Artisan Gardner

 Warm weather brings an irresistible urge to dine outdoors & an appetite for seasonal menus calls for dishes made with fresh ingredients.

"Seasonal" can also apply to schedules that may find you running or relaxing. Either way, uncomplicated meals made at home with simple ingredients are smart & healthy and offer the perfect opportunity to sit down together and give thanks.

 Artisan Gardner is a nod to Laura Gardner ~ a friend & fabulous cook! There is a liveliness in Laura's cooking. Partly due to her genuine love of preparing good food & her seasoned career in the culinary & hospitality industry, but mainly it's her generosity and ease in which she entertains.

A casual invitation to dinner at the Gardner's fills us with joyful anticipation! We just know it's going to be good ~ and it's definitely a collaboration. Her mouth-watering menus are always earthy & regional and Mr. Gardner's wine pairings beautifully complement the meal & elevate the evening. They are quite a team in the kitchen & in real life!

You may be wondering why all the beet photos. Well ~ It's because they're in season and because Grilled Beet & Goat Cheese Pizza was on the menu! Since Laura prefers to cook off-book & I'm a visual gal, I grabbed my iPhone and started snapping away!

Here is the result with recipe & instructions below. 

Grilled Beet & Goat Cheese Pizza

{Ingredients}

Serves 4

4 medium-sized Beets with greens

Dough 

{White or Wheat ~ Fresh or Packaged}

Corn Meal

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Goat Cheese

Provolone Cheese

Dried Figs

Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper

{Directions}  

Wash beets & greens. Remove greens & set aside.

Peel beets with a paring knife or vegetable peeler. 

Slice to medium thickness using a mandolin.

{be smart & use the guard}

Toss with S&P and 2 tsp. olive oil.

Chop greens.

Toss with S&P and 2 tsp. olive oil.

Let dough rest at room temp and then separate into sections for individual pizzas. Gently press the dough into rustic shapes.

Let the dough rest again as it will bounce back a little. Prepare a sheet pan sprinkled with cornmeal to prevent dough from sticking.

Place pizzas on pan & prepare cheeses.

Grill the beets over medium-high heat, flipping & rotating until they start to spot or blister. 

Over medium-high heat, place individual pizzas on the grill for approximately 4 minutes or until the underside becomes golden brown and easily releases from grill.

After a minute, you can lift an edge and peek underneath. You want a slight char around the edge, which adds a lot of flavor!

 Flip the dough back onto a pan with cornmeal so uncooked side is facing down.

Spread the top grilled side of dough generously with goat cheese.

Layer with the fresh chopped greens & grilled beets.

Top with dried figs.

Top with provolone cheese.

Place pizzas back on the grill for another 4 minutes to brown underside of the dough. Cover with a lid during this time to allow the cheese to melt.

Best when served hot off the grill!

These were quite filling so a sliced heirloom tomato with fresh basil & sea salt would be a great side & as always, a selection from J. Lohr Vineyards is the perfect compliment to any meal prepared by Artisan Gardner!

I hope you're looking forward to a great summer weekend! Get your grill fired up, dial up your favorite music, gather together and enjoy some chewy, crispy & smoky Grilled Beet & Goat Cheese Pizza!

Remember - cooking at home is not about perfection. It's about cooking what you like, how you like and for who you like.

Bon appetite! 

Messages that move me.

Maybe you're a young woman with big dreams.
Maybe you're a woman in need of support.
Maybe you're a woman who believes in miracles.
I’ve been reading many of your stories today and I’m amazed!
Good intentions. 

Old dreams resurrecting. 

Unforeseen circumstances. 

Magical moments. 

Bungled efforts.

Joyous occasions. 

New desires wooing. 

Missed opportunities. 

Whims of fate and a few

detours along the way.

My gosh!  It takes courage to excavate a new plan or a buried dream and tell us all about it! 

At each stage of life, we experience both laughter and tears. Each one of these experiences creates another important layer of who we are.  I tend to equate more layers with more lines on my face, more white hair on my head, more wisdom and more to share.

I also constantly remind myself to keep striving, learning, yearning and doing because I know what it feels like to reach even the smallest milestone.  That moment deep down inside when I own my unique point of view and I realize how priceless it is.

Today, whether you’re sitting at your computer or sitting in the carpool line, expect good things and know that someone is listening to you and talking to you and encouraging you.

Today you inspired me to share my own point of view. 
Thank you for sharing yours.

Now I hope you’ll take a moment to relax for a while and just breathe.

Enjoy these 3 short

{Messages That Move Me}

and share them with other inspiring women you know.

Ooooooo,   you must also visit this spiritual, inspiring & stylish friend of mine {here} as she’s linking to a fabulous group of bloggers who are discussing their many different philosophies on living out hopes & dreams!

A Gracious Gift

Tuesday, October 18

Dear Mom,

  One of my favorite blogger friends is coming to Phoenix on Thursday.  I’m not sure what your schedule looks like but I was wondering if you would enjoy meeting her?  You know the blog Velvet & Linen?  Yes, it’s Brooke Giannetti and she’s in town for one day signing copies of her newly published book, Patina Style….

                            

Thursday, October 20

“Lisa, it was soooooo much fun meeting Brooke...she is everything you said she would be.  A very warm and genuine person....a true gem!  On our next trip to California together it would be such a treat to see her again.  And the bonus of meeting Brooke was discovering Sweet Salvage & Laura Ingalls Gunn from Décor To Adore!   

Brooke signed our copies of Patina Style & yours is on its way.  What a fun day!

Love Mom”

Friday, October 21

Dear Mom,

I’m thrilled that you took the opportunity to stop by Sweet Salvage and say hello to Brooke!  I knew you would love her.  I also want to take a moment here to remind you how special you are and to say “thank you.”   Taking time and taking care are two graces that you always carry with you.  They are also gifts that you give to everyone that you meet.   Your taking the time yesterday made everything so much more special and memorable for everyone involved.

I love you.

xo

Thank you, Brooke, for your friendship and also taking time & taking care. xo

Thank you, Laura Ingalls Gunn, for introducing yourself & Décor to Adore, and for telling my mom that you read my blog. xo

Thank you Sweet Salvage for a wonderful day & extraordinary shopping event!

Oh, There’s More……

Thank you, Joni Webb, for hosting the most fabulous giveaway for Brooke & Steve Giannetti at Cote De Texas! 

Hurry, the contest ends tonight, Friday night at 11:59!

I’ll be waiting up for this one with my fingers crossed.

Remember also, if you want to order the book Patina Style, click here! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

p.s. Did you notice the fabulous necklaces that those three gorgeous women are wearing?

Good morning, I mean afternoon!

Hello Sunshine!

You look marvelous and I’m so glad that you are joining me.

The stylish Marsha Harris from Splenderosa is hostessing a fabulous & a growing group of women from all around the world to join in a monthly conversation.

Based on a quote, a poem, or maybe a casual saying, the conversation will be different every first Tuesday of the month!

I love visiting with all the warm & friendly & super-smart bloggers who received invitations and are here today!

Vicki Archer from French Essence  and

Tish Jett from A Femme d’ Un Certain Age

have chosen a wonderful message…

Iomoi

The invitation arrived with one of my favorite sayings first penned by Gustave Flaubert, the French writer best known for his novel Madame Bovary, 

"Le Bon Dieu est dans le detail".

Translation…

Whatever we do, should be done thoroughly and to the very best of our abilities. The details are what make all the difference... 

In her book, A Passion for Detail, Charlotte Moss notes...

 

“You look at the details and a world unfolds.”  Charlotte Moss

And I love this quote from Margaret Russell, editor of Architectural Digest.

New York Times

“Perhaps that’s the secret recipe for effortless elegance:  It’s a carefree sense of confidence, lightheartedness, a lack of pretension, and a mindful appreciation for comfort and care.”     Margaret Russell

Me, I personally believe that each day you create yourself anew through choice.

My post, Repose of the Soul, is one I’m most proud of and reminds me & many of my blogger friends that…

By paying attention to the details, your authentic gestures, you give expression to the most personal of all the arts: making your own imprint on life.

 "Le Bon Dieu est dans le detail".

Repose of the Soul

Lisa Warninger Photography

Before I go, I would be remiss if I did not thank my beautiful friend Coty Farquhar for extending this lovely invitation all the way across the pond.

Her stylish blog title reads, “Specializing in the delicate art of imagery and presentation”  I’ll say!

Coty is known by many as an award-winning stylist, photographer, costume designer, blogger and so much more.  I’m privileged to call her my friend. 

Click here to read her post on what "Le Bon Dieu est dans le detail" means to her.

Thank you so much, Marsha, for including me here today.  My apologies for being stylishly late.  I look forward to visiting Splenderosa and reading all of your fabulous guests' interpretations of such a wonderful message!

Click the invitation to link.

Best of the Best

When I’m looking for the best of the best for Mr. Porter, one place I like to go to is the Robb Report online.

It’s a great source for all things new & noteworthy especially for men with great style!

Tonight I was looking at the Robb Report’s The Best of the Best 2011 for advice on picking the best cigars. On occasions when the MR. is allll relaxed & enjoying a late evening out on the patio with friends, he loves to enjoy a really good cigar.

Shhhhh…..I want to surprise him to celebrate a recent accomplishment. Padron Family reserve No. 46 might be just perfect!  Hmmm, natural or Maduro?

Now, look at who else I found relaxing on the patio.

The incredibly talented outdoor furniture designer Richard Frinier and his Drift Collection. 

What a perfect combination.  I think the only thing missing from this fabulous setting is the MR. & Me, good friends, and the Padrons!

These beautiful sectional lounge chairs, matching ottomans, and cocktail tables also from Richard Frinier’s Drift Collection are produced from plantation-grown and weathered teak. 

I first wrote about Richard & his wife Catherine here.  Catherine Frinier is principal and managing partner of  FrinierAtelier and the Richard Frinier Collection.

Like I said, the best of the best!

Just one more new & noteworthy mention.

There is another MR. PORTER!

A fabulous website!

I loved reading The Report: High Flyers about ABC’s new show, Pan Am.

Grab your Samsonite & your Ray-Ban’s and before you go, enjoy Mr. Porter’s very swell video!

Exotic & Homegrown

I have the pleasure of tending to my neighbor's vegetable garden for a couple of weeks while they're off to some exotic destination. 

I asked them not to tell us where they were headed to. 

You see, it's just the two of them & adventure is their middle name.

  When they return we will plan a special evening, prepare a special meal in their honor...from their garden, open good wine, and sit on the edges of our seats.  Our kids will even want to join us.

Yes, they take those kinds of adventures.

 

 

Did you think I would go & pick vegetables without my camera?

 

   

Probably the most convincing reason to have a vegetable garden is a homegrown tomato.

  
  Some still green on the vine were too pretty not to pick.    

 All organic so a quick rinse at my garden sink and onto tea towels to dry made prep simple.

 The quintessential summer repast.

Slice thick slices of these red beauties, slather mayonnaise on a crunchy soft roll, & season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. 

Our friends are fabulous cooks so along with tomatoes there is fresh dill, basil, oregano, and chives.                  It's a quiet summer night at home in the Bluegrass & the air's incredibly still & heavy. 
   Meanwhile, you know who's waiting patiently on the front porch for a breeze & her after-dinner walk.   

Say goodnight Gracie.

"Goodnight Gracie."