"But in this season...the hope of mankind
rests in faith. AS A MAN THINKETH- SO HE IS...Nothing much happens unless you believe in it, and believing there is hope for the world is a way to move toward it..." Gladys Taber

Our Favorite Christmas Traditions...
Create a magical air with some of our low-cost holiday decorations & simple touches this season instead of the usual...

SUGARED FRUIT - Add some glistening fruits to your centerpiece, mantel or tabletop display. Shown is the Green Room at the White House...
Dip grapes, pears, oranges, pomegranates- all your favorites! Beat egg whites in a bowl, dip fruit, and roll in a dish of sugar. Simple, elegant and affordable! Pile on a favorite dish or in an heirloom bowl for an elegant old-fashioned touch.



Have FUN this Holiday Season...

• Tie a Wreath on your Car's Bumper
• Add Jingle Bells to the children's shoes
• Simmer Apples & Cinnamon sticks on the stove
• Tie a Ribbon or Scarf around the Dog's neck
• Play "the boys" Christmas music - Frank, Dean, Johnny
• Wear a cute apron
• Wrap presents in the "funny pages" of the newspaper
• Hang Christmas Stockings on the backs of Dining Room Chairs instead of the mantel
• Tape Holiday Cards to wide ribbon and frame doorways
• Make a SUMMER ALBUM for each child- starring "them" swimming, fishing, boating...
• For someone absent...Have everyone dress up, gather the pets and take a group photo-all while holding a sign that says" WE LOVE YOU(their Name)" and mail it to them!
• Write the date on new Holiday Ornaments - add to your collection each year...

Dinner With Friends...
These holiday favorites are the ultimate easy comfort foods...the Chocolate Pot De Cremes are especially divine in individual containers.



Roast Lemon-Rosemary Chicken
My sister-in-law Ginny- (actually more like a sister-) always roasts her chickens with fresh lemons inside. We love the addition of fresh rosemary- always so plentiful here in Beaufort!!

• Fresh whole chicken (preferably free-range) rinsed
• Best quality olive oil, preferably organic
• Half a cup of water
  
• 2 lemons, washed and halved
  
• 10 or more garlic cloves
• 6-8 sprigs fresh rosemary
• Sea salt, as desired
  
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Fingerling potatoes
• 2 onions, peeled and quartered
  

Directions:

• Remove parts from inside chicken cavity, rinse, and dry with paper towel
• Place bird in roasting pan to which you have added a generous splash of olive oil and a half cup of water
  
• Squeeze the lemons over the chicken and place inside the bird, with several of the garlic cloves and a sprig of fresh rosemary
• Bake in a 325ºF oven for 45 minutes. Two or three times during the cooking process, brush more olive oil onto the chicken
• After 45 minutes scatter the fingerling potatoes, the onions ,remaining garlic cloves, and two more rosemary sprigs (save some for garnish) around the chicken, and roast for an additional 45 minutes to an hour, until the juices run clear when the chicken is pierced
  
• Continue to baste the bird, potatoes and onions during the remaining cooking time, splashing on a bit more olive oil as needed
  
• Remove the pan from the oven, place the chicken on a cutting board, tent the chicken with foil, and let it rest for 10 or so minutes before carving
• Place the carved chicken on a platter, surrounded by the vegies. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs
• Heat the juices from the roasting pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Scrape down the brown bits and add additional chicken stock as needed to make the sauce. Mash the garlic cloves into the sauce. Adjust seasoning if necessary with salt & pepper. Pour into a gravy boat and serve with chicken.

Roast Asparagus with Parmesan
Prepare this while the bird rests...

• One pound of fresh asparagus, rinsed
  
• Best quality olive oil, preferably organic
• Parmesan Reggiano, freshly grated
• Salt and Pepper
  

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Line a cookie sheet with foil
• Peel the asparagus with a potato peeler, and trim the bottoms
• Lay spears on cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper
• Roast in preheated oven until fork tender (we like ours somewhat crisp!)
• Open oven, sprinkle over Parmesan and continue to roast until melted
• We like to add additional grated Parmesan at table
  

Twists On The Classics...

We're serving some of these Daniel Boulud reinventions of Thanksgiving favorites we found in the recent November 08 issue of Elle Decor magazine. Perhaps they'll become family favorites of yours as well! Be sure to see the CALYPSO COTTAGE tabletop pieces we think would be most attractive on the Thanksgiving table. Bon Appetit!!

SWISS-CHARD GRATIN

Ingredients
6 lb. Swiss chard, washed, leaves and stems separated
2 T butter
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 T flour
1 cup milk
¼ tsp. nutmeg
½ cup shredded Gruyère cheese
¹⁄_³ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and place a bowl of ice water on the side. Boil the chard leaves until tender, remove, and chill in the ice water. Strain well; chop leaves roughly and set aside. Cut the stems into thin slices. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add 1 tablespoon butter, 1 clove garlic, and stems, cooking until tender; remove and set aside. Add the flour and the remaining butter to the pan and reduce heat to low. Stir for 3 minutes, being careful not to brown the butter. Using a whisk, gradually stir in the milk and nutmeg. Cook, whisking, for 3 minutes. With a wooden spoon, add the chopped leaves, reserved garlic, and stems; season to taste. Transfer to a small casserole or individual-size casserole dishes. Sprinkle evenly with the cheeses and bake 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Serves 6.

SWEET POTATO PUREE

Ingredients
2 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into
½-inch cubes
Peel and juice of 1 orange, reserved separately
1 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
1 small onion, peeled and studded with 2 cloves
1 Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored, and chopped into ¼-inch cubes
½ of a banana, peeled and cut into ½-inch wheels
1 T unsalted butter
¾ cup heavy cream
½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch, a pinch of salt, half of the orange peel, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, and onion. Bring to a boil and simmer 20-25 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
While the sweet potatoes are cooking, prepare the fruit. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom pan over medium heat. Add the apple, banana, and remaining orange peel and sweat until lightly caramelized, tossing often, about 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the fruit to a plate with a slotted spoon. Cook orange juice until reduced to about 1 tablespoon. Add ¾ of the heavy cream and boil for 3 to 4 minutes. Return the cooked fruit to the pan, mix well, and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and discard orange peel. Keep warm.

When the sweet potatoes are done, drain them and discard the orange peel, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, and onion. Transfer the sweet potatoes to a food processor. Add the fruit, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, then puree. Mix in the remaining cream if the puree is too thick, and taste for seasoning. Serves 6.

And we love the idea of biscuits in North Carolina, served in a Nantucket basket!!

Up In The North Country...
What a fabulous 8 days we had...we started near Cape Cod visiting Pete's sister, and then on to Martha's Vineyard to show Pete where I grew up. We took the ferry to the island (fear of flying...) and stopped off at Carly Simon's MIDNIGHT FARM store in Vineyard Haven. Same John Robshaw linens and Dash & Albert pillows and throws that we have, tons of books, funky clothes and great couches for lounging around. Decided we needed the new James Taylor cd to add to our line up - look for it this fall!













We arrived in Edgartown to see our old home on 90 North Water Street - just as the owner was walking by!! We were delighted to chat and reminisce, and Bailey was kind enough to take us inside so Pete could see the historic 1717 home.









On to Nantucket to visit my family- if you've never seen Sconset it's definately worth the drive out to this charming little town. We were inspired to plant window boxes next spring after our early morning walk...












The shops on Nantucket are brimming with ideas and we definately got inspired. First was Trillium- we loved the John Derian plates and plan to add them next year...




We then hopped on the Orient Point ferry in New London and took the crossing to the Hamptons...our favorite season here is fall...the crowds have gone and all of the farm stands are bursting with fall's bounty... you have never seen such a display...We made a beeline for our favorite shops to see what we could find:

• The Elegant Setting- Main Street, Southampton - loved the bamboo frames and Italian fruit soaps
• Hildreth's- Main Street, Southampton - America's oldest department store- we saw our bamboo Pine Cone Hill clothing!! Loved the organic bamboo towels...
• Colette's- the ultimate in recycling!! Check out my friend Tisha's gently used Hermes Birkin bags...

Then off to Sag Harbor to visit our friend Kristina's BEACH BUNGALOW - a must stop for a perfectly well-edited coastal shop and an endless source of inspiration...




A good night with friends and my daughter Lauren-and we're on the road back to Beaufort!! We've no regrets at moving to North Carolina...there used to be a little tinge of homesickness when we would ride down Montauk Highway, but times change and we have to change with them. Now we head "home" to Beaufort energized and full of new ideas for CALYPSO COTTAGE!! We're thinking positive and preparing for the holiday season and 2009 with a trip to High Point this month and the upcoming winter show in NYC!! We'll be posting more great finds and recipes in the coming weeks, so please keep visiting our blog...

NY State of Mind...

With our trip north next week, we are in restaurant mode and wanted to share with you some of our favorite NYC places to dine...

• J G Melon-THE BEST HAMBURGER IN NYC if not the world..., chili and fries are wonderful too. Great neighborhood atmosphere...(When I worked at Tiffany's, we would often meet here for lunch! Never will forget the time a handsome man in a tweed jacket, with his back to me, responded to my request to use a vacant chair at his table...Sean Connery...007...could not breath or speak for a moment...)
• Aquavit- wonderful Sunday brunch for a taste of a Scandanavian smorgasbord.Herring,Swedish beef Rydberg, salmon in brioche, mini lobster roll...Smaklig Maltid!!
• Per Se- even jaded NY'ers love this restaurant...Thomas Keller (of The Laundry fame, Napa Valley- Laundry considered the best restaurant in America). Look out over the treetops of Central Park while you savor the food elegantly presented on his line of dishes by Raynaud. Try the salmon canapes to start and a chef's tasting menu, black sea bass with watercress, or chaud-froid-soft foie gras, apples and brioche.

• Le Bernardin- the best of the best fabulous French seafood.

• China Grill- Chinese fusion in the CBS building. Try peking duck salad with tangerine sauce or the tempura sashimi.

We will be adding more to the list after our trip, so please stay tuned...

Summer Reading
Is there anything more divine than stealing a few moments curled up with a new book? Sitting on the porch, laying in a hammock, or with your feet in the sand...I love to collect books, and do on many subjects- cookbooks, gardening, design, women... novels. If you haven't read any of the following novels I suggest you do- they are among my all time favorites:

• Wind From The Carolinas - Robert Wilder
  
• Following The Equator - Mark Twain
• 92 In The Shade- Thomas McGuane
• Don't Stop The Carnival - Herman Wouk

We just got a new shipment of some new books at CALYPSO COTTAGE - have a look... grab one for yourself to enjoy these last few weeks of summer, or stash away as a holiday gift for a dear friend. One can never have too many books...

Summer Cravings...

The moment June arrives we are craving certain favorite foods!! We wanted to share with you, two of our favorites. The Tomato-Pasta salad is a favorite for lunch at CALYPSO COTTAGE- especially good with your own homegrown tomatoes and fresh basil!! The Apple Pancakes are a favorite Sunday morning indulgence...Hope you enjoy them both - and don't forget- we have basil seeds and other edible seeds for sale in our garden area, as well as many beautiful hot-weather flowers.

Tomato Pasta Salad
This uncooked pasta sauce is divine over penne or fusilli. The heat from the freshly cooked pasta melts the brie...This becomes addictive!
4 large tomatoes - chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
One pound of Brie (without rind is easiest) - otherwise remove rind and cut
Fresh Basil - large handful - washed and cut into slivers
Garlic, peeled and minced - at least 3 cloves
Lots of Good Quality Olive Oil
Freshly ground Black Pepper
Salt (optional)
Pasta of your choice - One pound, dried
Fresh Parmesan cheese

Combine the tomatoes, Brie, basil, garlic, 1/2 cup of olive oil, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Stir to combine, cover, and let sit at room temperature while you prepare the pasta. Cook pasta according to directions in lots of salted water until al dente. (My father, who had a home in Florence, always added a splash of olive oil to the pot while cooking pasta. Boil until tender, but firm - about 8 to 10 minutes.) Drain the pasta and toss with the prepared sauce,add the fresh Parmesan, and toss until the cheese has melted and is well combined. Best served at room temperature.
Serves 4 to 6.

Sunday Morning Pancakes
This is one of my favorite weekend breakfasts...with a good cup of your favorite beverage and the local paper, it's a great way to start the day!
1 Apple, peeled , cored and chopped finely
1/2 cup small-curd cottage cheese
2 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
dash of freshly grated nutmeg
1 TB real Vermont maple syrup (please don't use the imitation syrup!!)
Tiny pinch of salt
1/4 cup of white flour - unbleached is best
1 TSP baking powder
Vegetable oil, and/or butter
Maple Syrup

Combine the chopped apple with the cottage cheese, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup and salt in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle the flour and the baking powder over the mixture, and stir to combine. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Prepare a hot skillet with the oil and/or butter, over medium heat. Pour mixture onto skillet and cook the pancake until bubbles appear on the top, and the edges are slightly brown. Carefully flip the pancake over and brown slightly. Keep warm in oven until you have used all the batter. Serve warm with more butter and maple syrup. Divine.

Stylish Entertaining Trays

We love these laminated trays for carefree entertaining. Just wipe clean with a damp cloth! The fabrics are laminated onto sturdy plastic - many are Bahama Handprints, others are the company's chic interpretation of classic patterns. The red elephant print and the blue Suzani tray shown here were actually inspired by Doris Duke's Hawaiian estate, "Shangri La",and her passionate love of Islamic art. The brown Tortoise fabric and the classic blue Ikat are two of our other favorite fabrics. For sizes and pricing, please visit our website.

New Treasures...

Over the next few weeks we will be posting photos and info on the new treasures we found in New York, High Point and elsewhere! Lots of exciting decorative accessories-all with that Calypso Cottage feel...

Chinese Porcelain
We have discovered a young couple who have devoted themselves to manufacturing their interpretation of ancient Chinese porcelain. With their respect for the Song and Ming Dynasty aesthetics, the shapes and colours are a modern take on an ancient tradition. From original drawings, to forming, glazing and firing the clay- each step is performed by master craftsmen, with an adherence to high aesthetic standards. As a result, each piece is imbued with the luster of eternity...

Spring Delights...

For those of you that love gardening, we have a wonderful assortment of seeds just in from Renee Shepherd.Also in after many requests: wonderful "twig tipi's" for vining flowers.(Many of you don't know that before CALYPSO COTTAGE and jewelry design, I had a career as a chef- over the next few months we will post some of our favorite recipes using Renee's heirloom seeds.) Our favorites:

• Nasturtium- peppery delights, ranging in colour from yellow to sunset shades. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible- lovely chopped and sprinkled over sliced heirloom tomatoes. (Look for our recipe later in the season!)
• Sunflower- True happiness itself! Try our short variety in a container- leftover sunflower heads are perfect "ready made" birdfeeders!
• Sweet Pea- deliciously scented and available in an endless array of colours. Just soak the tough seeds overnight, before planting...
• Purple Hyacinth Bean-Exotic and tropical looking, with gorgeous sprays of amethyst and violet blooms- all through summer. Excellent climber!
• Mailbox Mix Morning Glory -heirloom variety of deep, rich blue and pearly white open fresh each morning. Try also as a cut flower!
  
• Fragrant Moonflower- Luminous, iridescent huge trumpets. The fragrant Southern Belle of the evening garden!

Many more cut flower varieties, container flowers and herbs...

Visit our website http://www.calypsocottageonline.com for more information and photographs of our ever-changing & updated inventory!

Dash & Albert

We love their "dog/kids/sand friendly" rugs! They bring a relaxed yet stylish air to any room- we especially love Frog, Pond Stripe, Diamond in Sprout/White, and St. John Stripe. We're using these patterns in the store, and have a slew of 2x3 sizes coming in for samples. Take one home and try it out for a dash of colour this spring! We can order in any of their sizes.

Artisanal Brownies for Valentine's Day

We have Mari's of New York Classic Brownies- this moist and chewy brownie is timeless, and a perfect gift for your Valentine. Made from premium dark chocolate, Madagascar bourbon vanilla extract and sweet creamery butter - in a word: delicious!! We will be introducing more of her signature flavours once our season begins to unfold...

What An Amazing First Year...

Our dream has become a successful reality! CALYPSO COTTAGE, our tiny 725 sq. ft. shop - housed in an adorably funky 1935 Beaufort "fisherman's" cottage, has gotten off the ground and has wings! We opened our doors to Beaufort (the third oldest town in the state of North Carolina) and introduced our take on Classic Coastal Decor, and they came and they shopped, and they shopped, and they shopped some more...we've gone way beyond our wildest expectations!

It's been a whirlwind - from 20 years spent living in the Hamptons, to living in this charming little coastal town. It took us awhile to get used to the quieter pace...now we can bike 6 blocks to work, walk 2 blocks to the water and watch the herd of wild horses on Carrot Island, aka the Rachel Carson Reserve. (The 40+ horses are descendants from shipwrecked mustangs - after all, Beaufort was once the hangout of Blackbeard, the pirate...)

"There is nothing like a dream to create the future..." Victor Hugo