Comfort Foodies.

After years of traveling from New York City to Boston, there two things I can usually count on upon arrival in my hometown: Some comfort and some good food. 

Typically when I visit, my Dad and I like to cook a meal together. It's no secret we both appreciate a great recipe paired with a killer bottle of red.  Mom can be quite a genie in the kitchen too, but for this particular occasion, she took a time-out with her kindle and a glass of white (her fave) while Dad and I got to work.

When having friends and family over that you haven't seen in a while, to start your evening, create a "moment" within your menu to catch up. Preferably over something simple to prepare!  I love these store-bought canape "cups" in a box, which you can find at Whole Foods or most grocers.  I simply filled these cute little guys with what I found in my parents fridge (literally!), a novel sharp cheddar and a great Pecorino. I thinly sliced a bit of each into the individual cups, added some fresh cranberries and topped off with my favorite herb, Rosemary.

After your cups runneth over, lay them on a cookie sheet and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes.  Jackpot! You just earned yourself an hour or so to enjoy some catch-up time over scrumptious nibbles and sips (hey, dinner can wait, isn't family more important?) 

As our Grandparents taught us: "Waste Not, Want Not!" Garnish both your canapes and cocktails with those beautiful cranberries.  I always try to prepare a signature cocktail, this one was made complete by simply adding two or three cranberries to an already wonderful glass of bubbly.  Don't forget to pre-dip your glasses into a simple mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon to create a tasty and pretty rim. 

For me, presentation is EVERYTHING.  So, when these cheesy dreams came out of the oven, bubbling and brimming, I found an old wooden chopping block and dressed up the corners with some more of the sliced cheeses, green apples, rosemary sprigs and dusted the whole thing with a little cinnamon. A few cinnamon sticks will always add a little layer and texture to any platter too.  

As we deconstructed the menu for our "Comfort Foodie" meal a few days before, the time came where Dad and I decided on our sides. We wanted a wintery, warm comfort foodie kinda feeling on the table. We chose Brussel sprouts, Rosemary and garlic roasted potatoes and little gourds filled with chestnut, apple and cranberry stuffing.

The roasted potatoes are so easy, see below for a quick and easy prep: 

Your Grocery List: 

• Purchase a mixture of 6-8 medium to large sized potatoes. I love using different colors (purple, red, white) for a beautiful presentation 
• 3 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tbsp sea salt 
• 1/4 tsp black pepper 
• 2 tbsp rosemary 
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced  

Preparation: 

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.  I like to soak my potatoes first for about 10 minutes in a large bowl to help some of the dirt and residue lift off the skins before lightly scrubbing them. Slice potatoes into halves. Place your halved potatoes into a large bowl and toss all of the above ingredients in until potatoes are generously coated with olive oil and the other ingredients.  Spread out potatoes on a baking sheet.  Bake for 25 minutes, remove from oven, gently toss and turn over potatoes as needed.  Bake for another 30 minutes.  Keep an eye on the color--I like them really brown and crispy but you may prefer a lighter bake.  

The next side also serves as double decor duty! Hollow out mini pumpkins and gourds and fill with your chestnut, apple and cranberry stuffing. Use extras of the hollowed out items for tea lights or condiments. 

Stuffing was inspired by this recipe: http://www.redbookmag.com/recipefinder/herbed-chestnut-cranberry-apple-stuffing-recipe

Finally, the star of the show...Oricchette, sweet Italian sausage and broccoli rabe, inspired by Ina Garten's recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/orecchiette-sausage-and-broccoli-rabe-recipe/index.html

We weren't kidding when we said this meal was all about comfort! 

Dessert?  Are you kidding?! Maybe a nap...but for this dinner, where cozy good food over great conversation was our North Star--guests left contented, and plenty full. 

Simple (not scary) Halloween Checklist.

My Halloween Checklist!

Share a toast with close friends.  I love this vodka called Crystal Head. It is actually the creation from the original Ghostbuster, Dan Akryoyd. (www.crystalheadvodka.com). Serve up Skulltini's and re-use the empty bottle for a creepy flower centerpiece by spray painting silver Antheriums and black roses.

The mini skulls will make great party favors for your guests to take home.

Simplify the Spook. I'm traveling over Halloween this year and will certainly not go crazy with decorating.  Instead, I started working on a simple windowsill for my simple soiree.  I painted mini pumpkins black, used LED candles, black feathers and a bag of cobweb from the drug store.  I am partnering with the amazing French silver company Christofle on a few upcoming projects...so my PR pals are kind enough to let me feature products when I 'need' to!  How beautiful is this candelabra?

Paint it Black.  Or, bloody red...this nail color by Essie is called "Velour" and it's just the right shade of blood.  

Speaking of red, try using a red light!  I have a simple little red flashlight that produces a big effect at a party.

Trick or Treat! This year, I’m lucky to be spending the holiday in Nashville with four of my favorites littles! I can’t wait to see them transform from Sophia, Ty, Johnny and Victor to a bumble bee, pirate, ninja and 'creepy guy'. 

If you are looking for more ideas on how to host some great parties this season (scary debate party?) check out my latest segment here: http://snd.sc/XpiMPc with the Mulberry Lane show on debate parties, Halloween tricks and festive Fall fetes.


Love. xo

Frighteningly great photos by Dmographics.com!

Fall Joy.

Tis the season to fall in love again with chunky sweaters, football, high boots, pumpkin soup (and beer!) and a whole lotta joy in just the little things like watching leaves change and crisp, windy walks.

Fall has always been my full stop favorite season.  This year, I'd like to capture 'more of the Joy' and even try and write some of it down in this sweet little journal. (www.mxyplyzyk.com West Village, NYC.)

Pumpkin Beer.  Um, yuuummm. In general, I prefer wine over beer but every Fall, I so look forward to seeing what new pumpkin brews are on the market.  I love the taste and the buttery, caramel color.

  

I hosted a Fall inspired “Blind” pumpkin beer tasting for a few friends.  I suggest always having wine as back up if you are going to host a beer tasting since beer is heavy and not everyone will want to drink it all night.  Dress up bottles with something fun and seasonal like this cute Skull bottle stopper.

I can’t wait to roll into next week with a few Fall finds like this adorable chocolate brown and British tan velvet bag, brass skull earrings and Navy and brown patterned skull scarf, all discovered at my favorite vintage store in NYC, Darling. (www.darlingny.com.) 

Whatever you find yourself falling in love with this season, I hope it brings lots of joy. ;-)

xo

Scary great photos by dmographics.com!

Fin-tastic Finds: Mermaids Are On The Case.

While firing off ideas with my intern Linda last week, I stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed her cute little iPhone case decorated with watercolor hot air balloons drifting over a European city skyline. You might wonder how all of those things could logically (and artfully) be brought together on a 2" by 4" space?

So, being that I am in constant pursuit of Fin-tastic Finds for my readers, I had to tell you about Society6, an online collective of work from artists around the world featuring unique creations that can be transformed into iPhone cases, stretch canvases and more--all on behalf of artists who submit their work to the site. The options are endless. Seriously, a simple search of "Paris" gives you 86 pages of related artwork! 

Here are just a few of the designs that caught my eye: 

But of course, my instincts brought me back here... :)

And Society6 is not the only place you can satisfy your inner chic geek. Our favorite designers are also on the case (excuse the pun) from Kate Spade to Rebecca Minkoff:

Cute contradiction for the newest iPhone--obsolete cassette case!

For your good days and bad days, or when you are yearning for a lot of luxe...Goyard,  Prada - these guys will suit any mood you find yourself in.

It really is "the small things that make life big", the Mermaid motto. We called it.

The Grey Lady

Mermaids & Martinis brought me to gorgeous Nantucket for another C. Wonder book signing. From Southampton to Nantucket, it seems I just can't keep the book far from a beach town for long!

Nantucket, nicknamed "The Grey Lady" for the veil of fog that is frequently cast over this little island, is just as charmingly mysterious as it sounds. Misty cobblestone streets welcomed us to this New England oasis...but don't think that damp weather kept anyone holed up in their homes. Nantucket was bustling, and the rain may have been imminent, but not a deterrent.

The C. Wonder store in Nantucket is a two floor property featuring sunny staff, colorful painted oars hung around the store and a "make-it-your-own" wall showcasing a bevvy of monogramming options. The quaint, home-spun feel of this C. Wonder store fits in perfectly with the historic downtown neighborhood. A fresh cut arrangement of crimson Gerber daisies and lavender hydrangeas brought in for the signing were woven into the color scheme of the store.

Once again, C. Wonder left no detail untouched, with complimentary candy at check out and bottles of water to hydrate guests.  Shoppers were abound during the day, even some that included friends from New York City who stopped by to collect a signed book, my beautiful college sorority sister Sarah, and two friends from high school who popped in on their vacation with their adorable kiddos!

After the signing, we took a local's recommendation and headed over to "Cru", a waterfront restaurant and oyster bar just steps from the ferry. The picturesque views and delicious oysters are not to be missed. We shared a blue crab cocktail, local flounder sandwich, and the classic Nantucket lobster roll that simply won.

To wrap up the evening, we boarded the ferry back to Cape Cod--the only means of transportation to and from the island. There is something magical about only being able to take a ferry to Nantucket. When the fog envelopes the island as you drift away on the boat, it's almost as if you imagined your trip to this dream-like escape entirely. ;-)

Thanks to Rachel and her super team for making the day so great.  And to my lovely Mom and Dad for the flowers and photos (respectively!).

XO

Pink Lemonade, Prints and a Perfect Day.

The Mermaids & Martinis book signing at Lilly Pulitzer (our second out in the Hamptons!) was a sunny success. Ironically, the crazy hail and thunderstorms, which actually struck off tree branches in Manhattan's Meatpacking District (I witnessed this mayhem firsthand), made way for some perfect temps and sunshine the rest of the weekend.

I took to the floor to warm up the cozy space staked out for the signing. Simple fresh cut flowers in mason jars, pink napkins and Lilly bangles quickly transformed the store into a party space. From clutches to charms, no accessory in the store was left behind. How adorable were Mermaid interns Linda and Shannon in very their Lilly-like frocks?!

The lovely Sarah Tallman and Douglass Marshall stopped by for some fun!

The staff at Lilly went above and beyond, decking out the store with books, treats, even pink drinks for the celebration! 

I talk about "Hunting and Gathering" in my book, the process of finding the perfect little something for an event, and that's exactly what I did at the Lilly Pulitzer store; heels were used as bookends, necklaces were draped across lemonade pitchers, and clutches were perched on book stacks. With the right space at home, you can create these types of looks on your own bookshelves or to brighten up a big bedroom closet.

Classic pink and green Lilly-love!

These shoes may just have to find a new home in my closet!

Special thanks to the Mermaid team at the Lilly Pulitzer store in East Hampton: Kim, Katy, Betty, Marie and Eileen--you ladies have such beautiful style!

And, big hug and kiss to Linda Yon, Shannon Monahan and Mer-Dan (Daniel Movitz! movitzphotography.com) for capturing the day in such a creative way.

XO

Easy Canapé Recipe: "Pretty Round Bites"

A friend of mine loved "apps" so much that when he was a kid, his Mom used to make every Wednesday night "Appetizer Wednesday" at home. She would serve a variety of little hors d'oeuvres instead of a conventional dinner for the family. What a Mermaid move.

Often times, I'd much rather order a few  little 'starters' to share with friends at a restaurant instead of a meal. Cocktails and canapés go together like Mermaids and martinis. With that in mind, I'd love to highlight one of my favorite canapés to serve at a cocktail party.  Pretty Round Bites, i.e. Pistachio, grape and goat cheese balls.  Let me show you just how pretty (and EASY) these are to create.

Start with 2 ingredients: A goat cheese log and a bunch of red seedless grapes. 

 

Next, introduce your third and final ingredient, pistachios.  I usually purchase one large bag for this recipe.  Remove the shells from the pistachios.  Then, toast them lightly in a pan. Do not use oil in the pan.

Pour your toasted pistachios into a large Ziploc bag and crush them.  I just use a heavy spoon and bang away on the top of the bag--this is also good for stress relief. :)

Slice the goat cheese to create little round discs and flatten them.  

Insert one grape in the center of each goat cheese disc. Next, mold the goat cheese around the grape so it is completely covered and takes the shape of a ball.

Take your goat cheese grape ball and roll that around the crushed pistachios until all sides are evenly covered.

Put balls on a pan. Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours.

Remove from refrigerator, slice each one in half and place on a pretty tray. I like to turn some of them upside down and I always leave a couple of the balls uncut for presentation.  Aren't they pretty? They taste even better than they look!

Clearly, these were well-received by my friends. A few were spared and still tasted great the next day.

XO