Happy Thanksgiving!

I know that us Brits aren't traditionally 'Thanksgivingers' (totally made up word!) but I say anything that brings people together to eat, drink and be happy, is a tradition I want to muscle in on...So although my extended family won't be able to make it for dinner, here's what I would serve them if they could...

BROWNED BUTTER + SAGE CROSTINI

INGREDIENTS

• French baguette, sliced and toasted
• Prosciutto
• Buffalo mozzarella, sliced thin
• Fresh sage leaves
• Salted Butter

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Butter slices of French baguette and toast under the broiler until golden. Set aside

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

3. In a small skillet melt butter over medium low heat. Add fresh sage leaves and cook until sage is crispy and butter begins to brown in bits on the bottom of the pan. (you may need to remove sage before butter is browned).

4. Top toasted bread with prosciutto and cheese. Bake at 375 until cheese begins to melt.

5. Remove from oven and spoon browned butter over crostini. Top each with a crispy sage leaf or two.

6. Serve while hot! Enjoy.

These delicious morsels are exceedingly moreish and the brown butter dressing literally elevates the dish to something else altogether.  Serve with a cold glass of prosecco before moving on to the main event....

THANKSGIVING TURKEY

This recipe hails from Sweet Paul Magazine and combines the sweet flavours of maple syrup and apricots to create a glaze that will give your turkey a magnificent bronzed hue, as well as tasting pretty good too!

Of course, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie and my final offering would be a ginger-crust version served with cream, crumbled with amaretti biscuits to finish it off.

This recipe comes from Martha Stewart Living, gorgeous photo by Chelsea Fullerton

Here's wishing everyone celebrating a very happy Thanksgiving...eat, drink and be merry... 

image sources: 1,2,3

I'm dreaming...

Of this cozy French villa.  Having just booked a holiday with the girls for next summer in the South of France, these gorgeous pictures have made me yearn for sunshine, lazy days by the pool, warm evenings eating and drinking ... sigh...they certainly brightened my day, this grey, damp London evening.

 Imagine sitting here, eating figs and drinking wine, looking out over the sea...

 I love the pale palette with bright accents of pink

 and turquoise

 Oh, how I want to wake up to this view; imagine waking with the sun on your face and the salty smell of the shore 

 Then taking a leisurely swim in the beautiful aqua blue waters of the pool

 before retiring with a good book to the shade

All images: Decoist

Link Love

1.  If like me you're a bit of a secret (or not so secret!) cheese lover, then check out these two helpful guides on how to choose your cheese.  I think my top tip would always be to firstly find a really great cheese shop - I go to Hamish Johnston on the Northcote Road in South West London and my second tip would be to keep trying new cheeses and keep a note of those you like and why.  Anyway, have a look at The Reluctant Gourmet's guide to buying cheese and Cupcakes and Cashmere's handy chart.  Then go buy cheese...

2.  I am totally in love with this DIY pearl earring tutorial 

3.  Brussels Sprouts - you either love them or hate them, either way, give this easy recipe for smoky, lemony brussels a go..

4. I've always hankered after an Ottoman to use as a coffee table and these have fuelled the fire even more!

5.  Writing your novel? check out this from my latest blog love Novelicious

6.  Still on the novel theme, one from the archives on NaNoWriMo

Have a good week! 

image sources: 2/3