Giada!!!!!

We met Giada today!!!!

The twins and I took a trip to our local Sur La Table and stood in line for 2 hours!

It was worth EVERY minute.

I had the opportunity to meet the person who inspired me to get in the kitchen and start cooking!

Giada was set up in the back of the store at a table and we individually approached her with our books and had the opportunity to visit briefly. The line went all the way out the door, down the street, and wrapped around the building!

I was so touched at the way Giada interacted with all of her fans.

She genuinely listened and interacted with everyone!

Then it was our turn!

The twins were asleep and as I approached her, I had the opportunity to introduce my twins to Giada!

She said that they were "absolutely precious"!!!!

I agreed!

I told her that I was completely convinced that they were going to wake up right before it was my turn and start screaming!

She laughed!

Giada personalized and signed my copy of "Giada at Home".

(The one that the hubby gave me!)

What an absolute treat!

Happy Cooking!

Laura

To Dye For (or maybe not)

Last week I discovered what I thought was an awesome idea on Martha Stewart's website.
(original post from last week)

The idea: Lace Eggs

The outcome: No Lace Eggs

Let's see what happened...

Instructions

Tools and Materials
Eggs
Standard egg dye
Rubber Bands
Inexpensive lace trimmings
Scissors
Foam Board fitted with flathead pins

Lace Egg How-to

1. Cut lace into strips long enough to wrap around eggs and still have enough to form a sash for holding

2. Wrap eggs, securing lace with rubber bands. Dye eggs according to dye pachage instructions. Lift out, cut off rubber bands, and unwrap lace. Let dry on foam board fitted with flathead pins.

 Our Attempt

We started with our necessities: gloves, dye, lace, eggs!

And we boiled...

Here is my dear mother helping with the Easter project!

We cut strips of lace long enough to fit around the egg and leave a tail for holding. We secured the lace as tightly as I could without breaking the egg (I did break one) with clear poly hair bands.

 We then allowed them to soak in the bowls of dye I prepared while the eggs were boiling and cooling.

This is where we must have gone wrong. Some of the eggs did have a trace of the lace edges but I cannot say that the lace transfered. After we let the first egg soak for 15 minutes, I got disappointed and went back to the original post to see where we went wrong. I located the comments.
It appears that others had the same disappointment.

Next time (and there will be a next time because I think the outcome would be worth it),
I will try warmer water and a tighter hold.

Looking back, I should have tried some of the suggestions listed by the commenters: hotter water, a tighter hold, nylon covering, stretch lace. But, we were running short on time and I just decided to "amend" my idea and go back to the original idea of.....

shades of green.

Here is the outcome....

Did you try the lace eggs? Did it work for you?

Happy Cooking!
Laura

Shades of Green

Happy Easter Monday!

What a beautiful day to celebrate with family and friends!

The shades of green came together nicely and allowed me to decorate with my favorite color!

As a follow up on the lace eggs, my mother and I had a lot of fun "attempting" Martha's suggestion. I cannot say that it was a success. So, in the end, we scrapped the lace eggs and dyed the eggs in shades of green. A package of 16 year old nesting straw (my mom found the bag in her recent move) made a nice resting place for the "Shades of Green" eggs.

Check back this week for a blog entry on the attempted lace eggs.

 

Peter Rabbit came to visit (see the napkins). You can learn how-to from Martha herself here. 

I found the instruction frames to be most helpful.

White Easter Tulips helped to bring some clean white to the table.

Homemade cookie name plates served to identify the seating arrangment and made for a fun party favor.

Check back during the week to see details of some of the above!

Happy Cooking!!!

Laura

Four Dozen Eggs

I bought four dozen eggs today --- lace eggs here we come!

I am thinking shades of green!

Here are my inspirations...

Happy Cooking and Egg Dying!

Laura

Lace Eggs Centerpeice

We are hosting Easter this year and I have been racking my brain over a centerpiece.

What to do, what to do....

I wanted something new and different and creative and Eastery (if that is even a word)!

Leave it to Martha to help me find my way!

Lace Eggs

By: Martha Stewart

Tools and Materials

Eggs

Standard egg dye

Rubber Bands

Inexpensive lace trimmings

Scissors

Foam Board fitted with flathead pins

Lace Egg How-to

1. Cut lace into strips long enough to wrap around eggs and still have enough to form a sash for holding

2. Wrap eggs, securing lace with rubber bands. Dye eggs according to dye pachage instructions. Lift out, cut off rubber bands, and unwrap lace. Let dry on foam board fitted with flathead pins. 

Original Posting can be found here. You can even watch a video of Martha trying it herself!

 When I found this, I was super excited!!!

I am going to attempt these on Saturday morning. I will take pictures and I will report back!

I am even more excited about her FABULOUS idea of making a
drying rack with foam board and flathead pins!

Happy Cooking and Happy Eastering!!!

Laura

St. Patty's Day Dinner revisited

Dinner turned out quite nice and I would like to share some recipes

(along with another vegetable experiment)...

Here goes NUMBER 10 Roasted Rosemary Potatoes and NUMBER 11 Grilled Zuchinni and Squash...

Roasted Rosemary Potatoes

Laura (Number 10)

Servings 4

Ingredients

2 russet baking potatoes

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Kosher Salt and Pepper (to taste)

rosemary (fresh or in jar)

Preparation

Clean potato skin and rosemary (if fresh from the garden) and dry

Line baking pan with foil (for easy clean-up)

Preheat oven to 450

Directions

Half the potato and cut into wedges

Lay potatoes in a baking pan

Sprinkle potatoes with olive oil

Sprinkle rosemary

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Put in oven for 20 minutes

(then check and remove or adjust time depending on how crispy you like your potatoes)

Here is another veggie I experimented with last week NUMBER 9

Grilled Zucchini and Squash

Laura (Number 11)

Ingredients

One Yellow Squash

One Zucchini

2 tablespoons Honey Mustard Dressing

Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Preparation

Thinly slice vegetables

Directions

Toss vegetables in dressing, salt, and pepper to lightly coat

Place ribbed griddle on medium

(you can use a flat griddle, I just like the look of the ribbed grill)

Cook for 5 minutes, flip and cook for 5 minutes

Here are some pictures of the grilled zuchinni and squash....

Happy Cooking!

Laura

***Edited on April 13 to correctly reflect these recipes as 10 and 11

Back and Baking!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Well, I am back from my absence. My daughter had a bout with pneumonia and, let's just say, I was occupied with 24 hour, 'round-the-clock care! But, I am back, I am baking, and I am making a green beer!!!

St. Patty's day is more than just green beer (although, that is a GREAT start), so tonight I have prepared a dinner of roasted rosemary(green) potatoes, green(green) beans, and grilled chicken (not green but it is a lighter dinner so we can have...... drum roll please), chocolate peppermint cupcakes with, you bet, GREEN icing!

Here are the cupcakes in the before stage....

Here are the potatoes and the chicken in the During stage...

And I will definitely post the after!

While my little girl was sick, I did manage to do some cooking

(a wonderful grilled squash and zuccini dish comes to mind - I will definitely share)

and this past weekend we finished our vegetable garden.

I designed and built it based on the space we had and can't wait to share the pictures with you!

Here is one last thought....

Happy St. Patty's Day and Happy Cooking!

Laura

p.s. these are new recipes so let me see how they turn out and then I will post the recipes and outcome! I will let you in on a hint - the green beer is beer with green coloring in it! (HA!!!!! No secret there!)