As you all know, I always enjoy entertaining at home.
Yesterday, the weather was slightly overcast, but very mild and pleasant - perfect for a business breakfast I hosted at my Bedford, New York farm. My friend, Chef Pierre Schaedelin from PS Tailored Events, and I, planned a wonderful menu for eight - smoked salmon eggs Benedict with homemade English muffins and freshly squeezed orange juice. It was a delicious meal and a very productive meeting.
Enjoy these photos.
In my Winter House Brown Room, everything is ready for breakfast. I decorated the table with an autumnal theme – pumpkins and gourds in all different sizes, linen placemats and napkins in shades of brown, and my Drabware plates.
I love using this room for both big and small gatherings. The table can seat up to 18-guests. For breakfast, we were only eight, but just right for a good discussion.
All the preparations for the breakfast were done in my Flower Room, or outside kitchen. Chef Pierre and I wanted to make homemade English muffins. I had made them up in Maine over the summer and they were so easy to make and so delicious. The ingredients include warm water, sugar, instant dry yeast, melted butter, flour, salt, and cornmeal. Here, the ingredients are combined, kneaded for five minutes, and then the dough is left to rise for about one hour.
Meanwhile, Chef Pierre makes the Hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise sauce, formerly also called Dutch sauce, is an emulsion of egg yolk, melted butter, and lemon juice. It is usually seasoned with salt, and either white pepper or cayenne pepper. It is well known as a key ingredient of eggs Benedict.
After the dough has doubled in size, Chef Pierre kneads it a bit more and then experiments with the size of the finished muffins.
Chef Pierre makes each one between 39 and 40 grams – the perfect size for holding the poached eggs.
Each piece is shaped into a ball, placed on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan, and then sprinkled with cornmeal.
Chef Pierre then presses them gently into flattish rounds. They’re covered again and left to rise for another 20 minutes.
They’re baked slightly in the oven and then finished in a frying pan over low heat until puffed and golden in color.
The eggs, fresh from my wonderful hens, are cracked and dropped into individual bowls ready for poaching.
Sous Chef Moises prepares them by the stovetop. A poached egg is an egg that has been cooked, outside the shell, by poaching, as opposed to simmering or boiling.
Chef Pierre tips each bowl, dropping the eggs one at a time. See the short video below for this process. Egg whites are mostly protein and protein starts to set or coagulate as soon it meets heat, so the egg whites set within seconds. Yolks cook slower and even more slowly when they are surrounded by the whites.
Chef Pierre lets them simmer for two minutes until the eggs are set but still soft. Then he carefully removes the poached egg with a slotted spoon and drops them in room temperature water so they stay warm, but stop cooking.
The spinach is cooked in a large pan with olive oil, salt, and pepper until just slightly wilted.
Moises squeezes oranges for refreshing juice. I love this Hamilton Beach Commercial Citrus Juicer. It makes juicing a lot of oranges so easy – I’ve been using these for years.
Once the English muffins are done, they’re cut in halves, placed on a cooling rack and brought into my Winter House kitchen.
The smoked salmon, spinach, and poached eggs are plated on my beautiful Drabware dishes.
And then Chef Pierre tops the eggs with a spoonful of Hollandaise sauce – one generous spoonful over each poached egg.
Moises adds a sprig of parsley on top, and the dish is ready to serve.
Here is a plate on its way to the dining room – smoked salmon eggs Benedict. It was such a delicious meal, which made for a very informative and successful meeting. Thank you Chefs Pierre and Moises. Tomorrow, I’ll share photos from the lunch I served later in the day for another business gathering at my home.
And here's a short video of Chef Pierre and Sous Chef Moises poaching the eggs.
Whenever I entertain, I always fill my home with beautiful houseplants.
Houseplants bring life to any room. I love all kinds of container plants, and over the years I have amassed quite a collection of specimens. Most of my potted plants are kept in the greenhouse, where they can be maintained properly. This week, I am hosting two very important business meetings, so I decided to decorate several rooms in my Winter House with a wide assortment of potted plants that provide interesting and expressive foliage.
Enjoy these photos.
Not only do houseplants enhance the overall appearance of a space, but they’ve also been known to increase creativity, reduce stress, and eliminate air pollutants. For my meetings, my gardeners, Ryan and Brian, brought in a variety of ferns, begonias, Peperomia, rhipsalis, alocasia, dracaena, haworthia, and this sedum – all so lush and green.
This fern is an interesting looking fern with large fronds and a pleasant green-blue color. Its ability to tolerate lower-light conditions and relatively easy care make it a great choice for any fern lover.
I have lots of ferns here at the farm – in my gardens and in pots. A fern is a member of a group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers, but instead, very interesting fronds.
Peperomia caperata ‘Ripple Red’ has iridescent purple-red leaves with very distinct ripples. The small heart-shaped leaves grow into an attractive mounding habit. Peperomia are great succulent lower light houseplants.
Here is a green Peperomia. It also has heart-shaped, puckered, deeply veined leaves. The leaves can come in various shades of green, dark red, and gray.
Guests always admire my Chinese money plants, Pilea peperomioides. The Pilea peperomioides has attractive coin-shaped foliage. This perennial is native to southern China, growing naturally along the base of the Himalayan mountains. It is also known as coin plant, pancake plant, and UFO plant.
Here’s another fern in front of a window in my Green Parlor. This Crocodile Fern, sometimes known as an alligator fern, a crocodyllus fern, or a crocodile plant, is native to Southeast Asia and Australia where it is found growing epiphytically on trees in warm, brightly lit and humid jungles.
It derives its name from the flat tessellated fronds that resemble the patterning on crocodiles.
Ryan and Brian brought in several begonias. Begonia is a genus in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains at least 1500 different plant species and numerous hybrids. They are native to Mexico, Central and South America, Asia and South Africa – regions with tropical and subtropical climates. There are different types of begonias, including tuberous begonias, semperflorens begonias, rex begonias, and rhizomatous begonias. Rhizomatous begonias are grown for their interesting and spectacular leaves. They come in an array of sizes, colors and textures, and can be small or large, smooth or veiny, decorated in bold accents of red, copper and silver or subtle shades of green.
Because these plants store water in the rhizomes, which are their thick, fuzzy stems, it is important not to overwater them. Only water these plants when the top one-inch of soil feels dry.
Here is another begonia with dark green leaves and chartreuse colored veins. Begonias grow best in light, well-drained soil. Begonias are remarkably resistant to pests primarily because their leaves are rich in oxalic acid – a natural insect repellent.
This is a potted rhipsalis, native to the rainforests of South America, the Caribbean and Central America. Rhipsalis is a cacti genus with approximately 35 distinct species. I have many types of rhipsalis growing in my greenhouse. Rhipsalis specimens have long, trailing stems making them perfect choices as indoor plants on pedestals or tall tables.
Here’s a closer look. Also known as chain cactus or mistletoe cactus, the thread-like succulent stems are narrow, green and can grow several feet long.
Ledebouria Socialis plants are geophytic succulents from the subfamily Hyacinthaceae. It is also known as Silver Squill, Violet Squill, Wood Hyacinth, and Scilla. It is a popular bulb succulent that makes an excellent houseplant with its thin leaves and green and silver leopard print pattern.
Dracaena’s narrow foliage may be completely green or may include stripes or edges of green, cream, red, or yellow.
Graptopetalum paraguayense is a species of succulent plant in the jade plant family, Crassulaceae, that is native to Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is also called ghost plant because of the powdery coating that envelopes the leaves, also known as pruinose. This covering gives the leaves a pale or “ghostly” appearance.
Echeverias are some of the most attractive of all succulents and they are highly valued by plant enthusiasts for their gorgeous colors and beautiful shapes. The leaves are also fleshy and have a waxy cuticle on the exterior. The echeveria plant is slow growing and usually doesn’t exceed 12 inches in height or spread.
Succulents grow in so many different and interesting formations and colors. Succulents are best planted in clay or terra cotta pots with proper drainage holes because the vessels dry quickly, and prevent water from building up.
In this plant stand on my enclosed porch, Ryan placed an alocasia and four smaller potted ferns.
Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved, rhizomatous, or tuberous perennial flowering plants from the family Araceae. There are more than 95 accepted species native to tropical and subtropical Asia and Eastern Australia. Alocasias have large, arrowhead-shaped leaves with flat or wavy edges on slender stems.
This is a frond of the lemon button fern – a dependable plant that grows well indoors with little care. Button ferns are small compared to other fern varieties – they only grow 12 to 18 inches tall, making them ideal candidates for small spaces. It has arching fronds densely covered with small, round leaflets that grow more oval in shape as it matures.
Haworthia is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa. Like the aloes, they are members of the subfamily Asphodeloideae and they generally resemble miniature aloes, except in their flowers, which are distinctive in appearance. Hawthorias thrive in bright indirect to direct light.
The plant is characterized by its rosette-shaped, tightly packed leafy clusters. Some are firm, tough, and dark green, whereas other species are softer and even translucent. Those of the firm, dark green variety are typically dotted with white spots and can turn a rich hue of purple-red when exposed to full sun.
And here is a gorgeous potted orchid sitting on the servery counter in between my kitchen and sitting room. This orchid is Laeliocattleya C.G. Roebling var. coerulea ‘Beachview’ – a beautiful hybrid between Cattleya gaskelliana and Laeilia purpurata. The large light blue-white flowers have a pleasant fragrance and an indigo blue tubular colored lip. The next time you are entertaining, consider using houseplants as decorations – they are sure to liven up any room. In my next blogs, I’ll talk about the delicious foods I served at these business gatherings – stay tuned.
Developing a new garden takes lots of planning, time, and patience.
Last spring, I decided to design a new garden along one side of the carriage road between my Summer House and my stable. I wanted to add colorful azaleas - a variety of unique specimens in shades of pink, orange, crimson and white. I already have many azaleas growing and flourishing in this area, but I wanted to expand the collection. First, we planted about 170 azaleas on one side to the carriage road, and then another 200 on the other side. This week, I added a collection of azaleas to the long daffodil border located on one side of my farm. Of all the shrubs that flower in spring, azaleas provide some of the most brilliant displays. I am so excited - this garden will look so beautiful.
Enjoy these photos and planting tips.
Over the weekend, I went to pick up 46 azaleas from the wholesale Summer Hill Nursery in Madison, Connecticut. Summer Hill specializes in broadleaf evergreens, especially rhododendrons and azaleas, flowering shrubs and trees, Japanese maples, and many rare and unusual varieties of native plants. Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the Ericaceae family, which includes blueberries and mountain laurel. They are also all rhododendrons and members of the genus Rhododendron.
Leaves of most azaleas are solid green, with a roughly long football-shape. The length of azalea leaves ranges from as little as a quarter-inch to more than six inches. Here, one can also see the new buds – these plants are all so healthy.
I also labeled markers for all the different azalea varieties. I used a Brother P-Touch to type the names – I think this will last longer than handwriting with a marker. Ryan places the appropriate markers into the pots, so it can be placed as soon as the azalea is planted.
The first step is to choose the locations for planting. Here, Ryan strategically places each specimen – keeping like colors together. When selecting a location for planting, be sure you know the mature size of the plants so they can be grouped accordingly in the landscape – tall plants in the background and short plants in the foreground. Plant height ranges from about three to six feet for most varieties, but rare plants can range from under one foot to well over 15-feet tall. It’s also important to keep azaleas where they can be protected from midday and winter sun to prevent leaves from drying out and burning.
Domi starts by digging the hole at least twice the size of the plant. Azaleas thrive in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter.
The hole sides should be slanted and the hole should be no deeper than the root ball is tall, so it can be placed directly on undisturbed soil. Digging a wide planting hole helps to provide the best opportunity for roots to expand into its new growing environment.
Next, a generous handful of good fertilizer is sprinkled in the hole and in the surrounding soil.
For all of these plants, we’re using Roots fertilizer. Roots Healthy Start Advanced 3-4-3 is formulated especially for garden and flower beds, bulbs, potted plants, top dressing, and established and newly planted trees and shrubs. It includes beneficial rhizoshpere bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi to boost biological soil fertility.
Roots is made up of insoluble granular fertilizer that releases nutrients as it biodegrades. It is so important to feed the plants!
Next, Phurba uses a hori hori to scarify the roots of this specimen. A hori hori is a Japanese-inspired tool with a double-edged, rust-resistant blade that’s serrated on one side and sharpened on the other. It is great for cutting through tough roots. Scarifying stimulates root growth. Essentially, Phurba breaks up small portions of the root ball to loosen the roots a bit and create some beneficial injuries. This helps the plant become established more quickly in its new spot.
Next, the plant is placed into the hole and then checked to be sure it is at the right depth.
Phurba turns the azalea so its best side faces out. Always buy plants that are sturdy, well-branched, and free of insect damage or diseases. And, avoid plants with weak, spindling growth and poor root systems.
Next, Phurba backfills the hole.
He also makes sure the plant is straight before tamping down lightly to establish good contact between the soil and the plant root ball.
Phurba goes over the area with a soft rake, so the soil is neat and tidy around the plant – it has a lot of room to grow and spread. Some azaleas, including native types, can reach towering heights of 20 feet or more. Dwarf azaleas grow two to three feet tall, and many garden azaleas stay four to six feet in height with as wide a spread.
Phurba stops for a quick photo. This day was rainy and more rain was expected through the night, so all the newly planted azaleas got a good drink.
Finally, the marker was carefully placed at the base of the plant, facing out, so it can be seen clearly. And be sure to note the varieties planted. It is always a good idea to keep track of those varieties that do well in the garden.
Here is one all planted and marked. Azaleas have short root systems, so they can easily be transplanted in early spring or early fall.
Azaleas thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade. They also benefit greatly from a few inches of acidic mulch applied around the base to protect the roots and help conserve moisture.
I am so proud of this developing garden – I can’t wait until next spring when they’re all in bloom. The beautiful and colorful displays are sure to get better every year.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
