Tracy Porter Blog… be inspired!

I love a quick succulent shrimp salad. Ok, well I dig any salad but the minute you add mayonnaise to it…I am all in. I am one of those people that can eat a spoonful of mayonnaise…..( I know cringe, it’s ok, I am a spoon licker extraordinaire, and happy to tell.) This shrimp salad is snappy quick, tasty as all get out….and you had better make more than you need, because you will want it on toast for every snack…and maybe even breakfast as well!!

Now….there are two ways to do this thing. You can buy frozen shrimp and thaw them, and this is super fast and fair play. ( I will admit they lack the snap sometimes, but I will do it this way when I am in the need for a super snappy quick option) or…..you can buy your shrimp fresh and raw, and boil them in salted water for about 3 minutes, or until they are more opaque…test them so they don’t get overcooked and rubbery. ( which is almost worse than the lack of snap). Be sure to peel , dry & them and devein them. I will leave that up to you, they will both work…some of you are more purist….some have to get it done now, both are great in my book!

(Click here for Tracy Porter’s printable recipe!)
Onward!….
3 LBS. Shrimp ( read my notes above, feel good either way)
1 1/4 C. Mayonnaise ( I prefer organic or safflower, both taste more homemade)
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 1/2 TBS. Tarragon Vinegar
Freshly cracked pepper and kosher or sea salt to taste
1 1/2 C. Celery finely chopped( aprox. 3-4 ribs)
1/2 C. Chopped Scallions ( 1 bunch, green onions)
1/2 lemon
1 handful chopped parsley

Make your choice on the shrimp banter from above. Again, no guilt…..then….make your dressing. Whisk Mayo, Dijon, vinegar, scallions & celery & parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Add shrimp and mix well…..taste to be sure you have done a sufficient job on the pepper and salt…I feel this sort of salad needs more, but I know there are many people that are anti salt these days. So go heavier on the pepper….! A nice squeeze of lemon over the salad is perfection. This really is flawless cold on a nice toast…or sourdough….whatever you have on hand. Sick as it sounds I prefer mine buttered first. ( always a Wisconsin girl at heart.)

Cheers and Delightful Noshings!!
Xxx
T.
Tracy Porter

P.S. For those of you that love a dash of spice…this is fabulous with cayenne or hot sauce…Tabasco etc. xxx

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Labels: eating & gathering, more Tracy Porter

Labels: ideas, more Tracy Porter, soulful nesting & decorating

Years ago, my parents gave this lovely French beauty to us. She is a treasure indeed and has been quite adept at reinventing herself over the years….. ( my kind of girl) .This time she comes back as a library, be still my heart….any piece of furniture that can play host to books will always have a spot in our home. ( that or a charming bar!)
As you know books are like gold to me….can never find enough spots for them…seems I am always wanting to build or find another nook, or bookshelf…I find surrounding
myself with books is just so inspiring…always something to look at , to read, to ponder….they are my favorite of all. So when we moved, we put our gorgeous French flower in our bedroom. I had never thought of her as a bedroom piece….but with no existing bookshelves in the bedroom….this was just meant to be. The drawers now house scarves, and jewelry…..and the books have found their way onto the shelves and the top. I even found some goods to beautifully co-exist alongside the books…as you know…books love company.

These goods were tucked into miscellaneous boxes…the butterflies used to be in the boys room, but they have sadly decided these are too “girly” for their current room. They have chosen to go in new directions….Sig and Max are going “Asian”….with a little alter of goods from my travels….Gus and Fin are going “hunt” snatching away some of my antlers….and other rustic treasures!

Shop Now!

Labels: more Tracy Porter, soulful nesting & decorating

I think I told you that my first trip to a local amazing nursery got me so excited that I left empty handed. ( and as John would tell you..this is a rare thing for me)garden centers are my candy store..I get a little hot and sweaty..heart pounding goodness! So I have since made a few other attempts…you see…I am all-a-dither as there are so many new and exciting things to plant here. Well, one Saturday morning as I was heading out the door to check out another place, Fin decided to hang out with me. (he can be a really good shopping buddy). We found bougainvillea( my new weakness could you be any more tired of me saying this get used to it sisters!!)plus a whole lot more!!…and as we walked about Fin asked me if there was any chance he could buy an orange tree to have all to himself. You read that right…not another football, not a hockey stick, not more legos..an ORANGE TREE!!! Indeed I was all smiles…so quick as a whip, I said"by God child you get over there and pick out the happiest tree you can find"!…and sure enough.he did…he counted the oranges on every tree until he found a perfect little Valencia seedless gem…11 oranges and a few orange blossoms. You have never seen a boy with a bigger smile! All the way home ..he would say I have my own orange tree, and no one is going to eat my oranges! He has made it clear to all of us that should we dare pick one of those glowing sweet beauties, we will kindly hand him 10 bucks! (dare I call him a budding entrepreneur)

Just had to share!…

Cheers to you!!

xxx,

T.

Tracy Porter

Labels: more Tracy Porter, nature's inspirations

Click through our New Online September Catalog!!… Gloriousness + Inspiration for you ..(tempting new pricing for all)!!
Happy Shopping.. Hope we've left you delighted + breathless)!!

Kisses to you!!

xxx,
T.
Tracy Porter

P.S. We still have some favorites in our Sale Section.. use coupon: flying60 for an EXTRA 60% off these beauties today!!

Labels: more Tracy Porter, smashing fashion & beauty

Yes, I still have spots like this one. I will call them the “dust gatherers”….NAY……”Untamed Inspiration Mini Mountains”. It’s ok, I really am fine with it….I am finding “peace” with it. I kind of feel that once the kids are back in school and my schedule gets snapped back into place I will “ get to” some of these. I open the doors of our armoires and they still have baskets full of goodness awaiting their spot. Sort of like finding Easter eggs…..they just keep on showing up here and there. Oh, look another “little pile” to get to….oh, and more laundry……I like the lamps/baskets full of ancient artifacts and dustiness much more than the laundry piles of dirty socks and such…..but…alas…I WILL get to both!!

Hope you are enjoying the last weeks of summer BLISS!!!!
xxx,
T.
Tracy Porter

Labels: more Tracy Porter, soulful nesting & decorating

Everyone loves a gorgeous salad… well, I know I sure do. One of my favorites is the classic, old-fashioned, all-American chopped salad…. So easy to make and a total crowd-pleaser. So cool… and… you can make it whatever you want it to be… pull together a colorful medley of your favorite crunchy vegetables… and you’ll have yourself a healthy, snappy salad that everyone will delight in eating. The key, you see, to a tasty chopped salad…. Is the crisp bed of romaine… it holds its spectacular texture once you load it up with all the lovely layers. Great for summer picnics… divine for casual evening dinners (al fresco on a humid eve)… you’ll wonder why you don’t just throw one of these salads together each week!

(Click here for Tracy Porter’s printable recipe!)

Here’s my signature spin on the classic chopped salad:

1 can garbanzo beans, drained & rinsed

½ red onion

1 red pepper, seeded

1 yellow pepper, seeded

1 English cucumber, peeled and seeded

1 can heart of palm, drained

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 head romaine lettuce

1 bunch cilantro

Start by giving your romaine a rough-chop. I prefer a mix of textures in my chopped salad… so I tend to vary the size of the chopping and dicing of the lovely veggies that get thrown into this delicious salad. Why not try a medium dice on one pepper; a fine dice on the other. Perhaps cucumbers bite-size; onions more fine…. Just chop to suit YOUR preference. There are no rules!!! What fun indeed!!

Honey vinaigrette dressing

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons honey

1 large shallot

Combine all ingredients except shallot, in a blender or cuisinart and whirl together for about one minute. Taste and add to it as needed, depending on your love of acidity. Add Shallot and whirl about 15 seconds more… or until shallot is nicely chopped. Pour dressing over chopped salad, serve and enjoy.

Need more ideas to make this classic salad more signature for you… try some more of my favorites:

Tracy Porter’s favorite salad ingredients:

· Asparagus

· French beans

· Grape tomatoes

· Almonds – slivered and toasted

· Avocado

· Crumbled hard-boiled egg

· Watercress – great as an added topping

· Chicken breast – roasted and shredded

· Crumbled bleu cheese

· Carrots – shredded or finely chopped

Labels: eating & gathering, more Tracy Porter

Well,…I have held off on my surprise for long enough! You have guessed and guessed….and really have had me in stitches over some of the thoughts!! I adore you for all of them!Indeed we are opening an enchanting store in Santa Barbara, California! Our location is truly superb, I am out of my mind excited!! When you visit..and I do hope you will….you’ll find us at 1100 State Street, on the corner of Figueroa and State. We are part of the lovely La Aracada http://www.laarcadasantabarbara.com/ historical buildings which were created in 1926…all vine covered and charm filled… truly the jewel of State Street. My sister Robyn and her husband George will be moving here to run the store…..you will love them both! ( I know some of you already do!) We will be opening in early October….I will be there for signings and gatherings….I cannot wait to meet you….for lots of hugs and kisses and chitter-chatter!!!! I’ll keep you posted as we get closer!!

…..I just couldn’t help myself……….see you soon!!……I do hope!
xxx,
T.
Tracy Porter

Happy Shopping!

Labels: behind the scenes, more Tracy Porter, travel

I’ll tell you what, I will not ever tire of gardens…shocking!!!….( any shape , size, texture……you have me at hello….. I am green..pretty and I smell good) They make me wild top to bottom. I can get entirely lost in them, even more so if it is the early eve and I am wandering about with a sip of wine. I find walking through the garden with a camera to be about as inspiring and therapeutic as anything! So I do….and often. I will randomly give you guys peeks at this and that…whatever, as you know….. I think is inspiring in some way…I know you are the types that love a bit of dirt under your nails as I do…so…..here are a few recent snaps….

This area is quite hilly, so lots of vines and mixes of flowers all tangled and mangled…..jungle-y like…I love it as I have always been more a wildflower Gardner….things growing this way and that….I love my symmetry too, it all balances out, but rambling colors flowing into one another is really quite poetic…..and guilt free.

One of the scavengers. Fin is out head lizard hunter, he is for sure the king of the capture….he has it mastered. It took him weeks to figure out the proper pounce…but he moves like a cat and gets one nearly every time. He is quick to let them go, just wants to show us….look the little bugger over…then set it free…..it really is all about the chase!

The mix of foliage is extraordinary…( you may tire of me babbling on about this……)..I actually had no idea you could even grow hydrangeas here ( you know how it is when you live somewhere it becomes your own little bubble, mine was zone 4/5) but they are gorgeous here, the palm trees fascinate me….the citrus options make me wild. I have never been a huge rose grower, they never wanted me…so I ignored them…but now…they are everywhere, all colors and sizes, and scents….my nose is all a dither. Rosemary and lavender are nearly weeds here. ( I am curing myself that those words come from my mouth….as they are two of my favorite things) It is no wonder hummingbirds are everywhere…I hear them, I see them flying in little fairy pods of two and three, I see them land, a flip and twist about…how is it that they do not come into our house? ( not that two huge dogs and two cats and four raucous boys have anything to do with that)….I would stay in the garden too if I were a hummingbird!!!

Cheers and Eye Candy to You!

Xxx,

T.

Tracy Porter  

Happy Shopping!

Labels: more Tracy Porter, nature's inspirations

I wear scarves a lot…I will throw one on with about anything, and most times of the year. I find them to be endlessly enchanting…..they add a lovely twist of lure to about any part of the day.
I can put on the simplest thing….and then a scarf thrown around my neck, or just off my shoulders…suddenly I feel…..more pulled together, more me, more poetic…..my outfit is able to go to a more artistic place….
……and that makes me feel like heaven on earth.

Cheers & true confessions!….so what about you….?
xxx,
T.
Tracy Porter

Labels: more Tracy Porter, smashing fashion & beauty

A Truly Good Book

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Labels: books and such, more Tracy Porter

We tend to wing every meal. All based on what we have in the pantry, refrigerator etc. did I get to the store, to the farmers market…..you know the dance. This goodness all happened to be within reach….came together effortlessly…I knew you would love it. Simple quick, healthy, colorful. The kids appreciated it (always bonus), John felt it was a “ must share”. Just remember….with any recipe I create…you can easily make substitutions….all things I do are pretty forgiving by design. If mini zucchini are not to be found in your neck of the woods….no undies in a bundle…use the larger ones, just keep them cut small, they will be the same taste, trust me. ( the mini veg thing is sort of my fantasy…they are just so damn pretty). So you get where I’m going here…make it, share it…enjoy it.

Cheers and Happiness to you!!!
xxx
T.
Tracy Porter

(Click here for Tracy Porter’s printable recipe!)

Summer Bread Salad Recipe
1 Package mini zucchini ,halved lengthwise
2 Small yellow tomatoes, chopped and seeded
2 Thick slices rustic bread , cubed
10 Basil leaves, torn or cut into small pieces
One bunch asparagus , steamed for 2 minutes or until tender
3 TBS. Olive oil
2 TBS. melted butter
2 TBS. balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and Freshly ground pepper to taste

Simple , simple. Coat zucchini in olive oil and salt and pepper, place on medium hot grill pan 2 quick minutes per side, should be lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
Coat bread with olive oil and salt and pepper, place on medium hot grill pan until nicely browned on both sides. Cut asparagus on an angle about 1 inch pieces. (makes them pretty)
Combine tomatoes, asparagus, bread, basil, zucchini. Drizzle with remaining olive oil, add butter, balsamic and salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Luscious, summery…scrumptious!

Labels: eating & gathering, more Tracy Porter

Maybe this is old news to you, but I have another ( yes, so many I know) LOVE!!!
PANDORA…..PANDORA how I love you! So, here’s the deal…you go here,http://www.pandora.comSign up…for free…make yourself a radio station of your likes with no effort ( yes, I was terribly skeptical….no time)

And then it’s little tech gizmos start to go with your list ( magically) and adding to it….so entirely no brainer…loveliness! I have it on my main computer, and on our kitchen computer. Each of our boys has their own station….someone was a smarty-pants. Good, good.

P.S. no these folks are not paying me to chat them up, but I will happily cash the check should they want to send one over….hello Pandora…

Labels: books and such, more Tracy Porter

I can tell you that we love it here. That the view is incredible, yes…that way out yonder ….is the ocean….all that blue you see in the photo……she is so big and glorious, and I am in awe of her every time I look at her.……I can tell you that we still are not having any bugs come into the house , even though the doors and windows are open without screens all day (this may just never sink in…old dog…..you know). Oh, and….. Lizards are not coming in either, but the boys have caught 6 now…they catch and release…(my rules). I can tell you that the Lego’s are officially out of control in our home , from the garden to my office, there is no place you can go and not find them, or step on them. I can tell you I feel like we have lived here for years…how can that be? How can one feel that way somewhere so new to them….? I can tell you that discovering new things is great fun…..and I already knew that…but sometimes I will be driving by myself… down the 101 or a country road, good tunes on the radio..window down…… and I will just bust out with a big smile and say out loud …..I live in CALIFORNIA. Kind of a cool thing…well….really cool actually.

Cheers and New Adventures!!
xxx,
T.
Tracy Porter

Labels: emotional surrender, more Tracy Porter, soulful nesting & decorating

~ Buy some lovely pastries because you needed that sweet fix and nearly fell to the floor when you saw them…little tiny scrumptious bites of heaven, coconut cream, banana cream, chocolate raspberry, key lime, fruit with vanilla cream….( biting my fist…..).and then take them outside to share with someone you love ……and then have a wee ( or possibly more) sip of wine…while the moon and stars are twinkling above you. Do you?

I surely hope so….life is fleeting…one must indulge….and enjoy every bite!

Cheers and luscious pastries!!
Xxx,
T.
Tracy Porter

Labels: eating & gathering, emotional surrender, more Tracy Porter