Another piece in Martha Stewart Living's, June 2010 issue is about a couple, Karen Mordechai, a wedding photographer, and her husband Ken Rivera - who decided to invite friends over for a home-cooked meal one Sunday in their apartment. The tradition has now grown into an official class, called Sunday Suppers and now a guest chef is invited to come to their loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on a regular basis. The feature is photographed by Karen Mordechai and as I always love getting new entertaining ideas - I loved the simplicity of this meal. The guest chef for this occasion was senior food editor at Martha Stewart Living, Shira Bocar.



The theme was rustic Italian and one can see this reflected in the delicious looking flat breads, above, which are served with warm Robiola cheese and roasted red peppers and olives. I just love bread that is crisp almost like a cracker and the rosemary and extra sea salt - perfection.

The fun is here that the guests help with the preparations but it's a very casual affair. The menu included:

Meatballs with fresh tomato sauce

Herbed Flat bread

Roasted Asparagus dressed with lemons and capers

Wedges of Frittata

Liqueur soaked Fruit

Affogato al Caffe - "drowned in coffee" (below)

Nothing like a shot of coffee with fresh vanilla ice cream - a hot and cold delight.

With plenty of Prosecco and Martini's - it sounds like the day was just lovely.

Check out more on Sunday Suppers - there are loads more images and also photos of other meals.

*All photos by Karen Mordechai, featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine.

Art With Tarts

This story in the June 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine - had the stylist in me drooling. Photographed by Johnny Miller - VIVE la tarte!- has sewing illustrations created by Miyuki Sakai. The plates that all the tarts have been photographed on are actually embroidered artwork. I haven't seen such creativity in shooting food in a long time.


I'm not going to drag on about this because the images absolutely speak for themselves and the images are stunning, simple and just beautiful.

Intrigued by Miyuki Sakai's work - I checked out her website http://www.miyukisakai.com/ and encourage you to do the same. She is a sewing illustrator - I'll be doing a post on just her too!

Nenagh Country Market

The Nenagh Country Market held on Friday mornings here in town is one of my favourite spots to go- especially when summer kicks in and the fabulous bouquets of flowers fill the hall. Last week it was these amazing striped roses that captured my eye. For €3.50 a bunch you just can't go wrong and they bring so much pleasure to the eye but also their scent is just amazing.

I've got to get myself this rose for my own garden - I've realized that most of mine are white or pale pink and I need something dramatic like this.

I took the bunch of roses and combined with my own alchemilla that I have out in my front garden. Love the contrast of the different greens - as always photographed against my blue and white toile background.

This is on of my own roses that is just outside our sliding glass doors from the kitchen. We finally got a trellis for it and that has been painted in a slightly contrasting green paint from the wall that we got from Farrow and Ball. My hope is that this rose will grow up over the wall so my next door neighbour can enjoy as well (she's hoping too!).

And here's my real rose standing in front of it.

And my pink bush rose.

From my own roses and alchemilla, I made this simple arrangement for Sophia's room.

What plants do you just love this time of year? Any favourites? Would love to hear from you.

Ur Dream Home - June/July 2010

The latest issue of Ur Dream Home magazine just came out. My column "Embracing Irish Craftsmanship" in this issue highlights all the wonderfully creative people there are throughout the country -although unfortunately, there's never enough space to mention them all.
The issue, as always, has a great selection of editorial pieces. There's a piece on "Biological Architecture" by Michael Rice that's really interesting and talks all about how the shape of the circle influences design.

Another fascinating piece by Paul Cuddy is the first in a series of pieces talking about the restoration and revival of Cloontycilla Castle - which by the way was originally built in the 1830's as a folly and it is now on a journey to a new life with a proper interior being built for it. I for one am looking forward anxiously to the next issue to see how it progresses.

And Ciaran Burke from The Garden School brings us summer in Lapland. As always he's captured this beautiful land through his great photography showing us all the diverse plant life he came across on his visit. The images give Irish gardeners a glimpse at hardy plants that could with stand the harshest of winters - good to keep in mind if our winters continue the way it was last year.

Of course, there's lots more in the issue but you'll have to pick a copy for yourself - now even available in Dunnes!

Swooning over Strawberries

Strawberries are everywhere at the moment and you'd be foolish to pass them up at this time of year as they are one of the best and yummiest summer treats. The road side stands are everywhere and here in Nenagh there's a table set up every day down at the Market Cross where you can pick up a basket.

To be honest, one of my favourite ways of eating them is just on their own - no sugar just right off the hull. Pop them in your mouth and savour their fruity goodness. They are super healthy for you anyway, low in calories and filled with good nutrients to boost your immune system. Strangely enough, while I love strawberries and ice cream - I don't like strawberry ice cream and strawberries with cream has absolutely no appeal to me.

Strawberries can be used in a range of delicious dishes, particularly desserts.
Above is a strawberry and Irish creme liquor fool.

Top a cheesecake with strawberries or make a strawberry cheesecake - the perfect summer dessert.

Strawberries are so big here now that the Irish Soft Fruit Growers in conjunction with Bord Bia launched National Strawberry Week. This year it ran June 7-13th but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy them all summer long - especially with the almost 8 weeks of good weather we've had at this stage.

Here's "strawberry man" dressed up for last years festivities.

Strawberry and orange shortbread with custard cream.

I'll definitely head out first thing in the morning to pick up a punnet for the weekend - although I doubt it will last that long!

Monsoon for Kids

I just love Monsoon and I'm sure you can guess one of the reasons why - you got it - their fabulous colours.


I was in the shop in Limerick lately having a browse and picked up their Monsoon Children catalog.

Just wanted to share some of the images with you because I thought not only were the children just absolutely beautiful but I loved the styling and setting of the shoot.

All my favourite rich colours one finds in Mexico - complete with Papel Picados - these wonderful paper cut banners.

This has to be one of my favourite shots - the girl is just like a little cherub and the rich colours of the walls, the papel picados and her charming dress just make the shot wonderful.

If you are not familiar with Monsoon - be sure to stop by and have a good look. Their stock changes frequently and they have great sales (the only way I can afford anything) but when you do get something it becomes a treasured piece.

Delight in your Child's Artwork

My daughter, I'm delighted to say, has definitely got art in her genes. As I've mentioned before both my parents, her grand-parents, are artists and it looks like my little blue eyed girl has got the artistic bug. The drawing above was created in a burst of artistic energy on Friday evening after a long week at school.




And this Australian masterpiece, inspired by the Aboriginal paintings they were doing in school to compliment all they've been learning about Australia. I love the Koala in the tree and the wonderful Kangaroo and Platypus.




Her people are particularly wonderful and amusing and progressing so much recently.

I'm not sure if this was subconsciously inspired by the World Cup but I found this after I came home one day with various flags and drawings of people from different countries.

I make sure that I use my office to hang her drawings and let her know how proud we are of them. In fact, it reminds me, I really need to frame some more and hang them in a few more spots - the family bathroom could use some more life in it and I'm sure I can squeeze some more into the hallway.

Outdoor Entertaining

If I lived somewhere like Palm Springs - I know I'd want to be outside all the time. Eating outside, entertaining outside and even sleeping outside. This story in the May issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine is so inspiring. Photographed by Coral Von Zumwalt, it shows off colourful creative summer entertaining inspired by the light and colours of the surroundings.

As you know I'm such a big fan of colour and the setting here is particularly vibrant. The couple, fashion designer Trina Turk and her husband, photographer Jonathan Skow have a 1930's Art Deco house that is perfect for entertaining their friends. The embroidered linens are from Trina's own line and I just love them. The silverware, also from the 1930's, has been laid out on a big tray so their guests can easily grab them. A vintage ceramic grill called the Sultan cooks most of the meal.

The meal itself includes grilled beef tenderloin and Arctic char, skillet-baked corn bread, grilled peppers and chile's and an earthly lentil salad. So healthy and hearty and simple.

Scoops of tangerine sherbet are served with chocolate almond cookies (on the tray far right). Other details show off the wonderful colours and setting. Looks like fun doesn't it?