Bring the Outdoors In! A Beautiful Spring Tablescape

Check out this gorgeous table setting by Suzanne Ascher and Jill Johnson of WaterLeaf Interiors in Manhattan Beach.  I particularly love the John Robshaw table cloth and the rustic place setting name tag and chandelier - both of which were crafted from tree twigs.  Suzanne and Jill picked those up fron Brenna Berger Paper & Ink.

For a Va-Va-Voom Valentine's Day: Oysters on Fennel with Lemon Butter

                                                   Cooked Oysters on Fennel with Lemon Butter 

Forget about the Hallmark card and last minute harried gift search this year! Get down and dirty and cook for your lover! And, we've got the perfect recipe courtesy of Christophe Happillion.  He's known around this neck of the woods as the Oyster Gourmet . "The idea beyond cooking or eat oysters for Valentine's Day is that they are sensual and full of mystery. Eating an oyster is a leap of faith into the unknown, like a new relationship." Christophe adds, "They are also widely accepted as an aphrodisiac which can be a good  way to spark a conversation and who knows what else for the evening!"

In Season: Seedless Kishus....Get 'Em While You Can!

                                              Seedless Kishus from the Churchill Brenneis Orchard 

I bought some amazing tangerines at the Ojai Farmers' Market over the weekend.  I purchased Seedless Kishus from the Churchill Brenneis Orchard in the Ojai Valley.  These small babies, about the size of a Clementine, are tiny flavor bombs.  They're also very easy to peel, completely seedless and as one of the Orchard's owners puts it, "children prefer them to candy."  I put this glass bowl filled with the tangerines out on the kitchen center island Sunday and by Monday evening there were only four left.  My two sons and husband had devoured them. So how can you get your hands on some?

Super Bowl Caesar Salad Cups

There's nothing like a great caesar salad when you are craving lotsa flavor or serving something spicy like my Tangy Tex Mex Chili. With Super Bowl Sunday coming up, I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite recipes.  This particular one is terrific for a football gathering because the salad is served in small, toasted bread cups.  The cups basically take the place of the croutons and, in doing so, make the salad a finger food hors d'oeuvre.  Who really wants to wash dishes after a football bash?  

In keeping with the spicy dish theme, the dressing I'm sharing has a delicious kick to it. It's a concoction of my friend Kathy Couturie's.  She served it while we were visiting her beautiful historic home in Ojai (the famous Libbey estate) and I ate so much of it, I hardly had room for anything else!  

 

 

Love Roses? Now's the Time to Plant. Plus check out SheSez's Faves!

                                           A rose garden overlooking the ocean in La Jolla Farms

If you want to add some rose bushes to your garden, now is the time. You can get dirt cheap bare root roses that, if planted now, will blossom like mad in spring and summer. I know it's hard to believe that these ugly, random looking stalks without a leaf in sight will transform into gorgeous plants in just a few months, but that is indeed what happens. 

And, don't be intimidated the the whole bare root thing. They're super easy to plant and most have instructions right on the package. Ask someone at the nursery to help you pick out a good one - typically one that has three thick stalks pointed in different directions. Two things to think about before you check out my favorite rose varieties:

• Make sure you have at least 8 hours of full sun - otherwise you will be disappointed with the lack of flowers
• Remember when it comes to choosing varieties - heirloom roses are like heirloom tomatoes - you get a fraction of the yield per season - but the few you do get are mind-blowing. 

How to Make an Oprah-worthy Artisanal Cheese Platter

                      Artisanal Cheese Platter with dried & fresh figs and dried hibiscus flowers

Remember a couple of weeks ago I told the Oprah story - about how I was a Top 20 Finalist for Your OWN Show - the search to discover the next Oprah for her new network? You might remember I took a gorgeous cheese platter to the first day of the audition (pictured above) as one of the shows I was pitching was a TV version of SheSez.  Nothin' like struttin' your stuff - right?

The platter is as striking as it is delicious - and best of all super easy to make. That day - the day of the audition - I actually made a "how-to" video tape you can watch below. Can you tell how pumped I was?  Whenever I'm nervous I do something kinda funny on camera - I repeat one word over and over. On that day - it was "gorgeous." Hilarious!

How to Get What You Want on Gilt.com & Other On-line Designer Sale Sites

I skipped Neiman's First Call this year - and all the other good sales - for that matter. Instead, I decided I was going to cozy up with a good cup of joe and do my end of season sale shopping on-line. I specifically pinpointed the downtime-filled week between Christmas and New Year's and marked my calendar to be seated in front of the computer promptly at 9am - the kick off time for Gilt.com. I was giddy with optimism at the bevy of deals I intended to get.  However, each time I hit "buy," I ended up frustrated and ultimately empty handed.  Despite my early start time, every item I wanted was already sold out. It happened exactly 5 times during the week (M-F) and each time I hit "buy" no later than 9:05.  What was I doing wrong I wondered?

Utterly Guilt-Free Banana Bread

                                     Catherine Black's sugarless, vegan, gluten-free, Banana Bread
This recipe has been shared by actress Catherine Black. Here's what she has to say about it, followed by her clever and delicious recipe:

I strive to make healthy, gluten-free, sugar free food that is decadent and delicious.  I had no idea what I had stumbled upon when I first made this completely guilt-free and nutritious vegan, sugar free, gluten free, GEM!   I use quinoa flour, coconut oil and coconut sugar.  I originally made this Banana Bread with egg and butter, because I am strong believer that butter is an essential cooking ingredient, and I love eggs, and was quite happy with the results. 

What it Was Like to Be a Finalist in the Search to Discover the Next Oprah on Her New Network & How it Inspired Me to Reinvent Myself

                        Me, back in July, before heading off to an audition for Your OWN Show

I got People today and, for the first time in months, I actually looked at it.  Typically, I toss it aside thinking who are all these people with weird names like Snooki and why would I be interested in any of the Kardashians? The reason for my sudden interest? The magazine had an article profiling the 10 contestants on Your OWN Show – the upcoming series to pick and groom “the next Oprah.”  My interest in the reality show was more than casual.

It all started back in July. “Hi, Linda, this is Emily from OWN.” I'd answered my cell as I drove along the 405 Freeway.  I immediately thought of thought of my sister, Lisa. Yeah, it was her – being a smart ass.  She’d recently encouraged me to enter the OWN contest by putting my reel up on the network's site. I feigned sincerity, “Hi Emily. Is Oprah with you right now?”  “Excuse me?  I’m calling from the Oprah Winfrey Network.  We really liked your tape and we want to talk to you about possibly becoming a finalist to compete on the show. What???  

Holiday Party Ideas - Stealing Secrets from Hollywood's Top Caterers

I've been to some really smashing holiday parties this year, with eats and decor from some of Hollywood's swankiest caterers. I love to stop and take it all in.  For me, these parties are like inside scoop tutorials - learning experiences to drink in.

It usually happens like this.  Something catches my eye and I either stop to try and figure it out on the spot or, I find the caterer and simply ask about it.  Most are more than happy to share!  

So, here are a couple of unbelievably, easy ideas I discovered this season - all ways to put some glamour into your holiday soiree - whether it's a Christmas buffet or a rockin' New Years bash.