Pink of Perfection

When Sarah and I lived in New England and luxuries were few and far between, our mom took us to lunch at a little cafe with a slate patio at the Bennington potter’s yard. My sister, having discovered the glory of sweet and savory combinations early in life, ordered the potter’s lunch: a hot turkey, Vermont cheddar, and sliced apple sandwich served with whole grain mustard on thick, peasanty bread. Could there be a more satisfying 5-minute lunch? I doubt it.

I heated mine up in a skillet and ate it on the porch while admiring the deep navy plumage of a magpie knocking around the back yard. Then I went inside and googled Beatrix Potter. Did you know that Miss Potter was an expert mycologist, who identified the the symbiotic relationship between lichens and fungi and lectured at the London School of Economics? But more than that, I find it heartening that she had to self-publish (so much for that dirty word) the first edition of Peter Rabbit, after being rejected by six different publishers. She, as they say, sure showed them. Bon appetit! –Katy

hot buttered rum would be right at home here
image via Retrofuture

One has to be in a particular sort of mood for hot alcoholic drinks. Usually, I’d rather pour a glass of red wine, slip off my shoes, and sit by a fire, but hot buttered rum keeps purring its siren song in my ear.

The idea first popped into my head following an afternoon in dusty bookshops. With cold fingertips, we finally pushed open the door into a tavern with Christmas lights in the window, only to discover it wasn’t a hot buttered rum-friendly establishment. Instead, we drank a Yuenglings and listened to tales of their french fries being the best in the county.

But the next day, after a long walk in the slanting light of the afternoon, geese overhead, the hot buttered rum was still tempting me. Back in my mom’s kitchen, I pulled out a stained copy of the Joy of Cooking. The recipe couldn’t be simpler or more warming. I shared a cup over four games of Pente and lost every one. And I don’t think the rum can take the fall for that.

Continue reading “Post-Thanksgiving Cure: Hot Buttered Rum” »

the simplest sugar scrub

You might have time over the holiday weekend to take some time for yourself. Furthermore, you might need to. As wonderful as family holidays are, they can also drain your energy, and lots of rich food and booze can take their toll on your system. Take some time out to whip up one of these DIY beauty recipes and you’ll be sitting pretty. Happy holiday!

Detoxifying Bath Salts
¾ cup Epsom salts
¼ cup baking soda
4 drops of grapefruit essential oil (or scent of your choice)

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. One at a time, add drops of essential oil, stirring after each addition. Add salts to warm bath water.

Wake Up Scrub
from Body + Soul
¼ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
15 drops peppermint essential oil
½ cup used coffee grounds from a freshly brewed pot

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and thoroughly blend. Transfer the scrub to a wide mouthed jar, and store in a cool place until ready to use. The scrub will keep for one to two weeks, longer if refrigerated.

Continue reading “12 DIY Beauty Recipes” »

image via retro renovation

Something tells me you dear readers share my deep and abiding love for Thanksgiving. On Sunday, window shopping in a fancy food shop with a friend, I suddenly got an anticipatory thrill so moving I hopped a little. Not up and down, but just up, once.

Thanksgiving wasn’t always my favorite holiday, but it became so when I was about 14. The day took on a hodgepodge element that made it more unpredictable party than overstuffed family function. My sister brought seemingly-glamorous (to a 14-year-old) college friends home, cousins in their 20’s would take the bus out to the country wearing black leather jackets, carrying cheese plates, and with a friend or two in tow, a fix-up could well be in the works, and a to-the-death game of Trivial Pursuit was a sure thing.

Things have settled down a bit over the years as attendees have grown up and coupled off. Sebastian makes a mean green bean casserole, my mom’s mashed potatoes are inspired, and there’s usually almost as much stuffing on my plate as I want. This year my sister is being held hostage in Montana. For the first time, I can’t count on her bloody marys and bold accessorizing. But two of my favorite eaters are driving up to sit at the long table, and I bring with me not a boyfriend but a husband. After the fast-paced flurry of a wedding, it will be good to sit down and have long chats with friends and family over a slice of pecan pie, a midnight bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy, and a glass of wine or five.

What’s Thanksgiving at your house like? Do you host? Is it friends, family, or both? A somber affair or an event where someone always dances on a table? Music for the table dancing after the jump…

Continue reading “Countdown to Turkey” »

Though my means may be reduced from the days of whole sides of salmon and a digestif of chocolatey brandy, my love of entertaining has not waned. And why should it? A party can still be a be a kick-up-your-heels affair when guests are served bowls of chili, they just might not be as inspired to don a plaid strapless number, or pair their seductively low-cut red silk with pearls. Serving a dinner that seems a little special requires a bit of scheming, but it’s not impossible. A magician may pull a rabbit from a hat, but a clever hostess can extract 3 courses for 8 people out of $50. Some general tips for a thrifty affair:

• Have your guests bring the wine. When people ask what they can bring, be specific. Guests love assignments! Let them know that the party’s bar will be stocked by the guests and to bring what they want to drink. And no, this does not seem cheap. You’re serving forth a multi-course dinner, you don’t need to quench everyone’s thirst, as well. A bottle or two stowed in the fridge just in case might put worry-wart hostesses at ease (and provides the opportunity to take a nip of something before the guests arrive).
• Go easy on the appetizers. As much as I love cheese — and believe me, I mean I love cheese — people, ahem, have a tendency to overdo it when a creamy wedge of brie is plopped right in front of them as they’re tossing back drinks. You wouldn’t want your lady guests wishing they bought their green off-the-shoulder frock one size large this early in the evening. Pre-dinner nibbles should whet the appetite, not sate it. Olives and cheesy breadsticks always seem to go over well.
• Make vegetables the stars. Instead of relying on a pricey roast to steal the show, put super fresh seasonal vegetables in starring roles in beautiful salads, soups, and side dishes. A $2 head of cauliflower and precious little else can become a delicate and creamy soup that starts the night off on a high note.
• Let the sales guide you. It’s easy to plan a menu when the sky’s the limit — it takes resourcefulness to think about what’s in season and what’s on sale to come up with courses that complement and enhance one another. Think of it as a challenge!

Continue reading “Dinner Party on a Budget” »