What are you reading this summer?

I feel like I’m on a roll. The last few books I’ve read have been winners! The summer’s less hectic schedule allows more time to read~~especially if we are stuck inside due to triple digit heat. I have fond memories of having “reading hour” every afternoon when the children were little. I would pick 3 books that we would read aloud as a family during those summer months. Reading has always been a priority for us.

Here are the books I have read and the ones I plan to read:

A Gentleman in Moscow….by Amor Towles. My friend, Janie, recommended it and let me borrow her book. I typically read on my Kindle so it took me a while to realize that on a real book I couldn’t look up the definition of a word by simply tapping on it! I loved this book so much that I instantly downloaded his first novel, Rules of Civility.

If you’ve read The Girl on the Train, this is the second book from Paula Hawkins, entitled Into the Water. Of course I like anything to do with water, but there is a darker, deeper mystery to this one.

The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe takes place in the Carolina Low country on the Isle of Palms. Sweetly written, especially if you like loggerhead turtles.

This book was featured in Coastal Living’s summer reading list, The Book of Summer by Michelle Gable. I was drawn to the cover…who doesn’t like hydrangeas and a blue bike? The setting takes place in New England (love!). It took me a while to get around some of the language (not a big obscenity fan) and some of her political comments, but plowed ahead and rather enjoyed it.

John Grisham‘s latest novel is Camino Island. He is a masterful best-selling author. I have enjoyed each one of his books and this one promises to be a page turner. Love the mystery, intrigue and the beach setting.

The Little French Bistro is the first book I have read by Ms. Nina George and I absolutely LOVED it! I found myself wanting French food and wine throughout. I liked this so much that I am in the process of reading her other book, The Little Paris Bookshop.

Barbara Hinske is a DEAR friend and neighbor. She’s just remarkable~~a successful lawyer, wife, mother and now author. Her historical home here in Phoenix is stunning. I suspect the fictional estate in her series, Rosemont, is based on inspiration from her own beautiful home. She has 4 books in the Rosemont series, and I recommend you start with the first one and go from there, as each novel builds upon the last. I just read her 4th book, Bringing Them Home. Reading Barbara’s books is comforting ~~like curling up on your favorite chair~~there’s mystery, love, deceit, a fabulous home, fine linens, silver. What’s not to like?

The Summer House by Hanna McKinnon is based on a multi-generational family summer home in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. We used to travel to New England every summer to visit my parents and Watch Hill is one of our favorite destinations. So this book felt very familiar and takes you through the challenges and personalities of a large extended family vacationing together.

What happens when you start a book and just can’t seem to get in sync with the author? I think I am finally at an age when I don’t feel I have to finish every book I’ve started. I give it 50 pages and if it’s not working for me, I move on.

When I love an author I read everything they write. Here is a list of some of my favorites.

David Baldacci. Since my son attends the University of Virginia, I have discovered this UVA alum author. His detective/thriller settings tend to be in Virginia and reading his novels makes me feel closer to my Benjamin 🙂

Kate Morton writes about historical fiction and mystery. Her last book, The Lake House was released in 2o15 and I am anxiously awaiting her next book.

Jon Krakauer. I had nightmares after reading Under the Banner of Heaven...but he’s such a great author, especially if you like narrative non-fiction.

Last spring we had a fundraiser here at Bella Terra and Rhys Bowen was our guest speaker. Since then, I have read everything (historical spy mysteries) she has written. To see more on that event, please click here.

Jennifer Weiner. Her last adult book was released in 2015 and I am awaiting something new from her. Jennifer writes fiction, often replicating events or challenges in her own life~~witty, humorous and contemporary.

Diana Gabaldon and the Outlander books and Outlander television series, are an absolute favorite. There are 8 books in the Outlander book series with a ninth one coming. If you are looking for a reading commitment, this is it.

What are you reading this summer? Is there a book you absolutely LOVE and want to share?

Happy Reading!

Battling Candle Wax

Yes, it’s true that the temperatures in Phoenix have been well over 100. On Tuesday, it was 117 degrees here at Bella Terra. Fine week I picked to stay home, schedule as many appointments and meetings possible and do household chores. However, I must admit I do like summer in Phoenix, as long as I can escape occasionally and the air conditioner is working. There is less traffic and an easier pace around town. A good time to buckle down and complete projects that have been unfinished or just left unattended.

Like this one. It’s my own fault. After hastily removing candles from a table, the warm wax spilled all over my tablecloth. This is a special table cloth. It was purchased during our first trip to Italy over 20 years ago and every time I use it, I am transported back to that piazza filled with flowers and peddlers selling their wares.

This table cloth is a combination of linen, cross-stitch and crochet. I use it often because it has sweet memories and feels a bit retro and homespun.

I have tried this wax removal strategy a few times to ensure it works (plus I happen to spill a lot of candle wax) before I decided to share it with you.

All you need is a dull knife, an ironing board, a hot iron and some paper bags.

First scrape off and remove the excess wax. I used a simple bread and butter knife in order to prevent cutting or tearing the fabric.

Having many Trader Joe bags, I cut these into sections to lay flat. Make sure the unprinted side is closest to the fabric.

Sandwich the tablecloth between two sections of the paper bag on the ironing board, making sure you are over the wax area.

With a very hot iron, “press” the bag and “melt” the wax. The paper bag will absorb the remaining wax and draw it away from the fabric.

You can see the wax melting and staining the paper bag. Keep moving to cleaner sections of the bag over the wax, until all the wax is melted and absorbed.

Make sure you do not keep the iron in one place too long. Even though the paper bag acts as a barrier between the iron and the tablecloth, the high heat could scorch the fabric.

After all the wax is removed, I washed the tablecloth in cold water, in a delicate cycle with a non-harsh detergent (Ivory Snow, for example) and then I always line dry my finer linens. The sun acts as a whitener and there is nothing better than the fresh smell of items dried outside in a natural breeze! And this time of year, they dry in no time!

If you don’t have a clothesline, then you can easily lay the tablecloth on the grass to dry.

I also tried this method on an exterior stone slab. Remember when I cleaned up and remodeled my upstairs terrace? See the post here. In adding the two lanterns on the fireplace hearth, I used real wax candles inside. What was I thinking? Yep, the heat melted them and the wax puddled on the slate hearth.

I used the paper bags to soak up what was still in liquid form; used a dull knife to scrape off the rest. Then I dragged my iron outside and used the same technique as stated above. Low and behold, it worked!!!

In my opinion, there is nothing better than candle light to create a certain ambiance. Now, when I sloppily spill candle wax, I am confident I can remedy the situation. Another tablecloth saved!

Fun Watermelon Facts-and a few favorite recipes

Is there any other fruit that conjures up such joy and happiness? Summer and picnics? Watermelon is always an invited guest. They are refreshing and sweet and when chilled, they provide a fun way to combat the heat. Can you find an easier dessert than watermelon?

Most people believe that watermelon is only made up of water and sugar, however, it is actually considered to be a nutrient dense food. It has a high amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for a low amount of calories. According to an article in the Medical News Today:

One cup of diced watermelon (152 grams) contains 43 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of carbohydrates (including 9 grams of sugar) and 1 gram of fiber. One cup of watermelon will provide 17% of vitamin A, 21% of vitamin C, 2% of iron and 1% of calcium needs for the day.

Watermelon also contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, choline, lycopene and betaine. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, watermelon contains more lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable.

Despite being a great source of the above nutrients, watermelon is made up of 92% water.

Along with cantaloupe and honeydew, watermelons are a member of the botanical family Cucurbitaceae. There are five common types of watermelon: seeded, seedless, mini (also known as personal), yellow and orange.

Now I feel much better about sharing this next recipe, because it is delicious and healthy! As you know, I am a BIG fan of Monique from Ambitious Kitchen, everything from her food philosophy to her fabulous recipes. She is also part of the Healthy Glow team which I wrote about in a previous post. This concoction, her Skinny Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita has become my summer cocktail~~and it’s easy to double, triple or quadruple the recipe. It’s not too sweet, but light and refreshing.

You can control the heat of the jalapeno, depending on your personal preference. And look at that beautiful color!!

I have tried different combinations of rim coatings~~ from just coarse salt, to salt/organic sugar mix and the Mexican flavoring, Tajin Classic Seasoning.

My second, rather fun, recipe involving watermelon is a Vietnamese-style salad that makes a refreshing accompaniment to any kind of barbecue meat. Originally this recipe, Cucumber and Watermelon Salad with Hoisin-Lime Dressing, appeared in Bon Appetit in July 2002 in their Flavors of the World article.

With 7 simple and fresh ingredients, this salad is so easy to make. Start with cubes of watermelon and English cucumbers.

Mix them together and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes and up to 4 hours. Drain and discard the liquid that will accumulate.

In the meantime, make the dressing and chop the fresh herbs and dry-roasted peanuts.

Toss all together and garnish with the nuts.

Enjoy the recipes (click on the recipe names in the bold links above) and explore with using watermelon in different recipes. There is actually a website that focuses strictly on watermelon~~recipes, nutritional value and you even get to meet the 2017 National Watermelon Queen..who knew? You can find it all here.

DIY Girls’ Night Out

My friend and neighbor, Dawn, invited me to a spontaneous DIY Girls’ Night Out at Porter Barn Wood in Phoenix. I have to chuckle because I don’t believe I’ve ever gone on a Girls’ Night Out. I am so swamped that when I do have a moment, I tend to spend it here at Bella Terra. But, Dawn is such a spectacular person with a large heart and the event, which included making a sign, sounded quite fun.

Here is the adorable young family behind Porter Barn Wood. Thomas is a woodworker, metalworker, and plays in a Bluegrass band. They provide reclaimed wood, slab lumber, antiques, and many other things as well as provide woodworking, milling, blacksmithing and just about anything you need. Plus they have classes that include creating a barn wood wall to dinner and bluegrass concerts ( events calendar).

With the popularity of barn wood doors and the farm house style, this is the place to go. They own this facility in downtown Phoenix and the event was held here last Friday night.

When we arrive, The Coronado, a restaurant located on N. 7th Street, was serving wine and appetizers while we made our signs. This restaurant specializes in vegetarian and vegan dishes but with a Cordon Bleu spin.

In typical “barn” like fashion, the wine was served in mason jars….love that! The roasted veggies, hummus and homemade tortilla chips were delicious (and healthy)!

Porter Barn Wood made the frames and the background wood was painted white. We sat at picnic tables awaiting instruction.

After peeling off the back side of the stencil, we carefully centered it on our frames.

We then peeled off the front clear material, exposing the stencil to be painted. We were able to choose the colors we wanted and applied the acrylic paint with foam brushes.

Dawn chose a gray paint for part of her stencil and then gold for the rest.

While our signs dried, dinner was served. Instead of renting long tables with white table cloths, Thomas decided that morning (!) to plane down large reclaimed trees and created 3 16 foot lengths of wood to make the tables. The smell of fresh cut wood and the beauty of the tree-tables made dinner extra special (and I believe these tables are for sale!).

Dinner was amazing. Liam Murtagh, one of the owners of The Coronado, introduced each course and gave the history behind all the ingredients. The first course was a beautifully presented Farm Salad utilizing ingredients from local farms (arugula from Blue Sky Organic Farms; radishes from Agave Farms, tangelos from FarmYard) with a black pepper agave vinaigrette.

The main course was Mashed Garlic Potatoes under a Tepary (heirloom) Bean Croquette with Rosemary Roasted Tomatoes and a Vegan Demi Glas.

Of course we had a different wine with each course while listening to a fabulous solo artist Hannah Risley, a talented 18-year old singer and guitarist.

I am still dreaming about dessert. Who knew that vegan/vegetarian food could be so delicious? We had a Mesquite Flour Snickerdoodle with dark chocolate with Aqua Faba meringue (this was so delicious I wanted to lick my plate) with Candied Hibiscus.

During dinner we had the chance to sit near and chat with two wonderful young women~~~all in all, it was a spectacular way to spend a Friday night with a sweet friend. Also, I was so impressed with Thomas and Liam, as young business owners who are so passionate about what they are doing. They are such a great addition to our growing downtown area.

Plus I got to take home my very own sign! Maybe this Girls’ Night Out thing is worth pursuing!!!!

Thank you, Dawn, for inviting me!

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Love is in the Air

I wanted to make something for my husband and the wonderful crew I have at the Willetta restoration. One of my husband’s favorite desserts is homemade cherry pie. I did think about making a whole one but we’ve been trying to eat healthy since the first of the year and I knew a huge pie would be a bad, albeit delicious temptation for both of us.

So I decided to keep the theme but on a smaller scale. In a previous post, I shared my favorite pie crust recipe–which is super easy to make (especially in a Cuisinart). After letting the pie crust dough chill, I rolled it out and found the largest heart-shaped cookie cutter I had.

I added canned (partially groaning here) cherry pie filling. Normally I like fresh cherries but they are not in season so sometimes you need to improvise.

I wet the edges of the heart with water and added another heart-shaped dough piece. A small fork served as the perfect tool for sealing the edges.

Next, I brushed the surface with an egg wash (just scrambled an egg) and then pricked the dough for air vents.

Baking was a bit of a challenge because I wasn’t sure how long~~but I set the oven to 375 degrees and started at 10 minutes. I kept adding time in increments of 3 minutes so my total cook time, in a convection oven, was approximately 20 minutes. Depending on the size of your cutter, my pie crust dough recipe made 9 4″x4″ hearts. Lastly, I sprinkled the tops with sugar (used King Arthur’s Sparkling White Sugar).

I’m getting ready to run these down to the job site~~a small sweet surprise for my dedicated crew. Happy Valentine’s Day!

If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love. Maya Angelou

A Winter Salad Favorite (and The Store is Officially Open!)

It’s been such a learning curve to understand the concept of selling online. However, we are HOPING that all the bugs have been worked out and that shopping on our site will be easy and fun. Nearly all of the items are one-of-a-kind so if you love it, purchase it quickly! To start shopping, please go to the Store tab at the top of the Life at Bella Terra website. If you have ANY problems or questions, please contact us immediately. To see the original story of 2 Connecticut Yankees, click here.

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Here is one of my favorite winter salad recipes (by Pinch of Yum). Pomegranates grow well here in Phoenix and they are the perfect addition to any dish this time of year because of the vibrant, red color of the juicy, gem-like seeds. Some stores offer the seeds already extracted from the fruit. If you purchase them this way, make sure they are fresh. I like getting the fruit and taking the seeds out myself. If you extract the seeds over a bowl of water, the seeds will sink to the bottom and the paper-like inner fruit membrane will float. Just skim that off and drain the seeds!

The ingredients include: kale, walnuts, feta cheese, wild rice and pomegranates.

I like Uncle Ben’s Ready Whole Grain Medley which is a combination of brown and wild rice. It’s pre-cooked and ready to use after 90 seconds in the microwave. Easy peasy. Though the recipe calls for baby kale, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen baby kale available here. I used regular kale and combined the green and red leafy kale for color. The different textures and colors of the ingredients allow for a beautiful display before tossing.

The dressing is a subtle combination of shallots, honey, olive oil and vinegar. The only labor is the chopping of the shallots. The rest of the ingredients are easily combined in a blender or food processor.

This salad would also be perfect with a piece of grilled salmon or chicken on top. The wild rice makes this a heartier salad that would stand up well with a protein addition. Isn’t this a pretty and festive salad?

We served this last night at an event at our home, along with my turkey chili and cornbread (doctored up with kernels of corn, cheese and diced green chiles). It was the perfect simple, cozy meal for friends. I’m all about easy and simple this time of year!

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