Holiday Project Number 1 – ORGANIZATION 101

With the holiday frenzy in full swing, my holiday readiness has just gotten off the ground! I’m a traditionalist when it comes to the holidays; enjoying each holiday in its respective calendar occurrence. It’s hard for me to think about mistletoe, holiday cookies and evergreen wreaths when jack-o-lanterns and corn stalks still clutter my neighborhood!

This year my family will be traveling for the holidays, with me leaving Philadelphia prior to the 25th. Traveling at the holiday forces me to enter the holiday season with a game plan, a list and a fierce determination to prevent procrastination! Each year I have grand ideas of things that I will craft, specific gift wrapping ensembles and holiday confections that I will assemble. Often, more times that I would care to admit, I fall short of my original game plan. Was my list to ambitious? Were my expectations beyond physical realization? Perhaps. But part of the fun, at least for me, is the planning. I suppose it’s something carried over from childhood, “with sugar plums dancing in their heads”!

So this year, my game plan is more realistic. My day job, the 9 to 5, can be time-consuming - far exceeding the standard forty hours depending upon project deadlines; so needless to say – that can hinder even the best planner’s game plan. This year’s plan includes one major crafting project per week in the month of December, leaving me sufficient time (hopefully!) to complete current project before moving on to the next, while still leaving ample time for daily chores, responsibilities and daily enjoyment of seasonal pleasures! While my goals may appear somewhat rudimentary, it’s what will work for me. Time management appears to be a popular topic, and as a dear friend noted on her blog, susanbethstudio, “Don't be too hard on myself but don't be a slacker either.” Well said Susan!

Let’s see if I can stick to my game plan!



The beginning of a long & prosperous baking craze! Christmas, 1971.

Ode to the Brussel Sprout

Growing up, I was only ever exposed to the frozen variety of brussel sprouts – the kind purchased in a little cardboard box, wrapped in printed wax paper. Cooked beyond recognition on the cooktop, and to my mother’s credit - she was and remains a fabulous cook - this was not one of those memorable family favorites; the mushy miniature cabbage round held no culinary attachment for moi. This is what I knew, so as an adult I chose not to eat brussel sprouts; they were not included in my cornucopia of vegetable options. (Frankly, after my description – who would?)

Then, through my re-education of food with Ali Shapiro, I rediscovered the brussel sprout. What I learned is that when prepared correctly, this compact little green gem packs a punch of flavor, not to mention a healthy dose of Vitamin A and C. Brussel sprouts have become my autumn go-to vegetable, a welcomed addition after enjoying the last of the Indian summer’s harvest. Roasted in the oven at a high temperature till browned and caramelized, these yummy morsels are a delightful addition to my vegetable repertoire! The little leaves that break away from the sprout and turn crispy through the cooking process are the cook’s treat – a bonus for those who need a little pre-dining sample….

So the next time you pass fresh brussel sprouts at your local farmer’s market or grocery store – don’t judge the brussel sprout – give it a try; you may be surprised!

Step 1
Wash and halve each brussel sprout.

Step 2
Add olive oil, toss till coated; sprinkle sea salt to taste.

Step 3
Roast in oven at 400 degrees till soft and browned to taste.

And most importantly, Step 4
Enjoy!!

Wake-up Call - Part Deux

I never expected to be away from my blog for this long, but….technology. Where would be without it?

When I embarked on “blogville”, I planned to include an image with each post as I whole-heartedly support the concept of a “picture speaks a thousand words”. Unfortunately, when I updated my Windows software, somehow my Canon Digital camera software vaporized and do you think I could find the original installation CD? No. And to make matters worse, somehow Canon does not offer replacement CD’s and while the online forums were informative, I am still in search of Canon’s XM Browser software.

Now, playing catch-up I have images that illustrate my wake-up call from several weekends ago!

Enjoy!

Hot Air Balloon Touches Down!

Deflation Process Commences!

Crew Assists with Deflation

Wake-up Call

You just never know what a brand new day will bring you.

This morning, waking after a busy day of chatting, scrapping and swapping recipes, I was summoned to the front door of my friend’s home to see an unbelievable sight. There, before my very eyes, was the most beautiful hot air balloon making its early morning landing on my friend’s front yard. The bright blue sky and still crisp autumn air made the perfect backdrop for the brightly colored aircraft.

As the balloon descended before us, a basket full of attentive passengers waited patiently as the crew worked at a feverish speed to control the incoming balloon. Once landed, the crew continued their routine by guiding the inflated balloon to the perfect spot and then gently began the deflating process. Slowly, bit by bit, the full-bodied balloon started to falter and show signs of escaped air; the glorious structure was returning to a heap of brightly colored silk.

Today’s wake-up call was the perfect end to a wonderful weekend of returning to my creative roots – a weekend of cutting and pasting! I needed to awaken my creative mojo and this weekend was just what I needed to get back into my artist groove.

My travel home brought ambitious thoughts, plans and wishes of finishing started projects pushed to the side by work-related deadlines, and plans of future projects yet to be realized. As I drove down my street from an invigorating weekend of productive creating – I look forward to tomorrow and what my morning wake-up call may bring.

The Overzealous Blogger

In my overanxious state of posting my first week’s-worth of blog entries, I failed to accurately use the labels to their fullest potential. For the most-part, their fullest potential was not realized as I failed to include the information! Yet another lesson learned on my way to blog-ville! Since I have only been blogging for a week, I will front-load this particular blog with lots of labels, which if you have the desire to follow the path – will lead you to one of my five previous posts!

A Summer’s Harvest
Chicken with Lime Dressing
Recipe
Produce
Avocados
Just One Year Ago…
France
Provence
Sablet
Le Four à Chaux
Vaucluse Region
Purging is Good for the Soul
Cleaning
Memories
Scrapbooking
Lauren
Practice Makes Perfect
Lessons Learned
Posting Photos
First Blog
First Blog

A Summer's Harvest

Now that summer has come to a close – I still can’t let go of the bounty of fresh, in-season produce found at my local farmer’s stand. I’m a sucker for the bright colored fruits and vegetables that look so perky and fresh longing for me to pick them, smell them & place them in my basket only to retire on my table in just a few short hours. I look forward to the change of the seasons – as the next season brings a new assortment of fresh goodies at the market. But before I totally bid adieu to summer – there are a few favorite dishes incorporating some of my favorite flavor profiles that I must have one last time before the summer produce is replaced with winter squash, winter kale and pumpkins!

One of these flavor combos would have to be mix of cilantro, lime and avocados. And yes, there are more recipes than guacamole that combine these ingredients! My favorite recipe that marries these flavors together would be Chicken with Lime Dressing. A yummy combination of chicken breast with mashed avocados, sautéed peppers with almonds all topped with a citrusy lime dressing. This dish is great fresh, hot with a green vegetable and even better served at room temperature the next day with a green salad. Sometimes I make extra lime dressing to have when using the leftovers as salad mixings – it really perks up those salad greens!

Get one more trip to your local produce stand and enjoy!



Yummy Chicken with Lime Dressing

Chicken with Lime Dressing

Lime Dressing
1/3 C Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
¼ C Chopped Fresh Cilantro
1 TBSP Chopped Scallion
1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Chicken
4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Halves (pounded to ½” thickness)
2 Medium Avocados, Peeled and Pitted
1 TBSP Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
2 tsp Salsa
1 tsp + 1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Medium Red Pepper, Finely Chopped
1 Clove Garlic, Minced
¼ C Sliced Almonds, Toasted

To make the dressing:
In a large bowl, combine the lime juice, cilantro, scallion and olive oil; set aside.

To make the chicken:
In a large glass dish, combine the chicken with 3 TBSP of the lime dressing. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

In a medium bowl, mash the avocados with 2 TBSP of the lime dressing. Stir in the lemon juice and salsa. Reserve the remaining lime dressing.

Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes, or until the pepper is tender and lightly browned. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Remove to a bowl and add the almonds.

Heat the remaining 1 TBSP olive oil in a large skillet over medium – high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion registers 170°F and the juices run clear. Place the chicken on 4 serving plates and equally divide the pepper mixture, sprinkling over the chicken. Drizzle the reserved dressing over each serving. Serve with a side of the mashed avocados.

Adapted from The South Beach Diet Cookbook, by Arthur Agatston, MD

Just One Year Ago...

I was breathing fresh air at every moment of every day.

I was drinking wine made with grapes harvested from vineyards within view.

I was dining al fresco with fish and produce purchased from our daily visit to a local market.

I was basking in the sunshine in the south of France.

I was in heaven.

Is it possible that the trip I had been planning for too many years to count has come and gone? The goal was to travel to Provence and celebrate a milestone birthday by renting a residence for a week before touring to Paris (again) before returning home. I scoured websites to find that perfect residence that blended the needs and met the expectations of me and my friends. I found the perfect property, Le Four à Chaux. We booked our week for the last week in September 2006. Perfect.

Le Four à Chaux, Front Exterior
Sablet, France – 2008

Le Four à Chaux, Rear Terrace off Bedrooms
Sablet, France – 2008

Well no, not so perfect. As my friends and family recall so vividly, I experienced a freak accident (another story for another day!) just 17 days prior to our departure that resulted in a severe compound fracture to my left ankle. Needles to say – we did not make the trip. Luckily for us, the owners of the property were extremely understanding and allowed us to postpone our trip with no penalties.

So, in September of last year, we journeyed to the village of Sablet, a tiny village tucked between Nyons and Orange, just a short drive from Vaison La Romaine. It was just wonderful. We woke to locals picking grapes in the backyard – first time for everything! We spent most days trolling about the region, learning about the culture and people that populate this corner of the Vaucluse region of provence. I can not say enough about the house, our experience, the people, the food, the scenery – it truly was an unforgettable trip. I can’t wait to return. I will return.

Grape Harvest in Vineyard at Le Four à Chaux
Sablet, France – 2008