Cranberry Cosmopolitan

So, the cranberry liqueur is finished and I have two lovely bottles to try.
I made cosmos the other night-- very festive with a lime slice as garnish.

Here is the recipe:


Cranberry Cosmopolitan
1/2 cup Cranberry Liqueur
1/4 cup Cointreau
2 tablespoons lime juice
Mix with 1 cup crushed ice; strain into martini glass. 
Makes 2 cocktails.

Roasted Broccoli with Garlic

I tried this recipe the other night. I was looking for something a little more tasty than the usual boring steamed broccoli. It's very easy to roast broccoli and it tastes wonderful.

Here is the recipe:

One head of broccoli-- or more if you desire.

One clove of garlic

Salt & Pepper

Little Olive Oil

Take the broccoli and cut into pieces. Then drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Take the crushed garlic clove and mix it in as well. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast at 425° for about 20-25 minutes.

You can also add some lemon zest, pine nuts and even parmesan cheese to the mix. It's super delicious.

Mercury Glass Obsessed

On my way to TJMaxx the other day I scored a set of mini mercury glass ornaments! Twenty of them for a mere $7! They'll go nicely with my larger mercury glass acorn ornaments I got a few years back. Can't wait to put up the tree...

Cranberry Liqueur Gift Idea

I was thinking about what I could make with the bottles I found at Homegoods over the Summer. And I came across the great recipe from Cooking Light for Cranberry Liquor. It's super easy. The only drawback is that the whole process takes three weeks.


Here is the recipe:

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries

3 cups vodka

Directions:

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan; cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and cool completely.

Place cranberries in a food processor; process 2 minutes or until finely chopped. Combine sugar mixture and cranberries in a large bowl; stir in vodka.

Pour the vodka mixture into clean jars; secure with lids. Let stand 3 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking every other day.

Strain the cranberry mixture through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl, and discard solids. Carefully pour liqueur into clean bottles or jars.

Note: Liqueur can be stored refrigerated or at room temperature for up to a year.

I found this ( 34 oz.) jar at IKEA for a little under $4 to house the mixture until I strain and pour into my bottles. I'll let you know if it's good-- with a Cranberry Cosmo post!

Pilar Olaverri

I just came across this wonderful sculptor, Pilar Olaverri. Her work is delightful in every sense. And she makes jewelry as well! It's just breathtaking. Modern yet earthy --I love it.

Rotisserie Fabulous!

So, I scored a rotisserie at the neighborhood yard sale. Paid $20! So far I've only tried roasting chickens. I've finally learned the technique of getting the meat on the spindle so it rotates evenly. 
I'm trying this rub today. I modified a recipe I saw on the Food Network show Down Home with the Neely's. I cut out the cayenne pepper and the oil to make it more diet friendly. Should be just as tender since we're cooking it in a rotisserie!
Here is the rub I'm using today:


2 tbsp. paprika
2 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. dried thyme
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. garlic powder


I washed the chicken and seasoned the inside of the cavity with the mixture. Then put the chicken on the spindle and rubbed the rest of the chicken with the mixture. Smells good already!

Roasted Vegetables with Polenta Lava

This was such a good recipe so I thought I would share... Made it last night and it's Weight Watchers-- 6 pts. 6 servings.


Ingredients:
5 spray(s) cooking spray,

Vegetable Mixture  

              3 medium sweet red pepper(s), cut into large chunks  

              1/2 pound(s) portobello mushroom(s), baby-variety, wiped clean, cut into large chunks  

              1 medium zucchini, ends trimmed, cut into large chunks  

              1 medium eggplant(s), peeled, ends trimmed, cut into large chunks  

              1 1/2 cup(s) frozen pearl onions, or 12 fresh pearl onions  

              2 Tbsp olive oil, divided  

              1 tsp kosher salt, divided  

              2 cup(s) grape tomatoes, halved  

              3 clove(s) garlic clove(s), minced (large)  

              2 Tbsp basil, fresh, cut into fine ribbons*  

              2 Tbsp parsley, fresh, minced

Polenta  

              1 cup(s) vegetable broth  

              1 cup(s) whole milk  

              1 leaf/leaves bay leaf  

              1/2 cup(s) uncooked cornmeal  

              3/4 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese, Pecorino Romano suggested  

              3/4 tsp kosher salt  

              1 tsp thyme, fresh, for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Generously coat a large roasting pan with cooking spray.

Place peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant and onions in prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt; gently toss to coat. Roast for about 15 minutes; toss and roast until browned in spots and at desired degree of doneness, about 15 to 25 minutes more.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss tomatoes with remaining tablespoon oil, garlic, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, basil and parsley; set aside and let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes.

When vegetables are finished cooking, remove from oven and add tomato mixture to roasting pan; combine thoroughly and cover to keep warm.

Meanwhile, to make polenta, in a medium saucepan, combine broth, milk and bay leaf; bring to a slow boil over medium-high heat. When liquid has just started to boil, slowly pour in cornmeal, stirring continuously. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until polenta is smooth and well-combined, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cheese and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt until thoroughly combined.

Spoon vegetables over polenta and garnish with thyme. Yields about 1 cup vegetables and 1/2 cup polenta per serving.

Riveting...

I opened my May issue of Elle Decor and was stunned at these new furniture pieces from Restoration Hardware. Mixing polished aluminum and leather they refer to these pieces as The Aviator Collection.
It looks super cool but not practical by any means...

Decorating Magic

I've been thumbing through pictures posted on Facebook from Atlanta's My Sweet Things. This is a talented, gal, Kathi Dangler, who used to be a designer and now bakes and decorates wonderful treats! I'm so taken with all the creativity and whimsy of her designs. Her presentation is so nice and tasteful (no pun intended).

Here are some of my favorites:

Obsession.

I'm becoming obsessed with the show Extreme Couponing.  The people on this show have made clipping coupons cool. I'm ready to take on the challenge sitting in front of a stack of coupon printouts ready to clip and organize my stash. I'm worried if I have the room to stock pile my freebies once I really get into this. Perhaps I can just stick to one small list and see how much I can save from there.

Got a thing for totes?

I love this new tote from Anya Hindmarch complete with 3D ribbon tie around a handsomely illustrated the stack of newspapers and magazines. You can get one here at Saks.com.

Tiffany goes leather.

Known for everything from engagement rings to fine silver trinkets Tiffany has started a handbag line. I've already seen this bag (below, first) in three magazines so far. It's a reversible bag that is $595! Whew.

Cookbook purge.

I decided that I needed more room in my bookcases for new cookbooks this year. So, I went through and picked out cookbooks that I haven't used in at least two years. I found a few that I could do without and hopefully some of my friends will get more use from them! I'm looking forward to new recipes and new books!

Great garage sale find.

I've fallen in love with ceramic garden stools. And you see them everywhere now. They're such a versatile furniture piece that can be used in small spaces as well as large ones- indoors or out. I started my obsession with them while working for Ballard Designs. I got my first white stool which I adore. From then on I've always been on the lookout for them where ever I go. I was lucky to find this one (below) at a garage sale for $10! The seller purchased it while in China on a trip and it's covered with vegetables and fruits with gold accents...A bit busy for my taste but works great as a plant stand outside. I've also found them at discount stores such as Homegoods and Ross. Here are some others that I found online-see below. 

Great find for $10!

$75 at The Smithsonian Store

$129 at Wisteria

$169 at Target

$130 at Z Gallerie

$94.99 at Overstock.com