Photos Here!

Today I received the photos from a shoot Erin and I worked on together. My website is being rebuilt and I love Erin's work so it was only natural to have her shoot the photos for it. I couldn't be happier with the results!

Recipe: Apple Fritters

My mother has been talking about making apple fritters for years, but for some reason we never got around to it. This holiday we swore we would make them and we did! I used a recipe from one of my favorite food blogs, 'Lottie and Doof', for inspiration and made a few changes of my own. They are absolutely delicious and a festive treat for the holidays... or anytime really :)

Apple Fritters (Recipe from October 2010, Bon Appétit- courtesy of lottie and doof)
Fritter Coating
•    1/2 cup sugar
•    1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* Can also use confectioner's sugar or pile a few in a small bowl and drizzle with maple syrup! Yum!

Apple Filling
•    2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
•    1 pound Pink Lady or Golden Delicious apples (about 3), peeled, cored, cut into 1/3-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
•    2 tablespoons sugar
•    1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Fritter Base
•    2 teaspoons Madagascar vanilla
•    1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
•    1/2 cup sugar
•    1 teaspoon baking powder
•    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•    1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
•    2/3 cup buttermilk
•    2 large eggs, separated
•    2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
•    1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
•    Canola oil (for deep-frying)

Fritter Coating:
Blend sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Coating can be made 3 days ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.

Apple Filling:
Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon; toss to coat. Sauté until apples are browned in spots and just tender, stirring often, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Set filling aside in skillet to cool.

Fritter Base:
Place double layer of paper towels on work surface. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and spices in large bowl to blend. Whisk buttermilk, egg yolks, melted butter, and vanilla in medium bowl to blend. Gradually stir buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients. Beat egg whites and coarse salt in another medium bowl until peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into fritter base, then fold in cooled apple filling.
Pour enough oil into heavy large saucepan to reach depth of 1 1/2 inches (5 to 6 cups). Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pan. Heat oil to 320°F to 330°F over medium heat. Working in batches of 5 or 6, drop batter into oil by tablespoonfuls. Fry fritters until deep golden brown and cooked through, turning fritters occasionally and adjusting heat to maintain oil temperature, about 4 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer fritters to paper towels. Drain briefly, then toss warm fritters in cinnamon-sugar coating. Transfer to large rimmed baking sheet.  Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 350°F oven 5 minutes, if desired.

Mound fritters on a plate and serve!

Waaait for it... Waaaait for it...

   I had to fill you in before I went to sleep tonight... I've been gathering flowers this weekend for a much anticipated photo shoot tomorrow! I've been designing all day long today, encompassed by some really beauties like sea star fern, parrot tulips, astrantia, and peony, just to name a few. I'll keep you posted on that fun project. Freddie Mercury 'Live from Montreal' has been on repeat lately. And I want to tell you. I've always liked Queen. When they're songs come on the radio, I harmonize. I play air drums sometimes.. That's rare. Promise. But seeing them perform live on tv has made me kind of obsessed. He's amazing. You should watch it. I promise after you see it, you'll love him too. Obsessive love....

Bits and Pieces

When I got home I put this together with some left over flowers I had.

Market Trip

I'm loving muted colors lately. I put this together this afternoon after gathering some florals at the market. Notice I used one of my new vases? I bought them in 3 different sizes, so they could be used as a grouping or used singly. I looooove them.

NYC Trip

I've finally unpacked my suitcase from my NYC trip over the weekend. I stayed with one of my favorite girlfriends, Korin. She actually lives in the same apartment that we used to share when I lived there. I slept in my old bedroom which brought back all of these great memories of my time there. The apartment has these big, old windows and at night in my bedroom you could see the moon and the branches of this huge tree being blown through the wind. We were invited to a ridiculously fun 80's GLAM Halloween party on Saturday. To sum it up, it included a homemade 'Step and Repeat', fishnet stockings, pink wigs, and dancing with men named Katherine until 3:00am. I had all of these places I planned on going to while I was there to find interesting vases and ribbon. The bad weather canceled some of them, but I still was able to do some shopping around the city and find some gorgeous things. Here are a few lookers...

Nesting

Aren't these gorgeous? They are just a few of the photographs by Sharon Beals in her book called "Fifty Nests and the Birds That Built Them".

See more at http://twistedsifter.com/2011/05/25-photos-of-birds-nests-sharon-beals/

Hunter Gatherer

Wedding season is winding down around here, but I have so many fun plans for fall that I can't wait to show you. I'm heading to NYC on Thursday to check out some new shops for wedding supplies and pick up some goodies for my spring brides. Think flea market, 100 year old ribbon shop, and a place full of history.... and horse bones. Well the last one is going to be a total adventure, a bit eerie honestly, and I've packed my orange wellies for the trip. I'll indulge you upon my return. XO

Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005

Monarch of Early Fall

When I was young, I could always be found outdoors. I loved animals and there were always a few of them around the house. I remember walking barefoot through the fields every summer, looking on milkweed where you could find my favorite butterfly, the Monarch. I always collected at least one caterpillar a season and watch they're magical transformation into a butterfly. I even have a fond memory of my grandfather sending me a large cardboard box in the mail from his Block Island home. I opened it to find a Monarch butterfly caterpillar along with a few milkweed leaves to hold him over during his travels. It was the best gift he could have sent. Well, a few weeks ago, I was gardening at my parents house and found a Monarch caterpillar. Feeling nostalgic, I took him home and watched this transformation all over again and remembered this blissful memory.

Batten Down the Hatches... It's Fall!

  

We've started nesting around here! I've been buying sweaters, making butternut squash soup, pruning shrubs, and getting excited to use fall berries in arrangements again! The weddings are slowing down around this time of year and I have a lot of fun floral projects planned for the rest of the year. Stay tuned!

Birthday Party for 2!

I have been meaning to get these up on the blog for days now, but as summer has it, these days are busy and feel too short lately! I recently designed some florals for a joint birthday bash at a private residence in Portsmouth. They have a great old barn on the property and wildflower styled gardens. Wanting to keep this look, we designed in vintage mason jars and incorporated some antique candelabras on the tables as well. The jars were filled with different clusters of flowers and included pink peonies, peach stock, goosenecks, mint, raspberry stems, and clematis vines.

Whenever I go to the MET...

Whenever I get the chance to head to NYC and visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of my favorite permanent exhibits is the Greek and Roman Art. Every piece of jewelry is a jaw-droppingly beautiful, finely detailed, piece of art. I went a couple weeks ago and took a few photos of these botanical pieces. If you get the chance, the Alexander McQueen Exhibit is there at the moment and is absolutely stunning. What a talent he was.

Serotonin has sprung!

April is a funny month because I find myself doing everything I can to get spring in the door. Yesterday, I purchased lemon verbena diffusers for just about every room in my home (so domestic) and a few days before I carried as many pansy trays to my wagon as I could. I needed these. I was hoarding the pansies. Despite some of my desperate attempts for spring, some beautiful spring flowers are popping up and reminding me warm weather isn't far behind.

Weightless Planting

I can't stop admiring these string gardens designed by Fedor van der Valk. I love how the plants are used as a sculptural element. I'm declaring a craft day someday soon to make one of these! Maybe someday my living room will become a string garden. 

(photos courtesy of www.stringgardens.com)

Someone is still tired from the weekend...

Arrangement for Spring..

I am madly in love with anemones... They are so romantic and chic looking to me! They are in season starting in the fall through early spring. Things have been busy around here this week. I'm packing up and moving into a new apartment. Packing has been a ton of work, but I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel :) Tomorrow I'm waking up early and heading to Boston to pick up some flowers for a wedding this weekend! Can't wait! Goodnight, sweet dreams....

Flowers for Spring...

Some gorgeous flowers for an arrangement I'm putting together....

Advanced Style

I had to put this up because I've watched it 10 times today and it makes me smile every time. I read an article about Iris Apfel (huge glasses) about a year ago and how she was becoming this style icon so late in life. I fell in love with her. It's a part of fashion we don't see often and it's pretty inspiring really. I can't wait to be old :)

Delivery!

I delivered some flowers to the talented girls down at Garnish Events today. Right now, Kaitlyn and Emily are featuring a 'Cake of the Week'. Every two weeks they are offering a cake, made and delivered to any location on aquidneck island. The cake this week 'Guinness Cake' looks heavenly and I've been trying to come up with every reason why I need one now.... Check out they're facebook page for more photos of these delicious cakes! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Garnish-Events/95810817387?ref=ts&sk=wall