weekend wrap up

It’s Sunday morning and while I’m here dreaming of a white Christmas, we’ve got cold and blustery Santa Ana winds blowing again today, with not a snowflake in sight. 

Everyone in our community and in all of California is praying and hoping for better weather conditions for those affected by the California wildfires, which are burning terribly in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.    

Right now, my favorite Christmas movie, Christmas in Connecticut, is playing on TCM right now, and I have it on in the background. The farmhouse pictured above reminds me of the idyllic home described in the movie. 

And here’s a lovely shot of two homes from my husband’s hometown of Geneva, Illinois, taken just this weekend. The one in the foreground belonged to the Bogash family and the one behind it is my husband’s childhood home. 

All this talk of nostalgia, really makes me appreciate all our pretty vintage ornaments that were handed down from our parents and grandparents. Do you have ornaments that remind you of your family?

The holidays are also a fun time to honor family recipes. I think it’s fun to go through old cookbooks and make holiday treats like our grandmothers did. I have a tattered little notebook from Woolworth’s filled with recipes that belonged to my husband’s great grandmother.

The handwriting is a killer, but I finally figured out the little quirks in her cursive, like not crossing her T's but kind of accenting them instead?!?

It’s interesting to see how that generation ate. No fresh herbs are included in any of the recipe I found in the book, lol. This weekend I tried her recipe for pralines, which I’ll share soon. After a little trial and error, I think I figured out how to make them the right way, since the directions were not detailed at all!

Yesterday was a busy day for me in the kitchen. In addition to making the pralines, I also made Spiced Pecans for gift giving, this week’s recipe of Chutney from Kate Middleton (so yummy!), and Pignoli Cookies that I remember from my childhood. If you’re Italian, chances are you’ve enjoyed these too!

Every time I want to make Pignoli (Pine Nut) Cookies I never have almond paste, which is essential for these cookies. Well, we found almond paste at Ralph’s, and the cookies came together easily in the food processor. They come out soft and chewy kind of like a macaroon. These are the classic old-school Italian cookies I grew up loving. Recipe found below.

BTW, we served the chutney over cream cheese and with manchego cheese on crackers at a gathering this weekend, and it was a hit! I'll share a few other yummy cookie recipes later this week.

I’m loving my collection of little scrabble tiles. They’re perfect for spelling out names or holiday greetings!

How about a holiday greeting from Dorinda and Ramona from the Real Housewives of New York City? Here they are sharing their Manhattan apartment Christmas trees.

I’m soooo excited that as we speak, they’re at Dorinda’s house in the Berkshires for their annual Christmas gathering. 

Here’s Ramona with the fabulous Berkshires tree in Dorinda’s beautiful blue living room. Could it be a 1920's themed party that they're having for Dorinda's birthday? 

It looks that way! Oh, how I love a good theme party!

I’m also excited for the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to start on Tuesday night. Even though Kyle has recently moved, we probably won’t be seeing her fabulous new home this season. Here’s a little peek at the beauty from Kyle’s Instagram...

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday,

and are ready to head into this final week before

Christmas!

Here's the recipe for the yummy Pignoli cookies...

Pignoli or Pine Nut Cookies

2 cups pine nuts

1 cup powdered sugar

¼ cup almond paste

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

½ teaspoon lemon zest

½ cup all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Process ¾ cup pine nuts in a food processor with the sugar, almond paste, and vanilla until fine crumbs form. Add egg and lemon zest; pulse to combine. Add flour, baking powder, and salt; process just until dough comes together. Roll dough into ½ inch balls. Roll the cookie balls in the remaining 1 ¼ cups pine nuts and gently press to adhere. Space the cookie dough 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake until cookies begin to turn golden brown, approximately 20 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks. Makes about 2 ½ dozen pignoli cookies.

ciao! fabiana

photos: 1. Country Living  3. Southern Living
Housewives photos: instagram

the homes of Ramona and Dorinda

It’s Wednesday,

and for us housewives fans,

that means it's RHONY night!

So for fun,
 I'll be sharing an up-to-date look at

Ramona Singer’s newly updated

Upper Eastside apartment,

and then we'll have 
a little look at Dorinda's amazing
"Blue Stone Manor" set in the beautiful
countryside of the Berkshires.

So, we'll start with Ramona's 
super chic Manhattan apartment...

Since her divorce,

Ramona’s been reinventing herself in

more ways than one.  

Out with the old, and in with the new!
Ramona's place now looks 
sophisticated and super hip.

It's the perfect pad for a single girl. 

Turtle time, anyone?

Doesn’t she look great for being 60?!

I love the updated and fresh white look

which starts as soon as you walk in the door.

It’s such an improvement!

There are some really nice contemporary

accessories and artwork and

they play wonderfully against all the

white and grays.

She started the transformation by

 removing all the overbearing drapes

and painting the walls decorator white.

White marble in the kitchen

is always a good idea!

She calls this apartment her “Sanctuary in the sky”.

Ramona was originally planning on selling this

apartment after the renovation, 
but it turned out so beautifully,

that she’s decided to stay here after all!

Pretty powder room…

And, you can’t beat its location near Central Park!

Here are some before pictures…

Such a HUGE improvement,

don’t you think?

Now moving on to Dorinda Medley’s fabulous

“Blue Stone Manor” in the Berkshires…

Luanne, Ramona and Dorinda

She has an apartment in the city,

but this amazing mansion is Dorinda’s true home.

She grew up here in Great Barrington,

and her mother and sister live close by,

so this home is really near and dear to her heart.

The stately Tudor-style home 

was built in 1904,

and the inside was redecorated

by Dorinda a few years back

with the help of the design firm of

Marshall Watson Interiors.

She humorously gave them the basic vibe

she wanted for the house, which was

"Marilyn Monroe meets Frankenstein!"

Of course, most of the original 

character and details of the home were

lovingly maintained. 

Oh, how I wish I was on the east coast because

Dorinda’s home is going to be featured in the

Lenox Garden Club’s

House & Garden Tour on

July 15^th!

Wouldn’t it be fabulous to get a chance to

walk through Dorinda’s house and take an

up-close and personal look at all the

amazing details?

Well, for now, I can take you

on a little bit of a virtual tour…

This is her vibrant billiard room.

And here’s the easily

recognizable dining room,

where many a housewife has dined

and taken verbal jabs at each other.

By the way, Dorinda has about 15 sets of china

because she likes to have different options for the

different themed dinner parties she throws.

A girl after my own heart!

Here’s the spacious kitchen,

where Dorinda always whips

up a yummy home cooked meal,

and always makes it nice.

(Sorry I couldn’t resist!)

Details in one of the guest rooms.

And now on to the living room

with the blue lacquered walls. 

This is a very grand space with

great fun accent colors,

and there are plenty of

cozy spots to nestle with a good book

 and a cup of coffee,

or a  martini! 

If you're in this area Massachusetts

and plan to go on the home tour, 

please let me know! 

Cheers, Dorinda!

ciao! fabiana


photo credit:

Daily Mail UK, Town Vibe Berkshire, Bravo
Dorinda Medley on instagram & twitter

what not to do when on a home tour...

On this week's episode, 

the Real Housewives of New York 

went on the Hamptons Holiday House Home Tour, 

which was filmed last Summer.  

Here are some lessons on what 

not to do when on a home tour... 

1.  Don't lay around 

on the furniture and gossip.

2. Don't be drinking Mimosas 

or other cocktails on the tour.

 3. Don't think you can make yourself at home!

 4. Don't try to peel off the wallpaper, 

even if it is removable!

A pretty outdoor table is set, 
with melamine dishware by Luann.

5. Leave it to Ramona to 

fling a dish into the pool, frisbee style.  

A definite no-no! 

And no, they don't float.

Luann's plates were available 
for a limited time on QVC.

I was dying to know what this woman said to them.

Since we are on the subject of decor, 
Heather's home is fabulous!

and Carole's style is so chic,

but it's probably time to 
reupholster the old tiger sofa. 

I can't wait to see the transformation!

I wonder if she will keep this vintage chandelier?

She even has a bedazzled dress 

form in her closet, like me! 

Here's mine.

Really Ramona?  Throwing wine?

How much of the show do you think is staged? 

ciao! fabiana