Cookies in a Dash

~Just a few simple ingredients~

Photography by Kailey Smith

Peanut Butter Cookies

~Splendid Results~

(Modified recipe from The 150 Best American Recipes, cookbook)

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter~tip:natural peanut butter is a little trickier & cookies tend to be a bit crumblier.

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon baking SODA (not powder)

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Bake for 10 minutes.

Use a mixer or food processor and add the peanut butter and sugar. Combine until very creamy, otherwise you will taste the sugar granules in the finished product.

Add the egg, baking soda and salt and mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoon onto a prepared cookie sheet pan~grease with butter, use parchment paper or use a Silpat. I use a tiny ( 1" diameter) ice cream scoop to insure my cookies are uniform in size. Bake for 10 minutes. Larger sized cookies will take a little longer. Cool thoroughly for a few minutes and remove from cookie sheet. Store in an airtight container. Makes 28 - 2 inch cookies.

Gild the Lily: Melt about 6 ounces of milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate and dip 1/2 of each cookie in the melted chocolate. Cool on a baking rack.

Tip: Go easy on the chocolate or it will overpower the flavor of your cookies.

Quick Snack

Photography by Kailey Smith

Glam Rice Chex

6 Tablespoons, butter

1/2 full cup peanut butter

8 ounces chocolate chips (I use 6 ounces semi-sweet and 2 ounces white chocolate chips)

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

9-10 cups rice Chex (use more cereal if you want a lighter chocolate flavor)

1 large ziploc

To create this recipe:

Melt the butter, chocolate and peanut butter in a large dutch oven (use whatever large pan you have), over medium heat. Be patient or the chocolate will burn. When all of the ingredients are melted and combined, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Add the Rice Chex and thoroughly combine to coat the cereal. Add the powdered sugar to a large ziploc, turn the cereal into the powdered sugar in batches. Seal and shake until the Chex pieces are coated with powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container.

~This is quick, easy party food~

"Anything is good if it's made of chocolate"~Jo Brand

Grilled Tuna Salade Nicoise

~Ingredients~

~Ready to serve~

Grilled Tuna Salade Nicoise

~This is a great lunch or dinner salad, served hot or at room temperature~

Ingredients

1 head of romaine lettuce

2 hard boiled eggs

1/2 cup pitted Kalamata Olives, rough chopped

1 tuna steak per person (I used 6 medium sized portions), grilled

2 cloves garlic & 2 tablespoons olive oil for the cherry tomatoes

1 container cherry tomatoes, saute them in olive oil and 2 cloves minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper. They are done when the skins begin to burst. Remove from heat.

1 bundle fresh asparagus, steamed, seasoned with salt and pepper

12 baby potatoes, steamed-seasoned with salt and pepper

salt and pepper to season

Dressing: You may choose to buy a good Caesar dressing if you are on a time constraint.

Into the work bowl of a food processor place,

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (I use country style Dijon)

2 teaspoons sugar or honey

dash cayenne pepper

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup water

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

juice of 1 lemon

1 full teaspoon anchovy paste

1 tablespoon mayonnaise (I use olive oil based mayo)

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Combine all these ingredients and then:

add ~ 1 cup Canola oil~pour through the top feed tube of your food processor in a slow steady stream.

Compose all of the salad ingredients on a large platter. Drizzle with dressing. Serve remaining dressing on the side.

Serves 4 as a main course

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

~QUEEN ELIZABETH~

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

House of Windsor

Born~April 21, 1926

God Save The Queen!

Bountiful Salad

~Bountiful Salad~

~Straight-From-The-Garden-Ingredients~

(above picture, photographer-Kailey Smith)

~Toasted Bread Cubes~

1/2 baguette, (I use Trader Joe's seeded baguette) - cut into bite size cubes

1/3 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

2-3 cloves garlic, crushed in a garlic press or 1/8 teaspoon granulated garlic powder

( I like to sprinkle a little grated Parmesan on my toasted bread cubes the last 5 minutes of baking time-optional step)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all the above ingredients except Parmesan cheese. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, turning them occasionally to evenly brown. Cool and set aside until ready to serve salad.

~Vinaigrette~

1/3 Cup red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional-it adds another flavor note)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon honey

1 level tablespoon Dijon mustard (I use the country style/just for visual appeal)

2 cloves garlic, crush in a garlic press

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

dash cayenne pepper, optional

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Combine all the vinaigrette ingredients except the olive oil. When combined add the olive oil in a steady stream while whisking constantly. Adjust seasoning, pour over salad and toss.

~Bountiful Salad~

2-3 cups salad greens, cut into bite size pieces

1 cup basil leaves, shredded-no stems

1/2 bell pepper, seeded and diced (I prefer red, yellow or orange)

1/2 European cucumber, seeded and diced

1 container cherry tomatoes, whole

3 green onions or scallions, minced

~To this salad mixture add whatever vegetables you like. I have also used carrots from our garden, 1/c cup diced Kalamata olives, and Parmesan curls. You could use grilled corn (removed from cob), green beans, peas, asparagus, toasted pine nuts, or toasted pecans, and so on. Entertaining note: this salad could be made 24 hours in advance. Cover and store salad ingredients and vinaigrette separately.

Dress salad, garnish with Parmesan curls and a sprig of basil.

This is a dinner sized salad for a family of 4-6. Leftovers are great the next day!

The House That Jack Built

~Jack Arnold~

Architect

~Charming front entry~

~Can you imagine the patina on these copper chimney pots as they age?~

~I'm home~

One of us has been guilty of saving all their tear sheets featuring Jack Arnold's work. For years now an article here and there or a feature cover spread pops up in magazines such as Veranda or Traditional Home. Jack and his wife (an interior designer) have traveled all over Europe seeking out unique details and qualities that inspire him to create the most amazing designs--one can only dream of owning ! Recently he has been in demand to produce European chimney pots that add that extra layer of charm he is so well known for. Check out his website and blog, but be warned--you too might start dreaming of a Jack Arnold Home of Distinction.

www.jackarnold.com

Yes! A Thousand Times, Yes!

~The Bennet's~

For all you romantics out there...

One of our all-time favorite films is Pride and Prejudice. It's the story of the five Bennet sisters coming of marriageable age. Cleverly written by Jane Austen from 1795 -1798, it is a romantics delight! We never tire of this story or the beautiful score written by Dario Marianelli.

~The dreamy costuming created by Jacqueline Durran~

This is the part where Mr. Darcy says, "You have

bewitched me body & soul and I love and love and

love you. And never wished to be parted from you

from this day on."

~Pemberly~

"People are still falling in love, people are still prejudiced against others, and people are still too proud on occasions. We like to be told that love exists, and this is an affirmation of that. "Pride and Prejudice" is a love story, about how to try to understand each other. ~Joe Wright, Director

...not only is it adored, but it's a really perfect work of art, it is a perfect narrative. ~Deborah Moggach, Writer

Say Grace!

Grace Coddington & Anna Wintour

~An example of Grace's work~

Grace Coddington, Welsh born, once a model for British Vogue, then worked for British Vogue and then came to American Vogue. If you have not seen the movie-documentary, September Issue, and you work in any artistic medium or just love fashion, this will give you a peek into the whole design process. It's intriguing to watch Grace spin her beauty into the pages of Vogue magazine. As the documentary begins, it seems everything will revolve around Anna (Wintour), but Grace emerges into the spotlight whilst Anna remains hidden behind her sunglasses. The DVD is now available for viewing if you didn't get to see it when it was released in the theaters.

Our favorite line in the movie is one that Grace makes about some advice given to her by photographer Norman Parkinson when Grace was still modeling... "Keep your eyes open, don't sleep in the car, look around, you never know where inspiration comes from".

It is apparent that these words have stuck with Grace throughout her career. Her work is stunning!

One for You and One for Me!

(The Gathering of Friends Volume One (of 2 so far)

by Michelle Huxtable and Alyse Christensen

A great cookbook!

Tried and true recipes...just for you!

An adaptation of Ryan's Cookie-page 117

~White chocolate chips, dried cranberries and chunks of pecans~

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup white granulated sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/2 cups oatmeal

1- 11 ounce bag white chocolate chips

1 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, rough chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cream together white and brown sugars, butter, eggs, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, stir with a whisk and blend into the creamed mixture.

Fold in the white chocolate chips, cranberries and nuts.

Drop by spoonfuls onto a parchment lined, Silpat lined or buttered cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes in a preheated oven. Watch that they don't get too dark. They should be barely golden brown when done.

Now go get you cold glass of milk and enjoy each lip smacking morsel.

Our hope is that this book will inspire the reader with ideas of how to enhance relationships, establish traditions and celebrate life.~Michelle Huxtable & Alyse Christensen. (You may find their book online -The Gathering of Friends-or at gift shops around the country)

Gardening nourishes both the body and the soul!

Gertrude Jekyll's Garden

Thomas Keller's Garden across from the "French Laundry"

Our Sweet Garden! It's growing every day!

We had a bumper crop of lemons this year!

We've run our fingers through the soil clearing the way for an array of vegetables and fruits. There's our "ever-faithful" Valencia oranges, lemons (Meyer and Eureka), Santa Rosa plums and apricots, but this year we have ventured out with a substantial garden. The seedlings are sprouting and poking their way towards the sunlight. Cabbages, lettuces, tomatoes of every variety, carrots, herbs, cucumbers, bell peppers, broccoli, corn, scallions, garlic, bulb onions, potatoes, pumpkins, watermelon, green beans and strawberries. Soon our kitchen will be buzzing with activity. We have itchy fingers to begin making jam and canning a bit too! So every day we come out and stand over our sprouts like proud parents and rejoice when a nubbin of green appears. We are plant gawkers! We are smitten with our garden!

Are any of you planting this year? Please tell us!

~~~Jan and Kristen

The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies~Gertrude Jekyll

Smashing Wallpaper and Paint

Resto

Farrow and Ball

Anthro


Have you seen the selection of wallpaper that Anthropologie (Anthro) carries?
It will take your breath away-it's just.....wow!

We are also a fan of Farrow and Ball for bougie paint and wallpaper.
Then there is the Sydney Harbor Paint Company- oh my! It stirs our senses with all the creative ideas that are now artisanal, but once were just de-rigour.

By the way, Restoration Hardware (Resto), carries amazing furniture right now and a new color palette for their paint-"flint". Zinc-e-Greys and re-claimed aged waxed wood seems to be the "IT" of the moment.

These sources are go-to's for creating that 18th century look for your chateau or manor house. You can check them out online.

Let's feather our nests in style!

kisses,
Kristen and Jan

I deeply believe that a beautiful decor can have a beneficial influence on our lives.~Albert Hadley

Stop and Smell the Roses!!

The grounds of Chateau Montelena!

Visually stunning at every turn.

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness; but still will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleepfull of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing...John Keats