salad ingredients

I love this photograph from Irving Penn, 1947 - "Salad Ingredients" - As long as I have been with my husband, he has carefully prepared some of the most delightful salad vinaigrettes.  Just last night as he prepared a fresh dressing, he asked me to buy more Trader Joe's balsamic vinegar.

All you need-

good olive oil

vinegar

 lemon

salt

garlic

 mustard and herbs to your liking.  Fresh parsley, chopped chives, and grated pepper are also lovely finishing touches.

Mix in a glass bowl, whisk with a fork and dress and toss your salad and serve.

Just the other day, a dear friend dropped in for lunch and she said, you need to post more about your "french" background and I laughed as you see I am not french but am married to a man who grew up in France, so I guess all his French has influenced me and my life.  So our subject immediately went to France and food.  It's true, the French know how to live life by simply using the freshest ingredients.
Simple salad ingredients shared are the best.

sea change

 What a treat to share a delicious tray of oysters from CRU, Nantucket's Premier Oyster Bar.

I love artfully created spaces.

Especially one's near water.

They are treasures.

Even powdering one's nose is a delight, nautical navy tile, sail cloth receptacles for hand towels.

Shells artfully hung.  Elements of the sea are refreshed and purified.

There seems to be a profound sea of change going on in some posh sea side spots. 

 Having had the pleasure of dining on oysters and one the best fish sandwiches ever, certainly made for a notable meal as well as the artfully designed Cru in Nantucket by the firm of Gauthier Stacy.  Nautical sails hung from the ceiling, canvas chairs, brass accents, wood, white and clusters of glass pod fixtures all gathered to create a positively chic spot.  Long are the days of seaside shanteys and only fried fisherman's platters served in plastic baskets.

I am always inspired by change which is refreshing, artful and simple.  What sort of change has inspired you this summer?

sunday summer salad

Try this lovely salad from smitten kitchen.

 During the Summer, I just love salads.

The truth is that I love them all year.

Washing lettuce can be very therapeutic.