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





Spicy Buffalo Popcorn

Fall is here and football season is in full swing.  Today we revisit one of our favorite recipe books, "Popcorn" by Patick Evans-Hylton for inspiration for a fall football-viewing party or tailgate snack.  Buffalo wings are a typical football food.  The Panther prefers not to be typical however.  The recipe for Spicy Buffalo Popcorn caught our eye and after reading the historical preface, we knew this was the snack to feature today.

"October 3, 1964, should be honored with a national holiday.  It was then that Frank and Teressa Bellisimo, owners of the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, enterprisingly fried up some chicken wings and tossed them in a bath of melted butter and hot sauce.  The rest is history."
-From "Popcorn" by Patrick Evans-Hylton

The following recipe cpatures the flavor and spirit of the invention from over four decades ago.  This flavorful snack is perfect for your next tailgate party, bringing to the game, or nibbling any time.

Spicy Buffalo Popcorn

4 quarts freshly popped corn
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup vinegar-based hot sauce, such as Tabasco
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder

- Preheat the oven to 300.  Line a baking sheet with foil or a silicone baking sheet and set aside.
- Put the popcorn in a large, clean paper bag or a washable muslin bag.  In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the butter, hot sauce, pepper, salt, sugar, and chili powder.  Drizzle the mixture over the popcorn, fold over the top of the bag, and shake until the popcorn is coated and moist.
- Spread the popcorn evenly over the baing sheet and bake until the popcorn is dry, 5 to 7 minutes.

Serve this tasty snack with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing.

Enjoy... and "Go Team!"

-The Panther





Daydreaming of Autumn...

As we turn the calendar page over to October today, our minds turn to all the lovely things that fall brings.  The cool crisp air, the stunning colors of leaves, walks in the woods, corn mazes, pumpkin patches and hay rides. 



Wishing you happy autumn daydreams.

-The Panther