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Pork Chop and Apple Sauce in a Thermos

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

My friend Dana, who is also a mama-to-be, invited me to her sweet home recently for some lunch to catch up. I jumped at the chance to be able to spend some quality time with her before her little one arrives.

Pork Chop and Apple Sauce and Thermos? What’s that all about? Pork Chop and Apple Sauce are the names of Dana and Steve’s dogs. Pork Chop is an english bull and Apple Sauce is a adorable little pug. Thermos is Dana’s friend’s boston terrier she is baby sitting. It was a lively afternoon!

My Good Friend Pork Chop

More With Pork Chop Inside

A Little Blog Mash-Up & Some Ceviche For You

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Tonight will find Eric and me at the Black Tie BBQ Secret Supper – more photos and details on that tomorrow. But for today, I would love to do a little cross promotion. It would do my heart good to see you following me over at Design Is Magazine, since that will be my “official” gig from now on.  Let me know what you think and what you would like to see me write about. And be honest. Brutally honest. I can take it. But don’t think I will be leaving here – this is my home and I would never abandon my darlings.

Ok, enough of that.   How about a recipe for your Cinco de Mayo table tonight?  Don’t feel like cooking?  Is it getting oppresively hot where you are already (like here in Georgia?)  You need ceviche!  No cooking required.  You just throw it all together, chill it and gobble it down with tortilla chips. And look at this cool site that features nothing but ceviche recipes, even vegetarian! Ole’!

Glamorous Ceviche

Here’s my go-to recipe (borrowed from the nice folks at Ceviche Recipe). And if you have never tried octopus, here’s your opportunity. Trust me, it is so yummy when it is prepared correctly. And this is the correct way!

Go on, make it – don’t be scared. It’s super easy. Pinky swear.

xoxo, Patti

Serves 4

Ingredients:

7 ounces octopus, cooked
shrimp, tails blanched
7 ounces scallops, cooked
1 red onion, sliced very fine
1/2 red aji limo chile, minced
1/2 yellow aji limo chile, minced
16 key limes, juiced
salt
2 sweet potatoes, boiled (of the camote variety, if you can find them)
1 large fresh ear corn on the cob, cooked and cut into rounds (choclo variety, if you can find them)

Preparation:

Cut the octopus into bite-size pieces. Leave whole if using baby octopus.

Cut scallops into small pieces.

Mix seafood with onion in large bowl. Wash and drain thoroughly.

Season mixture with salt and aji limo chiles.

Toss preparation quickly in lime juice. Refresh with ice cubes, mixing well. Remove ice immediately before it has a chance to melt.

Serve on bed of lettuce with sweet potato (camote, if you can find it) and boiled corn rounds (choclo, if available).

Design Is….My New Passion

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

For the past few weeks my friend Walt and I have been trying to get together for lunch. Last week that finally happened. Walt and his husband Scott have purchased two spectacular properties in Midtown with the intention of renovating them into the most lush residences ever.  I finally got to see the properties when Walt invited me out last week and walked me through both houses. They are incredible. During our tour, Walt explained that the largest of the homes would be divided into 4 residences, one more fabulous than the next.  This home has been the impetus for a new online magazine being launched by Walt.

Over lunch we discussed the magazine and Walt let me know that he had everyone in place except for his Entertaining Editor.  And guess who he asked to take this very exciting post?  Yes! It’s me, Darlings!  I am thrilled to announce that I am now the Entertaining Editor for Design Is.  As the first issue is scheduled for September, we have tons of work to do.  I will share every step with you on this journey – not only here, but on the Design Is site very soon.  I’m hoping you will follow me and give me your feedback.

This past Saturday, we had our first staff meeting at the amazing home of Walt and Scott.  We had a couple of folks missing, but I am looking forward to meeting them soon.

I thought you would enjoy seeing some shots from our day.

By Day, Walt is a Landscape Architect.....

More Fun After The Fold