We are headed to the mountains for the holiday next week. Even though the cabin is comfortable, it doesn’t have all the dishes or entertaining items I have here at Bella Terra.

Therefore, I need to plan ahead and determine what I can work with. What’s so nice about mountain life is that it is less formal and entertaining is often spontaneous.

Today I experimented with a patriotic cheese board. We tend to have most of these items in our refrigerator so throwing it together doesn’t require a lot of planning or work.

Start with any large platter or cutting board. My family bought these beautiful handmade wooden boards for my birthday a few years back and I just love them. They are too pretty to cut on so I generally use them to display appetizers.

I like a combination of meat, cheese, fruits, vegetables, nuts, olives, pickles and various crackers.

Any kind of salami or prosciutto is an easy add. It’s all in the presentation so I will neatly stack or roll the meat.

The vegetables can be made attractive by slicing them in various ways. Here I have strategically cut off the cucumber peel, which provides a nice look to the edge.

I liked this idea so much for the holidays that I borrowed it from Amanda Gluck from Fashionable Hostess~~simply cutting some of the cheese into star shapes. I ordered the cutters from Amazon and now have more star shape cutters than I need!

I would suggest using either a thickly sliced cheese. Pre-cut cheese slices are a bit too thin.

The board has a combination of white cheddar, yellow cheddar and goat cheese. Tomatoes are from the garden. Red strawberries and blueberries add a bit of flag colors.

Be creative and use what you have~~cheese sticks or breadsticks would add some height; nuts fill in the empty spots too!

What will you be serving for the July 4th holiday?

I cannot believe it has been nearly a month since I last posted. But as you know from my previous post, I’m in a bit of a transition and taking a step back for re-evaluation. Thank you so much for your kind words of support and encouragement!!

However, I’ve missed you! I thought I would send you a note today to let you know what I’ve been up to.

The general rule of thumb is when the temperature reaches 100 degrees, it is officially summer here. Due to the long, cool and rainy Spring we had, the garden is so abundant!

My tomatoes are FABULOUS! Every day, I go and collect a basketful of various ones-from cherry to pear, to Early Girl and am still waiting for the beefsteaks to ripen.

The peaches this year were so good, we had to fight the birds for them.

A few years back we planted two apricot trees and finally have the best apricots ever! They are small but so flavorful.

The garden has been providing daily gifts of zucchini, spaghetti squash, grapes and fresh herbs.

If you are looking for the easiest salad EVER, please try this one. Simple ingredients consist of fresh tomatoes, apricots, mint, feta cheese, olive oil and salt and pepper. I did drizzle some thick aged balsamic on the top. I have been making and eating this salad every day. Click here for the recipe from Serious Eats.

On a personal note, my youngest daughter graduated from high school at the end of May. As a celebration gift, we took the whole family (plus friends) to St. Kitts for a vacation. St. Kitts is located in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. One side of St. Kitts is on the Atlantic; the other on the Caribbean. It was after high season and before hurricane season so we had timed it perfectly!

One of the highlights of the trip was TURNING OFF MY PHONE FOR A WEEK. It was glorious. My whole family was together and I was able to be focused on them and not be distracted with technology. Truly fabulous.

When I returned, I spent one week painting everyday. I was able to finish “my girl” and started on 2 new paintings. I will continue to doodle until they feel “done”.

I am trying to master an easy cherry pie recipe this summer (as it is my husband’s favorite). I attempted one but failed miserably (don’t use Trader Joe’s frozen cherries). The crust was good though! Once I achieve it, I will definitely share!

Coming soon: My summer reading and movie list are taking shape and will share with you next time!

Happy Summer my friends!

As the 145th annual Kentucky Derby occurs this weekend, we are celebrating with mint juleps and Derby Pie.

This is my first Derby pie and it was easy to make. The recipe describes it as a thick, gooey chocolate chip cookie meets a warm buttery pie for a heavenly and decadent Southern dessert.

Using a pre-made pie crust (I always use Trader Joe’s brand as I find it to be the best), fill a 9″ pie dish.

Line the bottom of the crust with semi-sweet chocolate chips and toasted pecans or walnuts (I used a combination of both).

Pour a mixture of eggs, sugar, flour, butter, bourbon, vanilla and salt over the chocolate and nuts.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes until set.

Let pie cool to room temperature and add Bourbon Whipped Cream on top.

Click Here for the pie recipe!

While I was making the pie, my son was making Mint Juleps. With 4 simple ingredients~~simple syrup, mint, bourbon and ice, you can make this Derby Day drink. Click here for the recipe.

Here are some fun facts that you may not know about the Kentucky Derby. 

Nineteen past winners have had names beginning with the letter “S,” including Secretariat, the fastest horse in Kentucky Derby history, who completed the 1973 race in just under two minutes.

The amount of food consumed at the Derby is pretty astounding. On average, spectators will eat 142,000 hot dogs, 18,000 barbecue sandwiches, 13,800 pounds of beef, 32,400 jumbo shrimp, 9,000 scallops, 8,000 pounds of potatoes, 30,000 cookies and 300,000 strawberries.

The traditional drink of the Derby is the mint julep and over 120,000 are said to be consumed at the race each year.

The Kentucky Derby trophy only weighs 3½ lbs.

The Derby is also referred to as ‘The Run for the Roses’ because the winner is awarded a blanket sewn with over 400 roses post-race. This blanket weighs about 40 lbs.

Over $150 million in wagers have been placed over the last several Kentucky Derby races.

I don’t know anything about horse racing but I’ve always wanted to attend the Kentucky Derby to wear a big hat! May the best horse and rider win!

In January 2006, I went to Mississippi as part of a work crew to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was a big ask to take 7 days away from my young family to volunteer, but my husband and children were supportive. The opportunity presented itself through our church and it felt like the right thing to do.

I was one of 12 volunteers and I didn’t know anyone before the trip. We all became fast friends and found joy in helping others.

Hearing they had a need for forklift drivers, I quickly got my license to operate one before my departure!

It was hard and dirty work. Each morning we would get our assignment, fill up the church van with rakes, chain saws, shovels and literally spend the entire day tearing out moldy drywall, or cleaning up someone’s property.

One of our first projects was to help gut someone’s home. It was 4 months after the hurricane and black mold had set in. All their drywall needed removing. The property owner was so grateful and thankful for our work it made my heart burst.

She was in tears and had nothing to give us except a King Cake. I had never heard of a King Cake but we happily accepted it (as the food at the school where we slept was minimal). I am unable to locate a picture of all of us with this wonderful woman and her King Cake but it remains a fond memory of mine.

When I returned home to Phoenix, I was so moved by this incredible experience. Our work was simple, yet rewarding. Making a King Cake each year is now tradition in our home.

The King Cake is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870. A King Cake is an oval-shaped bakery delicacy, crossed between a coffee cake and a French pastry that is as rich in history as it is in flavor.

It’s decorated in royal colors of PURPLE which signifies “Justice,” GREEN for “Faith,” and GOLD for “Power.” These colors were chosen to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany. A naked baby is hidden inside the cake and whoever finds it received a year of good luck and is treated as royalty for that day.

The ingredients are rather simple, but it does take some time to prepare the dough, let it rise and then decorate it. Typically I would take you step by step with a new recipe but I will just highlight a few or this would be a really LONG post.

After you make the dough, turn out on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.

Cover and let rise in a warm place free from drafts for 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size. I place my bowl on a chair in front of the fireplace.

After punching the dough down and dividing into two parts, roll out the dough into a large rectangle. Spread softened butter on the dough and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll the dough, jelly roll fashion starting at the long side. Don’t forget to add the baby!

Bring ends together and form an oval ring. Cover and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in size.

After baking, ice the cake and add the colorful sprinkles. Be sure to add the sprinkles quickly or the icing dries and they will not stick.

I add Mardi Gras beads and coins to make it festive! King Cake is generally available between the Epiphany (January 6th) and Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday (which is the day before Lent). If you don’t want to make your own, check with your local bakery to see if it is available.

I hope you will try this recipe and make King Cake a family tradition.

King Cake Recipe from 1990 Southern Living ~~ makes 2 cakes

https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/traditional-king-cake

The time between Christmas and the New Year is an interesting one.  I love having less cars on the road, a fluid schedule, and more time with my family. The house is a bit messy but I don’t really care. As this year closes and a new one is ready to begin, it is a good time to reflect on the last 12 months. I am guilty of sometimes thinking ahead, and not spending that necessary time to ponder on what has been.

Here are some of the highlights of 2018:

Entertaining

Most of what we do for entertaining is simple, spontaneous, come on over for drinks and nibbles.  But having scheduled, more formal events forces us to clean a bit deeper, tackle the projects we’ve postponed, and step things up a notch.

It is always such an honor to host a charitable event, where people have a wonderful time for a good cause.  In March, we had our second Afternoon Tea with New York Times Bestselling Author Rhys Bowen. We get to play dress up with our hats and nibble on civilized food, gather with friends all while helping others.

In the spring, our property is at its best.  Flowers are blooming, the trees have their spring buds and the weather is generally perfect.  Hosting Junior Prom for my daughter and her 20 friends, was as much fun for me as it was for them.

Perhaps one of my most favorite events is Valentine’s Day.  We are at an age where we don’t do much as a couple, but having a small group of good friends for a lovely sit-down dinner is just perfect. I tried something different with the table setting and the effect was magical.

Recipes

I tried some new recipes this year ~~ Key Lime Pie, Lemon Pots de Creme, Madeleines and a gingerbread house.

Before and After

As some of you requested, I posted more Before and After pictures of Bella Terra, including the master bedroom, wine cellar, kitchen, library, mudroom, my girls’ bedrooms and the exterior renovation.

Organization Projects

Each year I try and reorganize some cluttered area of the house (there are MANY), and was able to improve both the Butler’s Pantry, the kitchen pantry, and the mud/laundry room.

Personal Achievements

Yes, there were a few milestones this year~~our son’s graduation from college and the beginning of his professional career.

However, I do not miss assembling Ikea furniture at his apartment in Washington, D.C.!

My Willetta house restoration finally sold and the family kindly invited us to their holiday open house. It is such a gift to know this family loves all the hardwork and attention to detail we put into restoring this grand old dame.

All in all, 2018 was a good one for us.  Some years aren’t so gentle, but we are basking in the glow of this one.

Personally, I couldn’t have continued writing this blog without you, my subscribers.  Just when I am feeling discouraged, someone has a generous compliment or comments about a recent post.  I know in this busy world it is difficult to find time to sit down and read about life around here, but I so dearly appreciate it when you do.

As always, I look forward to your comments and criticisms.  With feedback I can only get better. As the year comes to a close, I send you my biggest hugs and lots of quiet, loving moments for your and your family. Thank you for your continuing support and friendship!

P.S. I didn’t provide links to the various blog posts mentioned above, but if you are interested in any topic you can enter it in the search bar.

With only a few minutes to spare between finalizing recipes and last minute shopping, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas!  Since we are having our big dinner tonight, here is our holiday table. Photos haven’t been edited, but hopefully you will enjoy them anyway!

I almost ALWAYS do a white table cloth, but this year I added placemats given to me last year by my friend, Connie. The design reminds me of a New England snow scene.

Once again, I am using my silver beaded chargers. The napkin ring is from Pottery Barn – a simple velvet ribbon and silver bells. Napkins are from Ballard Designs.

Since I only have 6 napkin rings and we are having dinner for 8, I used a wired red ribbon for the settings on the ends of the table.

The dishes are the Reindeer pattern from Pottery Barn.

Behind each chair has a ribboned wreath from Ballard Design (as shown in my last blog post).

I have refreshed the flowers in the silver mint julep cups with white tulips and roses.

Candles and votives complete the ambiance.

Dinner tonight will be individual beef Wellingtons, roasted root vegetables, and a salad.  For dessert, I am making a mocha and raspberry trifle from a 1998 Bon Appetite recipe.

Lastly, this is the VERY first time I have made a gingerbread house from scratch.  I used a Martha Stewart template for a log cabin and baked each of the sections.  I had such fun doing this, maybe because I love renovating homes.

The chimney is covered in pecans, while the roof tiles are mini Hershey chocolates and York Peppermint patties. Gingersnaps make up the border fence and walkway.  Hershey kisses top the roofline.

Graham crackers mimic shutters on the yellow cellophane window panes.  My snowman is made up of 3 snowball cookies.

He even has a carrot for a nose!

My husband added lights and the control box is tucked in the back of the house.

I’m dashing off to do some last minute shopping! Have a glorious day!