pleasure in simple things

have a heart

February 13, 2018

It’s easy to get into the Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day spirit simply by using a heart shaped cookie cutter on something edible! Transform something ordinary into something extraordinary with a simple cut!

You have seen me use a cookie cutter on Valentine’s Day before…remember the Valentine stuffed French toast? The lavender shortbreads? Or, even the bird seed for the bird feeder?

Well, today I am taking my Fancy Watermelon Salad (click here for original recipe) and transforming it for Valentine’s Day, simply by cutting the watermelon rounds into hearts! Easy, right?

I hope I have inspired you to use a heart cookie cutter this Valentine’s Day! What will you use it on?

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, xo Jackie

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anna rifle’s flagship store!

February 9, 2018

If you follow this blog, you may already know that I have a real love for paper products! I still believe strongly in hand written thank you notes, as well as notes of condolence. Especially in this age of technology, with rushed emails and hurried texts – who doesn’t appreciate receiving a personal note in the mail? What better way is there to convey a heartfelt message?

Because of this love for hand written messages, I also have a love for great paper products. When I think of my favorite paper product artists, a couple instantly come to mind. On the top of this list is graphic designer Anna Rifle Bond.

Anna ‘taking a meeting’ at Rifle Paper Co. in Winter Park.

On today’s Friday field trip, I am thrilled to share photos from a recent visit to the place where Anna Rifle Bond and her husband Nathan started their company, Rifle Paper, in 2008. This spot in Winter Park, Florida is also home to their flagship store.

I developed an appreciation for Anna’s designs when she started her partnership with Anthropologie, early in her company’s 10-year career.

(To see more on Mast Chocolate, click here to see Friday field trip to Mast)

Feminine and colorful, with a little whimsy, Anna’s designs appear on a lot more than just paper! Beyond calendars and cards, some of the items that showcase Anna’s quaint designs include phone covers, candles, wallpaper, books, candy wrappers, and sneakers. Quite a repertoire from what began as designing posters for her husband’s band and wedding invites for her friends!

I hope you enjoyed today’s Friday field trip. Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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going nuts

February 6, 2018

I try to incorporate nuts into my diet as much as I can. I always add them to my salad and try to snack on them as a substitute for something less nutritious. Over the years, I have made many variations of seasoned nuts to serve as an appetizer or as part of a cheese tray.

I had no snacks for last Sunday’s epic television viewing night – the Justin Timberlake concert and then the This is Us episode, so I decided to jazz up some walnuts to snack on.I came up with this recipe for rosemary walnuts using ingredients I had on hand. I love rosemary. Using dried rosemary on my walnuts made it possible to add the rosemary flavor without running to the store for fresh herbs. (The one little sprig of fresh rosemary I had that you see in the photos was saved to use in the recipe I made next!) This snack was prepared in 20 minutes and tasted (and smelled) wonderful when eaten warm. I don’t ever eat much salt, but most people do – that’s the reason I put the range of salt! I also tried not to use more butter than I needed – starting with less and adding just enough to cover the nuts!

Rosemary Walnuts

4-6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 Tablespoon dried rosemary, crumbled
1 teaspoon to 1 Tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 cups walnut halves

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Remove from heat and add seasonings. Add walnuts and toss gently, coating well. Place on a large shallow baking tray n a single layer. (I lined the tray with parchment paper for easy clean up.) Bake at 325 degrees until richly brown – about 10 to 15 minutes, tossing occasionally.

I know; eliminating the butter would make this recipe totally guilt-free! But, I decided to get a little decadent for the big concert. I may try substituting something a little more healthful for the butter next time – maybe sunflower oil.

The point of this recipe is to show you that it is easy to create some seasoned nuts using dried herbs you have on hand. I may have recipes for herbed nuts that I like more than this one, but this one did the trick when I wanted something quick without going to the store!

I hope you are inspired to try this recipe or to create your own variation.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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up all light

February 2, 2018

For today’s Friday field trip – a little something to brighten up your day!

These photos are all of the same light fixture…

located in the main staircase of the Four Season’s Hotel in Orlando.

Hope they add a little brilliance to your weekend! Have a great one!

And, remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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february book giveaway!

January 30, 2018

Since tomorrow is the end of January, it is time for the February giveaway! We all know February is a big month for love – Valentine’s Day certainly helps put a focus on all things romantic. And, I have to say, I am thrilled with the growing popularity of Galentine’s Day because I think love in all forms should be celebrated! Believe me, I know the motivation of the retail industry for jumping on the Galentine’s Day bandwagon was probably for profit (not necessarily to use February 13^th to celebrate female friendships), but regardless of the motivation, the acknowledgement of Galentine’s Day is a positive one! (Thanks Parks & Rec!)

I remember one Valentine’s Day when I was young, my dad gave his three daughter’s iced sugar cookies with a romantic message – I think they said ‘sweetheart’ or ‘lover’ or something similar, spelled out in candy icing. My mom got angry, telling my dad it was inappropriate for a father to give a romantic gift meant for a sweetheart to his daughters. But, hey…why not? We were way too young at the time for boyfriends and we were tickled to be acknowledged on Valentine’s Day by our dad!

Maybe remembering that incident is why I always enjoyed showing my children a little extra love on Valentine’s Day when they were young – I always included a note in a lunch box or surprised them with a favorite sweet to celebrate how very much I loved them.

So, in the spirit of celebrating all kinds of love, I thought the February giveaway would celebrate the most important love of all – love of self! After all, if we don’t love ourselves, how can we expect to share love with others!

With that in mind, the giveaway includes two books to promote self awareness. They are 1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment by Barbara Ann Kipfer and Whatever You Are, Be a Good One by Lisa Congdon. The winner of the February giveaway, chosen at random, will win both books! Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win.

Congratulations to Tracy, winner of the January giveaway. Tracy, your name was chosen at random as winner of the giveaway – I hope you enjoy your win! (To see more, click here.) Thank you to everyone who entered to win.

Instagram users, please read on! In the spirit of love, for our monthly challenge, let’s share sightings of hearts in nature…it is amazing how many are out there! Use hashtag #pleasuregram on every photo you post of a heart you see in nature during the month of February.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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valentine candy craft diy

January 26, 2018

In the same way gingerbread houses are decorated for Christmas, or eggs for Easter, why not create candy skewers for Valentine’s Day? In my last post, I showed you some elegant Valentine’s Day skewers I created as gifts. Today, for Friday field trip, I am using the same idea as a fun children’s activity!

Just assemble a table full of Valentine’s themed candy and/or cookies, and add the children!

Just be cautious when using skewers with children – safety first! Consider the age of the children you are with, and be sure to supervise appropriately! (You can even cut off the sharp ends of the skewers if necessary.)

You may just find that the finished skewers never make it to a recipient! But, the children will have a blast creating (and eating) them!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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valentine, read my lips

January 23, 2018

Doesn’t everything taste better on a stick? Think about cake pops – a bunch of cake crumbs instantly become chic when placed on a stick! Why not do the same thing for Valentine’s Day…elevating candy or cookies to a new level by simply adding a stick!

Using Reese’s peanut butter hearts to make these pretty skewers.

It is easy to transform treats into chic Valentine’s Day candy skewers to gift to loved ones.

One skewer can be a perfectly elegant gift (and very affordable!)

Or, create a whole bouquet of skewers!

I hope you are inspired to create your own Valentine’s Day skewers! If you want, package your creation in cellophane and add a Valentine’s Day note with a witty pun. For my lip bouquet, I added a note that said “Valentine, read my lips.” Leftover pieces of ribbons from holiday packages are perfect to tie to your finished skewers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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snow place like home

January 19, 2018

The best part of a collection is enjoying it! My friend Phyllis has the cutest miniature snowman collection that she displays in her windowsill at this time of year.

The gorgeous, snowy view from out her kitchen window is supplemented by a variety of little snow people – all in miniature. Noticing this little collection is sure to provoke a smile!

Today on Friday field trip, I am sharing a few of the little snowmen I enjoyed last time I visited my dear friend – hoping to add a smile to your face as you start the weekend!

Do you have a collection that puts a smile on your face when you notice it during your daily routine?

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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‘unbeetable’ hummus

January 16, 2018

When I was a kid, I hated beets! They were a staple on my grandmother’s Sunday table, but I would not go anywhere near them! But, as an adult, I have developed a fondness for these root vegetables.

My most recent beet discovery came when I visited Flora – a restaurant with a plant based menu located in the Blue Back Square section of West Hartford, Connecticut. It was the first time I had tried beet hummus and it was absolutely yummy! This snack motivated me to research every beet hummus recipe I could find to try and recreate Flora’s delicious appetizer the best I could.

Many of the recipes I found used chickpeas, but I chose to eliminate the chickpeas and make the beets the star of the dish! If beets appeal to you at all, I would definitely urge you to try beet hummus! Here is what I did to make beet hummus, as inspired by the one I enjoyed at Flora!

Beet Hummus Recipe

½ lb. fresh beets (4-5 medium), prepared
2 Tbsp. tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 garlic clove, minced
4 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (2 lemons) plus 1 Tbsp. zest (1 lemon)
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Extra virgin olive oil as needed

To prepare the beets (cleaning them prior to cooking), I covered them with water in a saucepan and simmered them until tender and they felt soft when pricked with a fork. It took about 35 minutes. After they cooled down, I peeled them and cut them into cubes.

I put all the ingredients except the olive oil into a food processor and processed until smooth. When serving, I drizzled the hummus with a bit of extra virgin olive oil.

Pita chips, as well as fresh carrot and cucumber curls, go great with this hummus!

Even though I wouldn’t eat them as a kid, I really enjoy beets as an adult! One of my favorite beet dishes – the beet soup at The River Tavern in Chester, Connecticut.

I think the pretty color of beet hummus makes it ‘unbeetable’ to serve as a Valentine’s Day appetizer! I hope you are inspired to try it!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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at frost glance

January 12, 2018

Bitter cold temperatures made walking along all the town beaches this past week risky business! I felt I was in danger of frostbite when I took my hand out of my mitten long enough to snap a couple photos!

But, with wind chills below zero and over 13” of snowfall last week, Long Island Sound was definitely something to look at! I don’t know if I would say the beaches looked magical or if they looked more like something out of a science fiction movie, but they did look amazing!