Meats and Cheeses and Olives, Oh My!

We recently got back from vacation in Saint Martin. It was an amazing (and much needed) week away with my whole family. I love everything about vacation. I mean seriously, who doesn't? 

The place we stay is a 2-bedroom condo on the beach with a full kitchen. 

Most people go on vacation and want nothing to do with preparing meals but I absolutely love the process of going to the little French market and picking up delicious local items. Fresh baguettes, an array of cheeses & meats... my heaven! 

Sitting outside on the patio and taking in the ocean views with a cold glass of wine accompanied by brie on a french baguette... does it get any better? 

For lunch one day I made a salad nicoise. 

On top of a bed or Romaine I put tuna in olive oil, fresh haricot verts, white beans, olives and hard boiled eggs. Dressed with a simple combination of olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and a dash of salt and pepper. Served with some cheese & meats and warm baguettes. 

It was fantastic and a perfect light lunch in the heat. 

It's always so sad when vacation is over but I feel so fortunate to have been able to enjoy a week in this Paradise! 

Uncle Jon's Garlicky Mussels in White Wine

We just got back from our last trip to the beach this summer. As Labor Day is quickly approaching, we enjoyed soaking up the last of the summer rays, drinking crisp white wine and feasting on seafood. 

We stayed at the beach well into the golden hour so we opted to stay in and cook rather then going out to dinner. 

We enjoyed a hearty serving of mussels and clams and lots of fresh crusty bread to soak up the delicious broth. And of course numerous bottles of vino!

Uncle Jon's Garlicky Mussels in White Wine 

What you'll need:

3 pounds mussels, scrubbed

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup chopped shallots

7-8 garlic cloves, minced

1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 cup dry white wine

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 

Directions:

To clean the mussels, put them in a large bowl of water and flour and soak for about half hour. Drain the mussels and remove the "beard" from each mussel and scrub with a brush. Discard any mussel that is not tightly shut.

In a large pot heat the butter and olive oil and and cook the shallots for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 5 more minutes. Make sure not to burn the garlic! Add the parsley, wine, salt & pepper and bring to a boil. 

Add the mussels, stir and then cover the pot. Cook over medium heat until all the mussels are opened (about 10 minutes). Throw away any that did not open. Pour mussels and broth in a big pot and serve immediately with lots and lots of crusty bread and a bottle of crisp white wine! 

My little Beach Bum soaking up the last rays of summer!

Family Beach Time. Watch Hill, R.I.

We recently returned from our annual family vacation to Watch Hill, R.I.

It's a beautiful little beach town located about 3 hours from NYC.

I have been going there since I was only a little older then my daughter and I still look forward to it each summer. Nothing beats lobster rolls, clam chowder and long days on the beach.

Each year gets better and better, especially now that I can watch my daughter running on the beach and loving every second as much as I do.

Lobster Rolls are my absolute favorite and a must when I'm at the beach.
Below, I pasted a simple recipe to make your own at home.

What you'll need:
makes 4 rolls
4 hot dog rolls, lightly toasted
melted butter, for brushing rolls
1 1/2 pounds lobster meat
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:
In a bowl combine lobster meat, mayo, lemon juice, celery, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Let sit in the fridge for 10 minutes or so to absorb all flavors.
Brush inside of rolls with melted butter and fill with lobster salad.

Californiacation

We had a friends wedding out in L.A. last weekend. Being that it was my birthday (and who am I kidding, mommy needed a little break) we decided to go out two days early and go to the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley.

Santa Ynez Valley is located about 35 miles from Santa Barbara. We decided to stay at a little B&B in the city of Solvang. Solvang is a beautiful little Danish city in the Santa Ynez Valley. 

Friends who were out in Solvang a few years ago recommended the Mirabelle Inn.

 This was my first time staying at a B&B and it didn't dissapoint. It was a charming little inn with 10 rooms. Every morning there was a home cooked breakfast which included fresh baked breads, jams, home made granola & yogurt and made to order omlets.

The Santa Ynez Valley is known for hundreds of amazing wineries (side note, this is where the movie Sideways was filmed). We booked a wine tour through Stagecoach Wine Tours.

They picked us up from our B&B and took us to 4 different wineries throughout the Santa Ynez Valley.

Sanford Winery

At Mosby Winery we bought a bottle of Ossessione Montepulciano.  It was a delicious red that had hints of maple and red currant fruit.

Mosby Winery 

We finished off the wonderful day with a lunch on the terrace of Rusack Winery overlooking the beautiful view. 

After a long and tipsy day of wine tasting we had a great dinner at the Mirabelle Restaurant. It was located right in our B&B. 

Holiday Gift Giving, Day 4. The Jetsetter

Holiday Gift Giving, Day 4. The Jetsetter

Leather Tote Bag

Go Clean Laundry Bag

Ultra Thin Travel Speakers

Corgi Cashmere Colorblock Socks

Cashmere Travel Blanket

In-Flight Essential Storage Pack

Personalized Leather Luggage Tags

Travel Humidifier

Henribendel Travel Adaptor

Leather Passport Cover

Faux Fur Neck Roll

Take only memories, leave only footprints

Last week my family and I went on our annual vacation to Watch Hill, R.I. It's a charming little beach town filled with endless lobster rolls, clam chowder and beautiful beaches. I have been coming here every summer since I was about 8 years old. There is something to say about returning year after year to the same place. You yourself change each year but the surroundings remain the same. It's a comforting feeling that brings me back to the carefree days of my childhood. This year was particularly special to me, as it was the first year I brought my daughter, Harper, who is 9 months old. I got a little emotional as I carried her on the beach for the first time and saw her eyes light up when she saw the vast ocean in front of her. Needless to say, she had the time of her life playing in the sand and dipping her tiny toes in the waves. I also had a wonderful time spending the week with my family all together; something that seems to get harder and harder to do as we all get older and our lives busier.