You get to decide what to worship......



photo Aya Brackett

Julie's Delish Beans

With the holiday weekend fast approaching - I thought I would share one of my favorite recipes from my friend Julie. These beans are the perfect accompaniment for tri tip or roasted chicken or for tacos. The beans are a bit zesty and completely delicious.

2 large cans pinto beans
1/2 package bacon
1/2 onion
1 can El Pato tomato sauce
salt and pepper

In a large pan place the cubed bacon over medium heat, cook until slightly crispy. Add the chopped onion and cook until the onion has a bit of carmilization. Add the two cans of beans including liquid, along with the can of El Pato tomato sauce. Stir and cook over a medium low flame for approximately 1/2 hour with the lid on, stirring occasionally.

The beans are great if you make them a day ahead as the flavors only intensify and they freeze perfectly.

jewelry drawer

I was cleaning out my jewelry drawer and I sense a theme - bigger is better -- which is true of so many things.

swagger wagon....

I am just saying.... I relate to this video on so many levels, it scares me - I do drive a wagon by the way.

ten things to be happy about....

1.memories of garden parties and weekends by the sea
2.pink lady Baltimore cake
3.being happy together
4.sunny yellow napkins
5.barhopping
6.track and field days
7.heavy farm doughnuts
8.tinker toys
9.helpfulness
10.a fait accompli

park fun....

You are never too old for the park .....

camo pants - part one

The thing I said about being a prep - well sometimes I am not - these are my fab new camo pants from JCrew and I kinda love them. It is good to break out every once in a while. Now I just need to add the rockin handbag from JCrew and I will be all set - maybe I will have a little bit of groovy from my sis.

true prep

I graduated high school in 1983 and I was a prep - I can't believe that I am admitting it - but middle age somehow frees you. I wore button down shirts, loafers, boat shoes and sweaters tied around my shoulders and I read the original prep handbook with the concentration of a Talmudic scholar. I read the excerpt from the new edition in Vanity Fair this month and I was howling - I think somehow I am still a prep in my little hidden heart, I still have a wide range of loafers, I still wear sweaters tied around my shoulders and I have a few navy blazers and camel coats.

My sister was a punk/rock and roll chick and of course much groovier than I was - come to think of it she still is. I am going to get the latest addition of the prep handbook, in case I missed anything the first time.

leopard for fall...

Chrisitan or Manolo ?? Or both.......

Summer Books

Here are some of the books that I have enjoyed over the summer....


I enjoyed this book from Elizabeth Gilbert as much as Eat,Pray, Love. I have been married for 16 years and I still discovered something new about marriage.



This book was beautifully written and the perfect evening read.



This latest book from Michelle Moran was great - I have only recently discovered historical fiction in the last few years. I would reccomend this one.



Dominick Dunne's last book - perfect summer reading...

Pink Pasta Supreme

Pink Pasta Supreme

1 package of spicy chicken italian sausage from Trader Joes
1 package mushrooms
1 jar pasta sauce arrabiata
1/2 cup heavy cream
capers
1 box of pasta your choice
parmesan cheese
italian parsley

Heat up a bit of olive oil in a large nonstick pan and remove sausage from casing. Cook the sausage over medium heat - breaking up the sausage as you go, when the sausage is cooked through add the mushrooms and cook until browned. Add 1 jar pasta suace prefebly Arrabiata, add 1/2 cup heavy cream and a good bit of capers. Mix throughly and heat through over medium low heat. In the mean time cook a box of pasta per box directions - until al dente. Drain pasta and add to sauce and mix. Garnish with parmesan cheese and italian parsley.

This take about 20 - 25 minutes to prepare which makes it the perfect back to school dinner - the chicken itlaian sausage and the arrabiata sauce add a depth of flavor to the sauce without an extended cooking time. Works as a casserole too and great for a potluck.

treats from Bottega Louie

These are some of the treats that we had at Bottega Louie last week. The restaurant was great fun. The people watching was fabulous, the food was OK, drinks were perfection and the service was OK. I think it is definitely worth the trip downtown.

Malibu Pier

In our continued effort to be tourists in our own town - we visited Malibu Pier last week and had lunch there. The food was yummy and the view relaxing. I would definitely make the effort to go again - it might be fun in the winter too - a stormy day would be exciting.

Notes for the Girls - Note # 9

Life's vicissitudes rock us all, whether it's shattered fortune, ecstatic good news, or just plain old age, but keeping your own little craft ship shape really smooths the sailing.

school Charm

Still at Zara - made a list for C. for Fall - perfect for school.