ARIZONA TRAVELER

POPCORN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

2013-05-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

A fun twist to chocolate chip cookies--the neighbor kids loved the addition of the popcorn (I used microwave buttered popcorn). I divided the batter and added chocolate chips to one batch and white chocolate chips to the other. Both were a hit.

Slightly adapted from Joy the Baker (who slightly adapted Smitten Kitchen's recipe).

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate (or white chocolate chips)

coarse sea salt for sprinkling

Microwave a bag of your favorite buttered popcorn. Piece through the popcorn to remove any unpopped kernels. Set aside to cool. You’ll need about 4 cups of popcorn.

Place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Cream until butter is pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla extract for one more minute. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and beat on low until just combined. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and use a spatula to fold in the popcorn. It might seem like a disproportionate amount of popcorn considering the cookie batter. Keep folding. The popcorn will break down a bit as it’s folded in. Fold in chocolate.

Scoop dough by the heaping tablespoonful onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with coarse sea salt. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until the edges and tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven, allow to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

WANDERING AROUND OXFORD

2013-05-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

Mercury Fountain, Tom Quad, Christ Church College

Last summer was my fourth visit to attend the Oxford Experience. Since I'm in the mood for a return trip I am posting a few pics I snapped as I wandered around Oxford.

Cloister Fountain, Christ Church College

One of ten windows in my room--this latch is perfection.

Food trucks are something new to Oxford. This one served the best pizza and it was parked right
outside Christ Church College.

This truck even had a wood-fired oven to bake the pizzas.

I never tire of the classic red phone booths.

Afternoon tea at the Randolph is always a must.

Gardens of Christ Church College.

Tom Quad, Christ Church College

Roaming around Oxford through pictures was just what I needed.

HAM HOUSE & GARDEN - England

2013-04-21T14:22:00.001-07:00

After our visit to Petersham Nurseries, we walked down the path to tour the nearby Ham House and Garden.

This glossy black signpost makes my heart skip a beat.

The most interesting stiles and gates are found along the English countryside footpaths. This is a stile to climb up and over to continue on your merry way.

We passed a few riders along the way.

Welcome to Ham House and Garden

A strange art exhibit was underway which I ignored, focusing on the house and gardens instead. But no pics taken inside of this 17th-century home.

I want this door.

And I want these gates to be the entrance to my backyard.

Ended our tour with a little cafe in the garden treat. Due to some forward thinking, we had arranged for our taxi driver (the nicest guy) to pick us up at Ham House and return us to the train station. Clever.

GRANOLA COOKIES

2013-04-17T20:27:00.003-07:00

Not a chocolate chip in sight and these cookies were still delish. Enjoy!

Adapted from Pioneer Woman Cooks

Preheat oven at 375 degrees

3 sticks of butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick cook oats
3 cups granola - mine came from the bins at Sprouts (love those bins)
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup dried cherries, chopped
1 1/2 cups apricots, chopped

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Next add flour, baking soda, and salt. Add in oatmeal and granola. Fold in pecans, cherries, and apricots.

Use small to medium sized cookie scoop and drop onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 12 minutes. Makes 5 dozen yummy cookies.

PETERSHAM NURSERIES - London

2013-04-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

Last July, after arriving in London we stashed our bags, and immediately caught a train to Richmond to visit Petersham Nurseries. What a treat!

There was a bit of a buzz about this place last summer. Wall Street Journal wrote an article and a few favorite bloggers posted about Petersham so it went on our list. I always add a few new places to visit whilst in London along with visiting old favorites.

This greeted us at the entrance--it almost feels as if there is an entrance fee but don't worry, there isn't.

First stop: straight back to the Teahouse to grab lunch.

Brilliant to place dessert at the beginning of this groaning board.

Chicken, salad, bread with a gorgeous slab of butter, and lemon cake for me.

Onward to the garden shop.

Aren't those terra cotta pots just perfect?

This summer I am going to tuck those brilliant green sweet potato plants around the garden.

An abundance of Dahlias.

Surprisingly comfortable, although a few pillows wouldn't hurt.

Love galvanized anything.

If I lived in anywhere near this place I would be absolutely broke.

Those chairs, those bowls....

Hope this visit adds a bright spot to your day.

KATHLEEN'S CRAB CAKES with Remoulade

2013-03-24T12:55:00.001-07:00

I love crab cakes, don't you? And these are super easy to make. Serve atop a bed of greens or on a toasted english muffin--just perfect. Don't know why you couldn't substitute canned salmon for the crab. It's on my list to try so I will let you know. This recipe came from my friend, Kathleen. Not sure the origination but knowing Kathleen, I'm sure she tweaked it a bit.

Ingredients

· Crab cakes:

· 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives

· 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

· 1 1/2 tablespoons canola-based mayonnaise

· 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

· 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

· 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

· 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

· 1 large egg

· 1/3 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

· 1 pound lump crabmeat, drained and shell pieces removed – Costco sells a pound of lump crab meat for a great price and it doesn’t have any shell pieces to remove

· 1 tablespoon olive oil

Preparation

1. 1. To prepare crab cakes, combine first 8 ingredients. Add panko and crab, tossing gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

2. 2. Fill a 1/3-cup dry measuring cup with crab mixture. Invert onto work surface; gently pat into a 3/4-inch-thick patty. Repeat procedure with remaining crab mixture, forming 8 cakes.

3. 3. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 crab cakes to pan; cook 4 minutes or until bottoms are golden. Carefully turn cakes; cook 4 minutes or until bottoms are golden and crab cakes are thoroughly heated. Remove cakes from pan; keep warm. Wipe pan dry with paper towels. Heat remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in pan. Repeat procedure with remaining 4 crab cakes.

Remoulade:

· 1/4 cup canola-based mayonnaise

· 1 tablespoon chopped shallots

· 1 1/2 tablespoons capers, drained and chopped

· 2 teaspoons Creole mustard

· 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

· 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

· 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

To prepare rémoulade, combine 1/4 cup mayonnaise and remaining ingredients in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Serve with crab cakes.

OR, do what I did and combine a bit of these two ready-made goodies to taste. Excellent.

ROUSHAM HOUSE & GARDEN

2013-03-17T17:49:00.001-07:00

I adore the grounds of Rousham. I think it is my favorite English garden. It's been ages since I've posted anything--shoulder surgery, old job ended, new job started. So on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, I thought it was time to post something and selfishly, I wanted to take a little walk through Rousham on a cloudy day, because I'm here in Arizona on a sunny 82 degrees day.

The Rousham garden is the work of William Kent. One of the things famous about Rousham is a letter written by a gardener by the name of Clary who worked with Kent and later wrote to the newest Rousham owner. The letter is a written guided tour describing the beautiful grounds to the absent owner, in hopes that he would appreciate the beauty and be tempted to visit.

Gorgeously restored bench - six in all

Our tour of Rousham was led by my Oxford tutor, Richard Bisgrove. He read bits and pieces from Clary's letter as we roamed the grounds and now I am realizing I need to get a copy of that letter.

Rousham House

The Gladiator

This urn is perfection

The Praeneste Terrace

Look at those wall colors! And isn't that bench glorious?

A tempting path

A pretty garden rill winding through the grounds

Arches and gates make my heart leap

Arches and urns also make my heart leap

Another refreshing water feature

A peek at the big house

Killer combo of mottled walls, cascading roses, purple and white lupine, chartreuse leaves.

Yellow roses climbing up the dovecote

(Never peek or breathe inside an active dovecote)

Spectacular orange flowers

This little tour was just what I needed today

MINESTRONE with SPINACH

2012-12-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

My friend, Jennifer, directed me to Aesthetic Nest a while ago, and although I don't knit, sew, or crochet, I can appreciate the talent of this lovely blogger. Yesterday morning, I popped over to see what Aesthetic Nest was doing and found this soup recipe. It has been cold here in the low desert, and I had most of the ingredients including spinach fresh from the garden. With a slight tweak, I've adapted the recipe to suit what I had in my pantry. I am so glad that I doubled the recipe--it is delicious!

Minestrone with Spinach - adapted from Aesthetic Nest

1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic
2 T olive oil
5 cups (40 oz) chicken stock
1 lb diced tomatoes with their juice
1 zucchini, chopped
1 large carrot sliced about ¼” thick
4-5 large handfuls of spinach leaves
1 14.5 oz can white beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 T Herbs de Provence
1/2 T sugar
1 bay leaf
1 c. macaroni or shells (I used wheat shells)
2T balsamic
Salt and pepper
2 T coarsely chopped fresh parsley
Grated parmesan

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, carrot, zucchini, herbs, sugar and bay leaf.

Cover partially and simmer until the carrots are tender, at least 20 minutes. Add the pasta and cook, uncovered, until al dente, 8-10 minutes more. Add the spinach and stir it until it is wilted.

Add the beans and simmer until they are warmed through. Add the balsamic vinegar. Season to taste with freshly ground salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley and parmesan.

Seven Layer Bars - Again (Improved, if possible)

2012-12-23T09:39:00.002-07:00

I've posted about similar bars before but I made them again this time tweaking a different recipe--the classic recipe from Eagle Brand (makers of the delicious sweetened condensed milk).

I made slight changes including doubling the portion of the crust--oh, my.

Ingredients

2 sticks of butter, melted (this is twice the amount in the original recipe)
3 cups of graham cracker crumbs (also twice the amount in the original recipe)
1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
1 cup (6 oz) butterscotch chips
1 cup (6 oz) chocolate chips (I used the 60% cacao chips)
1 1/3 cups shredded coconut (I used unsweetened, flaked coconut)
1 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)

Directions
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9 x 13 baking dish by lining it with foil (leave a bit hanging over the ends) and spraying the foil lightly with non-stick spray (I use Baker's Joy).

Combine the melted butter with the graham cracker crumbs, mixing well. Press the crumb mixture firmly into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crumb mixture. Layer evenly the remaining ingredients; press down firmly with a fork.

Bake 25-30 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. After bars are cooled, lift the foil edges and remove bars from pan. Cut into individual bars.

SEZINCOTE GARDENS

2012-12-03T17:47:00.001-07:00

Sezincote House and Garden was another Oxford class field trip. Have you ever heard of Sezincote? I hadn't. I didn't particularly love the house (it's the inspiration for Brighton Pavilion), but there were a few interesting water features that I would love to replicate.

This is the pretty side of the house. It is done in an Indian-style which looks a little odd in the Cotswolds (in my opinion).

The Orangery is gorgeous and curves around this beautiful grassy area. It is now serving as a lunch/tea room.

The best part of the garden is away from the house and down a slope.

I immediately thought better of the owners for having two swings in such a perfect spot.

After a bit of swinging you can walk down the lawn and over the bridge to

this delightful running spring that will bring a smile to your face--it did mine and it still does as I type this.

Honestly, I don't know if that is a gravel pathway or a stream of water--any guesses?

This was my favorite water feature. After our group traipsed through, I came back to take a few photos and to sit a bit and just think.

You can hop along these limestone steps and either go straight on through to the wooded area or

turn left and hop on over to this bench for a quiet spot to think. It was hard to get a really good photo but I did my best.

HIDCOTE GARDEN

2012-11-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Tours of Hidcote and Sezincote were part of my Paradise in an English Garden class at Oxford. This was my second visit to Hidcote famous for its design of garden rooms. Also famous for this gray-blue paint color seen on gates and benches.

Hidcote should brand this paint color, don't you think? Buckets of "Hidcote Blue" would be sold.

Someday I'm going to post pics of fabulous weather vanes I've seen.

Hydrangeas in abundance.

Archways and paths lead to various garden rooms throughout the property.

A long, wide hallway between rooms.

Someday I will post pics of all the fabulous benches I've seen. More Hidcote blue.

If you look closely at the sky portion of this pic you will see a swarm of bees. I was the last visitor to see this area before it was closed off. The buzzing was a little unnerving.

The benches are more comfortable than they look.

Trellis patterns are always interesting. Just the word "trellis" is pretty.

A gorgeous zinc planter.

After touring Hidcote, I walked out the front gate, turned right, and walked down the lane to see what was nearby.

"To Let" looked tempting. Who wouldn't want to spend a bit of time here?

Pretty cottages just steps from the road.

Admired the horses grazing behind a stone wall and then as I rounded the lane came to a screeching halt....

roosters, chickens, and ferocious looking swans roaming around as if they owned the place. Farm animals freak me out. Well, farm animals on the loose freak me out. If I had a stick I would have kept walking but since I only had my bag and camera I retreated. Sad since I would have like to know what was around the bend....

But as I walked back up this pretty little lane I forgot all about what I didn't see and reveled in the view.

And looking at a thatched roof cottage makes for a nice ending.

SWEET POTATO, APPLE, and GINGER SOUP - Amy Traverso

2012-11-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Another perfect autumn recipe from The Apple Lover's Cookbook by Amy Traverso. And that gorgeous pumpkin pot by Staub sits atop my stove from mid-September through November 30.

Makes 6 cups

1 pound sweet potatoes (445 g) peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/2 pound (227 g) baby-cut carrots
1 large apple (about 8 ounces) any apple, although sweet is ideal--unpeeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
5 tablespoons (75 ml) olive oil, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 to 2 inch piece ginger, peeled and cut into medium chunks
3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 bay leaf
4 cups (945 ml) reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh apple cider

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, toss the potato, carrots, and apple with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Arrange on a foil-lined sheet pan (I used a silpat) and roast until tender, about 30 minutes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the pot and set over medium-high heat. Add the onion, ginger, garlic, bay leaf, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until the onions just begin to turn golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the roasted vegetables, broth, and cider, stir, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove the bay leaf from the pot and use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree the soup until smooth. If using a regular blender, process the soup in three batches to avoid splattering hot liquid. Return the pureed soup to the pot, taste for seasoning, and serve.

APPLE BROWNIES - Amy Traverso

2012-10-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

How did I miss this cookbook? This was published a year ago and I love apples! The Apple Lover's Cookbook by Amy Traverso is a gem. And this recipe is one of the best ever--if you like apples, cinnamon, and walnuts, and of course you do. Thanks to Sunday of Ciao Domenica for mentioning this gorgeous book.

Ingredients
1 cup (145 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
8 tablespoons (1 stick; 113 g) salted butter, melted and coole, plus more for greasing pan
1 cup (210 g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup (60 g) chopped walnuts
2 large firm-sweet apples (about 1 pound total) --I used Honey Crisp--peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Directions
1. Preheat ove to 350 degrees and set a rack to the middle position. Generously butter the baking dish (11 x 7) and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside. In the bowl of a standing mixer at high speed or using a hand-held mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, and egg until pale, about 2 minutes. Add the walnuts and apples and stir by hand until evenly combined. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined, another 30 seconds.

3. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake until golden brown and lightly firm to the touch, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool on a rack for 30 minutes, then cut into 12 bars and transfer to serving platter.

Note: Instead of chopping apples into 1/2 cubes, I chopped them into 1 inch. So, this turned out to be apple cake instead of apple brownies. Next time, I will cut into the 1/2 inch pieces which should make it more brownie-like.

THE OXFORD EXPERIENCE - Again!

2012-10-24T01:30:00.000-07:00

Cannot believe I had the good fortune to attend The Oxford Experience for the fourth time.

It rained almost every day we were there--a treat for Arizona girls.

We checked in, got the keys, threw our stuff in each of our rooms (my room pictured),

took a quick look around

snapped a few pics

opened the windows and then took off for a long walk along the Isis River to find some lunch.

I had been reading Deborah Crombie's book, Water Like a Stone, which featured canal boats so it was fun to see a few home-sweet-homes docked along the path.

Leslie had remembered this place having the best fish and chips, sadly they no longer serve that treat.

Whatever we ate was good and we would definitely return.

I know I've taken you on a tour of Oxford before (click here, here, or here) but let's have another go. First, this little pizza truck was new and was parked right outside of Christ Church College. Wood-fired pizza--excellent.

Look at those doors! Some lucky students get to enter these every day.

Another beautiful college.

Back to Tom Quad at Christ Church College--my alma mater!

PUMPKIN CAKE

2012-10-21T10:35:00.001-07:00

From Taste of Home

Every weekend in the fall I want to make apple and pumpkin recipes. This pumpkin cake won last week. This weekend it is apple brownies so stay tuned.

Ingredients

4 eggs
1-2/3 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
ICING:
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Directions

In a bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until well blended.
Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt;
gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into an
ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for
25-30 minutes or until set. Cool completely.
For icing, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, butter and
vanilla in a small bowl. Add enough milk to achieve spreading
consistency. Spread over bars. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 2
dozen.

PUMPKIN GINGER SOUP and TOMATILLO SALSA

2012-10-17T01:30:00.000-07:00

My darling friend, Ashley, brought me a jar of her pumpkin ginger soup and tomatillo salsa. Both were excellent so I knew you would want the recipes. The pumpkin soup had a nice burn from the ginger and although the twins next door (they are now nine years old!) didn't try the soup, they loved the salsa.

PUMPKIN GINGER SOUP
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon peeled and diced fresh ginger
1/4 cup diced carrots
1/4 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
3 1/2 cups vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup raw, hulled pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

In a medium saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add ginger, carrots, celery, onion, and saute until vegetables begin to soften, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add pumpkin and stir well. Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes.

Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree the mixture until smooth. Strain the soup back into the saucepan and add the cream. Keep warm.

Put the raw pepitas in a medium non-stick skillet and toast over medium-high heat, stirring until the seeds are fragrant, light brown, and begin to pop, about 3 minutes.

To serve, ladle the warm soup into serving bowls and garnish with toasted pepitas.

TOMATILLO SALSA
2 jalapeno chiles, seeded and diced
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
8 tomatillos, husked and diced
1 cup diced red, yellow, or orange bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

To prepare the salsa, combine all the ingredients in a non-reactive bowl. Let stand at least 1 hour and not more than 3 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend. That's it!

Both recipes are from Seasonal Southwest Cooking by Barbara Pool Fenzl.

CAVENDISH HOTEL & CHATSWORTH FARM SHOP

2012-10-14T01:30:00.000-07:00

Cavendish Hotel was our favorite hotel of the trip. Sitting on the property of Chatsworth made it even better.

My usual faves are everywhere--stone facade, white framed windows, climbing roses, with a bit of lilac thrown in.

Cavendish is the family name of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

That's Miss Leslie waving from our window.

And here is the view from our room. Is there a bad view in the English countryside?

Caramel, cream, and pinky-red is a favorite combination of mine. Just right for the front room.

Public rooms for reading or chatting.

The hallway to our room - I'm always smitten by striped walls.

Almost didn't post--why can't I remember to take a picture before our stuff is strewn all over the place?

Blues and silvers invited us right into this elegant dining room.

Chatsworth Farm Shop was a must on our list. We picked up breakfast for the next morning.

Look at all that smoked salmon.

Couldn't decide between gooseberry or bramble and apple yogurt. So bought both. Yum.

A little happy hour at the end of the day.

LET'S TOUR HADDON HALL

2012-10-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

Haddon Hall is a well-preserved 12th century medieval manor house we had the great luck to tour. It also had the added benefit of a pretty chapel.

Haddon Hall has shown up in loads of British films including Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightly), several versions of Jane Eyre and The Princess Bride. I will have to watch these movies again and keep an eye out for bits and pieces of this estate.

The Long Gallery
Ever wonder how you could possibly make this room livable? See the pic below.

This photo was on display to show how a previous family turned it into a very comfortable room.
Again, I'm thinking of a dark and stormy night, crackling fire, lamps lit for reading, tea and toast.

The gardens were more inviting than I expected. Look at that well-designed herb garden next to the mottled walls. Those straight lines are so appealing along with the bright and pale greens.

The upper gardens

The lower gardens

The pretty chapel is attached to the property. Also very well-preserved.
Don't you think the purple lilacs are just the right touch?

This is the marble sculpture of Lord Haddon, the young son of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, who died too young. His mother, the Duchess, designed and sculpted the effigy. Sweet and heartbreaking.

Most of the wall paintings were done during the Reformation period (16th century). I'm assuming that is Henry VIII standing there in the middle between the windows looking ready for a fight.

A pretty pattern that reminds me of Istanbul.

The leaves and flowers bring a light feeling to the chapel.

This is perfection.

BESS OF HARDWICK - HARDWICK HALL

2012-10-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

Hardwick Hall is Bess's place. You know, Bess of Hardwick, best friend to the Queen and all that.

Bess was married four times. Love may not have been involved but she became wealthier with each union (husbands included a Cavendish and a Talbot (Earl of Shrewsbury). Good for her. She built beautiful estates (Chatsworth was the first of many), became the most powerful woman in the land second to Queen Elizabeth I, and eventually (after several hundred years) gave us Queen Elizabeth II.

This is 14th Century Hardwick Old Hall (owned by English Heritage). Bess lived in it for a bit, and then decided the view was better on an adjacent property and started building Hardwick Hall (owned by National Trust).

After you purchase your ticket from English Heritage, you can roam around the ruins which are still in pretty good shape.

Look at that gorgeous plasterwork--still beautiful despite being exposed to the wind, rain, and year round damp.

16th century Hardwick Hall is just a few hundred yards from the ruins (I'm not good at estimating yards, are you?) so let's take a look around at Bess's place.

This refectory table catches your attention when you walk into the entrance hall. Gleaming polished wood that seems to go on forever. Yes, I'll need a table that seats 40, please. Oh, and yes, in one long unbroken piece, of course.

So much nicer than stating, "DO NOT SIT", don't you think?

Bess was also famous for collecting tapestries which added warmth and texture to these cavernous rooms.

Plaster friezes travel around the perimeter at the top of the walls.

This is a walnut Eglantine table or, game table, depicting game boards and musical instruments.

More gorgeous tapestries in the Ship Bedchamber.

Has it ever occurred to you to monogram your cookware? Me neither. But if I had these polished copper pots I just might. Take a look....

First, I love the crown atop the simple D above Hardwick.
Not sure what the "D" represents, it may be the county Derbyshire but no one could confirm.

That elegant monogram is on every copper pot and every copper lid.

"Hardwick hall, more window than wall" it was said.
Note the "ES"for Elizabeth Shrewsbury, Bess had her initials placed on at least eight different prominent places around the exterior of her house along with a pretty crown similar to the crown on the copper pots. The woman had power, wealth, and style.

WOLF HALL - Hilary Mantel

2012-09-24T01:30:00.000-07:00

Taking a little break from nonstop posts about my recent summer travels to bring you a book review.

Okay--I'm a little late to the game. Some of my favorite bloggers read Wolf Hall two years ago. I finally started reading it last month and just finished.

It started out strong, and then I lost track of few characters and suddenly after about 100 pages it all started clicking and it was hard to put down (even harder to hold since it is a little over 500 pages). Rarely do I read historical fictions--I prefer the real thing. But, boy, did Hilary Mantel get it right. The fun part is she tricks you into forgetting that you do actually know how how it all ends.

The story focuses on Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII moving toward establishing the Church of England due to the king's desire to divorce his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, to marry the devious Anne Boleyn. Brutal climate, intrigue, and enough historical facts to make you believe you know what's going on. Glad I read it.

My only complaint is the length of the book--532 pages.

THE DOWAGER DUCHESS AND A VILLAGE FETE

2012-09-17T01:30:00.000-07:00

We had seen the signs and couldn't believe our luck. A village fete! In Edensor! Where the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire (Deborah Mitford Cavendish) lives. The stars had aligned and we could attend. I'm smiling right now just thinking about it.

Edensor is pronounced "Ensor" just so you know.
Fete is pronounced "fate", but you already knew that.

We paid our four pounds, and walked into our first village fete.

You will notice the change in the skies in these pictures.
Depending upon the direction, bright blue skies or dark brooding clouds or blah, blah gray.

Festive flags fluttering above--this summer the whole of England was covered in flags.

Happy and content.

The first private home garden we toured.

We toured so many gardens in this tiny village and loved them all.

Yep, that's a bronzed dog keeping guard on the roof.

Have we come upon Middle Earth? Is that Gandalf taking a rest?

No, darn, just a gentleman and his dog.

The magical pathway to the house, or The House. You-know-who lives there.

Oh, this is exciting. Our first peek.

Yes, the house in all its glory.
The home of the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, Deborah Mitford Cavendish.
I am besotted.

Inside that gorgeous blue front door is an apple green entrance hall (see below).

Yes, I saved my copy--I'm sure you did, too.

I took so many pictures of her home, I am surprised security wasn't called to drag me away.

As much as I loved Chatsworth, if given the choice (you know, when I close my eyes and all of my dreams come true) I would much prefer to live in this house.

The duchess can just walk out her door, round the corner and head to church.

Just in case you wanted to see the garage door.

This is the chicken coop near her home--the fencing just adds to the beauty of the estate.

I'm not 100% sure, but this may be her personal garden. Look at those gorgeous terra cotta cloches.

These people kill me--this is not a set, but a real life vicarage with the empty milk bottles waiting to be picked up. I have got to move.

Well, we've stayed so long that the villagers think we now look familiar to them or they are starting to become suspicious. Time to start heading back to reality that, no, we don't live here and would have to be an employee on the estate of Chatsworth to make it even a possibility. Hmmm, I will have a change in employment next year. Something to think about.

We will miss the stone, the church, the blue painted gates, the beautifully tended gardens, and the dowager's quintessential english country home.

Hasn't it all been grand?

CHATSWORTH GARDENS

2012-09-10T01:30:00.000-07:00

It was late June but it felt like September as we roamed around Chatsworth.

Dark clouds would roll along, followed by bits of bright blue skies, and a light breeze every now and then. No rain, so no need to stash an umbrella in the bag. Bliss.

One of the nice things about Chatsworth is that you don't have to follow a tour guide throughout the estate. No bunched up groups smacking into each other. You can speed walk through, stop when you've found something interesting, or dreamily walk along pretending to live there. We would be the latter.

Speaking of living there, this is the family's private entrance to Chatsworth.

Note the topiaries at the top of the steps.

Let's roam around a bit. The gardens at Chatsworth continue to evolve but the two most famous of the landscape architects are Lancelot "Capability" Brown (who designed most of the open parkland) and Joseph Paxton, who is probably the best remembered of the long list of rock star gardeners.

The Cascade House
On a warm day you can give your toes a dip

Peonies!

The Cottage Garden

She was my favorite sculpture standing guard along the hedge row

The Rockery
Designed by Joseph Paxton

The Emperor Fountain and Canal Pond
Also designed by Joseph Paxton

Rose gardens at the Orangery

Hmmm, interesting. Wouldn't want it in my garden, though.

West Parterre

Oh, what's this?

Let's take an ice cream break

So fun! Thanks for stopping by.

FINALLY TO CHATSWORTH - INTERIORS

2012-09-03T01:30:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day at Chatsworth. Just look at those colors!

Certainly, we were meant to be there on a day like this.

I suspect you know that Chatsworth is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
And, of course, you are fully aware that Chatsworth was used for the exterior shots of the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice.

The famous Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, lived at Chatsworth.
You probably read all about her in Amanda Foreman's excellent biography.

Deborah Mitford Cavendish, the current Dowager Duchess of Devonshire
Her biography Wait for Me!: Memoirs is a delight.

How about a tour of the interiors of this majestic estate? The artwork is astounding.
Paintings, sculptures, tapestries, wood carvings, metalworks, and more fill Chatsworth up to the attics.

Paintings by Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, are just a few of the artists in the Chatsworth collection.

Paintings fill up the walls along the hallways

and on the ceiling of the grand entrance hall.

And tucked under those gorgeous stairs in the entrance hall is a ping pong table for family fun.

Dazzling porcelains all lined up
Perfect illustration as to why grouping collections has such impact

Hand painted Chinese wallpaper from 1830
I loved this so much that I bought several items in the gift shop depicting this pattern

The Mary, Queen of Scots room
A little cramped but I'll take it

Picture taken in honor of my sweet niece, Ellie.

Different chair but love the fabric combination

Don't you just want to crawl into that bed, pull tight the bed hangings, sleep the sleep of the just,
and then be awakened with tea and toast served on a tray?

And how about ending the day in the library?
Sitting in one of those cosy chairs (I'm thinking the dark green velvet chair on the left side would be perfect), reading a good book in the middle of a 'dark and stormy night' is my idea of heaven.

"A Veiled Vestal Virgin"
by Raffaelle Monti
Marble, yes, marble

The dining room

The dining room
(Couldn't decide which shot to use so I posted both)

Entering into the sculpture gallery

This is how I felt after touring Chatsworth, with hand to heart and a wistful look on my face.
Next post: The Gardens of Chatsworth

MACARONI SALAD

2012-08-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

While I am getting soaked in Tampa, Florida this week, I am sending you this yummy recipe for Macaroni Salad--sooo good!

Our family doesn't usually go for macaroni salad. But on a hot day this sounded just right to serve with grilled sliders. I adapted this recipe from Pioneer Woman Cooks and everyone loved it. Not too mayonnaisey (which is my usual complaint about macaroni salads) and the sweetness from the pickles is magic. I use Bubbies Bread and Butter Chips (found at Sprouts in the refrigerated deli section) which is our favorite sweet pickle.

Ingredients

4 cups Elbow Macaroni
3 whole Roasted Red Peppers, Chopped
½ cups Black Olives, Chopped
6 whole Sweet/spicy Pickle Slices, Diced (about 1/2 Cup Diced)
1 cup diced Celery
4 whole Green Onions, Sliced (white and dark green parts)
½ cup Mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
3 teaspoons Sugar
¼ teaspoons Salt, More To Taste
Plenty Of Black Pepper
¼ cups Milk (more if needed)
Splash Of Pickle Juice (spicy Sweet Pickles)

Preparation Instructions

Cook the macaroni in lightly salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.

Mix together mayo, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Splash in enough milk to make it pourable. Splash in pickle juice for extra flavor. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Set aside.

Place cooled macaroni in a large bowl and pour 3/4 of the dressing. Toss and add more dressing if you’d like. (Dressing will seem a little thin, but it will thicken up as salad chills.)

Stir in olives, roasted red peppers, pickles, celery, and green onions. At the end, splash in a little more pickle juice and stir.

Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Sprinkle with sliced green onion to serve.

THE POTTERIES - England

2012-08-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

We screeched to a halt when we saw this sign so that I could hop out and snap a pic. B roads are the best.

I LOVE ENGLAND!

Where are we? Stoke-on-Trent, also known as The Potteries.

Lots of shops and factory's housing English pottery. First stop: Emma Bridgewater.

Are you familiar with Emma Bridgewater pottery? It's one of the few potteries that is still made in England and the dishes are beautiful.

Having just driven through torrential rain and watching flashes of lightening grow closer we were happy that Emma Bridgewater had a tearoom. Fully restored after tea and scones, we plunged into shopping and found a few treats.

This is the line I'm partial to: Black Toast and Marmalade.

Here are a few of the items I had shipped home to add to my collection.

We stopped by a few more shops and then checked into

The Graythwaite in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire

What a great find this was (well done, Leslie).

We were greeted with afternoon tea in the library and then

I spied this gorgeous Lacanche range in the kitchen and

these pretty flowers stashed in a Burleigh pitcher on the sill

so, I just knew there would be a fine view from our room.

Hazel and John Cooke, Proprietors

Hazel and John are quite the culinary team. Hazel makes the yogurt, John cooks the breakfast (on my current obsession French Lacanche range) using fresh, local, and organic products and her parents make most of the jams and preserves. We sampled everything and didn't eat again until dinner.

After seeing a few Burleigh pieces at Hazel's, we had to stop by for a peek.

Of course we had to buy a few things. Well, more than a few things. Leslie decided it was time to freshen-up her tableware and bought all sorts of plates, bowls, cups, and saucers.

Here is my stash. Those checkerboard plates were $4 each (originally $30 each) and work well with my current cobalt blue dinner plates. Mixing and matching is far more interesting than a matched set, no? We then placed a moratorium on additional dinnerware purchases and quickly got out of town.

"Please drive with special care" is so dignified.

Next stop: Chatsworth (finally!)