{escape}

Daydreaming...when I should be focusing. Can you blame me? I sort of want to escape and bake something sweet in the below kitchen and then take a stroll in the garden. Though I love the company of friends, solitude happily suits me right now.

Ok...back to life!

xx, 

Naphtali

{Cabbages and Roses} 

{under $20 fave}

I've mentioned this BEFORE, I have a lot of favorite kitchen items.  Lately, I've been very happy for my Pampered Chef Garlic Press!  {I think it's so funny how I find such joy in something, such as a salad spinner or garlic press....} I love fresh garlic, but am not a fan of mincing and stinking up my fingers.  This press does it all: put it in whole and it will peel, crush and mince.  Love it {and it's under $20}!!

Do you have any favorite kitchen items?

Interested in purchasing? Click below!

{under $20 fave}

I have lots of fun kitchen gadgets that I love.  In fact, every week I pretty much declare one of them my favorite.  This week it's my salad spinner.  *Sigh* 

It's fantastic.  I know most people have a salad spinner, but I just got it.  Literally...this picture, is the first time that I used it.  AND...I got it for $16.  For some reason, I thought it would be much more, but nope.  (And, that's why I bought it...even though I wasn't out shopping for one. hehe) I'm not sure how I lived without one for so long, since we pretty much have salad every other (if not every) dinner.

Great life saver!!

{For those of you wondering...I purchased a small Zyliss Salad Spinner.}

{à table}

à table = a French term used to signify dinner time. It literally means "at [the] table".

I have many memories growing up when dinner would be ready and I'd hear my mom say (in her convincing French accent) "à table". Here I am years later, and though I don't have little children piling around the dinner table, my Mister has become quite familiar with the phrase. Since this term is so prominent in my life and since I love to express art through food, and since admittedly I get asked "what I'm making" several times a week, I've decided to start documenting certain dinners/recipes on my blog. I'm not a professional by ANY means, but I have fun exploring my way around the kitchen. If you're interested in me trying out anything in particular - let me know!

As for last night....?

Salmon, roasted potatoes and broccoli


Marinade:
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp finely chopped fresh ginger
1/2 tsp Asian sesame oil
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp chopped green onion
2 medium cloves minced garlic

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer slowly for 5 minutes. Strain liquid and chill. Place Salmon (or another fish of choice - I've used halibut and talapia) in a non-reactive pan and cover with marinade. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Remove fish and cook! I barbecued the salmon in the above photo, but generally bake it. Yum!

Potatoes:

Quarter potatoes and dress with:
Olive Oil
Garlic
Chopped parsley
Kosher Sea Salt
Crushed black pepper
Bake on a cookie sheet for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.


à table and bon appétit !

{monday inspires}

I feel completely inspired by this little kitchen above. It confirms the hope in me that even though our little kitchen is small, it can be completely functional. Hope you are all finding something that inspires you today!

P.S. had a blast this weekend....watching pirates land on Alki, soaking in so much sun that my shoulders are burnt, a lovely lunch and afternoon with friends and a great Sunday with my Mister.





{via here}

{Chakra Pennywhistle}

I have several 'kitchen' loves. Two of those loves include aprons and dish towels. What's even better though, is when they are combined! My heart swooned when I happened upon the adorable creations from Chakra Pennywhistle. I'm thinking one of these would be fun to add to my collection...




If you're looking for something outside of the kitchen, fret not! Chakra Pennywhistle also sells some adorable pillows and other such clever items.

Be sure to check out the adorable shop here!

Bon week-end !

{weekend project}

Well, as you can see {below} we still have piles in every random corner imaginable. Guess that's what comes with downsizing, but it's starting to feel like home!

One of my projects, this weekend, included lining cupboards with paper. It's hard to tell due to the flash on my camera, but the color is olive. I actually picked up this paper when we lived in Alaska. Never got around to using it and since the kitchen shelves needed some help, this was a perfect use.


I'm hoping this week is a little "kinder" on me. Work is a whirl right now and I'm down right sick of living in clutter. That being said, my motivation is sporatic. We leave for Boise this Thursday and I think the much needed vacation will be just the trick!

Happy Sunday!!

{blog merging}

With the extent of my job, always pending 'ventures', current move, new boss and summer {travel, games, family, fun} schedule, I have decided to stop blogging on Belle Chic Cuisine and instead merge my two blogs. I look forward to blogging here about some of my favorite recipes, kitchen ideas and new food finds! And...I wouldn't mind baking up some Meringues in the vintage oven shown above!


{image via here}

{dreaming...again}

Today we're signing our lease and getting ready for the big move this week. Down-sizing is overwhelming, but at the same time liberating. Why worry about that though, when I can get sucked into these lovely pics! Of course...don't you know that it's research for our new place?! :) Loving grey {as always}....


and lately, I've been craving blue, seafoam green...or something random like that for our kitchen. Hmm. Don't know why - but it's in the front of my mind. Should I act on it?


What I really should be focused on {besides the move and all} is throwing a lovely picnic!!! Wouldn't this be a perfect dream for this long weekend?!


{via home sweet home & flickr}

{to spend the weekend in this kitchen...}

...would be a good weekend indeed!

Happy {spring} Friday! Enjoy this Mother's Day weekend lovelies!

{photo: JAS Design}

{our kitchen}

Anthony and I have yet to take any real photos of our new place...This is in part because, I'd be the only one to even think of it. Why the pics? Well...to share with you all of course! This seems like it would be an easy feat, but alas, I can't find my camera. (shh.) I managed to take a couple of pics with my phone and only took some of the kitchen. So, for now, here are a few of our kitchen.

I was supposed to get to the boxes today as I mentioned earlier...honestly, I made it through two. AND, I didn't even empty them. I was so excited by the memories inside, that I just went through the material, and packed it nicely back up. Hmm. Not the point. But, I'm happy. And ultimately, still lacking a camera. SO...I'll be posting more pics soon, but here's our kitchen for now!