Making Sugar Pecans for Holiday Gifts

Here is a fantastic Recipe for  Sugared Pecans.  Warning.... if you are making them for gifts... package them quickly before everyone eats them on you.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner? How about creating a roasted organic turkey dinner?

A Delicious Roasted Organic Turkey Recipe 



Defrost your Turkey at least 2 days ahead of time. This will ensure a very moist cooked bird.

Do what you can ahead of time. This will relieve stress and allow you to enjoy your family and friends the day of.
Prepare your stuffing and Cranberry sauce 3-4 days in advance. These items will hold really well and will reheat perfectly with out sacrificing quality.

Also set your dining room table the weekend before. That way you can take your time creating a beautiful table with place cards and all.

Miniature Strawberry Shortcakes

Wonderful miniature Strawberry Shortcake recipe submitted by Elegant Affairs Catering.http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/miniaturestrawberryshortcakes.html   
I would post the photo, but for some reason they are posting as blue photos.   I will have to figure that one out!

Linda Smith Davis, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Perfume and the Trash Guy

This morning I woke at 5:30 am to track down the tree full of crows that wakes the neighborhood each morning (I will see if I can load a video of their sound soon) and to walk Chloe. I literally rolled out of bed, put on my jeans and t-shirt, put up my hair and walked out the door.

Just a few houses down the trash truck rolled up, and the guy started loading his goods from the neighbor's two week recycling bin. Chloe and I passed and just as we were about 10 steps away from the truck, I heard the guy yell "I just have to tell you your perfume smells great". Now of course first I blushed, but then I couldn't help but wonder....could my perfume still smell after a night of tossing and turning.... was I overpowering the night before? Or was it that I just smelled better than the pizza boxes he was picking up?

I do love the perfume I wear. It is light (you usually have to be pretty darn close to me to smell, but maybe the breeze caught it this morning). I found it many years ago and it is now no longer available. It was a Lacoste Pour Femme, a seasonal special, and I buy three boxes at a time (I am down to my last bottle) when I find them now at overstock stores or in airport perfume shops.

I did find it once, in SOHO, in one of those little shops where you can buy bags and perfume and they close their doors fast if the police are coming. I was lucky enough to open the box right outside the door. I found that my bottle was filled with water! Yes water! (this happened to be me before when I bought vanilla in an outdoor market in the Dominican Geeeeesh) I could hear the women (I have no idea what they were saying since it was not English) start chattering nervously. I was feeling duped and stormed back into the shop and demanded the full sample that was on their counter or I would be calling the police. I know, I know! I should not be shopping in one of those bays with all the beautiful knock offs in the first place, but I could not help it when I found my elusive perfume. Now that I am typing this, I think I will see if I can find it through one of the affiliate sites I work with. That would be so cool! I will post it here if I find it. Don't forget to visit my web site

Yeah! I found it!!!!!!! Ladies I promise this is a beautiful scent that has gotten wonderful comments from both men and women.

Don't forget to visit my web site magazine New England Fine Living.com

Linda Smith Davis, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Halloween is just around the corner

It might be mid August at the time of this posting, but with parties, some of like to have a little planning time. My thoughts were to post of few of the party decor that I have done over the years to share with you. I just found some Halloween picture files, so I will be posting those first. Enjoy. For more pictures on this table setting visit my web site New England Fine Living.com
Linda Smith Davis, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Classic Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs

6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise

¼ cup Mayonnaise

½ teaspoon dry ground mustard (wet mustard will work in a pinch, but add less mayo)

½ teaspoon white vinegar

1/8 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

small sprigs or parsley or paprika to garnish

Once you have cut the cooled boiled eggs, gently remove the egg yolks. Place all of the yolks into a l bowl and cream/mash with a fork.

Add the remaining ingredients into the bowl and mix thouroghly.

spoon or squeeze the eggs mixture back into the halved egg white, then sprinkle lightly with paprika or parsley to garnish.

Linda Smith Davis, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Grilled Salmon - A Healthy Summer Meal

Are you looking for a healthy summer meal? How about Grilled Salmon. This recipe was sent to us by Chef Denise Baron of Burton's Grill. Hope you enjoy it!

Linda Smith Davis, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most
 recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

New England Style Decorating and Design

I love New England and all that it has to share. The style of the shops, the homes, the gardens, the history. Today I just uploaded pictures of New England Style homes on our web site. I hope you enjoy them.

Linda Smith Davis, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer in Middleton MA, Westford MA, New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!

Sugar Cookies

Photo From Coastal Living

Sugar Cookies

Yield

about 2 dozen
Ingredients

* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 large egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* Royal Frosting

Preparation

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg and vanilla, beating well.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl; add to butter mixture, beating just until blended. Divide dough into 4 portions. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap, and chill at least 1 hour.

Roll each portion to 1/8-inch thickness between 2 sheets of wax paper. Cut with a 5-inch star-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375° for 7 minutes or until edges lightly brown. Cool 3 minutes on cookie sheets; carefully remove to wire racks, and cool completely. Spread or decoratively pipe cookies with Royal Frosting.
From - Coastal Living, JANUARY 2003


From - CarolyneRoehm.com

2 cups butter, softened
2 eggs
3 cups powered sugar
1 tsp almond extract
2 tsps baking soda
2 tsps cream of tartar
2 tsps vanilla extract
5 cups flour
Cream butter and eggs together and add sugar, beat until creamy. Add the rest of the ingredients, except flour, until well combined.

Slowly add flour and continue beating until all the flour is added and forms dough.

Chill, roll out and cut with cookie cutters.

Bake at 350°F, for approximately 6-8 minutes, or until slightly golden.


Photo from Find.myrecipes.com

For more recipes... NewEnglandFineLiving.com

Linda Smith Davis, owner of http://www.newenglandfineliving.com is an Allied ASID Interior Designer New England, owner of New England Fine Living, and Party Planner North of Boston. Classic New England Style or Glam Interior Design and parties have been most recently completed in Middleton, Carlisle, Andover, North Andover, Marblehead, Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Newbury, Ipswich, Westford, Boxford, Topsfield, and so many more surrounding towns!