A FEW TOUCHES OF SPRING AND COOKING WITH ESTELLE'S

Good Morning to y'all...
I hope you are loving your days and are able to
soak up all those warm spring afternoons...
it's been spring cleaning around our house
with cleaning out flowerbeds and making an honest
effort in raking old leaves and debri....an almost
endless task with windy days recently!

I so enjoy keeping in touch with you all
and try to bring things of interest and inspiration to the blog
even if it is just everyday living...
so here we go......
I have purchased all my seed packets
for the upcoming spring and summer but must
first prepare the pots with new soil before planting..
I am really looking forward to this....

I can so relate to our dear friend, Linda, over at Linda's Life Journal,
 who adores sunflowers as much as I do..
This will be my theme for the porch and I feel sunflowers
can easily take us into fall.....

The new garden flog....isn't it beautiful?
This just brings a feeling of joy

I came across a very old candle and ceramic shade the other day
and felt it was perfect for Easter....shades of lavender
with a lavender scent....
This is from Valerie Par Hill many years ago....

A lovely touch of summer in the guest bath...
smells divine....

One of my favorite things to do is read cookbooks....
I thrifted this little gem from Goodwill books.....

Now let's review some recent recipe favorites........

Apple fritters made with just one granny smith apple

Another round of homemade meatballs with bucatini

 A light and healthy lunch of eggplant, zucchini, tomato,
onion and garlic

This was simply scrumptious....
Mocha Pecan Bundt Cake from scratch
 topped with a mocha glaze....

And lastly a lemon cream cheese loaf.....

Warmer days are finally here and we are loving the sunshine...
I hope your health is good and you have something to look forward to...
We have family birthdays and anniversaries coming up in April...
see y'all next time....

FAMILY DINER NIGHT

 HELLO  LOVES....
it's Saturday and a family dinner party has been planned
here at Estelle's and on the menu for the gathering is
a spicy Cajun Jambalaya and Banana Pudding....
so we have a full day of preparation underway...

I wanted the tablesetting to be colorful, yet casual

I decided on Banana Pudding since it's one of my son's favorites.....
the kind with pudding mix, sour cream and cool whip...

Done..now it can just chill in the fridge until we are ready for
this creamy and delicious sweet ending....

Now, believe it or not....
this is my very first attempt at making a good jambalaya...
it is quite a process....
lots of veggies , along with roasted chicken, andouille and fresh shrimp

And, my darling little Lucy was keeping me company
as I was pretending to be a chef in the kitchen....
I started the homemade stock before the chopping of all the
vegetables was underway....
I allowed the vegetables to simmer most of the day
in my favorite stockpot in order for all the herbs
and spices to marry and become deeper and richer in flavor....

I kept the appetizers light in order for everyone
to enjoy the aroma and come to the table hungry

Cajun Jambalaya is a little of alot of ingredients....
peppers, onions, okra, tomatoes, celery, garlic and lots of spices....
it was often called a peasant soup.....little bit of everything...

and now for happy faces.....family..
cocktails and conversations.....

Often times. you mix the rice into the soup,
but I prefer serving the soup OVER the rice.....
and it was HUGE hit....
people went back for seconds....
oh yes, served with hot french bread!

It was a cold, rainy evening and this was the perfect dinner
to enjoy a family gathering....

Normally,  I would serve a Bread Pudding,
but this dessert was a cool and creamy option....

Our sweet Otis enjoyed a bit of french bread....
It's a good thing to bring family together
in order to catch up and enjoy good food and pleasant conversation...
y'all have a good week...

TIRAMISU DIP FOR ITALIAN DINNER DESSERT

Hello Kindred Spirits....
we are preparing for a family visit 
and my menu planning is underway...
I am planning on a delicious Pomodoro sauce
which is simple tomato sauce that tastes
super fresh and flavorful....
I like to add red pepper flakes and fresh basil.... 
but in today's post...we are going to start with dessert....

A quick and easy Tiramisu Dip

TIRAMISU DIP
16 OUNCES Mascarpone Cheese, Softened
2 T. confectioners sugar
1 T. cocoa powder
2 T. instant espresso powder
1 pint whipping cream
3 T. confectioners sugar
1 t. vanilla

In a bowl, beat the softened mascarpone cheese, 2 T. confectioners sugar,
cocoa and espresso powder until smooth.
Whip the cream with confectioners sugar and vanilla until stiff
peaks form.
Fold most all the whipped cream, reserving some for topping,
with the cheese mixture.
Divide the tiramisu dip into small bowls or glasses and top each
with a dollop of whipped cream dusted with cocoa powder.
Serve with Lady Fingers and Vanilla Wafers

This is so creamy and billowy...a small bite of heaven....

The Divine Miss M and our Luke the Duke
will be coming for a visit in April and the purpose of this special
dinner, was a practice run to test out my recipes for hosting
a family Italian Dinner night....
we will end with the Tiramisu Dip......
but oh honey.....we will begin with
my homemade spaghetti and meatballs over
Buccatini.....



Homemade meatballs..
made with beef and pork, fresh Italian Parsley
and lots of garlic.....soooo good....

The aroma of a simmering Pomodoro sauce will bring
everyone to the dinner table....

Serve family style in one large bowl at the table
which makes for a beautiful presentation!

A lovely, yet simple, light and fresh dinner salad

Spaghetti alla Napoletana

We have loved and enjoyed family dinners for many years..
time flies by and how blessed we are to make memories of
time spent together...I love to make these special times....well...memorable.....

BEDROOM UPDATES INSPIRED BY LILLY PULITZER

Good Morning Kindred Spirits..
You know what time it is?
A bit of spring is in the air and it's time
for spring cleaning and making a few changes throughout our homes...
After much thought, I wanted a bit of  color and drama in 
one of the guest bedrooms....
and I turned to" Lilly" for my inspiration......
The colors in your bedroom can greatly influence your mood.
I opt for soft, calming shades of blues, pinks and greens
to offer feelings of harmony and relaxation....

I have been a follower of Lilly Pulitzer since I was a young teen..

a preppy look that is timeless......
a mix of colors, a summer Palm Beach style that is so chic and cheerful...

However, as in any collection that I love,
I only prefer touches of the brand, not full blown must have it all....

I wear her fragrance......

I have a few stemless wine glasses for the cocktail hour...
And, I own a few watercolor trinket plates....
and one fabulous summer resort wear dress!

The Lilly color pallet features what I would call "happy and sunshine" colors....

The Lilly prints feature Chinoiserie, birds, colorful pagodas

and abstract florals.....oh yes, you will often see
exotic animals swirled into her watercolors....

So with this in mind...I selected just a few pieces I wanted to change out
for the warm spring and summer days...
art pieces, new throw pillows, and a few items for the bathroom vanity....
Artwork is meant to bring joy and can be a real
statement piece when displayed
 throughout our home!
It's time to hit the reset button!
I used much of what I already had and purchased
a few affordable pieces for this look

A small change but one that makes an impact is to change out
the dresser runners...soft blues are my chosen colors since
I am using my blue Laura Ashley quilt for the upcoming seasons.



My son gave me this table runner which is perfect for this
addition as well as white florals in grandmothers rose bowl.....



I changed out a framed piece of art from a vintage wedding photo
to a vintage day at the beach, complete with parasols.....
they could easily be down in Palm Beach...

A classic Lilly print

I think my Flamingo pillow is my favorite addition

For my guest, I placed an unexpected hand towel and darling
little book at the corner of the bed....

The new prints of artwork look so vibrant and happy
in this room...I just love them!

Did you notice the starfish?

The vanity was such fun to add new bath products

A new hand towel and standing holder

The most luscious smelling hand soap

The paisley design on the hand cream, along with the delightful
scent of Rosemary Margarita certainly adds to the
"Lilly vibe!"

A seasonal refresh can be so enjoyable to create
and keeps our homes feeling loved and cared for....
it can lift the spirit as you embrace your creativity!