Chicken Pot Pie

Last night I adapted three pot pie recipes to create my own. I wanted something that was lighter than the tradition pot pie and will cook a little faster. This is an easy recipe that you can cook on a work night. Enjoy!

1 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 cups cubed chicken (I pick up a rotisserie chicken)
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup yellow onion diced
1 cup celery diced
1 cup carrots diced
1 cup frozen peas
2 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 sheet of frozen puff pastry

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a sauce pan, simmer 2 cups chicken stock. Dice chicken, onions, celery, and carrots. In a saute pan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrots. Saute until slightly softened (4 to 5 minutes). Add the stock to the vegetables and bring to a boil.

In sauce pan that you used for the stock, add butter and four together to make a roux. Continue to stir until mixed, but not brown. Add the heavy cream and stir vigorously until the mixture thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the roux to the chicken/vegetable mixture. Add the frozen peas at this point. The chicken should thicken and reduce heat to medium low.

Grease pie pan and pour chicken mixture into it. Roll the thawed puff pastry to size of pie pan and place over dish. (If you press the edges of the pastry to the dish, it will stick a little better.) Make several slits in the top so the pastry will not get soggy.

Place in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and puffy. Allow 5 to 10 minutes to sit before serving, so the liquid can thicken.

Enjoy!!!

While I don't want it to be cold yet...

I do want to start wearing pretty holiday dresses!!



www.katespade.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4345634

The Secrets To Being Southern

So, I am stealing this from Southern Living. They provided 25 tips for celebrating the soul of the south in their September issue. "Living in the south is the next best thing to being alive, where do people crown strawberry queens, know shrimpers by name and trade pass-along daylilies?"

Tips:
1. Welcome friends with a beautiful table
2. Enjoy the blues
3. Write a charming thank you note
4. Savor Savannah
5. Build with barn wood
6. Smoke like a pitmaster
7. Keep it sweet (tea)
8. Float a river
9. Put up pickled okra
10. Learn the Texas Two-Step
11. Master the Carolina Shag
12. Perform the Appalachia Flatfoot
13. Rediscover Mr. Faulkner (Monica already has P&B doing this)
14. Celebrate small town mayors
15. Grow an heirloom bounty
16. Gather 'Round at Galatorie's'
17. Bring back old-fashioned storytelling
18. Plant your family's tree
19. Pass along your garden's best
20. Visit the shrimp docks
21. Catch a break in Music City
22 & 23. Make a perfect apple pie
24. Honor the queen
25. Count your blessings!

Women Always Must Have...

With all of my new "free" time, I have been able to rediscover my love of cooking. Lately, I have been thinking what does a stocked pantry mean for the modern woman. I have started to come up with a few items that any P&B woman should have on hand.

1. Puff pastry
2. Lemons
3. Chicken stock
4. Vino Verde
5. Tomatoes
6. Eggs
7. Basil
8. Parmesan Cheese
9. Garlic
10.Good quality olive oil

Spring Green Risotto

I made this dinner last night. It's light for a risotto and had wonderful fresh flavors. It would be perfect with a glass of Vino Verde sitting outside with friends.

1 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups chopped leeks (2 leeks)
1 cup chopped fennel
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
2/3 cup dry wine
4 to 5 cups simmering chicken stock
1 pound thin asparagus
10 ounces frozen peas
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
kosher salt and ground pepper for taste
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons minced chives

Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and fennel and saute for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add the rice and stir for a minute to coat with the vegetables, oil, and butter. Add the white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed. Add the chicken stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more. This process should take 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut the asparagus diagonally in 1 1/2 inch lenghts and discard the tough ends. Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until al dente. Drain and cool immediately in ice water.

When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add it to the risotto with the peas, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. (I found that I needed to add more salt at the end, but continue to taste for the acidity and saltiness) Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.

Whisk the lemon juice and the mascarpone together in a small bowl. When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone mixture plus the Parmesan cheese and chives. Serve hot.

It takes about 50 minutes start to finish. Enjoy!!

I love fall clothes

So cute. From Anthro.

Lots of laughter

Really funny.

Twirl...!

L.O.V.E. this so much!! Can't wait to try it out!

Quick Update

We made it out to Chicago just fine. We are in our new apartment, but our furniture does not arrive until Monday. The plans for today are to go and get new licenses, uggh! In Illinois you have to take a driving test, not loooking forward to that. I will update some more with crazy Chicago stories later on. Miss you all so much!!!!!

Love,
Jacq

P&B Retreat

Or, we could hold a retreat in this lovely city!!

Or we could retreat here:

This is a resort in Asheville where my family is currently retreating sans Sabine. Check out the underground cavern-esque pool!

The Perfect Location for a P&B Retreat

turn your handwriting into a font!

I just discovered this and find it absolutely fascinating. This video advertises a product that can turn your personal handwriting into an electronic font!



How's that for the personal touch?

Click here for the article with all the information if you want to know more.

Coastal Room from Anthropologie

As y'all know, I've been a fan of the coastal vintage look lately and most recently decided an anchor would be a nice home accessory. Unique and nautical, anchors are unlikely to appear in anyone else's living quarters which is part of the reason why this idea appeals to me! Well, lo and behold, this past weekend at Anthropologie, I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw the following bedroom display!! Anchor, rope, sand and all, these guys did this room well:

Note the hammock bed. Dreamy.


As to be expected, I would opt against a mini-sand dune but love the idea. And check out the anchor!! On my next trip home, I plan snag one and bring it back to DC.


Love the lantern.

Southern Values

All things filled with Glee

The following statement was uttered from the lips of Cricket today during lunch:

"Hey guys, so there's this show I saw recently. I don't know if y'all have seen it, or if it's even good. Y'all probably don't watch it. But I watched some episodes the other night and it's so good. It's called Glee."

The surrounding Pages promptly and vehemently explained the awesomeness of this show to Old Soul Cricket. The fact that she is just now discovering this show makes me love her that much more.

So I thought we needed a post on Glee STAT!

Watch this video and fall in love. And that is only the beginning (literally. This was the first song they did in the season premiere). Glee reruns are showing all summer long on Fox on Thursday nights. Be prepared to be obsessed. Season 2 premieres in the Fall!



And now, appreciate this sign:



I'm making a Glee mix for Cricket because I know she'll love it. Who else wants one?

Just so delicious

I haven't stopped thinking about fried green tomatoes since Lunch Bunch today! Think this means we need a trip to Founding Farmers sometime soon!

From Southern Living:

Ingredients:
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 medium-size green tomatoes, cut into 1/3-inch slices
Vegetable oil
Salt to taste

Preparation:
Combine egg and buttermilk; set aside.

Combine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, cornmeal, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl or pan.

Dredge tomato slices in remaining 1/4 cup flour; dip in egg mixture, and dredge in cornmeal mixture.

Pour oil to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch in a large cast-iron skillet; heat to 375°. Drop tomatoes, in batches, into hot oil, and cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels or a rack. Sprinkle hot tomatoes with salt.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Timely Quotes

"Beauty Attracts Beauty"

and

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

WOTD

chary (adj): discreetly cautious; hesitant and vigilant about dangers and risks; slow to grant, accept, or expend

I especially like the history of this word I found on Merriam-Webster:

It was sorry that bred the caution of chary.In Middle English, chary meant sorrowful. In a sense switch that demonstrates that love can be both bitter and sweet, chary later came to mean dear or cherished. That's how 16th century English dramatist George Peele used it: 'the chariest and the choicest queen, That ever did delight my royal eyes.' Both sorry and affection have largely faded from chary and in Modern English the word is most often used as a synonym of either 'careful' or 'sparing'

LOST!

Ok, I know just a few of us Pages are obsessed, but I think Hap & Ben read the blog too, and I know for fact they'd appreciate this. So there's my majority...and here is my post:

Girls, let us never forget

And let us always remember: Lovely Days are *key* to a happy existence!

Calling All Logophiles!

In pursuit of a better vocabulary, I'm beginning a "Word of the Day Column" on our blog. I kindly solicit your help in...

crafting a sentence using the "WOTD" and posting in the comments section;

using in your daily conversation with me,;

posting a picture that illustrates the definition;

enlightening us with the French (or language of your choosing) equivalent;

or whatever strikes your fancy...

I'm trying to learn at least 30 words a day, so feel free to share other words that you believe should be part of a well-rounded vocabulary.

Today's WOTD is alacrity (noun: eager and enthusiastic willingness) or (adj: cheerful readiness)

My sentence: I hope you accept my invitation with alacrity.

Graph paper---the key to life

Graph Paper we love you

The Real Housewives of DC...DC Cool at its finest

So.....as you know, the Real Housewives of DC are coming to Bravo. It appears that it will be the latest effort in trash TV, and could possibly outdo the previous shows and cast members with their tacky antics. DC Cool is all I have to say.

Read all about it here

and take note of an appropriate quote from former WH Social Sec Lea Berman (George W Bush Administration):

“People in Washington don’t want to call attention to themselves — attention creates envy and envy creates enemies,” said Lea Berman, a former White House social secretary. “Washington is so different from any of the places where they have these shows. They’re all in places where being famous for being famous is enough. There’s no achievement behind it, and Washington is an achievement-oriented town.”

Save the DateS!

Upcoming Events:

July 3: Pool Party @ Capitol Skyline Hotel

July 15: IPHH @ Biergarten Haus

July 17: P&B in Philly

August 5: Wendy's Birthday

August 11: Wendy's Baby Shower

Living in what you wear

I came across this yesterday and love it because it's a combination of the two things a Pages loves: Fashion and Decorating!

I think this is especially great because the dresses are Gowns. And they're gorgeous. And they are Caroline Herrara works.of.Art. Of course, so are the rooms.

Tis not the season...

...but I love this Thanksgiving table!!

Eat, Pray, Love: The Movie!

Community Activism

This is the link that Sabine posted and I changed it so you just click on this link!

I heart Sabine.

Where Fabulous Lives!

Marjorie Merriweather Post's Estate and Gardens, Hillwood Estate, is the perfect "un-touristy" spot to explore with your mom.

Her art collection is absolutely incredibe! I'm obsessed with her expansive collection of Soviet China. I would highly recommend watching the short video on the history behind the collection in the visitor's center before touring the grounds.

I think my favorite thing about the museum is that she built the Estate knowing it would house her art, so you view the art like she intended you to. In that way, Hillwood is similiar to the Gardner in Boston and the Barnes in Philly.

Also, Hillwood has an adorable little outdoor restaurant with a delicious lunch menu. Fun gift shop too!

Dream life

I really love y'all, but if I somehow come into a small fortune and this house goes on the market, I will be permanently relocating here:

Girls, pull out your credit cards

It's that time at Kate Spade again!

love it.

Truer than true.

Chora home desgin store in Mykonos// What is your home design style??

This is the most lovely home store I've ever been in. I'd like to move to Mykonos and work there...it is my "home style" which I would like to say is a seaside version of Anthro plus preppy with TONS of books :) a seaside library of sorts!

Please post examples of your style!! and if you are against being put in a box to define your style then please put up examples of items you'd like in your home or are a priority to you...like my four items i'd choose right now would be:

1) seashells
2) old books
3) old maps
4) pictures of travels from around the world

--Cricket

When you're stranded and need to shop...

Turn to Design Sponge, a blog I've recently discovered that highlights cool jewlery, clothes, and design stores in cities all over the world!

So next time you're in Maui, South Beach, Dublin (or even Tallahassee or Louisiana's Twin Cities - Monroe and West Monroe) and you need to fix your shopping bug, you'll know where to get the good stuff!

http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/city

"The secret of being loved is being lovely and the secret of being lovely is being unselfish" - Unknown

The importance of oral histories

Today's Lunch Bunch attendees enjoyed some stories about the days of yore and pondered a bit on folklore. It's not gossip, it's networking...and good storytelling.

We all have stories to tell, stories we have lived from the inside out. We give our experiences an order. We organize the memories of our lives into stories.

Oral history is the systematic collection of living people’s testimony about their own experiences. Historians have finally recognized that the everyday memories of everyday people, not just the rich and famous, have historical importance. If we do not collect and preserve those memories, those stories, then one day they will disappear forever...

Tea Party Barbie

I can't decide if I love this or hate this?!?

A little Madeleine...

You must watch...you will fall in love with her. Don't worry, there are subtitles. Thanks to our follower, Sarah, for sharing this first!

It's the weekend...

And there just aren't enough of them.

I'm in Sweater Love

Love this Kate Spade sweater, but mostly because it reminds me of Mexico. Totally feel uncomfortable with the model's face - she seems like she might be in pain or out of pain due to outrageous amounts of alcohol.

Poll for Pages

A debate has ensued over Mrs. Monica Popp's Snapple fact of the day: "Plants, like humans, can run a fever if they are sick". Interesting or Sad?

calling all children of the 90's

It must be noted, and made a priority, that the Rosslyn Outdoor Theatre has a multitude of fabulous movies showing this summer.

Click here for the full run down. Literally every single one got me real happy. I think the Pages need to plan a night of yummy take-out, comfy blankets, and delicious drinks. And it must be noted that this Friday's movie is Clueless.

I'll be there. Come Join!

And I thought I'd seen it all...

This takes the destination wedding to a whole new level!



From the website:

The inflatable church allows couples to get married wherever their hearts desire!

The attention to detail is heavenly complete with plastic "stained glass" windows and airbrush artwork which replicates the traditional church. Inside it has an inflatable organ, altar, pulpit, pews, candles and a gold cross. Even the doors are flanked by air-filled angels. The church can be built in 2 hours and dis-assembled in less than one.

Now we can bring the church to the bride rather than the other way around. It can be set up anywhere, from your garden to Malibu beach, it's up to you.

No problem with "high heels".

Fun gift idea

If I'm completely honest, I would admit to you all that I steal most of my Pages Posts from other cool things I find in other blogs. I like to think of it as a cool pass-it-on approach within the blogger world. I do wish I could think these awesome things up on my own, but it's so much easier to steal from others.

Anywho: Came across this great idea this morning. It caught my eye because it's a creative and practical gift idea (which a Page is always in search of), but also because it would be such a fun gift to receive!

Make your own gift wrapping box!

See the POST from Creature Comforts to get the full affect.

So much creativity, and appreciation, awaits!

Stories like these help keep Cricket out of jail

'Princess' mum banned from Disneyland



A UK mother was barred entry to Disneyland in Paris after dressing up with her daughter in a 'fairy princess' outfit.

Natasha Narula wanted the trip to Disneyland with her eight-year-old daughter Drew to be special so she decided they should both wear fancy dress outfits, the Daily Mail newspaper reports.

Ms Narula, from Coventry in northern England, bought a "silly, puffy-sleeved" old wedding dress from a second hand shop and dressed her daughter in a white and gold bridesmaid dress.

But the 35-year-old mother-of-two said she was left "stunned and humiliated" when Disneyland officials told her she could not enter the theme park wearing her princess dress because she could be mistaken for a staff member.

"I thought they were playing a joke on me because it was April Fool's Day," Ms Narula was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying.

"But I spoke to a manager and she said they were concerned children would think I worked there and wanted to have their picture with me."

"I didn't even have any make-up on and didn't look anything like the characters in the park, it wasn't like I was wearing a big Mickey Mouse outfit or something."

Ms Narula said she was forced to return to her hotel and change her clothes, while her daughter was allowed to enter the park in her bridesmaid dress.

A spokesperson for Disneyland told the Daily Mail there was a global ban on adults wearing fancy dress outfits into their theme parks "to prevent confusion".

Kate Spade Sale

Pages, run to Kate Spade now!!!

My New Obession....

I love good home accessories. There is no better way to spruce up a room then by adding new pillows, pictures, or fun housewares. My new obsession is One Kings Lane. It is similar to Rue La La, just with housewares. I am inviting all of you to become members. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do!


Happy shopping!!!

P&B Headquaters in the Holy City

There is no secret in this group of my love for Charleston! I just found a southern home/headquarters for our society. The house boosts 9 bedrooms, servant quarters, a guest house on the property, all the while being south of Tradd Street. You can't ask for anything better.

LOVE this green wallpaper!

We would start our mornings here...



Have a glass of sweet tea here...



Host a dinner party here...



and finish off with a night cap here...



This is house is just a small fortune of $23 million, I think that we can swing it on our government salaries!

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/32-Legare-St-Charleston-SC-29401/10904569_zpid/