Spring Wino

A total self proclaimed Wino, I often love nothing more than opening a bottle and relaxing by the fire. However, with this warm weather creeping in—it seems I will have to start un-corking what my family calls “Porch Wines”. I look for a wine that reflects this time of year: crisp breezes, green lawns, budding flowers, and sunny days as well as the rainy ones. By this time, you’ve probably guessed that I don’t share T.S. Eliot’s view that "April [Erm, February] is the cruelest month…”

Chono Sauvignon Blanc, 09 Chile $11 Celler on Greene

Juicy aromas of grapefruit and lemon-lime flood the nose; flavors are mouth-watering, with just a touch of the exotic (think guava) with great acidic balance and concentration.

Reidel Stemless Glasses $18-$22 in Sets of Two

Wine tastings are great fun. Meeting other vino lovers is always an enjoyable experience, and depending on how many bottles we’re talking about, it can get messy. Wine glasses by definition are unstable, so to cut down on the “Cabernet-all-over-the-white-carpet” problem, Riedel has introduced the O Series Wine Tumblers. Available in four different styles for different wines, these are a great call when you have clumsy house guests and you’re worried about spilling that glass of Opus One you just poured.

Wine Save $39.99 per Can

Each container of Winesave relies on argon, an odorless, food-safe gas that's two and a half times heavier than air. Spray the argon into a bottle of open wine, then seal the bottle with a cork, cap or wine stopper. Due to its weight, the gas drops to the surface level of the remaining wine, where it acts as a protective shield, keeping the wine's nuances in--and oxidation and decay out. Every can contains enough gas for at least 50 uses and works equally well to preserve white, red and sparkling wines.

Coastal Blues

Because it’s a Girl’s Weekend you can assume that the participants are going to totally veg-out and splurge…And you’d be right. Although most of us are health conscious this bikini/wedding season, I am willing to bet the yogurt and granola is going to take a back-seat ride. The house is stocked, the drinks are on ice, and we have many things to discuss.

Some girls are swearing off men, others deeply in love, and one is even engaged! There are a few that are single, several applying to grad school and a couple that have simply lost their way.

Here’s to all Tri-Deltas, the silver, gold and blue! What are you going to do this weekend for YOU?

Francesca’s Depths of Ocean Necklace $28

Because who doesn’t need a layered necklace for spring?

Poach Pod by Fusion $10 (I got mine at the Gourmet Shop)

The poachpod is a flexible silicone cooking tool for poaching eggs, baking and molding. It allows you to float and poach an egg in boiling water like a lily pad on a pond. When the egg is ready, flip the nonstick pod inside out and gently push the perfectly domed shaped egg out. Place the pod in the dishwasher for easy clean up.

J.Crew Chambray Shirt $98

A true must-have for this season! I wore mine out last spring and have to order another one! Maybe with short sleeves this time? Plenty of styles at Jcrew.com

Blue Heron Pale Ale $16 at Earth Fare

Mendocino Brewing Company's seasonal spring ale! Blue Heron Pale Ale is a delightful medium bodied golden ale with a distinctive clean mouth-feel and a fresh hoppy finish. The emphasis is not on extremes but rather on balance.

Come Sea Me

I am so very excited to be going to Garden City this weekend so I thought I would bring a little of the beach to the blog. This restaurant is located right across from my house, and they serve up a mean bowl of She Crab Soup, appropriately complete with a jigger of sherry!

Gulfstream Cafe is the only restaurant on the Grand Strand where you can see the ocean on one side and Murrells Inlet on the other-- truly a comfortable and tasteful dining experience unlike any other. Start with a cocktail and enjoy the view from the upstairs bar, or step outdoors onto the deck and watch the sun set across Murrells Inlet. Enjoy low country classics featuring fresh seafood, steaks and pasta. Offering something for everyone: live music, seasonal Oyster Roasts, Sunday brunch and BYOBMB (Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar)!

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday - Saturday 4:00pm to Close
Sunday Brunch 10:30-2:30
Dinner 2:30 to Close

1536 S. Waccamaw Dr.
Garden City, SC 29576
Link to Menu
http://www.centraarchy.com/pdf/Gulf_Stream_Menu/GS_menu.pdf

Orange You Glad?

Color Wheel Pro says orange represents “enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation”… Good. My law school application isn’t quite finished yet and therefore I could use any or all of the adjective help I can get! Thanks a million to all the support and encouragement along the application way. Good lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I will hit the SUBMIT button by midnight. And then I might reward myself with a Cupcake. Today’s flavors include Lemon Cheesecake, Turtle, Coconut and Mint Mocha Chip at all three Cupcake Locations! I have a handy buy one, get one free coupon that has been staring and wearing me down since Monday. We will see how strong my will is at 5:30…

This message is brought to you by the color orange.

Rosebud Salve $6 from Sephora

Great for flyaway hair, taming eyebrows, softening ashy elbows and heels, diaper rash, dry skin, eczema, chapped lips, and as a topical healing salve for minor cuts, burns and abrasions. Can't beat that!

Francesca’s By the Sea Cuff $12

Small Orange Lizard Desk File $18.50 from Caspari

Mimosa Champagne and Orange Juice Cocktail Soap $4.50 from EpicallyEpicSoap

Citrus Marinade
1/2 cup orange juice (juice of 1 orange)
1/2 cup lemon juice (juice of 2 lemons)
1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage or several leaves fresh, chopped
1 1/2 inch section fresh ginger, peeled, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
a few drops Tabasco or 1/4 teaspoon hot salt
Combine ingredients (a blender makes a good emulsion and eliminates the need to mince or chop).
Marinate cut chicken pieces in a Ziploc bag for several hours or overnight.
Broil or grill until chicken until done using your preferred cooking method.

Neutrality

Foraging for mushrooms, while adventurous, also poses a very real risk. The familiar-looking growths you find in shady spots may well turn out to be lethal. Now, Park Seed offers Button mushroom kits that provide access to homegrown, fresh mycelium--minus the edible Russian roulette. Each kit yields about 3lbs of mushrooms!

Mushroom Starter Kit $25

Anyone else thankful for this weather? I have been sending praise to my little furry friend for not seeing his shadow for the past two weeks! I can already picture afternoons on the porch of Salty Nut, patio dinners at Momo’s Bistro, and piles of Fro-Yo at Yoghut! Regardless of what the weatherman says, spring has definitely sprung in the hearts of South Carolinians!

Madden Girl Tambrey Sandals $39.95


Saki Tumi lures me in with their pink Hawaiian salted edamame; and every time I order it, I wonder why I have purchased my own yet! Featured is a gourmet salt trio composed of Hawaiian Black Lava, Hawaiian Pink and Lime Fresco-- great addition for the salt lover, foodie or chef in your life!

Gourmet Salt from Craig’s Market on Etsy $7.99

You Don't Know Jacques! OPI Nail Polish is part of the OPI La Collection De France. I would describe this as a richly deep warm grey – the epitome of a true greige. It’s completely matte crème, without any shimmer. Very chic and pervasive in modern trends and very appropriate for the transitioning months. You Don’t Know Jacques probably isn’t the most expressively pretty color, but it’s different and is a nice departure from the typical hues.

OPI Bottle from Sally Beauty Supply $8

Purpling

Having worked at a co-ed summer camp, I distinctly remember the purpling rule. If girls are pink and boys are blue, there should be no purple in the cabins! So in honor of president’s day, and the whole red, white and blue concept, I have chosen to highlight some purple rain people eater nonsense that I have n my life.

Rosemary Roasted Purple Potatoes
5-6 medium-sized purple or tri-colored potatoes
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees. Scrub the potatoes well. Dry and quarter them.

COMBINE olive oil, garlic, dried rosemary, and Dijon mustard, whisking well.

PLACE potatoes on baking sheet to form a single layer.

DRIZZLE mizture over the potatoes and TOSS to coat.

SALT & PEPPER

BAKE for 30 minutes or until tender, STIRING and ROTATING potatoes often.*

NOTE: Size of potatoes will effect baking time. I prefer to use a bag of the small tots.


Banana Republic Silk Halter Top $69.50

Blueberry Cobbler from Cupcake $2.75

J.Crew Factory 5" chino short $34.50

Avon Lip Luster $8

Wedding Season

I have the really bad habit of over committing myself. Does anyone else do that? Well, while I was out last night, hobnobbing with politicos, my teenage dogs threw a house party! I came home to the biggest mess I have literally ever seen. (And I went to Wofford College, #4 in the Nation for Greek Life!) Every edible item and some mystery blue goo was consumed, shredded, or strewn about the house and furniture. My favorite was the Hansel and Gretel trail of Grape Nuts running from the love seat to the master bedroom. In their defense, I don’t like Grape Nuts either so I probably would have redecorated with them as well… So here I am, trying to focus on something more positive than my law school interview and the blue goo.

What’s the best season you ask? Why, wedding season of course! I have three weddings to attend in March alone, which means the fever or love is upon us. I adore weddings and often say that if wedding crashing was a legitimate pastime, I would eagerly partake. A little reminder of the personalities in the 2005 film:

Jeremy Grey: Hello, Red! Dibs.
John Beckwith: She's all yours. I ain't gonna fight you.

Hello Incanto Vietri!, the perfect addition to a southern bride’s registry! Though I am nowhere near getting married, I will confess that I have my own registry of gifts. Say what you will, but while you were taking people for another set of stationary upon graduation, I was collecting peices of china on which to throw dinner parties! A hidden bonus-- the cost is about the same.

Though this is an Italian themed collection with De Medici dots, baroque curves, antique lace, olive branches and wildflowers, the set has been featured in Southern Living, Paula Deen, Bon Appetite, and Taste of the South just to name a few. The mix and match style displays revolutionary strength and classic beauty inspired by Italian art and history. After all, Incanto means enchanting individuality!

Here are some pieces from my own collection of Incanto and Incanto Mare:

Incanto Lace Cake Stand

Incanto Mare Starfish Footed Serving Bowl

Incanto Stripe Square Handeled Server

Incanto Assorted Canape Plates