Saturday, August 30, 2014

Heartbreakingly beautiful

Today I was in Trader Joes and they had tomatoes so beautiful that I cried.  Literally cried. 


The last time I saw tomatoes this beautiful they had been grown just for me.  Come to think of it, maybe that's what made me cry. 

Friday, August 29, 2014

End of summer

Just cut up the last of the Mattapoisett tomatoes. Sad. 


But a sprinkle of smoked salt flakes, a grind of pepper and a drizzle of good balsamic will do them justice. 

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Simply Orange High Pulp

I love OJ. I like it by itself, with a little seltzer to lighten it up and of course with champagne as a mimosa.  And I like pulp. So when I was at the store and saw a high pulp option I thought, 'sign me up!' 


Well after one glass the jury is back and Simply Orange High Pulp is a definite no.  
Unless you like an inch of goop at the bottom of your glass.  Then this is the juice for you. 

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Ploughmans Lunch

Yum!  

Here's a tip: buy your ham and cheeses for this snack from the Deli. If you ask them to slice extra thick (#10 at my market) then you need only cut crosswise to make these beautiful nibbles! 

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Butterscotch Vodka

Out of that fancy schmantzy aperitif you were planning to serve your friends after your next dinner party? Instead of running to the liquor store (or as we Massholes call it "The Packy"), try making this sweet little concoction for your guests to sip.

Butterscotch Vodka

You don't really need a recipe.  Just drop 12 individual butterscotch candies (unwrapped!)


into 8 oz of your favorite vodka.

Shake it every time you pass by and the candies should dissolve and become one with the booze within 24 hours. Of course you can pass along the recipe... or just wink and tell them it's your little secret.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Shatterproof glasses by WS

These babies aren't cheap. Let's just start there. But, if you have a patio, pool, deck or even a summer place where you just know accidental beakage will occur, maybe you should rethink your mothers plastic glasses.

Of course we aren't taking dime store, BP laden junk. Nope. Williams Sonoma sells a lovely (even monogrammable) line of bulletproof plastic glasses that rival your best glassware.  Check them out here.



I'll admit that this find wasnt actually my own. My parents were the ones who sprang for these first. And I wasn't even convinced then. They were at the top of my budget so I decided to step back and see how these babies fared after a year or so in the dishwasher.  And guess what?  After more than a year of pretty regular use they look good as new.  And I can't remember the last time I had to sweep up a broken glass...

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Popsicles

Popsicles.  Well more like boozy Popsicles or should I say adult Popsicles?  Well they're about to become my thing.

Cruising Pinterest they caught my eye and of course it only took about 2.2 seconds for me to check Smitten Kitchen for the best mold and order it from amazon.com. (Still loving that Amazon Prime!).  I think this is going to be the cocktail of the summer.  So excited. 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Coconut Ice Cream

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't really care too much for ice cream.  Sure, I love to make it. But as far as eating, I can take it or leave it. However, it is physically impossible for me to make it through the summer without having at least one bowl of Coconut Ice Cream from Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville, Ma.

Gorgeous Post Card painted by Doug Warren

Longtime owner Dick Warren wrote the book on Ice Cream.  Seriously, he really did:


2014 is Four Seas 80th anniversary so maybe I'll even indulge in a second bowl. I'd been in good company...
 It was well known to the inner circle that Jackie’s favorite ice cream was coconut, especially the blend made by Four Seas. She even went so far as to having it shipped and flown down from the Cape to the Kennedy White House.- Helen O'Donnell
Come join me.  You never know who you'll bump into.


360 South Main Street Centerville, Ma www.fourseasicecream.com

Monday, August 4, 2014

I'd stay here

The decoration is far from complete and I've questioned the color choice a time or two, but overall I think the paint made a nice difference in the sunrise room.  Fit for a guest?  I'd stay here!


This is what it looks like not long after sunrise.  The completion of the sunset guest room is considerably further behind schedule and it looks like my darling daughter has taken up residence in there. But I have faith..

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Best way to make a marinade

Though I was done with 'bests' yesterday? Well you're wrong.  There's also a best way to whip up a marinade.  Your days cleaning of extra bowls, Tupperware etc are over.


Do it in a bag.  Any close-able and disposable gallon baggie will do but I happen to prefer the zip top ones because I'm more accident probe than the average person. 

Ok you're saying, I can do that. But how am I supposed to get all my ingredients into the bag without spilling them everywhere?  Oh I've got a suggestion for that too. Find a small deep bowl or, in this case, measuring cup. 


Stick the bottom of the bag into the mixing cup or bowl and drape the open top over the edges like so 


Now you can easily pour, grate and add ingredients to your hearts content. 


All without any extra cleanup for yourself. 


When you're done just add whatever you wanted to marinate to begin with, squeeze out the excess air, zip in toss it into the fridge.  


You're welcome. 



Saturday, August 2, 2014

Best way to zest

There's a best way to zest?  Seriously?  Yes folks. There is.  Try holding your zester this way:


And draw it across the top of them lemon.  Not only will you be much less likely to zest your own fingers (and don't tell me THATs never happened) but you have more control, better visibility of what has and hasn't already been stripped from the peel, better yield and most importantly, an accurate measure of how much you've accumulated. Good luck figuring out how much is a tablespoon of zest when you've done it straight into a bowl. 

Next time you have a recipe that calls for a little lemon love, try it! You'll thank me.