Crazy for Peacock

My Italian canape plates just arrived and I am ecstatic!! I can't wait to use them for my next party and know that I'll treasure them forever.

The first image was taken on my drive to Ravello, the small town in the mountains where I purchased these little beauties. Do you have some meaningful keepsakes that you collected on a recent/or not-so-recent trip? If so, send them to me and I'll showcase you!

PC:Coopmead (for image of store only)

Hand me down?

Playing around in my Mom's linen drawer excites me (almost) as much as her closet. She's collected beautiful pieces over the years and always does the unexpected, which I love. Nothing brightens up a room like color! The beautiful monogrammed napkins were a gift to her from my best friend Alissa.

Send me one of your table settings!

Lunchlady Land

'Schloppy Joe, Schlop-Schloppy Joe.." Whenever I make Sloppy Joe's, I can't help but sing Adam Sandler's 'Lunchlady Land'. Singing aside, I still love this childhood treat and it doesn't hurt that it only takes 5-10 minutes to make! You can't beat that on a work night-it's faster than delivery. Simple is more my friends.

It's also a great appetizer. Gosh-comfort food is so hot right now.

Easy Recipe:

-serves 4
-Brown 1 lb lean ground beef, drain fat

-Add one 16 oz Can of Hunt's Manwich-heat through

-serve on whole wheat hamburger buns

Evilbeetgossip.com, Cafemom.com, CooksIllustrated.com,

An Apple A Day

Being home in Ohio brings back so many wonderful memories... most notably going to the apple orchard every Fall to enjoy the fresh fruit and scenery. I'll never forget dipping apple fritters in hot and spicy apple cider. Nothing beats the simplicity of childhood.

As an adult, I still crave those apple orchard trips (and fritters) and love incorporating them into my Fall meals. Here are some interesting recipes that are sure to please:

Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Smoked Cheddar

Apple Glazed Barbecued Baby Back Ribs

Root Vegetable Pan Roast with Chestnuts and Apples

Upside-Down Butterscotch Apple Sour Cream Cake

Hot Apple Toddy

***also, a really easy and delicious appetizer can be sliced apples (I love Gala or Fuji) with brie drizzled with honey and chopped walnuts.

Feel free to send me your favorite Fall recipes and I'll feature you on my blog! Happy Friday!

Health.com, Bonvivantevents.com, Food & Wine, Lost Forest After Dark

Whacky (and Tacky)

If you happen to come across a car with a sheet of cookies baking in its windshield, don't worry, it's perfectly normal (out West, that is). It must really give those pinetree air fresheners a run for their money. Has anyone ever used an ulterior method of cooking like their car? If so, do tell!

Absinthe lipbalm ... for those who didn't have enough last night

Bacon gumballs ... Do you think they're kosher?

Bubblegum cocktail wienies (yes, that really is their name). At least these taste like bubblegum...

Hot to Trot

Looking good has never been so easy with these amazing aprons from TheHipHostess.com. Whether you're a domestic goddess or feminist, why not enjoy these beautiful fabrics and colors and enjoy being in the kitchen (if that is what makes you happy-not because historically women had to be there). I'm eyeing the cherry design.

The dishwashing gloves are also adorable and could serve as a wonderful hostess gift. I'm not sure how long the gem would stay on if you really do the dishes, but if anything it'll give you an excuse to make your friend/partner do them for you!

Show your wild side and wear the leopard pattern!

***And use the promo code SKY for a 15% discount when purchasing anything from thehiphostess.com (expires September 21st, 2009).

Feel free to buy me anything from there! jk

Stylishgiving.com, thehiphostess.com, neimanmarcus.com,

Da Bears...Party

Here is a menu I plan to use this Sunday:

Store-bought Pigs-in-a-blanket: an old favorite that never cedes to make 'em happy (serve with good spicy brown mustard)

Delicious and Easy Buffalo Chicken Wings with blue cheese dressing and celery(finger-lickin' good)

Half time Chili (halftime never tasted so good)
-serve with chopped onion, sour cream, shredded cheese, and chives

BLT Salad: (one that the boys will even eat)
Buy iceberg lettuce, beefsteak tomatoes, and bacon from your butcher if possible (pancetta will also do the trick). You can serve this salad as a wedge or else chop up the lettuce, tomatoes, and pan fry the bacon (keep an eye on it, as thin pieces tend to cook quickly). If you want to just throw the bacon in the oven, that works too (preheat to 400 degrees, and bake for about 15 minutes). You can throw a little brown sugar on the bacon before baking to make them nice and sweet.

Allow the bacon to cool and mix together the ingredients and toss with ranch dressing
*you can also add some blue cheese since you would have it on hand (but then it would be called the blt-c salad)

Cheddar Cheese Biscuits (that melt in your mouth)

Drink: Beer (of course!) Time to whip out those engraved beer mugs if you actually registered for them. (I didn't) Drinking out of the can is just as cool.

Dessert: S'mores Bars (featured in The Tastiest: Barnone)

Go Bears!

Bon Appetit, Messy Cuisine, Ehow, ThePerfectPantry.com, cowpiebuzz, mydreamwedding, bakingbites.com

Fall into it

As much as I love warm weather, beach getaways in just two hours, and fresh berries picked from local farm stands, there's nothing I love more than Fall. From the crisp air, to fun wardrobe options, seasonal food delights, football games, spending holidays with the family, and going pumpkin/apple picking, there's just something about it that is so comforting yet exciting. The leaves start to change and eventually fall while the New Year approaches with new experiences (and new recipes!)

As you can imagine, the minute I returned from Labor Day Weekend, I put my white jeans in storage, and went ahead to adjust my closet and pantry to make it more Fall-friendly. The result: a very comforting Fall Meal for two (to accompany the season premieres starting tonight). Oh how I love Fall! Tv is back!

Mario Batali's Rosemary Roasted Chicken

Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Gratin

Bibb Lettuce Salad with Sliced Red Onion, Dates, Gorgonzola, with a thick balsamic dressing.

***Quick meal: Buy a rotisserie chicken at the store, whip up the bibb lettuce salad above, and heat up a baked sweet potato on the side (with brown sugar and a tsp of butter), and you have a perfect meal in less than 15 minutes.

***Load up on orange vegetables like squash, carrots and sweet potatoes. They provide more than a day's worth of vitamin A and about half the daily recommended vitamin C.

Enjoy!!

Zingerman's-best deli on Earth!

Oh Zingerman's ... Do you remember me? 5'5", blondish-brown hair, husky voice, good appetite? I used to visit you every week in college and let me just say that every pound I gained was totally worth it. Thank you for your delectable eats-especially #18 and #27! I had the pleasure of visiting you last week and splitting those two saucy numbers (Georgia Reuben -All-natural, 100% preservative-free turkey breast, Switzerland Swiss cheese, coleslaw & Russian dressing on grilled Jewish rye bread and Patty and Dick's Honeymooner-Smoked turkey breast, Wisconsin muenster & sweet-hot honeycup mustard on grilled challah bread) with my family and we made all gone as usual!

Boy have you grown since I graduated... Deli, Roadhouse, Bakehouse, Creamery, Coffee House, Caterer. Way to conquer! Thank goodness you deliver nationwide. I couldn't live without you.

P.S-Ari, I got you to speak for my Career Exploration Class ('03) on how to start a business... Thanks for the tips and for getting me an A!

Love always,

Sky