Sweet Halloween

This is my idea of a Halloween display.  I love kids; I love candy.  But somewhere after that my interest in Halloween drops like a rock.  In order to be "me" this time of year, I let my world revolve around pretty gourds, yummy pumpkin recipes and leave the spooky stuff to everyone else.

Remember my white pumpkin display on the front table last year? So pretty!

This year I chose a "Galeux d'Eysines."  When I looked it up on a Pumpkin Identification chart, I thought it was fitting that I had inadvertently selected a French heirloom variety, as I have been spending every waking moment writing/editing/adoring my next book, "Paris: Delight in the City of Light."  My mind is all Paris all the time these days and it is spilling into the rest of my life.  Magnifique!

I found the scalloped paper mat at a scrapbook store (!) and it is called "Kitchen Spice Jasmine Die Cut" by Bo Bunny.  Could anything look more perfect under my little mushroom still life?

I found the work of artist Krys Kirkpatrick within the Earth Angels booth at the Country Living magazine's Country Fair last month.  When I saw this soft sculpture mushroom on a Japanese-paper wrapped platform, I was mesmerized.  I truly couldn't stop looking at it.  There is even a multi-layer pale green paper moth resting on the moss at the base.  I brought it home and have been loving it ever since.  This is art.  

Country Living Fair 2009, Part 3

I was lucky enough to get a seat front & center for a "Seasonal Wreath" presentation at the Country Living magazine's Country Fair.

The hour-long seminar was hosted by famous design team, Richard Kollath (left) and Ed McCann (right).

Richard used an Oasis wreath base (which, once soaked in water, provides moisture to the flowers/leaves allowing the arrangement to last up to a week!) to make a fresh flower arrangement bursting with Fall colors. It had a beautiful combination of mums, cockscomb, mini gourds, hypericum and bittersweet. So pretty!

Meanwhile, Ed gave suggestions for making in-home arrangements last longer. For example, he recommended "Butchers Wax" as the perfect medium to rub on clean gourds & pumpkins to improve and seal them for an indoor display. Remember when I bought my white pumpkin here?

This weekend I am going to the farmer's market to get a white pumpkin for my front table...and I have added Butchers Wax to my shopping list!

Thank you, Richard & Ed! I had a delightful time.

Country Living Fair 2009, Part 2

Yum! Country Living contributing Food Editor, Cheryl Slocum, was all about the pumpkin at this year's Country Living Fair. She worked her magic with three recipes from the October issue: Pumpkin Bread, Curried Pumpkin & Peas and Pumpkin Cannelloni with Sage Brown Butter Sauce (above).

The genius in the cannelloni recipe is the Barilla "Oven Ready" lasagna sheets. Give them a minute or two in boiling water and they become soft enough to fill and roll! Ricotta, pumpkin, salt & sage made the filling for this delicious entree.

I have started using this magic pasta myself for quick dinners and they work like a dream.

Thanks, Cheryl, for an excellent and entertaining Fall food demonstration!

Country Living Fair 2009, Part 1

How do you maximize your fun when you go to a Country Fair? Have a plan. There was so much going on at the 2009 Country Living magazine's Country Fair, I had to be organized.

10 AM: Gates open. First on my list? Find my Aunt Carol's booth! She has an amazing eye and brought her fine silver, transfer ware, and pink lustre to Columbus to participate as an antiques dealer in this huge Country Living event.

11-12 PM: Cooking Demonstration with Country Living contributing Food Editor, Cheryl Slocum

12:15: Casual Lunch - BBQ

1-2 PM: Country Living Editor-In-Chief, Sarah Gray Miller discusses the 30 year history of Country Living magazine

2-3 PM: Eat Jeni's ice cream (Salty Carmel, Honey Vanilla & Belgian Chocolate) and concentrate on photographing the event

3-4 PM: Seasonal Wreath presentation by Country Living contributors, Richard Kollath and Ed McCann.

4-5 PM: Shop until the gates close at five o'clock.

It worked! I was able to do it all and "see" the entire fair. A favorite moment? When I found a darling square sugar bowl & lid for $10!

Now that you have a general sense of the event, I will be posting highlights over the next few days. My advice? Mark your calendars for next September in Columbus. This Country Fair is worth the trip!

O-hi-o

Today I am attending the Country Living Magazine Country Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

Cooking demonstrations, shopping for antiques and sampling lots of unusual ice cream flavors at Jeni's ice cream! The forecast is clear skies and 74 degrees - my photos should be amazing.

I will tell you all about it when I get back!

Country Living magazine's Country Fair 2009

On September 19th, I am heading to Country Living magazine's Country Fair at the Ohio Historical Society's Ohio Village (a 22 building replica of a mid 19th century town).

Country Living brings the little village to life with seminars & demos and 150 vendors (selling everything from antiques & linens to beautiful hand-crafted accessories) There will be live music, icy lemonade and Country Living tote bags for sale - the perfect country fair.

I had a wonderful time last year - remember my posts? You can see all of the details for this year's fair here. Join me?

Country Living Fair, Part Four

The moment we turn the calender page to September, we all feel a shift in gears. Harvest is coming and gourds are growing in the field. This year, decorating editors Frances Bailey and Sarah Newell hosted a session called "Setting A Pretty Fall Table" at the Country Living Fair. The tablescapes were dressed in the colors of ginger, cardamon and sage and "knit" was the texture of choice. The dining table was draped in a variety of neutral knit throws and the chunky stemware wore cuffs crafted from the arms of a sweater. The theme was anchored with a Nicky Epstein knit vase overflowing with fall flowers. The companion tablescape (shown here) featured moss-covered balls, a quilted suede runner and a charming display of brown transferware. Tips from the presentation? Display simple items under a glass cloche, mix-n-match plates for texture and "dad's old sweater" can be "your new napkin rings."

Country Living Fair, Part Three

Sticky, sweet and very scary! Country Living magazine's Senior Food Editor, Cheryl Slocum, hosted a wonderful "Autumn Treats" cake decorating demonstration at the Country Living Fair. My favorite was this spider web cake - complete with black raspberry/black licorice spiders! The recipe for the cake & glaze can be found in the October 2008 issue of Country Living magazine and on their website here. The cake batter is delicious and the "spider web" technique surprisingly easy. A perfect snack for an October meeting of the Girl Scouts - show them that a memorable dessert doesn't have to be difficult. Each girl could flat frost her own cupcake, squeeze a swirl of white frosting on top and then drag a toothpick through the swirl. Build a little spider and suddenly, it's snack time. Oh what tangled webs we weave...

Country Living Fair, Part Two

After a quick walk around the Country Living Fair, my first stop was to watch Sherry McKenney (of the Murphin Ridge Inn) give a cooking demonstration in the Country Living Kitchen (an open air pavilion with a full demonstration kitchen on stage). She made a fresh tomato tart that was simple and delicious. Rows of juicy tomato slices (grown by an Amish farmer in southwestern Ohio) on a honey-dijon slathered puff pastry crust - yum! I picked up an "old kitchen tip" for easy seasoning. Keep a salt/pepper/sugar mix in a jar by the stove. Simple, but genius. I mixed up a batch when I got home (in an old-fashioned quilted glass jar) and tried it on...a tomato tart! I followed Sherry's instructions and it was perfect. I am ready for our next overnight guests! A tomato tart, scrambled eggs and a pretty place setting. Thanks, Country Living!

Country Living Fair, Part One

What a fun way to spend a Fall weekend! I drove to Columbus, Ohio to attend the 3rd Annual Country Living magazine's Country Living Fair. Held at the Ohio Historical Society's Ohio Village (a 22 building replica of a mid 19th century town), Country Living brought the little village to life! With seminars & demos, 150 vendors (selling everything from antiques & linens to beautiful hand-crafted accessories), live music, icy lemonade and CL tote bags - this country fair was perfect. An added bonus? Jeni's Ice Cream was there! I have been hearing a lot about the unusual ice cream flavors created by this Columbus-based dairy dynamo. Spurred on by curiosity and the famous "trio" cup, I was able to try lots of flavors. Remember...these are ice cream flavors. Sweet Corn with Blackberries (creamy, sweet & fabulous - my favorite by far), Pistachio & Honey (an intense pistachio flavor that blew my mind), Goat Cheese with Red Cherry Compote (tangy and smooth with cherry punctuation), Dark Cocoa Gelato (delish, of course), Salty Caramel (perfect for a country fair!), Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet (formal & completely delicious), Honey Almond Vanilla (complicated & rich) and Bourbon Buttered Pecan (oh baby!). Did I mention that everyone walking around the Country Living Fair seemed happy? It's an easy formula, really. Find a great location, offer lots of shopping, schedule interesting programs...oh, and have ice cream.