Fall Favorites for Entertaining

You can be equestrian chic in the kitchen in this APRON

A friend gave me this THYMES CANDLE and it is ideal for fall

Another favorite HERE

Make your own Caramel Bourbon Sauce RECIPE

Gold Hobnail VOTIVES

Pomegranate Serving BOWL

I am loving lacquer TRAYS in a fall hue

Peter Callahan Giveaway - The Winner

What fun to partner with Tina from THE ENCHANTED HOME to offer two signed copies of the entertaining book of the year - Peter's Callahan's Bite by Bite. Drumroll please....the winner is

Kathysue of GOOD LIFE OF DESIGN. Congratulations and please email me your full name and mailing address.

A Big Helping of Texas Charm

Happy Labor Day! My grandmother used to always say "I never met a Texan I didn't like!" And I totally agree. After reading about Lisa Fain in the Food Section of the New York Times, I had to check out her blog and the buzz about her new cookbook, THE HOMESICK TEXAN COOKBOOK . While Lisa has lived in New York for years, she is still a Texan at heart.

My next dinner party is going to feature a big ol' helping of Texas Recipes. Yum! You can check out her blog HOMESICK TEXAN for a wide range of recipes. Below are a few that caught my eye.

Chipotle Blue Cheese Dressing RECIPE

Corn and Black Bean Salsa RECIPE

Ribs with Sam Houston's BBQ Sauce RECIPE

Spicy Buttermilk Onion Rings RECIPE

Pecan Peach Ice Cream RECIPE

Cowboy Cookies RECIPE

Photos: The New York Times and Homesick Texan Blog

Stowe Away

Earlier this week I received a call from the manager of the Woodstock Inn and Resort in VT that they were closed for the foreseeable future due to massive dammage from Hurricane Irene. I have stayed at this resort many times and was looking forward to going back for the holiday weekend. But more importantly, the devastation up and down the East Coast is heartbreaking to see.

Still wanting to head to the Green Mountain State for a spa weekend with friends, I decided to book a suite at the new STOWE MOUNTAIN LODGE. I had heard rave reviews and it looks so much like Beaver Creek!

The resort

The rooms (I made sure I got one with a mountain view).

The spa - heaven! 

What a stunning backdrop for a wedding! And one of our favorite photographers BARRIE FISHER took the pictures below and is based in VT. 

Whatever your plans, have a great Labor Day Weekend! 

Labor Day Style with Pretty Pink Tulips

I am delighted to have one of my favorite bloggers, Elizabeth from PRETTY PINK TULIPS guest blogging on her perfect Labor Day Party!

I was thrilled when Kate asked me to guest blog and create a party for Labor Day. Since we're hosting my father-in-law (a true rancher) for Labor Day Weekend, this menu was designed with him in mind!

Let's face it....if you've had the kind of summer I have, you're just about "partied out" and this is the last hurrah before focusing on Fall. So, I decided to keep things casual and easy. For the host and the guests. My "uniform" this summer has been a strapless dress (short or maxi) and since we're outdoors, I'll wear wedges (gotta have my added height!)

Invitation is via PAPERLESS POST - and gives a nod to something on the menu!

Though I live in New York, I'm not really a "new yorker", but a Texan living in New York. So, let's welcome our guests with a refreshing Texas Tea. (Add a little hooch if you need to give yours a kick). RECIPE

We're going to enjoy these last beautiful warm nights - picnic table style.

I've been having a love affair with Mason jars this summer - so how appropriate to use them not only for glasses but for our flowers.

I'm a huge fan of Pandora, as it allows you to select an artist that you like, then it will create playlists from that artist and others like it. Tonight, I'm going to mix it up with some Blue Six (very vibby), which is a great background music for any type of party and then move into Zac Brown Band, which is THE country/mainstream band of the moment.

Our main course, brisket tacos, pays homage to my guest of honor, but feel free to go vegan with beans and rice. RECIPE

To give some color, take advantage of the season's bounty and circle back to the invitation, we'll serve Fresh Sweet Corn with Sea Salt and Basil. RECIPE

For dessert, a comfort food that is secretly my all time favorite -- Chocolate Pudding. RECIPE

With a relaxing environment like this...hopefully your guests will linger long into the night and you'll eventually end the evening with s'mores by the fire pit!

Wishing everyone a fantastic end of summer!!

Party Details: Summer Dinner Party

Every summer Dixie throws at least one really special dinner for her friends and family. We decided to have it inside because it was hot and humid and inside is SO much easier!

Here is the table. Dixie's house in CT is from 1790. And don't miss my Jack Russell, Auggie, under the chair! 

The meal, without exaggeration, was one of the best I had all year. Dixie brought in one of her favorite chefs for intimate affairs - ANNE GALLAGHER.

The food was made from local ingredients and was off the hook! I was too busy eating to take photos, but these shots from the web will give you the idea.

For nibbles to accompany cocktails, Anne made three different variations of herbed cheese biscuits. Yum!

The first course was Grilled Corn Soup with a Corn Avocado Relish

The main course was Pan Seared Salmon with an Heirloom Salsa

Accompanied by roasted fingerling potatoes and a medley of summer veggies and sauteed kale

The salad course was a Grilled Peach and Fennel Field Green Salad. So delicious!

How to you top off such a phenomenal meal? 

A Napoleon of Lemon Mousse with Mixed Berries and Filo. Out of this world!