Sentimental Southwestern Flair

During my recent trip to Sedona, AZ I was lucky enough to run into some great finds… one of them being some elaborate Native American baskets and weaving.  Many of the pieces were will outside my price range but ever since my first basket was gifted to my by a good friend of mine I have added to my collection little by little.  I have misplaced the artist’s card but will amend the post once I find it to give credit!

I have found that to collect something it has to have special meaning to you… and the sea turtle has held a special place in my heart.  Now my two favorite themes have come together beautifully with a woven plate with a sea turtle on it.  Some interesting faccts about turtles:

• The Delaware Indians used turtle tattoos.
• The turtle is also the greek symbol for ‘woman’.
• Sailors got a turtle tattoo when they crossed the equator.
• In Japan the turtle is the symbol of a long life, but in the Christian world the turtle is the symbol for laziness and procrastination…
• Turtles are able to escape the world with the comfort of its shell, so there are many people who identify well with this aquatic creature.
• The spirit of the turtle is one of protection, healing and inner knowledge.
• The Turtle is considered by some Indigenous North Americans to be one of their the oldest, most sacred symbols. They believed that North America was created on the back of a turtle. To this day most Indigenous peoples refer to North America as Turtle Island.
• The medicine of turtle is its deliberate and thorough approach to life. 
• The turtle is also courageous because it makes progress only when it sticks its neck out, and moves forward with patient, steady flow in order to achieve the desired results.

A Great Room Needs Great Art!

The family room is a large room that has grand scale items such as the floor to ceiling fireplace.  When redecorating, I tried to match the art to the style and scale of a great room… and I fell in love with tapestries.  They suited my tastes without overpowering the space.  After months of looking, I found this tapestry and fell in love with the symbology of the “Tree of Life”.  This continues to be a favorite of my mother and when she asked me what I wanted for Christmas… I told her this!  Well, some applause for Mrs. Claus because she came through! 

Thanks Mom!!

The Best Beer Bread Gift Package

For Christmas my Brother and Sister-in-law gave Mom and I a gift package.  It was a loaf pan filled with two beer bread mixes, two bottles of beer, a spice packet, jam and directions.   It was all labeled, seasonally wrapped and such a great idea I had to give it a try.

The directions promised a warm crusty loaf in under an hour… and it was right. 

Basic Beer Bread Mix:

• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder (make sure it is fresh!)
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt

Wheat Beer Bread Mix:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup un-bleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder (again, make sure it is fresh!)
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt

Heat oven to 375 degrees and grease  one loaf pan.  Empty mix into mixing bowl.  Slowly stir in one 12 oz bottle or can of beer into bowl while mixing until just combined.  (Use a lighter beer for basic mix and an ale for wheat mix). Batter will be thick.  Mix it until all the flour is just moistened.  Do NOT over mix or “knead” the bread as you normally would to make yeast bread.  Shape dough into a thick oblong loaf and place in the pre-greased loaf pan.

Brush top with optional egg glaze (one egg, 2 tsp water whisked).  Place loaf pan in oven and bake about 45 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick stuck in center comes out clean.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and remove from pan for additional cooling on rack of about another 10 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Try adding dried or fresh herbs, 1/2 cup of frshly grated asiago (or other hard cheese), 1/2 cup finely chopped onion or scallions or other variations… use your imagination!  This was the perfect bread to serve with a crock pot meal of Italian Herbed Chicken.  Enjoy!!

 

 

Apothecary Jar Display

I picked up some decorative porceline balls at Christmas Tree Shop when I was planning the family room project.  They have been in storage awaiting a way to display them.  They are a perfect match to the accent color of my family room.   While shopping in Marshall’s I found this Apothecary Jar which was a perfect height for the display.  However, the porceline balls would only fill it half way and since the jar was glass I didn’t want to stress it by purchasing more.  The same Marshall’s trip I found the other accent color in grapevine balls that would add a nice contrast and a perfect display was made!

Red Rock Magic – Sedona, AZ

Recently, my friends and I traveled to Sedona, AZ and were so taken with the natural landscape that we went nuts with our cameras… I wanted to share a few shots with everyone.

        

        

 

Great Friends… Great Finds!

How often have you admired something a friend has only to know that you could never have it?  This one of a kind spiral staircase was a floor model/ demo of a manufacturer in Norwood, MA.  My friend used it in her store and I immediately loved the stand and could just imagine the possibilities for displaying my Byer’s Choice Carollers.  Well, when the store closed and my friend was moving, the golden opportunity presented itself… and now I have the staircase!  A little refinishing for the wooden treads and it was good to go.

It displays my figurines perfectly and has become quite a conversation piece.  Of course, Psyche the kitten, now thinks it is her perch! 

Belated Halloween Greetings!

Edgar was indeed a “hot dog” this year… and he loved running around in his buns!  The little monsters at the door thought he was the coolest and I have to agree.  Here are some candids of Edgar’s Halloween costume and please note he prefers mustard over ketchup!

    

Cranberry Creme Brulee Tartlets – Yum!

OK, sometimes recipes fall into your hands from strange sources.  While reviewing the BJ’s monthly circular, this particular recipe had a picture that just looked good and the ingredients fit the season… so I was game to give it a try.  As with any new recipe, play with it until you get it right.  Here is my interpretation…

Crust

• 2 packages refrigerated pie crust (I used Pillsbury)

Cranberry Filling

• 2 to 3 Cups Fresh Cranberries
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnimon
• 1/3 Cup Water

Cream Cheese Filling

• 12 oz Cream Cheese, softened
• 2 Tbsp Heavy Cream
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 3 Eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Caramel

• 1/2 Cup Werther’s Original Hard Candies, Crushed

Heat oven to 450 degrees.  In 1 quart saucepan, mix cranberry filling ingredients; heat to boiling.  Cook over medium heat about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and allow to cool.  Unroll pie crusts on a floured work surface and flatten each crust slightly with a rolling pin.  With a 3.5 inch round cutter cut as many rounds from crusts as possible.  Spray muffin tins with Pam for baking and press rounds into tins and up sides with a little beyond the edges of the tin.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown, remove from oven and let cool.  Turn oven down to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl mix Cream Cheese Filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.  Spoon one heaping teaspoon of cranberry filling into each tart shell.  Top with cream cheese filling.  Back 10 to 12 minutes or until center is set.  Remove from oven and sprinkle each tartlet with crushed candies.  Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until candy has melted. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.  Enjoy!

Kittery Outlet Finds

With this economy it is important to plan some affordable fun… so for a shopper it is a trip with friends to the outlets in Maine.  My favorite stops always include Stonewall Kitchen, Crate & Barrel, Polo and Tommy Hilfiger stores. 

Crate & Barrel has a great clearance section of furniture, sheets/ bedding and other great finds.  I happened to get a white coverlet for my bed along with 2 shams for about a 1/3 of the price of what it would have been in a regular retail store.  Plus, there is nothing wrong with these that I can see. 

Nothing says summer like some seashell sheets and a white coverlet! 

A “Halo” for Pets

 

Recently, a friend introduced me to Halo Cat Food.  This holistic, all natural food is specifically formulated to make your pets healthier; inside and out.  I immediately noticed my cat’s coat was much fuller and silkier after only a week on the kibble.  So, it was a no brainer for me to transition my new kitten to this product.  I was concerned that “kitten” food did not appear on their site but in the FAQ’s it stated that it was just as good for a growing kitten as it was for an adult.  Kitty is enjoying a mix of the canned and kibble for her delicate belly.  When I opened the can she litterally plunked her tiny face into the opening and started eating.  I think she likes it!  For more information go to www.halopets.com