July

201

5

2 – Shop Local Save Big! July 2015

July 2015 Shop Local Save Big! – 3

4 – Shop Local Save Big! July 2015

Anthony's

July 2015 Shop Local Save Big! – 5

Summer weather can be extremely hot, and while a sunny, warm day may be perfect beach days, such conditions are not always ideal for weddings, especially weddings that take place outdoors. If wedding-day weather threatens to be very hot, explore these methods to staying cool. u Choose a later start time. A late-afternoon wedding may be the way to go in the summertime. The tem-perature usually drops a bit in the early evening, even though the sun won’t set for a couple of hours. That lingering summertime sun allows the bride and groom to enjoy an outdoor ceremony and still take beautiful outdoor photos. u Rely on shade and proximity to water. Shade can be your friend when the sun is blazing. If your outdoor wedding is in the early afternoon, keep temperatures under wrap by seating guests beneath umbrellas or inside a tent. u Tie the knot near the water. Breezes off of the water also help combat the heat, so a lakeside or beach wedding can make hot temperatures more manageable. u Wear breathable fabrics. Opt for lightweight fabrics instead of heavy gowns and full tuxedos for the bride, groom and wedding party. Cotton and linen allow air to flow through clothing, helping people to

stay cool. Light colors also will help deflect the sun. Bridal gowns made of chiffon, silk or satin may feel luxurious and help tame the heat. u Have beverage tables. Keep canisters of cold bev-erages at the ready so guests can easily quench their thirst. Fresh lemonade, iced tea and water with a few sprigs of mint can help guests ward off dehydration. u Make fans and hand these out to guests. Home-made fans of thick cardstock and popsicle sticks can keep guests comfortable. Such cards can double as thank-you messages or ceremony programs. u Tailor the reception menu to the weather. A large, heavy meal may not be what guests are hoping for when temperatures are especially hot. In such situations, provide some cool, light fare, such as chilled salads or cold soups, as first courses. Sorbet can be a cool palate cleanser, and grilled meats and vegetables will make for a satisfying, light main course. Ice cream cake may be a decadent option in lieu of more traditional wedding cake. u Choose hairstyles and makeup wisely. Brides may prefer up-dos to keep hair off of their necks and allow for breezes to cool their bodies. Rely on makeup prim-ers and powdered foundations so that makeup does not melt in the heat. Waterproof cosmetics are adviseable so perspiration won’t cause makeup to run.

Beat the heat with a summer wedding

Summer weddings are preferable, and couples can take several steps to make sure they’re both beautiful and comfortable.

6 – Shop Local Save Big! July 2015

A filling morning meal for overnight guests Many families enjoy hosting overnight guests. Waking up to a full house and enjoying a leisurely breakfast with family and friends is a great way to begin a new day, and such moments make for great opportunities to catch up with loved ones. The following recipe for “Gratin of Eggs, Leeks, Bacon, and St. André Cheese” from Betty Rosbot-tom and Susie Cushner’s Sunday Brunch includes the staples of a traditional breakfast: bacon, eggs and toast. But this dish also can be assembled the night before and simply popped into the oven the next morning once everyone wakes up, making it an ideal morning meal that allows hosts to join in the breakfast table conversation.

Gratin of Eggs, Leeks, Baconand St. André Cheese

Serves 6

u 1 baguette, about 2½-3 inches in diameter u 6 thick slices bacon, cut into u 1-inch pieces u 2 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts u 6 ounces St. André cheese, well chilled (see note) u 6 eggs u 2½ cups half-and-half u ½ teaspoon salt u 1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley or chives Unsalted butter, for the baking dish Generous 2 pinches of cayenne

pepper 1. Arrange a rack at center posi-tion and preheat the oven to 350 F. Generously butter a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. 2. Cut enough ½-inch-thick slices from the baguette to make a single layer in the baking dish. (You will probably need between 20-24 slices; save extra slices for another use.) Arrange the slices on a baking sheet and bake without turning until crisp and very lightly colored, 10 minutes. Remove and arrange the slices in the baking dish. 3. In a medium, heavy frying pan set over medium heat, fry the bacon pieces until crisp and browned, 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. 4. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings and return the frying pan to medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring, until just softened, 4-5 minutes. Sprinkle the leeks and bacon over the bread slices in the baking dish. 5. Cut the St. André cheese with its rind into ½-inch cubes and scat-ter them over the leeks and bacon in the baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs to blend, and then whisk in the half-and-half, salt and cayenne. Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Let the gratin stand at least 1 hour, or cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. (If the dish has been refrigerated, let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking if you have time. It also can go directly from the refrigerator to the oven but will take longer to

cook.) 6. Bake the gratin until the egg mixture is set, the top is golden and the mixture is bubbly, 40 to 45 minutes (10 to 15 minutes longer

if straight from the refrigerator). Remove and let cool for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with minced parsley and serve hot. (Note: St. André cheese is a mild,

triple-cream French cheese with a white rind. It is available at many grocers and cheese stores. If you are unable to find it, you can substitute a triple-cream Brie.)

Gratin of eggs, leeks, bacon and St. André cheese

July 2015 Shop Local Save Big! - 7

Preparing for unexpected guests can make their visits that much more enjoyable. When such guests come share your a cup of coffee and a treat like “Blueberry Streusel Baby Bundts” from Kathy Wakile and Miriam Harris’ Indulge: Delicious Little Desserts That Keep Life Real Sweet .

Blueberry Streusel Baby BundtsMakes 2 dozen

Cake u 1²∕3 cups flour u 3¾ teaspoon baking powder u ¾ teaspoon baking soda u ½ teaspoon fine sea salt u 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room tem-perature u ½ cup granulated sugar u 2 large eggs u 1 teaspoon vanilla extract u 1 cup sour cream

Streusel u ½ cup light brown sugar u ½ cup chopped walnuts u 1 teaspoon cinnamon u 1 cup fresh blueberries Preheat the oven to 375 Fahrenheit with two racks

positioned in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Lightly coat the baking pans with nonstick cooking spray or vegetable oil from an oil mister, then dust with flour, tapping out the excess. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a separate large bowl, use a mixer to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and blend, then add the flour mixture in thirds, alternating with the sour cream.To make the streusel, stir together the brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon. Measure out and set aside ¹∕3 cup of the mixture. Toss the remaining streusel with the blueberries. Divide ¹∕3 cup reserved streusel mixture among the wells of the Bundt pans (about ½ teaspoon each), then use a pastry bag to pipe in thin layers of the batter, alternating with layers of the blueberry mixture, filling each well no more than two-thirds full and finishing with a batter layer. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the tops of the cakes are browned and spring back when pressed with a finger, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes before turn-ing them out. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be double-wrapped and frozen for up to 3 months; thaw and gently reheat before serving.)

A perfect homemade treat for unexpected guests

Blueberry Streusel Baby Bundts

A decadent treat for parties, family gatherings Food plays a central role at family gatherings, parties and dinners, and hosts who want to try their hand at creating a decadent treat their guests have likely never tasted before, can consider the following recipe for “Aint Luverta’s Dr. Pepper Cake,” courtesy of Patty Pinner’s Sweets: Soul Food Desserts & Memories.

Aint Luverta’s Dr. Pepper CakeMakes one 9- by 13-inch cake

Cake u 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted u 1 teaspoon baking soda u 2 cups granulated sugar u 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter u 1½ cups miniature marshmallows u 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder u 1 cup Dr. Pepper u 2 eggs u 1½cups buttermilk u 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dr. Pepper Frosting u ½cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened u 6 tablespoons Dr. Pepper u 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder u 1 1-pound box confectioners’ sugar, sifted

u 1 teaspoon vanilla extract u 1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Grease, but do not flour, a 9- by 13-inch pan. Set it aside. To make the cake, in a large bowl, sift together the flour and baking soda. Gradually stir in the sugar. Set aside. In a saucepan, heat the butter, marshmallows, cocoa, and Dr. Pepper. Stir constantly until the butter and the marshmallows are melted. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the flour mixture. Beat well. Set side. In another bowl, beat the eggs until they are light and fluffy. Stir in the buttermilk and vanilla extract. Mix well. Beat the egg mixture into the flour mixture until well blended and the batter is smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the center of cake springs back when lightly touched. Let the cake cool on a rack for 10 minutes. To make the frosting, in a saucepan, combine the butter, Dr. Pepper and cocoa powder. Bring the mixture to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat. Gradually stir in the confectioners’ sugar until the mixture is smooth, then fold in the va-nilla extract and pecans. Spread over the warm cake. Aint Luverta’s Dr. Pepper Cake

8 – Shop Local Save Big! July 2015

Some home renovation projects require the exper-tise of professionals, but there also are many ways for homeowners to improve their homes without hiring a pro or spending too much money. The following are a handful of do-it-yourself renovation projects home-owners can tackle in a typical weekend. u Closet conversion: Ample closet space is a big plus for home buyers, but upon moving into a new home, many homeowners may find they don’t need as much closet space as they initially thought. Guest room walk-in closets, in particular, may prove to be underuti-lized resources. Such closets often come with built-in shelving, and therefore, they make ideal spaces to convert to mini home offices or study areas for kids. Installing an extra shelf to serve as a desk area for remote working or homework stations won’t take up much of a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, and before you know it, you will have a fully functioning workspace. u Driveway: If weather permits, repaving an asphalt driveway can be an ideal weekend project, especially if an existing driveway has endured its fair share of wear and tear. Many driveways can be paved anew in a single

day, but larger driveways or those that have endured an extraordinary amount of wear and tear may take a couple of days. u Storage and shelving: Much like some homes come with an abundance of stor-age areas, others fall short of homeowners’ or apart-ment dwellers’ needs. If your home or apartment falls into the latter category, adding some shelving or finding some new furniture that can serve double duty as storage areas is a weekend project that can help clear up some space. Purchase some wood shelving from a local fur-

niture retailer to mimic the look of traditional built-ins or replace existing sin-gle-use furniture with newer items capable of serving multiple functions, including storage. u Accent wall: Accent walls can liven up a room by breaking the color pattern of the walls in the room. Accent walls also can be used to di-vert attention on a particular design element in a room, such as a painting or an elab-orate wall furnishing. Paint-ing an accent wall won’t take very long, but such a project can give a room an entirely new look and feel.

Do-it-yourself projects

Accent walls can be used to divert attention on a particular design element in a room, such as a painting or an elabo-rate wall furnishing.