"ENTERTAINS' goes to Atlanta

Last week, we held a preview party for our new book, "Romancing the Home ENTERTAINS", at my friend Lynda's home in Atlanta. We prepared recipes from the book and set inspirational tables in true RTH style, complete with animal prints and rhinestones. This book is all about over the top entertaining in your home, using simple elements that are readily available. Before the party, Lynda and I made a trip to H Market, a chain of asian food stores. We found baby bok choy, small red and green peppers, and exotic mushrooms that we used in our floral displays for extremely low cost. Beautiful baby artichokes and sun dried tomatoes were purchased for the antipasto tray for half the cost of traditional stores. We set a formal table in the dining room, using a cow rug as the tablecloth. Lynda's antique monogrammed crystal was filled with velvet pumpkins with real stems, making everyone ooh and awe over them. On the conservatory table, we used ironstone and zebra print dinnerware with a painter's tarp as the tablecloth. On this floral arrangement, the produce from the asian market was incorporated. But the crowning jewel of this table was the antipasto tray, vibrant with the colors of the cheeses and vegetables. Champagne grapes, fresh figs, pomegranates, and sun dried tomatoes were devoured with cheeses from the local supermarket. But the favorite thing served during the evening was a killer chocolate martini with a chocolate orange stirrer, a clear concoction that tastes like pure liquid chocolate. Guests were delighted by the chocolate taste as the drink is as clear as spring water. But you'll have to get the book to get the recipe!

Food from the French Countryside

You can feel the change - acorns are falling, leaves are on the ground and the nights are getting nippier- fall is around the corner. As the grilling season slows down, people begin to think of stews, pastas and baking. We just recieved new merchandise from France and Italy - wonderful food products. Butcher salt for meats, fig, wild blueberry and peach vanilla jams from the french countryside, lemon infused olive oil that's awesome on pasta, and some of the best mustard I have ever tasted. the mustard is a tarragon and basil dijon mustard that makes an ordinary sandwich into a gourmet delight. I used the tarragon mustard as a dipping sauce for a tuna steak and it was unbelievably good! Herbes de Provence, rose buds for freezing in ice cubes, and flowers to sprinkle on your salad.

Don't forget to order our cookbook - Romancing the Home ENTERTAINS by Sept . 25th. It's 372 pages of gorgeous photos and over 200 tried and true recipes gathered from family and friends.

My son "the dessert guy"

My son and his family were just out for a visit from the San Francisco area. As I was finishing final touches on our new cookbook, I asked him for any new recipes that he had been cooking. He's quite the dessert guy, while my other sons are "more about the meat and barbecue" guys. So while I was at the store, Wes made me this gorgeous, tangy, succulent orange cheesecake that was photo perfect. So I had to add it to our book! It's texture is lighter than a normal cheesecake, so it's perfect for the ending of a summer meal. I love the way he garnished the top with the mandarin oranges and subtle orange glaze. A fresh, edible nasturtiam from the herb garden was the perfect choice for the center of the cake.

This recipe and over 200 others are in our new book "Romancing the Home ENTERTAINS". Make sure you pre-order your copies by September 25th as the first printing is limited. Call the store at 847-615-1900.

Romancing the Home "ENTERTAINS' is about to debut!

Finally, after 2 years, Romancing the Home "ENTERTAINS' is ready for printing! It's 372 pages of over the top entertaining ideas that anyone can do! Filled with over 370 color photos and 210 recipes, this book is eye candy for the soul! We are so excited about our cover - zebra, ribbon, and rhinestones- three of our favorite things! We are taking pre-orders now. Order by September 25th and pay $65.00 instead of the regular price of $75.00. This book is double the size and double the pictures of most books. This 11 inch square book makes a perfect coffee table book. All of the recipes are gathered from family and friends over the past 35 years and are tried and true. "Entertains" makes the perfect Holiday gift. On November 4th, we will have our book signing party complete with recipe tasting and tables for the holidays. So order now and don't miss out - the first printing is limited.

Witch Craft at Romancing the Home

Yes, I know it's early to start talking Halloween. But when three of the cutest witches arrive in your store on a Saturday afternoon in August, you just have to talk about it. An extremely talented local artist made these unbelievable witches for us, complete with warts, black fingernails and glass eyes. Can you imagine the stares when you are driving down the road on a very hot day in August, with 3 life size witches in your car? Complete with vampy dresses, high heels and knock out cocktail rings, they are ready to party! What a fun addition to your Halloween decor this year!

Hot Baked Chocolate Croissants the Simple Way!

When having breakfast in Paris, there is nothing like a freshly baked hot, flaky chocolate croissant. Even though I have tried to bring croissants home and warm them, there is something special about the taste when they are just baked and come out of the oven. Layers of flaky dough and gooey chocolate make fresh croissants memorable treats. When I found the frozen croissants at Trader Joe's, I purchased some to try. You let them rise overnight on the counter and bake them off in the morning. After brushing with the suggested egg wash, I let them bake for exactly 25 minutes. The aroma was intoxicating. The baked pastry was airy, filled with the perfect amount of chocolate, and just divine. Breakfast was served on vintage hotel china and silver, easily grabbed from the stocked cupboard in the dining room With the perfect European strong cup of coffee, with a beautiful thick foamy layer of crema, ( made in a Jura Capresso machine) , and a little fresh fruit mixed with mint, these croissants transported us back to breakfast in Paris. I highly recommend stocking your freezer with several boxes of these delectable delights. Hat's off to Trader Joes for bringing us a little part of Paris!

Tess, Narva Lee, and Elizabeth

Yesterday, I was at home, working on our Romancing the Home Entertaining book that is coming out this fall. Part of the book is a collection of tried and true recipes gathered together from family and friends. Since my best friend, Lynda, is helping me with it, and we have cooked together and shared recipes for over 30 years, it's not surprising that her mom's, my mom's, and my mother in law's recipes show up quite often. They never really met each other, yet they are tied together now forever through this cookbook. I am determined to get a good picture of Lynda's mom, Tess's, Strawberry Tart for the cookbook, as it is a recipe that is used often. We have adapted it to all different types of berries, but today I am using the original version, Tess's version, Strawberry. Tess made a pie, but Lynda and I like to make it into a tart. As I am making the tart, I reflect on these women and their influence on our lives. Still hard to believe, but they all passed away within 6 weeks of each other. But they are still with us everyday as we prepare their food. Try Tess's Strawberry Tart - it's a great summer dessert with the fresh berries readily available. Plan on seeing the entire book, Romancing the Home Entertains, in the store just in time for the holiday season. It's going to be a great gift for friends !

Tess's Strawberry Tart

Crust:

3 T. powdered sugar

1 stick butter, at room temperature

1 c. flour

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Mix the sugar, butter and flour together by hand until mixture resembles crumbs. Pat into a pie or tart pan with fingers, patting up sides as well. Bake 25 to 35 minutes until lightly browned. Take out and cool in pan.

Filling:

1 qt. Strawberries, cleaned and hulled

Glaze:

1 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. water

2 1/2 T. cornstarch

1 small pkg. strawberry Jello

Artfully arrange strawberries in cooled crust. Cook water, sugar, and cornstarch over medium heat until clear, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add the Jello, stirring to combine.

Pour the glaze over the strawberries in the crust and refrigerate until set. Remove the sides of the tart pan before serving.

Note: Any combination of fruits and flavors of jello can be used for this recipe. Raspberries and blueberries are delicious. Artfully arranging the fruit is a very important part of making a beautiful tart.