Jennuine

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ROOK NO. 17 SAY'S "I DO" TO:

- September 19, 2009

If there's a wedding in your future , or if, like me you're happily married but still enchanted by the dresses, the cakes, the whimsy and drama of weddingdom, you won't want to miss a new blog from author, wedding planner, style maven, and our very good friend, Holly Lefevre. HIP, STYLISH, AND TOTALLY COOL WEDDINGS is the ultimate "glam guide for the savvy bride." Holly describes this latest creative endeavor as, "Hip, stylish, & totally cool weddings for the budget savvy bride with above-average style, a fabulous and fun sense of herself, and distinctive ideas about her wedding. It speaks to the hip bride who knows the importance and impact smart spending and savvy thinking can have on her life and her wedding style." We especially enjoyed the first installment of her feature tackling " WEDDING MYTHS ". We're looking forward to an interview with Holly precluding the release of her latest book, "The Everything Wedding

FLOWER FAIRY TUTORIAL

- September 17, 2009

By popular request, we've put together a free PDF tutorial so you can make some of these enchanting little flower fairies at home. Please share and enjoy. If you'd like to enter for a chance to win a Flower Fairy Kit (includes everything you need to make three flower fairies, except the glue and wire cutters), please leave a comment below. Be sure to note an email address where we can reach you if you're the lucky winner of the October 1 drawing. Two winners will be chosen at random. Flower Fairy Tutorial

All-Day Apple Butter ~ A Must-make crockpot recipe for fall

- September 12, 2009

With the crisp, cozy, cinnamon-spiced season of Fall just around the corner, what better way to usher in the season than with a day of apple picking at a local farm? This month, farms all over the country open up their orchards to give us cityfolk the opportunity to stroll beneath their leafy canopies, heavy with crimson and golden fruits; to fill our bushels and baskets to the brim; to share the bounty with our friends and neighbors, the smell of flaky pies and tender dumplings wafting from our kitchen windows... For those on the Monterey Peninsula, the place to visit is Gizdich Ranch located at 55 Peckham Road in Watsonville. From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily you can pick Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Pippin apples for just $1.35/pound. Bring your own boxes or baskets, a picnic lunch and enjoy a memorable day with the family. Try one of our favorite family apple recipes ALL DAY APPLE BUTTER (it's absolutely divine over vanilla ice-cream ~ like a war

LUNCHBOX HEROES ~ ENTER THE POWERBALL

- August 26, 2009

We received an anonymous request during our contest from a reader who is looking for a "recipe for raw energy bars for kids lunches." Here is a recipe for our family favorite, compliments of Wondertime Magazine, September 2008 : LUNCHBOX POWERBALLS "These wholesome little snacks are simple to make and rival cookie dough eaten right out of the bowl (not that we'd do that). The easiest way to make them is to combine all the ingredients in a stand mixer, but the fun way is to push up your kid's sleeves and let her mush it all by hand." Makes 40-48 cookies Mix together 1 cup peanut butter and 1 cup honey until smooth. Gradually add in 3 cups old fashioned oats and 1/2 cup ground flaxseed . Add 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup any combination of nuts and soft dried fruit (try 1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanuts and 1/4 cup each of raisins and dried cranberries) and mix gently in your stand mixer or smush together by hand. Roll into Ping-Pong-size ball

AND THE WINNER IS...

- August 24, 2009

Thanks to all the friends and fans that participated in our first giveaway. It was fun reading all of your comments and stories. The challenge is on to meet all of your recipe requests ~ a challenge we look forward to in the coming weeks. We've already made some progress in tracking down the famous artichoke cupcake recipe for Holly, and are crossing our fingers that the talented baker that came up with this unique creation will be willing to share his genius with our readers. So, without further ado, the winner is...SAMANTHA STEWART! Congratulations Sam! You were interested in some great salad recipes, so we hope you'll give our "Peas, Love & Orzo" a try. You also inquired about some recipes for gazpacho. Turns out our pal Martha did a whole feature on gazpacho in the September issue of LIVING, and we're eager to try all four recipes, especially the "Gazpacho Ajo Blanco". You'll receive a copy with your t-shirt. But for instant gratification,

PEAS, LOVE & ORZO SALAD

- August 22, 2009

Some Saturday kitchen dabbling led to this easy and delicious twist on pasta salad. Please share and enjoy! PEAS, LOVE & ORZO SALAD 1 pound box orzo pasta 7 oz. homemade or store bought pesto 10 oz. frozen peas 6 oz. crumbled feta cheese 3 dozen grape tomatoes, quartered Salt to taste Fill a large stockpot with water, a good pinch of salt and a drizzle of oil. Bring to a boil. Add orzo and frozen peas. Stir. Cook for 9 minutes once water returns to a boil. Drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in pesto. Fold in feta cheese. Fold in quartered grape tomatoes . Season with salt to taste. Chill at least one hour before serving. ___________________________ This post has been linked-up with:

SWEET MONDAYS ~ OUR FIRST CONTEST

- August 17, 2009

WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR READERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, COMMENTS AND GENERAL JOLLY-GOODNESS WITH OUR FIRST OF WHAT ARE TO BECOME REGULAR CONTEST GIVE-AWAYS. THE FIRST OF OUR "SWEET MONDAY GIVEAWAYS" IS OUR VERY OWN ROOK NO. 17 LONG SLEEVE TEE WITH OUR MASCOT AND LOGO IN REVERSE APPLIQUE. WINNER PICKS THE SIZE (BABY, CHILD AND ADULT SIZES AVAILABLE). SHIRTS ARE 100% COTTON, SUPER SOFT JERSEY KNIT, AND ARE MADE IN THE USA BY AMERICAN APPAREL. HERE'S HOW TO ENTER: SIMPLY COMMENT ON THIS POST BY ANSWERING ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS (AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO WE CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN): 1) It would be just ducky if I could find a great recipe for _____. 2) I'm a crafty bird who's looking for a great resource for _____. 3) Rook No. 17 is my favorite blog because _____. 4) Tell us about your fondest Halloween memory from childhood. ONE WINNER WILL BE DRAWN AT RANDOM AND ANNOUNCED HERE ON MONDAY, AUGUST 24.

POLITICS OF THE PLATE

- August 12, 2009

With the popularity of such groundbreaking books as Eric Schlosser's " Fast Food Nation" and the recent theatrical release of the food industry expose " Food, Inc " the movement towards organic, sustainable, and genetically unaltered food may be on the rise. As the American consciousness about the things we put in our mouths continues its awakening, the media is striving to meet our craving for straightforward and up-to-the moment news on the food industry. Our friends at Gourmet Magazine are leading the way with their online (and in print) monthly feature POLITICS OF THE PLATE . In previous articles they've addressed such issues as " Toxic Strawberries? (California’s governor will soon decide whether to approve a new—and possibly very dangerous—pesticide for use on this beloved summer fruit.) ", " Milking for Profit (One of the nation’s largest dairy processors could soon come under investigation by the Justice Department.), and &qu

OUR FAVORITE BACK TO SCHOOL PROJECT

- August 05, 2009

SCHULTUTE ~ The first day of school is an important milestone for children all around the globe. In Germany, many children receive a Schultute ( pronounced shool-too-tuh ). The Schultute is a whimsically decorated paper cone filled with school supplies and little treats. The treats are meant to symbolically sweeten the child's transition into the realm of greater responsibility (traditionally, the 1st grade, which is when German children begin their formal education). The tradition began back in the 19th century, when according to lore parents told their children that a Schultute tree grew in their teacher's yard. When the cones grew big enough it meant that it was time to start school. Today, children often decorate their own Schultuten as an end-of-year project at the completion of Kindergarten. Parents then fill the cone for the child to open after the first day of first grade. We've attached a downloadable PDF of instructions for how to make your own Schultut

BI-RITE DYNO-MITE!

- August 02, 2009

A few weekends ago we ventured up to the city to scope out the art scene, partake in some glorious dim-sum and experience Sam's Sundae at Bi-Rite Creamery . This legendary ice cream creation has been described as "perfection", "heavenly" and with the explicit sensual characterization typically reserved for lusty romance novels. The Bi-Rite Creamery menu describes Sam's Sundae thusly: "Chocolate ice cream with bergamot olive oil, maldon sea salt and whipped cream." Unusual; even a bit bizarre! Olive oil on ice cream? I'm an adventurous eater, but must admit, I was a bit wary of how it would play out on the palette We arrived on 18th Street at around 4:30 p.m. The streets were flooded with the uber-hip college crowd; sun was shining and a guy with a massive boombox affixed to his bicycle wound his way around the crowds blaring Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." We found a place in the line that extended all the way down t

BACH TO THE FUTURE

- August 02, 2009

With fine arts programs in the public schools becoming about as rare as a Bach Opera, parents with a passion for classical music may be interested to know there is a rich variety of mulitmedia out there to help inspire a love and interest in classical music in the next generation. Here are some of our favorite picks: The Composer is Dead, by Lemony Snicket (Book and CD) ~ "Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" has been the gold standard for introducing children to instruments since 1946. The concept has been embraced (some may say enhanced) by none other than Lemony Snicket, whose picture-book overview offers the additional layer of a murder mystery. The CD presentation features music by Nathaniel Stookey, performed by the San Francisco Symphony. The story is well paced, employing wordplay, humor, and mild suspense to build a slow crescendo that originates with the delicate strings and climaxes with percussion. The bombastic Inspe