Hello everyone! Sorry I have been distant the last few weeks… I got swept up in my own blog woes, travel, and family drama that kept quite tied up. Between that, home inspections, mortgage applications, and dream decorating our new house – I have not had but a free moment. All the appraisals have been completed, contracts are signed and we’ve placed our deposit. Our new house is scheduled to close on June 15th!

We have a friend who is going …

I came across this recipe at Epicurious and I can not wait to try it. I think it is the dill flavor that appeals to me, so Spring-like. This spinach pie would be wonderful served at brunch as a main dish with a simple vinaigrette-dressed green salad -or- it could be prepared as a side dish and be served with broiled lamb chops.

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Ingredients:

1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons …

This is one of those “go to” recipes from my mom’s recipe book. It’s totally delicious and a complete snap to make. Bow Tie Pasta with Sausage in Tomato Cream Sauce is also the perfect dish for entertaining. Make it the day before, pop in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove top as your company arrives. Guess what? It actually tastes better the second day!

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings remove and crumbled
1/2 tsp. dried …

After nearly a month of waiting on my Sur la Table cassis french oven to arrive (what a nightmare!) it finally landed in the Financial District around the 12th of February. Our dear friend had entered into a Valentines Day Chili cook-off, and wouldn’t you know… he put out an email alert that he was in need of a large Dutch oven. Mr. D offered up our Le Creuset, and I have not seen it again since! Boo!

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I thought I’d …

I have been crushing on patterned floor tiles and graphic stone flooring for some time, but have not determined if I could be swayed into this sort of carpet.

{Apartment Therapy}

{Country Living}

{Ann Sacks}

I am delighted to hear that Oprah talked about Food, inc. on her show this week. I mean really, with a voice like that behind the slowfood movement… perhaps the U.S. consumers will perk up and listen? Oprah is responsible for bringing many lot’s of topics to the forefront of our minds. Who didn’t read the Kite Runner? Did anyone pay attention to Rachael Ray before Oprah endorsed her? Heck, even to some extent Oprah introduced us to Obama, didn’t …

Do you have a ton of leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner? After about three days, you should have frozen, tossed or gobbled up the last of the bird. If you’re still holding onto the last of it – do not delay. Use it or lose it! Why don’t you make turkey soup?

Creamy Mexican Turkey Soup
From the Big Book of Soups and Stews via The Recipe Girl

1 Tbs vegetable oil
1 large carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, …

Months ago, I did a blog post called “The well appointed bedroom” on ABCD Design. The image below was part of the post, and well… the headboard is awesome, isn’t it?

Living, etc. via Create Girl

Needless to say it got the most attention, comments and tweets out of any of the bedroom images I posted. Everyone wanted to know “Where does one get such an incredible piece of lace?!” Earlier this week, I stumbled over to Create Girl’s blog where I …

From early October through April, there is almost always a pot of chicken soup in my fridge. I always start it the same way, with a mirepoix of celery, carrot and onion. The recipe varies dependent upon what veggies and which shape noodles I add into the mix. Sometimes I prepare it without the tomato sauce. This is an incredibly flexible recipe. Sometimes I just call it my “Everything but the kitchen sink chicken soup!”

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Get out your biggest soup pot, …

The ABCD Design 2nd Blog-i-versary is celebration is coming to an end. So are your chances to win a Hip Hostess apron with a set of matching tea towels! Pop by ABCD Design and leave a comment before midnight Wednesday. Good luck!