At Home with Kim Vallee

DINING, FOOD + drinks | August 30, 2009

A Scone, a Cake and a Tart | Quick Links 2009.08.30

It seems that this weekend all my favorite food bloggers concentrated on desserts. Or maybe I noticed them more because I love desserts. Three particular recipes caught my eyes: + Jaden of Steamy Kitchen talked about the best Blueberry Scones with Lemon Curd she ever had. She renamed the curd Lemon Glaze. This recipe will create [...]

ENTERTAINING, PARTY ideas | July 19, 2009

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Yellow Celebrations | Quick Links 2009.07.19

Yellow is the hot color of summer 2009. Inviting this cheerful color to your party puts everyone in a festive mood. If you are planning to devise a yellow party theme, take a look at these: + serve lemon mint granita from the smittenkitchen.com + Big sunflowers make a bold statement. As you can see, they can [...]

ENTERTAINING, OUTDOOR entertaining | July 16, 2009

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Summer Menu Inspired by La Tartine Gourmande

I am huge fan of Bea from La Tartine Gourmande. She always inspired me to cook. Plus, looking at her pictures is always a delight. I wish to cook something tasty, healthy (meaning with vegetables) and fast to prepare tonight. I found what I will be making when I saw the appetizing Spaghetti with arugula and [...]

ENTERTAINING, OUTDOOR entertaining | July 12, 2009

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The Charm of Vintage Serveware for a Summer Party

Seeing this old Coca-Cola cooler last week at Finnegan’s market brought back childhood memories. My parents owned a lot on a small lake 45 minutes from my home. Every nice Sunday during the summer, my parents, friends and family members used to meet there. We crossed the lake by swimming, played games of horseshoe and [...]

ENTERTAINING, PARTY supplies | July 2, 2009

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Fabric Banner Bunting Flags for my Etsy Finds

Banner flags are a great way to add a festive touch. As I browsing Etsy, I could not resist and I bought two banners. Both patterns will look great on my terrace. I cannot wait to hang them over and host a party. If you are curious, here is a view at my latest purchase. These [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | June 25, 2009

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Summer Cocktails Made with Campari

Let’s revisit my favorite cocktails for summer besides the mojitos. I love Campari on a summer day. I often served Campari to my first friends because it is unexpected and simple to make. I typically go for tall drink recipes. You save time this way and the alcohol level is typically lower. A simple way to greet [...]

ENTERTAINING, OUTDOOR entertaining | June 25, 2009

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A Cool Trick to Make your Own Cucumber Water or to Serve a Summer Punch

I saw that trick yesterday at the Fairmont San Francisco. I had to share it with you. It looks great on the cucumber water and the lemon water as shown here. But it would be even better for sangria, punch and any other summery cocktails. The idea is that instead of putting the ice cubes directly [...]

ENTERTAINING, TABLESCAPE | June 24, 2009

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Tabletop and Party Favor Accessories by L’Atelier Modele

I am responding to my interior designer friend Jennifer Mitchell of Design Hole who spotlighted these French-made tabletop accessories having me in mind. She was looking for an excuse to throw a party. This concept was developed by L’Atelier Modele. Every product from Lajolitable series would add a festive touch to your table on any occasions [...]