Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Cheers!
-The Panther

Have a Gilded New Year's Eve

The panther is always ready to throw the perfect party and New Year's Eve is one of the best party occasions of the year.  This year the panther is ringing in 2012 with all things gilded!

Appetizers will look lovely when presented on an ornate gold tray.

Metallic gold pillar candles on silver glass candlestands are elegant

This centerpiece is festive with it's gold blooms

Gold leaf chargers with clock-themed plates is the perfect table setting

for a New Year's Eve soiree!

Gold mylar star-shaped balloons adorning the ceiling are festive

and create a lovely warm glow

Toast the new year with gorgeous gold-stemmed flutes

The panther wishes that 2011 was a great year for all of you, and that 2012 will be even better!

Cheers!

-The Panther

Friday Favorites: Fall Cupcakes

We know that our readers are big cupcake fans, so today we thought we'd inspire you with some inspiration for decorating fall cupcakes.
Enjoy these fun, and delicious-looking designs.

Fun symbols of fall

How simple and adorable is this turkey cupcake!

Made with a donut hole head and candy corn beak and feathers.

Pumpkins and sunflowers

Aren't these delicately gorgeous!

sugar-coated pumpkin cupcakes

These cupcakes decorated like pies are soooo cute!

Pilgrim hat cupcakes are a perfect Thanksgiving treat.

Share photos of your fall cupcakes with the Panther.



Autumn Centerpieces

November is here and the season for entertaining has arrived as well.  Here are some fabulous fall centerpiece ideas, for not just Thanksgiving, but the entire season.

Autumn leaves:  You don't have to look too hard to find beautiful colorful leaves this time of year.  Collect some lovely leaves of different varieties and colors.  Fill a tall, clear glass cylinder vase with the leaves and scatter some more on the table surrounding the vase.  This centerpiece is simple, cheap, and gorgeous.

Acorns:  Similar to our autumn leaf centerpiece, collect acorns and fill clear glass candle holders and hurricanes of various sizes and shapes with the acorns.  Nestle ivory pillar candles into the acorns.  Another simple, inexpensive, and beautiful idea.

Cornucopia:  Cornucopias are often the symbol of the harvest season, but they make beautiful centerpieces.  Fill a horn or basket with fruits and vegetables from the season. Choose a variety of colors and textures and be sure to let the produce spill out.

Wheat:  Wonderful wheat bundles can be purchased at flower markets or home decor stores, but why not make your own.  Simply gather several wheat stems and place in a small glass. Surround the wheat bouquets with votives.

Flowers:  Flowers are always lovely but think of new and different ways to display bouquets instead of just in a vase.  We found this arrangement on marthastewart.com.  Martha took a white pumpkin and filled it with a stunning bouquet of flowers in all shades of orange.  Smaller pumpkins and amber glass votives surround the large arrangement.

When putting together a centepiece for the fall season consider color:  oranges, muted greens, golds, ambers, rusts, browns, and reds all look beautiful together and reflect the colors of the season.

Use pieces of nature that are relative to the season:  nuts, cranberries, gourds, branches, pinecones, corn stalks, etc.

-The Panther

Soy Curls

The panther is so excited about a fairly new food product on the market... Soy Curls!  What is a soy curl?  Well, it is a food product made from dehydrated strips of soy protein.  No fats or flour are added, the product is pure soy bean.  It is 100% vegan, gluten-free, organic, and packed with protein!  This miracle product is produced right here in Oregon!

Now I'm sure many of you are hesitant about a soy product.  Soy curls are not like tempeh or tofu.  You must try these and your mind will be changed about vegan cuisine.  The panther first tried soy curls at one of her favorite restaurants, The Sweet Herafter.  They make an amazing Buffalo Sub sandwich using soy curls swimming in buffalo sauce instead of chicken.  It is absolutely amazing.  At any given time at the Sweet Hereafter you will see dozens of people consuming this amazing sandwich, and you know there aren't THAT many vegan's out there.  It is simply a delicious food that appeals to everyone.

The Sweet Herafter's delious soy curl Buffalo sub

Soy curls are come in a plastic package, or can be bought in bulk.  I prefer to buy them in bulk.  They are available at Whole Foods and New Seasons markets as well as a number of other local grocery stores.  Check the Butler Foods website to see where else they are sold in your city and state.
http://www.butlerfoods.com/

To prepare soy curls, simply soak them in warm water for 10-15 minutes to hydrate them.  You can use broth, or season the water to whatever flavor you wish the soy curls to absorb.  Drain the soy curls well then cook in a pan until they are lightly browned.  Use these in anything you might use chicken in:  stir fry, fajitas, tacos, buffalo subs, asian salads, etc.

A delicious-looking soy curl stir fry

Give soy curls a try.  Not only are they amazingly delicious, they are extremely nutritious.

-The Panther



Friday Favorites: Aspen Cider Spices

The Panther would like to share with you one of her favorite products that she is especially excited about for this time of year.  Aspen Cider Spices are a must for the fall season. 

Created back in 1970, a home recipe for spiced apple cider was served to customers at a gift shop in Aspen, Colorado.  Word spread about the delicious cider given out at this little store and people started visiting just for the cider.  The owners decided to package and market their fabulous recipe.

Today, Aspen Cider Spices are packaged in darling little 5.65 oz cartons.  One carton of this amazing spice blend can be added to one gallon of either cider, wine, tea, or brandy for a delicious fall and winter drink.  It is designed to dissolve completely so it can be used in either hot or cold beverages.  I love to add it to a gallon of apple cider and let it warm slowly in the crock pot.  It fragrances the entire house with it's warm, invited aroma.  When guests arrive at the house their mouth's are already watering for a hot cup of the delicious cider. 

Think beyond just cider, wine, tea, or brandy.  Use your imagination and add this spice blend to any number of beverages.  You can even add it to your baking!

This product makes a lovely hostess gift as well.  Tie up a carton in celophane and a ribbon and it is a gift ready to give.  Also great as a stocking stuffer.

Aspen Cider Spices

http://www.aspenspices.com/

Visit their website to order some in, or to find out where it is sold in your area.

Enjoy!

-The Panther





Friday Favorites: Rain Gear

October has arrived and that means the rainy season has returned.  Here in Portland we will have rain for at least the next seven months but we are prepared with our favorite pieces of rain gear.  Just because the skies are grey and rain is pouring down, doesn't mean you cannot look chic.

People in Portland really do not carry umbrellas, but if we did, I'd probably sport one of these!

This Burberry Umbrella has a black exterior and the classic

Burberry plaid interior.

I love the graphic rose design on this cute umbrella by Chanel.

Rain hats are a nice alternative to umbrellas.  Don't worry, we're not talking your grandma's plastic bonnet.  Today's rain hats are quite stylish.

This patent rain hat by Eric Javits is darling and flattering to everyone.

You can't go wrong with this fedora style rain hat by Kate Spade.

Those are some options to keep your head dry, but don't forget your feet.  Walking through puddles is not fun in suede pumps.  You need some cute galoshes that you can stomp through puddles, care-free.

These A-DOR-A-BLE galoshes are by Valentino.

If you don't have the Valentino budget, these cute houndstooth galoshes

are a very inexpensive alternative from Target.  I actually own these and love them!

So we've covered all of the accessories, but you still need a rain coat to cover you while dodging the raindrops.

You cannot get more classic than this rain trench by Michel Kors.

This coat will go with anything.

Here is another classically styled rain coat by Michael Kors

but this time in a fun, cheerful orange.

For a hipper, more urban look I am loving this PVC raincoat by DKNY.

How great would this look with jeans and those fabulous Valentino galoshes!

Stay warm, stay dry and stay stylish!

-The Panther









Hostess Gifts for Fall

The season of entertaining is upon us.  As you accept invitations to dinners, visits, and cocktail parties this season, remember your hostess.  It is always a nice gesture to present your hostess with a small gift of your appreciation.  Here are a few ideas of hostess gifts appropriate for fall.

Entertaining journal:  This is a great little gift, especially to receive at the beginning of this busy entertaining season.  This is perfect for your hostess to record her party tips and tricks, guest lists, seating charts, and menus as well as notes on the party.

Service Pieces:  For someone that entertains often, they can never have enough service pieces.  Something small but useful like this slate cheese board, or grape motif spreaders are always appreciated gifts.

Cocktail Napkins:  These are another always-useful little gifts.  Pick out some cocktail napkins in fall colors or motif and tie a raffia ribbon around them.

Cook books:  Bring your hostess a little recipe book that is appropriate for the season.  We found these little books featuring casseroles, and another featuring apples and pears.  Your hostess will love perusing the pages collecting recipes and ideas for her next party.

Candles:  Candles are always one of my favorite gifts to both give and receive.  Find a nice fall, homey-scented candle.  Pumpkin Spice by Root candles is lovely this time of year.  Pair this with some decorative matches.

Enjoy the season!
-The Panther







Stunning Sauvie Island

Just ten miles northwest of downtown Portland is a magical little oasis called Sauvie Island.  This beautiful island is located where the mighty Columbia River and Willamette River meet.  Just outside of the city, Sauvie Island is a wildlife area, agricultural community and recreational destination.

Sauvie Island is lovely in spring.  It is the perfect time to ride bicycles around the island and enjoy the spring blossoms on all of the fruit trees.

Summer on the island is wonderful.  It is the perfect time to catch some sun on one of the beautiful beaches or the visit one of the many u-pick berry farms.

The Island really comes alive in autumn.  The color is stunning as the leaves change for the season.  One place you must visit in autumn is Kruger's Farm Market.

Kruger's is a fantastic farm that grows berries, flowers, corn, and pumpkins.  They have a great produce market in a barn. 

Make a day of visiting Kruger's.  Start the afternoon by taking a free hayride around the pumpkin patch.  Maybe you can scope out your pumpkin from the hay truck.  Enjoy the crisp air around you and look for wildlife. 

Upon returning hit the pumpkin patch a pick out that perfect pumpkin for your jack-o-lantern, or your pumpkin pie.  There are hundreds to choose from and you are sure to find one perfect for your needs.  Remember, you have to lug it back to the barn.

After returning to the barn, warm up with some freshly roasted corn on a stick, smothered with melted butter.  Then shop the produce market.  Stock up on corn, apples, and other lovely freshly grown produce.  If you go early enough in the fall season there may still be dahlias you can go cut yourself for a beautiful fall bouquet.

After shopping, picking flowers, and loading your pumpkins into the car, stroll around the property and check out the immense 100-year-old oak tree.

After all of that activity you'll probably be ready for another snack.  This time return to the barn and try out one of their fresh candy-corn caramel apples.  YUM!

As dusk falls check out the corn maze.  Acres of corn have a spooky and fun maze to run through, but don't get lost!

Can you think of a better way to spend an autumn day!

Kruger's farm also offers private farm to table dinners.  Find out more on their website.

Kruger's Farm Market

17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd.

www.krugersfarmmarket.com

-The Panther