We interrupt veggies for chocolate...so needed!!!

This week started out quite lovely beets, harmony & then just fell into the crapper Wednesday, staying there so that here I sit mentally & emotionally a drowned rat. My asparagus, spring onion ideas are all waiting but frankly...I'm just wanting a cocoa cocoon with a glass of Chambord. Ha ha ha.. I must work tomorrow incredibly early so indulge but not ravage. Saturday!! How beastly!!!
I hope no one has the blucky (Hailey toddler speak of yesteryears) days ahead of my behind & may a bit of cocoa heaven & rapsberry liquer delight about to soothe my buds caress your weekend.

Beets give you to the punch!!!!

Beets really are the unsung hero of a the veggie world. Rich in vitamins through both the bulb & the greens, so many uses come besides that pickled beet grandma use to force onto most sunny Sunday suppers. Think small & fresh with the tops. Unless you're blessed with a farmers market Whole Foods really has the best selection including unique varieties. I never go for canned, goodbye to all the flavor. Steaming good but roasted in tin foil slowly..wholly moly!!! Baby beets are like candy, after all sugar came from beets for years in North America.

Summer borscht..yummy cold with creme fraiche. If you want a variation throw a bit of orange zest curls. I found a yummy beetroot slaw ages ago. Red cabbage, red pepers & beets, olive oil, orange Trader Joes Orange Muscat Champagne vinegar, maldon salt, pepper. Cool crisp its fabulously compliments a steak but frankly on a hot dog or even a sandwich its perfection. You will love it!!! Kasha Beet Salad via Judith Finlayson is yummy but I actually prefer the bite of sherry vinegar to red wine. I've also made it with wild rice mix. Still killer.

Wolfgang Puck had these Napoleons for an Oscar party & I stole the concept creating my own recipe with a chevre cream, micro greens & a balsamic glaze to drizzle. Once I candied pecans with a whisper of orange zest, chopped & threw in with the greens. Hello unbelievable!!! The beet tops are just as fab for your body. I actually love this Salad from Kashi. Spicy, sweet, & very creative.
Promise me you won't ignore beets. Those canned misfits are the pits so quit the can & grab a handful of fresh!!! Your tastebuds will be tickled beet juice pink!!!Photos courtesy of Rosemary Creasy, Saveur, People, Kashi

April showers bless May chowhounds

As the warmth takes the black dirt of my beloved Midwest & Northeast into the first bounties of veggie fabulousness, I've decided to highlight a few favorites for the week. I miss the picking, dirt under my fingers, mouth watering & despite 2 years here in Arizona my soul & stomach still live for the 4 season culinary life.

I've also gone for a light, breezy serenading of Mozart & Beethoven. I'm in a zippy mood!!!!

A wish far & wide!!!

May everyone have a lovely Mother's Day tomorrow, whether you be mom, daughter, grandmother or in my case Godmother. Share love, laughter & joy. To my favorite moms, Katie, Stephanie, Jenn & of course mine: Liz, I love you all so very much.

Blessings to all!!!!

Top down, tunes up & be carefree!!!!!

As posh as I'd like to imagine myself to be I'm still a delovely girl who hasn't a qualm throwing the top down & blasting the tunes as the weather gets warmer. Yup I've gone from classical to soul. Hailey has always loved jamming. I have fond memories of playing Corinne Bailey Rae every morning before getting ready for kindergarten: her in my arms twirling around, but it was the car that got her going. I introduced her Jill, India, Angie not to mention a bit of the boys too.

I encourage everyone to roll the windows down surrender your hair to a mess & your soul to the best & let the kindergartner rule your week!!! Now giggle & mentally finger paint!!!

From amethyst to wine...purple is fine.

I've always loved the hues with reds & blues that create purple. From garden to kitchen & everywhere in between it makes a statement & for me the deeper the tone the better
Alliums to tulips the hues can anchor, punch or grace a garden. How could you not just adore this flora bunda bounty???

Cuisine. Naturally one thinks of grapes but pies & tarts??? Martha's Concord Grape Tart was my first recipe waaaay back in 1985.

Then I was introduced to kale & broccoli which both are amazing roasted or sauteed with a drizzle of balsamic glaze & olive oil to finish. Oh fresh ground pepper & Maldon salt sprinkled...fabulous!!!!

Remember garlic, egglant & basil...all in purples sauteed together...holy moly!!!
Ironically my favorites are the Italian plums & figs: their deep color on exterior not mirrored inside but still. Figs roasted stuffed with chevre, my mom's German plum cake...yum!!
Using purples in design: usually they end up being lavender like light but again deep tones create impact, proving that urbane sophistication can indeed take the girly girl out of such a traditionally girly shade.Mind you men can & do wear the shade..my fathers Faconnable Tie & Thomas Pink shirt prove it so well.

Then there's my dream Vivienne Westwood dress, the famed D'Orsay Manolos & Chanel's Vendetta sultry on my nails.

A little Hermes never does any harm...

Whichever shade you adore, go for it. There's nothing better than punch & drama when it comes to coloring your life.
Photos courtesy of flickr, House Beautiful, Johner & Veranda

Missing: Lazy Sundays?????

As the years have progress I've become highly aware of what defines progress (aah the irony of such as word) & frankly what has happened to Sundays??

Target is packed, Home Depot forget about it...retail is a buzz. Now don"t get me wrong. I'm not advocating everyone get their rears to pews, religion is a highly personal choice & organized religion even more so, but lazy Sundays, those I'm wondering where they went.

Reading, crossword puzzles, family dinners: just being together at home, even if doing things separately seem to becoming just as extinct as the family dinner. Don't get me started on that, I mean we now have to have PSA to remind to spend time together....horrible.

I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to family & its a damn shame that I'm described as one...traditionalist that is. Its not contemporary??? Okay, okay I'm off topic...

So my challenge for a Sunday or two...turn off the electronics, put away the car keys & just enjoy a Sunday slowly.

By the way..I wrote this on Saturday...I'm on the sofa with the NYT puzzle feeling rather ignorant but challenged & my family is laughing at the woman I am swearing at a folded up newspaper....

Sweet Sundays & all the other that follow.