Roasted Yellow Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho

Last Sunday, V and I spent the afternoon at Chamard Vineyards where they invite neighbors to come and pick from their garden. The best part is they are only up a country road about 10 minutes away from our house so it  almost feels like heading out into our own garden. With a glass of sparkling wine in hand, we meandered through the fields of flowers, fruits and vegetables...

Honeydew Lemon Verbena Sparkler

We have a lot to celebrate on this beautiful Friday! The official relaunch of Intrinsic Beauty (yay!), the fact that the weekend is here and, well....it's still summer! We have plenty of time to enjoy pool parties, beach BBQ's and al fresco gatherings. To help celebrate...I have concocted a refreshingly light cocktail with an unusual flavor combination; honeydew melon and herbaceous lemon verbena. This little drink goes down very easily and can be quite the thirst quencher. If you are wanting to sip it alcohol free substitute the rum/prosecco with Pellegrino water. Cheers! Go to the jump for the recipe!

Watermelon Radish and Fleur Verte Chèvre Crostini

I take great pleasure when asked -  "what is this - it looks so delicious?!"  It's music to my ears..I  love the compliment of course, but where the joy really comes from is being able to spout all about the food, the local source, and throw in some nutritional facts, as well. When featured in a recipe Watermelon radishes definitely stir-up conversation. Their vibrant pink hue (hence the name) is eye-catching and makes for a pretty presentation with very little effort.

Warm Summer Berries with Plums and Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream

The farmers markets are bursting with big beautiful berries and I am taking full advantage of the bounty. I have been coming home with pints ensuring that my antioxidant quota is being met as well as my desire to cook with them...

Spicy Watermelon and Avocado Salsa

I tend to be a purist when it comes to watermelon  - I like slicing it up outside and sprinkling some sea salt on it. But lately I have been having fun experimenting with the juicy summer staple and it made its way into a fruit salsa. This colorful combination is both sweet and savory with a spicy kick. It's easy to throw together before friends come over. Also, perfect for fish tacos or simply as a side with grilled fish.

Cocktail Hour: Minty Peach Slush

Inspired by the bushels of peaches at the farmer's market yesterday, I promptly went home and concocted this cocktail for Friday night happy hour. The combination of freshly picked mint and ripe peaches created just the right summer sip. This is definitely going to be in rotation all weekend long. Follow the jump for the recipe. 

Avocado Toast Points with Garden Herbs and Radishes

Avocado toast tends to be a go-to of ours for breakfast. We never tire of it. How could we? There are so many different toppings you can pair with it and well, it just always tastes good. It's also an easy breakfast to serve when you are having house guests and the presentation gets mouths watering. Spread the avocado on toast points and serve on a cutting board for all to devour. Add hard boiled eggs to make the breakfast a little more filling. You will have happy guests - guaranteed! Go to the jump for the recipe...

Picnic for Three

When it comes to picnics my philosophy is to have them as often as possible. Whether it's at the beach, your local park or just in your front yard, there is something so childlike and freeing about packing up a meal to be eaten while frolicking outdoors...

Tabletop: A Green and White Country Brunch

Last weekend our friend Jessica was visiting us from Florida. It was such a treat to have her at "Pond View," and to indulge in all things country together. On Sunday, I cooked up a big brunch that was full of our fresh finds from the local farmer's market. I set an inviting green and white tabletop to tie in with the expansive green surroundings. I find it always makes guests feel special when you take the time to style a tabletop just for them. I layered two different patterns and finished the table with simple fresh cut cosmos and hydrangeas from the garden. I arranged the hydrangeas in three separate vases and then pushed them close together - this helps create scale without fuss, and afterwards the arrangements can be spread throughout the house.  We sipped mimosa's (a mix of pink grapefruit and orange juice - fresh squeezed) and lingered for hours as we took in the quietness of the countryside.

Snapshots from Victor's Birthday Party

I am a big believer of birthday parties! Each new year, deserves to be recognized and celebrated properly. So as you can imagine, I love celebrating my darling hubby's birthday. He turned a year older not too long ago and to celebrate, we had close friends and family over for a cocktail party on our terrace. Here are a few fun snapshots of the evening....

Cocktail Hour: Strawberry Basil Daiquiris

Last Sunday, as we were heading to the beach, I quickly threw together this cocktail recipe. I combined strawberries, basil, rum, lime juice, agave syrup and some ice into a blender. Then poured the mix into mason jars, and screwed the lids on tightly. When we got to the beach, we added a few more ice cubs, and some basil for garnish. We then watched the sunset with our no-fuss cocktail in hand. It was absolutely delightful!

Hope you all are having a wonderful Fourth of July. Here is to our great nation and our independence! Read more for the recipe...

Tabletop: Classic Blue and White

Blue and white is my ultimate favorite color combination. It always looks chic and classic. With the Fourth of July upon us, I set-up a small patriotic garden party on the lawn.....

Entertaining: "Summer in the City" Birthday Dinner

Sometimes in life, you meet people and it's an instant fit. It feels as if it was meant to be, and that you have known each other much longer than you actually have. Enter - Leah and Cam. We became friends with them almost four years ago, and they have become like family. They live just up the road from us in CT and just up the street from us in NYC so yes, we see them a lot! When it came time to celebrate Leah's birthday, instead of a big night out on the town, she preferred an intimate dinner party on our city terrace. A birthday girl always gets what she wants!

Seasonal Snack: Garlic Scape Pesto Crostini's

I have to quickly sneak in this recipe because garlic scapes will be out of season come this week in CT. You may be asking what the heck are garlic scapes? Well......

"Grab and Go" Park Picnic

I have a slight obsession with picnics! Exhibit A, B, C & D!  In the summer, the warm weather beckons the excuse to spend even more time eating and drinking Indian style. My most favorite thing about picnics - they require zero planning. Sure you can spend time creating a fabulous menu, and go all out, but really, the best picnics are impromptu. After a long hard day at work, I tend to grab and go to the nearest green space. Lucky for us, Central Park is only a few blocks away. The day after we threw a birthday dinner for our darling friend Leah (featured later this week on the blog), Victor and I packed up the left overs and headed for the park......

Good Morning: Baked Eggs with Swiss Chard, Tomatoes and Herbs

Classically French, easy to make and elegant to serve. Need I say more? Baked eggs in ramekins are my go to for breakfast when we have house guests. You can be creative with the ingredients, mixing up different seasonal vegetables or just incorporate herbs. It's not only a crowd pleaser, but also good when cooking for just one. Go to the jump for the recipe!

Tabletop: Red, White and Blue

What's not to love about the Fourth of July holiday? We are celebrating our big, bold and beautiful U.S of A in warm summer weather with friends and family!  We plan to get the party started early by having a red, white and blue themed BBQ this evening. Here is a peak at the tabletop thus far. It's all about playful fun with a hint of country chic...

Cocktail Hour: Watermelon Rosé Coolers

For many, this weekend kicks-off the beginning of a week long Fourth of July holiday. And the start of any holiday deserves to be recognized with a cocktail. These Watermelon Rosé Coolers taste like summer in a glass, and will definitely get you into the patriotic "spirit." Keep reading for the recipe!

Tabletop: Dogwood Inspired

The dogwood tree in our front yard has been blooming beautifully for weeks. It's got twice as many blooms on it now than in this picture. The off-white flowers have a delicate, almost ethereal look to them. Every spring when they start to bloom, I can't help but snip a few flowering branches.

Entertaining: Sunday Dinner at the Beach

On most Sunday evenings you will find us having a relaxed dinner with our friends at the local town beach. It's usually more or less a potluck, and sometimes there will be four of us or upwards of twenty plus. Last Sunday, our neighbors (Rick and Cindy) took the lead on dinner by coming up with a menu ahead of time, and getting everything set-up before we arrived. Per their direction, I contributed an hors d'oeuvre, a side dish and some sparkling wine...