Easter is a wonderful time to celebrate spring and enjoy precious time with the family. When Julia brought the kids to Ojai we decided to celebrate one of our favorite holidays by hiding eggs for the little ones to find. They had a great time discovering treats hidden among the lush gardens!
Category Archives: Celebrate
Floral Valentine Cookies
These stunning floral cookies are easy to make and will definitely impress your Valentine! First, frost your sugar cookies and make sure they are completely dry before starting on the decoration. Then, use a thicker royal frosting or a gel frosting to create a simple floral design. Use a small damp paintbrush to make downward strokes until the frosting has feathered and resembles a flower petal. Add any extra polka dots or pearl sprinkles to give them a finished look. Make sure to let them dry completely before stacking.
Be sure to get creative and have fun!
Chocolate and Wine
A chocolate and wine pairing is the perfect way to indulge on Valentine’s Day and add a special twist to the traditional box of chocolates! We went to our local Chocolatier, Chocolate Maya in Santa Barbara, for advice about this pairing. Their chocolate truffles are delicious and unique but their suggestions provided us with some general rules to follow:
- Riesling and white wines pair best with white and milk chocolates
- Rosé is a good match for sweet and citrus flavors
- Cabernet Sauvignon and lighter reds pair well with dark chocolate and fruity flavors
- Merlot and darker reds go well with the darkest chocolates and spices
Be sure to ask your local Chocolatier about their favorite wine and chocolate pairings for Valentine’s Day!
Thanksgiving Tradition
It has become our tradition to make a huge batch of applesauce every year for Thanksgiving. Seth learned from his dad at a young age how to make the most delicious applesauce from scratch, and now he gets to pass along the recipe to Oliver. We think you should make a batch for your Thanksgiving feast this year, too!
Cinnamon Applesauce
15 Granny Smith Apples
1/4-1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Water
1 Stick Salted Butter
1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp. Lemon Juice
1 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
4 Cinnamon Sticks
Peel, core, and dice the apples. Combine apples with the water, butter, and cinnamon sticks and bring to a simmer on low until apples are thoroughly cooked. Mash to your desired consistency. Add the vanilla, lemon juice, ground cinnamon, and brown sugar and stir to combine. Adjust sugar and cinnamon to taste depending on how tart your apples are.
Happy Halloween!
Fall is in the Air!
Citrus Sangria
This sangria is perfect for your 4th of July celebration! It’s sweet, delicious, and it serves a crowd.
I serve it cold and add all the spices you’d put in an apple pie.
Its ruby hue turns the floating islands of fruit the prettiest color.
I always use Southern Comfort instead of the customary brandy or rum because it comes with it’s own sweet and spiced flavor.
Citrus Sangria
1 Bottle Red Wine
1/4 Cup Triple Sec
1/2 Cup Southern Comfort Whiskey
1/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
2 Cups Citrus Juice (Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon)
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Star Anise
1 Vanilla Bean, split
10 Cloves, whole
1 Orange, sliced
1 Lemon, sliced
Combine ingredients, except sliced citrus, in a large pitcher and stir. Refrigerate overnight for the best flavor. Add the sliced citrus just before serving. Enjoy!
Ojai Wedding
For my wedding to Megan’s son, Danny in 2006, we decided that the colors of a Pistachio Table linen would perfectly complement the bright colors and citrus that we chose to decorate the tables.
The whole ensemble reflected the saturated colors of a midsummer day in an Ojai citrus grove.
Our wedding was the inspiration for the name of the very first pattern of Pistachio Table -“Ojai”.