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June 23, 2012
Posted by susiebrennan

4th of July

Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays! Not only the meaning but another reason is that it also happened to be my Grandmother’s birthday! So as a kid, I had wonderful memories of going up to her ranch in Sacramento, California every year and spending the whole weekend cooking and eating glorious foods! She and my Mother were gourmet cooks and loved nothing more than to entertain.

They’d feed a crowd every day. They had a blast trying out new recipes, drinks, card games, you name it! Whatever was “yummy and fun” they’d give a whirl! I’m not just talking about 4 or 5 items on the buffet counter - I mean she’d have a sea of platters on her dining room table. But those were the days! She’d serve her peaches, homemade pickles, three bean salad, pies. Everything was super fresh from her garden or things she’d canned! She made sure everything was special, from the party decor to even a fun and happy atmosphere! Everyone had a ball! Now that I’m writing this I can see that I did learn a thing or two from her! It’s no wonder why I spent two weeks preparing 18 dishes for my Super bowl Party! Ha!

Now that I’m a Mom, I try every year to pass along those same great memories! I don’t think there’s anything better than good food, family and friends!

Have a wonderful 4th! Hope you enjoy some of my old favs!

Susie

 

Red White and Blue Gumballs

Red White and Blue Gumballs and Flags

From Bing.com

Old Glory Flowers in a Picnic Basket

Old Glory Flowers in a Picnic Basket (credit: Sunset Magazine)

3-blue hydrangeas, 5-Red Zinnia’s, 5 stems of white spray roses, yellow sunflowers, yellow roses, and 10 stems of cornflowers.

Patriotic Margarita

Patriotic Margarita

(credit: HPNOTIQ.com)

Ingredients:

- 1/2 oz. HPNOTIQ liqueur
- 1/2 oz. rum
- 1 1/2 oz. tequila
- 1 oz. coconut milk
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 oz. fresh pineapple juice
- 1 oz. sweetened strawberry puree
- 1/2 cup crushed ice

Combine rum, coconut milk, lime juice, pineapple juice, and ice in blender. Pour HPNOTIQ liqueur into a margarita glass.  Layer 2/3 of the blended mix over the HPNOTIQ. Blend remaining mix with strawberry puree, layer on top.  Garnish with coconut or use salt-rimmed glass as a variation.

 

 

Grand Marnier Cream Filled Strawberries

Gran Marnier Strawberries

It’s so easy that it’s not so much a recipe but more like tips!

Hull strawberries and cut bottoms for a flat edge.
Add 2 T. of Grand Marnier for each cup of whipped cream or I cheat sometimes and drop a teaspoon of Grand Marnier in each strawberry then fill them with Land O Lakes Canned Whipped Cream. Oops, I cheated again, I toss the blueberries in warmed apply jelly (microwaved) for a glossy, pretty finish. Top the creamed strawberry with a blueberry!

 

 

Roasted Red White and Blue Potato Salad

Potato Salad

Recipe:

Prep time: 15 min. Cook time: 35.

2 T. Olive Oil
2 Cups small red potatoes, quartered
1 cup white fingerling potatoes, halved long ways
1 cup small blue potatoes, halved long ways
1/2 purple onion, chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
1 t. coarse salt
1/2 t. freshly ground pepper
8-10 cooked crisp bacon slices, crumbled
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
3/4 c. Ranch dressing
3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Place oil in a 15 x 10 inch jelly roll pan; add potatoes and next 4 ingredients, tossing to coat.  Arrange potatoes in a single layer and bake at 425 for 30 to 35 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Transfer to a large bowl.

Toss together potatoes, bacon, green onions, cheese, and dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.  Serves 4-6.

Adapted from Southern Living

 

 

Watermelon, Purple Basil, and Feta Salad

Watermelon Salad

Recipe for Watermelon Salad:

1-inch thick sliced seedless watermelon, cut from center (1 to 1 1/2 lbs.)
1 cup pitted Nicoise or Kalamata olives
5 oz. feta cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup lightly packed small fresh purple basil leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of one lemon
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Place the watermelon slice on a cutting board and cut around the outside to remove the green skin and white flesh.  Cut the red flesh lengthwise and then crosswise forming 1″ cubes.  Carefully slide the watermelon onto a platter, taking care to keep the shape of the slice intact.  Sprinkle with the olives, feta, and basil leaves then drizzle with the olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately. Serves 4-6.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Cooking for Friends

 

 

 

Ribs

If you are looking for  some awesome last minute Ribs…Go to Costco and get their St. Louis Ribs, they are already marinaded with their St. Louis dry rub and are ready to go on the grill for about 60 minutes!

I served them to a crowd for my daughter’s graduation and everyone raved over them! They’re very meaty and super tender!

If you like BBQ sauce, I just used my favorite store bought, Bull’s eye’s original or Kansas City Style.

You can brush it over for the last couple of minutes while on the grill or put it in a dish for your guest to use as a dipping sauce.

 

 

Flag Cake

Flag Cake

credit: 17 and baking

To make the cake, you use three layers of white cake. Using food coloring, one layer is dyed blue, one red, and the last one is kept white.  The three layers are leveled so they are the same height.  Let’s say each layer is 2″ tall.

Using a serrated knife or cake leveler, slice the red and white layers horizontally in half.  So you have a blue layer (2″), two red layers (each 1″) and two white layers (each 1″).  Set one white and one red layer aside, those will be the bottom two stripes of the flag.

You only want a square of blue in each slice, not an entire layer. Stack the blue layer, white layer, and the red layer on top of each other. Using a serrated knife, cut a large circle through all three layers. I used a bowl as a guide. Now you have a ring of blue, a ring of white, a ring of red, and three inner circles in each color (the blue is 2″ and the other two are both 1″). Discard the inner circle of blue and the outer rings of red and white.

To assemble the cake, frost the bottom two layers together – set the uncut white layer on a plate and spread with frosting. Top with the uncut red layer. Spread the uncut red layer with frosting.  Then set the blue ring on top. Use a spatula to spread in a very, very thin layer of frosting around the inside edge of the blue ring. This will help keep the blue layer and the two top stripes together.

Place the white inner circle on top of the uncut red layer, inside the ring of blue. Frost and top with the red inner circle. Frost the entire cake and voila, it’s a flag cake!

 

 

4th of July Bundt Cake

4th of July Bundt Cake

cake recipe 1

 

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Posted Under Festive Ideas Holidays Recipes! Uncategorized


Posted by susiebrennan

9 Ideas To Update Your Home in One Weekend

1. Repaint!

Paint is always the easiest way to change a room in a hurry, plus it doesn’t take a lot of money and you can do it yourself!

Choose a lighter color than you already have or dare to paint one wall a fresh bright color. Chalky white walls are very hot right now! They seem to be the “look” in all the magazines but I think they work beautifully if you live in an interesting architecturally space. But if you have a plain room without an interesting design, moldings or windows, they can be a let down! Boy do I know!

Gorgeous Whites Living Room

Clean and serene; elegance.

Designer Melanie Turner (below) did a gorgeous job! Pay attention to her details-

White and serene Living Room by Melanie Turner

White and serene Living Room by Melanie Turner

Brilliant how she filled the center air space with the mirrored sunburst, chandelier and objects of art on the center table.

It takes the room from being lovely to spectacular!

 

2. Wallpaper

Great for adding a yummy feel to room, again something you can do yourself! Also a great way to highlight a dull, mousy entry hall or powder room!

Imperial Trellis Wallpaper

Love, love, love Imperial Trellis Wallpaper!

Shumacher Wallpaper

Shumacher

 

3. Give your old furniture new life!

Don’t give away Grandma’s hand me downs -Paint them! Choosing a light color is your best bet! Go for shades of Blue grays, silvery sage, creamy linen, or spa blue. They can transform a piece from Mousy to Modern in one afternoon!

Funky Painted Antique Chair

Funky Painted Antique Chair (Credit: CR Laine)

Painted Bombay Chest

Painted Bombay Chest

4. Edit!

Lighten up! Don’t use everything you own in one room! Pack away 50% of your little treasures in a box! I know it’s so difficult because you’re going to think it’s dull and boring! But here’s the trick, replace it with a huge piece of Art! Whether it’s a huge abstract painting or a dozen picture frames arranged on a wall!

Black and White Framed Photographs

Harmony & Elegance ; Black and White Framed Photographs. So simple but so striking! (credit: Jill Goldberg and Hudson Interiors)

Above: Find an old art book, (garage sale or library) copy black and white photographs that interest you. Make sure they’re of the same subject matter so it’s consistent and balanced. Frame them with Ikea’s pre-made black frames! They even include the mats! Cheap too!

Dozen of Paris Prints

Dozens of Paris Prints (credit: Jill Goldberg and Hudson Interiors)

Above: This can be done the same way as above with a little more work! Order your favorite poster (this one is a city aerial shot) then cut it up in 12 or 16 pieces. Then frame all the same size and color without the mats! Cool for any room!

Composition of Frames

Think outside the box with your arrangements! Try to be artist, stack them or do one linear line!

 

Collection of Frames

A collection of frames makes it beautiful! (credit: Jill Goldberg and Hudson Interiors)

Yummy! This is so warm and inviting – reminds me of what books do to a library!

5. Abstract Art Makes the Room Pop!

Abstract Painting Yellow

Pretty Yellow Block

Ikat painting by Susie Brennan

Ikat painting by Susie Brennan

 

6. Adding Curtains

Renew the look of a room by changing pattern, color, or fabric. White will dominate the room by opening up the space.  Maybe just do a one color and white scheme? It’s the hot look right now, Grey and white, Blue and white, cream and white, you can’t go wrong! It’s clean, fresh and will lighten up your old design theme.

Drapes to Ceiling

Drapes always look the best when rod is placed closest to the ceiling also makes windows look larger!

Cornice Boards

Adding a cornice board can add drama for a simple space

Border Draperies

Adding a band can make a nothing drape into something extraordinary!

Riad Imperial Trellis Den

Roman shades take on a new look with a "relaxed" loose version.

Mineral and Cream Den

Mineral and Cream Den

Woven shades are an inexpensive way to give your windows an extra oomph.

 

7. Reupholster your tired furniture

Brighten your old furniture with texture and softer colors.

Fabrics today are lighter, brighter, looser. Synthetics seem to be a thing of the past!

Designers today are concentrating mostly in linens, silks and wools; basically anything that’s natural and “green” in origin.

El Mueble

Here's a great example of Natural and easy going by El Mueble

El Mueble Living Room

Again, El Mueble, love it!

El Mueble with Blue

El Mueble my new discovery! Great architecture, style and non-complicated!

Amazing Ceiling!

Ceiling makes a "wow" statement! Here's the exception to the rule. Don't take these drapes up this ceiling- let it take center stage!

  8. Jazz up your closets and drawers

 

Wallpapered Cabinet

Nice, now it's Fresh and appealing.

Wallpapered Closet

Nice touch makes an old space feel new!

 

9. Freshen Up Your Taps!

 

Bathroom Mirror

Mirror Accent

2 Bathroom Mirrors

Take away the large wall mirrors of the 90's by adding 2 smaller mirrors.

Bathroom Sconces

Add sconces for a clean, uncluttered look.

Bath El Mueble

Natural, clean beautiful. El Mueble.

 

 

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Posted Under Design Mash Easy Updates Interior Design Modern Design

March 5, 2012
Posted by susiebrennan

Spring into Citron and Grey!

Just when I thought my “one and only” color was Blue…you name it, Aqua, Turquoise, Mineral, and Spa, it’s been my obsession for the past few years! Seriously, my girlfriend’s thought I’d really lost it! One even brought me a bottle of Aqua blue nail polish as hostess gift last year! But I’m now totally in love with this new color combination! Why?

Maybe Spring is in the air and we are in a new phase of decorating.

To get the “look” everything now is fresh, light and clean.

What does that better than Grey and Citron Yellow!

I love how Grey has become the new neutral! For the past two years, I’ve painted just about everything in Grey! It’s funny, if I had pitched to my client that I was going to paint their old piece of furniture in Grey! They’d say, EWE, I don’t’ like grey it’s so depressing and drab! But when I said, I’m going to paint your old piece in a new French Grey, they say Oh! I like that! I see them staring at their piece with a smile on their face, I crack up inside because I think they picture that their piece is going to transform into something the once saw in Versailles! Honestly, it usually turns out awesome and blows them away!


Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, and many other top designers are using it!

Caroline Herrera

Coach is even using it!

 

So here we are! Does the fashion industry set our design style? Maybe so?

Catherine Daisy did a great job pulling this all together! I especially like the white horizontal stripes, It’s a great way to make an inexpensive focal point! White is always beautiful with Grey!

 

Oh, this has always been one of my fav’s! The silvery grey make it timeless and elegant and the drop of Citron make it yummy. Of course the fabric is a gorgeous silk!

 

I loved this the first time I saw it! Maybe I’m getting a little bored with the white marble and grey kitchens. This one make me hungry! Hahaha! As usual, but I’m still a sucker for kitchens that are warm and inviting!

Soothing and serene...

Brilliant! Barn door is so charming, it really sets the stage for the mod soaker tub...

 

Citron and Grey Starburst Mirror

Ok, my girlfriends will laugh at this one! Not only have I been obsessed with Blue but every room I’v done in the past two years got a Starburst! Ha, I think it’s the best thing for big weird walls, or add a little one as jewel piece when stacking a bunch of paintings together.

I think this is fun and happy! They definitely have used every new trend in one space!

I love the deep charcoal with the Citron chinoiserie Chairs. The border on the Roman shade makes them so chic!

Two of my favorite’s from Kravit. Riad (left) and Bansurri (right)

Pillow fabric by Barbara Barry

Grey Quadrefoil Fabric perfect for drapes and pillows

Grey and Citron Den

Pretty Yellow and Grey Painting...very cheerful!

 

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Posted Under Design Mash

September 23, 2011
Posted by susiebrennan

I Love Design~

This is a sample post!

 

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