January 25, 2011

Moving On

When is it time to move on, away from the familiar and the safe. When do you take that leap of faith and not look back – even if that means you will lose something along the way. I think this happens when your heart grows so full of something that it inevitably pushes something else out. After all, if your heart is not in it, you may be wasting precious time.

Any time I try something new, I throw it out there to see if it sticks. Instead of looking before I leap, I sometimes leap first without a pause or so much as a how-do-you-do. This approach challenges me to rise to the occasion, forces me to reach out and grab at something I may not have tried before. But it’s still scary – and failure is not something I do well. However, I realize that if I push myself and fail anyway, I am one step closer to success because the fear of failure is far greater than the reality.

So this is the year I made the leap. This is the year I cut the apron strings and will learn how to fly as many times as I fall down. And when I fall, I will lick my wounds and get back up again. I will push towards my goal even if that means walking up, over, and around the obstacles that will get in my way.

Here's my story: I have hung up my hat as “designer”. After 20 years of working with clients, schlepping paint samples and pillow cushions, I will no longer take on design work. I said “no” to the million-dollar property just up the street, I threw away the commercial bid from a local college, and I feel light as a feather. The good news (for all of you who think I’ve finally lost it) is that I still get to work in this field. I still get to make pretty and create, only as a teacher and a writer. In fact, I’ve lightened up my class load, too. I have a new project in the works and my mornings are now spent writing articles and posts like this. I have re-done one website and my webmaster is working on the changes to the other one. My blog has shifted its focus to include more thoughtful posts (like this) to broaden my readers idea of home and living well. I feel like it’s finally all coming together.

I'm looking forward to the next chapter, a new chapter. Moving on doesn’t necessarily mean moving away from the person you were, it means moving toward the person you’re becoming, towards something and someone closer to your heart.

Photo: La Tartine Gourmande

January 21, 2011

Bread!

I love bread. The doughy, yeasty, chewy, bad-for-you white bread that everyone tells you to stay away from. And I especially love focaccia. There is a restaurant in town that serves the most delicious focaccia I've ever eaten. It comes with your meal and I ask for seconds every time. I have no will power. So after seeing Anne Burrell make focaccia on her TV show, I had to share this recipe. Then I came upon another recipe over at Sunday Suppers which is where I snagged this photo from the talented Karen Mordechai. Regardless of which recipe you choose, make some of Sunday Suppers tomato jam to go with it!

Homemade Bread

3/4 cups warm water
1 package active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
5 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for kneading
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Combine the warm water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Put the bowl in a warm, not hot or cool, place until the yeast is bubbling and aromatic, at least 15 minutes.

In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, 1/2 cup olive oil and the yeast mixture on low speed. Once the dough has come together, continue to knead for 5 to 6 minutes on a medium speed until it becomes smooth and soft. Give it a sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.

Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface, then knead it by hand 1 or 2 times. Again, give it another sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.

Coat the inside of the mixer bowl lightly with olive oil and return the dough to the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, at least 1 hour.

Coat a jelly roll pan with the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. (Chef's Note: This may seem excessive, but focaccia is an oily crusted bread. This is why it is soooooooooo delicious!).

Put the dough onto the jelly roll pan and begin pressing it out to fit the size of the pan. Turn the dough over to coat the other side with the olive oil. Continue to stretch the dough to fit the pan. As you are doing so, spread your fingers out and make finger holes all the way through the dough. (Chef's Note: Yes, this is strange. But when the dough rises again it will create the characteristic craggy looking focaccia. If you do not make the actual holes in the dough, the finished product will be very smooth.)

Put the dough in the warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour. While the dough is rising a second time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Liberally sprinkle the top of the focaccia with some coarse sea salt and lightly drizzle a little oil on top. Bake the dough until the top of the loaf is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool before cutting and serving.

Suggestion: Finely chop 1 Tbs. of rosemary and/or thyme to sprinkle on top of the focaccia with the salt and bake.

January 20, 2011

Small Town Charm

There is an upside to all of the snow we have piled up in our yard - skiing. Not for me of course, but for my girls, hubby, and anyone who is lucky enough to live in this area and happens to love flying through clouds of white fluff. After just a short 15 minute drive north, we can arrive at Crotched Mountain and enjoy fresh powder and some of the best snow-making in the Northeast. But what I love about Crotched most is its small, family-friendly atmosphere. It doesn't have the cache of a big ski mountain - there are no quads, no triple black diamond trails - but you usually don't have to wait in long lines either, making it the perfect I'll-just-ski-for-a-few-hours-after-school sorta place. My girls learned how to ski on this mountain, and even though they cheated a little last year to test their skills at some of the better known, a.k.a., bigger mountains here in New England, the first thing they both said during their first visit of the season was, "I've really missed this place."

Skiing is just part of the culture here. As soon as the snow starts to fly, children trade in their soccer cleats and field hockey sticks for boards or skis, pack up their bags, grab their helmets and their books, and go. Parents now journey to neighboring towns to pick up and drop off groups of children and mountains of equipment. One run required the use of the SUV and the minivan – six girls and six pairs of skis take up a lot of room.
 

I took these shots just last week while I braved the cold wind and tried to find them in various stages of going up and coming down. The smiles on their faces were reward enough for taking the time to work in the lodge (and my car) instead of my warm office. And the best part is we’re home in that same 15 minutes. Sated and happy, the girls plant their skis in the snow just outside our door so they can grab them quickly for the next trip.
 

January 14, 2011

Spotted: Notebooks

You know you want them. No, they're not anything new or fancy, but these colorful notebooks (and monthly planners too) from Moleskine are a writer's/planner's/organizer's/list-maker's best friend. Every time I reach into my bag I can pull out one of these notebooks, and it makes me happy - happy to know I won't forget what I was thinking at that moment, and happy to have a tiny bit of control over my (sometimes - okay, often) crazy schedule. Yes, I confess, I am a list-maker. So if you're thinking you need to get a little more organized yourself, I suggest you check them out.

January 13, 2011

Snow Day

Yesterday, the snow started to fall as we lay sleeping in our beds. Schools around the region had already been cancelled the night before, so it wasn’t a big surprise to learn that the girls would be home enjoying the first snow day of the season.

As anyone who works from home knows, having your children around when you’re trying to work is a bit distracting. The excitement of the snow, the possibility of an entire day without having to be someplace, can be too much to bear even for a die-hard worker-bee like me. I really did try to concentrate on the projects I had planned for the day, but the smell of hot chocolate and the brownies baking in the oven started calling to me… Take a break, leave what you’re doing, and join in on the fun.

I felt guilty for “wasting” a day when I had just taken some time off after Christmas – but only for a moment. I gave myself permission to exchange silly jokes with the girls. (They’re usually only one giggle away from a complete laugh-fest, reminding me that laughter truly is the best medicine, and to not take life too seriously on any given day.) I helped poor Cooper out onto the porch, and cleared a path so he could finally relieve himself. (Border Collies are waist-deep in snow before they know it!) I watched the birds huddle together while they took refuge in our apple tree and grabbed a snack before heading back home. I called my friend to find out how she was spending her snow day, and we had one of those lovely talks that only seem to happen out of the blue in our world of, I’ve-got-to-run-I’ll-call you-later. And to top it all off, hubby came home early, and safely, which is always a welcome relief when he’s the one who has to leave.

Snow days are a small gift of time to treasure… when the world stops to let you get off to enjoy the scenery. I’ve learned to embrace these moments. We could all use more of them. And although the snow has finally stopped, and we’re all back to our daily routines, I will look forward to the next snow day, and anticipate an afternoon in my PJ’s with the girls and Cooper by my side. (Maybe we’ll make muffins next time.)

January 7, 2011

Winter White

The color of freshly fallen snow, tufts of cotton, and swirls of cotton candy spun clouds. White can be dramatic, warm, and oh-so versatile. Not words you would have associated with white? Let me change your mind...

Color Inspiration: Benjamin Moore

Winter White OC-21, Moonlight White OC-125, White Dove OC-17
Atrium White 79, Horizon 1478, Floral White OC-29

January 6, 2011

What's For Supper... Er, Breakfast?

Do you do this too? Breakfast food for supper can really stretch creative menu planning, not to mention the budget. When my hubby is away on business, and it's just us girls home for supper, I've been known to crack an egg or two and enjoy a big, hearty breakfast. Sometimes it's just a sausage and egg biscuit (I skip the guilt by eating Morning Star veggie patties), or maybe bacon and eggs with all the trimmings (when I'm feeling indulgent), or my girl's favorite - French toast. (My tried-and-true-stand by of all breakfast foods.) The trick to really good French toast is the bread (Brioche is a good choice), and then the wash - 1 egg, for every two pieces of bread, mixed with a splash of milk, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a drop of vanilla. This photo, from the talented Jennifer Causey over at Simply Breakfast, makes me miss summer berries. And of course you'll need to warm up some real maple syrup too.