Rio de los Brazos de Dios

The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers (translated as "The River of the Arms of God") is located about 2 hours northwest of Dallas.  It is the longest river in Texas!  

We did the 20 mile over night trip.  You can contact Rochelle's to run the shuttle for you.  Also, if you don't have canoes you can rent them.  

It was a pretty exciting trip since I had never paddled my own boat alone, or camped overnight more than a few feet from the car.  The river was about 8 inches higher than normal, which was perfect.  We didn't have to portage at all.  Apparently, there are times where you walk more than paddle.  {NO THANKS} 

All in all it was fun.  We did have a really first windy day and it was pretty miserable.  So check the weather!  Make sure the water is up and the wind is down.  The second day was beautiful!    

We will be going back!​

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How to Eat Crawfish: Eat, Drink + Be Merry.

For those attending any crawfish (mud bugs) boils soon, I thought a quick guide would be handy so no time is wasted.  Cold bugs, not on our watch!  I "borrowed" this tutorial from the Eat Drink & Be Merry website.    

theBocketStore: Creating a modern new look and life to vintage pieces.

​oh lord. these are amazing.  Sarah Bocket is the creator of these little beauties.  She salvages wooden vessels (not small) from varying sources, cleans and polishes them, and then hand-paints every one of these little dots with a tiny little paintbrush.  

You can buy them here.  Or at Renegade Craft Fair : June 22+23 : East River State Park : Brooklyn, NY.  They are so pretty!

True Southerner Cosmo Quiz!

I meet people all the time claiming to be Southern.  Being a Southerner myself I just nod politely and smile.  So I thought, I should make a visual "Cosmo" quiz just to help people determine just how Southern they are!    ​

Circle the items you have IN YOUR house.  See the results below.​

1 - 4  ​Bless your heart.  Thanks for playing!

4 - 7 You got a real chance at having some heritage. 

7 - 10 ​You didn't even play cause you know your Southern, and you got stuff to do.

Just kidding!  Any and all of these items in your home make you a Great Southerner! ​

wedding favor fever

Oh gosh!  How do you choose!  Well, its easy..  Who are you?  What do you do?  What do you like?  Yummy little jams and jellies!  Shots of tangy booze.  Just make it personal and share your likes and loves with your guests.  Here are some of my favorite..ahem, starting with our own.  

POSH hearts us.

TABLETOP TUESDAY: A NOD TO TRADITION

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

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Nice stems! Blue + White China meets its match with our Blue-Green Swirl Stem Glassware.

Oh, how we love blue and white. This traditional combo has made the rounds from head of state dinners and society functions to Mother's Day lunches. We love the idea of toasting our beloved matriarchs with this classic collection. 

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Don't stop with china and linens. Mom deserves the best seat in the house with our ivory chiavari chairs and tufted cushions.
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This is a gorgeous formal tablescape designed for the SMU Meadows Museum grand opening (read more about here). Opulent centerpieces and cut crystal chargers keep an air of luxury. For a more casual affair, keep the gorgeous glassware but switch out the linens and use rattan chargers. Any way you set the table with blue and white china is bound to be a crowd-pleaser.

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Our Lily Sorbet Server gets prime seating atop Blue + White China, Hand Cut Crystal Charger, and Michelangelo Flatware.

Design, Marin Fiske-Rankin for SMU Meadows Museum
Floral, Junior at The Garden Gate
China, Linens, Tabletop, Chairs, P.O.S.H. Couture Rentals
Photography, Tamytha Cameron Photography

the Quintessential Mint Julep

The Kentucky Derby and the Mint Julep is a rare convergence of sports and an extremely elegant libation.  It is truly the most exciting 2 minutes in sports.  We Kentuckians take the 2 minutes very seriously.  In fact we prepare for the day/week like a religion.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spend on primping and prepping for this day.  So don’t even think about making this drink without a hat and a proper frock.

The drink is so refreshing, and so potent make sure you collect all non-Kentucky folk’s car keys as they will not be able to handle all the sweet/bourbon-y goodness.  Proper is the point, so do it the traditional way. 

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First you need the right ingredients and the right gear. Try Maker's Mark or pricier small batch bourbon like Basil Hayden's. Brown sugar and fresh mint give the drink depth and freshness.

Pewter julep cups are classic but an Old Fashioned or highball glass will do the trick. A wooden muddler is a must for crushing mint. If you're really serious, buy a Lewis bag for crushing the ice.

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Crush 4 cups of ice.  Do not skip this step rookie!  In a pint glass or cocktail shaker, muddle 8 mint leaves and a teaspoon of brown sugar.  Or you can make a mint infused simple syrup in advance.  Whatever the case may be. Add 2 ounces of bourbon and stir. Pack a julep cup with ice until overflowing. Strain bourbon mixture into cup. Stir drink until the outside of the cup frosts.

Top with more ice, garnish with a fresh mint spring, and serve. 

Mint infused simple syrup:

In a small saucepan, combine sugar, 1 cup water, and mint stems. Place over medium heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool. Strain through a sieve. Syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.

Sources: Bon Appetit and Martha Stewart living.  Long live the Queen.

In honor of 139 Kentucky Derby

I am sad I will not be at the Derby this year!  However, I can sooth myself with one of these needlepoint flasks.  They are SO southern and SO Kentucky.  I can't decide which of these little beauties to order.  You can pick one up here.  

Word to the wise, you won't be able to get in the track with a flask!  ENJOY!

Bailey Doesn't Bark

I have written about Bailey Doesn't Bark before.  Re Jin's Mini series is pretty much sold out.  These little primitive pieces make me feel all emotional.  How can a little spotted spoon make you feel like you are wasting your life?  People have very little effect on me but I can barely look at these little spoons without crying.  Anyway, i love these little vessels.  

Tips to keep chickens cool!

Here in Texas we are quickly approaching Summer and that means you need to stock up on electrolytes for your girls.  Chickens will die if they are too hot.  If you see your chickens panting, they are too hot!  

Go ahead and offer them regular cold water, and another container of "chicken-aid".  I mix up a gallon every night before bed and keep it in the fridge. Here are some other tips to keep chickens cool!   

I let my chickens free range when its this hot, they know where they feel coolest(aka under the porch)  So I place water close to where they will be. Just walking around will over heat a hen, so don’t make them travel far for water.  I also have a box fan to keep air moving under there.  

In moderate weather a hen may drink a pint of water a day.  In hot weather, that amount nearly doubles.  Two pints a day X 6 hens = 12 pints people!!

Water EVERYWHERE: but don’t be thoughtless… a 5 gallon bucket of water is not the way to go.  If its not good for a toddler its not good for a chicken.  Keep  the bowls/pan shallow.

Shade: every animal should have plenty of shade to get into on hot days.

​Frozen water balloons make BIG ice cubes for waters.

​Frozen water balloons make BIG ice cubes for waters.

Ice in drinking water: keeps the drinking water cool and helps lower body temperature. Chickens don't like drinking hot water either!  You can freeze water balloons to make big ice cubes.  Just make sure they fit through the top.  

Wading pools: fill inexpensive kitty litter trays with water for chickens to wade in.  Refill and wash it out twice a day. (this can make a huge difference)

Frozen water bottles:
 chickens can lay against these to keep cool.  Use larger 2 liter or gallon jugs to last longer before needing refreezing.  Put a towel over them for chicks that are not fully feathered. (keep them away from your food, or keep them in plastic bags while in your freezer)

Fans: Fans can be used, but keep in mind the dangers of chickens and fan blades.  Also, make sure the chickens can get out of the wind if they want.  You are trying to keep them happy not torture them!

Misters: a mister is a system that shoots a fine mist of water into the air to cool the air.  This works best in dryer climates and can be used in the run, in a shady spot, or in the coop so long as you are aware that it might leak a bit and cause wet bedding.

Electrolytes: if a chicken suffering from heat becomes lethargic, treat with electrolytes.  Powdered electrolytes can be purchased from feed stores and veterinary suppliers.  Store bought electrolyte drinks can be used but have a high sugar content.  Pedialyte, found in the infant food aisle is better than Gatoraid because it is lower in sugar content.

​Watermelon:  ​Chickens love melon and it is a great way to keep them cool.  Just don't over feed them.  It is very messy.

Cool off the coop:​ ​Spray down the roof of the coop a few times a day if you can.  

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Puerto Rican Princess Soup

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When making Puerto Rican Princess soup you will need a 6-Quart Dutch oven.  

Ingredients 

1 yellow onion
2 scoops of minced garlic, or 3 minced garlic cloves
¼ cup of oil (use an organic olive oil blend with a high smoke point)
4 chopped carrots
2 chopped celery stalks
1 handful of sliced mushrooms
½ to 1 pound of Brussels sprouts cut into halves (depending on how sprout-y you like it)
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen green beans
1 quart of canned tomatoes or stewed tomatoes
1 quart of vegetable broth
½ teaspoon of red chili flakes
3 strings of fresh thyme
1 Bay leaf
½ tablespoon of marjoram or oregano
¾ cup of barley

Directions

First heat up the oil and add garlic, then add onions. 

Then add mushrooms, carrots, celery, Brussels sprouts.  Let these soften.  Pour in some of the vegetable broth to help steam them. 

Add the canned tomatoes wait a couple of minutes
Add the vegetable broth
Add peas and green beans
Add the chili flakes, thyme, bay leaf, marjoram or oregano

Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer for 25 minutes.  Add Barley and keep simmering until the barley is cooked through. 

Enjoy!

P.S. this is A LOT soup.  Also, if the barley takes over too much of the broth add more veggie broth..duh!  

Rico Black Tie 3.8.13

Spring sprung early at the Meadows with my latest black tie design in honor of Spanish painter Martín Rico y Ortega.  Thanks again to my wonderful staff and colleagues.  Nothing is possible without them.  

The Goodwin Project

This project is terribly interesting and I had to share. Click here for more details 

"A young family leaves their home on Kauai. It is time to return to the itinerant path from which all things in their uncommon lives come; beginning and ending on a remote dot in the Pacific. They nomadically trace continents to places where waves meet their edges, envoys of aloha. It is what they will learn, what they bring others, what they will pass on to their children in the hyper-expanded classroom, the lab of direct being; a legacy passed from a father to his family.

An adventure cannot be written before it happens so the film remains untitled until it unfolds. Together with a small film crew the Goodwins will document how they are changed by their travels, and the effect they have on their acquaintances, hosts, friends and ticket agents as they circumnavigate our planet, through 18 countries and four seasons. This is the story of their encounters with the world.

They step into the current faithfully, inquisitively, boldly and with good will."

Blue Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

So obviously I am a little obsessed with Eva’s blog.  I have been so distracted by these recipes!  I could not wait to try one out.

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1 and 1/4 Cups Cake Flour, sifted
1 and 1/4 Cups Ultra-Fine Sugar
11 Egg Whites, room temperature
1 and 1/2 Teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 and 1/2 Cups Blueberries, fresh not frozen

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Cream Cheese Frosting
10 tb butter, softened
16 oz cream cheese
3 cups powdered sugar
4 Teaspoon vanilla extract

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Blueberry Syrup
1 Cup Blueberries, fresh not frozen
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Water
1 Cup Blueberry Jam, good quality

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​This was SUPER easy to make.  Print out the letters on cardstock, cut them out, and sew them together.  Then tie the ends to bamboo skewers!  Viola adorable cake topper!

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Ingredients:

1 and 1/4 Cups Cake Flour, sifted
1 and 1/4 Cups Ultra-Fine Sugar
11 Egg Whites, room temperature
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 oz. Blue Food Coloring
1 and 1/2 Teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 and 1/2 Cups Blueberries, fresh not frozen

Cream Cheese Frosting
10 tb butter, softened
16 oz cream cheese
3 cups powdered sugar
4 Teaspoon vanilla extract

Blueberry Syrup
1 Cup Blueberries, fresh not frozen
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Water
1 Cup Blueberry Jam, good quality

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and the cocoa powder. In a large bowl, beat together the egg whites, vanilla extract, cream of tartar and salt until they begin to hold soft peaks. Then beat in the remaining 3/4 cups sugar until the mixture begins to hold stiff peaks, about 4 minutes or so.

Slowly fold in 1/4 cup of the flour mixture at a time. Use a spatula and take care not to stir the mixture, just keep folding until all of the flour mixture is incorporated. Pour  one cup of blueberries into the batter and fold them in as well. Pour the batter into two well-greased 9-inch cake pans and bake in the oven for about 20-30 minutes.

While the cake is baking, make the Cream Cheese Frosting. Mix the cream cheese, vanilla and butter together until they are completely combined. Add the powdered sugar and mix until blended. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to help solidify the texture.

Once the cake is done, remove it from the oven and allow to cool for about 15 minutes. Shake the pan a little bit to loosen the grip of the cake, then place a plate on top of the pan and, wearing oven mitts, flip it over so that the pan is on the top and the plate is on the bottom. Gently remove the pan and place the plated cake layer in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Repeat this process with the second cake pan as well.
While the cake layers are cooling, make the Blueberry Syrup. In a small saucepan, cook the blueberries, sugar and water over low heat for about 8 minutes, or until the sugar has completely dissolved, breaking the blueberries apart with the end of a wooden spoon when they begin to soften. Pour the mixture into a food processor, add the jam, and blend until the mixture is smooth. Pour into a serving bowl and place in the refrigerator to chill until serving time. 

Once the cake layers and the frosting have finished cooling, place the bottom cake layer onto the display surface, (i.e. a cake stand or pretty plate that you will serve it off of), and begin evenly frosting the top of the bottom cake layer. Then, center the second cake layer on top of the bottom cake layer so that they line up perfectly. Now frost the sides and top of the cake so that the entire cake surface is frosted and no cake surface is visible through the frosting. Place 1/4 cup of the frosting in the center-top of the cake in a dollop. Take the remaining 1/2 cup of blueberries and arrange them on top of the dollop in the center of the cake. Serve at room temperature with a drizzle of blueberry syrup over each individual cake slice.