Thursday, August 28

Inspiration by Mail

While we are doing our part to try to live as green as possible, some things I just have a hard time with going "green." Take, for instance, magazines, books, and catalogs. I love them and I love turning their pages in my hand and reading the text and looking at the pictures. Somehow doing it digitally just doesn't cut it for me. While I enjoy online shopping just as much as the next person, I still enjoy getting catalogs in the mail. Two of my favorites came in the mail this week.

Wisteria is "a catalog of antiques and decorative items for the home and garden." They have unusal items that you don't see anywhere else. Some are expensive and beyond my price range, but some are very affordable. More than anything though I just enjoy looking at the pictures and get inspired just looking at the vignettes they put together. Something that caught my eye was the Turkey Pumpkin Kit on p. 58. Once Halloween is over, I always turn my carved pumpkin that sits on the porch around so that I can get the most out of it and it usually lasts through Thanksgiving. This kit takes that one step further with a metal head and turkey tail - you instantly have a turkey pumpkin! I also love the treasure nests on p. 29. Handpainted birds stand atop iron branches that have a wicker basket where you can toss your keys and other sundry items. I also have a thing about wire this year and fell in like over the wire votive candleholders on p. 52. And, check out the doormats on p. 17. Beautiful! I can go on and on. This is one of their best catalogs yet.

Another catalog favorite of mine is a little closer to home. Napastyle is the brain child of Chef Michael Chiarello from Food Network and Fine Living. I enjoy his show on Food Network and I like his easy style and his way of whipping up Italian food for entertaining family and friends. His strong sense of family is what I enjoy most about him. He is opening up more Napastyle stores and I hope to get to the one in Berkeley one of these days. But, until then I have to be content with shopping through his catalog and online. I love the warm colors of this catalog and the photography is wonderful. Some of my favorite things: the vintage metal bins on p. 41, the ornato doorstop on p. 58, the talavera tile mirrors on p. 65, the surefire wire baskets on p. 68, the pumpkin leaf plates on p. 73, the coverflex silicone lids on p. 75, and the nesting ruffled bakeware also on p. 75.

I think I need to get a large mug of coffee, sit back, and continue shopping!

Sunday, August 17

Muffin, anyone?

We've been watching a lot of Olympics this past week and stayed up way too late last night (or morning). Since I had some blueberries I decided to make some blueberry muffins for breakfast. After researching some muffin recipes, I thought I would try the Double Blueberry Muffin recipe from Everyday Food. We loved the taste of the cornmeal and the lemon zest. This recipe is definitely a keeper.

Wednesday, August 6

Fruit Pops

In the June issue of Body + Soul magazine (p. 23) there are recipes for fruity frozen pops, a healthy alternative to the sugar-laden popsicles you buy in the store. I have been wanting to make them ever since I saw the article. Well, I finally made the pineapple-cinnamon ones last night. You can find the recipe by clicking on the link or by visiting http://www.wholeliving.com/. The star pop molds are from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's. The popsicles are oh, so good and were given Two Thumbs up from my family! Next, I will have to try the Honeydew-Basil and Mango-Parsley and do a little recipe experimenting of my own. I think the Agua Fresca that we make would make perfect healthy popsicles.

Saturday, August 2

My Small Bounty


I had enough tomatoes ripened at the same time to gather in a small colander! I have harvested enough for a salad here and there, but they are not ripening in large numbers at the same time. The New Roma tomatoes are very tasty this year and the Yellow Pear tomatoes are a little on the sweet side. I have quite a few tomatoes on my Mr. Stripey heirloom, but they haven't started to ripen yet. I think we will have a small salad tonight!