Freebie - Passive Aggressive Bookplates

Here's a quick freebie, for when a subtle reminder to return a book is due.

Recipe - Clams with prosciutto and white wine

I like clams. Unfortunately, when they are in season and cheap, normally it is so hot here they die in my car on the way home, forcing me to cry over their stinky, open shells. Luck smiled on me this past weekend, though, with a cool-ish day and clams on special!

This recipe comes together quickly with a few simple ingredients which boost the tastiness of the shellfish, but don't overwhelm them. A lot of broth will be left in your bowl after the clams are gone. A crusty baguette is this dish's best friend. Add a salad, and this feeds two well. OR make with a series of other small dishes for a tapas night.

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 small onion, roughly chopped
2 very thin slices prosciutto, roughly chopped
1/4 cup white wine
1 lb. littleneck clams, scrubbed
fresh pepper

In a heavy pot with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and cook until soft, but not brown, 5-10 minutes. Add the ham and cook 1 minute more. Add the white wine and bring to a boil. Add the clams and cover. Cook for 5 minutes, then with the lid firmly on, give the pot a good shake. Check clams and remove any that have opened to serving dish. Replace cover and continue to cook, checking every 2 minutes or so and removing the clams as they open. If some don't open, discard. Top clams with sauce from pot and enjoy!

Home Style - Mark Lund

Plotting a mini re-vamp of our bedroom and being inspired by Marc Lund's photos.

Dress Up - I need Tevas

This spring has been very busy, so consequently, I've been pretty quiet here in blog land. Summer is officially here now, though, and things should be less hectic. Which means, hopefully more blogging!

This past weekend was an adventure weekend with some lovely old friends. White water rafting convinced me that I need a pair of Tevas BAD. Luckily, there are some that are pretty cute! Here's a few on my short list, all found over at shoebuy.com.

Home Style - Homegrown Flowers

Spring is in full swing (couldn't resist) in my garden. Even though I have a black thumb and have tried to kill the roses in my garden, they come back even better every year.

I snipped a few this past weekend and made a quick centerpiece for mother's day dinner for my sister. I love these little pink vases I originally bought for this party and I love them even more grouped together. A grouping of tiny vases is a handy trick. The small vases keep the flowers upright and you only need a few blooms in each for a lush looking arrangement.

Recipe - Orange Fennel Salad and Steak

When I cook, I love experimenting with different ways to make food 'go' together. I blame my art background for always wanting a theme, repetition, harmony and contrast in my meals. The same ideas that make paintings and sculpture interesting and beautiful easily translate to food. One of my favorite techniques is to use a theme ingredient (or two) in several different ways for a meal. With this idea in mind, I made a supper last week that featured the flavors of orange and fennel.

I made a simple salad from this cookbook I picked up while in California (and already love to pieces). It's a simple mixture of slices oranges and fresh fennel, capers, oil and vinegar. Then I made a rub for a pair of sirloin steaks with the zest from an orange, fennel seeds, garlic, salt, pepper and a little vegetable oil to hold it all together. I broiled the steaks, plated the salads, and enjoyed the different flavors the orange and fennel brought to each dish.

Parties - Pink and White Bridal Shower

Here are some pics from the bridal shower I hosted for my wonderful friend. All she said was she wanted something 'girly.' The main inspiration came from my vintage linen collection - florals, pinks, and very girly. I re-purposed the linens into cloth napkins, wraps for vases, basket liners, pillows, and some fabric flowers. Other DIY projects included tissue paper flowers (the bride-to-be is allergic to most real flowers), the invitations, and the hanging advice cards. We had the most perfect spring day for the shower and it was truly a pleasure to host for my friend.