Hello Beach, Goodbye troubles....

Every now and again it's great to get away from it all. This time I had Newport Beach on my mind.

We found a great Marriott Hotel with huge rooms for $150.00 on hotels.com, but we found that when we called the Hotel itself the offer was better. They gave us the same price, but with four free movie tickets to any movie.

We unpacked and headed out to Fashion Island and hit all the great stores like Anthropologie, Bloomies, Neimans, Macys (they have a good one), etc...Also, you can bring your doggies into any store!

The sky was filled with ocean air when we were outside which was awesome! After doing some retail damage we decided to go across the street to Tommy Bahamas for a meal to be remembered. If you have not tried it, go! I had the lobster grilled cheese with tomato bisque soup and the pineapple coconut cake. It simply melts in your mouth and is not for all you girlie girls that can't eat!

Feeling fabulously full we headed toward the beach and decided that a wine and cheese platter was in order for later. Trader Joe's is great. Smoked Gouda, Brie, Pinot Grigio....Good times!

In the Morning we headed to Roger's Gardens which I honestly thought was going to be a bit if a bore...And boy I was WRONG! We are talking acres of amazing flowers and plants and a huge retail store. Don't go without money because it will haunt you. It was just lovely!

You can also bike ride at Crystal cove. It is miles long and it has the cutest cottages from the 1940's.

But we still had shopping to do so we drove to South Coast Plaza and had a great Parisian lunch at Vie de France. They know how to rock the authentic French food. I highly recommend the spinach feta croissant and the napoleons.

After a few hours we were ready to head back to our "real" lives and we were very refreshed.

Tell us how you like to do Newport, we'd love for you to share!

You, Me and $10 bucks!

I'm on a bit of a budgie these days, so I try to find inexpensive things to do that are interesting.

If you have a car and $10.00 I HEAVILY suggest " The John Paul Getty Museum". 

The museum is free, the ten dollars is for parking and the fun....Prriceless, like the Art.

I was sincerely impressed by the pieces that were all around Me, although, if you get too close they let you know.

You can take pictures of the art that is owned by the Getty, but not the pieces on loan.

There is such a great selection of items and it is constantly changing. 

The Getty also features a Magnificent garden. You can pack a picinic and eat at the garden or opt for a few of their eateries. 

I found the entire experience really relaxing (don't go with kids). It would be nice to take a book and read it on their vast Lawns.

Go, You won't regret it! 

(this is a photo of my new bed, ummm I mean a peice from the Getty.)

Here is a list of the current exhibitions:

		Foundry to Finish: The Making of a Bronze Sculpture June 23, 2009–Ongoing
		Temptation and Salvation: The Psalms of King David June 9–August 16, 2009
		Walls of Algiers: Narratives of the City May 19–October 18, 2009
		Made for Manufacture March 31–July 5, 2009
		Taking Shape: Finding Sculpture in the Decorative Arts March 31–July 5, 2009
		Paul Outerbridge: Command Performance March 31–August 9, 2009
		Jo Ann Callis: Woman Twirling March 31–August 9, 2009
Saint Ginés: The Making of a Polychrome Sculpture">		La Roldana's Saint Ginés: The Making of a Polychrome Sculpture February 17, 2009–Ongoing
1200 Getty Center Drive Los Angeles, California 90049 (310) 440-7300

Our Love Affair with Gardens...

It is factual that a garden is never finished. It daily beckons us to walk in it, groom it and fill it with visual splendor. It doesn't matter if it's full of greenery, flora or just plain food-on-the-table plantings; our orafactory senses are assaulted with the smells of floral notes, earthy mulch and herbaceous greens. For years and years we have collected garden books, planted local and antique plants, piled in good earth to compensate for clay soil and water, weeded, nourished, and beheld the work-of-our-hands. It's additive! We're not alone, we know there are lots of kindred spirits out there that understand our fascination. The beauty of a well-cared-for garden is a thing to behold!

Here are a couple of our favorite sources:

Roger's Gardens (the most eye-popping nursery, makes my heart go pitter-patter)

2301 San Joaquin Hills Road

Corona del Mar, California

Rolling Green Nursery

9528 Jefferson Boulevard

Culver City, California

Summer's Bounty Pure Bliss

We love all the summer fruits. Fat, sweet, red, juicy strawberries, deep purple boysenberries, dusky blueberries and jewel-like raspberries. They make such a fabulous display when mounded together with all the necessary accoutrements (whipped cream, sponge-cakes, chocolate for dipping), to create a lip-smacking dessert. This magnificent sweet treat really works for us. With 4th of July just around the corner this is a great option and we don't even have to crack the oven door. What could be easier? You know, we're all about the ease of summer living!

A New Scent For Summer

Are you loyal to just one fragrance? You aren't one of those whose scent enters the room before you do, are you? Why not try mixing it up a little! Dare to be different - you don't want to smell like everyone else out there? Oh, no-no?

Next time you spend a leisurely day window-shopping, visit the fragrance counter. Try to sample a different scent than the one you always wear. See how it reacts with your body chemistry. Fragrance is a big business and we don't tend to buy all the hype. It's a personal choice! 

Some amazing scents we've tried lately are:

L'Artisan Perfumer - la Chasse aux Papillons

Creed (began in 1760) - Spring Flower (created for Audrey Hepburn)

                                       Fleurissimo (Created for Princess Grace of Monaco)

                                       Love in Black (Created for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis)

Eau de Sisley

Jo Malone - Lotus Blossom & Water Lily

                    Nectarine Blossom & Honey ( I had this on a few days ago and someone                                                                     stopped me to ask what I was wearing)

Scent is the icing on the cake.. The finishing touch.

The Big Teas

I became fascinated with tea when I travelled in Europe as a child...wait no?? My nanny always made tea for me in the nursery?? Just (tea)sing! The truth...my sister and I used to pretend we were making coffee or tea commercials as children. Even then we recognized that there was something special about sipping  a cup of this hot concoction, even if we only had water in our cups. In high school I became enamored with all things British and eventually the ritual of tea. Not stuffy type tea, just the kind that centers on kind conversation and the enjoyment of simple pleasures. 

My daughters and I have frequented our favorite place over the years which is also preferred by some of the royal family when they are in our area. The Rose Tree Cottage, owned by Edmund and Mary Frye. In our opinion it is, "The Best". Oh, and the scones, "The Best", and baked in an Aga stove. If you can't get there for Mother's Day or just because, buy or make a few dainty morsels (Rose Tree ships their products too) and brew a pot of your favorite tea. Sit and enjoy each other.  It's such a pleasure!

Rose Tree Cottage

801 South Pasadena Avenue

Pasadena, California 91105

(626) 793.3337

www.rosetreecottage.com

Salmon 2 Ways

Salmon whether wild or farm raised has great health benefits in the form of Omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is high in protein, and low in fat and calories. Omega-3 essential fatty acids help prevent diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. 

Recipe I

This is an easy way to get someone to eat Salmon who might not otherwise eat it. 

Miso Glazed Salmon

Ingredients:

4- Salmon steaks

1- Tablespoon Red Miso Paste (IT MUST BE RED) You will find this in the refrigerated section of your market where won tons are found. Whole Foods is a reliable source. 

2 Tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon, peeled and grated fresh ginger

1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil (toasted/Asian)

1 Tablespoon Mirin (found in the Asian section of your market

1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

1 large ziploc 

Combine all the above ingredients and place in a ziploc. Add the salmon steaks and marinate for 1 hour. 

To Cook:

Heat a large non-stick frying pan or grill pan. You will need a lid too! Add a little canola oil to the pan and when it is hot remove the salmon from marinade. Save the marinade. Place in pan skin side down and cook for 4-5 minutes. Turn the Salmon over and cook another 5 minutes. The rule is 10 minutes per 1 inch. Test with the sharp point of a knife to make sure the salmon is opaque inside. Just before removing fish, add the remainder of the marinade and let it thicken. Glaze with Salmon and serve. 

Recipe II

Cedar Planked Salmon

1- Cedar Plank, soaked overnight in water ( I found mine at Restoration Hardware, some markets carry them)

4 -Salmon Fillet Steaks

1 clove minced garlic

salt 

pepper

1 tablespoon butter

Fire up the barbecue. When hot, add the cedar plank and let the edges burn a little. The burning edges create the flavor. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Rub garlic and olive oil over the surface. Turn the plank over and place the salmon on top skin side down. Cook 5 minutes and turn it over and continue cooking. Follow the rule of 10 minutes per 1 inch thickness. When done remove to a serving platter and spread soft butter over the top of the steaks. 

I served my salmon with cherry tomatoes sauteed in olive oil and pieces of garlic and sprinkling of parsley. An easy salad would be leaf lettuce, blue cheese crumbles, toasted walnuts, raisins or cranberries with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. Keep it easy and enjoy the pleasure of eating a meal with those you love.  

Everything Old is New Again!

I recently received a gift from one of our patients. It arrived in a humble cardboard box with a very sweet note attached. Inside was a small set of deer antlers.  One of our physicians was so funny, he just couldn't get over someone giving a gift like that. He said he thought that was the strangest gift he had ever seen someone receive. Now I'm a vegetarian and it did shake me a little as I saw the raw state they were in. I sought advice from decorators and artisans and Sarah, Tracy Porter's friend offered the best advice. She brought up a good point that these antlers could have come from an animal that died of natural causes. It was possible since they came from a very remote part of our area. She suggested that I go for the chateau look where antlers and sumptuous artifacts are common. I looked through the book, "the New Eighteenth-Century Style: Rediscovering a French Decor by Michele Lalande. 

This is what I came up with. I realize this is not every one's style, but it works for me. The whole layout has layers of meaning to me from the selection of pictures to the heart shaped rocks on the raw marble tabletop to the aging worn books. It is my little piece of chateau living.  I encourage you to develop your own style. Create a look that is meaningful and timeless. 

We love Chi-n-ese (salad) if- you- please!

Click on pictures to see in larger format.

Classic Chinese Chicken Salad

I once served this salad in mini individual won ton cups for 300 guests at a friends wedding. Don't be alarmed at the amount of salt in this dressing. The salad itself doesn't get salted. Trust me, unless you have health issues, be brave and try it! Then modify as you like. Make it your own.

SALAD:

1 Whole pre-cooked chicken found at the market, de-boned and shredded

1 head Napa cabbage, washed, outer leaves removed and sliced into shreds

1 head Romaine lettuce, washed, outer leaves removed and slice into shreds

1 bunch green onions, washed, remove 1/2 of the top green parts and slice thinly

Shredded carrots, I buy pre-washed, ready to go. Use to your liking. 

Toasted Almonds (I buy mine at Trader Joe's already toasted) Use the amount you would like.

1 15-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained

1 small package won ton wrappers (found in the cold case at your market)

Canola oil to cook won tons

DRESSING:

1/4 cup granulated sugar (make sure it is a full measurement)

2 teaspoons salt

1-teaspoon ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

2 tablespoons sesame oil (found in the oil or Asian section of your market)

6 tablespoons rice wine vinegar (no substitutions please, must be rice wine vinegar)

1/2 cup canola oil

Step 1:

Make won ton strips. Cut 1/2 of the won ton wrappers into 4 strips each. You can cut a bunch at a time. 

Using a small deep saucepan, over medium high heat, add 2 inches of canola oil. Test the hotness of oil with 1 won ton strip. When oil turns won tons golden brown, remove  and drain on paper towels. THIS WILL GO QUICKLY! 

Make the dressing in a lidded jar (shake well) or blender. 

Add 1/2 of the dressing to the salad. Mix well. Taste to see if you have enough dressing. Add more dressing if needed. Be sure to mix in the toasty won ton strips. 

Interesting Fact:

USC and UCLA ran studies on diets that were rich in salads and raw vegetables. They found those studied had folic acid, vitamins C & E, lycopene, and alpha and beta carotene in their blood streams. This shows the quickness of our bodies to assimilate healthy foods.  

Spring has come again!

I am a pack rat as was my father. Some might say it was his worst trait, I say it was his best. While I am on a "debt diet" I must invent ways to recreate from what I have. This is just an inspirational snippet. 

Always keep your eye peeled for end-of-the-season sales on high-quality faux greens, berries and flowers. They can always be re-purposed in so many directions. Here are my spring re-do's. 

I checked the price of topiary at my local Home Goods store. They were reasonably priced, but I wanted a "deal". I thought about what I already had around the house. Many years ago my daughter gave me some fine quality olive branches that were being tossed out from her store's display. I had recently bought a bougie flower pot from Anthropologie. I was out of oasis foam so I used a large piece of bubble wrap, plugged in my hot glue gun and pulled out some moss from my "stash".  Determining the height I wanted I snipped off  the excess stem and intertwined them to create a cohesive look. Next, I folded the bubble wrap to fit inside my pot and then removed it and wound it around the base of the branches. I hot glued it in place inside my pot. I covered the bubble wrap with moss glueing it in securely. The leaves and olives needed fluffing and I coaxed them into a ball shape. 

I had another chippy, agey pot I got at Anthro. I took styrofoam balls leftover from a holiday project and covered them with moss, securing them with gold embroidery thread. Plopped on a stack of books, it adds springy wonderfulness.

I have a French aluminium hanging garden can I picked up on sale from a little French store and I  dropped a few faux mossy pebbles inside (from Z Gallerie, on sale of course!), snipped some lavender and boxwood from my garden, nestled in a small rustic nest. So easy!

Be on the lookout for great pots, they are usually inexpensive, but when dressed, they really pack some decorating punch. 

As I stroll through the LUSH GARDEN, I am in awe that not long ago this was once a MUDDLED DOODLE on graph paper...Carolyne Roehm

click on the pictures to see them in a larger format

 

Live Healthy, eat more plants!

It's a fact! You will feel better and enjoy great health if you will eat more plants along with taking a great walk or some form of exercise every day. I prefer a vegetarian lifestyle. On Sundays, I try to make a salad or soup for my work lunch that will last 3-4 days. Lately, the teenager in our house (Kailey) has jumped on the bandwagon and likes to take salads to school for her lunch too! This one is kid tested and approved. What Kailey loves are, potatoes, green beans, olives, feta, parsley, bell pepper, but not so much the white kidney beans also known as Cannellini beans. I need them for protein, so she picks them out and I get a double portion. If you don't want to add the beans, add crisp, crumbled bacon. 

Green and White Bean Salad a la Mediterranean

1-pound small potatoes (I use Trader Joe's red, white and blue mix mini potatoes, cooked in the microwave. Pierce each clean potato with a knife and place them in the microwave for about 6 minutes turning them over part way through the cooking process) Do be careful not to overcook them and remove the tender ones as they are done. 

1/4 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4 inch dice

1 medium sweet onion, peeled and 1/4 inch dice

3 ounces Feta Cheese (At Trader Joe's it comes already crumbled)

1-pound Cherry tomatoes, washed

1-bunch flat leaf parsley, remove stems and chop (this is a powerhouse of green goodness)

4 ounces pitted Kalamata olives, (again Trader Joe's, cut olives in 1/2)

1 15-ounce can White Kidney Beans or Cannellini Beans (yes Trader Joe's has these)

1 pound thin green beans AKA Haricot Vert (we got ours at our Farmers Market, but the grocer ones work just as well. Look for thin, def not thick beans). Cut beans into 1 1/2 inch lengths

zest and juice of one lemon

6 Tablespoons Olive oil, I use organic extra virgin (Trader Joe's)

salt and ground pepper to your taste 

To begin:

Start your potatoes.

Next, you will need a large skillet. I used cast iron. Heat your pan over medium + heat then add 2 tablespoons olive oil. 

Add diced onions and saute until golden and caramelized. 

Add green beans and saute approximately 4 minutes. Beans should still be green and crisp. Season with salt and pepper. 

Add white beans and heat through and check seasoning. 

If your potatoes are done, quarter them and add a titch more olive oil to pan with beans and onions. Toss in the potatoes and cherry tomatoes. Season. You could also add ground garlic powder (not salt)

Get a large bowl ready.

Add lemon zest and juice to the bowl and 4 tablespoons olive oil. Whisk to combine and season with ground pepper and salt. BTW I love the disposable salt and peppers mills at Trader Joe's. 

Add  to dressing bell pepper and parsley. Now add all the hot ingredients and mix to coat all the vegetables with dressing. How does it taste? Potatoes take more salt than many other vegetables. When salad begins to cool, add the Feta cheese. 

I store my salad in a big ziploc and take a portion to work every day. 

 Serve warm or at room temperature.

One Size Does Not Fit All!

I bought this top, it didn't fit me right and it was not returnable. If you ever have this dilema, you might consider doing what I did, I cut it up the front center. Folded out the edges, sewed on some trim, added a frog closure, and now I have a jacket.  

My Summer MUST-HAVES

Sandals. When it comes to sandals, I have a problem. I love them, ALOT! I feel that I cannot have enough pairs so I thought I would share some of the sandals that have been ringing my bell.

 I have this ritual that every month when Vogue comes and I go through and tear out any pages that stand out to me, like inspiration pages. Then I set out to find similar items that I can afford....

The trend this year is gladiator sandals but the new twist is to have a cuff or buckle on the ankle. (like the pair below)

I love it. The ones I found in vogue were $585 which I thought was a great deal so I purchased them!

Oh wait, that was a dream  I had. 

Instead I found a great pair at Macy's for $59 dollars made by Chinese Laundry (had LOTS of compliments) and  my next buy is going to be a pair I found at Journeys for only $29.99. (see pic below, what an awesome price)

Fun to wear with shorter dresses or cuffed jeans, just make sure to paint your toes a pretty color!

O.k. now go forth and buy some sandals but beware, you will become addicted.