The Flowers of Monticello

Red and White Tulips planted all along the back garden walkway.  The gardeners had planted perenniels that are already coming up in between the thousands of blossoming tulips. 

Majestic Monticello in the background!

Beautiful Pink Angelica Tulips

Don' they look like roses? They were really spectacular!

                                                                          

Virginia Bluebells...just the prettiest little perenniel - I can't always get mine to survive more than three years.

Light yellow Star tulips with the touch of a pink blush...just spectacular!

Exploring Asheville with FHFB for the next few days.  I haven't been keeping up with reading all of your wonderful blogs but will be sure to catch up once I get home!  And I haven't photographed all of the many flowers blooming at Monticello - I keep forgetting to snap the pictures because I get so caught up in looking at everything.  I promise to get better!

Ciao,bella!

Road Trip

We're taking a road trip down to Asheville, North Carolina to visit our son Frank.  Needless to say, I am not a lover of the road trip, and we stop every 3 hours or so to take a break, walk around, discover something, and of course, have a meal or snack.  There's not much halfway between where we live in New Jersey and Charlottesville, Virginia, our first stop for two nights, except for Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.  We gave it a shot and were pleasantly surprised to find a very busy little Mexican restaurant right across the street from the court house.  I took a photo of the fresh corn chips, guacamole and fresh, fresh salsa served to every diner before the meal.  This little aperitivo was delicious, and probably all I needed to have for lunch.  But, of course, I went ahead and ordered the chimichangas - and they were just to die for!  Off to Monticello today and wine tasting at the Barboursville winery, with lunch at the Palladio restaurant connected to the winery!  This winery is affiliated with the D'Albola winery in Tuscany - one of the many wineries we visited this fall!Ciao, bella!

Frog Hollow Farm Caprese Salad

We were invited over to our friends for an afternoon of catching up, drinking great wine and of course, eating.  I'm bringing my version of the Insalata Caprese Salad - I'm calling it the Frog Hollow Farm Caprese Salad because it's made with goat cheese -  that's what I have in the house today.  My friend Stephanie ate Caprese Salad every day we were in Italy this fall - and we would all laugh about it because even with so many other delicious menu choices, Stephanie just couldn't get enough Caprese Salad! 

The Frog Hollow Farm Caprese Salad is a super-simple appetizer to make, and was inspired by a goat cheese appetizer from Martha Stewart's website which I can't find on-line any longer. Here's how to put together the Frog Hollow Farm Caprese Salad: 

The ingredients are:

 a small log of goat cheese (plain or herbed)

fresh chives

fresh basil

fresh grape or cherry tomatoes

extra virgin olive oil

red wine vinegar

salt

pepper

Slice the goat cheese into 1/4 inch rounds - I use this wire type of cheese cutter - it's great for soft cheeses.

Lay the goat cheese rounds on a platter, any way you like.

Cut the tomatoes in half...

Drop the tomato pieces directly on top of the goat cheese...

Chop the chives.....

Scatter the chives on top of the tomatoes....

Tear off about 5 basil leaves and chop them into julienned pieces...

gently drop the slivers of basil onto your salad....

Grate some fresh pepper and coarse salt over top of the salad...

Make a simple vinaigrette of extra virgin olive oil and red wine vineger - sprinkle all over the salad...

Ciao, bella!!!

Congratulations Aunt Riz!

Congratulations on your 100th post Aunt Riz at Gifts from the Sea! 

Ciao, bella!

New Inventory

Yesterday was the start of my collection of inventory for my future Frog Hollow Farm Girl business. I'm not sure what my business will be exactly, but I know that I want it to reflect all of the things that I love about life.  That's not necessarily a great business plan (or any kind of business plan), leading me to believe that whatever my new venture looks like, it won't be up and running for about a year. 

One really special item that I found is a lovely little Flower Guide book (about 3" by 5") published in 1923.

This little book was designed to 'be carried in the pocket with little or no discomfort'.  The author goes on to explain that the drawings represent normal specimens and have been chosen to include those of the conspicuous flowering plants found from the Atlantic seaboard west to the States of the Mississippi Valley.  The illustrations are just wonderful and I plan on dedicating one blog to the book and illustrations soon.

Large Marsh Pink: Sabbatia - Gentian Family

That little book was discovered on a shelf at a store called Plum Cottage - right next door to the Antique Center at Red Bank. 

Here is another photo from the drawings in the Flower Guide:

Sweet White Violet and Lance-Leaved Violet - Violet Family

I just think they are delightful!!!

Tonight's Aperitivo....

Fresh Salad with Organic Arugula, English Cucumbers and Shaved Fennel

Pasta Pomodorini - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/pasta-pomodorini-recipe/index.html

Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lemon-and-garlic-roast-chicken-recipe/index.html

Ciao, bella! 

Happy Pink Saturday Everyone!

Things are a bit busy today at Frog Hollow Farm, but I didn't want the day to go by without posting a little something.  So, here's a photo of a beautiful pink Gerbera daisy for Easter...

...my sister-in-law Jan gave it to me!




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Happy Pink Saturday everyone!

Ciao, bella!!!

 

I tried linking into a Pink Saturday blog but I was too late!  Maybe next time...

Back to Aperitivo

I've been remiss in planning and posting my aperitivo ideas lately, probably due to the holidays (although I have posted other entries) but mainly due to the fact that if I keep eating all those aperitivo goodies with FHFB I will be the size of a small Celebrity cruise ship!  So, I've made a commitment that the one personal thing that can't be compromised in my life is some sort of physical activity each and every day.  For the past three days I've walked two miles each morning on the treadmill - thank goodness for Showtime because that's what keeps me busy while I'm walking away.  My biggest challenge is fitting the time to exercise into my day.  I've discovered that I need at least an hour (better if it's 90 minutes) of 'me' time in the morning before any exercise begins.  That 'me' time is used to have a hot cup of tea and catch up on emails, facebook and of course my blogging friends and their new entries.  Sometimes it's the creativity and beautiful photos on these blog updates that gets me a bit off-track as new ideas fill my brain and I plan new projects and posts! 

Yesterday FHFB and I took a road trip down to the Jersey shore.

The day was beautiful and we walked around Spring Lake and had a delicious little lunch at a small Italian deli right on Main St. (didn't get their name).  I had a pasta and fresh spinach salad and FHFB had a veal cutlet along with a healthy portion of brocolli rabe and sliced Italian sausage and half of a crusty loaf of bread.  See what I mean about eating - he can eat all of that and stay the same - I gained weight looking at him eat (or maybe because I stole things from his plate, like a slice of sausage and a chunk of that bread!)  Either way, we both love food and so the vigorous exercise must become part of my daily routine so I can enjoy bites of many delicious savories without guilt. 

We also stopped by Red Bank and purchased a few beautiful antique peices that I'll be sure to feature in my future blog entries.







Okay, onto tonight's aperitivo (especially since my Aunt Riz gave me an award for Italian cooking!):

Orrechiette Pasta with Cavolfiore Strascicato (Cauliflower and very little Bacon)
Polpette di Vitello con Carciofi e Carote (Veal Meatballs with Artichokes and Carrots)
Bruschetta with White Beans, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Basil

Ciao, bella!!!

Whistle For Milk

This little ceramic 'Whistle For Milk' mug has been around for a long time, probably for at least 50 years!  It's not Limoges or anything expensive, but nevertheless is just so sweet and full of memories.  My brother, sister and I each received one of these from a visiting friend of my mother's, many years ago when we lived in a little split level house on a corner in south Jersey.  Each of the mugs held a package of some sort of candy, and after we ate the candy my mother saved the mugs and placed them with her good china and crystal in her china cabinet for all to see. 

The little bird perched on the handle has a tail that's a whistle, and it actually works when you blow into it, thereby, Whistle for Milk!These little mugs were always the stars of the china cabinet for me, but mom wouldn't let us use them.  I think I remember one time when mom let me have some milk in one of the mugs, but it was quickly returned to the safety of the cabinet.  Anyway, somehow I got a hold of that little mug and began looking for others on eBay - and I have collected a few more...

A Gracious Thank You!

Gifts From The Sea is just a wonderful little blog that I found out about from another blogger, my cousin Karen.  I was really excited to find out that relatives are blogging - and as you know it's another wonderful facet of technology that keeps us all closer and current with what's going on in the lives of loved ones we don't see often enough. 

My Aunt Madeline is the creator of the Gifts From the Sea blog and she likes to be called Aunt Riz (I need to find out why my Uncle Dick named her Riz when she was little). Anyway, my Aunt Riz gave me my first Blog Award yesterday and I'm just so excited!  Okay, I know she's my aunt, but it still counts, right?  The award she designed is called the Italian Cooking Award - and she gave it to me because she enjoys reading about all of my recipes that pretty much focus on Italian food.  In her blog she said that she was there the day I was born and that she loves me with all her heart, does it get any better than that?   I don't think so. 

I have so many wonderful  memories of Aunt Riz. First of all she was a great seamstress and sewed so many clothes for my Barbie doll, a magnificent bridal gown for one - I remember the layers of lace that went down the back of the entire gown (watch out Vera Wang!). 

When she was first married she lived in a great apartment with a dumbwaiter in the kitchen, I used to think that was the coolest thing ever - having lived in the suburbs, apartment living was so novel.  Aunt Riz made the best iced coffee too, and I remember eating wonderful desserts and watching soap operas at night (they used to be on at night) with her while she ironed and her daughter Jackie was asleep in her crib.

Aunt Riz always made life fun, I so loved visiting and staying with her! 

So, to Aunt Riz, thank you from the bottom of my heart for my very first blog award!  I can't help but smile whenever I think of you!  Ciao, bella! XXXOOO

Spring Buffet at Frog Hollow Farm

Oven roasted organic carrots....

Freshly blanched asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper...

Cavolfiore Strascicato (Cauliflower with Bacon)....












Tortino Di Riso (Rice Torte)....

Roasted Fennel.....

Spiral Cut Honey Ham....

The Dessert Table...

Vegan cupcakes from Papa Ganache's bakery in Keyport, New Jersey.... (courtesy of my neice Kerry - Thank you Kerry! : )

The bar....

I hope that you enjoyed seeing some of the food we had at our Easter buffet - I think this menu could be served throughout the spring.  Thank you to my daughter Katie for taking the beautiful photos!  XXXOOO

You can find me at Foodie Friday today, hosted by the fabulous Designs by Gollum.

Ciao, bella!

Daffo-lini's

Signature Cocktail for Our Easter Buffet

at Frog Hollow Farm

The Daffolini

Fill the bottom of a champagne flute with the following:

• 
  
  2 Tablespoons of Chilled Italian Limoncello
• 
  
  2 Tablespoons of Absolute Citron Vodka
• 
  
  1 Tablespoon of Orange or Lemon Infused Simple Sugar

Top it off with very cold Italian Proseco (not too brut) and a small piece of lemon peel.

I decorated simple champagne flutes with silk daffodils and ribbons, and used a glue gun to adhere the flower to the bottom of the glass stem.  I then tied three colors of ribbon around the flower where it was glued. 

I thought the looked very festive, especially when placed all together on a tray, but my daughter thought they looked like a bad attempt at a bridal shower favor! 

 Oh well, they may have been a bit overdone but they were colorful and fun!!!!

Ciao, bella!!

I'm linked over to Metamorphosis Monday and Rooms to Inspire!!!

A Frog Hollow Farm Easter

Happy Easter from Frog Hollow Farm!

The flowers are out and about....

Tulips and Hydrangea...

Chicks....

and ducks...

My milk glass dishes are perfect for jellybeans....who knew?

and the farm table is ready and waiting in the morning sun....

We are having an absolutely glorious, sunny day here in the Northeast. 

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Ciao, bella!

Two Sweet Easter Bunnies

Here are two sweet little bunnies I found a few weeks ago. 

They remind me of two very good friends who love being together or a big bunny sister hugging her little bunny sister. 

Aren't they adorable?

We are so busy at Frog Hollow Farm right now, still working with our contractor finishing the steps on the back porch - hopefully before Easter, and getting ready for our Easter buffet on Sunday. 

Even though we're busy I wanted to post these little bunnies for you to see.

So many bloggers are posting such wonderful photos of their Easter, Passover and Spring tables, colorful flowering plants, delicious recipes (thank you Bonnie at Living with Thanksgiving for where to find the recipe for the macaroni cheese muffins on your Bridal Coffee post) and of course, all the fabulous decorating ideas that I get to sigh over every single day. 

I am so impressed at everyone's creativity and design flair - it's so inspiring! 

My guess is that these bunnies love being in the conservatory, sitting pretty among the mint, tulips and daffodils, if I were them I'd be feeling pretty good!

 

I hope I remember to take photos of our Easter buffet for everyone to see - so often I forget because I get so busy with everything! 

Ciao, bella!