Four Days and Counting

It's crunch time around my house and with Christmas just a few days away, I'm still  planning Christmas dinner. The decorations are up, the tree is trimmed, but there are still packages waiting to be wrapped, and last minute details on my list.


This will be my first Christmas in the new house, so I'm enjoying pulling out the old decorations and seeing them in their new home. Most of all I am reminded of "the reason for the season", and just how blessed I am to be sharing the holidays with family and friends. 

From my house to yours- Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Lowcountry Christmas

December is a great time to visit Charleston, S.C. This beautiful lowcountry city is never lovelier than when decked out for the holidays. I wanted to share some of the photos I took while on an early morning walk through the historical district.


In keeping with their tradition, Christmas garlands and wreaths are all natural and no outdoor decorative lighting is allowed. For me it was a welcome change from the glitzy, over-the-top decorations that somehow seem at odds with the idea of "Silent Night, holy night."

Sometimes less really is more

Good Find in Wimberley

If you're craving a getaway weekend but don't exactly relish the thought of airports and the hassles of flying, consider the small artist village of Wimberley. Less than an hour from Austin in the limestone-studded Hill Country, is a little-known bed and breakfast that is the perfect restorative retreat. The Blair House Inn has guest rooms and cottages filled with all the charm and amenities that you would expect from one of the top five B&B's in Texas.

You can relax by the pool, pamper yourself with the spa services, or enjoy the nature trail that is home to twenty seven different species of birds. If you are feeling less sedentary, the nearby Blanco River offers fly-fishing and kayaking.

The Blair House Inn is much more than just a bed and breakfast-it is also a cooking school. Every month the cooking school holds a hands-on class designed to help you master the techniques and preparation of classic sauces, Country French and Nuevo Texas Cuisine, among others. Classes run either two or three days. In June there is the popular "Barbecue Camp" for lovers of all things grilled.

 If you feel like brushing up on your culinary skills, the cooking school has a full schedule of classes taught by Chef Sebastian, an eighth generation Texan who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

Not only is the inn known for legendary breakfasts, but picnic baskets and gourmet dinners are an option. 

Catching the sunset seems a perfect way to end the day.

                       

And the Winner is.....

It was a busy week, but Sunday I headed to Houston for the Risotto Festival. After all, who could say no to sampling some of the best Italian food this side of Italy? The festival was at the Houston Design Center, so not only did I get to taste some amazing food, but it was a chance to browse the designer showrooms open for the event.


Fifteen chefs competed with their best risotto dishes-a culinary smackdown that left the appreciative crowd going back for seconds. I never knew there were so many different ways to prepare this Italian comfort food, and there wasn't a loser in the bunch.

And the winner is Chef Scotty Campbell who took top honors for his porcini and black truffle risotto with prime rib

Side dishes like this mushroom and olive tapenade salad with fresh basil tasted as good as they looked, and what Italian meal would be complete without Parmesan cheese. 

The smell of butter and seafood kept people lining up for more.  Chef Jon Buchanan dished up a sweet corn and Gulf shrimp risotto with house-made pancetta. 

Second place went to the lobster and white truffle risotto prepared by David Grossman of Branch Water Tavern. 

The chefs were generous in sharing their secrets to a good risotto. The key seems to be stir, stir, stir. A good risotto should be creamy, but not mushy and should puddle on the plate when served. 

A platter of buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes was just the right antidote for all that decadent dining. As much as I love risotto, it might be a long time before I have it again...Ciao