Hello Luuuuuucy!

So I decided on Earl Grey Truffles and a Torte for the shower. Whisk tea infused cream into quality milk chocolate to make these delightful treats. Rolling them by hand is half the fun. The best part is you'll end up with chocolate everywhere, Lucy and Ethel style.

Blood Orange Bourbon Old Fashioneds

sexy…single…and sipping on Jim Beam.  You're not alone if you find the last component of this image somewhat incongruous and yet the objective of this post is to proclaim my affection for old man drinks.

I've never been a fan of the cliche Cosmo or Kool-Aid's tackier technicolor cousins, Hypnotiq and Alize.  I'll take it straight up…with a twist of wit and whimsy.

Substitute 9 year old Knob Creek (worth it for the typography alone) for ole Jim and you have a versatile mixer as delicious in brownies or a pecan torte as it is in the glass.

An absolutely brilliant rye cocktail from the mixologists at NY hotspot Apothetique inspired this marriage of blood orange and bourbon.  I must say it's a happy union.  Enjoy!


2 oz bourbon
2 dashes Stirrings blood orange bitters
1 sugar cube
a splash of dry blood orange soda
garnish with a lemon twist

Mix sugar, soda and bitters.  Add an orange wedge and muddle into a paste.  Add bourbon.  Fill glass with ice and stir.

Peonies

The peony, my favorite flower, is the dominant floral motif in Chinese pottery and poetry. I snagged some in the market today and they are certainly brightening up the place.  These few lines of verse, from Chinese poet Qian Qi, capture the blossom's intoxicating charm.  

~xo

dani

Visit to the Hermit Chui

Moss covered paths between scarlet peonies,

Pale jade mountains fill your rustic windows.

I envy you, drunk with flowers;

Butterflies swirling in your dreams.

Sweet & Savory

This cake is so yummy my friend @ Squeak My Clean created a soap inspired by it! Enjoy.

Lemon & Rosemary Olive Oil Cake

1 ½ cups of flour

l cup of sugar

1 sprig of rosemary

¾ cups olive oil

1 extra large egg

¾ cups whole milk

zest from ½ lemon

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

4 star anise seeds

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Pulverize anise and rosemary in a food processor along with your sugar. Add liquid ingredients.  Add dry ingredients.  Blend thoroughly.  Bake approximately 40 minutes in a medium loaf pan. 

Well Clutch My Pearls...

What to wear to a jazz age lawn party on Governor's island? Pearls fit the bill, so did seersucker and a straw cloche hat.

Now for the perfect picnic fare.  Ina Garten's Curried Chicken Salad is oh so delicious with baby arugula and perfect for dining al fresco.  White wine and scallions just sent this over the top.

xoxo
dani

Ever find yourself in the supermarket without a plan, trying to throw together a special dinner at the last minute?  Roast something! A one pan meal will do. Chicken breasts, veggies and potatoes perhaps.  Then make these Lemon-Blackberry tarts.  They take 20 mins.  The filling is just egg yolks, condensed milk and lemon juice.

I delight in a gift well wrapped.