Wish List Wednesdays: Talbot's Lobster Print Skirt and Scarf

Summer fashion catalogs have begun to arrive, and one of the things I love about the season's apparel is the abundance of playful patterns.  I am especially delighted by the lobster print items now available from Talbot's (my husband studies decapod crustaceans, so we have a fondness for anything decorated with lobsters, crabs, or shrimps).  My favorite is the Lobster Print Stretch Cotton Canvas Skirt ($69.50).  Even though I do not wear skirts often, I think this one would be great for a special summer event or trip, and the colors are perfect for the Fourth of July.  There is even a matching Lobster-Print Scarf ($49.50).  I may just have to add these items to my summer wardrobe purchases list!

                

Weekend Wardrobe Cinco de Mayo Weekend Travel Wardrobe

From Facebook

Cinco de Mayo is on a Saturday this year, making it possible to plan a quick weekend getaway to the celebration destination of your choice!  For me, that destination will always be New Mexico, perhaps for the 11th annual Cinco de Mayo Folk Art Fest in Albuquerque.  For this weekend wardrobe, I chose to feature a warm copper color that I absolutely love (I have already purchased several items in this color from Coldwater Creek).  Here is the outfit that I would wear on the way to a fun-filled fiesta in my favorite state:

Clockwise from top left: Costa Del Mar Loreto 580G Polarized Sunglasses in Rose Gold; Journee Collection Women's Rhinestone Quartz Round Face Fashion Watch in Cognac; Novica Rustic Sika Necklace from Ghana; Coldwater Creek Cascade of Stripes Cardigan in Copper; Patricia Nash Paris Floral-Embossed Satchel in Florence; Patricia Nash Tooled Florence Pienza 22" Carry-On Trolley in Tan; Merrell Around Town Antara Lace Shoe in Brown Sugar; Coldwater Creek Hidden Stretch-Waist Chinos in Washed Sand; Coldwater Creek Vintage-Washed Henley in Copper.

And here are the additional items I would pack for the trip:

Clockwise from top left: San Diego Hat Company Packable Paper Sun Brim Hat in Brown; maykobags Brown Leather Wristlet on Etsy; Coldwater Creek Open-Front Sweater Shrug in Ivory; Coldwater Creek Open Road Multi-Print Dress in Vanilla Multi; Pikolinos "Vallarta II" Leather Sandals in Cypress; Coldwater Creek Elbow-Sleeve Ribbed Sweater in Vanilla; Coldwater Creek Hidden Stretch-Waist Chino Crops in Copper; Coldwater Creek Love-the-Length Tank in Ivory; Center top: LDancingDragonflies Copper Chain Maille Necklace on Etsy; Center bottom: Rock 'n Metal Jewelry Antiqued Copper Etched Design Narrow Cuff Bracelet.

In reality I will not be able to travel anywhere for Cinco de Mayo (my husband will be out of town on a business trip and someone has to stay home to care for the animals), but that doesn't mean I can't wear some of my new apparel and have my own little celebration here at home!

Maybe I should consider getting some festive apparel for my two pups?
Probably not - unlike the cooperative cuties above, I doubt that my
persnickety pair would ever forgive me for a photo shoot like this!

             

Foodie Fridays: Strawberry Almond Flour Cake

A recent catalog for King Arthur Flour included a recipe for a Strawberry Almond Flour Cake that I decided I had to try.  I was looking for a lower-carb version of strawberry shortcake, and this cake is a great alternative.  I used coconut sugar instead of white, except for the 1 T. sugar sprinkled on the bottom of the pan, where I did use white sugar (if you like you could use a sugar substitute like Swerve to reduce the carbs even more).  Otherwise I pretty much followed the original recipe.

Any soft fruit could be substituted for the strawberries.  I think I will try peaches next when they are in season.  The King Arthur Flour website has quite a few recipes, including many that use almond flour (although not all of them can be considered low carb).  I look forward to trying their recipe for Almond Flour Pizza Crust next!

Strawberry Almond Flour Cake

2 C. sliced strawberries
1/2 C. plus 2 T. sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 C. almond flour
1 T. coconut flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Place the strawberries in a shallow bowl and toss with 1 T. sugar.  Set aside.

Lightly grease an 8-inch round cake pan.  Sprinkle the bottom evenly with 1 T. sugar and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 1/4 C. sugar, and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form.  Slowly beat in the remaining 1/4 C. sugar.  Set aside.

Combine the almond and coconut flours, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.  Add to the egg yolk mixture and stir together to form a thick dough.  Fold in the whipped egg whites 1/2 C. at a time, incorporating each addition thoroughly before adding more.  The end result should be a smooth and fluffy batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool the cake in the pan for five minutes.  Run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake.  Place the cake on a serving platter.  Cool completely.  Serve topped with the sliced strawberries.  Serves 8.

Note: If you do not have coconut flour, replace the 1 T. of coconut flour with 1/4 C. of almond flour (yes, you read that correctly!).
             

This 'n That Thursdays: 2018 Picks of the Year

From Bridestory Business Blog

It's time to review all of the 2018 picks of the year that I can find, and as I usually do I am beginning with the non-gardening choices.  I mentioned briefly in an earlier post that the Pantone 2018 Color of the Year is a deep blue-based purple called Ultra Violet (yes, it is two words).  While this shade is not a personal favorite, for me it is slightly better than the picks from the last three years.  Who can forget the muddy purplish-red from 2015, or the pallid pink/bland blue duo of 2016, and then the acidulous yellow-green in 2017?  Okay, I admit I am rather opinionated when it comes to colors, but I have not truly enjoyed a Pantone Color of the Year since 2012's Tangerine Tango, so I am hoping that the selection for 2019 will really impress me.

From Firmenich

Interestingly, the Firmenich 2018 Flavor of the Year is Fig, a deep purple fruit, which makes me wonder if there is some sort of collusion between Pantone and Firmenich when selecting their annual winners!  Last year Firmenich opted for the unfortunate flavor of Cucumber, which could be considered similar in color to Pantone's 2017 choice of Greenery.  Coincidence?  Like I said, you have to wonder.  However, I happen to love figs, so I am quite happy with this year's pick.  My husband despises figs (mostly because of the seeds) and I know that he is not alone in his aversion, so this flavor may be a love it or hate it sort of choice for 2018.

From Big Island Now

Color also comes to mind with the selection by the American Bird Association of the rather spectacularly hued Iiwi (Drepanis coccinea), or Scarlet Honeycreeper, as the 2018 Bird of the Year.  Although this endemic Hawaiian species is still common on the islands, their population is in decline due to a combination of habitat loss and introduced diseases.  Adults of both sexes are a stunning vermilion red with black wings and tails.  They have long, decurved, salmon-pink bills used primarily for drinking nectar.  This gorgeous little bird is currently listed as threatened, and hopefully efforts to protect the species will be successful.

Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) in Maine -
puffins are my favorite birds!
(from New Hampshire Public Radio)

Speaking of birds, in honor of the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 2018 has been declared the Year of the Bird.  The National Audubon Society, National Geographic Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and BirdLife International along with more than 100 other organizations around the world are participating in this campaign to raise awareness of the importance of taking action, no matter how small, to help protect migratory birds from adverse effects of environmental changes.  A few tips that anyone could implement can be found here.

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In the coming weeks I will cover all of the gardening 2018 picks of the year I have found.  As always, there are a number of these selections by various organizations, so I will have to describe them in a series of posts.  Fortunately, I think the weather in my neck of the woods has finally decided to leave winter behind, so I can now start to think about actually doing some planting!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: Coldwater Creek Desert Scene Bistro Tunic

I have been keeping an eye out for a few new additions to my summer wardrobe (assuming summer actually does arrive this year, despite the wintry cold temperatures we had a couple of days ago, here in Georgia no less!).  When I saw the Desert Scene Bistro Tunic ($89.95-$99.95) from Coldwater Creek, I knew I had found one item I had to own.  I added several horse print items to my spring wardrobe this year, and this short-sleeved rayon challis top has a desert horses design in a color called Washed Sand, which is the same color as the one pair of pants I bought for spring (also from Coldwater Creek, so color matching should not be an issue).  I am now well started on my way to collecting the five new pieces I would like to add to my summer wardrobe!
             

Weekend Wardrobe: Fun Festival Weekend Travel Wardrobe

From Facebook

I became fixated on crabs this week, as evidenced by my latest Wish List Wednesdays post, which led to my inspiration for today's travel destination - a quick weekend getaway to the coast for a fun crab festival!  The Soft Shell Crab Festival is almost upon us, with several more celebrations coming up in Florida, Texas, and South Carolina during the month of May, so there are more than enough opportunities to pick a preferred time and location for a crab-inspired trip.

From Old Village Association of Port Royal

For the travel wardrobe, I wanted to highlight two colors from the Eileen Fisher collection that caught my eye, a fiery red called Serrano and a dark taupe brown called Rye.  I chose a number of crab-themed accessories for this destination, but the basic color scheme of red, brown, and cream would work well for any occasion.  Here is the outfit to wear in transit:

Clockwise from top left: Sea Life Series Oblong Scarf in Beige/Red; Eileen Fisher Organic Linen Waffle-Knit Hooded Cardigan in Rye; Crab Print Canvas Tote Bag in Beige; The Mochi and The Bear Crabs Duffle Bag; Eileen Fisher Washable Stretch Crepe Slim Pants in Serrano; Frye Quincy Tie Boat Shoe in Bronze; Eileen Fisher Crewneck Tee in Natural.

And here are the items to pack:

Clockwise from top left: friendlygesture Antique Brass Crab Pendant Necklace; Anipals Leather Crab Wristlet in Red; So'each Women's Crab Print Sweatshirt; Old Glory Crab All Over Adult Tank Top; Eileen Fisher Tencel and Linen Bermuda Shorts in Rye; Eileen Fisher Soft V-Neck Tee in Rye; Nostalgia Crab Cuff in Bronze/Yellow Gold; Eileen Fisher Tumbled Nubuck Edge Thong Sandal in Serrano (out of stock); Eileen Fisher Jersey Shift in Rye; Eileen Fisher Kimono Stretch Crepe Long Jacket in Serrano; Center: Spreadshirt Ornate Filigree Crab Women's Fine Jersey T-Shirt in Red.

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From Kettle Korn Poppery

For those who love the coast, I think a crab festival is a great excuse for a trip, don't you?

From The Best Crab 2018

             

Foodie Fridays: Baked Stuffed Chicken Breasts Caprese

If you only plan to try one new recipe this year, please make it this one!  I found the original recipe for Cheesy Tomato Basil Stuffed Chicken on the Half Baked Harvest website (always a good source for easy and delicious recipes!).  I made a few minor changes to the ingredients as well as the technique, but the essentials are still the same, and the end result is one of the best chicken dishes I have ever made.  Normally I avoid any recipe that calls for slicing chicken breasts horizontally, as I loathe handling raw chicken, but after tasting this amazing chicken I may end up using this method every time I make chicken (I am already planning to modify last week's Easy Baked Lemon Chicken recipe)!

Let me go into the details of the modifications I made to the recipe so that you can choose which ones to use when you make this dish.  First, I swirled a little olive oil in the bottom of the skillet before adding the chicken just because I cannot bring myself to add dry chicken to a dry pan.  Next, I used Tyson Trimmed and Ready Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, which have all visible fat removed and are uniform in size so that all of the chicken breasts cook in the same amount of time.  And since I used store-bought pesto, I spooned some into a small bowl before spreading it on the chicken to prevent contamination of the container.  Any pesto left in the bowl can then be spread over the tops of the chicken breasts before baking.

I used California Sun Dry Julienne Cut Sun-Dried Tomatoes with Herbs for ease of preparation and added flavor (available here).  The original recipe uses fresh mozzarella, but I think I actually prefer the packaged shredded type for this dish, as you can sprinkle additional cheese over the top to finish off the dish for added cheesy goodness.  I did not have fresh garlic in the house but I did have a bottle of good quality garlic-infused oil, so I used that instead, which I think made it easier to add garlic flavor to the tomatoes.  Finally, I omitted the red pepper flakes because I do not like them, but feel free to add them back in if you prefer.

It may seem like I made a lot of changes, but all of these modifications are actually very minor.  One final suggestion is to serve this dish with mashed sweet potatoes, spooning the pan sauce generously over each serving.  If you do so, you are in for a truly ambrosial experience!

Baked Stuffed Chicken Breasts Caprese

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/3 C. pesto (homemade or refrigerated store-bought)
3-4 T. julienne cut oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, plus 3-4 T. oil
1 C. shredded mozzarella (packaged pre-shredded type is fine)
1 T. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb. heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved if large
2 T. balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. garlic-infused olive oil
1/4 C. fresh basil, julienned

Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally, not quite all the way through, and open the two flaps completely.  Spread both sides of each chicken breast with pesto.  Place 1 T. sun-dried tomatoes on one half of each piece, and top with 1-2 T. shredded mozzarella.

Swirl the 1 T. olive oil in the bottom of a 12-inch ovenproof skillet.  Fold the chicken breasts up again so that the filling is on the inside.  Place the chicken in the skillet.  Spread any remaining pesto over the top of each piece.  Spoon about 1 T. of the sun-dried tomato oil over each of the tops.  Lightly salt and pepper each chicken breast.

Bake the chicken at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.  Remove the skillet from the oven.  Scatter the tomatoes around the chicken.  Splash the balsamic vinegar and then the garlic oil evenly over the tomatoes, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.  Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.  Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the tomatoes, turn off the oven, and let the skillet sit in the oven for another 5 minutes to melt the cheese. Remove from the oven, scatter the basil evenly over the top, and serve immediately.  Serves 3-4.