Garden, Home and Party wishes you a Happy Halloween

29 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food, Halloween, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

Tags

Halloween 2014

This might be cheating, but today I’m simply sharing some Halloween images from Pinterest, blogland, and Martha. Those of you that adore this holiday probably already have your parties planned and decorations ready. It’s not my holiday…I enjoy the overall season, and I do like seeing the little trick-or-treaters at our door, but dressing up has never been my thing, so without further alienating the Halloween enthusiasts (many of them my friends)…

Leave it to Martha to pull off the good fairy costume with flair.

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If I hosted a party, I’d definitely want to copy this cheerful vignette. Truthfully, we have these black birds (American Crow) in our neighborhood, what are the odds of training a few of them to sit around and look slightly menacing for an evening?

{Country Living – photograph by Matthew Benson}

There is something so welcoming about light radiating from all of the windows in this charming home.

{Country Living – photograph by John Kernick}

This is more my speed, white mums, a white lantern and a bushel of white pumpkins!

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Mark D. Sikes…simply festive and elegant, as always.

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Kim, at Tidbits and Twine creates a beautiful autumn table as well…

Craftberry Bush, in addition to this fabulous table arrangement, is the place to visit if you’re interested in good ideas for recipes/food for any autumn event.

So while we’re on the topic of a party, here are some really yummy looking sweets for a Halloween party:

Jenny over at Everyday Occasions has a ton of great recipes. Her iced sugar cookies are my favorite.

{Everyday Occassions – Jenny Steffens Hobick}

{Martha Stewart}

{Martha Stewart – Halloween Whoopie Pies}

and, what Halloween party would be complete without apple bobbing?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

What’s on your schedule for this Friday night holiday?

{Party} Recent entertaining and recipes

23 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Food, Recipes

≈ 32 Comments

Tags

orzo salad recipe

Hello sweet readers! How is your summer going? Has it been filled with fun and relaxation?

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I’ve been negligent where the “party” part of my blog is concerned so I thought I’d share a recent menu for a very simple summer barbecue we hosted earlier this month. When I say simple well, that might be an understatement.

Appetizer – we prepared a simple cheese board with crackers, almonds and a couple of cheeses we enjoy

Main Course – Grilled Santa Maria Tri Tip

Orzo Salad

Dessert – Fleur de Sel Chocolate Chip Cookies with Vanilla Ice Cream

Super simple. Below is the recipe for the orzo salad. The Tri Tip we used came from Costco: Bailey’s Pre-Marinated Tri Tip. I adapted the orzo recipe from Ina Garten’s recipe for Roasted Shrimp & Orzo. I knew I wanted to prepare the Santa Maria Tri Tip so I didn’t need the shrimp. If you would like to see her original recipe it can be found HERE. The chocolate chip cookie recipe is Nestle’s Toll House recipe with 2 changes. I used Ghiradelli Bitter Sweet Chocolate Chips and before baking I sprinkled the tiniest pinch of flaked fleur de sel. The cookies were a hit and our friends thought it was some fancy new recipe.

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We enjoyed appetizers under the trees and when it began to cool down we moved to the dining room for the dinner and dessert.

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*Readers that don’t have a Costco or a Trader Joe’s nearby here’s a recipe for Santa Maria Tri Tip: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/santa_maria_style_tri_tip/

I wish you a Happy Week during this summer season. If you have questions concerning the recipe, please email me or leave a comment, I promise to try to answer any and all questions. I will be taking a bit of time off from blogging as Olivia, our granddaughter, is coming to stay with us for a couple of weeks (oh, and her mommy and daddy will be joining us for one of the two weeks). ♥

{Garden, Home and Party} Happy Easter – welcome spring

18 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Dessert, Easter, Entertaining, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Uncategorized

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Easter

I sure hope my friends that have experienced the coldest winter in recent memory, are finally catching a glimpse of spring.

I’m hosting Easter this year for our west coast family members and I thought I’d share some of the inspiration and ideas I’m using for our celebration.

I’m finalizing the menu (the ham has been a staple to the meal for some weeks, but I have flip flopped on the sides). Here are a few of the items that I’ll fix. Sweet Sarah will prefer the fingerling potatoes I’m preparing (much healthier), but I know a couple of family members that will enjoy scalloped potatoes. My office gives Honey Baked gift cards to each of us at Christmas. Honey Baked stores, which are plentiful in California, not so much elsewhere in the U.S., are known for their honey glazed hams. It will make my day of food prep pretty easy to have the ham cooked and ready. I think I’ll prepare some deviled eggs, a slaw salad that Sarah introduced me to, a few appetizers, cookies for dessert and that should be plenty.

Table setting is the icing on the cake for me. I look for any excuse to create a pretty table. Here are some ideas I’m contemplating compliments of the creative bloggers I visit regularly. {Thank you!} I like the idea of potted bulbs (preferably in bloom) and nests with eggs. Trader Joe’s has been carrying daffodils, hyacinths and tulips in little pots. The place mats are really cool and I believe they’re paper. I may not be able to find these but I have a collection of Royal Doulton Beatrix Potter rabbits that I can scatter among the nests and flower pots.

The happy faces on these pansies make simple eggs look festive.

If it’s a pretty day we’ll sit outside for appetizers so I’ll create an Easter basket similar to what I did last year. I used an assortment of color-pack sized flowers and they lasted for most of the early part of summer before fading.

I’ve ordered these tags from Everyday Occasions and will bake Jenny Steffens Hobick’s cookies with buttery icing. Recipe HERE. I’ll plate some and send each person home with a cookie or two wrapped like this. Jenny’s blog is filled with great recipes and ideas for setting the table. She provides detailed instructions for each recipe, and the best part? She has an online store filled with fun items for home and entertaining.

I hope my cookies turn out as well as Jenny’s. Aren’t the baby chicks cute?

So tell me, what are you doing this Easter?

{Home} Thanksgiving, my favorite recipe and more

01 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, House and Home, Recipes

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe

I love this particular time of year, but I especially enjoy Thanksgiving. There’s no gift buying pressure, just plenty of good food and fun times to share with family and friends. While I realize it’s only the 1st of November, you and I both know the time will fly and before you know it you’ll be making your grocery list for the feast.

I enjoy cooking but I probably enjoying eating as much. Alison over at The Polohouse is hosting her Favorites On the First and the topic is your favorite Thanksgiving recipe. At first I was perplexed…should I feature a mouth-watering pumpkin pie recipe or the Texas Stuffing I found in the Los Angeles Times Food Section years ago?

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When it comes right down to it though, I think my favorite thing for the meal is mashed potatoes. We don’t eat them that often and we certainly don’t throw on gravy for good measure when we do. As if creamy, buttery potatoes need something more! But Thanksgiving we throw waistline watching out the window and gravy tops every helping of mashed potatoes. Anyway, my favorite recipe is called make-ahead mashed potatoes (which is one of the things I like best about the recipe.) Here goes:

{image source and another delicious potato recipe}

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes ~ adapted from HERE

Oven, preheated 350° at the time you’re planning on reheating the potatoes.

5 pounds potatoes, Russet or Yukon Gold

1 1/2 sticks of butter, divided

1 8 oz whipped cream cheese

1/2 cup Half & Half

2 teaspoon kosher salt [1 teaspoon in the pot while the potatoes boil, 1 teaspoon (or less, depending on taste preference) when mashing]

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Peel and cut the potatoes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 1 teaspoon salt, add potatoes and return the water to a boil. Cook for 30 minutes and check for tenderness. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain in a colander. Return the potatoes to the pot and turn the stove on low, just to make sure all of the moisture is gone.

Off the flame, add 1 stick of butter, remaining salt, pepper, half & half, and cream cheese. Mash to a creamy consistency. *Don’t worry if they seem a little bit soupy, they firm up when refrigerated. Once mashed, place in an oven-proof dish and dot with the remaining 1/2 stick of butter. Potatoes may be refrigerated at this point. If you make the recipe a couple days in advance, take the dish out of the fridge about 2 hours before serving time. Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes or until hot.

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By the way, the above image reminds me of the first Martha Stewart Thanksgiving special on TV. She had converted her “barn” into the most warm and welcoming dining space, as only she can do!

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How cute are these pudding cups? If you have children or just like delicious food visit HERE

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Do you have a personal favorite recipe for Thanksgiving? If its not a family secret, share. If you have time be sure to visit The Polohouse, you’re sure to be happy you did.

{Party} Tea time

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Drink, Entertaining, Food

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

tea

{Content in a Cottage}

I enjoy tea and wish I made more time for a proper tea party. I don’t like it to the exclusion of coffee, I find I’m firmly addicted to my 2 cups of coffee every day, but Mr. B and I enjoy tea after dinner. This time of year I could drink tea most any time of the day or evening.

A friend of mine buys all of her loose tea from France. She recently introduced me to Mariage Freres of Paris, and Fauchon tea and I think she may be on to something, it was truly delicious. I’m not above using a tea bag in a pinch, but if you have the time loose tea tastes so much better.

{A Toile Tale}

One of the best things about tea, for me, is the array of possibilities it offers for a) table settings, even a table for 2 with special mugs or cup and saucer, AND b) the snacks that can accompany a tea break. Those Brits know what they’re doing about taking time for tea.

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Who does’t love nibbles? I have often thought I could graze for each meal, you know, sample a bite of this and taste of that. Tea seems the ideal opportunity to delight the senses with both sweet and savory.

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If you’d like help with ideas for the menu when hosting a tea party, here’s a book that comes highly recommended.

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Although the U.K. has always been the country I think of when I think of tea, there are countries all over the globe that specialize in growing fine tea. I have a neighbor from India who wholesales premium teas from her homeland. Alton Brown, the scientist/chef from Food TV has listed his recipe for the perfect cup of tea. This is the technique Mr. B. and I follow when we brew a cup of tea.

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Ingredients
4 heaping teaspoons loose tea
4 cups water
Directions
Place loose tea leaves into a warmed tea kettle. Pour heated water over loose tea leaves. Let steep. Strain tea and serve.

Notes
*Note: For Oolong and Green tea, water should simmer at 200 degrees F. and 180 degrees F.

*For Irish and English tea bring water to a full boil.

*Black tea should soak for 3 to 5 minutes. Oolong tea should soak for 4 to 7 minutes. Green Tea should soak for 2 to 3 minutes.

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Years ago, when I was a stay-at-home-mom, Linda, Gretchen (two of my oldest and dearest friends) and I would have tea at one another’s home at least once or twice a month. The kids would play and we’d drink tea, munch on goodies and compare notes on parenting and such. Today we continue the tradition when Linda visits from her Bainbridge Island home. We alternate between Gretchen’s home and mine and most of our teas are morning teas so we always include homemade scones. My first post about my scone recipe, and how I came to obtain it can be found HERE.

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Here is my recipe for scones. No, they aren’t health food scones.

English Scones – Cranberry Orange Glazed

Ingredients

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup butter (melted)

1½ cup Craisins or raisins (or diced pecans if making Maple scones)

¾ buttermilk

Glaze (optional)

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoon orange juice (or maple syrup for maple glaze)

½ teaspoon orange oil (or maple extract for maple glaze)

¼ cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons milk (more if necessary to make liquid spread easily)

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 375° Mix dry ingredients. Add butter, buttermilk and *Craisins and mix until incorporated. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1″ thickness. Cut to desired size with cutter or knife. Sprinkle with coarse sugar (if using glaze, omit this step). Lay on parchment paper, Silpat or lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

Top with Orange glaze or omit the Craisins and substitute maple extract for the vanilla and add Maple glaze

Do you enjoy tea? Do you fuss with loose tea or throw a tea bag in a cup of hot water. I do that sometimes and it’s okay. Let me know of any specialty teas that you are fond of, I’m always interested in trying new things.

{GHP} Let’s go on a picnic!

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Dessert, Drink, Family, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Traditions

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

Picnic

Because this is National Picnic Week…

I think it’s time to pack a picnic and head someplace picturesque and relaxing. Want to come along? This idea of picnicking has become an annual theme for me, but when I read about this cookbook by Tori Finch I couldn’t resist another dream picnic.

By the way, full disclosure, I never really got around to taking a picnic someplace other than our patio in the backyard last summer. Enjoying the relaxation of a view, food that’s delicious and easy to eat without fuss, and maybe a bottle of wine (or a jug of iced tea) just never happened. The last grown-up, memorable picnic I went on with Mr. B was before we had children and it was in this picturesque spot…

[Note: We enjoyed picnics when the kids were growing up, but they were always more play than relaxation—I look forward to continuing that tradition with grandchildren]

{Crescent Bay Point Park ~ Laguna Beach, California}

In fact, when I think of going on a picnic I think of this location. During summer months nature’s air conditioning works beautifully to keep it comfortable and there are picnic tables and benches to use or you can spread your blanket out on the grass. The view is guaranteed to relax you.

But since this post is as much about the idea of a picnic as it is a travel plan, I have some images that are what I imagine a picnic would be like in a perfect world. Of course, this is my car! Isn’t it cute with that little picnic basket attached?

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{Turkey Caprese Sandwich ~ Martha Stewart}

Packed in that pretty blue and white picnic basket I might make the Turkey Caprese Sandwich from Martha Stewart for me and the egg salad (below) for Mr. B.

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I love the idea of a wine box shipping crate (large enough) to use as a little table for a picnic…okay, maybe the cloche and footed cookie plate with dome are a bit over the top, but I love the flowers and the quilt.

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This is my kind of picnic…the shade of a tree in the country, maybe the soft sounds of a stream nearby….ahhh, what could be better?

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{unknown}

Why stick with the predictable cookie for dessert when you can have these at the ready for the end of the meal? I don’t have a recipe but I believe it’s a simple shortbread cookie (that may be cooked so as to be slightly chewy), whipped cream and large strawberries cut and skewered. How fun.

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No matter how you get there…by car

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~or~

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Will you be making time for a picnic this summer? Tell me what you usually prepare, or do you benefit from a great deli nearby that can make the perfect sandwich?

I’ve linked to Savvy Southern Style for her Wow us Wednesday! ~and~ I’ve joined Ricki Jill at Art @ Home for her What makes me Happy!

{Party} Meatloaf, recipe variations

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Food, House and Home, Recipes

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

Meatloaf

As I mentioned in my Valentine’s Dinner post, meatloaf, especially in the winter months, is a comfort food…for some, not for me. It is one of Mr. B’s favorite meals and it used to be a favorite of my father’s. I can remember mom making a huge meatloaf and then we would eat meatloaf sandwiches for a couple of days after she served the beast.

{1770 House Meatloaf ~ Ina Garten, Foolproof}

Years ago, when my mom fixed meatloaf for Mr. B (shortly after we were married) on our drive home he said, “why don’t you ever fix meatloaf?” To which I stated, “because I don’t really care for it”…yep, I can be selfish that way. After giving it some thought I decided maybe it was my mom’s meatloaf that I really didn’t like (bless you, mom) so I began trying meatloaf recipes from a wide array of sources.

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{Charlotte Moss}

I hit upon a recipe that I was certain couldn’t be rivaled in a 2001 Bon Appetit. The March issue featured a meatloaf called “Red-Onion Meat Loaf“. Since Mr. B loved red onion and I didn’t mind it I figured I’d give it a go. It’s a delicious recipe and I’ve given you the link so that you can easily print it and try it yourself.

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Then, a few years ago we were watching Bobby Flay’s Throw Down, on Food TV. He threw down for a meatloaf cook-off with the Collucci brothers of Hyannis, Mass. They have been serving their meatloaf recipe for generations at the Collucci’s 4 Brothers Bistro & Last Resort. I seem to remember that Bobby lost the throw down, but it was his recipe that sounded best to Mr. B. and I. I’ve been making the recipe ever since…until Ian Garten’s new Foolproof cookbook had a recipe for 1770 House meatloaf. I had to try it. It’s delicious but Mr. B, and fortunately, I agree that Bobby Flay’s recipe still wins our cravings, hands down.

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Click on the link for each recipe and give them a try if you and yours love meat loaf. I’ve included table settings to jazz things up a bit. Hey, if you’re going to eat you have to set the table, right?

{Martha Stewart ~ photo by Maura McEvoy}

Do you like meatloaf? If you have a wonderful recipe, I’d love to borrow it. I’m always searching for the next “best” meatloaf ever for my honey!

{Happy 40th Anniversary, Mr. B}

{Party} Please join us for a Valentine’s dinner

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Dessert, Entertaining, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

Valentine's Day

{Slim Paley}

There was a time when I would have thought of St. Valentine’s Day strictly as a date for two. As I’ve matured I find that any occasion can be more fun with a small group of close friends.

So my post for today is an invitation for you to join us for a Valentine’s dinner…this is pure fantasy, unless all of you can manage a flight to California and join us in real life!

My invitation will be simple, but I enjoy receiving hard copy invitations so I think I’ll order this for my informal dinner party…

I don’t know who the Logan’s (below in sample invite) are but I wouldn’t expect guests to leave my party at 10:00 p.m., lights out at our home would be 10:30…ha,ha,ha. Just kidding, I think parties have a way of letting you know when they are winding down, organically, don’t you agree? Honestly, none of our friends ever overstay their welcome and we all seem to get tired after several hours of good food, good wine and good conversation.

{via Tiny Prints}

All of you will know my house because you’ve been there many times before…

{remember, this is pretend}

For table settings and flowers I can go in a few different directions. Below are some of my ideas, maybe you should weigh in and let me know which table you’d most enjoy…

Here is my Valentine table last year, or the year before, I don’t remember. I could use the same cloth but the Petite Fleur dishes might be too busy for meatloaf, what do you think?

This (above) table is technically one I found around Christmas, but the frosty greens could be traded out for others while the mercury glass and silver and white, especially with the pearl heart, could easily work for St. Valentine’s Day.

The red and white grain sack cloth with the red candles really work for the holiday…I love the simplicity of this with the fire in the grate and candles on the mantle, what could be more inviting or romantic?

I love the detailing on these candelabras, and the tailored feel to the black and white linens and dishes. This is totally a Valentine’s look that I could get behind.

I will have fresh flowers in the house and probably keep to the traditional selection of colors where they are concerned…and I’m sure the price of flowers for that weekend will be astronomical. Is it too late to cancel this imaginary dinner? LOL

If only I could find these beauties in my garden, its still a little early for me to have enough to cut and bring in ~ via Studio Choo

I prefer simple appetizers since I don’t want you to fill up on a first course only to discover you’re not hungry when the main course is served. This (on a smaller but similar scale) is what I’ll set out for guests.

~and~

Because St. Valentine’s Day lands in the winter, I plan to serve you a hearty fare.

Cheese board ~ Olives ~ Bread

1770 house meatloaf

Mashed potatoes

Green Beans Gremolata

Dessert: Brownies with homemade Caramel Sauce

and

Vanilla Ice Cream

{Photo by Jenny Steffens Hobick} ~if you love to cook, please visit Everyday Occasions blog, you will be inspired with her wonderful recipes and beautiful design ideas.

{Peeking Thru the Sunflowers}

So what’s planned for those of you that can’t make it to our house for dinner?

xo, Karen

I’m over at Stone Gable for her Turtorials and Tips party.

I want to send a special thank you to Debby at the fabulous Inspired Design for hosting a book giveaway that I won! {By the way, she’s hosting another book giveaway this week, you may want to stop by and comment to be entered}

This is going to be on my nightstand until I plan my next trip to Paris, then I’ll take it with me on the plane. It’s filled with beautiful images and fabulous insider tips for traveling to the city of light and romance.

Note: On my previous post about my friend’s house I inadvertently made a few errors about the age of some of the lighting fixtures. I’ve corrected the errors HERE.

{Party} It’s the season for comfort food

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Recipes

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

comfort food

Okay, so maybe I wouldn’t throw a party and serve comfort food, or would I? Why not? In any case I’m sharing my favorite winter comfort food recipe with you today. I was motivated to do this, in part, because The Polohouse has made comfort food her “Favorites on the First” topic and since the weather here in the U.S., even in Southern California, is very cool what better time to prepare soul warming, calorie loaded comfort food. Consider it my way of forcing the inevitable must exercise more goal.

I confess, comfort food does just what it’s supposed to do to me when I eat it. I feel satisfied and comfortable, even relaxed. That might be caused by the over- abundance of calories in most of my favorite comfort foods, but either way, we don’t indulge that often and only when the NEED arises.

So, here you go. This is a winner for my family. It’s an Emeril Lagasse recipe, but my dear friend on Bainbridge Island, Linda, tested it out first. (Thank you, Linda) She is the person I give credit to for having tried and loved this recipe. Oh, and I have actually served this to guests at a dinner party. The individual baked pies provide great presentation.

Emeril’s Chicken Pot Pie – {Food TV provides a printable version of this recipe}

In addition to the recipe, I’ve included some comfort inviting rooms for your viewing enjoyment.

and one of my favorites for comfort…

Here’s to a comfortable 2013. May the New Year be filled with peace and love for all of us. Happy New Year!

I’m visiting Savvy Southern Style’s Wow Us Wednesdays, stop by for some great ideas.

{Party} Dining by candlelight

08 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Party Planning, Recipes

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

candlelight, Irish Stew

I’ve always liked using candles in and around my home. I think that the fall/winter months are my favorite time of the year to let candlelight provide the light needed to dine by.

Until the early 20^th century, everyone ate by candlelight, I’m sure they didn’t think of it as anything more than an essential way to see what you were eating. Bright lights became the norm as the introduction of electricity was installed in homes and restaurants everywhere.

{Party Resources ~ Carolyne Roehm}

According to Jan Whitaker of Resturant-ing Through History,

…there were some ultra-refined people who considered the glare of bright light vulgar. Etiquette expert Emily Holt recommended in1902 that candles be used instead of gas or electric chandeliers for home dinner parties lest the dinner resemble a “blazing feast … in some hotel restaurant.”

Candlelight promised the gentility of an elite dinner party, far removed from loud music, noise, and guests who drank too much. Candles suited the tea room perfectly. Not only did they shed flattering light, they discouraged the rowdy, fun-seeking masses from entering the door. Tea room owners, overwhelmingly WASPs, also liked how candles, as well as lanterns and fireplaces, created a quaint atmosphere that they imagined resembled how their Colonial ancestors lived.

I confess, candlelight does seem to make everything look better. Even the faces of guests seem aglow when we dim the electric lights and let candlelight do its magic.

So, in addition to a recipe for my beef stew (below), here are some pretty tables with candlelight as their main source of illumination.

{image source}

*Note, this image captures what my stew looks like when I serve it in these bread rounds, but for some reason, my food photography leaves much to be desired for capturing the delicious goodness on the plate. Thank you for your understanding.

KB’s Irish Stew (serves 6)

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds Chuck roast, cubed, patted dry

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 tablespoons butter

4 large carrots, scrubbed and sliced

8 large mushrooms, sliced

3 medium potatoes, diced

1 large onion, diced

1 1/2 cup frozen peas

6 cups beef broth+

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup heavy cream or half and half

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cube beef, trim off excess fat. Heat oil and butter in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Dry beef with paper towels; season with salt and pepper; brown beef in small batches. Once brown on all sides; continue until all beef is browned; set aside.

Lower heat to medium and add onion and carrots, (it may be necessary to add a little more oil) cook about 2-4 minutes (until translucent); add mushrooms and cook until mushrooms have released their juices. Return beef to pan and add broth and cubed potatoes. Reduce heat to keep (medium-low or low heat)* stew simmering; cook for 2 hours, with lid on pan. Check periodically in case more broth is needed.

*This can be cooked in the oven at 325° for 2 – 2 1/2 hours, check periodically to make sure you don’t run out of broth in the stew.

30 minutes before stew is finished, make slurry of flour and whipping cream, add to stew and stir. Check and adjust seasonings.

Serve in a mini-boule that has been hollowed out (retain lid) and dry for a few minutes in the oven or with a loaf of crusty bread and salad.

ƒ ƒ ƒ

Mercury glass candles make everything shimmer and it seems they are very popular this fall.

I like tapers as much as votives and often use a combination when we serve dinner. Do you have a preference when you entertain?

Downton Abbey – isn’t this pretty? I can’t wait for Season 3!

{Inspiring Interiors ~ Christmas in Oslo}

{via}

{Inspiring Interiors}

The above image is one of my favorites, I borrowed it from Kifus over at Inspiring Interiors. If you’ve never visited her site you’re in for a treat. She features homes from all over the world and most are exquisite. {The tray that holds the mercury glass votives and vintage silver candlesticks is so pretty}

{The New Victorian Ruralist}

Isn’t this a clever idea. I’m not sure where you’d find 7 rustic ladles of varying sizes but it’s a very fun image.

{the adventures of tartanscot}

Every Christmas Scot of the adventures of tartanscot shares photographs of his dining room table, complete with little gifts for guests and every year I’m inspired and in awe. His talents in all of the design work he does is always worthwhile.

{Party Resources}

{Shari Curtis Mortensen ~ Pinterest}

{tumblr ~ That Inspirational Girl}

I realize some of the table settings are wedding settings, but you get the idea, right. Besides, we have a wedding coming up (watch for posts pre/post wedding) and candlelight will be a huge part of the ambiance of our (Son #2 & fiance) upcoming celebration.

In light of the stew recipe, maybe I should plan on this (below) form of candlelight…

{tumblr ~ Little White Daisies}