Kaseys Korner

Roses and Hydrangeas

I had the most delightful luncheon today.  

It's so wonderful to connect with people who share similar interests and history.

The centerpiece from my book club dinner party was re-purposed with fresh David Austin roses ('Abraham Darby & 'Crown Princess Margareta' to be specific)  Can anyone ever have enough roses?

I think not.

A "no bake" Strawberry & Cream Pie was made for the occasion.  Instead of serving it in the usual way, I used my round metal biscuit cutter to make it more interesting.  A spiral of cool whip on top & it was good to go.

Food and conversation followed by a little tour of the garden.

 An all-around perfect start to summer!

Book Club Dinner Party

On the evening of June 12th, six incredible women joined me for dinner and a lively discussion of the book 'Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine.' 

It was the fulfillment of a long held dream, one I finally acted upon after seeing a blog post this Spring by Nell Hills.  In the post she decorated a table for a book club dinner and one glance was all it took to spur me into action.  You can see her post & table here.

Hosting the book club combined so many of my favorite things ~ books, friends, the garden and entertaining.

I'm not sure where I got my love of entertaining?  I didn't learn it from my Mother or really any other family member.  Over the years I've just found joy in it and in the whole process ~ from planning the meal, to setting the table & adding all the little details that make guests feel special & something they'll remember. 

I don't do it often, only a handful of times a year, but I try to treat each event with the best attention & care I can. 

For the book club dinner, I selected our book and sent out invitations about two months prior so that everyone had plenty of time to get and read the book.  

A couple days before the dinner, I started working on my table, making the placecards, collecting my ingredients, etc.

The day of, I was out in the garden early in the morning ~ clipping the roses, hydrangeas & dogwood branches for the centerpiece.

Arranging the centerpiece is one of my favorite parts of hosting a dinner or party.

I think because I get to include the garden into the process as well?

After I'm satisfied with the table, I move on to the food.  

We started the meal with a mini Basil Parmesan cheesecake topped with tomato jam & a sprig of fresh basil.  Recipe here.

Afterwards we moved on to the meal itself which consisted of Pistachio crusted Salmon:

Not the best picture ~ I think it was the last one I took before the dinner commenced.

Cold Roast Beef & Asparagus wraps.  I don't have a link for the recipe, I got it from 'The Gathering of Friends Cookbook, Volume Three.'  I love this cookbook series and own several volumes.  Besides recipes, the cookbooks include tablescapes which are always inspiring and they make it easy to replicate any one of their themes if you need some help or are in a hurry.

The wraps are very simple to make.  Just roast the asparagus, spread some softened cream cheese on a thin slice of roast beef, add one asparagus spear and roll up.  Chill until ready to serve. 

Don't make the mistake I did & tell the deli to slice it "thin" ~ they pretty much gave me shaved roast beef which made the process more difficult than it should have been.

Above & below:  Cauliflower, Corn, Cucumber Salad.

Plus Roasted Beet & Carrot Salad ~ this is served with Arugula & roasted Walnuts ~ Yum!

Sorry about the photo, another bad one & doesn't do it justice AT ALL.  

My next favorite part of hosting ~ the desserts!  

This year, I'd been noticing a trend toward serving petite desserts.  It makes a lot of sense.  Satisfying the sweet tooth but in a more (healthy) reasonable size.

I decided to go with that theme & incorporated two options in my dinner.  That way everyone could sample both without feeling too guilty.

The first was a white chocolate mousse topped off with a raspberry.

I used a pastry bag to fill the fancy shot glasses then tied my silver demitasse spoons onto each glass with a raffia ribbon.

Lastly, I made chocolate shot glass cups using a silicone mold.  Very easy to do, just melt the chocolate, pour into the mold, refrigerate until set then pop out & fill with whatever you choose.  Mine had English Toffee ice cream just to make it easy & because it's summer!

Besides the meal, the book was well received by everyone and the conversation was easy & excellent.  I couldn't believe how quickly the time passed.  Every effort put forth, 100% worthwhile.

It was definitely a magical night and everything I had envisioned it to be....

 

 

 

Easter Treats

Headed out to Easter dinner in a bit with my "assignments" ~ bread & dessert.

I tried my hand at a braided Egg bread using a traditional yeast bread recipe plus dyed eggs with edible glitter.

Definitely need practice to perfect this technique but at least I hope it tastes good.

Dessert is usually easier for me.  This year, I chose to make mini strawberry cakes then frosted them with buttercream and added dyed coconut & jelly beans for decoration.

Not so original but definitely cute.

It seems fitting that Easter is on April Fool's Day this year since it snowed last night & it's 31 degrees right now.

I hope the pansies (Chianti Mix) I planted yesterday, when the temperatures were more seasonal, don't go into shock!

Happy Easter!

Amaryllis 'Ruby Star'

For me, it wouldn't be Christmas without an Amaryllis bulb

or two

or three

or four

or more.....

'Ruby Star' was the 2nd Amaryllis bulb this season to bloom.

It sent up two simultaneous bloom stalks which I tied together with a ribbon:

Two bloom stalks growing at the same time means a beautiful display of flowers but the stalks don't always cooperate in the process.  Tying them together is an easy way to control them plus it keeps the leaves nice & straight (and tidy) between the ribbon too.

Around Christmas, the ribbon also adds to the festive spirit.

Temperatures broke the freezing mark today for the first time since before Christmas so I took 'Ruby Star' outside for a photo shoot!

I'm already sad thinking about taking all the beautiful Christmas decorations down.

The holiday came and went soooo fast.

I decorated everything that wasn't moving this year.  I think worse than usual.

I also baked and baked and baked.

Above and below: Buckeyes

Maybe they're a bad example because you don't actually "bake" them but they still take a little time to make.  I guess it's worth it tho because they disappear FAST!

Above:  Gift wrapping ~ I added an alphabet ornament (to some packages) in the initial of the recipient.  I figured it served two purposes, a keepsake & easy way to tell whose gift was whose.

Sweet little Ivory loved the wrapping part of the holiday!!! Whenever she heard the rustle of paper, she was there!

Alphabet ornaments are fun to decorate with too:

I bought some to spell my daughter's name & the Noel ones pictured.  

Whoever came up with that idea was genius!

This year, it felt like we were one of the only parts of the country to experience a white Christmas??  There was so much talk of records being broken for warmest Christmases on record.  Not here!

I've always thought snow on the 25th was overrated ~ but right on cue, it snowed 3 more inches on Christmas night!

If you like that sort of thing, it was perfect.

Now I'm ready for some "down" time, it's been a busy season, culminating with a New Years Eve party that I made Champagne Jello shots for!!!

How fun are these??  Pretty easy too and very tasty/refreshing.

2016 started off with a bang so I hope the momentum will last.  

On a sad note, I wondered if all the "busyness" was an effort to keep thoughts of my brother at bay?  I would be driving somewhere or doing something and just burst into tears.  One night, looking at Christmas lights (which we had done together just two short years ago) I felt tears rolling down my face and I hadn't realized I was crying.  He was never far from my mind even tho I had many, many happy moments.  

Anyway, now comes the big task (as I know many of you have too) of taking everything down & packing it away.  After that, a resting period before spring.  I welcome that although I'm already tired of snow ~ what's new??!!  

Happy New Year!!!

 

 

Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait'

as July slips away.

How did that happen??

With the toes of August peeping under the door, thoughts of summers end start creeping in.

Wishing for a way to put time on "pause" and fling those thoughts far out into the universe.  

THESE are the days I want to "rest" in for awhile as long as possible.

Learning to live in the moment:  a constant work in progress.

Validating the direction of my thoughts tho ~ Mature Bullock's Orioles departed from the garden this week and started their long journey south.

This years young remain but even they will soon follow the path of their parents.  

Their three month residency, once again, over in the blink of an eye.

Clematis 'Purpurea Plena Elegans'

Tiny sweet blooms.

Majorly big impact.

Dahlia 'Big Brother'

Notice a theme??  

Salmony/yellow bloomers were on the brain when orders were placed this spring.  :)

 

Favorite Zinnia:  'Queen Red Lime'

Lilium 'Black Beauty'

Happy moment finding them blooming again.  

Last year, a late, late frost killed the new growth.  There was never any additional sign of life so obviously, no blooms.  I thought they were gone.  

Here's proof that one bad year does not mean the end....

Lemon Cypress & 'Cherry Star' Calibrachoa.  Another favorite combo.

Little Myrtle topiary

Lovely new annual:  Crazytunia 'Mandeville'

Water hyacinth ~ first year to bloom in my pond.  Not sure why but not asking questions!

The garden has changed since I last posted.

One of the Pinyon Pines (planted by the previous owner) along the driveway had to be cut down.  I knew the loss was inevitable ~ they are desert plants, not at all suited to the constant irrigation they receive from the neighbors sprinklers ~ consequently they've struggled the past several years.  At some point the other will have to go as well.  Their demise opens an opportunity for new landscaping.  Considerable thought will go into a plan during the upcoming months.

In the kitchen, I've been overcome by a cooking spree.  Fell in love with the above chicken/blueberry salad.  Recipe found here.  

Not necessarily the healthiest (i.e. dressing), but I'm making adaptations.  The flavors however, are fabulous.

I think the taste was enhanced because the salad was accompanied by my new April Cornell table napkins!!!  What do you think??!

Here's hoping August crawls by at a snails pace & that we remember to seize & savor every moment before the season truly is over...

 

 

Dahlia 'Floorinoor'

The dahlias are late to bloom this year.  I don't think cool, rainy weather is their forte???

You might remember 'Cafe au Lait' ~ she was the exception.  The rest, like 'Floorinoor,' are just beginning:

Yes, she truly IS that electric!!! 

Orange, hot pink & a splash of yellow...

The first "Powder Puff" (anemone type) Dahlia I've ever grown but I'm thinking that's about to change.

You can be sure I'll post more photos as she continues to unfold... 

I hope the rest of the dahlias kick into high gear too.  The pace they've been on and the fall-like temperatures are making me nervous that there might not be enough time left in the season to see them....

Something else I'm waiting on are Cosmos 'Apricot.'  Two plants grew to towering heights but NO buds or blooms in sight???

See that "tree-esque" plant with the ferny foliage???  That's them.  I don't know what's up???  It's like everything but the buds were on steroids??

Since I last posted, we turned another month on the calendar.  Where did summer go?  The start of September ushered in a second flush of blooms on the roses, including my favorite:

'Abraham Darby.'

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to re-fertilize any of the roses in July (like normal) so this go 'round of buds/blooms is scanty.  I won't make that mistake again! 

Something so beautiful we want in abundance, right?!

I'm starting to feel melancholy about the end of summer, dreading winter when I didn't get my usual dose of heat and summer activities.  Everyone says "there's always next year," but you never know what the next year will bring.  I hope it's a long hot summer that starts super early and goes late!

One thing the cool, rainy weather is good for is putting me back in the cooking mode.  I tried yet another tomato recipe, this one a roasted tomato mini pie from one of my favorite blogs, Stone Gable.

It was tasty and easy to assemble.  If I make it again tho, I'll add more herbs.  Maybe my taste buds trend toward spicy because I thought it could use a bit more "zing."

The tomatoes come from our Sunday ritual ~ visiting the Farmer's Market.  There's one stall that has a killer deal, fill a bag to overflowing for $10.00, or this week, everything you could pile in a box for $20.00! 

I also just realized the other day, I never ordered any fall bulbs.  That's another first for me!  It will feel strange to not be planting anything (unless I make a greenhouse run, which could happen!)

Now I'm headed back to the garage where I've been on a much needed cleaning spree.  Butter will be happy to "assist" you while I'm gone....  ;)

 

Tomato Mozzarella Basil Ciabatta

oh. my. goodness. 

Allow me a quick recap of the week first, if you will, before we get into that yummy goodness.

It was already crazy crammed with appointments and the usual "to do" list when a box and a half of peaches I ordered (to support a school fundraiser) got delivered.

They are the BEST peaches BUT, holy Toledo, I had not built time into my schedule for them! 

Never the shrinking violet, I decided to forego some sleep & surged ahead, blanching, peeling, cooking, preserving, baking, etc.

Until 18 jars of peach freezer preserves, a strudel and a cobbler later, the boxes were empty. 

Whew.  I've never made preserves before.  I've been given jars in the past but what a new appreciation I have of that gift now!  Such a labor of love.

There wasn't time for back patting tho, on top of everything else, I had agreed to host a little garden party for a friend (who had a friend) who wanted to see my garden.

Follow that???

Even tho I was busy, I jumped at the chance, because I love any excuse to pull out two of my other passions ~ antique dishes & silver!!

I only own four covered bouillon cups/bowls, three in one pattern & this single one in my favorite rose pattern.  They are all Limoges, in case you're into this sort of thing as much as I am!!  :)

Don't you just love the whole idea of covering your bouillon to keep it warm??  (As opposed to ladling it into an open bowl only to have it cool off too quickly.)

Not to mention the adorable bouillon spoons.  *sigh*

I bet you couldn't guess I'm a Downton Abbey fan?!!!!!   I so dig this stuff....

My neighbor generously made the Butternut squash/chicken soup that we served in the bowls.

Now (finally) we're back to the promised Ciabatta sandwich!!!!

Inspired by a similar item seen on the menu at Starbucks.

Made using mayo, topped by ultra thin mozzarella slices on both halves of the Ciabatta, followed by a generous slice of a garden grown tomato, basil pesto & a few fresh basil leaves.

I don't own a Panini Press so I just sprayed both sides of the ciabatta with olive oil and grilled it on my George Foreman grill.

I'm telling you, biting into this sandwich is like tasting a little bit of heaven.  I can think of many variations too.  Imagine adding some bacon for a start!

Melted cheese, warm bread, fresh produce, ooey goodness = my new favorite sandwich!

It makes me wish I had grown some basil this year to make my own pesto.  Since I didn't, I used the basil paste above made by Gourmet Garden which turned out to be a delicious alternative.

The whole party was capped off by Peach Cobbler which was devoured quicker than a photo could be snapped!

Somehow, someway, the new vintage urn found a way to be planted.

What do you think??  Worthy of the container?? 

and now I'm ready for some "down" time.  Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!

 

 

to new beginnings

It's been over four months since I last blogged ~ if anyone out there is still checking for a new post, I'm truly a lucky girl.

Long story short, by way of an explanation for the extended absence, someone I love confessed they were an alcoholic.  Talk about a lose-your-balance moment. 

Since last summer, I've been trying to help.

Unfortunately, I'm learning how difficult that is to actually do....

Thank God for friends (and flowers:)

Above:  Amaryllis 'Elvas'

who commiserate over tea and blueberry banana bread.

Since it's still January (just barely) and this is the traditional month for new beginnings, I mean more than ever before that I'm oh so ready for a fresh start.

There is no way to return to the person I was before this experience. 

My heart and soul are forever changed.

But I can move forward (or at least try), which means getting back to the things that bring me bliss. 

The garden is at the top of that list. 

Sharing photos of it with you also ranks up there.  I'm going to do my utmost to blog more consistently.  It might only be once a week, I'll have to see how it goes as I get my footing again, but from the bottom of my heart, MANY thanks for sticking with me.  xxoo

flower pot cake

There was another party in the garden this past week ~ 

this one a celebration for three birthday "girls."

A cake in the shape of a flower pot seemed the perfect birthday dessert, don't you agree??

Top two photos show overall views, below some close-ups:

Entirely edible!

Entirely delicious...

Inspired by a Mother's Day cake found in the Mrs. Fields catalog. 

Click here if you'd like to check out that version.

Distraught at first because it wasn't currently available to order....

until Fluff n Stuff bakery came along and saved the day!

Saved the day indeed, chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling. 

Peach bellini's to wash every morsel down...

Another party fabulously flung...

 

Asparagus Quiche & Kitchen Papers

I've really been into Asparagus lately.  I mean REALLY into it.  

I've sauteed it, roasted it, sandwiched it, diced it, and now found a spectacular quiche that was (once again) too good not to share.

Recipe here. 

It's definitely worth a try if you're in the mood for a nice Spring meal. 

Pair with a salad or serve alone. 

Maybe even serve it outdoors ~ on top of an awesome Kitchen paper!!?!!  Notice how smoothly I made that transition!!!

Kitchen Papers, my new favorite product.  I've been giving them as gifts (whenever I can bear to part with them.)

No ordinary paper placemat, that's for sure. 

Pretty & functional ~ how often does that happen???. 

Sold in packages of 50 (at least the ones I've seen), just tear off then recycle/dispose after use. 

Could. Not. Be. Easier....

The website has some other awesomely creative ideas for how to use too ~ like wrapping a floral bouquet!  Beautiful!

The placemats above are from a line called "Backyard Party" and can be found here, if not at a store near you...

Believe me, if you check out the link, you'll find SO MANY cute designs your gardening seed money will be gone before you make it to the greenhouse!!!

Okay, I'm done promoting.  I wish they had paid me to say that, or given me free papers (!!) but believe me they did not!! 

Moving on...   Happy to find Muscari 'Ocean Magic' tonight:

Anything blooming is welcome after the month we've had. 

We may have turned the corner tho & it just might  F.I.N.A.L.L.Y.  be Spring.

Thank the Lord, or Mother Nature or whomever you choose.  Just grateful for some warmth & sunshine.  Have a great weekend everybody!