Cinnamon Honey Butter

Breakfast is our favorite meal of the day. Whether it's yogurt and berries with a drizzle of honey, a breakfast cereal, or a lovely, fresh pastry, the choices are endless. We love the idea of being able to stop by a local bakery to pick up some rustic breads and croissants. We usually enjoy breads and croissants with a spread of butter and honey or jam. Thus, the idea of a cinnamon honey butter was born: combining the different but complementary flavors of cinnamon and honey into one simple spread. We made a rather large amount, which we plan on storing in our fridge for the moments that we crave a "bread and butter" sort of breakfast. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Healdsburg Afternoon

An afternoon well-spent. Instead of the usual afternoon spent inside a gym or watching TV at home, we decided to venture to Healdsburg, CA, a nearby town. This town is filled with character. The town square is surrounded by boutiques, small bookstores, furniture shops, markets, bakeries, and top-notch restaurants. Healdsburg is known for the great supply of wines. We would like to emphasize the great many world-class wine tasting rooms located all over this town, and especially in the square. Tourists from all over California, and all of the country, flee to this homey town which exudes a traditional European vibe. Here are some photographs:

Plum Strawberry Crumble

We have prepared a Plum Strawberry Crumble, from Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris cookbook. A crumble, usually referred to as a "crisp" in the United States, is slowly becoming one of the most popular desserts in Paris today. Often served with a scoop of ice cream, a crumble is usually serve hot or warm. A recipe for a crumble can be quite versatile. This recipe may be subject to change by substituting two other complimentary fruit which may be in season. As long as the crumbly topping is adequately composed of butter, almonds, and oats, the fruit melts together underneath, releasing sweet, tart, and flavorful juices. 

Home and Kitchen Decor

One of the reasons we enjoy episodes of The Barefoot Contessa so much is due to the immaculate and orderly kitchen she works in. Whether she is filming in the kitchen in her home, or the new addition in the "barn", the style is consistent: French-inspired, orderly, and simply chic. We recently visited a home-decor boutique which sold kitchenware, kitchen accessories, and dinning essentials. The fine detail and attention that each piece displayed added to its character. Many of the items in the boutique had multiple uses and purposes. A drinking glass has the potential to double as a cup holding a trifle or parfait. Another great idea would be placing a bunch of Ina's cheese straws in one of the cups for a cocktail party.
This boutique also displayed plates, bowls, and other colorful yet simple accessories. As Ina always mentions: the design of a room, table top, or kitchen should be simple with a few statement pieces scattered about. Here are a few photographs of some of those statement pieces:

Tall, decorative glasses:

A simple, colorful throw:

Bars of soap, wrapped in wax paper:

Lime-green statement chair:

Light fixtures made of layered cardboard:

Colorful doorknobs for an added touch of color:

Beautiful, classic, etched glasses:

Farmer's Market

It's a Saturday morning. The weather is absolutely perfect and the nature around us is truly beautiful. In addition, it is one of two days a week that the local farmer's market is being held. All produce, seafood, flowers and plants, olive oils, and fresh food are provided by small farms and businesses locally. It is a great feeling to know that by purchasing all of these products, you are helping the people in your community, as opposed to a large national company. As an added bonus, the vendors are more than willing to offer you a taste of their product, which makes the experience more phenomenal. Here are some photographs that speak for themselves:

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

Many people may think of a tart as a dessert item, perhaps topped with fruits, curds, or meringues. This tomato and goat cheese tart recipe is a spin on the conventional tart concept. Interestingly enough, this tart is assembled like a pizza. The simplicity of it allows the quality of the ingredients to shine through, layer by layer. The chevre, herb goat cheese is distributed evenly all over the puff pastry. Initially, we though it wasn't enough. But after it baked in the oven, it melted and was definitely sufficient and satisfying. The heaviness of the cheeses are balanced with the thick slice of heirloom tomato placed in the middle. All together, the tart was a harmonious mixture of vegetables and cheeses and is a great idea for a light dinner. It can also be offered with a light frisee salad.

Shortbread Cookies

One of the most sensational scents is the aroma of butter being baked into a pastry. This scent fills the house whether you like it or not. We have prepared Ina Garten's Shortbread Cookie recipe countless times, whether it's for a package for the "friendly neighbor"or for an added item to a dinner party's dessert table. These cookies are sure to please. Don't ask how much butter went into making these basic yet delicious cookies. Leave it to your imagination. The recipe itself is comprised of five ingredients that are incorporated together in the most merry ratio: flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt. Once they are baked, you can drizzle with a flavorful glaze, frost them, or dip them in semisweet chocolate, which is the way we chose to top it all off. The recipe is so easy to prepare, that we had the energy to begin baking these lovelies at 9 P.M. !