The Thousand Word Theory...

Circumstance has crammed a frightful amount of craziness into just a few days.  So.......blog time being limited, I share this simple photo I took, so that we stay in touch.

Apply it to both design and cooking (and life as you find fitting).

Be a Yellow Flower

Talk to you soon,

Carol

Just a Summer Day, That's All

Just for today -- none of whatever it is that might frazzle you.   Send the worries, the deadlines, the impossibilities out with the tide.  It's summer, after all.

My two girls (in caps) with their two friends, through my two eyes.

Talk to you soon,
Carol

A Shop to Stop My Heart....

You know when you walk into a shop, or a gallery or some other place that speaks to you, and as you cross the threshold your heart just slows....and you take it in....and you wish you could stay there for hours, or maybe even move in?  That's the effect Cottage & Garden had on me.

Yes, we are still in Newport, RI on my summer vacation (see the prior two posts).  On Bridge St, to be exact.  I have walked along the streets of this town for years, but this summer, in a committed mindset to "live my life wider", (a subject for another day), I wanted to find places I hadn't been.  Off the beaten path, to be cliche.  Cottage & Garden is an eclectic mix not to be missed, and the charm just woos you in from the sidewalk

 

Here is a picture of the lovely Mrs. Lash, who just happened to be working that day, and was willing to pose in a picture taken by (me) a nutty woman  with a camera who said she was writing a blog (and with two families in tow)....

Aren't there places that just make you swoon?

On the Side...

On the same day, a block away, my girlfriend's husband held a camera up over a fence for me and took this shot.  I knew a paradise was to be found there.

No recipe today, just pure imagination.  Four chairs filled with the best of friends, on a day humid enough to make you wilt.  But a chilled chardonnay and a light lunch of grilled shrimp over an arugula salad, dressed in a cool, slightly buttery vinaigrette would make you forget it's nearly 98 degrees...

Talk to you soon,

Carol

Design in a Newport, RI Bed & Breakfast

In my initial post, Welcome to Sofas & Sage, I featured a black sofa and said there was a story behind the red British pillow, resting so regally on the center cushion.  It belongs, in fact, to my new acquaintance Corinna Britten, the ever lovely owner of Villa One Twenty.

My friend Ginny, who was visiting with her family during our annual family vacation to Newport, Rhode Island, told me she had to take me up to Villa One Twenty.  She went on and on about how Corinna, a very recent transplant from England (where she'd had a prior B&B in Wimbledon), had redecorated and redesigned this B&B on her own, and that I would die when I saw it.  She was right.  I did.

Corrina took the tired, heavily dressed interior and made magic happen.  The walls went from old victorian paper to clean, sophisticated colors.  No surface was spared her talents . Rugs gave way to crisp, gleaming floors and the windows have shed their winter coats.  It is now chic, sophisticated, European, more minimalist than ornate, and positively gorgeous.  A true reflection of her!! Here are a few glimpses.

Corrina told me that a crate from London was coming with treasures she has collected that would complete her design vision.  I can't wait to go back and photograph it.  And by the way, while the first floor is predominately graphic black and white, the guest rooms reflect their names of Emerald, Saphire, Ruby and Crystal (I may have forgotten one).

 

Oh, and to top it all off, not only can she design, but she is also the house chef!  Ok, so now I had to get down right jealous.  She cooks and serves breakfast for her guest in this sleek and sexy, yet somehow charming dining room off the front entry.  Designing and cooking? Come. On.  I told Corrina I think she's living one of my dreams.

Corinna Britten in the Dining Room of Villa One Twenty

So, needless to say,  you have to at least look into staying at Villa One Twenty if you are planning a trip to Newport.

I couldn't end this section of the post without this beautiful Newport night:

On The Side...

My husband and I call "Sardella's" our favorite restaurant in Newport.  We've been going there every summer for years.

I had Grilled Prosciutto-wrapped Scallops over pasta in a Pesto Cream Sauce.  The flavors were perfectly balanced.  Once I figure out how it was done, I will post my version of the recipe. 

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Welcome to Sofas & Sage

My initial post! Here's how it all began....

I had been reading design blogs almost to the point of addiction. And, like most addictions, I suppose, there comes a point when an intervention is needed. For me, that came in the form of an "I have to do this" gut reaction that just wouldn't quit. My instinct intervened and here I am.
 

Sofas & Sage is about celebrating and sharing all things beautiful and delicious. I hope you enjoy it. In honor of the first part of this title, below is a picture I took of sofa in a beautifully redone bed & breakfast in Newport, RI. (More on this gorgeous haven I've discovered in an upcoming post! Oh, and notice the British pillow?  There's a story behind that!)

The second part, Sage, gets its introduction with a recipe that has become a standard for me (fresh sage is also one of my all-time favorite herbs). I discovered it on the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) website. If you like the ingredients (I usually make it with chicken), you'll love CIA's version of this dish.  I promise you, if you make this for your next dinner party, your next date, or simply for yourself, you will feel like you've entered culinary heaven.

Veal Saltimbocca

Sponsored by:

 

Masters Collection®

Thin cutlets of tender veal make this Roman classic an elegant, yet simple meal that can be prepared in minutes. Literally translated as "jumps in the mouth," saltimbocca bursts with the flavor of veal, sage, prosciutto, white wine and butter. Selecting an accompaniment for this versatile dish is just as easy as its preparation. From pasta and polenta to potatoes, veal saltimbocca pairs well with a variety of side dishes.

Ingredients

Makes 8 servings
2 pounds fettuccine noodles
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds boneless veal cutlets
4 teaspoons sage, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
16 prosciutto slices, paper-thin
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 cups butter, chilled and cubed
1/4 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
1 lemon, cut into eighths

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta in the boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender to the bite. Toss with two tablespoons olive oil and keep warm.
2. Pound cutlets to an even thickness of about 1/4-inch between two pieces of plastic wrap. Season the veal with sage, salt and pepper. Place one slice of prosciutto atop each cutlet.
3. Lightly coat veal in flour; shake off excess. Heat two tablespoons olive oil in heavy, large skillet over medium-high heat. Add four pieces of veal and cook until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Add fresh oil as needed until all of the veal is cooked Transfer veal to a platter and keep warm.
4. Pour off excess fat, add the wine to the skillet, and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet. Boil until liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup, about 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
5. Whisk in the chilled butter, two tablespoons at a time. Season sauce with salt, pepper and chopped parsley.
6. Serve the veal immediately accompanied by the fettuccine. Pour 1/4 cup sauce over the top of each portion and garnish with a lemon wedge.

 So, "Will Sofas & Sage always be about a sofa and a recipe with sage in it?", you ask?  No, because how boring would that be?  In this initial post, homage to the title is a must.  Going forward, however, I hope you will delight in Tasteful Design images and ideas, and savor the Tasty Food we might explore along the way.

Thanks for the visit!

Carol