Archive for June 2009

July - Easy Gourmet Recipe: Grilled Pizza


Grilled Margherita Pizza

With summer now in full swing, why wouldn’t you want to get that grill going, rather than heat up the kitchen? This recipe brings back memories from my days living in San Francisco! Try this classic style pizza in the grill. The fresh ingredients are all available at your favorite store or farmer’s market and if you want to by-pass making your own dough – Trader Joes has fresh dough in their cooler section.


Ingredients for Topping:

Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh vine ripe tomatoes
1 clove garlic, crushed and finely chopped
Buffalo or Cow milk fresh mozzarella cheese – Sliced.
Fresh Basil
Salt & Pepper to Taste
1/4 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese
Pizza Dough:

1 cake fresh yeast (Cake yeast can be found in the Egg section of most groceries.)
2 teaspoons sugar
1-2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

In a food processor or mixer with dough attachment, add yeast, sugar, salt, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of flour. Pulse to mix. Let set for around 5 minutes. The yeast will activate and start to foam. Add rest of ingredients, and add water slowly while pulsing and then mix till the dough is balled. Set in oiled bowl for 30 minutes. You can make dough night before and then allow to come to room temperature. Heat grill to Medium-High. Make sure the grate is well cleaned and oiled. On a floured surface, roll out pizza dough crust to pie pie sizes. Oil crust, and arrange toppings. Grill around 12-18 minutes depending on grill heat, rotating once. Top with Parmesan - Salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4.

What's IN for OUT-Side





The great thing about retail these days - Is we have so much to choose from. Here are some of the latest hot trends when it comes to decorating your outside places.

  • Anything Tie-Dyed or Ombré


  • Geometrical and Super large Prints

  • Bright Happy Colors - Especially Blues, Greens & Oranges

  • Sophisticated Neutrals paired with Brights


  • Black Accessories and Accent furniture

  • Things with Wings - Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies

  • Birdcages


  • Outdoor waterproof Art


  • Cut-out patterns, lattice and textural accents


  • Artisan Glass - Hand blown, Bubble or Mosaic

Easy Gourmet Recipe & Table Setting Ideas – June 2009




I'll be hosting my niece's baby shower in September. As I was going through magazines and books - I found these great recipes, twisted them slightly and came up with this month's recipes for the "Easy Gourmet" Cable TV show.
To watch a summary of the show Easy Gourmet.
  • They're super fresh, easy to make, and perfect for a wonderful lunch or light dinner on a perfectly beautiful early summer day. Of course make for interesting dishes for a shower too.

Table Setting Idea: For this month's table setting idea - I mixed vintage styles - Wonderful quilted fabric yardage I had picked up for another project - Which gives us a kick-off to June with its cabbage rose motif and soft summer colors. I paired the fabric with my Retro "soup and sandwich" luncheon set - Which is PINK!

I threw in a bit of current with stemless platinum banded wine glasses. The wine I selected was "Fat Bastard" Rosé - Which is you know the label, the packaging is as deviously delicious as the liquid inside!


The Floral arrangement is perfect for any Centerpiece for a buffet or entry way for entertaining. I used a knock out, lush hanging coned container garden I picked up my my local grocery store. All the rage this season, I removed the wire hangers, and placed it in a gazing ball stand. What a instant statement for a summer soiree!

Don't be afraid to pair different styles. By using color as their common thread - It all works. Being slightly out-of-the box is GOOD!


BLTs with Caesar Mayo
-Shopping Cart
· 1 Package of pre-made bacon of your choice.
· 3 tablespoons of Mayo
· 1 tablespoon fresh Parmesan cheese
· 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
· 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
· Splash of Worcestershire sauce
· ½ clove of finely diced garlic
· 2 anchovy fillets
· Crusty bread slices
· Sliced ripe red tomatoes
· Romaine lettuce leaves
· Salt & Pepper to taste

1. In food processor, combine mayo, cheese, lemon juice, mustard, diced garlic & anchovy fillets, mix to smooth.
2. Cook bacon as per package instructions.
3. Toast bread.
4. Spread Caesar mayo on bread slices. Layer on each side of bread tomato and lettuces, then pile with bacon.
Serves 4.

Cold Cucumber Soup
-Shopping Cart
· 1 large English (Hot House) cucumber peeled and cubed
· ½ Yellow Bell Pepper cubed
· 2 Green Onion diced
· 1 teaspoon fresh mint chopped
· ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
· 1 tablespoon dill mix spice
· 1/1/2 tablespoons olive oil
· 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
· 1 cup yogurt
· 1 cup sour cream
· Chopped chives to garnish

1. In food processor, puree all ingredients till smooth.
2. Chill 2 hours.
3. Serve with chopped fresh chives, and dollop of sour cream.
Serves 4.