House Of Lavande Blog

Fashion Fund

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:49:00 +0000

The fashion fund series started yesterday on Hulu and Hulu Plus! Vogue and the Council of Fashion Designers of America started the Fashion Fund back in 2003 to support, discover and develop the talents of American fashion designers. Some familiar names behind the fund from past years are Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, and Rodarte. In 2011 more than 200 designers applied and only 10 finalists were chosen. Each designer gave unprecedented access into their lives and work, for all of us to enjoy in a six-part series produced by Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern. Check out the first episode of 2012 below, and meet this year's finalists.

Paris Couture 2012

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:33:00 +0000

The 2012 Paris Couture shows came to a close yesterday, and for the lucky few that were able to attend the shows, they surely were not disappointed. The overflow of creativity, hand crafted designs and fashion's elite all together at one time make this hands down one of the most exciting times in the world of fashion.

Some of our favorite looks from the runways, and behind the scenes shots from Vogue.com:

Giambattista Valli

Chanel

Armani Privé

Givenchy

Christian Dior

Valentino

Versace

Sundance: 2012

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:24:00 +0000

The Sundance Film Festival is going on as we speak, and since we aren't there to enjoy the Park City beauty and take in all of the wonderful films, we have been perusing the internet to find movies we know we will love, and to keep up with what the industry is buzzing about! Here are three films that we can't wait to see- all for very different reasons, but all sure to be fantastic.

About Face: The Supermodels, Then and Now

Produced by portrait Photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, About Face explores the women that have defined the world's sense of beauty over the last fifty years. A candid look into the philosophies, ideas, and stories of the modeling elite, Greenfield- Sander's provides a glamourous yet personal look into a world many of us will never know. Featuring interviews and footage from industry insiders such as Calvin Klein and Eileen Ford, this is a must watch for the fashion and beauty obsessed.

Bachelorette:

Part Hangover, part Bridesmaids, Bachelorette takes on the female pre-wedding storyline with three very different friends who are learning to embrace their singledom, while "pig-face" from high school is engaged to one of the most eligible men in Manhattan, and they are the bridesmaids. The cast is what is drawing us in here, Kristen Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan and the wonderful Rebel Wilson are sure not to disappoint.

Goats:

When 15 year old Ellis Whittman leaves Arizona he is also leaving behind his self-absorbed mother, and his goat trekking, marijuana growing guardian, Goat Man. Headed for an East Coast prep school, he is forced to learn lessons about life, relationships from his past and his future, and family that he never knew. Directed by Christopher Neil and starring David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, Justin Kirk, Ty Burrell, Graham Phillips, and Keri Russell this is a film full of emotion and important truths about life and love that we can't wait to check out.

Babe Paley

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:52:00 +0000

Inspiring woman of the day is the iconic Babe Paley. Socialite, Vogue editor, mother of four, wife and one of the best dressed woman of all time; Babe's unconventional style has inspired women for decades, and continues to do so today. Truman Capote may have summed it up best when he described his friend "Babe only had one fault, she was perfect. Otherwise, she was perfect."

Photographed for Vogue, 1946

The most iconic picture of Babe by Slim Aarons, 1959

Babe and William Paley in Capri

Food For Life

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Baking. We know it's not always the easiest thing to master, but we've found a couple of recipes on Vital Juice that are fairly simple, and they are vegan as well! We apologize to your diets in advance, but these just sound too delicious not to share!

French Toast Apple Cobbler:

Topping

What you will need:

1/2 cup of whole unroasted cashews, soaked in water for two to eight hours, or until very soft.

2 cups of plain soy milk

1/4 cup of brown sugar

2 tbsp of earth balance vegan margarine

4 tsp of cornstarch

1 tsp of pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp of maple extract

1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon

pinch of salt

6 slices of slightly dry, soft sandwich bread, cut into 1/2'' cubes

Filling

What you will need:

2 1/2 lbs of Granny Smith or other tart baking apples

2 tbsp of lemon juice

2/3 cup of sugar

2 tbsp of all purpose flour

2 tbsp of brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon

Garnish

1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon

2 tbsp turbinado sugar

vegan whipped topping

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Drain cashews and combine them in a blender with soy milk, brown sugar, margarine, cornstarch, vanilla extract, maple extract, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Blend until smooth.

Peel and core the apples and slice into 1/4'' slices. In a 9x13'' ungreased baking dish combine apples, lemon juice, sugar, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes or until apples are soft and juicy. Remove from oven, discard foil and reduce heat to 350 degrees.

Add bread pieces into a large mixing bowl. Pulse topping mixture one more time, and pour over cubes. Let stand for 15 minutes, occasionally stirring the cubes to absorb more liquid. SPread over baked apples and pour remaining soy milk mixture evenly over cobbler.

Stir together remaining 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon and the sugar and sprinkle over the top of the cobbler. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until the top os golden and apple juices are bubbling. Remove the cobbler from the oven and let it cool for 20 minutes before serving warm. Top with whipped topping.

Chocolate Galaxy Banana Cheesecake:

Graham Cracker Crust

What you will need:

1 3/4 cups of finely ground graham cracker crumbs

3 tbs of sugar

2 tbsp of melted earth balance margarine, coconut oil or canola oil

1 tbsp of plain soy or almond milk

Heat over to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9'' springform pan with cooking spray. Ina mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Drizzle in melted margarine or oil. Use a spoon to blend the mixture throughly. Add in milk and stir again to creat a crumby dough.

Pour crumbs into plate, press firmly into pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until firm. Move to a cooling rack.

Filling

What you will need:

1/2 cup whole unsalted cashews, soaked in water for two to eight hours, or until very soft

1/2 cup of mashed banana (about 2 medium sized bananas)

1 (12-14oz.) package of silken tofu, drained

2/3 of a cup of sugar

2 tbsp coconut oil at room temp

4 tsp of cornstarch

1 tbsp of lemon juice

2 tsp of pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp of almond extract

1/4 tsp of sea salt

2/3 of a cup of semi sweet chocolate chips

Drain cashews and blend with the banana, tofu, sugar, canola oil, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla and almond extracts and sea salt. Blend until completely smooth.

Set aside 1/3 cup of batter and pour the rest into the crust. Melt chocolate chips over a double boiler or in a glass bowl in the microwave. Stir melted chips with a spatula until smooth. Add reserved batter and stir until smooth.

Randomly spoon dollops of chocolate batter into cheesecake. Poke the end of a chopstick into chocolate batter dollops and swirl.

Bake cheesecake for 50 to 55 minutes until top is slightly puffed and the edges are golden.

Remove cake from oven and cool for 20 minutes. Move to the fridge to cool for 3 hours or overnight.

YSL: Menswear in Spring

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Keep an eye out this coming March for the new YSL menswear campaign! Adding to the continued growth of the brand's menswear collection, creative director Stefano Pilati has called on, once again, David Sims who also shot the 2012 Women's Spring line. Featuring model Baptiste Radufe, this this is the first menswear campaign since Fall of 2007, when Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shot designer Marc Newson.

Fashion Inspirations

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Pastels and Florals: Springtime Style

This spring it's all about pastels and florals ladies! Pretty shades, and feminine details will be everywhere, and what better way to accent your fashions than with bright, shiny fun jewels from HOL?! Everyone from Louis Vuitton, to Prada, to Nina Ricci and many other designers were loving pastel on the Spring 2012 runways. Also, be sure to check out the spread in this month's Elle featuring a couple of House of Lavande favorites!

LoveArtDeco

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

On march 9th one of the most exciting fashion exhibitions to date will be opening at Les Art Decoratifs in Paris. Louis Vuitton-Marc Jacobs. Not much else needs to be said after that, but celebrating the original founder, and creative director of 15 years, is definitely something worth talking about. Fashion author Pamela Golbin is curating the event, and she has also written the accompanying exhibition book, which will no doubt be a must have. The show runs until September 16th, so you have plenty of time to plan that trip to Paris to check it out! In the meantime, be sure and visit the Tumblr site that Louis Vuitton has started called Love Art Deco. Below the down to the second countdown they are posting pictures and videos every few days to give us all a sneak peak of what we can expect at the show!

Food For Life

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:46:00 +0000

Keeping the immune system in good health is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. Especially around this time of year when everyone seems to be catching a cold! We're back to the Green Kitchen Stories blog for some extra healthy juicing ideas to keep our systems healthy and happy!

Superfruit Smoothie:

What you will need:

1 cup of frozen blueberries

1 cup of frozen raspberries

2 peeled kiwi

2 peeled oranges

oat milk

1 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp of cardamom

1 tbs of linseed oil

Put the fruit in a blender and cover with oat milk. Add the spices and oil and blend. Garnish with cinnamon.

Immune Boosting Grapefruit Juice:

What you will need:

6-8 mint leaves

1 red grapefruit

2 handfulls of strawberries

1 small fresh piece of ginger

1/2 tbs of vanilla powder

ice cubes

Blend everything together in a juicer or blender. If you use a blender, muddle the mint leaves first.

Kale, Apple and Lemon Juice:

What you will need:
5 small organic apples
1/2 of a lemon peeled
1 inch of fresh Ginger
2 cups of fresh Kale, thick stems removed
ice cubes

Add all of the ingredients in a juice machine and blend on the highest speed. Taste it, and if it is too tart, add more apples, if it is too sweet add more ginger and lemon. Serve cold.

Globe's Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:14:00 +0000

The red carpet at the Golden Globes last night, was, as usual, a feast for the eyes. Angelia was perfection, Zooye's custom made beaded Prada gown, and Heather's vintage Dolce are among our favorites of the night by far. Having to choose a few that we liked best wasn't an easy ask at all, but we managed it. So here you have it, a hand full of looks that we loved from last night!

Angelina in Atelier Versace and Brad in Ferragamo

Zooey Deschanel in Prada

Shailene Woodley in Marchesa

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Monique Lhuillier

Sarah Hyland in vintage Dolce & Gabanna

Jessica Alba in Gucci

Emma Stone in Lanvin

Jessica Biel in Elie Saab Haute Couture

Claire Danes in J. Mandel

June Carter Cash

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:32:00 +0000

Inspiring woman of the day is Mrs. June Carter Cash. A talented singer, songwriter, guitar player, actress and author who has had several number one hits, toured with Elvis, been married three times, and has had three children. A full life with much of it spent by the side of Johnny Cash, isn't a dull life at all.

June and Johnny recording around their home and making music in 2002

June and Johnny performing in 1969

June

June and Johnny in 1969

Tommy Ton and The Fellas

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

Our favorite street style fashion photog is at it again, friends. This time around he has made his way to Florence to the kick off of the annual Pitti Uomo men's shows. A collection of stylish and well put together gentleman is something we all love to see. We're lucky that these days, style and attention to fashion detail aren't reserved for ladies only. If you don't believe us, just ask the New York Times. A great focus on five of the male fashion bloggers who get it, and are bringing to us with swag. Yeah we said it.

Spring Forward

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Spring trends are emerging! Warm weather is on the horizon! Looks for spring are inspired by everything from the sea, the roaring 20's and structure of the 50's, to pretty in pastels, feminine yet sporty, and the midriff. Yes we said it! We've collected a few of our favorite looks from Style.com for you. Enjoy!

The Midriff :

Aquilano.Rimondi

Band Of Outsiders

Dolce and Gabanna

Fifties shapes and Structure:

Burberry Prorsum

Celine

Chado Ralph Rucci

Deco:

Alberta Foretti

Chloé

Gucci

Athletic Inspired:

Guy Laroche

Isabel Marant

Lacoste

Ocean Inspired:

Antonio Berardi

Alexander McQueen

Issa

Pastel Shades:

3.1 Phillip Lim

Calvin Klein Collection

Giambattista Valli

Food For Life

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:06:00 +0000

You know that exciting feeling you get when you discover a new app that you totally love and become obsessed with? Well we are currently having that feeling right now, for the Green Kitchen. This is an app that is as visually pleasing as it is helpful and informative. Easily scroll through options for breakfasts, drinks, main courses, soups, salads, and desserts. Once you have found a recipe that you want to make, you can email yourself the shopping list, with specific ingredients for each recipe. Check off steps as you complete them, and save your favorite recipes for quick reference later. Be sure to check out the guide at the top of each Read Recipe page to note which are vegan, gluten free, raw, whole grain and sugar free as well! We've added a sneak peek at one of our favorites from the app, the Quinoa and Kale Salad. It is a must try! This is an app that you will definitely love to use, now set that iPad up on the kitchen counter and get started!

Cabinet de Curiosités

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:05:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to visit a place where you could see a map table that once belonged to Napoleon, large scale insects made entirely of discarded tools and objects, paintings by the late Claudio Bravo, and sculptured heads by Manolo Valdés? If you answered yes to any of the above, then you are in luck! Cabinet de Curiosités is a curated collection of all of these things and more on display in Tribeca until January 31st. The "cabinet" is a dreamworld filled with treasures, surprises and details around every corner that is sure to leave you feeling as though you were transported into another time.

Better Each Day

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:20:00 +0000

Today Self Magazine is spotlighting a fantastic book that all of us can surely benefit from this coming year. Better Each Day, by Jessica Cassity rounds up tips and advice for making your days, happier, healthier, less stressful and worry free. In her research Jessica determined that often times the smallest changes had the biggest impact. Taking the stairs, adding great music to your day, or slightly modifying your diet, are all things we can easily do to make our days better!

These are five tips taken from the book to get you started:

#55 Good Music:

Listening to music you love is proven to reduce anxiety, lift your mood and help you cope with stressful situations. (We would also like to add that a nice loud sing along makes it that much better. Only if the situation is appropriate, of course)

#123 Go Outside

We are all guilty of it- getting so caught up in our daily routine, we forget sometimes that the outdoors exist. It's amazing how relaxing a walk around the block after work is for your mind, or even just stepping outside for a moment during the day to clear your head and breathe can make your day much better.

#109 Get a Massage

This can sometimes be a costly stress reliever, but as Jessica recommends, you can always recruit friends and family to do the job. But don't forget to return the favor, giving a massage has actually been proven to deliver some of the same benefits as receiving one!

#292 Gossip (sort of)

Researchers from Staffordshire University have proven that praising or speaking positively about someone who isn't around actually boots your mood! Keep the positivity flowing!

#305 Sleep well with beautiful smells

Getting at least 7 hours is vital in weight loss, and it has been shown that people who get less tend to consume more calories each day. Also, make sure you have pleasant smells around you while you sleep. They directly effect your quality of sleep and your dreams, so grab some fresh flowers for your bedside table asap!

24 Hour Catwalking With Alexa Chung

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:03:00 +0000

We are having a current obsession moment with Alexa Chung. Her street style, her collection for Madewell, and just all around awesomeness inspire us for days. Her new show 24 Hour Catwalk debuts for the first time in America next week on Lifetime as well! Each episode will be a contest where designers have 24hours to create a runway collection. There will be a first cut challenge, which will narrow the field to two contestants who will then compete in the runway show. Final collections will be shown to a panel of judges who include Derek Blasberg, Cynthia Rowley, publicist James Laforce, and Alexa. Be sure to check it out next Tuesday at 10pm on Lifetime!

Some of our favorite looks and photos of Alexa:

Looking adorable With Zooey Deschanel

In Louis Vuitton during Paris Fashion week

In her apartment

Wearing the Mulberry bag, at the Mulberry fashion show in NYC

Cocktail Culture

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Now through March 11, 2012 the Norton Museum of Art is hosting a fabulous exhibition that explores the cultural dynamic of the cocktail hour. Cocktail Culture features over 150 pieces of art, design and fashion that span everywhere from the 1920's to the present. The collection includes pieces from the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Newark Museum, the Tiffany & Co. Archive, Miottel Museum in California, and private lenders. Cocktail attire from top fashion houses such as Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, Yves, Saint Laurent, Norman Norell, Scassi, Valentino, and Pierre Cardin is also on display. Of course one of our favorite parts of the entire exhibition is the vintage accessories! If you have a chance to visit if you are in Palm Beach, be sure to check out the select House of Lavande pieces that are featured!

Food For Life

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:27:00 +0000

Our latest Meat Free Monday find is a rather exciting one. We have always known that Sir Paul McCartney is an advocate for healthy vegetarian eating, and now he and his family have put together a Meat Free Monday campaign! Focusing on how making better food decisions and cutting out meat just one day a week can vastly improve our health, and help the earth at the same time they bring news, and ideas together in a simple and easy to understand way. Below are two hearty recipes that will leave you feeling warm and full during these chillier months of the year. Be sure to check out their website for other recipe ideas and ways to get involved!

Asparagus and Lemon Risotto:

What you will need:

3 tbs of olive oil

2 shallots, chopped finely

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped

1 stick of celery, finely chopped

10oz of Srborio risotto rice

2 1/2 cups of warmed vegetable stock

1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed and chopped

6 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped

Juice and zest from 1/2 lemon

4 tbs of goat cheese or soya cream

Sea salt and black pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, heat the oil and gently cook the shallots, garlic and celery for about 4 minutes. Add in the rice and stir well. Add two ladles of warm vegetable stock and stir until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid. Keep adding the stock gradually for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add in the asparagus, the herbs and the lemon zest and continue to cook gently, stirring frequently. for approx another 10 minutes. Don't let the mixture dry out, add more stock if necessary. When the rice is cooked, mix in the goat cheese or soya cram and lemon juice, season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parmesan if desired after.

Spaghetti with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Aubergine (eggplant) and Chili:

What you will need:

4 shallots, finely sliced

2 cloves of garlic, finely sliced

2 tbs of olive oil

1 medium eggplant cut into small cubes

1 tsp of dried mixed herbs of your choice, or 1 tbs of fresh parsley finely chopped

Sliced sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil and drained

1-2 fresh red chili peppers, seeded and very finely sliced

8oz of light cream

Spaghetti

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Grated cheese for serving

In a frying pan, sautee the shallots and garlic in oil., covered, until soft for 5-6 minutes. Stir in the eggplant and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, and chili peppers and stir well to mix. Turn the heat down to very low, cover again and steam for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cream and heat through for another 5 minutes. In the meantime cook the spaghetti.

Puree the eggplant mixture in a food processor or mash to a paste and season to taste. Toss the sauce into the hot, well drained spaghetti and serve immediately with grated

Beauty In The New Year

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Throughout the year it's very easy to get lazy in our routines and daily beauty upkeep, so the beginning of the year is a perfect time to get back into the swing of things and try out some new products and get creative in your daily makeup routine as well! Here are a few great products that we suggest to get you in that beautifying mood that we all love so much!

Skincare:

1. Clairsonic skincare set

2. Murad Serum to even out skin tone

3. Clarins nightly repair cream

4. Laura Mercier tinted SPF moisturizer

Hair:

1. Ojon restorative hair treatment

2. Oscar Blandi dry shampoo

3. L'anza thermal defense flat ironing spray

Makeup:

1. Nails Inc. Wyndham Collection, nail effects

2. Smashbox Legendary lipstick

3. Urban Decay Urban Ammo eye pallete

4. Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes

Captured Movement

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:25:00 +0000

As lovers of all forms of art, we had to share this double artistic feature from yesterday's New York Times column, Lens. Featuring the below photographs of Andrea Mohin, hand picked by Andrea as some of her personal favorites, they are somewhat a year in review. What makes them even more exceptional is the skillful art that goes into photographing dance. Capturing the perfect moment, the feeling and the motion, are the small details that Mohin executes perfectly. She describes it best when she explains it as "Being in touch with what the music is telling you. That's what the dancers are doing, so if you are too, then you are on the same page."

Fashion Inspirations

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:03:00 +0000

2012 is just three days away! What will you be wearing to ring in the new year? A fun and flirty cocktail dress, or a sexy floor length? We've put together a couple of ideas here, using a few of our favorite HOL pieces. Also, don't forget you can always stop in with your dress, or send us a picture for some fun jewelry styling ideas!

Tommy Ton's 2011 Best

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:06:00 +0000

Tommy Ton's iconic street style photographs bring us the latest trends on the fashion scene by the ones who do it best. 2011 is coming to a close, and Tommy has wrapped it all up neatly in a list of the year's best. From personal style to the best bags and trends, it's all here for us to feast our eyes upon. Enjoy!

Look of the season: Shala Monroque

Biggest trend of the year: Color

Best runway to reality moment: Ulyana Sergeenko veiled in head to toe Louis Vuitton

Best bag: Fendi Silvana

The next street style star: Liz Cabral

Best clutch: Christopher Kane

Best sense of color: Elisa Nalin

Best post-baby comback: Lauren Santo Domingo in Armani Privé suit

Most surprising trend: The sneaker

Best reason to work on your fitness: Hanneli Mustaparta in Vika Gazinskaya and miu miu collar

Best dressed off duty model: Hanne Gaby Odiele

Best over the top accessories: Kate Lanphear

Best signature pose: Natalie Joos

The other biggest trend of the year: Prints

Most sought ofter subject: Ursina Gysi

Food For Life

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:18:00 +0000

The new year is swiftly approaching us, and in honor of resolutions, Meatless Monday, and making healthy changes in life, we are bringing Food for Life to the beginning of the week. Healthy living ideas, recipes and all the things you need to get your week started off on the right track!

One Food, Five Ways: Arugula
It's no major secret that arugula has become much more popular over the last couple of years. It's a spicy, delicious green that is extremely full of vital nutrients and vitamins. Today courtesy of vegetarian times, we are bringing you five delicious arugula meal ideas!

Cantaloupe-Arugula Salad:

What you will need-
3 cups of cantaloupe balls
1 cup tightly packed arugula
1tbs. of olive oil
1 1/12 tsp. of cracked black pepper
2 oz. of your favorite cheese, shaved

Toss together cantaloupe, arugula, oil and pepper in a large bowl. Season with salt, and top with a bold cheese, like gorgonzola.

Arugula-Ricotta Omelet:

What you will need-
1 egg and two egg whites
1 small shallot, chopped
1 oil packed sun-dried tomato, finely chopped, plus 1/2 tsp of oil from jar
1 cup of arugula
1 tbs of ricotta cheese

Whisk egg and egg whites with 1 tbs of water in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, set aside. Place shallot, sun-dried tomato and reserved oil in a small nonstick skillet and and saute over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add arugula and saute for 2 to 3 more minutes. Pour in egg mixture stirring to distribute arugula and tomato mix evenly. Reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes, or until omelet begins to set. Add ricotta cheese, and let the omelet cook for about a minute more, then fold in half, and enjoy.

Goat Cheese-Arugula Bruschetta:

What you will need for goat cheese spread-
8oz. of fresh soft goat cheese
2 tbs. of milk (we prefer almond or rice)
4 cups of arugula, coarsely chopped
2 tbs. of chopped chives
1 tsp. of grated lemon zest

What you will need for arugula sauce-
4 cups of arugula
3 cloves of peeled garlic
1 tbs. of grated lemon zest
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 tbs. of lemon juice

What you will need for the bruschetta-
1 french or sourdough baguette, cut into 32 slices
16 cherry tomatoes
1 cup of arugula for garnish

Spread-
Mash goat cheese with milk in a bowl. Stir in arugula, chives, and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper.

Sauce-
Blend arugula, garlic and lemon zest in food processor until finely chopped. Add olive oil an lemon juice and blend until smooth. season with salt and pepper.

To assemble bruschetta-
Spread each baguette slice with 1 1/12 tbs. of goat cheese spread. Top with 1/2 tsp. of arugula sauce. Garnish each with a cherry tomato half and arugula leaves.

Ultimate Summer Arugula Salad:

What you will need-
10 cups of arugula
4 ears of fresh corn
4 medium tomatoes, quartered and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
2 hass avocados, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 tbs. of lemon juice
2 tbs. of olive oil

Place arugula in a large salad bowl. Add tomatoes, avocados, lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss.

Crispy Lemon Pepper Arugula:

What you will need-
4 oz. of arugula leaves
2 tbs. of olive oil
2 tsp of lemon pepper seasoning

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss together arugula, olive oil, and lemon pepper in a large bowl until arugula is well coated with oil. Spread in a single layer on two large baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally with tongs, or until leaves are crispy and dark green. Season with salt.

Sipping on the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (House Of Lavande Blog) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:49:00 +0000

This weekend is going to be filled with fun, friends, and family, and one of the best parts of it all are the holiday cocktails! We will be trying some of these delicious recipes this weekend, and hopefully you will too!

Candy Cane Cooler:

What you will need:

For infusion:

2 cups of fresh mint leaves

1 bottle of quality vodka

Directions:

Throughly wash mint leaves and place in decanter. Empty vodka into container and muddle slightly to release the essential oils. Store in a cool dark place for at least 3 days.

For cocktail:

1 tbsp of crushed candy cane

1 1/2 oz. of mint infused vodka

1/2 oz. B&B (Benedictine and Brandy)

1/2 oz.of half and half

Ice

peppermint stick

mint for garnish

Plce crushed candy cane bits into pint glass. Muddle the candy cane slightly, breaking up the bigger pieces. Add vodka, brandy and half and half and stir. Pour into a shaker with ice. Shake lightly to chill and strain into a glass full of ice. Add the peppermint stick and mint garnish.

Mapletini:

What you will need:

2 shots of irish cream liquer
1 shot of brandy
1/2 shot of cinnamon schnapps
1 teasp maple syrup
ice
cinnamon stick

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

Maple Butter Kiss:

What you will need:

Ice

1 1/2 oz. of vodka

1/2 oz. DeKuyper Buttershot liquer or butterscotch scnhapps

1/4 oz. of real maple syrup

1oz. of half and half

fresh ground nutmeg

Directions:
Pour liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, Shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and top with fresh ground nutmeg.

Gingersnap:

What you will need:

1 oz. of Ginger beer
Ice
1 tsp ginger juice
1 1/2 oz. of dark rum
1tsp. of cinnamon schnapps
pinch of cloves
1 egg white
cinnamon stick
crystallized ginger square
Finely ground gingerbread cookie

Directions:

Pour enough ginger beer into a saucer to cover and dip a martini glass into the saucer to caot the rim. Dip into saucer with ground cookie. Scoop ice into shaker. Pour ginger juice, rum and cinnamon schnapps into a shaker. Add pinch of ground cloves. Separate an egg and add egg white to shaker. shake vigorously for at least 20 seconds until drink is frothy and foamy. The longer you shake, the frothier the drink. Add ginger beer and stir slightly. Pour into glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick and crystallized ginger square. Sprinkle the top