Entertaining/Recipes/Green Design

Spinach Tagliarelle with Pesto and Cream


Homemade pesto is simmered with heavy cream, then garnished with pine nuts and basil. Italian plate by Match.
 
SPINACH TAGLIARELLE WITH PESTO AND CREAM


Serves 4 to 6

2 cups fresh basil leaves
2/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
salt and pepper
1 pound Cipriani spinach tagliarelle (spinach linguine or spinach fettuccine may be substituted)
1 cup heavy cream



In food processor, pulse basil, 1/3 cup pine nuts and garlic 8-10 times until coarsely chopped. With processor running, slowly, add olive oil in a stream until smooth. Add cheese and pulse a few more times. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook tagliarelle in large pot of boiling water according to package directions.

In small saucepan, mix pesto and cream, and simmer. Pour over drained, cooked pasta and garnish with remaining pine nuts and cheese. Serve immediately.

Green Table Decor


Hydrangeas and green spider mums accompany salads of dressed field greens. Antique English leaf plates and green and off-white ticking tablecloth complement the setting.
 
No, this is not Carolyne's version of how we help to save the planet and be responsible conservationists. While I am a strong believer in those worthy endeavors and am becoming better informed in my choices, this green story is about the color green in food and decor. I love green. This wonderful color is one of Mother Nature's impeccable choices for a neutral. Think about how every flower, regardless of color, has green stems and foliage to frame it. Think of how green grass is the foundation and carpet to garden and home, and how truly beautiful a tree is with its canopy of green leaves.

Bruschetta with Arugula Pesto

Marinated tomatoes and Parmigiano-Reggiano top the homemade pesto bruschetta. Leaf plate by Christian Tortu.

BRUSCHETTA WITH ARUGULA PESTO AND MARINATED TOMATOES


Serves 4 to 6

FOR PESTO


2 cups arugula leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
salt and pepper

In food processor, combine arugula, garlic, walnuts and lemon juice and pulse 8-10 times or until coarsely chopped. With processor running, slowly add olive oil in a stream and process until smooth. Remove from processor and stir in cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Yuuummm!!!! Plus pretty decor and tablesetting will always add to the ambiance to make these dishes even more delectable.

Read more »

Mixing it Up

David Iatesta's Danish Cabinet adds a dash of old-world Euro-style with its restoration glass and gray finish. Lorts' slate-finish alder chair achieves a weathered look that belies its subtle, metallic undertones. It sits atop Bausman's Iron Console Table, which combines a rust-finish base with a natural oak barrel top. Pearson hand-planes its mahogany side table with bamboo-style legs to create a worn look in distressed gesso. PierceMartin's Oyster Cluster Lamp was inspired by a cluster on discarded rebar. Designer Stephen Woods adds a limestone base and burlap shade but stays true to nature's intent.

Allan Knight expands on his acrylic oeuvre with the Gonzalo Cocktail Table. Its acrylic base is topped with cerused oak. Above it is BoBo Intriguing Objects' Bluestone Side Table. Made of Belgian stone, it is paired with a waxed, rust-iron base. Boyd Lighting's Kyoto encloses white glass in an architecturally styled, solid brass casing. A maestro of minimalism, Dakota Jackson updates the stacking chair with his Vik-ter II Series, composed of solid maple with matte black finish steel legs. McGuire updates the classic rattan table with its 54" Heritage Pedestal table—a mix of glass, polished nickel and leather.

The Spectrum Limited Collectio offers its own acrylic jewels. Its Grill Bench conjures the nostalgia of outdoor cookouts. Its adjacent Portofino Dining Table has a sculpted acrylic base with a 54" glass top. On the table sits Lewis Mittman's Cairoli Lucite Table topped with glass. Behind it, the Cameron Collection's Hilton Pedestal has an Asian sensibility. Above, Metropolitan Lighting molds a shapely crystal lamp for its Walt Disney Collection.

Read more »

Entertaining/Cooking/Decorating/Green

Shallot-Herbed Risotto


Topped with fresh asparagus and peas, served in a Provençal bowl.
Serves 4 to 6
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup shallots, peeled and diced
8 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons fresh oregano
1 pound Arborio rice
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup asparagus, only tips and tender part of spears
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
salt and pepper

In large saucepan, heat oil and sauté shallots until soft. Remove from heat.
In separate pan, heat chicken stock until warm. Combine 2 cups stock and herbs in blender. Process until smooth, then return to remaining stock over heat.
Return saucepan with shallots to heat, then add rice and toast 2 minutes. Add wine and stir until liquid is evaporated.

Add stock 1 cup at a time, stirring continually, about 13 minutes. Add asparagus and peas to remaining stock. Then continue to add stock and vegetables to risotto 1 cup at a time, stirring continually until rice is al dente, about 5 minutes. Strain any remaining vegetable from leftover stock and fold them into risotto.

Remove from heat, add butter and cheese and a little more stock if necessary. Stir well and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.


Green Entertaining


Carolyne Roehm sets a table with florals such as dianthus 'Green Trick' as well as mangoes, grapes and apples.
 
No, this is not Carolyne's version of how we help to save the planet and be responsible conservationists. While I am a strong believer in those worthy endeavors and am becoming better informed in my choices, this green story is about the color green in food and decor. I love green. This wonderful color is one of Mother Nature's impeccable choices for a neutral. Think about how every flower, regardless of color, has green stems and foliage to frame it. Think of how green grass is the foundation and carpet to garden and home, and how truly beautiful a tree is with its canopy of green leaves.

With the abundance of wonderful produce coming from the garden and the farmers' markets, the summer months are the perfect time to do this. Carolyne begins thinking of green dishes using vegetables, and the first thing that comes to mind is the variety of great soups — fresh pea, spinach, sorrel, zucchini, watercress or asparagus, to name some favorites — all equally delicious served chilled or hot.

For main courses that can incorporate the color green, pastas and risottos are for me delicious staples. Certainly there are some lovely meat, fish and poultry dishes served with wonderful green sauces reflecting culinary traditions elsewhere, but after another stay in Florence this spring, I am still obsessing over Italian food.

Spinach, Garlic and Potato Soup


A splash of lemon and touch of red pepper flakes add an extra kick to this soup.
Serves 4 to 6

4 tablespoons olive oil
8 cloves garlic, peeled and diced
1 large sweet onion, diced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 cups chicken broth, plus more if needed
1 pound baby spinach, cleaned and chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
salt and pepper

Heat olive oil in soup pot over medium heat. When hot, add garlic, onion and potatoes. Sauté 3-4 minutes, stirring to prevent burning. Add chicken broth and bring to boil. Lower heat and cook until potatoes are soft. Turn off heat, stir in spinach and cover a few minutes until spinach is wilted. Add lemon juice and red pepper flakes, if using. Partially purée mixture with immersion blender or food processor, leaving it a little chunky. Add a little more broth if necessary.

Bruschetta with Arugula Pesto


Marinated tomatoes and Parmigiano-Reggiano top the homemade pesto bruschetta. Leaf plate by Christian Tortu.
Serves 4 to 6

FOR PESTO

2 cups arugula leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
salt and pepper

In food processor, combine arugula, garlic, walnuts and lemon juice and pulse 8-10 times or until coarsely chopped. With processor running, slowly add olive oil in a stream and process until smooth. Remove from processor and stir in cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

More of Carolyne's recipes on our Entertaining section soon.

Read more »

Armani' Inspired

Armani's Fashion Philosophy skirt and blouse with Blush screen in Macassar ebony. The Borromini linen chaise, Boreal rabbit throw and Burt rug exude elegance.

Bold geometric patterns, shimmering black pleats and refined textures define the latest collection from legendary designer Giorgio Armani. But don't think these seasonal trends are exclusive to the fashion runway. Armani was one of the first high-profile fashion figures to enter the world of home furnishings, translating a design aesthetic into a range of home products from furniture and textiles to accessories and tabletop. Launched in 2000 as a separate division within the Giorgio Armani Group, Armani/Casa embodies the Italian icon's inimitable style, bringing the same sophistication and timeless elegance of his fashion sense to his collection of understated interior decor.

Armani's extension into the home is consistent with the designer's fashion philosophy and language. "The process of creating products for the home and for fashion collections is very similar," he says. "Both skills require an ability to imagine things in three dimensions and to translate sketches into reality. In both cases, it is the precision and finesse that will make all the difference." The furnishings are designed to fit specific zones in the home: living, dining, bedroom, study, kitchen and bath. Each season, additional lines are introduced to complement the existing ones.

In the midst of a recession and with much fanfare, Armani recently opened his 47,000-square-foot U.S. store in midtown Manhattan, bringing all of his labels under one roof. Blending effortlessly with tailored suits and couture dresses, Armani has transcended fashion to become an all-inclusive luxury lifestyle brand.

Read more »