Wish List Wednesday (a little romance anyone?)

~Floral shoe clips, BPoetic via Etsy, $26~

~Pink Paris boudoir lamps, AliceLookingGlass via Etsy, $45~

~Coco t-shirt, Roselabiche via Etsy, $69~

Home Tip Tuesday (Turkey Brine)

I love Thanksgiving. It is one of my absolute favorite days of the year. If I'm being honest, I have to admit that I start to anticipate the feasting shortly after Halloween. Mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, stuffing, gravy, brussel sprouts with chestnuts, sweet potato casserole with spiced nuts, salad, pie, and of course, the turkey. Although traditional side dishes are designed to compliment the centerpiece of the meal, the turkey, the dried out piece of poultry that appears on many American tables is hardly worthy of such attention. This year I am once again bathing my turkey in brine to insure that it is juicy, tender, and well seasoned. Martha Stewart's recipe for turkey brine yields delicious results. Our turkey is a bit smaller than the size she designates in the recipe and I have therefore reduced the salt a bit. If you are interested in producing a turkey this Thanksgiving that will live up to its holiday fuss, I strongly recommend a turkey bath of your very own.

INGREDIENTS

• 7 quarts (28 cups) water
• 1 1/2 cups coarse salt
• 6 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons whole coriander seeds
• 1 tablespoon dried juniper berries
• 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon black or brown mustard seeds
• 1 fresh whole turkey (18 to 20 pounds), patted dry, neck and giblets reserved for stock,
  
• 1 bottle dry Riesling
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 6 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 bunch fresh thyme

1. Bring 1 quart water, the salt, bay leaves, and spices to a simmer, stirring until salt has dissolved. Let cool for 5 minutes.
2. Line a 5-gallon container with a large brining or oven-roasting bag. Place turkey in bag. Add salt mixture, remaining 6 quarts (24 cups) water, and the other ingredients. Tie bag; if turkey is not submerged, weight it with a plate. Refrigerate for 24 hours, flipping turkey once.

I also brine my turkey for longer (2-3 days) but that is a matter of personal choice. I find that the longer a turkey sits in its brine, the more impossible it is to dry out when roasting. Our brining began late last night and will continue through Thursday early morning. Look forward to a rundown of the results later in the week.

Magazine Monday (TV Display)

~Photo credit Steven Sclaroff via House Beautiful~

Most houses, whether well appointed or not, contain at least one television. For some people, the lack of priority in decor allows their TV's to take center stage and sit awkwardly exposed in a room. For those who seek a more harmonious and balanced feeling in their homes, the dilemma of where and how to house or display the TV can be troubling. The recent issue of House Beautiful Magazine had a photo spread dedicated to the incorporation of television's within a design. The results were varied and clever. Above is my favorite image from the group. The television is neither hidden nor highlighted and blends comfortably into the rest of the decor.

~Complete Photo Gallery~

Friday Web Roundup (Holiday House)

There is nothing like the holidays to inspire (or panic) me into making my house look its best. Of course the ongoing list of projects and tasks that I keep going all year is not likely to be accomplished in its entirety come Christmas. What I can do is pick and choose a few things (like new window treatments in a single room or a few new colorful dishtowels) that will brighten and freshen with the time and money I have.

~Best tea towel finds on Etsy via Apartment Therapy~

~Photo gallery of window treatments, Making it Lovely~

Black Bean & Turkey Chili

Inexpensive, hearty, delicious.

INGREDIENTS

4 cups cooked black beans
(I use dried beans, which require soaking overnight and simmering till tender before use, canned beans are a fine alternative)
1 lb ground turkey
1 28 oz can tomatoes (I use a fire roasted organic variety)
2 medium onions
2 stalks of celery
1 large carrot
1 bell pepper
2 tbsp ground cumin
2 tbsp hot smoked Hungarian paprika (or regular paprika)
1 tbsp chili powder
4 large garlic cloves
2 tbsp olive oil
salt
pepper

1. In a large pot saute onions in olive oil until translucent over medium heat (with a pinch of salt).
2. To onions add carrots (chopped), bell pepper (seeded and chopped) and continue to saute over medium heat for a few minutes.
3. To pot add beans and all spices, stir to combine with vegetables and cook for a couple of minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes and all garlic (minced). Turn heat to medium low and simmer until thickened and combined. If chili is overly thick add a bit of water, it chili is too thin simmer wit lid off to burn off liquid.
5. Add turkey and use a wooden spoon to break up meat as it cooks. Continue to cook until meat is completely cooked and combined with chili (about 30 minutes over medium low heat) stirring occasionally.
6. Add the celery (chopped) and cook until tender but not mushy.
   
7. Before serving add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and fresh cilantro.

~Serves 6-8~

Photograph to Painting (NYC Subway Station)

~NYC digital photograph, 2007~

~NYC Subway Station, watercolor on Arches paper, 2007~

Although this is not one of my all time favorite pieces, I do think that it's a good example of interpreting a photograph into a painting. This is definitely and setting that I would like to tackle again. Everything was slightly wet and very grungy, using watercolor as a medium allowed me to layer colors to simulate the layers of grime and make everything slightly blurred and damp looking.

Wish List Wednesday

~White sapphire ring, singleBbeautiful via Etsy, $98~

~Felt sandwich toy (delightful present for young children), PickleThings via Etsy, $18~

~Parachute duvet, West Elm, $99 (queen)~

Home Tip Tuesday (white dishes)

~Our very plain, very white dinnerware~

Although many people rock the eclectic look of mismatched dishes, there is a downside. When done poorly mismatched dinnerware looks sloppy. Unless you have tons of storage space, housing enough color and style options to accommodate various holidays and events is tricky. The answer to these problems is to buy white dinnerware which is known for its affordability and versatility. Don't get me wrong, colorful or mismatched dishes can be very chic when done correctly. Beautiful pieces of china, handmade pottery, and vintage pieces in similar hues that are thoughtfully collected can come together quite well. Unfortunately, I have neither the space, inclination, or money to pull together that kind of look. Our dish collection is mostly white with little injections of color. If you have limited space and a limited budget, a simple set of white dinnerware is the way to go (unless of course you, like my mother, are too bohemian and fabulous to give up your color and pattern).

If you crave a balance between individual expression and limited space try collecting white china and dinnerware from yard sales, second hand shops, and eBay. Keeping the collection white will add cohesion but having slightly different borders, textures, and scales will break things up a bit. Another option is to buy your basic dinnerware in white and purchase a set of colored dessert plates, or glasses to spice things up.

Photograph to Painting (Pacific Ocean)

~Pacific Ocean digital photograph 2009~

~Pacific Ocean, Acrylic on canvas 2009~

By now you may have detected a pattern (ha ha). I tend to simplify my compositions (meaning certain details are left out while others are highlighted), and often choose bolder color palettes than are found in the photograph or original setting.

Magazine Monday (Holiday Table Decoration)

~Photo credit, Martha Stewart~

While I love to entertain, I have to admit that I'm not big on elaborate fussy tablescapes. I have one set of white dishes in which I serve everything from humble leftovers to Christmas brunch. For special occasions I iron our fancy linen napkins, set each place according to my Betty Crocker entertaining manual, and add a bouquet of flowers. I don't use napkin rings, rarely use a tablecloth, and don't even own proper wine glasses. Needless to say I was surprised to find myself intrigued by the pear place cards recently featured on the Martha Stewart website. A simple piece of paper, some string, and a fruit which can later be eaten is simple enough to tempt me. Using a mini gourd, pumpkin, pomegranate, apple, or even a large nut could also be beautiful. This Thanksgiving our table may be a little less utilitarian than usual. Follow the link above for other centerpiece and place card ideas.