March 14, 2011

Artful Eco-Friendly Table Accents

Epicure

If you’re an organic foodie dedicated to cultivating a sustainable table, then you’ll love the products from Modern-twist. Founded by Kat Nouri, a mother of three who’s passionate about nutrition, spirituality and organic farming, the company produces place mats, table toppers and coasters that are free of BPA, latex, phthalates and other harsh chemicals, making them as eco-friendly as they are beautiful. A believer that what you eat on is as important as what you eat, Kat collaborates with independent artists and designers to bring art to the table by printing her company’s accents with food-grade, hand silk-screened silicone. Given … Read Post

November 1, 2010

Easy, Stylish Entertaining Ideas

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Product designer Julia Knight, who’s brimming with ideas on how to entertain simply and stylishly, is a firm believer that, when it comes to food, presentation is as important and preparation. Julia recently introduced a new line of serving pieces that make even ordinary fare, like crudités and snacks, look extraordinary. “I’m a traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving, and I love entertaining,” she says. “This is one holiday when it really is all about abundance and food! And no matter what I prepare for the holiday, I want to present it on elegant trays, in beautiful bowls, and arrayed on … Read Post

October 19, 2010

Wholesome Halloween Treats

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No Halloween celebration is complete without the treats. But there’s no rule that says they have to be packed with sugar and artificial ingredients. Don and Susie Morris, the founders of Donseumor, a European-inspired bakery in Alameda, California, take a less-is-more approach to making cookies, using wholesome preservative- and additive-free, all-natural ingredients to produce buttery, light, artistic cookies and cupcakes. And for anyone interested in making some unique, wholesome Halloween treats this year, here’s a recipe they sent us for delightful Witch’s Hat Cute Cakes, which are soft and moist, and made with the finest quality all-natural ingredients. Inspired by … Read Post

September 3, 2010

Super-Easy Recipe for Green Salad with Parmesan Dressing

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Over the past couple of days, Madie and Kenny, two kind readers of my blog, left incredibly complimentary comments on an older post (Cooking for a Crowd: A Simple Summer Meal). As a way of thanking them for their very encouraging words, I’m immediately following through with a quick follow-up post, as Madie urged me to do, which includes the recipe for a yummy mixed green salad with Parmesan dressing (another adaptation from an old Food & Wine book). Everyone I serve it to loves it, and I hope it might come in handy in the event you plan to … Read Post

July 19, 2010

Cooking for a Crowd: A Simple Summer Meal

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I have to confess that there are times when my ambitions exceed my abilities—or at least the hours in a day I have available to achieve them. Such was the case, alas, with my plans to serve an Indian-inspired meal to my friends at a party I hosted with my husband, Anil, this past weekend. After entreating a talented Indian chef, Kuntal Kumar, to supply me with a menu for the gathering (see my 6/21/10 post Healthy Organic Gourmet Food), I put forth the effort to test drive the recipes during the previous week and found to my delight that they … Read Post

July 8, 2010

Hosting Guests with Style

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The summer party I’m throwing is coming up, so I recently asked Ali Pincus, one of the co-founders of the luxury daily sales site, One Kings Lane, for some easy entertaining ideas—especially ways to set an informal table. “I love personalizing seating,” she told me. “My new favorite thing is to write each guest’s name on a piece of fruit. I think green or yellow apples work really well. I saw this at a friend’s home, and loved it! And a beautiful glass pitcher with water and sliced lemons & limes always looks lovely.” Since One Kings Lane offers home … Read Post

June 21, 2010

Healthy Organic Gourmet Food

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I’ve never met an Indian who doesn’t like Indian food, but I’ve met quite a few who are very particular about how it’s prepared. Among the fussy ones is my husband, Anil, who will only eat Indian dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients, just the right amount of spices (never too much) and minimal oil. A couple of years ago, we had the good fortune of visiting a wonderful boutique hotel/yoga retreat/spa called Ananda in Rishikesh, India, near the foothills of the Himalayas. The yoga classes were terrific, and the organic food was exceptional—so exceptional, in fact, that my husband … Read Post

June 11, 2010

Artful Floral Arrangements

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A couple of weeks ago, I attended a party showcasing a new green boutique apartment building at 180 East 932d Street in New York, where I met the talented floral designer Mark Rose. Mark created the floral arrangements for the model apartment in which the party was held, and I was impressed with how beautifully they complemented the room’s subtle, sophisticated décor, which was done by interior designer Richard Mishaan. Since I plan to host a mid-summer dinner party next month, I asked Mark about his approach to doing flowers, hoping for ideas for a casual yet inspired centerpiece for … Read Post

May 16, 2010

Unique Centerpieces

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Last month my friend the talented designer and stylist Ingrid Leess invited me to join her and several other friends for a memorable Easter dinner at her home in New Canaan, Connecticut. She prepared a scrumptious feast with her daughter Kiira (you can get the full details on the menu—which included garlic-and-rosemary-rubbed leg of lamb, a potato-fennel gratin and grilled asparagus finished with a drizzle of black truffle oil—by visiting Kiira’s blog, eatandgreet.blogspot.com). The food was totally delicious and I’ve promised myself to ask Ingrid for the recipe for the exceptionally yummy Russian cream she served for dessert, but it … Read Post