Restaurant Week in Detroit...Three Evenings Remaining

After my glamourous day of getting new tires and working in my studio, hubby and I took advantage of restaurant week in Detroit and had dinner at the Wolfgang Puck Grille at the MGM Grand Detroit.  

Bar at the Wolfgang Puck Grille (taken with iphone)

Salmon with pea puree, asparagus and mushrooms

Learned that every Thursday is 1/2 off wine night.  Yes, we had a fabulous Merlot.

12 layer chocolate dessert

18 participating restaurants offer $28 three-course meals.  This is a great way to investigate a restaurant you've been meaning to try.  Click here for more information.

Have a relaxing weekend.  We have a promise of warm weather coming.  YIPPEE!!

The Paris Wife

I haven't talked about a book for quite a while and frankly, I haven't read anything worth a post.  I just finished The Paris Wife by Paula McLain and am surprised by how much I enjoyed the book.  

The Paris Wife: A Novel

This fictional story, is written in the voice of Hadley Hemingway, the wife of Ernest Hemingway.  Ernest was 21 when he met Hadley, 8 years his senior.  She was an unworldly girl from St. Louis and he, a veteran of WWI as a Red Cross ambulance driver, met in Chicago and courted mostly by mail.  Ernest was Hadley's ticket out of her Victorian existence.  Soon after their marriage they sailed for France where Ernest was to pursue his writing.  They quickly fell into a literary society, making friends with the likes of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound.  Always short of funds, the Hemingways found it difficult to keep up with the Salon Society.  If I had to use one word to describe Hadley it would be sturdy.  She wasn't fashionable or ambitious for herself.  Hadley was a strong supporter of the volatile Ernest and put her own needs and wants on hold to coddle to this strong charater. She seemed to do a lot of waiting.  Waiting for Ernest to come home for dinner, waiting for him to be published, waiting for him to come home from a journalism assignment.  As Hadley meets more ex-pats and "arty" wives she seems to "grow up" but not embrace the glamour.  She constantly encourages and supports Ernest.  Most likely he would not have become the acclaimed writer he did without her strength.  She remains first and foremost Ernest's wife and as it turns out, his starter wife.  Their widening circle of friends is convinced the Hemingway marriage is strong and will endure but Ernest soon falls to female temptation and the marriage falls apart.

This is NOT a representative photo of Hadley Richardson Hemingway!  The book cover above is a better likeness.

While A Moveable Feast was Ernest Hemingway's description of their time in Paris, The Paris Wife is the fictional account from Haley's vantage point.  The marriage lasted 5 years until divorce and Ernest's remarriage to their mutual friend, Pauline Pfeiffer.  Ernest would divorce and marry four times.  He lived in Paris only during his marriage to Hadley, thus the title, The Paris Wife.  
Paula McLain does a very good job of "speaking" for Hadley.  Ms. McLain used the writings of Ernest Hemingway, correspondence between Hadley and Ernest and other writing of the time to tell Hadley's story.  Her writing style draws the reader in to feel as though you are there witnessing what is taking place.  The rather dull Hadley, emerges as a devoted, loving spouse, who puts her husband and marriage before her own desires.  She is a voice of reason when her troubled husband becomes violent or melancholy.  McLain aptly describes the turmoil within Hadley as she wrestles with the decision to stop fighting for her marriage and let Ernest go.  


I would encourage you to read   The Paris Wife  and then A Moveable Feast.
If you've read this book, tell us what you think.  

Things That Make Me Smile

$.99 vase from Ikea "as is"

Switching to spring/summer clothes and taking my winter clothes to the dry cleaners.

A new, colorful bathing suit

Treasures I brought home from the beach

Thai Shrimp-Halibut Curry

Yesterday I picked up the April issue of bon appetit to look for some inspiration for "meatless Monday".  I was thinking vegetarian but saw a photo of a curry and knew I had to try it.  

This meal can be assembled quickly and cooking time is minimal.  The recipe states 50 minutes prep time but I think 30 minutes is more accurate.  The red curry paste gives spiciness and some heat while the fish sauce, coconut milk, ginger and lime round out the curry flavor.  Chopped basil and cilantro, typical Thai herbs, added at the end of the cooking time, lend a fresh note to the dish.  The recipe calls for shrimp and halibut but could be made with just one or the other seafood.  I added some blanched green beans for additional vegetable interest.  

Thai Shrimp-Halibut Curry

This bon appetit recipe receives  a "four fork" review from me.  I will absolutely make this again.  It is quick, nutritious, and delicious.  I'd serve it to guests.  Make sure to have plenty of steamed rice and serve in a bowl with spoons to take advantage of all the wonderful sauce.  Sliced oranges or fresh pineapple chunks would be a nice, light accompaniment.  Click here to view the recipe.

Inspiration: Butterflies

I was inspired by this butterfly print chair.

Damien Hirst deck chair 

This print made me think of the butterflies on Elbow Cay.  

Here are some other butterfly inspired items.

Etsy Finds

1 Green Butterfly in Paris pillow $33.99  2 Butterfly luggage tags $8  3 Hand painted butterfly scarf $57  

4 Monogram butterfly drink coasters $15  Vintage butterfly porcelain cup $14 

Butterfly Picks 

Happy Monday

Oatmeal Cookies for a Sweet Weekend

I love a good oatmeal cookie and I am always on the lookout for a recipe.

These cookies have a nice chewy texture and great oaty flavor.  The recipe calls for applesauce and I substituted coconut oil for the 4 tablespoons of butter in the dough.  

I used an ice cream scoop as suggested for uniform small size.

Maple syrup flavors the light glaze.

Iced Oatmeal Cookies with Golden Raisins and Applesauce

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (or substitute coconut oil)

1 large egg

1/2 cup applesauce

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup raisins (or try dried cherries or other dried fruit)

glaze

1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Put sugars and butter (or coconut oil) in bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment.  Mix on low speed until combined.  Add egg and applesauce; mix until will combined, 2 to 3 minutes.  Add oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; mix until well combined.  Mix in raisins or dried fruit.

Using small (1 1/2 tablespoon) ice-cream scoop, make balls of dough, and place them 2 inches apart on parchment-paper lined baking sheets.

Bake until golden and just set, 13-15 minutes.  Let cool on sheet for 5 minutes.  Transfer to wire rack set over parchment paper to cool completely.

Whisk confectioners' sugar with syrup and 3 tablespoons water until smooth.  Drizzle icing over cookie; let set. 

Have a sweet weekend!

at west end: a unique vase

Genius Idea!

multi-hole vase $49

This vase with holes in the sides enables 6 blooms to look like a unique arrangement.  A great way to deal with droopy stems too.

Click here to view the new issue of Matchbook Magazine...Field Guide to a Charmed Life for some online inspiration.