Thursday, July 30, 2009

Pizza on the Grill-So Good!




Have you tried it?
Tired of hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill?

So good and so easy.


Get yourself some good pizza dough from your local pizzeria or bakery. Unless of course you like to make your own. That's not my thing so I buy it ready made.




For this one, I used sliced up breaded chicken cutlets, ricotta, marinara sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil.



Stretch out your dough, brush it with a little olive oil and place it right on the hot grill.



When you see it getting crispy, flip it and take it off so you can put your toppings on (the cooked side). This is easiest to do on a large flat cutting board or pizza peel if you have one. It does get a little heavy once the toppings are on and you need to be able to slide it off to get it back on the grill. You can also sprinkle a little cornmeal on your surface to help it on and off.



So, you throw it back on the grill until the bottom is cooked and your toppings are hot and melted.


Take it off, sprinkle with some fresh snipped basil and cut up and enjoy!


So many options for these: ricotta with ham and grilled pineapple(my kids' fave), sausage and cheese, spinach with gorganzola and red onion....


I'd love to hear how you made yours!



I'm also participating in Kimba's DIY day! Click on the graphic above to visit a ton of DIY projects by other bloggers. Thanks so much for visiting!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Long Island, NY...The North Fork


Last week I took my mom, brother and his bride-to-be to a cooking class at the Farmhouse Kitchen in Southold. My mom and I have attended Paula's classes before and I thought that this particular class "Entertaining North Fork Style" would be a great fit for them. They are planning a North Fork wedding at the beautiful Macari Vineyard. Our first stop was at the vineyard and I was able to look at some photo books of previous weddings held there. They were gorgeous. There is a great red barn on the property and it will make for some beautiful wedding pics. I can't wait! We sat on the deck with a bottle of wine and brainstormed about some centerpiece ideas. I'm so excited for them! They are still looking for a caterer, so if you know of any out in that area, please let me know.


After Macari, we had a few minutes before our class was to begin so I had to stop in at the Whiteflower Farmhouse. I have been dying to see this shop after finding their website and blog. Such a beautiful store, I bought one of their teacup candles for each of us and it smells amazing! This store inspired my sister-in-law to think about using gray and robin's egg blue as the colors for her wedding.

So we finally made it to the cooking class which was held by the pool. It's so relaxing at Paula's. For us it's like being on another planet. You sit, relax, listen and watch Paula cook up some amazing foods and the best part of course it tasting it all. During this class she demonstrated and we tasted: Grilled Fruit Salsa on Grilled Brochetta, Summer Sippers, Grilled Corn, North Fork Baked Stuffed Clams, Grilled Clams, Mini Pesto Burgers with Red Pepper Mayo, Watermelon Salad, Grilled Romaine Salad with Blueberries and Feta(who would've thought? This was amazing), and dessert was Grilled Pound Cake with Nutella, Grilled Peaches and Toasted Coconut. I wish I took pics of all of this great food but we ate it too fast!


After the class ended, we drove down to the end of Paula's street. There is a little private beach there and I took a couple of pics of the views (that's my brother's fiancee in one of them). Right across the water is the South Fork of Long Island where you will find the Hamptons. Also very beautiful, but the North is my favorite! I just had to pull over to take a pic of that gorgeous field of sunflowers we spotted on our way home from a perfect day....

If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend this experience. Paula and her husband also own a vineyard - Croteaux Vineyard - which is also on the property of their home complete with an adorable tasting barn shown in the photos below.


Clicking on the highlighted text above will take you to the mentioned sites.
Click HERE for previous post about the Farmhouse Kitchen experience.

Tent Sale Tuesday


I found one more of these ever popular dessert stands on the shelf this morning. I have carried them in my shop for years, but I'm done. The last one is under the tent HERE.
Just Sold! Thank you!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Where Bloggers Create

doors1
It’s party time! I can’t wait to visit the creative studios of all the party girls. Thanks so much to Karen of My Desert Cottage for putting this all together.
The french doors located in the entry of my home lead to my creative studio aka the living room. It’s still a work in progress but I am going to do my best to show you all of my favorite elements of my space.
DSCN0743
No studio is complete without a copy of this book!
DSCN0740
DSCN0741
Here is a recent TJ Maxx find. It’s lightweight and folds up. It has great shelves and pegs for my ribbon stash, trims and beads. I love this piece!
DSCN0745
DSCN0756
Some of my floral inventory just waiting to be arranged. I love working with such beautiful supplies!
floral display
My studio is also where all of the inventory for my boutique is on display for local customers to come by to shop.
DSCN0754I try to have open houses at least twice a year for the locals. However, lately with my kids’ schedules and keeping up with the website business, this has been difficult.
DSCN0757 But, I still love playing store and setting up little vignettes. It makes for a very inspiring work space!
DSCN0748A shot of my painting corner.
IMG_3912 IMG_3910Some more supplies. I get lots of great storage containers at Ikea and stores like Homegoods and TJMaxx.
mosaic7229758 This is one of my favorite pieces in the room. Click on this LINK for a before and after post about this piece my husband and I transformed.
DSCN0751
And finally, since this room does also serve as our living room, I have a very comfy place to sit and look through my collection of inspirational books and magazines.
Hope you enjoyed your visit and thank you for coming. Please hop on over to Karen’s site by clicking on the graphic below for a complete list of participating creative bloggers!
Party PosterJuly

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tent Sale Tuesday


Just one of these cute little baskets left - perfect for bathroom necessities.

It's HERE under the tent.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Shop Hop Fun!

The Christmas in July Shop Hop begins today!

To celebrate - we are offering 2o% off all orders $25 or more (before shipping)! No coupon necessary.

Click on the graphic to register and have fun Shop Hopping!


Friday, July 17, 2009

Pink Friday "An English Cottage"


It's Pink Friday again at Make Mine Pink.


Today only, my "English Cottage" themed items are marked 20% OFF.


Check it out HERE.


Click HERE to visit the participating shops at Make Mine Pink.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Love this...


I'm sure you've heard of Avalon Rose Design.


Well... the designer, Catherine, of those gorgeous websites...also creates beautiful jewelry by the name of Eclectic Anthology on Etsy.


It took me about 2 seconds to hit the "Add to Cart" button when I saw this necklace. A little treat for myself today which I don't do much.


It's the little things that make me happy!


Can't wait to get it!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Tent Sale Tuesday


Under the tent today are these gorgeous paper hydrangea stems. Only a few left in plum and burgandy rim at 50% OFF. So sad that my supplier is no longer in business. I will be on the quest for more of these as I'm at the end of my inventory! See them HERE.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Pink Friday "Summer Porch and Garden"


Please join us Friday July 10th for Pink Friday - a themed shopping event at Make Mine Pink.


Click HERE for my Summer Porch and Garden selections.


Click HERE to see the offerings of the participating boutiques at Make Mine Pink.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Greentique



I would like to introduce you to Jennifer. We met through a mutual friend and I am a huge fan of her business. She just opened up a new store in Huntington Village, NY.

Jennifer carries some great green products such as candy and soda wrapper pocketbooks and accessories (these are a huge hit), peace and love jewelry, aromatherapy products, stainless steel water bottles and more.


Her new website is under construction but you can view some of her products here at her old site. http://www.victoriasgreencloset.com/.


If you're in the area, make sure you stop by and say hello to Jen!

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Tent Sale and a Hydrangea Blossom!

Just wanted to share the first pick of my pink hydrangea in a tarnished vessel. Love it!


And, here is the Tent Sale special for today. I have a few of these wall scrolls left. I just love anything scrolly. You can find it HERE.



Here is a pic of one I used in my daughter's room.