Eniko's Playhouse

Scrapbooking Friends at Play

I love little point-and-shoot cameras that tuck away neatly in a handbag...ready to snap a photo at a moment's notice. It enables us to capture moments such as these and saves them forever in our archive of fun activities.

As we await the arrival of spring here on chilly, windy Martha's Vineyard, I am reminded, as I scrap these fun-filled photos, of the abundant opportunities for play during the summer months here. Because we are mainly a destination for summer vacations on our 30-mile island, winters can be a bit bleak once the majority of businesses lock their doors for the season, so it is wonderful to relive summer memories, helping us to "hold on" just a little bit longer.

This particular playtime was at the Opening Night of Trio in Edgartown. In a truly brilliant concept...the newly opened Black Sheep gourmet cheese shop and charcuterie, transforms every summer evening into Trio, a wine and cheese-tasting, small-bites eatery. My friends Cassie and Robin joined me for a wonderfully memorable evening where we laughed and played and ate and drank and laughed and played some more.

-Just a little reminder to keep that camera with you and that spring is surely on its way.

Hugs, Enikö

(Just a little mention that this layout was inspired by a sketch challenge on a great scrapbooking site that I encourage you to join, called Let's Scrap...loads of scrapbooking fun!)

There's Nothing Like Spring Flowers & Spring Vegetables...

Coming Home to Blossoms and Asparagus

There is really nothing that compares to the joy of spring flowers in the garden (or on the table) following a long, barren winter in New England. After an amazing trip to Maine for Easter (more about that in future postings), Jim and I returned to a plethora of yellow flowers in our humble garden.  Daffodils are the most cheerful of flowers, don't you think? Perhaps it's the color yellow, reminding us of the sunshine that is about to warm and nurture us in the months to come...perhaps it's the glorious shape of the trumpets that appear to herald the new season.

Whatever the reason for their splendor, I for one, am a fan. Many of my friends boast of the many unique varieties of Jonquils that adorn their lawns, but I am true to the bright yellow Daffodil with it's ample trumpet, like the "Golden Harvest" and the "King Alfred". Because Narcissus enjoy a moist, well-drained soil, they thrive particularly well in the sandy lawns of our area after the hearty rains of late March. I have to confess that my Forsythia bush is still a little leggy, having been planted late in the season last year, so I had to take my clippers to the neighbor's yard (fortunately non-occupied for the moment) to complete my spring table display:

As silly as they are, I adore my collection of chicks and bunnies and love an excuse to display them -happy that the inner-child in me is alive and well, and grateful that I have another spring and summer on Martha's Vineyard to look forward to.

Incidentally, my very health-conscious sister just sent me some really great information about asparagus...another delightful springtime treat. Apparently, asparagus is chuck-full of Glutathione, "the body's master antioxidant", according to Dr. Theodore Hersh, professor of medicine at Emory University. Good to know. Here's a wonderful way to enjoy some:

 

FEUILLETE OF ASPARAGUS WITH HOLLANDAISE SAUCE
(serves 4)

2 lbs. large asparagus spears, trimmed evenly to approx. 5” length
1/4 lbs. (approx.) unsalted butter, melted
1 package frozen phyllo dough, thawed according to manufacturer’s instructions
Warm hollandaise sauce (see below)

Preheat oven to 350 F.

 Lay one sheet of phyllo dough on a clean, dry surface.  Brush lightly and quickly with melted butter.  Lay another sheet of dough directly over the first one, and brush, also, with the butter.  Repeat this procedure, using a total of five sheets of phyllo, ending with butter.

 With a sharp knife, cut 12 (approximately 4” ea.) squares of the layered dough.  Work swiftly, as phyllo can dry out easily, and do not fuss over tears or imperfections.

 Transfer phyllo squares onto a buttered pan or cookie sheet and place in oven for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and set aside.  (While pastry is in oven, prepare asparagus.)

 Peel each spear of asparagus downward, from below the tip, with vegetable peeler.  (This step may be omitted if asparagus is very fresh and tender.) Divide spears into four equal bunches, securing each with butcher’s twine in two places.

Bring a large pot of approx. 6 quarts salted water to rapid boil.  Immerse the bundles into the water and cook, uncovered, for approximately 5 minutes, or until the stalks are tender when pricked with a fork.  (Take care not to overcook). Remove asparagus from water with tongs; drain on a clean dishcloth, and snip off the twine.  If not serving immediately, wrap loosely, and keep warm until assembly.
 
To assemble: Ladle a pool of hollandaise sauce on each warmed plate.  Place a square of the phyllo pastry in the center of each plate, top with the cooked spears of asparagus, and trickle a small amount of hollandaise over them.  Top with another square of phyllo and repeat as above, with asparagus, then hollandaise, ending in another square of the pastry.  Garnish with fresh chive shoots, if desired, and serve immediately.

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

4 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

¼ teaspoon salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper

Place egg yolks in the top of a double boiler, over simmering water (make sure water in double boiler does not touch the bottom of the pan), stirring continuously with a wire whip.  While whisking, add the lemon juice, then several cubes of butter at a time, allowing butter to melt each time, before more is added.  Continue adding butter until all of it is incorporated.  Cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes, until smooth and thickened.  Remove from heat and season with salt and cayenne.  Set aside in warm spot until needed.

 

Sunday Brunch at the Harbor View

CELEBRATING SPRING IN STYLE

It was a great day to be out and about on Martha's Vineyard last Sunday. Jim and I decided to celebrate the first day of spring by going to brunch at the newly-remodled Harbor View. The hotel is aptly named - one thing is for sure, you can't beat the fabulous panoramic views of Edgartown Harbor with  the charming little white Lighthouse at it's point. Even though I've lived in Edgartown for many years, I never tire of this view.

Dressed in our Sunday best, we feasted on Fresh Fruit, Oysters on the Half-Shell with Mignonette Sauce and a variety of delicious salads. My favorite was the Panzanella -a very interesting bread-based salad which I first enjoyed in Tuscany. The Water Street Restaurant (the latest incarnation of the hotel's eatery) version is a lot like my recipe, though I prefer to make it in the summertime when garden tomatoes are at their peak, and I use more tomatoes and basil in addition to the fresh baby greens.

I wish I had taken a photo of the Bloody Mary. It was truly a delightful sight in the tall, squared-off glass (glassware is oh so very important), elegantly rimmed with seasoned salt and garnished with an embraced pair of celery stalks, lemon, lime and two kinds of straws. Perhaps it sounds a bit over-done, but it wasn't - it was festive and fun.

I did snap a shot of the pretty Fresh Fruit display - nothing earth-shatteringly original, but very nicely put together and quite tasty for the time of the year.

Main courses are now offered made-to-order, a change that I really prefer over the less appetizing common practice of allowing eggs and the like to dry out in covered hotel pans over sternos. (Kudos to the chef!) The entree choices were plentiful - some offerings were quite intriguing, like the Lobster Benedict and Smoked Salmon Omelette, and I was tempted to try them, but in the end I chose the more traditional Steak and Eggs. The steak was tasty and the eggs were perfectly poached. Jim is on a bit of a restricted diet and ordered a custom omelette, which the chef happily provided. (Kudos again!) The service was efficient and pleasant; the tables simply adorned with a single lavender tulip in a crystal vase -nice touch.

Dessert was buffet-style again and there were good choices. A White Chocolate Mousse was laced ever so lightly with red peppercorns and garnished with fresh strawberries and the Bread Pudding was tempting and enticing with a coating of homemade maple butter.

I just had to post a photo of the attractive cup that my coffee was served in, and I must say it was one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had in a restaurant. Jim was very pleased with his tea as well. A nice selection of Harney & Sons organic teas were offered in an attractive box -for a moment I thought I was in a five star restaurant in Paris.

All in all, a very enjoyable experience -if you find yourself in Edgartown on a lovely spring Sunday, I highly recommend a stop at the Harbor View. The $28.00 per person price tag includes everything except for cocktails -no charge for the view.

After a joy-ride around the Island, we concluded our afternoon with a stop at Featherstone Center for the Arts in Oak Bluffs and attended the opening of the Paper and Pottery Exhibit by the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School senior art students. We witnessed some really nice talent emerging.

  

 

It's really special for these kids to participate in their first gallery opening and I was happy to be a part of that moment for them. Some of the pottery was surprisingly accomplished, and I especially enjoyed the "Spirit Animals" -pen and ink drawings that were both intricate and inspiring.

As we were heading home, I spotted my first red-breasted Robin of the season -honest!

So Happy Spring dear readers! Enjoy the sunshine before all the April rain sets in...OOPS! Too late -it's already raining.

Here's my recipe for the Bread Salad:

TUSCAN-STYLE PANZANELLA

10 ounces (approx.) Black Dog Peasant Bread, cut into 2" cubes

4 Large Ripe Tomatoes, cut into 2" wedges

1 Yellow Onion, thinly sliced

1 cup loosely packed Fresh Basil leaves torn into pieces

1 cup loosely packed Baby Greens or Baby Spinach

2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (unfiltered, if you can get it)

Sea Salt and freshly-ground Black Pepper

Soak the bread in a bowl of water for approximately 5 minutes. Drain and squeeze out all excess water. Toss with tomatoes, onions, basil and greens. Make a dressing by  whisking the vinegar and the olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss dressing with salad and serve immediately at room temperature.

It's a Cat's Life...

It's Good to be Shadow

One thing is for certain, our lives would not be the same without our furry little companions to amuse us.We didn't choose Shadow...he chose us. He was rescued from a shelter by neighbors who decided to get a dog -a big dog. Well, Shadow was not amused by their decision. He likes to be "King of the Castle" and he hates dogs in a big way. So after befriending Jim in the yard, a pathetically wet and cold cat appeared in my kitchen window during an ice storm as I was doing dishes and let out a blood-curdling howl. Jim will attest to the fact that I scare easily (I've nearly drawn blood from his arm with my nails during a fright at a horror flick on more than one occasion) so you can imagine how frightfully he startled me. But after regaining my composure, anger took over -I couldn't imagine who would let a poor cat out in this kind of weather. Well, his strategy worked. After recently losing three beloved dogs to old age, I was determined that my pet-owning days were over. Thankfully, this soaked kitty changed all that.

Before long, I was at the neighbor's house making a deal to be the cat's new owner (she was glad to be free of her dilemma) and our lives haven't been the same since. We named him Shadow for reasons that would be obvious to you if you observed the goings on around here. Whether in the yard, or inside the house, Shadow is where Jim is...at night, they cuddle and coo like newlyweds...and me, well I'm constantly in stitches at the sight of them.

When Shadow chose us, he knew exactly what he was doing and why he was doing it. It's good to be Shadow indeed.

Just in case you were disappointed that I didn't include my fabulously delicious pie crust recipe yesterday with the Rhubarb Pie Recipe, here it is:

PERFECT PIE DOUGH      (makes two 10” bottom crusts and enough lattice strips for 2 pies)
3 ¾ cups pastry flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into ½” cubes
1/3 cup cold shortening, cut into ½” cubes
3/4 cup ice water

Mix the flour and the salt in a large bowl.  Add the cubes of butter and margarine and toss to coat well.  Working quickly, rub the flour and the cubes between your fingers to break up the cubes.  Continue until all of the butter and margarine is broken up and well blended with the flour, but be careful not to overwork.  (There should still be plenty of dry spots in the flour.)

Next, add the ice water and toss the dough with a fork until it is well mixed, but still flaky and coarse, and not yet completely incorporated.  Empty the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and gently form together with your hands.  (The dough should still not be smooth at this stage.)  Divide the dough into 3 sections, flattening out each with your hands.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour before using.

Remove dough from the refrigerator and allow to rest at room temperature for approx. 10 minutes before rolling out, section by section.  If small clumps of butter are visible through the dough as you roll it, you will have perfect, flaky pie dough.   

Why I Scrapbook

-Not That Anyone Really Needs a Reason to Scrapbook
 

Scrapbooking is more than a hobby to me – I actually consider it a bit of a responsibility. As I scrap my family’s most cherished moments, I am acutely aware of my role as a family historian. By the photographs that I choose to place into my scrapbook and by the comments I choose to include with them, I am leaving future generations a glimpse into who I am and what in my life was most important to me. By including historically significant moments such as the aftermath of 9/11 and the election of the first African-American President, I am also leaving a first-hand account of these important events.

 

One of my greatest motivators for including journaling on my scrapbook pages was a comment from a friend who was cleaning out her mother’s house after she passed away. She told me that she tossed her mother’s old photo albums into the trash because she had no idea who the people in the pictures were. I was very disturbed by what she said, and vowed that my heirs would have quite a different experience as they came across my albums. They would find names and dates and places, and a written account of their ancestor’s journey. I would leave them something beautiful and informative to love and to treasure.

 

Spiritually, scrapbooking is very healing and grounding. Honestly, I am never more in-the-moment and spiritually present as when I am scrapping the past for future generations. It ties everything in my life together in a thoughtful, creative, most rewarding process.

 

Although I kept a photographic record of much of my life from the age of sixteen, I was transformed when a friend introduced me to modern scrapbooking, about five years ago. I instantly recognized the value of combining my photography with my artistic sensibilities and my personal journaling.

 

For me, scrapbooking is a creative outlet, a meditation, and an expression of my individuality. It is often a welcome escape from other, often less enjoyable, responsibilities, and it is a way to preserve my most cherished memories –good and bad – for future generations. It is the most rewarding of pastimes.

Another rewarding pastime: BAKING PIE. One of the first harvests of spring is the prolific and chuck-full-of-vitamins Rhubarb. Strawberries from California are very reasonably priced in springtime, so I thought it would be fun to share this wonderful recipe:

 STRAWBERRY RHUBARB PIE        (makes 2  lattice-top pies)
1 ½ lbs. cleaned, chopped rhubarb (stalks ONLY-leaves are poisonous!)
6 cups halved fresh strawberries
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
prepared pie dough
heavy cream or egg wash for glazing

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Line two pie tins with the rolled out dough, as described below, reserving the rest of the dough for the lattice tops.  Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, allowing the dough to relax.

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch and nutmeg.  Add the rhubarb and the strawberries, tossing to coat well.  Divide the fruit mixture evenly into the pie shells, and set aside.

Roll out the remaining pie dough, and cut into 12 strips, each about 1 ½ inches thick.  Weave the strips of dough over each pie, using 3 strips placed horizontally, and 3 strips placed vertically, on each to create a lattice design.   Trim the overhanging strips, tuck under the pie dough that lines the pie tin, and crimp the edges decoratively, to seal.  Brush the lattice and the edges of the pie with heavy cream, or with an egg wash made with one egg whisked with 1T. milk.

Bake on the low rack of the oven at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower temperature to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes, until juices are bubbling and the crust is a nice golden brown.

 

Promise of Spring

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

What a glorious day to wake up to! On my back deck it was actually fifty-something degrees in the shade when I got up and the temperature escalated from there! I took down all my bird feeders, scraped out the putrid aged seeds that had gotten clumped on the bottom from the endless storms we recently endured, scrubbed them and placed them in the sun to dry. It felt amazing to clean-out the bird bath and fill it with water knowing that this time it wouldn't freeze.

There is much to do in the yard...it's overwhelming...we should have done a lot more trimming and cleaning-up last Fall. But when the cold weather hits and my flowers begin to wither, I seem to lose my desire to garden -it just seems so sad.

However, today as I puttered around the yard with Jim, my honey, I felt joy and the promise of Spring at last. Even Shadow, our beloved kitty, pranced about with glee.

Crocuses, tulips, and daffodils are sprouting up here and there, breaking through the rough sandy soil of Martha's Vineyard.

To my delight, I spotted a sweet cluster of purple primrose peering through the last year's spent leaves and pine needles. My sister gave me a little pot of the posy several Easters ago and I thought I had killed it, but I planted what was left of the dried up plant in the rock garden and forgot about it. It has now surprised me a couple of times as it just appears unexpectedly as a harbinger of Spring. I think it's supposed to be a biennial, but I swear it's been popping up year after year.

It's been a really long time since I woke up to 50+ degree temperature. It sure has been a very long, drawn-out winter here in New England, and this morning's sunshine was very welcome indeed. For the benefit of anyone who lives in warmer climates that may stumble upon this blog, let me give you a taste of what my house looks like after a February snow storm:

Don't get me wrong, the snow is very pretty and there's a novelty to the first few snowfalls of the season, but where I live, on this 30-mile long island of Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Cape Cod, the snow doesn't stick around for long, as it does in Maine. Temperatures hover just around the freezing point for what seems like ages. After the blanket of snow melts, we are left with dead leaves against gray weathered shingles & the distant memory of warmer days.

But today, it finally feels like winter is really over. I did something that I haven't done in a very long time...I made SUN TEA! I first heard of sun tea in a restaurant in Aquinnah, which is the furthest town on the west side of the island. There they sell iced tea that is brewed in large jars on their sunny deck. It's not only delicious, but it doesn't cloud up in the way that traditionally brewed tea does when it is refrigerated. You can see my first sun tea of the season here on the left, next to our Shadow, who along with his masters, is happy to be squinting in the sun at last.

SUN TEA: Place 5-6 bags of your favorite tea in a large half gallon jar, with the lid on loosely, and place in the hot sun for approximately 4-6 hours. Remove tea bags, tighten the lid  and make into sweet tea, or just serve over ice as is. Tea may be refrigerated for several days. ENJOY!

 

 

Oscar Party

Welcome to my Playhouse!

And Welcome to my 2010 Oscar Party!

Okay, okay... So the Academy Awards were on March 7th and I'm a little late in posting this, but my Oscar Party seems like a fitting place to begin my new blog since it incorporated many of my loves. I adore the cinema! This year's Oscars were of special interest because I was able to see 90% of the nominated films (I even saw most of the Documentary Shorts and the Animated Shorts!) and I was blown away by the talented performances across the board. I also had some amazing party props... 

The cut-out of Oscar was a brilliant find and the antique movie poster of Bette Davis was a gift from my sister. The raised center of my Barbie tableau was a table centerpiece at the 2007 Barbie Collector's Convention in Hollywood that I was lucky enough to win in a raffle. Isn't it fabulous? 

Here I am on the right, with one of my favorite playmates, who I will refer to by her nickname, Midge. I'm sipping an Oscar-worthy Pomegranate Martini (but of course!) and she's toasting with a 2006 Bouchaine Chardonnay.

LAURA'S LUSCIOUS POMEGRANATE MARTINI:  

• 1 part Triple Sec
  
• 2 parts Vodka 
• 1 part Pomegranate Juice

• Combine with ice and shake well. Strain into martini glasses, top with a splash of champagne and garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds.

 

Three of my lovely guests, poised to party. In the center, my sweet Laura (she's often the guest bartender), who you will no doubt see again from time to time. Everyone was instructed to wear bling, of course. As you can see, most of us opted for the perfect "little black dress".

Midge doesn't go anywhere without the Donald, so she gleefully placed him on the Red Carpet holding an Oscar. Nice accessory, Mr. Trump (I guess if you have enough $$$ you can buy anything), but you're upstaging Heidi Klum (wearing an authentic Madgley Mischka -honest!) as she's being approached for an interview by Ryan Seacrest. Those are the Beckhams to his left and Patrick Dempsey is chatting with Beyonce & JayZ on the far left.

A nod to the incredible "Avatar" -a last minute inspiration- adorned the stairwell. I'm sure I will be working on this display for a while. I need to paint better eyes and braid some hair, but this made us all laugh out loud.

Below, a nod to my favorite movie of all time, "Gone With the Wind" which I was lucky enough to see on the big screen recently at a benefit screening.  
Are you impressed that I actually have an authentic Mamie doll? You should be. She was a rare find twenty-something years ago at a toy store. Very rare indeed, and one of my greatest treasures (she even sports the red taffeta petticoat that Rhett Butler brought her back from Paris).

Another dear friend, Robin (to my right in this photo), is a fellow movie buff. She's a lot of fun and always up for a party.

On a more serious note, I was delighted with all of the winners of the evening, although I don't think Sandra Bullock out-performed Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, or Meryl Streep. She looked lovely (I voted her "Best Dressed") and her acceptance speech was wonderful, but not sure they got it right with that one. Do you think she deserved it? "Blind Side" was certainly her best performance to date, but did you think she really was better than the other nominees? All other winners were spot-on, I think.

Results from our own Party Ballots:

• Worst Dressed:Toss up between Charleze Theron and Zoe Saldana (WTH???????? on both counts)
• Worst Hair:We all agreed on JLo...gorgeous gown, but what was up with the messy hairdo?
• Worst Acceptance Speech:Elinor Burkett, who "Kanyed" Roger Ross Williams as he was speaking.
• Cutest Couple:I initially voted for Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Bridges, but her Botoxed forehead turned me off, so I have to go with Sandra Bullock & Jesse, who teared up with love and joy for his wife. So sweet.       

I will bid you adieu for the time being. I hope you enjoyed this visit to my Playhouse and I hope you will stop by again soon.