When you think of Kitchens you think of a series of cabinets, upper and lower units, hugging the perimeter walls, correct? Well not anymore! These Kitchens are truly “Out of the Box.”
Not into white or traditional wood offerings? Check out the kitchen below from Miton . It represents its unique identity with two cylindrical work surfaces covered in stainless steel counter tops and a “bridge” in the middle to connect the two stations. There is also a cylindrical fan above the cook top to further the circular geometry while providing needed function. This is certainly not for everyone but for a modern cool approach, it is such a fresh take on the traditional kitchen.
Miton's MT700G Purple Kitchen
I love the Dune Kitchen below from Pedini. It mimics the waves of sand at the beach and is very easy on the eye. Function abounds with two prep sinks, a range and a pop up hood that easily hides below the surface when not in use.
Dune Kitchen by Pedini
Below are a series of kitchen storage pods. This kitchen is called the “Dime Kitchen” by Splinter Works. This is truly the most innovative kitchen concept I have ever seen. If it were up to me, I would coin this design “the Onion Kitchen.” It seems as if you peel back the layers to reveal your kitchen workspace. There are no better words to describe this kitchen than Out-of-the-Box!
Splinter Works Dime Kitchen
Do you have any images that you have collected of Out of the Box Kitchens. Send them and you may just see them in a future post! New and innovative ideas always spark creativity and the urge to renovate! BE INSPIRED!
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Welcome to Part Five of our Cooking with Herbs and Spices series. Today we are focusing on herbs–Basil in particular.
BASIL: This has to be my favorite herb. It is wonderful and original. Peppery, minty, fresh and oh so delicious. Many of you will be happy to know that it not only has a lovely taste and fragrance but it also has many health benefits. It can freshen breath, act as an anti-inflammatory, and is a good source of magnesium and vitamin A. Wow! All that from this little green leaf.
Basil can be used in many culinary creations. I love to make fresh pesto sauce, chop fresh basil on top of pasta pomodoro, sprinkle on top of grilled eggplant, Add to lemonade or whip up a Caprese salad.
From a Feng Shui perspective, basil can help you set the intention for the “FAMILY and PAST” Gua which relates to the color GREEN and the WOOD element. The intense green hue of the basil conjures up the image of a tree laden forest, bringing the wood element to life. Let’s say that you wanted to work on strengthening family relationships–you could set your intention while serving this salad at a Family gathering–perfect for a Summer Barbeque on Fathers Day! It can also strengthen your ties to the past and evoke memories of a special trip to a wonderful Italian restaurant or even to Italy! This is by far my husband’s favorite salad!
ENJOY!
TOMATO MOZZARELLA SALAD WITH BASIL
Tomato Mozzarella with Basil Recipe
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
8 Italian plum tomatoes, cut lengthwise in half or 6 caprice tomatoes-sliced
1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cups fresh basil leaves, plus a few leaves for garnish
4 tablespoons pine nuts
2 pounds buffalo mozzarella, cut into slices—freshly made is best
One bottle Balsamic glaze – squeeze bottle variety
Preparation
In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
Toast the pine nuts in an 8-inch sauté pan over medium heat, tossing frequently, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
To serve, arrange 4 plum tomato halves (or 4 slices of caprice tomato) layering in an alternating fashion with a slice of mozzarella on each plate. Sprinkle with the pine nuts and garnish with basil leaves. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the salad in a zig-zag design. ENJOY!
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Whether you are having a cozy and romantic dinner for two or for ten, it is important to set the mood for this celebration of love! Remember that in Feng Shui-Red is the color for FAME and POWER! It enhances your appetite, quickens your pulse and stimulates our brains to reference Romance! Get in the mood, check out the vignettes below and be inspired!
Valentine's Day Table Scapes
While Red is the color most associated with Valentine’s Day, some of you may wish to use a warm Red-Violet and other tones in that hue family. Take a look at the image below where the table is set in a sea of Violet.
Pink Valentine's Day Table Setting
Dim the lights for a more dramatic effect! By just lighting a few candles you can instantly change the mood.
Romantic Dinner by Candlelight!
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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I wanted to give my health-conscious fans a recipe that will please the palette while not wreaking havoc on your waistline! Whip up these Skinny Mini and delicious red velvet cheesecake cups for your honey. The recipe is adapted from Jennifer Iserloh, the Skinny Chef! From a Feng Shui Perspective, red is a powerful color. It represents fame and reputation but also Romance! Set your intentions when you pop one of these skinny delights in your mouth on February 14th and enjoy!
Mini Red Velvet Cheesecake
Mini Red Velvet Cheesecakes
Makes 24
24 mini Nilla Wafers or a more healthy or gluten free alternative from the Health Food Store. Below is a link to a recipe for healthy whole wheat nilla wafers
http://www.keepitsimplefoods.com/desserts/whole-wheat-nilla-wafers/
Ingredients
1 8-oz package reduced-fat cream cheese (or non dairy soy cream cheese),
at room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar or 1/3 cup of agave nectar-low glycemic sweetener
1 organic egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream or dairy free sour cream
1/4 cup organic pureed beets, canned or steamed
2 tablespoons unsweetened organic cocoa powder
Preheat oven at 300°F. Line a 12-cup mini-muffin tin with paper liners. Place a Nilla Wafer into each muffin cup.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar or agave nectar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the egg white and vanilla, and mix well. On low speed, beat in sour cream until just combined. Reserve 1 cup of the batter and set aside for the swirl or simply beat in the beets and cocoa powder for an all-red cheesecake.
For the swirl, fill each muffin cup halfway with the white batter. Spoon a dot of the red batter on top of each, and with the tip of a knife, swirl the red batter in.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges of the cheesecake begin to firm while the center is still soft. Remove cheesecakes from the oven and cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Cover and chill at least 1 hour before serving.
ENJOY!!
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Phyllis Harbinger
New York Certified Interior Designer and Feng Shui Practitioner
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