of choice. It’s cakey, it’s fall-like, it’s kind of the perfect cake.
Pumpkin Pie in a Jar- this is genius. If this is your child’s 1st birthday party, let’s face it, his or her friends don’t need a favor, but their parents do. I love the detail of the wooden spoon as well.
DRINK:
In addition to the juice, milk and water for the kids, serve a little mulled apple cider, beer and wine.
The Beer:
Pumpkin Ale, of course. If you read this blog, you know I am on a pumpkin ale kick. Offer some of the usual suspects too. I would definitely serve up the Cinnamon Pumpkinhead that I featured yesterday. Simple, easy and festive. This is a no-bartender-required drink. Just rim the glasses with sugar, fill a few with pumpkin ale and leave the rest in your ice bucket. The guests will know what to do and you won’t have to fret making drinks.
The Vino:
Keep it simple. There are probably lots of sweet treats on the table so you don’t want anything too tannic or super dry. Your best choice is a sparkling- I always say, the bubbly is your best friend, it will go with everything. I would serve up a good and inexpensive Cava or Cremant. Have a few bottles of white and red on hand too, just in case your guest don’t like bubbles (who in the world that might be, I’m not sure but you never know). I would go with a For vino, I would stock my bar with a pretty floral white like a Southern French blend, a Vinho Verde from Portugal would be perfect too. For reds, I would keep it light and not too dry. A Beaujolais Cru or Red Burgundy would be nice. Head to your favorite wine shop and ask for good representations of the following wines:
Spanish Cava
Vinho Verde
Languedoc White Blend
Beaujolais Cru
PLAY:
Paint Your Pumpkins: more fun and less hazardous than carving, let the kiddos get creative (and messy), I love the fluorescent paint.
Candy Corn Toss: so cute and fun. Just pick up a piece of plywood, paint and cutout. Small beanbags for the toss can be found here.
Red Wagon Hay Rides: this is a must. If you don’t have a radio flyer wagon, pick one up for “hay rides” around your backyard (if you have one, if not you could try pulling the little ones through your living room- I’m sure it’s been done). Throw a couple of small pumpkins and some hay in there and call it a day. Instant entertainment.
Bobbing for Apples: it just never gets old, does it and it’s always funny.
Pin the Patch on the Scarecrow: this one comes straight from my brain. Stuff a scarecrow and hitch him to your fence (again, if you have a yard- if not, your fireplace? your bolted-into-the-wall bookshelf?). Fashion a little fabric patch for his pocket and play.
And that’s all she wrote (and found). Let me know what you think? I’d love to hear of any other ideas you might have for this party. Happy Birthday Lola!
{Images and Credits: Pumpkin Butter Quick Bread Bars: Garnish with Lemon, Pumpkin Cake Pops: The Squeaky Grocery Cart, Pumpkin Pull Apart Cake: Kate Sears, Peanut Butter Pumpkins: Paper Jewels, Candy Corn toss and Pumpkin Place Setting: Frog Prince Paperie, Bar Setup: bjdhausdesign, Pumpkin and Roses Party: hostess with the mostess blog, DIY lanterns, Pumpkin Party Cooler, Glitter Pumpkins, Celestial Pumpkins, Autumn Luminarias, Squash Jack-O-Lanterns: MarthaStewart.com, Wagon: SouthernHospitality blog, tin bar and bucket: Better Homes and Gardens, Pumpkin Ice Bucket: Southern Living, Tin trash can table: Better Homes and Gardens, Thermoses- Better Homes and Gardens, Pumpkin Cheese Sandwich: Better Homes and Gardens, Pumpkin Cheeseball and Flowerpot Pumpkin: Kara’s Party Ideas & Michelle Levesque, Pumpkin Pie in a Jar and Shot Glass Soup: Melody Appel at Innove Events, Haystack Table: Frost Me Blog, S’Mores Pops: Ali Ebright, Chalk Painted Pumpkins: perfectly imperfect blog, Pumpkin Veggie: homemadecrap, Haystack Seating: babybalice, Apple Cider Float: Rachel Ray magazine, Metallic Pumpkins: The Handmade Home, Candy Corn Jello Shots: That’s So Michelle, Apple Cider Donuts: Smitten Kitchen}
Happy Weekend dear readers. ‘Tis the season for apple cider donuts. I might try my hand at these little beauties handmade by Smitten Kitchen. Or, I might just pick some up at the Del Ray Farmer’s Market on Saturday, they are awfully good.
I hope you are all off to a fun weekend. Any big plans? My hubby is out of town this weekend on a writing retreat so I’ll be hanging solo with the bebes. This part of the country is loaded down with fall festivals galore at this time of year (seriously, it’s kind of out of control) so I think we’ll hit up the Del Ray Arts Festival which we can walk to (love that- makes me feel like a New Yorker again for a minute) and maybe the Fairfax Fall Fest to get a sense of life in the ‘burbs. Deep breath. The ‘burbs are in my imminent future, I’m trying to dip my toes in as opposed to diving in head first, which is my normal m.o. What are you all up to?
My Weekend Sip:Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose ’12. So, it’s not rosé season- who says? I personally love the pink drink year round. This one is my all-time favorite. From the Peyraud and Tempier family in Bandol, this one sings with hints of chocolate and spice. Yes, you read that right. It’s a little heartier than your run of the mill rosé, a nice companion to a fall feast. It’s a little pricey but if you’re hosting guests or just want a special treat, you’ll be so happy you sprung for this bottle. I talk about this wine a lot on this blog, I’m absolutely in love with it, its owners (Lulu is an inspiration) and its history. $39
A little link love and a few things that caught my eye:
1. I have got to get myself to a theater stat to see Gravity. This movie looks amazing. We have tried hard not to watch too many previews but the images look pretty astounding. I’ll see anything Clooney does, the guy never makes a misstep, and this one really looks magical.
2. I’m not sure that I’ll be plunking down $150 for an Italian cashmere onesie anytime soon, but I sure do like the looks of J.Crew’s new baby line. I’m just glad they didn’t have this line when I was pregnant, talk about el-broko.
3. If you’re a sucker for steak frites, a late night and live in the Bay area, you’re in luck. Alice Waters has just reintroduced late night steak frites at Chez Panisse, a long lost tradition there not seen since 1974. Monday through Thursday nights.
4. There are those brush strokes again. I tell you- frustrated abstract artist right here folks. I love this pretty iPad clutch. What I love even more- the color palette, inspiration for my next living room.
6. Call me predictable for the Pinterest set, but I can’t help but follow tales and adventures in the City of Lights- especially culinary ones. I religiously troll through David Lebowitz’s Instagram photos and love reading about parents and their bebes in Paris. A fun post by Joy Cho about her recent gastronomic adventures with her little one in Paris. I love that they toted their own highchair with them to local restaurants.
If you’re headed to the twinkly French city anytime soon and love a wine bar but don’t want to blow your budget, check out this new breed of wine bars in Paris. Spend a mere 4 euros on a glass of Burgundy at Ambassade de Bourgogne or pay retail price (unheard of, right) for a bottle at Le Verre Volé. Can’t get into Le Chateaubriand? Saddle up to the bar at Inaki Aizpitarte’s Le Dauphine for the second seating around 9:30.
And another thing:
To rid yourself of those annoying robo calls, the geniuses at nomorobo (i kind of love that name) have invented a service that claims to rid your voicemail of them for eternity. I’m a bit doubtful but it’s worth a shot.
Quote of the Week:
I was strolling the bebes down King Street yesterday and an older woman in her late 80s who looked like a more angelic version of Aunt Bea stopped me to ask if the kiddos were twins. I told her yes and she said that she had twins herself. “The first few months were hell.” I knew right then I loved her so and wished we were related. I really do love the elders, they are the most badass of us all.
I always know it’s fall when CiCi (my mom, as she is now lovingly referred to by my kiddos) busts out the pumpkins. She always has the prettiest front porch filled with freshly-picked pumpkins from the local patch. Today was the day. It is officially fall. Woohoo.
First of all, can we just talk about the fact that this is Lake Michigan. Seriously. The Western shore of the great glove state is one of America’s last hidden gems. I almost don’t want to write this post because it is so beautifully unspoiled. I went to college in Ann Arbor and spent a summer in Interlochen and had never been to this beautiful shore until my friend Meghan’s wedding last summer (posted here). The lake is clear blue and shark-free, the shores are sugary sandy and there’s no one there. I totally get why Mario Batali takes up residence there every summer, which leads me to the point of this post:
I’ve always wanted to have one special place to call home for a few weeks or maybe even a month during the summer. A place that is friendly and that I can’t wait to get to, a place where I know the local wine shop owner’s name and more importantly- he knows mine, and a place where my kids can make magical memories.
I was fortunate in my youth to travel like crazy- hence my perpetual wanderlust- but we always went somewhere different returning to very few places more than once, namely Jackson Hole and Santa Fe (ahhh, the West- how I miss thee). I loved that we always picked somewhere new to explore and it gave me a chance to see the world, but something in me now longs for a sense of tradion.
I’ve been desktop traveling along with other families’ and their summer vacations- boy, we are getting awfully voyeuristic as a society aren’t we- while I try to figure out where my family should land each summer. A few locales that inspire:
Some drool-worthy images from Batali’s summer in Michigan:
I’ts just such an American summer, isn’t it.
Since moving to VA., I constantly see bumper stickers with the letters OBX on them. For years I had no clue why so many Virginians felt propelled to paste these letters onto the behinds of their cars. For those in the know, OBX is short for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I have not had the pleasure of visiting these pretty beaches but the people around here sing their praises. We may try it out for ourselves next summer. In the meantime, I followed along with Liz Stanley of Say Yes to Hoboken and her family’s annual Fourth of July trip to OBX. Doesn’t it look dreamy!
A few close friends call Vermont, Canada, and Montauk home for a few weeks every summer. These days I’m lucky if I can get an overnight in Rehoboth Beach, but I would like to make an effort to carve out the time for some proper summer R&R, and make it an annual event.
My friend Molly and her husband Oliver met as canoe camp counselors in Canada. Right next to that camp is a secret little place created for adults who are dropping their kids off at camp- an adult canoe camp. Arowhon Pines Camp in Algonquin Park, Canada is an International destination. On their 2-day stay, they met couples from Japan, Switzerland and Germany. Molly and Oliver return each summer to this part of the world for a nostalgic stay. Summer camp for adults- if you read this blog, you know how I feel about that. Sign me up! I love this place already.
My friends The Fricks spend their summers in Montauk. They graciously host boat-loads of people, including my lucky self and my family, in an impossibly fantastic house on the water. Montauk is pretty bad ass.
These kiddos get their annual dose of Americana at the Bristol, Vermont Fourth of July Parade. A major event in this small town complete with horses, lots of flags and plenty of firetrucks. My friend Natalia and her family love spending family time in Vermont every summer.
Here’s a dose of lovely Lake Michigan from the flip side- the Wisconsin side, that is. My friend Kristen and her family spend every Fourth of July at her in-laws’ lake house in gorgeous Door County, WI. I have always heard such amazing things about this part of the country- it’s definitely on the list- and her photos are so swoonful, I’m inspired to check it out. Look at that pink sky!
Where do you “summer” (how very Country Club of me, right)? I’d love to hear about the places that you love to return to each year.
Fireworks in Sturgeon Bay:
{Images: Lake Michigan- Greener Travel Guides, Batali’s Michigan- Mario Batali, Outer Banks- Liz Stanley, Vermont- Natalia Goldman, Canada- Molly Griffin, Door County- WI.: Kristen Schaeffer}
Zwetschgendatschi! Yes, that’s the name of this little beauty, is that a fantastic name or what. For a few weeks at the end of summer, black plums are terrifically in season and this classic Bavarian tart sets them up beautifully- I love the celebration of a beautiful piece of fruit. This tart is not only pretty and delicious but so easy to make (easier than the baby casserole recipes a mom friend of mine sent me) and really satisfying. It just tastes like summer.
Pastry chef and cookbook author, Gesine Bullock-Prado recreates a German tradition from her childhood in her new book, Bake It Like You Mean It. Her mother, Helga Bullock was a noted German opera singer who apparently baked like she meant it and inspired her daughter to carry on the tradition. Ah tradition- I’m a sucker for it. It’s precisely the idea of starting a summer tradition- centered around food of course- that inspired me to try my hand at this little beauty. I have to say I was successful. It’s very easy and just right for these last dog days of summer. I imagine picking up a few pounds of black plums every early August and making this special treat for my family. How fun to look forward to the Zwetschgendatschi! The name alone generates excitement. The traditional recipe calls for oval Damson plums but I couldn’t find them so round black plums substituted quite nicely- juicy, pretty and delicious. I have adapted Bullock-Prado’s recipe below with a bit more salt and a bit less sugar as I like my desserts on the less-sweet side, more salty side. If you are a sucker for sugar, sprinkle a bit of raw sugar on top of your tart before you put it in the oven.
Disclaimer: I know my food photography leaves a bit (or a lot) to be desired- I’m working on it. Stay tuned for some progress.
Crust 1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup sugar (I actually used more like 1/6 of a cup- just a bit less than 1/4 cup)
1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous pinch more for good measure
3/4 cup unsalted butter, very cold, cut into small pieces
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
non-stick cooking spray or butter
8 inch tart pan
Filling 3 pounds black plums or Damson plums if you can find them
What You Do:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. For the crust, using the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, pulse together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. (I don’t have a food processor, so I did this by hand- it worked great).
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Slowly add the egg yolk mixture to the flour mixture while pulsing; continue until the dough just begins to come together.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead it until the dry ingredients are fully integrated and the dough holds together, being careful not to overwork it.
5. Press the dough into a disk-shape and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
6. Spray an 8-inch fluted tart pan with nonstick cooking spray or coat lightly with butter.
7. Press the majority of the dough onto the bottom of the tart pan and up the sides so that you have at least 1/8 inch of crust all around. Set your extra dough aside.
8. For the filling, split each plum along the natural seam and remove the stone, leaving the plum still hinged on the backside like a little book. (mine didn’t lay out quite so bookish, but still looked awfully pretty just halved)
9. Arrange the plums upright on the uncooked dough, flesh side facing in.
10. Using your leftover dough, crumble it in small piece atop your plums.
11. Bake the tart until the sides of the dough are golden brown and the plums are tender, about 45 minutes. If the plums begin to brown before they are tender, carefully cover them with aluminum foil and continue baking until the juices of the plums start running.
Voila! Your Perfect Little Plum Tart
If you like black plums and are a sucker for food traditions, start this one in your home- you will not be disappointed (or put out- it really is easy).
My Perfect Plum Tart Pairing:
Surprised? Thought I would go for a port or Madeira? I could have but I wanted to stick with Germany. Dr. Loosen’s Spätlese late harvest Riesling is perfect. It’s lush with juicy stone fruits, refined lemon-lime citrus, beautiful floral and honeysuckle notes, plenty of slate-y minerality and a punch of exotic spice. It’s sweet but not too sweet- just like this dessert.
Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese, $19.99.
I came home last week on my birthday to find the prettiest little homemade flower arrangement on my doorstep. It’s amazing how just a few pretty blooms will put such a big smile on your face, or mine anyway.
Isn’t it just perfectly pretty. It was a nice reminder of the power of a simple gesture and of how easy one can pick up a few flowers and fashion them into the most perfect little package. In truth, I don’t know that I would have been able to arrange them quite this pretty, maybe my friend Meg has another career in her future…
I received this beautiful bundle of blooms from another lovely friend:
This one was arranged by the neighborhood florist shop down the street- another reminder of how wonderfully creative and detail-specific your local businesses and shops can be. I know the owner of this shop and she puts her heart and soul into her business. Love it.
How cute is this printable Bingo card? We don’t have any big plans for the 4th, it looks like we may get rained out over here. If it’s clear out we’ll head out to some local festivities and maybe some pool time but a little Bingo & BBQ sounds like some plain old American fun- print your Bingo card out here. I might have to tune in to see what Usher has cooked up in his debut curatorial effort with the Macy’s Fireworks Show too.
Former showgirl, forever travel junkie, sometime sommelier, and mom to twin bebes. This little blog is a mixed bag of tasting notes, travels, tales of motherhood, and current musings. Thank you for stopping by. Cin Cin! (photo by Amy Dickerson for Anthology Magazine)
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