Happy weekend, friends!
Every Saturday I join Elizabeth and Kim to share our favorite things from the week.
This week Cocktail Month at Snowberry continued.
With Grapefruit Aperol Spritz.
You can catch last night’s drink mixing video here.
Monica Vargas Photography
Our mild summer weather ended abruptly with a few days of serious heat.
Leave it to me to choose the hottest day to take my first hot room yoga class.
It was 103 outside and 100 inside.
I can’t say I enjoyed it, but I survived.
And that’s a win.
Enough small talk let’s get into it.
CELEBRATING HOME: A TIME FOR EVERY SEASON
James Farmer’s new book, Celebrating Home: A Time for Every Season, arrived on my doorstep this week. What a treat. I never met a décor book I didn’t love and this one’s extra fabulous. James is a Southern landscape and interior designer, entertaining genius, arbiter of good taste and, obviously, author. Two of his earlier books, A Place to Call Home and Arriving Home, are favorites.
“What I love about the South is that there is nothing too insignificant to celebrate, and if you’re
really lucky you learn about grace and small joys, which are, after all, what make up a big life.”
~Julia Reed
Organized by seasons beginning with winter gatherings, I skipped forward to summer to linger over the glorious outdoor settings.
James Farmer’s, Celebrating Home photographed by Emily Followill
JANE BRODY’S CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH A FEW TWISTS
I recently read that Jane Brody, New York Times personal health columnist since 1976, retired. You can read her final column here. In 1985 she published a best seller, Jane Brody’s Good Food Book, a cookbook that had a big impact on me. As 23-year-old who had just shed 20 lbs. and was interested in learning to cook healthy, delicious food, this book became my bible. It was kind of like The Joy of Cooking for my day. Of course, it’s a cookbook of its time and much has changed in the way nutrition science.
While I was vaguely aware of Jane’s writing for the NTY, I mostly thought of her as a cookbook author. In 1990 she followed up the Good Food Book with Jane Brody’s Good Food Gourmet. I still make recipes from both books. These are some of my favorites … Strawberry Muffins, Vichyssoise (can’t find it online), Stove-Top Barbecued Chicken and Banana Bread. And my all-time favorite Jane Brody recipe, Chicken Enchiladas. I made them this week with a few of my own embellishments.
Jane Brody's Chicken Enchiladas with a Few Twists
Ingredients
- 1 Rotisserie Chicken Shredded
- 2 Scallions Green parts diced
- 1-1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese Shredded
- 1 8 oz Black Beans Drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup Fresh or Frozen White Sweet Corn
- 1 28 oz Enchilada Sauce (mild)
- 8 Corn Tortillas
- Fresh Cilantro Chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Combine shredded chicken, green onion, black beans, corn and 1 cup cheese and set aside. Toss in a little salt and pepper.
- In a skillet, heat enchilada sauce to a simmer. Add tortillas to sauce one at a time, quickly so that tortilla looses up but not too much. Fill tortilla with chicken mixture, roll up and place in baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
- If there's leftover chicken mixture (which there should be) spread it on top of stuffed and rolled tortillas. And pour remaining enchilada sauce over top.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese over top and bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly.
- Removed from oven and sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Let sit 5 minutes and serve.
PITCHER COVERS
Jim’s going to get a kick out of this one. My dad’s wife, Gracie, spent many of her growing up years on St. Thomas. Her father, a minister, was assigned there for a good period of time. What does this have to do with anything? I’m getting to the point. Not long after Jim and I met we were invited to my dads for a meet-the-parents weekend. Hilarity ensued, but we won’t get into all that. Here’s the thing that stood out for Jim, and he brings it up all the time. Gracie’s crocheted, beaded, doily-type pitcher cover. When Jim inquired what she’d just thrown over the water pitcher, she explained in the islands they use covers to prevent bugs from landing in pitchers or glasses. Makes sense, right? But, says Jim, we’re eating inside. He’s so literal.
Jim brings it up whenever he sees a pitcher. ‘Remember when Gracie put that weird thing on the table, blah blah blah.’ So, when I acquired a new pitcher last week (the one from Kim’s blog) I decided to do an Etsy search and, lo and behold, there they were, pitcher covers. The first one I saw had lemon beads hanging off the sides. Clearly it was meant to be. Jim got a good laugh out of it. Seriously though, these things are very practical for al fresco dining.
Have you seen or used pitcher covers? It seems like it might be a southern thing too, to keep the flies away from the sweet tea. Perhaps my friend the Contessa will weigh in. She and Gracie are simpatico in their strict adherence to the proper setting of a table. And they both know things.
OUT AUNTING IN SONOMA IN A LILLY PULITZER DRESS
Yesterday my youngest niece and I spent the day in Sonoma. It’s been a busy summer and we haven’t had much time to spend together. She starts school in a week, so we decided to take a little day trip.
It’s been hot so I put on this Lilly Pulitzer cotton swing dress. Last week I told you I don’t wear short dresses (above the knee), but here I am, again, wearing a short dress. This one is made of cotton with a little stretch. I love the criss cross detail in the back. It’s high enough so that you can wear a normal bra. And it has cute little pockets in front which I appreciate. My dress came from Stitch Fix last year, and the print is probably exclusive to them. Lilly Pulitzer still has the dress available in five different prints.
Swing Dress / Hat / Sunnies / Earrings / Tote / Platform Sandals
Back to our day in Sonoma, we had lunch on the patio at El Dorado Kitchen. We started off with this yummy burrata.
Let’s skip to dessert. Shelby had creme brûlée with strawberry sorbet.
We also stopped by MacArthur Place, my favorite hotel and spa in Sonoma.
The Loop is the best women’s clothing shop.
And no trip to Sonoma would be complete without a visit to Chateau Sonoma.
Look at this amazing park bench and bar-type table situation. Wish I could figure out how to use them at Snowberry.
We also stopped in The Corner Store, Swiss Hotel, Summer Vine and The Chocolate Cow. It was a good day.
SOUTHERN POLISHED HANDCRAFTED SANDALS
I’m so excited about this brand of sandals I just read about in Southern Living Magazine.
Southern Polished is a family/friend run business in Tennessee. Inspired by the handcrafted sandals of Capri, they offer eight different styles (and numerous colors) named after Southern cities. Here are a few:
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- Alexandria / Navy
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- Charleston / Metallic Rose
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- Montomgery / Cheeta
I’m in need of a pair of basic brown sandals and ordered the Savannah style in tan.
Savannah / Tan
After the Southern Living article was published, the sandals sold out. But the company is taking pre-orders, and their website says to expect delivery in about a month.
They offer these canvas and leather totes too. Also, sold out and available for pre-order. I’m not sure if prefer white or navy. They offer a care kit for them too. I’m thinking they’d make great Christmas gifts for the Coastal Grandma in your life.
St. Simons Tote
So there you have it, a few favorite things from my week.
Now let’s see what Elizabeth and Kim are sharing.
IN OTHER NEWS ~
My good friend, Keli, recommend this book and I’m loving it so far!
Have challenges arranging flowers? I do. These ideas, tips and tricks will help.
It’s Cocktail Month at Snowberry. So far, we’ve had Rose Hibiscus Spritz and Grapefruit Aperol Spritz. Next week it’s another Italian inspired spritz so stay tuned.
Speaking of Aperol, our son and daughter-in-law are in Lake Como fully emersed in Aperol culture.
My cute grand-nephews went back to school this week following a few days of roughing it. Their adorable sister saw them off on their first day.
If you missed last weekend’s meanderings, you can catch up here.
As always, I appreciate your visit and welcome your thoughts in the comments below.
Cocktail Month at Snowberry continues on Thursday.
Until then, cheers from Snowberry!
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