Popcorn 10 Different Ways

I have been a fan of popcorn ever since I was a kid. At home my Mom would by microwaveable Pop Secret and make if for my siblings and I when we watched movies on Friday and Saturday nights. I was also obsessed with movie theater popcorn. You would think that a 10 year old girl would get a small popcorn at the movies, right? Um, NO! I use to get a LARGE popcorn with butter and eat it all myself. It actually grosses me out when I think about it now. I still love movie theater popcorn, but I stick with the smaller size and avoid the chemical laded fake butter.

Anyway, I have been coming across so many great popcorn recipes and ideas lately and I have been adding them to my Snacks board on Pinterest in preparation for my next big movie night. I figure they are too good to keep to myself, so I thought I would share. 

Tequila Spiked Caramel Corn

Summer Basics from J. Crew Factory

I took a trip to my local outlet mall, Wrentham Premium Outlets, on a mission for some summer basics. For a serious shopper, I am very bad about getting seasonal clothes before the season actually starts and all the good stuff is taken. When do they start getting rid of the summer stuff? July? I feel like when I look for stuff in June, there is nothing left. 

Determined not to be without cute, non-denim shorts this summer, I made a beeline straight for J. Crew Factory to scoop up some of their 3" chino shorts. It turns out I found a lot more than just shorts. 

Clare Cardigan

Monday Morning Pick-me-up

The Benefits of a Costco Membership

So I visited Costco last weekend for the first time in a while. I use to have a membership, but I let it lapse without renewing it. I decided to right that wrong on last Saturday when I headed to my local Costco warehouse just outside of Boston. I can't believe I stopped coming here! They have so many good deals!

I know what you are thinking. What regular person needs 15 pound bags of flour and 4 dozen eggs? I know not everything at Costco is practical, but some stuff is just silly to buy anywhere else.

Style Icon: Babe Paley

Barbara "Babe" Paley was one of New York's biggest socialites in the 40's.50's and 60's and one of Truman Capote's Swans.

When asked about Babe, Capote had this to say:

"Babe Paley had only one fault, She was perfect. Otherwise, she was perfect."

She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1958 and it is pretty easy to see why. Weather she was lunching at La Cote Basque or at her home in Jamaica, Babe was always dressed right for the occasion.

Babe at her first wedding to Stanley Mortimer in 1940

American Flag Tart

I usually save my red, white and blue for the 4th of July, but I am feeling patriotic!

Recipe via Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• 2 recipes Pate Sucree 
• Creme Fraiche Filling
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup apricot jam, for glazing blueberries
• 1/2 cup raspberry jam, for glazing raspberries
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 pints red raspberries
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
• 1 pint blueberries, picked over

Directions

On a lightly floured surface, roll out a disc of pate sucree 1/8 inch thick to fit a 3 3/4-by-13 1/4-inch fluted, rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom. Brush off excess flour with a dry pastry brush. Carefully transfer dough to tart pan, tuck dough into the edges, gently pressing along sides, and allow excess dough to overhang the edges. Trim the dough by running your rolling pin over the dough against the edges. Gently shape the edges by pressing the length of your forefinger against each flute along the sides. Prick all over the bottom with the tines of a fork. Repeat with remaining disc of dough. Transfer to the refrigerator, and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove chilled tart shells from refrigerator, and line each with a piece of parchment paper that overhangs the edges by at least 2 inches. Fill parchment with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until just starting to color, about 20 minutes. Remove parchment and weights from tart shells, and return tart shells to oven. Continue baking until tart bottom is golden, about 20 minutes more. Transfer tart shells to a cooling rack, and allow to cool completely. Carefully remove tart shells from pan.

In a small bowl in the microwave or set over a pan of simmering water, heat chocolate until it is just melted, about 1 1/2 minutes; stir until smooth. Using the back of a spoon, line each tart shell with chocolate. Refrigerate to set, at least 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat apricot and raspberry jams in two separate saucepans with about 1 tablespoon water in each; strain into separate small bowls.

Make top tart: Remove one lined tart shell from refrigerator and spread 1/3 of the creme fraiche filling over the bottom. Arrange 3 rows of unglazed raspberries 2/3 the length of the tart, leaving space between each row and at the top and bottom edges for 4 more rows. Dust with confectioners' sugar until raspberries are completely coated. Toss blueberries in a bowl with strained apricot jam. Fill left third of tart shell with a layer of glazed blueberries arranged snugly in rows; top with another layer of blueberries. Toss half the remaining raspberries with the strained raspberry jam, and carefully fill empty rows with some of the glazed raspberries, rinsing your hands as needed.

Make bottom tart: Remove remaining tart shell from refrigerator, and spread a third of the creme fraiche filling over the bottom. Arrange 3 rows of remaining unglazed raspberries, starting at the top edge and leaving space between each and at the bottom edge for 4 more rows. Dust with confectioners' sugar until raspberries are completely coated. Fill empty rows with remaining glazed raspberries.

Arrange tarts on a large board or tray to resemble the flag, and serve with remaining creme fraiche filling on the side. Finished tarts will hold at room temperature for several hours.

Bombing at the Boston Marathon

As I am sure you are all aware, yesterday in my beloved hometown of Boston, two bombs where detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. I cannot begin to express my sadness over what happened or how my heart breaks for all of those involved. What was suppose to be a great day for the city I love has now become a day of sadness and hurt.

I am in such a shock over what happened, and I can't make any sense of it. I wish I could be more eloquent, but right now all I can say is that my thoughts and prayers go out to all of the people involved and I send my heartfelt thanks to the brave men and women who are working tirelessly to protect Boston and all of its citizens.

xoxo, Elizabeth

Patriot's Day Weekend

For those of you living in Massachusetts, enjoy the long weekend!

See you on Monday with new posts!

Image Credit

Curing Downton Abbey Withdrawal

Is anyone else suffering from Downton Abbey withdrawal like I am? I can't wait for season three to premiere, but since it will be quite a long wait before the show returns to PBS, I decided to check out some of the other great work from Julian Fellowes. First up: The film Gosford Park, which he wrote. 

I saw Gosford Park many years ago and absolutely loved it! A fantastic look at the British aristocracy between the first and second world wars. It somewhat resembles Downton Abbey but there is a murder mystery element to it and it is a bit naughtier than Downton, which I love. Also, Maggie Smith is in it, which is reason alone to watch the film. She is such a talent and so fun to watch. If you are interested, Gosford Park is currently on Netflix.

Dressed Down Chic for the the Weekend

I've been going back and forth about what I can wear on the weekends while running my errands that is comfortable, but still attractive looking. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but I see women at the grocery store on Sunday morning that look like they wore their pajama's to run errands. And I'm not talking about the pretty silk pajama's from Stella McCartney. They literally look like they rolled out of bed.

So the issue is, how can you run errands on the weekends, without getting all dressed up, but still look put together? I admit, that I am a huge fan of leggings, but I don't consider them pants. I need the top to cover my bum if I am going to go out in a public place that isn't the gym. I don't have a lot of tunic-like tops that go a bit longer, but I think I have to invest in some for the spring and summer. Black leggings, colorful tunic and a pair of cute flats. What do you think?

Another option is to wear the leggings with a light spring jacket on top, so no one knows that you have just leggings underneath. All the credit for this fabulous idea belongs to Carly at College Prep. She did a great post on wearing leggings as pants and she mentioned that while running errands, she just would wear simple leggings and a t-shirt and just throw her long coat on top and no one was the wiser. Very smart!

Another hurdle to weekend errand wear is the lack of makeup. I wear a face of makeup 6 days a week but I like to let my face breath at least one day a week, so Sunday's is a makeup free day if I am just running errands around town and hanging around the house. I admit I hate being seen without makeup on, so I decided to take a page from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and just throw on a pair of dark, oversized sunglasses. Does anyone else do this? Also, do you still wear them when you walk in the store. I prefer to, but I always worry people will think this is strange. 

Does anyone else dress down on the weekends? If so, what do you wear running your errands? I would love some more ideas for cute but casual looks!

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