Clever Gambrel

Another lovely home by Steven Gambrel. Imagine sitting there on the water's edge like that. So gorgeous.

Layered Tortilla Omelet with Homemade Salsa

Are you lucky enough to have a vegetable garden this year? If not, do you go to the local Farmer's Market? I have both options and tomatoes are starting to be everywhere! Gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, bright yellows, reds, multi-colors everywhere I look. A great way to show off fresh flavors and colors is with as little prep work as possible, least amount of additional ingredients; allowing the food to speak for itself.



Fresh salsa screams juicy, sweet flavors and gorgeous colors. The layered tortilla omelet is just as much fun to put together and a great base for toppling on large spoonfuls of the colorful salsa. I added the recipe for making your own red sauce. This sauce is made for adding heat in the tortilla omelet. There will be a lot left over so freeze the excess for later use . . . maybe to make this omelet again.



The tortilla omelet works great for breakfast, brunch or dinner served with a chilled, light and fruity white wine.

Layered Tortilla Omelet With Homemade Salsa

Ingredients:
9 large eggs
1 1/2 t. salt and a few turns of freshly ground pepper
1 t. thyme
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. butter
3/4 c. chopped scallions
4 eight-inch flour tortillas
2 c. red or green enchilada sauce OR Red Chile Sauce (RECIPE FOLLOWS)
1 c. cream cheese (even better, use queso fresco if you can get it)
4 ounces goat cheese
1 1/2 c. grated Monterey Jack cheese
***OPTIONAL:***
RED CHILE SAUCE
2 T. olive oil
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 T. Dijon mustard
3 to 4 T. chile powder (I mixed mine; 2 T. New Mexico and 2 T. California chile powders)
1 t. sugar to cut down acidity in tomatoes
3/4 c. beer (Corona or XX Mexican beer would be appropriate, or substitute sparkling wine)
1 t. soy sauce
1 t. oregano
1 t. ground cumin
10-12 ripe Roma tomatoes or 1 1/2 cans of fire-roasted tomatoes
1/4 c. red chile puree (I will post the recipe for homemade puree)
OR substitute canned red chile sauce
2 t. balsamic vinegar (or to taste)
Salt and Pepper to taste



TO MAKE THE OMELETS:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet (or use a silicon mat), spread 3 of the tortillas on the sheet and place in the oven to get warm.

Beat the eggs with the salt, pepper and herbs in a quart-sized glass measuring cup to make it easier to divide the eggs in three parts.

Mix the cream cheese and goat cheese together.




Melt 1/2 teaspoon of butter over medium heat in a skillet the same size as the tortillas. I used my 8-inch crepe pan. The perfect size! Pour in 1/3 of the egg mixture. Cook until the edges get dry, which will only take a few minutes.Then lift out the flat omelet with a large spatula and place it directly onto a flour tortilla on the warmed greased baking sheet. Repeat two more times, keeping the omelets warm in the oven until the last one is ready.






TO ASSEMBLE:
On the baking sheet, ladle 1/4 of the sauce over a tortilla/omelet and crumble 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture and 1/4 of the jack cheese over the sauce. Sprinkle 1/3 of the scallions on top.
Place the next tortilla/omelet on top and repeat. Repeat again with the third tortilla/omelet and place the remaining plain tortilla on top with the last of the sauce. Sprinkle the remaining jack cheese over the top.

Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Make a tent out of aluminum foil so that you can cover the stack without touching the top, or all of the cheese will stick and come off on the foil. I also spray the foil with PAM just to be sure.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes until the tortillas and omelets are heated through and the cheese melts. Remove from the oven and let the stack sit for a few minutes so that the layers don't slide. Cut it into wedges and serve with Fresh Salsa over the top.

OPTIONAL RED CHILE SAUCE DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan, saute onion in a little bit of olive oil until soft. Add mustard and chile powder. Cook for a few minutes to soften the rawness of the chile powder. Stir in beer, soy sauce, oregano, sugar and cumin along with the tomatoes. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes. Add more beer if the mixture looks dry. Remove the pan from the heat. Let the mixture cool a few minutes and then puree using a blender or food processor.

Return to a low heat and add the chile puree or red chile sauce and balsamic vinegar. Cook a few minutes more to marry the ingredients together.





Add more of the beer if needed for a good spreading consistency. The sauce will have a strong chile taste. It is suppose too. You want to taste a little heat in the tortilla/omelet but you will not taste the sauce itself.




Chunky Garden Salsa

Directions:
1 heirloom tomato; preferably yellow
4 Roma tomatoes
1/2 sweet onion
1 roasted red pepper from a jar
1 jalapeno pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped fine
Zest of 1 lime
Juice of 1 lime
3 cloves of garlic puree using a garlic press
1 t. cumin
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
salt to taste
1/3 c. fresh cilantro, chopped




I chopped all my ingredients by hand (instead of using the pulse button on a food processor) because I wanted large chunks and less juice. Stir together and allow to sit in the refrigerator overnight. Love how the flavors mingle.

Jillian + John at Linden Place, Part 2 / Rhode Island Wedding Photographer

Posted by Trish: Photos by Trish and Melissa

I knew you would be back for more...these two are so adorable, how could you resist?!

So I totally missed this when it happened but how great is the best man jumping and clicking his heals in the background! I thought I was just getting a cute photo of them walking.




Speaking of cute, take anything and add two little boys, you got yourself some serious cute. Although getting them to do what you want is like herding cats, oh well.

We gave the kids a break and did just the big kids for this photo. Although I teared up while the maid of honors son desperately cried out for her, it was kind of tragic!

Total sweetness.

I'm sure that little boy would find this to be 'silly' too. Whatever!

You have to have at least one classic portrait.

Is this out of style yet? Because I still love it and never get tired of it, what's not to like anyway. Some things are timeless and this is definitely on the list. One walking away shot, check.

This tree was the bomb, the texture is to rich, and they look great standing in front of it. Probably have driven by this tree hundreds of times, never saw it until this day!

Oooh, more walking. They look so natural here, love it!

The wedding party, back together for one last shot...

Jillian's inspiration was 'vintage preppy'. I think this feels like that. LOVE that bouquet.

The back of the gown had these fabulous clear chrystal buttons, so romantic!

Maybe Semia can tell us what these orange 'thingys' are, they totally brought it home!

I noticed a lot of guests eating their candy BEFORE dinner. I don't think that they were necessarily intended to be the appetizer...

Chowder by Blackstone Caterers. Oooh, mini doughboys!

I love this cake by Sin Desserts (she's right up the street from us in providence) it's so sweet looking. OK, I meant sweet and in cute.

The finale of all the hard work everyone put into this day...ready for the reception!

You know, there is always a guest a every wedding who tries to get in on my shots...

Linden Place is such a cool place for a wedding, this doorway into the carriage house is so amazing!

John doesn't look too happy. Although he'd had time for a few 'gansetts at this point...suspicious at best.

Looks like Jillian is happy too! Actually I think that they are not used to being int he spotlight and might have been a little nervous!

But they were working it anyway!

Another one of my 'blue light specials'. Oh it makes me so happy to get this kind of shot!!!!

Unfortunately the reception was no fun and there was no dancing. What?! Even grammy was into it, holllllla grammy!

Guess what song this was. You guessed it. Awesome.

Well, it was a spectacular day, from start to finish, success.

Jillian and John, here's wising you a long and happy life together, you are a great couple!!! Thanks for having us be part of your day, it was our pleasure for sure!

Those Who Made it Happen...
Gown and Veil: Priscilla of Boston
Shoes/Clutch and Bridesmaids: J Crew
Hair: Tara from Wish Salon
Make-Up: Alayne White Spa
Venue: Linden Place
Caterers: Blackstone Caterers
Cake: Sin Desserts
Flowers: Flowers by Semia
Invitations and Programs: Heather Jeany on Etsy
Bridesmaids Clutch: EA03 Designs on Etsy
Band: Nancy Paolino and The Black Tie band
Linens: Rentals Unlimited
Lodging: Bristol Harbor Inn
Transportation: Newport Trolley
Photography: Snap!

SJP --- Celeb Style for Less

Written by Dwayne Knight, Contributing Writer

We adore Sarah Jessica Parker and not just because she is most well known fashion icon today but because her style is effortless chic. We re-created this fabulous look she wore at a Bravo TV event for a fraction of the price. Total for all items?  $209.58! See, it is possible to be a fashionista on a budget!

Gold Crochet Mock Halter Dress from JcPenney $100

Apostrophe Boyfriend Jacket from Sears $24.99

Cascading Orbs Necklace from Forever 21 $5.80

Thandi Bracelet Set from Forever 21 $9.80

Pleaser Women’s Flair 480 from shoes.com $46

Camille Large Hobo Bag from Payless  $22.99

It doesn't always take bucks to look like you have millions of them. 

My Life Right Now

My life has been pretty hectic with the arrival of little Max. The life I knew which was that of a working woman with one child, a husband and 2 dogs has changed. I used to purchase my favourite magazines and be able to sit down on the sofa and read them that night. I used to have time to do my own thing. But not these days.

I have had the new Country Style magazine sitting on my bedside table now for a few days and I haven't even had the chance to open it.

I actually glanced at my bedside table tonight and thought I would take a photo of it to show you.

It consists of the Country Style magazine which I am dying to open. It also consists of that pink fabric which, even though I had ordered the yellow colourway on Friday, I changed it today to the pink. I don't usually change my mind once I've made my mind up - what is happening to me? It also consists of a book I purchased on Amazon which I think is very applicable to my life right now - Just Let Me Lie Down Necessary Terms for the Half-Insane Working Mom by Kristin van Ogtrop. I also love the colour of it's cover. Today Harry made me the origami swans which you can see sitting there. I love them. Brad and Harry brought me in a bowl of Harry's favourite treat - ice-cream with coke bottle lollies on top just now to try to cheer me up. It worked.

I'm sure tomorrow will be better. Tomorrow our container full to the brim of Stuart Membery furniture will be arriving on our doorstep. Tomorrow is going to be a very exciting day.

xx
Anna

A sale at The Cutting Cafe and a pic of my Grandson that is visiting

Have you ever seen someone cheesein' it so big?? LOL!! This is my six year old grandson JJ that is visiting from KY right now, and he's the reason I've been absent from blogging all month. This isn't a great pic as the filtered sun light that is shining on his head makes him look like he's got a VERY bad hair cut! LOL! He's here until Saturday, and then he's headed back to KY with his mom. And of course we will miss him terribly.



I also wanted to let you know about a "Two for 1" sale that is going on right now over at The Cutting Cafe. From now until midnight on Monday night (Pacific time), for each set you purchase, you can get another set of the same or lesser value for FREE! So if you've been waiting to go shopping, now is the time!



Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

Cz jewelry - The best gift for your lady love

It is always a very difficult job for every man to look for the gift for his lady love. You want to really please her and are looking for something that she loves and also that makes her realize how important she is for you. The gift should be something that not only does she cherishes but also makes her feel special.

It is not a hidden fact that women love diamonds but this is a fact that is not a very pleasing one with most of the men. This is because they have to spend a fortune on these diamonds and you can not really afford to give diamonds on every occasion. For all these men who are looking for a perfect gift for a special day, the CZ jewelry happens to be the best alternative. You can buy them on every occasion because they are only a fraction of the price of the diamonds. They look as good as the diamonds and you will see that beautiful smile on her face as she sees that sparkling gift. You can go for the pretty CZ rings that will surely make her feel special and wanted. You can get the type of the ring she likes. You can get her the gold plated one if she is the one who likes the elegant stuff. Or you can also go for the funky rings that have the animals’ crystals. You will also get the casual rings that are the plain bands with a crystal of Cz.

One very famous and beautiful gift that you can go for are Cubic Zirconia bracelets. You can get her the pretty charm bracelet that has the different charms hanging from it. They look extremely pretty and also have an emotional side to it. You can get the charms that relate to her so that she knows that you are very considerate. She will simply love it and you will also be happy to see her satisfied. You can get a number of options online and also get a number of discounts. All you need to do is just know what you are looking for and look online for options.