Princess Picnic Haute Hostess Style

Simply Extraordinary ! This  moist, rich concoction makes a stunning tea party tart.  I love to take it with me on a fall country picnic ...complete with thermos of hot tea with lemon , pretty china tea cups, and a beautiful heirloom quilt . I always bring along a few cashmere over sized shawls just to make sure everyone is super comfy. 

Apricot Lavender Tart

Ingredients:
1 unbaked pie shell
1/2 c sugar
1/4 ground almonds
1 T. butter
1 egg
2 lbs. fresh apricots, sliced
10 oz. unsalted whole almonds
3 T. lavender honey

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 500 degess. Prick the bottom and side of pie shell with a fork. Combine the sugar, ground almonds, and butter in a bowl and mix well. Add the egg and stir until combined. Spread the almond mixture over the bottom of the pie shell.

Arrange the apricots in the almond mixture and sprinkle with the whole almonds. bBake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 degress and bake for 40 minutes longer. Drizzle with the warm honey and broil just until caramelized. Serves 6.

HAUTE HOSTESS + DOMESTIC GODDESS

I must confess ~ I don't like to do laundry , but I do love my frocks and soft cashmere sweaters, so I have put together an arsenal of stain removers...my very own reinforcements, that I'd like to share with you.. I hand wash my delicate La Perla
in Forever New, while

cashmere gets a soak in The Laundress Wool and Cashmere Shampoo. For leather, plastics, fabric, or carpet try the odorless White Wizard Spot Remover and in case of a stain emergency~ Have Shout Wipes Instant Stain Remover in your handbag. You'll be so happy you did. They absolutely do the trick!

Gorgeous and Simple Autumn Brittle

---

Glossy Gorgeous Autumn Brittle

Ingredients

1 Cup Almonds 1 Cup Cashews 3/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds 2/3 Cup Dried Cranberries 1 1/2 Cups Golden Brown Sugar 1 Cup Granulated Sugar 1/2 Cup Honey 1 Cup Water 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Tablespoon Butter

Instructions

Heat the sugars, honey, water and salt in a large pot over a low-medium flame. Use a pot that is larger than you would think necessary because when the mixture begins to boil it will foam up and increase in size. Stir every five minutes or so. Using a candy thermometer, continue to heat the mixture until it reaches a temperature of exactly 302 degrees Fahrenheit. This is very important because this is the temperature at which sugar hardens into a rock-like state after it cools. Pay close attention not to go very far above 302, otherwise you will burn the sugar. It can take up to an hour for the mixture to reach that high of a temperature, so don't get too worried if 15 minutes go by and the thermometer is still at 175.

While the sugar mixture is boiling, place a sheet of parchment paper on top of a shallow pan, about 9 x 13 inches in width and length, and grease the parchment paper. Set aside. Once the sugar mixture reaches 302, immediately remove it from heat and stir in the butter, cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries until they're coated in the mixture.

Immediately pour the mixture onto the parchment paper and spread it out into a large rectangle using a rubber spatula. Try to keep the surface relatively even and about 1 inch in height. Place the pan in the refrigerator and allow the brittle to cool for one hour. Once it has finished cooling, remove the sheet of brittle from the parchment paper and break the brittle into pieces using a meat tenderizer or clean hammer. Arrange the pieces on a serving platter and serve. Store excess brittle in a cool dry place.

SPICY BLOODY MARY

 FABULOUS BLOODY MARY RECIPE FOR GAMEDAY

1 (32 ounce) bottle of Mott's CLAMATO Tomato Cocktail Concentrate
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 dash of Tabasco sauce
7 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 twists form the salt mill
1 teaspoon of celery salt
The juice from a lemon (do not use lemon juice substitute)
8 ounces Grey Goose Vodka
Fresh celery stalks with leaves

Combine the CLAMATO juice, horseradish, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salts, and lemon juice in a large pitcher and stir well.

Fill each glass with ice, Bloody Mary mixture (1/2 way up glass), and 1 ounce of Grey Goose Vodka. Garnish with a celery stalk or a wedge of lemon, if you prefer.
Serves 6

I love to moisten the rim of my glass with a lemon wedge and dip the rim in celery salt for a new twist on a classic drink . . . . then fill the glass with the CLAMATO juice and Grey Goose Vodka! Looks festive and tastes great! Plop in a large stuffed green olive to finish!

Be a TailGate Diva This Weekend!

 SPINACH SARAH

I named this after my daughter, who loves tailgate parties and was born in Blytheville, Arkansas. . .my hometown. Spinach Sarah is the perfect dip for game day.

4 packages (10oz. each) frozen chopped spinach
1 cup spinach liquid
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
10 tablespoons butter
2 cans Rotel tomatoes without the juice
5 tablespoons flour
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon black pepper
16 ounces Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes

Cook spinach according to package directions. Drain and reserve liquid. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add flour, stirring until blended and smooth; do not brown. Add reserved spinach liquid, stirring constantly. Cook until smooth and thickened. Add remaining ingredients. Stir until cheese melts. Serve immediately.
Serves 12.
~I serve Spinach Sarah with Frito Lay's Scoops!

School Morning" Super Easy" Breakfast Casserole

So Easy and Always a Favorite of Children ...Adults as well!
Line a sprayed pan with Crescent rolls.  Add sausage crumbles and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese
Next whip 6 eggs and 1 cup of milk together. Pour over the top and bake on 425* for 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper Serve with strawberries or any berry in season.Your children will ask for seconds!

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Casserole

Make A Rainy School Night Extra Delicious Without Extra Effort!

 CHICKEN TACO CHILI
1 can black beans or1 can kidney beans
1 can corn kernels
16 oz tomato sauce
28 oz diced tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning
1 tbsp chili powder
3 uncooked boneless chicken breasts... chop or slice meat...or leave whole and do later.
6 hours high or 10 hours low in the crock pot.
8 small servings
Yummy!