Tracy Porter Blog… be inspired!

GODDESS SAVORY BREAD PUDDING

3 leeks
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed on diagonal into 1 inch pieces
3 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
freshly cracked pepper
1 lb. mushrooms (shiitake, button… whatever you have available to you)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 C. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 C. freshly grated Gruyere cheese
1 (1 lb.) loaf of French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes (should equal about 10 cups)
1/4 C. balsamic vinegar
1/4 C. dry white wine
6 eggs
2 C. milk
2 C. cream

Preheat oven to 450F. Arrange the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until browned, 10-14 minutes. Occasionally shift pieces around to ensure browning on all sides. Remove the bread from the oven and let cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 350F once bread is removed from oven.

Heat 1 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet. Saute leeks & garlic until soft; season with a bit of salt. Set aside. Melt another Tbsp. of butter in the pan. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper; saute until the mushrooms have released their juices, 5-7 minutes. Continue to cook until the mushrooms begin to brown. Add balsamic vinegar and white wine to pan of mushrooms, cooking to let some of the liquid reduce. Combine mushrooms with leeks and set aside. Cook asparagus in boiling salted water for about 3 minutes or until just tender. Remove from water and plunge into an ice bath to cool. Promptly remove and dry well.

Whisk eggs, milk, cream, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. pepper, Gruyere, and Parmesan. Add in mushroom leek mixture, asparagus, and bread. Mix gently but well. Let all ingredients sit for 30-40 minutes, or until bread seems to have absorbed the custard. Pour mixture into a buttered 9×13 pan. Bake uncovered on the middle rack at 350F for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. It should look puffed and nicely browned on top. If it still needs cooking and is getting too brown, put foil over the top. Let bread pudding cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Well now that we’ve shared all that… and you know my jewelry drawer was all a-shambles and in need of some serious TLC… I’ll be on with it. I had this thought about how pretty it all is, and then it’s all tangled up in that sorry drawer, really… shame on me. I am always wanting to pull the “pretty”out of the drawers… so I did. Check out the fun twist in our video… Mine is an armoire in our bedroom, now all decked out with found objects from our home… Where will you put yours?

A few thoughts to consider…

* Small statues or sculptures are great for necklaces… Have anything from your garden that you could use?

* Bracelets are spectacular in a big silver bowl.

* Teacups or other small pantry dishes are ideal for rings, brooches and the like.

* Lamps… always try to squeeze a small lamp into your vignette.

* Be inspired by a fanciful, extraordinary woman… I keep thinking, what would Coco do?

Kisses,

T.

Tracy Porter

Dream delicious!

* Sepia-tone photos

* Artwork or photos taken from magazine pages

* The backside of a vintage postcard… stamps and all…

* Artwork from children

* A love note, a poem, a sonnet from your sweet…

* A loose page from a beautiful book

* Images from the covers of all those greeting cards you just can’t part with… I know you do this too!!

* An oversized monogram… oh, I do love it!!

* Embellish the tops if you’re feeling really inspired… baubles, tattered trimmings, vintage jewelry…

Kisses,

T.

Tracy Porter

Dream delicious!

A few tips to lusciousness…

* perfume bottles
* teacups… I do love them so…
* a box, a basket, a bowl, or urn
* secret ingredient: Spanish moss darlings, Spanish moss…
* a spot of water…
* …and a heart filled with beauty

Don’t you want to live life as beautifully as you can..(I sure do)?! Sometimes its the simple little things that make the experience more delicious!

Kisses,

T.

Tracy Porter

Dream delicious!

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

Williams-Sonoma Ramekins

I love that each season my containers can change along with the temperature. Heat-loving herbs, flowers, branches, evergreens. Such a treat to have options!

I had to share with you a marvelous tip that I’ve fully-embraced this year. You see, our beloved country property is blessed with windy conditions most days. For years, I tucked colorful annual flowers into all of my containers only to see them get snapped off and dried-up during the first warm breaths of summer. My creative challenge has now become a new passionate solution. Lavender, darlings!!! Lavender!! I love lavender. I have it tucked in and about my gardens. But never before have I nestled it into containers! Rapture! Easy and beautiful. They don’t need to be watered twice a day like petunias. And they crave the sun and heat (more time for me to be barefoot with the kids)!!

Sweet lavender kisses,

T.

Tracy Porter

Dream with your eyes open!!

Tracy Porter’s Tips on Container Gardening
- Pick a size that’s right for you…find a color and shape you adore!!
- Think about year-round durability when purchasing a container… Find one made out of a resin/cement mix
- Take the wind into factor when choosing your plant…choose something you love that won’t bend or break off…
- Lavender… lovely, small, easy to grow, delectably scented bliss
- You don’t need to keep it outside all year round… drag it in and flank your fireplace!
- Indulge in the low-maintenance beauty…. enjoy the extra time to frolic in the sun

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

Fiskars Power-Lever Bypass Pruner

Glaze Resin Planter

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Container Gardening

Ashley Antique White Finish Tall Pedestal

So alas, Sarah and I fish through our cluttered purses and pull out all of our essential summertime goodies with you. Everything a girl needs to look and feel smolderingly-fabulous inside and out!!

Now, get busy, dump out all the untidiness…and refine your summer repertoire (such a needed accessory with bare feet and dreamy afternoons..)

Kisses,

Tracy & Sarah

Tracy Porter

Embrace the sweetness of Life!

Tracy & Sarah’s Tips for Freshening-up Your Purse

• Clear a spot & dump all the chaos from your winter purse…let’s see what’s inside!
• Grab a bright summer tote & be ready to load up some fresh ideas…
• Include the key essentials…
  • lip gloss & chap stick…can’t live without it!!
  • organizer & cute wallet for foreign travel…dream of getting away!!
  • a bag full of goodies – zip lock bag, Kleenex…fresh pack, perfume….sample size works great, Advil, SPF 60 sunblock…perfect for the kids or fair skin, disinfectant wipes….a must-have for moms & travel, lotion, travel-size makeup, mints or gum….whatever you prefer, Eau du Sarah (i.e. Benadryl spray)…to zap those itchy bug bites!
  • Pony tail holder
  • Jewelry
  • Phone & small video camera for capturing on-the-go moments!
  • Shades!!
• Don’t forget the odd-balls
  • Clippers, nippers, or scissors…for Sarah’s weed cutting fetish on the go!!
  • Clear folder with pens, pencils & paper….a pretty folder to keep the good parts of life… a magazine clipping…important papers…a must-have for Tracy!!
• Keep it simple….keep it fresh…

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

Filofax Cuban Zip Brown Personal Organizer

Happy girl…. Happy wardrobe!!!

Kisses,
T.

Tracy Porter

Embrace the Sweetness of Life

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

High Fashion Sewing Secrets from the World’s Best Designers

Kuna White Baby Alpaca Throw

The Handbook of Style

Xoxox

Tracy

Tracy Porter

Embrace the Sweetness of Life!

· Salted almonds

- Pretzels (with a pot of good mustard for dipping)

- Olives (lusciously marinated in garlic and herbs)

- Salt + vinegar kettle-cooked potato chips

– Gourmet popcorn loaded with butter, grated parmesan + seasoned salt

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

Springtime Iris Candle Lantern

Yellow Green Ceramic Glazed Vase

Short Acrylic Tumblers Set of 4 – Blue

Kisses from the back steps!

Xoxox

Tracy + Max

Tracy Porter

Embrace the Sweetness of Life!

Tracy Porter’s Tips for Personalizing Outdoor Spaces

• Identify the little spots you enjoy being around. Discover new
  escapes!
• Take advantage of these little luxuries..make your spot beautiful.
• Add charm.bring interior pieces & turn them into fabulous outdoor
  beauties
• Oversized urns..fill them with delectable herbs..a must-have added
  deliciousness for cooking..rosemary, basil, cilantro, YUMM!
• Find a coziness all your own..your little hideaway

- or -

• Relax & enjoy watching the kids play!
• Bring your favorite books, magazines, some sunglasses, an iPod
  with..Ahh, slide into total comfort!
• Refresh with lemonade..Relax with the perfect cocktail.pick your
  mood.it’s all yours!

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

Verdigris Gazebo Standing Birdfeeder

Matchstick Oak Bamboo Roman Shade

Butterfly Table Antique

Be extraordinary!

Kisses,

T.

Tracy Porter

Tracy Porter’s Tips for Believing in Yourself

· Remind yourself often. You can do anything you set out to do.

· Close your eyes and envision the outcome.

· If you want something… grab hold and start working towards it. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams.

· Inspire others, your kids, your spouse, your friends. What a gift to let them know that you believe in them. So simple. So powerful.

· No matter who you are, what you do, where you live, what you’re striving towards… Believe in yourself. It’s the least you can do.

· If you’ve fallen… no worries… get up and get going. Believe in yourself.

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

Believe In Yourself

Always Believe in Yourself and Your Dreams: A Collection of Poems

Cowboy Boots

Kisses,

T.

Tracy Porter
Dream delicious

(Click here for Tracy Porter’s printable recipe!)

Tracy Porter Steamed Sugar Snap Peas Recipe

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

La Tourangelle Toasted Sesame Oil

Mauviel Copper 2 Handled Oval Pans

All-Clad Stainless Steel 3-Piece Steamer Set

As tasty as these French fries are…. They are truly the vehicle for all the dipping options. Have fun with this all-American side… all the sauces, dips, dressings, herbs and saltiness makes them all the finer. Isn’t it time to have your way with some delicious homemade French fries!??!!

Xoxox,

T.

Tracy Porter

Delight in the little things!

(Click here for Tracy Porter’s printable recipe!)

Tracy Porter Homemade French Fries Recipe

- 4 large russet potatoes

- Canola oil

- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

- Wash potatoes and cut into strips… they can be any size you choose, really (tip: the fatter the strips… the less oil they’ll absorb).

- Set the cut potatoes into a pan of cold water with ice and leave for at least 30 minutes (tip: this simple process helps eliminate some of the starch from the potatoes… crispier… tastier fries)!

- Remove from water and dry completely.

- Heat at least 2 qts. oil in a large heavy pan to 350-375 degrees F. (tip: I love my cast iron skillet…. 3-4 inches of oil works beautifully). Use a thermometer (deep fry; or candy thermometer work great).. to ensure the temperature.

- Place a handful of potato strips carefully into the hot oil and cook until golden brown, approximately 5-7 minutes.

- Remove from the oil using a spider skimmer or tongs. Set fries onto paper towels or a ripped-open paper grocery bag to absorb oil.

- Place remaining potato strips into oil (tip: make sure the oil temperature always comes back up to 350-375 degrees before the next batch goes into the oil)… repeat process….

- Season generously with salt and fresh-ground pepper.

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

Lodge Logic Pre-Seasoned 15 Inch Cast-Iron Skillet

Spider Skimmer

Deep Fry Thermometer

White Take Out Boxes

In our travels we have indulged and tested more than our fair share of margaritas but none compares to what we make at home. I have crafted them in many a home and even in a few bars where they just didn’t understand the expectation. Once, in rural Ireland, the barkeep admitted that he’d never made a margarita and invited me behind the counter. As one might expect, I made more than one. Now, they didn’t have Limeade but I was able to MacGyver[i] my way through their ingredients to make a reasonable facsimile (“Eye thar, m’lad, ‘tis a mighty fiyne drank ye make; per me anudder!”).

My Irish sainthood is pending.

John Porter, Margarita Mixologist

a/k/a “Mr. Tracy Porter”

Live Responsibly: Do Not Drink And Drive

[1] The term “MacGyver” refers to the popular television show starring Richard Dean Anderson. The context is that, in the show, MacGyer was famous for being able to construct complicated things from ordinary objects, i.e., a homemade bomb using a toothpick, some wheat flour and a stick of Dentyne® gum.

[1] Tequila is a highly regulated Mexican liquor produced only in certain regions of Mexico. That said, there are 901 registered brands of tequila from 128 producers list with the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (report here). For more info on tequila, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tequila.

(Click here for Tracy Porter’s printable recipe!)
Porter’s Potent Margaritas Recipe
On The Rocks With Salt

(serves eight people one each or one person eight)

A Porter Proven Recipe™

Ingredients

- Twelve ounces (12 oz) of tequila[ii] (Patrón® Añejo [recommended], Sauza’s Hornitos® Reposado or 1800® Reposado, if budget allows, or Jose Cuervo Especial®)

- Six ounces (6 oz) of triple sec: (Cointreau® [recommended], if budget allows, or Triple Sec by Hiram Walker, Mohawk or Mr. Boston)

-Grand Marnier® [recommended] (if budget allows)

-One (1) 6 oz. can of Limeade®

-Water

-Six (6) Limes

-Ice

-Kosher Salt

Process

Place ¼ cup of Kosher salt on a small salad plate or in a bowl a little larger than the diameter of your glasses. Prepare up to eight (8) glasses – the “right” margarita glass is a highly debated subject. For me, it’s a glass that holds liquid, with a rim. Begin by running ¼ of a lime around the rim of each glass and dipping upside down into the salt such that the rim of each glass is crusted with salt (for those who do not like the salt – too bad, this is the way they are to be done; I’m kidding, of course). Cut remaining limes into quarters.

In a large pitcher mix the tequila, triple sec, the contents of the Limeade can and one and one-half (1½) cans of water and stir until Limeade is dissolved. Saving aside eight (8) quarters of limes, squeeze the juice of remaining limes into the pitcher as well. Tap each glass over the sink to remove loose salt and fill each with ice. Stir the contents of the pitcher (uh, the margaritas) vigorously and pour over ice. Into each glass then add a splash of Grand Marnier, a quarter of lime (squeezed) and serve. It is imperative – for your safety and the happiness of others – to immediately begin to remake the entire recipe…they will want more, fast.

Tracy Porter Top 10 Tips for the BEST MARGARITAS

1. Salty snacks are a must. (warm salted peanuts in petite silver bowls certainly are nice)

2. Work your way around the rim… a taste of the kosher salt with every sip is essential

3. Lime is Key. Get your hands on that wedge and sqeeze!

4. Mix thoroughly. We always tend to like our drinks “round”… meaning “full”… meaning “all notes hitting the tongue at once”…. You catch our drift here, right?!!

5. Sit back. Relax your neck. Find a good chair… you may need one soon.

6. Use quality ingredients… life is short…. It’s time for you to have a grown-up margarita (they’re still good with chips and salsa)

7. Make it a double. (some days… this simply is a reality)

8. It’s all in the glass. No need for a stem…. Who needs their drink suspended in the air? We like our margaritas to fit right in the palm of our hand….

9. Golden color. Need we say more.

10. When out and about…. This is how we recommend you order for an ideal margarita experience (with hand motions, of course..): Margarita on the rocks with salt…. Wedge of lime… splash of Cointreau… splash of Grand Marnier…oh, make it a double… please!

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

The Little Black Book of Cocktails

Market-Fresh Mixology: Cocktails for Every Season

How’s Your Drink?: Cocktails, Culture, and the Art of Drinking Well

Tracy Porter tips for letting your passions lead!

* What do you dream about… well then, get busy!
* What are your favorite hobbies… do you spend enough time with them?
* Be honest with yourself…. be honest with others
* What makes your heart beat a-flutter?
* What makes your palms sweaty!!!?
* What makes you jump out of bed in the morning?
* Life is full of options… try as much on as you can!
* Stop fretting… start doing!
* Who cares if you haven’t tried something before – the time is now.
* No regrets. if you live this way… your passions will naturally lead you!!!

Embrace Your Passions!!!

xoxox,

T.

Tracy Porter

Find something… anything to sink your teeth into… allow yourself to dream… to evolve…to be passionate. Joy is the key to life!!

Shop Items We Love to Buy!!

The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Why Get Up in the Morning: A Guide to the Meaning of Life

Get a Hobby!: 101 All-Consuming Diversions for Any Lifestyle