The temperatures begin to cool, the
spiders come in to roost, and the seasons transition almost instantly.
Gray, sun, rain, and repeat. We switch out our flip flops and sunscreen for
blankets and boots, and get ready to roost inside for a cozy period of
hibernation.
Transitions are a part of everyone's
life. New adventures and opportunities come and go in the blink of an eye. Our
own Holly Rose King is doing just that and moving to New Zealand in October.
She has been with Paula Devon Raso Interior Design for almost 5 years, assisting Paula in many areas of the design
process. While working, she also acquired her interior design degree at
Bellevue College and graduated December 2013. Design, especially interiors, has
always been a passion of Holly's, even as a little girl. She will continue with
an interior design career when she gets settled in Auckland.
When adjusting to these chillier
evenings, a great throw can really set the scene for comfort. Whether it is a
heavy wool blanket, a soft faux fur throw, or a cozy cable knit, these cuddlers
will help you cope with the cold months.
In any season or temperature, I default
to tomatoes. All forms of this luscious fruit, raw, cooked, blended or juiced
are tempting. This recipe is great when fall hits and I can freeze it into
portions easy to heat and eat. I like to make the meat balls a little bigger
than golf balls and put a few with sauce into a sandwich bag and freeze. Pull a
serving out whenever and heat with pasta!
Meatballs and Tomatoes
A Marcella Hazan "Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking"
recipe
For
4 Servings
A slice of good-quality white bread
1/3 cup milk
1 pound ground beef, preferrably
chuck
1 Tablespoon onion chopped, very
fine
1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
1 egg
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 Tablespoons freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
Whole nutmeg
Salt
Black pepper, ground fresh
Dine, dry, unflavored bread crumbs,
spread on a plate
Vegetable oil
1 cup fresh, ripe tomatoes, peeled
and chopped, OR canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, chopped up, with their
juice
1. Trim away the bread's crust, put
the milk and bread in a small saucepan, and turn on the heat to low. When the
bread has soaked up all the milk, mash it to a pulp with a fork. Remove from
jeat and allow to cool completely.
2.In a bowl put the chopped
meat, onion, parsley, the egg, the tablespoon of olive oil, the grated
Parmesan, a tiny grating of nutmeg - about 1/8 teaspoon - the bread and milk
mush, salt, and several grindings of black pepper. Gently knead the mixture
with your hands without squeezing it. When all the ingredients are evenly
combines, shape it gently and without squeezing into ball about 1 inch in
diameter. Roll the balls lightly in the bread crumbs.
3. Choose a sauté pan that can
subsequently accommodate all the meatballs in a single layer. Pout in enough
vegetable oil to come 1/4 inch up the sides. Turn on the heat to medium high
and when the oil is hot, slip in the meatballs. Sliding them in with a spatula
will avoid splashing hot oil out of the pan. Brown the meatballs on all sides,
turning them carefully so they won't break up.
4.Remove from the heat, tip the pan
slightly and with a spoon, remove as much of the fat as floats to the surface.
Return the pan to the burner over medium heat, add the chopped tomatoes with
their juice, a pinch of salt and turn the meatballs over once or twice to coat
the well. Cover the pan and adjust the heat to cook at a quiet, but steady
simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes, until the oil floats free of the tomatoes.
Taste and correct for salt and serve at once.
Dinner parties are moving indoors as
well, and the holiday meal planning begins. Setting the perfect scene for
guests is a task we look forward to. We are sure your dining room is already an appealing platform
for entertaining, and that will take the edge offof the process and allow you
to add the finishing touches to make the table a welcoming space. Keep the
décor simple and something that reflects your personal style.
After renovations in all other areas
of the house, one of our client’s asked us to refresh her dining room as well.
The result, she says, encourages more frequent entertaining. The chairs are
covered with a linen and have a pickled wood finish. The tablecloth was custom
made using three different fabrics to enhance the space with a simple but
notable elegance. Mercury finished candlesticks and accessories add sparkle. A
dramatic chandelier hangs above. Finally, an Art Deco French mirror (purchased from Renevatio Collection) reflects and bounces the soft
lights around the room.
