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Month: March 2016

Themes to Remember

Posted on by Admin General

The choice of a theme is an important part of every great dinner party. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the first step in your planning, but it is a cornerstone that will influence every other aspect, from the food to the décor. Sometimes a theme is defined by the event itself, like Thanksgiving, Halloween or Independence Day. Other times, finding a fresh approach can take a bit of brainstorming.

If an event isn’t tied to a specific holiday, I always look to my surroundings and the season for inspiration. The right flowers and color scheme can combine for an elegant and simple concept. A few years ago, we had an enormous hydrangea bush in full bloom outside my home in the Hamptons. I was so inspired by the color of the deep, dark, royal purple flowers that I centered a dinner party menu and tabletop design around it. My guests were delighted and everyone went home with a bouquet.

Sometimes, collaborating with a chef, or playing around with menu options, can bring about a common thread that will serve as your motif. For example, if a menu circles around foods from the French countryside, a blue and yellow tabletop with ceramic roosters and rustic flowers feels natural and authentic.

When planning a large gala or an elaborate birthday party, a multi-layered theme that’s innovative and fun will help guests get in the mood. The “Groovy Sixties” of the Austin Powers films is one of my favorites and I’ve used this theme many times for gatherings large and small. The 1960s are renowned for psychedelic colors, go-go dancers, and Twiggy-inspired clothing, giving friends lots of easy costume opportunities—and scattering the tables with sets of false teeth just like Austin’s lets everyone join in for fun photo ops! Look to other famous films—or the classic books that have inspired them (like The Great Gatsby or The Wizard of Oz) for themes that everyone will enjoy taking part in.

With a great theme there are endless ways to get your guests in the party mood. And don’t be afraid to recycle a theme—just be sure the same guests aren’t in attendance! 

Spring into Healthy Habits with these Five Tips

Posted on by Admin General

March is National Nutrition Month, a great time to get motivated and re-focus on those New Year’s resolutions. Here are five tips to help you stay on track.

 1. Eat What You Love.

All foods can fit into a healthy diet, so long as you use the common-sense principles of BMA: Balance, Moderation, and Assortment.

Balance eating for enjoyment with eating for nourishment. For this reason, I have a smoothie almost every morning for breakfast. It insures I start my day well-nourished and satisfied.

Moderation is key. While my smoothies are absolutely delicious and I’m tempted to drink the entire blender-full, I keep my eye on portion control. Too much of even a good thing is simply too much.

Assortment is what keeps me on track. I alternate between my favorite smoothies during the week (chocolate chia, pear avocado, coconut cranberry, and blueberry), and I try at least one new recipe every week; or I’ll make the Apple-a-Day cereal that my family loves. Sundays are my fun days! Knowing I’ve done well all week, I can enjoy two small apple cider donuts at the greenmarket with my cordatido, have the delicious blueberry bars featured in Hamptons Entertaining, or indulge in my favorite brunch dish—spicy grits and shrimp—at The Colony Hotel

2. Practice Kaizen.

Kaizen is the Japanese word for “improvement” and is often used to describe the process of continuous improvement. I first heard the word at a lecture given by renowned life coach Annharriet Buck. She explained the practice of Kaizen as taking baby steps, constantly moving toward your goals, and suggested that changes made slowly and mindfully stick! From small dietary tweaks to actually taking real steps, begin slowly and continuously. Improvement will happen naturally. I recently purchased the UP2 Jawbone and started tracking my steps. After the New Year, I began with a goal of 5,000 steps per day and now I’m up to 10,000! It just happened. Physical activity is a very important part of becoming a healthier you.

3. Get Your “Numbers” Checked Regularly.

Recently, I had my cholesterol and sugar levels checked on a Sunday. I then spent the entire week eating a whole-food, plant-based diet. (It’s wonderful from a healthful, environmental, and ethical standpoint, but admittedly takes a lot of focus!) I upped my daily movement substantially, too. Yes, I felt great, but on the following Sunday when I had my “numbers” checked again I was astounded! My total cholesterol went down by 11 points and my glucose levels dropped by 13! Keeping a close eye on your “numbers” helps make sure you’re not at risk of or suffering from any chronic conditions and it can be a motivator to stay the course.

4. Sleep Well.

Getting a good night’s sleep is a must. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can lead to overeating and we all know that it can play havoc on our moods. Better sleep may mean less yet better eating and putting good habits in place before bedtime can help you get there. No mindlessly flipping through Instagram, answering email, or even watching Netflix an hour before sleep. Screen time can play havoc with your body’s production of melatonin. Getting to bed the same time every night is a challenge for me, so with my new UP2 I set a sleep alarm for an hour before bedtime. It prompts me to start shutting down my devices and begin my bedtime routine. After nearly three months of practice (kaizen!), I begin winding down almost immediately when my alarm buzzes.

5. Meditate.

Begin a practice that works for you and fits into your schedule. It is so hard to resist reaching for that glowing iPhone the second my eyes open in the morning, so I’ve trained myself to mediate first, hydrate next, and then start my day. When I begin my morning this way, I’m calmer and feel more in control of everything. There are many ways to meditate and all have been shown to help with everything from stress levels to insomnia and boosting overall happiness. Meditation can also help with food cravings.

These simple tips can put you on the path to better health and well-being—one step at a time.

Irish Mule Cocktails & Green Tables in Celebration of St. Patrick

Posted on by Admin General

The annual celebration of Ireland and its patron saint arrives each year on March 17th. For me, this brings back fond memories of attending the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City with my family, wearing green bows in my hair and having brunch at the Metropolitan Club, where we would later climb out onto the window sills to catch the last few moments of the parade. It was the one day of the year that we feasted on corned beef and cabbage, potatoes in a dizzying array of presentations and lots of dessert. The buffet was endless and the food coloring would turn our lips and tongues green, transforming us all into magical leprechauns. 

Since living in Palm Beach I haven’t gotten back to see the parade in many years, and the Metropolitan Club, sadly, no longer offers brunch in its beautiful west lounge, a ballroom out of the Gilded Age. Instead, I’ve hosted many gatherings—in school and at our home—for my daughters and their friends. Now that the girls are both away at college, I’m thinking of hosting a small dinner—not because I love green clover–covered crafts or recipes with green dye; those things don’t inspire me much. My motivation is that some dear friends, who happen to be Irish, have just moved quite close to us and this will be their first St. Patrick’s Day in Florida. For me, that’s a great reason to go green.

As Carolyn Roehm says, inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere. In addition to wanting to host our friends, I recently found these wonderful plates at a local Tuesday Morning shop, and they encouraged me to revisit an old post on Carolyn’s blog, where she features a table set in various shades of green on a striped tablecloth. It’s as lovely as I recall. I adore the tablecloth and will certainly go to my local remnant shop for a similar (and less expensive) version. I’m dreaming of the perfect floral arrangement: white calla lilies, long stalks of bells of Ireland, and hydrangeas—a combination that will be a beautiful ode to Ireland with a little Hamptons Entertaining thrown in.

There will be no shamrocks or leprechauns on this table: the effect will be something festive yet sophisticated. I’ll welcome guests with an Irish mule recipe I discovered at the Hard Rock Cafe, have some Celtic music playing in the background, and serve a creative, healthful take on few popular Irish dishes—I’m all set! To add a touch of whimsy to the evening, I pulled out some boas and beads left over from a Mardi Gras party I hosted, and I willbutton my guest as they arrive with a “Kiss Me I’m Irish” pin—it’s like mistletoe at Christmas and all in good fun.

Buttery Cucumber Soup

Posted on by Admin General

Over the summer, when my vegetable garden delivered an overabundance of cucumbers, we enjoyed them in myriad ways. We included them in our salads, of course, and added slices to our water pitcher: the pale green cucumbers floating in the pitcher looked so inviting and the flavor was really refreshing on a hot summer’s day. I had fun creating cucumber cups for all kinds of hors d’oeuvres, stuffing them with fish roe, salmon and crème fraiche, and the Hamptons Cucumber Cups with Crab Meat featured in Hamptons Entertaining. Cucumber juice made its way into a few cocktails and smoothies, and I pickled quite a few cukes in salt water (for our Polish Pickle Soup). Finally, we enjoyed this buttery cucumber soup that gets its creamy texture from avocados.  

Here in Florida, avocado season ended later than usual this year. Perhaps it was the unseasonably warm weather. So when a friend dropped off a basketful of locally grown, rich, buttery avocados, I happily pulled this recipe out! Low fat, vegetarian (when you leave off the yogurt garnish) and delicious hot or cold, it is the perfect soup for post-holiday eating.

Yield: Makes 8 cups