Home Grown Maters

(Photo from Real Simple)

Hubs and I are all about some home grown tomatoes. Growing up in the south summertime tomato growing and eating is kind of a religion. Fresh off the vine with some salt and pepper...delish! When we were married the hubs introduced me to the Blue Dogs and when we lived in Charleston we tried to go and see them whenever we could. And while Mozart they are not they are always fun and one of my favorite songs that they sing is "Home Grown Tomatoes".

Watch The Blue Dogs singing Home Grown Tomatoes in Live Events & Specia | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

To me that song just oozes summer and sadly...I think that on the 31st of August summer here in the UK is officially over! Its time to break out the rain gear, wellingtons and fleeces :( but before I completely pack it in we are enjoying the last of the summer produce and have been eating as many tomatoes as we can get our hands on. I actually "grew" tomatoes here...well tried as almost all are still green we enjoyed some fried green tomatoes this week. I also made a really tasty and simple Panzanella http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzanella with some heirloom maters from the farmers market.

Panzanella

Salad

3 tbl Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Good Leftover French Bread (or whatever you have)

Quality tomatoes (4, 5 cherry? anything goes)

Cucumber

Red bell pepper

Red onion

Basil, Cilantro or Parsley(whatever you have on hand)

Vinaigrette

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 tsp. Dijon Mustard

3 tbl. champagne vinegar or white wine

1/2 cup good olive oil

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper

The key to the salad is you want all the ingredients to be the roughly the same size and in the same quantities so chop it how you like it. I go for everything about an inch big. Take the bread cubes and toss with olive oil salt and pepper to taste then toast up in a hot skillet until they are lightly browned. From there its just tossing all the ingredients together and adding the vinaigrette until just everything is lightly coated even the bread eat it pretty soon. You want the bread to soak up some dressing but waiting to long makes it too soggy.

When I'm cooking I tend not to follow recipes exactly or list exact measurements. That's because I like to use what I have and taste as I go. This has become my go to summer salad when I can get my hands on good tomatoes although I don't think its a big helper for the waistline since you basically substitute hunks of toasted bread for salad leaves.... oh well! C'est la vie and bon appe'tit!

London Bound!

We are heading down to London in a few for my sister's last two nights in town. Picked up a few great things in Stamford yesterday! Can't wait to post pics....Viva La London!

Mirror Mirror....

My sister is here visiting (yay Sissy!) and perhaps I should have waited to launch the blog until after she left because we have been having so much fun its left little time for posting. Today we are heading out to Stamford to do a little vintage scouting and see the sights and while everyone else is getting ready I figured I could sneak away for a moment or two.

Since we've been in the UK one thing that always catches my attention when I am digging up vintage finds is a great etched mirror. My friend S (she dreams of a fab wall completely covered in them...sigh...tres chic') introduced me to these beauties last year at a huge antiques fair and I've been snatching up everyone I've seen since...if I can beat S to it! These mirrors range in size and shape but most seem to be about 2-2.5 feet by 1-1.5 feet. They have this great beveled etching around the edges and sometimes a bit of the silver is peeking through which I think adds to the charm. They are heavy! and hang from a linked chain and scream out to be re-used in dressing rooms, bathrooms, in large groupings on the wall...well anywhere! From what I can find I think these were probably most popular in the 1930's to the 1960's. Below is my most favorite....so far! Side note....it is hard to photograph mirrors!

I think these are just glam and so classy!

I love design magazines so much in fact I realized about a month ago that I needed to do something with all the ripped out pages of ideas I had shoved into one sad hot pink folder. Now I have a neatly labeled and organized binder which makes my type A heart smile with joy...but I digress. I was flipping through it yesterday and low and behold an October 2008 photo from Country Living had these little lovelies hanging above his/her vanities in a newly remodeled master bath. I LOVE the use of one or two vintage elements when making over a new space. It gives the space an immediate sense of history and helps to avoid that matchy matchy look.

Why Fried Okra?

Yay! Your here and so am I! The makings of this blog have been keeping me up at night...in a good way..like a great book or hot sex (wink wink hubs). I am over the moon to have a platform in which to share my eclectic vintage finds, good food, daily musings and who knows what else with you.

So the obvious question is "why Fried Okra?". Yes, it's a delicious "vegetable" coveted by any proper Southerner and I use the term vegetable very loosely here! But its also one of those words that makes me feel home and connects me to my southern roots and feeling home is important when your so far away! My vision for this blog is that it evolves to encompass a totally relaxed vintage chic lifestyle with a southern twist...ya'll.

So bear with me while I get into the groove. Laugh at my neurotic ramblings. Drool over the hip and totally fabulous vintage pieces I dig up and send me a "well bless her heart" when I am totally off base!

Xx-Fried Okra