{Glass Half Full}

I have always dreamed of having a home with a glass enclosed porch. These homes have taken it up a notch by creating glass kitchens and rooms that are absolutely breath taking.

What do you think?

*Images via cococozy.com

{Recipe of the Week: Tater Cakes}

Fall is a perfect time to eat any dish involving sweet potatoes. These sweet potato cakes with cilantro yogurt sauce look absolutely scrumptious.

Sweet Potato Cakes

Ingredients:

1 3/4 lbs peeled sweet potatoes, cut in large chunks
2 tsp. butter or coconut oil, plus more for cooking
1 leek, halved and thinly sliced
2 tsp. tamari or soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 tsp. salt
pinch of red pepper flakes
1/2 cup oat flour or unbleached all purpose flour
1 egg, well whisked

yogurt sauce
1/2 cup greek yogurt
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro or basil
2 Tbsp. finely chopped lemongrass*
pinch of salt and pepper


Directions:
Steam the potatoes until tender throughout. Set aside to cool.

While the potatoes cook, warm the butter or oil in a cast iron pan. Saute the leeks until softened, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool. 

Meanwhile, blend all of the yogurt sauce ingredients, besides the cilantro or basil, together in a mini blender or food processor. Lastly, add the herbs and give it one or two more whirls just to blend in the herbs. Set aside. 

When the potatoes have released most of their moisture (steam), transfer them to a bowl and mix them with the tamari/soy sauce, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes and flour to combine. You want the mix to be tacky not wet, add more flour if it seems too moist to hold shape. Add the leeks and egg and mix to combine. 

Add enough coconut oil, butter or a mix of the two (which i prefer), to your nonstick/cast iron pan to generously coat the bottom, and warm over medium high heat. Dont be shy. Make small, two tablespoons patties and drop them into the hot pan, pressing down to flatten. Cook until well browned on each side, about 7-8 minutes, adjusting heat as necessary if they start to burn. Remove to a paper toweled lined plate to absorb excess fat while you cook another batch. 

Serve with some lightly dressed greens and a generous portion of the sauce. These would be so wonderful with a poached egg on top or other protein of your choice.
*Images and recipe via sproutedkitchen.com

{In Need of an Accent Table?}

West Elm is having a fabulous sale on accent tables today.

 There are so many unique and modern pieces that would be the perfect addition to your home. Also, today I am loving their gray pieces. Below is a gray sitting area I put together along with my favorite accent tables from the sale!

Sale accent tables found here.

*Images via westelm.com

{DVF's Manhattan Penthouse}

Diane von Furstenberg's Manhattan penthouse is slightly amazing. I couldn't imagine a better place to work and live. It is incredibly chic and eclectic with well though out pieces throughout.

*Images via architecturaldigest.com

{Recipe of the Week: A Perfect Fall Soup}

Happy October!

I think I have found the perfect soup for Fall....

Squash Soup with Gruyere Croutons
Adapted from Bon Appétit, December 1996

Serves 8

Soup
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 large garlic cloves, chopped
3 14 1/2-ounce cans low-salt chicken broth
4 cups 1-inch pieces peeled butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)*
4 cups 1-inch pieces peeled acorn squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)*
1 1/4 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
1 1/4 teaspoons minced fresh sage
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 cup whipping cream

Croutons
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
24 1/4-inch-thick baguette bread slices
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage 

For soup: Melt butter in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add broth, all squash and herbs; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash is very tender, about 20 minutes.

Working in batches, puree soup in blender. Return soup to same pot. Stir in cream and bring to simmer. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill. Rewarm over medium heat before serving.)

For croutons: Preheat broiler. Butter 1 side of each bread slice. Arrange bread, buttered side up, on baking sheet. Broil until golden, about 1 minute. Turn over. Sprinkle cheese, then thyme and sage over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until cheese melts, about 1 minute. Ladle soup into bowls. Top each with croutons and serve.

* If you are not confident in your knife skills or lack a very very sharp one, I’d suggest roasting the squash, halved and seeded, on a baking sheet coated lightly with oil at 425 until soft, scooping it into the pot, and cooking it the rest of the way there. Peeling, seeding and chopping raw squash is not the easiest endeavor. Alternatively, you could buy butternut squash already peeled and chopped in many stores.

*Image and recipe via smittenkitchen.com

{That is so Pinteresting...}

I took a slight hiatus from Pinterest but I am back and lovin' it. 

Here are my top five pinspirations from this week.

Reoccurring theme: fierce & glamorous women.

*Images via pinterest.com

{A Buckhead Beauty}

Designer Betty Burgess did a phenomenal job fusing together different styles in this Buckhead home. This tudor-style home is eclectic and classic with a mixture of modern pieces to keep the design fresh.

*Images via atlantahomesmag.com

{Dripping in Gold}

Gold is incredibly luxurious and the perfect detail to a simple white tea set. When I set my eyes on these cups, saucers, and milk jug I fell in love.

 Gold and white are the perfect compliment to each other.

Tea set found here. 

Outfit: Modern Flow top, Cavalli Skirt, YSL Wedge

 

*Images via polyvore.com and reikokaneko.co.uk

{Mind Blowing}

Berndnaut Smilde is a genius. His last project was a magic act. Smilde toys with the atmosphere in the room, adjusting the temperature and humidity, until it is just right. He then sprays a short burst from a fog machine to form a beautiful and ethereal cotton-like cloud in the middle of the room, and then just as fast as you can take the picture the form instantly vanishes.

What do you think?

*Images via becauseimaddicted.net

{Fashion Week Accessories}

Fashion week was full of chic accessories of every shade, but my favorite color scheme by far was the gorgeous blue and green hues.

*Images via Elle.com