A White Party Pop Up Dinner in Sonoma by Handmade Events

I recently went to an amazing event that you really should do your best to get to. You will not be disappointed. The premise is: You pay $40 per person, for a sensational venue, a great DJ, amazing musicians and a dance floor, complete with beautiful string lights and a magical sunset. Your part is: wear white, decorate your table with white, bring food (sky's the limit) for you and your attendees.

A view from above on the retaining wall of the Jack London property.

My husband and I saddled up the car with Charlene and Teodora and all our loot. We were contacted by email from Handmade Events the location of the event only an hour before send off. It was so mysterious and exciting (although, the drawback, how to dress?). The event place for this Wine Country Event was in the Valley of the Moon - Jack London State Historical Park in Glen Ellen Sonoma. It was breathtaking if not magical.

Here is an action shot of Charlene. It really captures the whimsy of the evening.

Everyone had their list of items to contribute. Char got napkins, plastic glasses, utensils, taper candles (strictly speaking, they aren't allowed - but I won't tell if you don't) wine and a veggie platter. I rounded up the white ostrich feathers/vases, a song bird candle holder, beet hummus/pita appetizer (recipe below) and shrimp cocktail along with the main course (my own muffaletta sandwiches - recipe below).

A pretty window with shutters and pretty window boxes on the small house on the property.

Charlene and Teodora.

These guys were clever with their decor with simple helium balloons.

Pastel flowers and the aftermath of apps.

So gourmet.

Flour sack napkins and rosemary sprigs tied with hemp twine.

The simple willow branches with one wayward feather...elegant.

These guys had initials with moss and butterflies at everyones place setting.

Faux furs and gold chargers? Over the top fun.

The fashion. This woman was stunning.

Casual and whimsical, these guys has such awesome headwear.

Teodora having a laugh.

Char and I.

Bulent and I.

The main course: Muffaletta Sandwiches containing in butcher paper tied with a hemp string. Juicy Fruit, both a favor and a palette cleanser - plus it's my favorite gum.

Poppies Pressed Muffaletta Sandwiches (Serves 6)

Dutch Crunch rolls

pesto (from the store or homemade) I make my own (1 bunch basil, 3 garlic cloves, olive oil, salt and pepper, 2 Tbs toasted pine nuts and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese - put it all in the Cuisinart - and presto)!

roasted red peppers, eggplant, onions and yellow squash (thinly sliced)

sliced ham and turkey

sun dried tomatoes and sliced fresh tomato

sliced fresh mozzarella cheese

handful of Arugala

olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing (add some dijon and salt and pepper)

Put pesto on both sides of bread

layer all items to your taste

close sandwiches and wrap with paper, put the sandwiches under something heavy (I used cook books).

Voila!

There is the beet hummus and pita platter.
Beet Hummus Recipe
4 small roasted beets
1/4 cup feta cheese
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 large bunch dill
S+P to taste
Whir it all up in the Cuisinart.
Your party goers will love it!

Beautiful.

The Inspired - Moon Madness

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Moon Madness

The moon is full.

And that's no bull.

I wonder where the wits have gone.

There are folks in cars

And folks in bars

Trying to run people down.

Don't steal my magic

Oh, so tragic

When friends don't have loyalty anymore.
Makes me just a wee bit sore and geez I mean 
wishin' they were dead as a door.

It's the moon, it's the moon

So I croon with delight

Crazy, awesome, devilish sight.

Remember your day

and try hard to say

It's the moon, it's the moon

Lay your head down; think, sing and pray

that tomorrow will be better when it begins to wane.
Oh great big moon,
You'll be gone soon
Perhaps our brains will return again.

A Henna Party

Hi.
I've been out.
No excuses. Just doing other stuff and looking for some inspiration.
I think I found it.

My friend Kendra is having a birthday at the end of this month and to celebrate I invited several ladies over to my house for a luncheon. To supplement the luncheon I also asked a traditional Henna Artist named Tara to join us for the festivities and create some temporary body art for us. It was beyond my wildest imagination and went off so amazingly that I'm going to do it again for my birthday! here is the invitation which I emailed to the ladies. (Some of you may scoff at an emailed invitation - but the cost effectiveness cannot be beat).

Original artwork by Amylee Paris.

All the elements of this little bash were extraordinary. I had big vases of white tea roses that I spirited away from SMUD and supplemented with my own colored roses from the garden. The arrangements were beautiful. The menu of ladies tea sandwiches (recipes included below) and lavender lemonade. I made a hummingbird cake and a fantastic veggie platter with a feta, garlic dip and a fruit platter with a peanut butter yogurt dip.

The favors were mismatched china plates all with a different floral patterns on them but the "piece de resistance" were the lemon, sugar cookies by my friend Leah at "I Hella Heart Sugar" complete with beautiful Mehndi designs on them.

Lemon Sugar Cookies by Leah at I Hella Heart Sugar.

The spread.

Charlene.

Kendra.

Ki'inani.

Me.

I've thrown a party before, natch. But this had just a little more magic. Kendra is all girl and, like me really enjoys these girly things. I wish her nothing but great blessings for a wonderful birthday.

Here is an excellent menu if you fancy throwing a "Ladies Who Lunch" event for a special friend of yours.

Tea Sandwiches:

1. Roasted Chicken and Cream Cheese with Fig Compote on Raisin Brown Bread.

• Mix 4 oz. cream cheese with fig jam
• Spread cheese mixture on thinly sliced "Boston Brown Bread" (recipe)
• Neatly lay chicken so that the sliced chicken is not over the edge of the sandwich.
• Cut in half resembling a half moon.
• Fan out on a serving plate. (see above in my "spread" photo - they are the sandwiches on the top tier of the three level serving platter).

2. Radish, Mint and Lemon on Westphalian Rye.

• In a food processor, add 1 bunch radishes, and pulse until small but not mushy. Take the container off the blade and base and drain excess water.
• Add 4 oz. cream cheese (the other half that you used for the chicken sando's).
• Add 1 bunch mint (leaves and stems are fine).
• Add juice and rind of half a lemon.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread entire mixture on the rye and cut in half to create small triangles. Cut in half again for even smaller triangles.

3. Cucumber Pesto on Fitness Bread.

• Thinly slice cucumber.
• Make your pesto.
• In a food processor, add one bunch basil leaves, 1 whole kale leaf, 2 tbs pine nuts and a 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 Tbs olive oil and the juice of the other half of the lemon you used for the radish sandwiches. Add salt and pepper and pulse until it resembles a paste.
• Spread pesto on bread.
• Top with cucumber slices and close sandwich with another piece of bread that you've spread with the pesto as well.
• Slice into strips and slice again into small squares.
• This bread can be tricky to work with so be ginger when cutting.

Hummingbird Cake:

This cake recipe was given to me by my friend Patty. I altered it so that it has a very moist consistency. It makes 1 8x8 inch pan cake.

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup packed, brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 large ripe banana, smashed with a fork
• 1/2 cup soybean oil (or similarly light salad oil)
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 large, entire can of crushed pineapple, with syrup
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2/3 cup pecans, chopped

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Grease and flour an 8x8 square, metal baking pan
• Combine eggs, sugar, salt, banana, vanilla extract and oil in a medium sized mixing bowl.
• Mix in pineapple (plus syrup)
• Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon and pecans and mix until just combined. 
• Do not over mix or your cake will be a brick you could kill someone with at 20 paces.
• Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
• Bake at 350 for between 40-45 minutes.
• To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into center of cake. If it comes out with nothing sticking to it, your cake is done.
• Let cool in pan for about 15 minutes.
• Turn onto cooling rack to cool completely.
• Frost with cream cheese frosting.
• 1 package cream cheese frosting (Don't skimp - use Philly)
• 1 stick butter 
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 Tbs Frangelico for a little kick).
• Mix with a hand mixer.
• When cake is cool, frost with this delight.

Feta Garlic Dip with Lemon:

• 1 8 oz pkg. cream cheese 
• 1 8 oz block feta cheese (I like the French variety).
• 1 clove garlic (more if it's just you - but you don't want the ladies blaming you for their offensive breath)
• Rind and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 Tbs olive oil and pinch chili flakes (for garnish)
• Mix all ingredients (except garnish) together in a food processor
• Serve with Pita Chips and crudites - I used the requisite veg, but I cut the jicama into tiny stars and flowers and hearts with tiny cookie cutters.

Peanut Butter Yogurt Fruit Dip:

• 1 6 oz. tub vanilla yogurt (I use Chobani).
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 Tbs. honey
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Mix all ingredients together, pour into serving bowl.
• Serve with cut up kiwis, apples, blueberries, strawberries, bananas and grapes or whatever fruit you fancy.

People - heneedsfood.

As you all know, I fancy myself a gastronome. Unfortunately, I have been in the kitchen quite a bit but have not documented anything of late. I'm not sure why. I made an astounding Italian soup with Swiss Chard and white beans and delightful organic mild sausage. I made a mushroom and asparagus risotto - super satisfying and rich for our first al fresco dining of the season (I'll make both the soup and risotto again and post my recipes soon - so I've not included links here as I'd like to get my own recipes on here for those). And I made a couple Turkish meals while our niece (Ecem) visited us from Quinnipiac University, which included Kofte, Domates Pilavi, Karniyarik and Irmik Helvasi! Just last night I made Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. But none of them, sadly, did I record for P&P. And perhaps that is a good thing - maybe I haven't been terribly inspired to write things lately after my rejection from BlogHer. Or perhaps, my inspiration has waned or I should consider my lack of time - regardless of the reason, I have not discontinued my use of the good old Pinterest - a treasure of inspiration on every pinboard - and it did not disappoint today! I was wanting a clever supper for the husband and I this evening, heavy on "light fare" and heavy on taste. I was stumped until a photo came up "Oyster Mushrooms and Swedes on Toast." I swooned. If your not sure what a swede is, here in the states we call them Turnips. The recipe was created by John Bek, an extraordinary epicure and the founder of heneedsfood - a written account of his culinary delights. His recipes are different but not weird, his instructions are precise but not snooty and his photographs are amazing. And the website itself is a virtual holiday to somewhere else; it is so well done, you can get lost in heneedsfood pages for quite a while before checking to see how long you've waited before indulging in something delicious. It was only fair that I post about John and heneedsfood and catalog the post under "People" and "Gastronomy." He is not just an amazing former chef and current photographer but his roots are Croatian and he is a first generation Aussie. Go see, but do not visit him there if you are hungry.

Oyster Mushrooms and Swedes on Toast by John Bek at heneedsfood.

Rock The Red Pump

#RockTheRedPump
Enzo Angiolini Red Leather Ankle Tie Pumps, standing in front of the
Office of AIDS Prevention Branch Zombie Apocalypse poster.

Me on the left, Our branding at CDPH on the upper right
 and below with co-worker/Style Maven, Renee.

The Rock Red Pump Project was begun in 2009 by Awesomely Luvvie - Luvvy Ajayi and The Fabulous Giver - Karyn Brianne Lee. These two ladies are simply extraordinary. Together they began a fashionable conversation starter about HIV/AIDS Awareness, specifically concerning women and girls and often focusing on AIDS Awareness for Women of Color. This was a particularly important event to be a part of since I work for the California Department of Public Health at the Office of AIDS but that is not the only reason. I am also a woman. I feel blessed to have been invited to post about this inspiring event. On March 10th, do not forget to wear your red shoes.

A Springtime Cocktail

My friend Manny and I have decided that this "in between seasons time" is a difficult place to be for many reasons...fashion, firstly, can be difficult but with a little cultivation can be really creative and cool.

I think cuisine and libations can be equally as challenging and we can get equally creative. For instance, A gin and tonic is strictly a Summertime drink for me, as is a Shandy (a nod to Sacramento Beer Week - I am more a hard cider girl, the perfect Autumn drink), Where a Hot Toddy or Mulled Wine are strictly Winter drinks. But what should we drink in the Spring? For me, I love the Antoinette. It's refreshing and it's got a no nonsense kick. It seems perfect for this time of year just before the time Springs forward. It's clever, unusual and a mixologist's idea of sophistication, I would guess. Try it. You might like ti. If you do, let me know what you think.

People - Beatrice Wood

This is Beatrice Wood. Ever heard of her? Didn't think so.
I thought, as a first "People" post, it would be a good thing to introduce someone extraordinary, female and someone most folks haven't heard about.

"Beato" was an artist, writer and performer. She is primarily known for her ceramic arts. She is, as many artists are, extraordinary for a number of reasons: she was best known for the work she produced after the age of 68. And she died at the age 105. She was an ingenue, a bohemian and gypsy. She lived in India, France and New York City. And she hobnobbed with Marcel Duchamp and claimed herself as part of the Dadaist movement. She was truly amazing - as a woman, as an artist, as a person. Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts delineates her entire, exciting and thoroughly interesting life/career in a nice, comprehensive biography.

Looking for Inspiration

I feel like my blog focus has waned as of late. Unfortunately, I can only drive my attention to so many places at once. Right now, I am learning how to take care of myself. I am learning that being fit is important. I am learning that yoga is my church. I am learning that I do not have to say, "Yes," all the time. I am learning that my husband, no matter what, knows the right way to do things. I am learning to forgive myself for mistakes and to forgive others for not always understanding. I am learning how to release - whether it be anger, guilt or unhappiness. And I am learning to find inspiration in tiny things - like when a scratch becomes a scab. And, I am learning to accept myself and all my weirdness.

In considering "inspiration" today, I found this card, at this place. It really speaks to my love for the macabre.

Rules for Love

Happy St. Valentine's Day

Rules for Love 

A compilation of succinct rules all of us couples should follow.

If we did, we would be sure to stay in love forever.

Rules for love.

1. When it arrives, cherish it.
2. Whatever you accept, you will get
3. Understand that love is a mirror—it will show us who we are if we allow it to.
4. Only we can make ourselves happy, it is not the other person’s responsibility.

Follow the link above or here to see 51 more rules. 

1920's Postcard Detail

1920's Georges Barbier

Ron Hicks "Impulsive"

A Person is Fascinating

Source

I've decided to add a new category.

Do I call it "People?" or "A World of People?" or "Person?" or "Homo Sapiens?" or maybe I should go with something more sensitive like, "The Human Connection?" or "A Person is Fascinating," as I have titled this post? In any regard, while I sometimes moan about The Human Race at large, I think that a person is intriguing and phenomenal and I have some interesting folks that I'd like to introduce you to! Make some suggestions about the title of this category (for now it's in the right hand sidebar and I'm simply calling it "People").

Everyone has a story.

The Inspired - Button Pushers

Button Globe

"Button Pushers"

Everybody knows a button pusher.

You say you hate Cilantro? Well the button pusher you know, will make a seven layer dip with at least two layers of cilantro just for you.

You say you can’t get pregnant? The button pusher will show you pictures of all their pregnant friends.

You say you’re watching your weight? The button pusher will ask you to lunch and order nachos with a side of fries.

You’ve lost your wallet, you say? The button pusher is the one who stole it but will gladly help you look for it.

You’re insecure about your laugh? You wish your bottom was firmer? You wish you had less arm jiggle? The button pusher will make sure everyone else knows those tiny nuances about you.

The button pusher is not your friend. Is the button pusher your enemy?

People are not creatures of logic. People are creatures of emotion, of ego, of vanity and of pride. We all know our own darkness. Why do people prey on these shadowed corners? Do we love others pain and suffering so much that we eat others darkness like ice cream? Misanthropy is a profession.

Change Your Life

It seems I may be experiencing a Mid-Life Crisis. I capitalize it as it can be a title that someone carries, I believe. Some of us have them and some of us don't. As a woman, I believe my crisis looks quite a bit different than the film version that men are stereo-typically thought to have. I am not going to run out and get a Porsche. I am not going to get a boyfriend. I am not going to quit my job (yet, anyway). But I do want to focus on being better. And stop thinking about things that do not serve me.

For instance, I have been singled out at work by two folks whose team I am no part of. I stay awake at night thinking about them and the fact that they want to make me miserable. They don't like me because I am cheerful and happy, positive and friendly, motivated and professional. It doesn't behoove me to think of their disdain for me. Instead, I should be thinking of my wants, my desires, my comfort and my health and how I want to improve my standing. I should be considering what my parents think of me and whether my husband is proud of me rather than even referring to sneers from unprofessional, unhappy people in my mundane, very un-creative job.

On January 5, 2015, my friend Clark introduced me to a book called, "Your Best Year Yet" by Karen Ann Kennedy. I bought it and while I haven't been super structured with it (because inflexibility doesn't serve me), I have gotten a journal and I do read the book as I would any daily devotional, because that is what it is.

What I am trying to be structured in is eating to be healthy and serving food to my husband that encourages him to be healthy as well. I want to re-commit to my yoga practice and (thankfully) have found a new studio to call home and try to meditate and pray for health, self-control, forgiveness and letting go of resentment. And, I want to not only be positive, because that is my nature, but in fact, take that giant leap even further and instead of floating on pink clouds and simply being a dreamer, become the do-er I know I am. The blogs I read (the short list), Regina's here and Lori's here, remind me that I am worthy to have all my desires met; all my goals achieved.

And so I looked for more reference materials on how I really can make this year the best yet and continue in subsequent years to do the same for myself and my family. The list I found is from Time Magazine's online Psychology Section. The article is called "The Ten Best Self-Help Books You've (Probably) Never Heard Of." One of the books listed was published in 1869. I think the list is worth some research. To accompany Karen's book, I also ordered "It Works" by RHJ. It's $2.99 and worth every cent.

Self Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion by Emile Coue - 1869.

It's a New Year - 2015

May your year and all the following years be blessed for you, yours, me and mine too!

Sweet Winter Pie - A Pear Cranberry Treat

If you like pears and you like cranberries, you will really, really like this wintertime dessert.

Those succulent pears, the tart cranberries, the hint of Cardamom and the Streusel topping was like Christmas in my mouth!

It is a sweet I served after Christmas dinner but it is so easy you can serve it any old time you want. It's especially good with a dollop of whipped cream but my dad loved it with some vanilla ice cream. It's excellent warm or at room temp and keeps very well in the fridge.
I say, make a rich beef stew and follow it up with tea and this Sweet Winter Pie!

Sweet Winter Pie
(Pear and Cranberry Pie with Streusel Topping)

Pre-heat oven to 350 F.

Streusel Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled oats (I use quick cook)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark - doesn't matter)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter melted

Assembly:
In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients together until crumbly, set aside.

Pie Ingredients:

At grocery stores in the colder months there are typically bagged Anjou or Bartlett or Bosc Pears. Any of these varieties will work for this pie. I love the Bartletts and they were $2.69 at Trader Joe's, so there you have it. (If you cannot find the bagged pears, use about 7-8 medium sized ripe pears; not mushy but ripe).

Peel, core and chop all pears.
Rind and juice of 1 orange
1/4 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 - 1 cup dried cranberries chopped
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Pinch salt
And...Trader Joe's Pie Crust 

Directions:

Unroll 1 pie crust and lay it in the pie dish.
After mixing pears and the next 8 ingredients gently, add them to the pie crust.
With your fingers evenly crumble on the Streusel as if you were making a drip castle in the sand.
Place the assembled Winter Pie on a baking sheet.
Bake at 350 for one hour.

Squirrels

I am guilty of having a very busy Christmas season and I am so sorry for not posting regularly. Now that we are on the downswing, I 'll be plenty more consistent with my posts.

On that note, I found, in my email inbox this morning, a question from a friend posed like so, "Do you know?" Below is the question:

I first read it with a chuckle. Who would think to query this? And then I read it again with curiosity. And said, "Yeah! Why and how?" In my search for answers, I found that squirrels were not only a subject of note in British 18th Century paintings but also in American 18th Century paintings and French 16th Century paintings and in fact throughout several centuries and countries.

It seems the squirrel was a popular pet. And in fact, their keepers loved them so much that this pet consistently evoked poetry:

From The Virginia Gazette, December 15, 1768
A Young Lady's Complaint on the Death of her Squirrel.

A thing so pretty as my PHIL,
A thing so sprightly and so queer,
The pet I lov'd so very dear,
To rob me of the pretty elf,

For him I've lost each night's repose,
Nothing enjoying but my woes.
Oh could my squirrel but survive,

But he is gone ! ne'er to return!
And useless 'tie to sigh and mourn.
I'll therefore seek another pet ,

Amongst the fops or empty beaus,
Because he'd surely make me fret,
And prove a very worthless pet.

And the paintings:

1760 John Singleton Copley (American artist, 1738-1815). Boy (Henry Pelham) with a Squirrel.

1765 John Singleton Copley (American artist, 1738-1815). Frances Deering Wentworth (Mrs. Theodore Atkinson, Jr.)

1790 Denison Limner Probably Joseph Steward (American artist, 1753-1822). Miss Denison of Stonington, Connecticut possibly Matilda.

1526 Hans Holbein the Younger (1498–1543) Lady with a Squirrel on a chain.

1580's Portrait of a Lady, possibly the Poet Maddalena Salvetti (1557-1610), in a Green Dress and a pet Black Squirrel with a bell collar.

1600's Frederic Kerseboom (1632-1690) Lady with a Red Squirrel on a Chain and a Spaniel

1700's Joseph Highmore (English artist, 1692-1780) A Portrait of a Boy with a Pet Squirrel.

1730 Unknown French artist, Portrait of an Unknown French Lady Holding Flowers and a Red Squirrel with a bell collar.

I attained these renderings of these portraits from 18C American Women. For more explanations and interesting meanderings, please go visit Barbara. She has several other blogs as well, all worth a visit, including her biggest collection, "It's About Time."

Did I, however, get the answers to the how and why? No. I did not. If anyone knows, please enlighten me!

Domestic Sluttery

This holiday season has given me the busies. I have been overwhelmed with things I have (truth be told) done to myself. I have completed two rounds of baking, gotten all the shopping done, designed and sent the Christmas cards and sent all of the kids gifts too. I have made gingerbread (I am a connoisseur) and I have made baking boxes for the grandparents which included Alfajores, Hermits, Fig Thumbprints, Peppermint White Chocolate Fudge and the tried and true Chocolate Chip Cookies.

But I saved the best for last. My friend Clare sent me an extraordinary book irreverently titled Domestic Sluttery. And since I am indeed a domestic ho, I thought she chose a perfect tome to share with me. Not coincidentally there was a wicked cookie recipe in this book called "Sunny Honey Cookies." I immediately went to work slutting out in the kitchen to make a batch of these chewy, honey tinged delights.

Sunny Honey Cookies

Ingredients:

12 Tbs butter
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey (If it is too stiff, warm it in the microwave for 5 seconds).
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup almond meal flour (I like to use Bob's Red Mill)
Zest of 1 orange
1 cup currants

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
Beat in honey.
Sift in flour and baking soda.
Stir in Almond flour and Orange zest.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls them on a baking sheet lined with parchment roughly 2 inches apart.
Squash each ball gently with your fingers so they form rounds.
Bake for 12-15 minutes.
They should be brown at the edges when they are done.
Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Eat with some gentle Lady Grey tea.

Winter Whites

It's the season for Winter Whites. Here are some beautiful things for you!

Dreamy Whites

That basket and those pillows!

A French milk bucket makes a charming Christmas Tree display.

The styling here is magnificent and that tree sits in such a sweet crate.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My friend Meaghan shared with me this extraordinary Thanksgiving feast.

It must've been a great party!

I wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

What are you thankful for?

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