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January 1, 2016

And A Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2016! The holiday festivities have been plentiful and I am feeling renewed to start another year. Ben and I have been in the States with family since the week of Christmas, which has been delightful, and tomorrow start our return journey to London from Raleigh, with a quick stop in New York.

Today though, we celebrated the new year as it should be: with each other, with family and with delicious home cooked meals. My father-in-law put the Rose Bowl on the television, Ben drank whisky and we wrote down our resolutions — just one each, on cream Crane & Co. stationery and sealed to be opened on December 31. We started working on dinner together and opening bottles of wine once the sun had set. My family always served a traditional meal on New Year’s Day, including  Hoppin’ John. A blend of slow cooked black-eyed peas and rice, the very Southern dish is meant to bring prosperity for all who eat it in the year ahead. There are a variety of ways it can be made, but here’s how I prepare it without bacon (which is more common), and adapted from a favorite Food52 recipe:

Kristen’s Hoppin’ John
2 cups black-eyed peas, soaked overnight
1 yellow onion, diced
1 green pepper, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
Olive oil
Thyme
Paprika
Chicken stock (or vegetable — really whatever you have on-hand)#
Cayenne
Salt and pepper to taste

Saute the onion in olive oil on medium heat until soft — about five minutes — and then add the celery and green pepper for another five minutes. Toss in a teaspoon of thyme and two dashes of paprika. Add the black-eyed peas and then chicken stock (I used two cups stock, two cups water), leaving to simmer for 30-40 minutes until black-eyed peas are cooked. Drain any excess liquid. Add tomatoes. Add dash of cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with rice, piping hot!

Kristen Moore Hoppin' John

Hoppin’ John (which my husband calls Jumpin’ Jack) in the making.

May your bellies be full of delicious food, and your new year filled with happiness. I, for one, am excited to see where this next year takes us. x

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Filed Under: Holidays

November 28, 2015

Thanksgiving for Two

Ben & Kristen Moore Thanksgiving

It was around mid-July when we realised even with our European vacation scheme there weren’t enough days to take off work for my brother’s wedding, Thanksgiving, and Christmas back on the East Coast this year. Something had to go. And with that – our plans became permanent we would be in London for Thanksgiving. I may have cried a small river over the thought. It was my first time celebrating one of my very favorite holidays without my parents in 28 years. But I’m an adult, and as adults we would make mature decisions.

So with that, I got to planning. In October we put a hold on a turkey from Daylesford Organic in Gloucestershire (call 01608 731700 or thefarm@daylesford.com to place your order four weeks in advance of the day when in season) and my mom sent over traditional family recipes. There were two Ocado deliveries and a trip to Whole Foods. On Thanksgiving Eve I was so busy that when Ben walked in the door and asked what was for dinner, I exclaimed with my most exasperated tone how could he expect dinner tonight when I was making Thanksgiving tomorrow! (We made pesto over pasta. Light, easy and everything was already in our kitchen.)

There are so many ways to prepare a turkey but I’m partial to brining. It sat in the fridge overnight and was ready to go the next morning. By mid morning the cranberries were popping, the bird was just about to go in the oven, sweet potatoes were baking and the dressing was nearly prepped. The flat smelled like heaven. I kept pulling Ben in the kitchen saying Do you SMELL this? It smells like Thanksgiving! The holidays are here! (I have a very patient husband.) A couple hours later Ben carefully removed the turkey from the oven and I’ve never seen him prouder.

Cranberries - Modern Pineapple

The beginnings of fresh cranberry sauce

By early afternoon we were sitting down to our first cooked-by-us Thanksgiving meal, saying what we were grateful for and toasting with Beaujolais. I’m partial and I think the hard work makes you love everything, but it was downright delicious. My favorite part always is and was the sweet potatoes with a crunchy pecan topping. To make them wash four good sized sweet potatoes and stick them in the oven to bake for 90 minutes (it makes them easier to pull the jackets off). Scoop out the flesh and put into the mixer with a quarter cup of heavy cream, quarter cup of orange juice, six tablespoons of brown sugar, dash of vanilla and a small hunk of butter. There’s a reason this is only made once a year! Mix together and spread contents into a baking dish. Then make the pecan topping with a cup of chopped pecans, brown sugar and slightly melted butter; mix together and spread on top. Bake for 30 minutes at 350/176 and serve piping hot.

The rest of the afternoon we called family wishing them a happy day and then spent the evening with a large group of American friends having a second, quite impressive feast complete with a maple bourbon pecan pie of which dreams are made. The only downside to all the fun was having to return to work on Friday! But then again, it was a Friday (and Black Friday sales have become popular here despite retailers feeling the day is officially ‘over’) so here we are at the weekend. It’s a beauty and we’re in the festive spirit. x

Kristen Moore Thanksgiving Table

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Filed Under: Holidays Tagged: Thanksgiving

November 1, 2015

A Happy Halloween

Kristen Moore Halloween

With our happy Jack!

One of the best pleasures of the weekend is Ben and I can be home as much as we want. I think I’m a bit more of a homebody than he is, and many weekends we do choose to visit with friends or travel, but some of our very favorite ones are when we spend the weekend around our home. Yesterday being Halloween, we woke up lazily, reading the paper and sharing a pot of piping hot coffee talking over our plan for trick-or-treaters in the evening.

In London, Halloween is a very civilised experience. Kids can only knock on doors and ask for candy from decorated homes, so Ben got out the ladder and I started orchestrating. Hang higher here! A little more tape there! The only snafu was when I tried to plug in our orange string of lights I had ambitiously and incorrectly packed in our shipping container last year, and realized it was an American plug. Ben has promised new lights for our next year’s setup. Our flat smelled of cinnamon and pumpkin all afternoon as I baked a loaf of pumpkin bread, and then started slow roasting lamb shoulder in red wine (a Daylesford recipe and one to keep!).

Halloween Ben Moore

We got to carving, which really means Ben assumed his power stance and pulled out his favorite kitchen knife. I drew the lines for him to follow – a top with a long panel down the back for easy scraping and lighting of the candle and a goofy Jack o’Lantern face. We’ll never be the scary house people because well frankly it frightened me as a kid! We were some children’s very first homes yesterday their parents told us teary eyed taking their pictures and videos as their little dragons and princesses gingerly put their hands into the bowl to take out a Mars bar.

Ben Moore Carving Pumpkin

After sitting outside on our front stoop sipping on glasses of pinot noir, listening to Halloween orchestra music (yes there is such a thing! YouTube for hour long playlists), munching on roasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled with Old Bay and handing out candy that went in less than 90 minutes, we came inside for the melt off the bone lamb and more wine. It’s hard to believe, but we doubled our candy from last year. There are so many families that come to Palace Gardens Terrace it’s hard to draw the line on how much to spend as it can cost a pretty penny around here for Halloween candy. I think next year we’ll import from the States.

Halloween Dinner at The Moores

We’re seeing Spectre today. Has anyone else already caught how dashing Daniel Craig looks in this one? (A controversial topic, but I think he may be my favorite Bond. The gorgeous Tom Ford suits help.) I can’t wait to see the intriguing Monica Bellucci either. Though secretly I’m just dying for a big bag of popcorn and to sit in the cold theatre. This evening we’ll head to the Mall Tavern for a last warming meal of the weekend before it’s back to work on Monday! UPDATE: The new Bond was spectacular. It got two thumbs way up from us – and I now have a girl crush on Lea Seydoux. I’m also on the hunt for that gorgeous silk number from arguably one of the best scenes (I want to dish but won’t spoil any of the film for you!).

Ps – I’m feeling more like myself than I have in ages. I’ve settled into my job and run into friends around the neighborhood. I can competently give directions around the city to understandably confused tourists (it’s the little things! and I’ve been there – it’s hard) and feel like Ben and I have really come into our own being here. We have traditions now and are feeling quite like the little family we are.

Ben Moore Halloween

Halloween with my guy, who kept replenishing the candy bowl (and the wine) from inside all night.

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Filed Under: Holidays Tagged: Decor, Halloween, homebody

August 21, 2015

Nice is Nice

This summer we have been living from high to high, with an uncanny number of celebrations and visitors (and vacations, which are celebrations all in themselves – a perk of living in Europe that my work holiday count more than doubled). We even spent two weeks back in the States visiting family, friends and New York — we missed you so!

Kristen Moore MP Passport

Last month was our first wedding anniversary. We took a three day weekend to the French Riviera, drinking in the scenery over crisp white wine, bathing on the sunny, rocky beaches and taking wonderful long walks in the hot summer sun. It felt like we grew up just a little more that weekend, realizing we were leaving our excited newlywed phase with so many milestones and entering into our calmer, lifelong partnership.

Kristen Moore Le Negresco Nice

If Nice hasn’t been on your list of places to visit, it’s one to add. Stay at Hotel Le Negresco — we did and loved everything about the art deco style and close proximity to the beach — and book a fancy dinner one night at their restaurant Le Chantecler. With two Michelin stars, you need to go hungry, drink champagne and prepare for a four-hour leisurely multi-course dinner which will give you enough time to talk about all the work seen at the Matisse and Chagall museums.

Benjamin & Kristen Moore Anniversary Nice

Just before our anniversary dinner, wearing the sash from my wedding gown x

Work up an appetite the next day with a morning sail around the Bay of Angels and pick up lunch at the market (the best time to go is late morning on Saturdays!) for the ripest peaches, fresh sandwiches and just-off-the-griddle socca. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it! Eat it picnic style at the beach, and spend the rest of the day taking in the glamorous families and young children running around in water shoes to not cut their feet on the rocks. Other recommendations: dinner at JAN, hiking the coastline, and strolling along the promenade.

Kristen Moore, Socca in Nice

First delicious bites of socca at the market!

We ended the weekend back home on Palace Gardens Terrace, breaking out the top tier of our wedding cake from the freezer (for a buttercream cake, unwrap completely and set it on the counter for three hours as it defrosts – it will be ready to eat and absolutely delicious) and dancing barefoot in our living room to James Taylor. We read love letters from each other, and may have cried a little (okay, just me because my husband’s a doll). We talked through our year, where we were just twelve short months ago and how it feels like time has just flown. Aside from the letters, our gift to ourselves was new personalized stationery, which I’m dying to use! x

Kristen Moore Anniversary Cake

Just three rosebuds managed to be living following our weekend away, the perfect number to add to the top of the cake.

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Filed Under: Holidays, Travel, Wedding Tagged: Anniversary, France, Nice, Travel

May 31, 2015

28 Years

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was a very happy one indeed. I spent it with my husband as birthdays should be spent: doing some of my very favorite things. I started the morning quietly with a cup of coffee and reading as the sunlight poured through our bay windows (London, that weather yesterday was a gift all in itself) until Ben came out to join me. We both fit in a workout and then set off for a picnic in Hyde Park. We watched a men’s football on the palace lawn while sipping rose champagne and munching happily on neighborhood food.

Picnic in the Park

Afterwards, slightly tipsy and blissfully happy, we walking home to drop off the basket and blanket before heading to The National Gallery for the Inventing Impressionism exhibit in its final weekend. Located in the Sainsbury Wing, it was a fascinating look at how a single man, Paul Durand-Ruel, helped fuel the impressionist movement. Dubbed ‘the man who sold a thousand Monets’ he persevered with these artists he believed were great when the public heavily criticized and ridiculed some of our most beloved works today. It’s hard to believe there was a time when Pissarro, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Sisley and Degas weren’t held in the highest regard.

Kristen National Gallery

We stopped to pick up a Slim Aarons print of Lake Como we recently had framed for our living room, and carried the nearly 4-foot wide (!) piece home through the back streets of our neighborhood. It now sits proudly on our largest wall, and is right at home already. I was serenaded by my parents and brother back home, and our call ended slightly tearily as I miss them terribly.

Slim Aarons

Framed by Frame, Set, Match at Notting Hill Gate, 020 7229 7444.

I opened cards and presents from family and friends, and two gifts from my sweet husband (Céline sunglasses and a beautifully bound book from Smythson). Ben surprised me when he handed me a small package — and I unwrapped a guide book to Barcelona. We’re visiting in September! I’ve been wanting to see it for so long, and am just beside myself to take the trip with him. I’ll also be putting my rekindled Spanish skills to use! I’ve already been pinning places to see in the city this morning, and the weather will still be warm as fall will just be beginning.

We hurriedly got ready for a late dinner reservation at Scott’s where we were greeted with a glass of champagne and promptly had a dozen oysters on the table. We split the roasted shellfish for two and Ben sang happy birthday to me in our corner of the restaurant. It was lovely and romantic and so very my husband.

Scott's

We headed home after saying goodbye, and I realized I needed to make a birthday wish! It was 11:46 and Ben lit a candle he wedged in a Samoa (Girl Scout cookies, you saving grace) and just a few minutes before midnight I blew out the candle on a wonderful day. I’m not sure if it’s possible, but may this year be even better than the last x

Kristen Bday Wish

Blowing out my candle for #28. Also pictured is a book about one of my very favorite restaurants in the world, The Inn at Little Washington, a gift from my parents. 

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March 30, 2015

Sophisticated Easter Dinner Celebration

Modern Pineapple Easter Table 2

Thoughts of Easter draw pastel-colored memories of bunnies, chocolate eggs and spring dresses. It’s a fine line decorating for this holiday without getting stuck in the world of bright plastic eggs and green basket grass, even in a home without any kids around (!). Instead, I try focusing on layering colors a palette of Easter colors mixed with fresh flowers and lots of glass to bring a contemporary yet classic feel to the table.

Since we have a wood dining table, I used a bright white tablecloth {with playful little white polka dots} as a light backdrop. Then, to start adding color I used multi-colored woven placemats from Chilewich. To create more depth and space between the placemat and the actual china itself, I added gold glass chargers {ours were a seasonal purchase from Crate & Barrel, similar here}.

Modern Pineapple Place Setting Easter

Modern Pineapple Easter Placemat

From the placemats, I pulled out to colors to work into the rest of the table for a cohesive look: pink and green. I folded pastel green napkins I picked up at John Lewis {also love these mint linen ones from CB2} around our white china plates to add color to the white china. {I love how there are so many different yet compatible textures in this place setting.} On top of the napkins, I placed little ramekins of pastel-colored chocolate Cadbury eggs, tied with raffia. So. Many. Layers.

Modern Pineapple Chocolate Eggs

For the flowers, I paired bright pink tulips in square glass vases with the Italian cherry blossom branches {still going strong from last month’s trip to the flower market!}. I nestled a little bunny between two of the vases {from Williams-Sonoma} and filled his bowl with more Cadbury eggs. With a couple of spring straws and the addition of light pink candles, our Easter dinner table was set!

Modern Pineapple Easter Candles

Modern Pineapple Easter Table

Modern Pineapple Bunny Eggs

Modern Pineapple Easter Setting

Modern Pineapple Easter Tablescape

Since we’ll be out of town this weekend, we had our Easter dinner at home a little early this year. It was a lower key dinner with salmon, roasted brussels and quinoa. I have a feeling our Easter this year will have a bit more Italian flair!

Modern Pineapple Easter Dinner 2015

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Holidays Tagged: Easter, Tablescape

March 19, 2015

Easter Decor Inspiration

Though we’ll be traveling over Easter weekend, I’m still looking into ways to add a little egg-citement {I couldn’t help myself!} around our home. These pretty pastel tablescapes are giving me some gorgeous inspiration. Plus, I’m thrilled that the Italian cherry blossoms I scooped up last month at New Covent Garden Market are still blooming beautifully. I’m hoping to use them as the centerpiece in a few weeks’ time.

Easter Table 1

Easter 3 Ina Garten

Easter 2

Easter

Potter Barn

 1. Pottery Barn / 2. Ina Garten / 3. Design and DIY Magazine / 4. Love Grows Wild / 5. Pottery Barn

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Filed Under: Holidays, Home Decor Tagged: Easter, Table decor, Tablescape

March 17, 2015

Stylish St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape

MP St Patrick's Day 1

“May your troubles be less, your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.” An Irish Blessing

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone! I’ve had fun setting up a little green and gold-inspired dinner table for us this evening. It takes some ingenuity to change the table with holidays and seasons, without going overboard with spending in the process. For our St. Patty’s decor, I picked up a few items {less than £10 total} that made a stylish and festive tablescape when paired with other items we had around our home.

I purchased a bag of gold coins {from the kid’s aisle in a party store} that I used to scatter around the table runner, and these cute green and white striped straws from Whole Foods to add a whimsical feeling to the champagne glasses. I made little tags with the words “The Luckiest” and a shamrock, since it’s a romantic dinner a deux tonight.

The white and green tulips in a Waterford vase look fresh and elegant as the centerpiece. I flanked the flowers with white tapers from Williams-Sonoma and green candlesticks in Mariposa pearled holders. To tie in the gold from the coins, I added the shimmer gold chargers we often use from Crate & Barrel {similar here} and wiry gold napkin rings around crisp white dinner napkins.

Tonight I’m planning to serve roasted salmon with Irish whiskey and honey, along with the more traditional Irish soda bread. I’m looking forward to our party for two tonight, and wearing a bit of green. Sláinte!

MP St. Patrick's Day 2

MP St Patricks 3

MP St Patricks 4

MP St Patricks 5

MP St Patricks 6

MP St Patricks 7

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Filed Under: Holidays Tagged: Holiday Decor, St. Patrick's Day, Tablescape

March 14, 2015

Mother’s Day Last Minute Gift Ideas

Londoners, if your Saturday consists of hunting for a few last minute gifts for mum, look no further. Here’s a quick guide of things she’s sure to love {how cute those pineapple salad servers!}. If all else fails, bring her a beautiful bouquet of tulips from your local shop, gourmet macarons from Anges de Sucre, and tell her how lucky you are to have her as yours. {And friends back home, it’s a sneak peek on what to give mom in early May.} Happy Mother’s Day!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

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Filed Under: Holidays Tagged: Mother's Day Gift Guide, UK Mother's Day

February 14, 2015

Sharing the Love

Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s a beautiful, sunny morning here in London and my man is still asleep so I’m sneaking around doing some last minute surprises. I have a few tricks up my sleeve for our first married V-Day {red velvet pancakes in bed! at-home massage via UrbanMassage!} and tonight we’re heading out to dinner at The Ledbury.

If you’re looking for an easy sweet to enjoy, a perfect choice is chocolate-covered strawberries. I made them last night to kick off our weekend, and they were so simple and delicious.

Strawbs

A fun fact about chocolate: in the late 1800s, the Swiss (no surprise) were the first to develop processes for making solid chocolate candy and the process hasn’t changed much since then. Why mess with a good thing?

IMG_1983

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Melting chocolate {I used Valrhona}
10-12 ripe strawberries
Sprinkles

Wash your strawberries and pat dry, then place wax paper onto a baking sheet. (Trick: if the wax paper keeps rolling, just spray some baking spray onto the sheet, and then put down the wax paper. Ta da!) Set both aside.

IMG_1984

Cut 6-8 small pieces of chocolate off the melting bar (to make it easier to melt) and place into a small sauce pan on low heat. Stir constantly for about five minutes until completely melted. Dip the strawberries into the melted chocolate till mostly covered. Place onto the wax paper-covered baking sheet. Put on sprinkles immediately so chocolate doesn’t start to harden. Repeat for each berry.

IMG_1989

IMG_1987

Once all the dipping is done, let the strawberries sit out on the baking sheet for as little as one hour and as many as 3-4 before consuming (if same day!). If you’re waiting to give, after they’ve cooled and hardened, place into a lock-tight container and into the refrigerator.

After an easy Friday night dinner, we poured some wine while watching The Good Wife {obsessed}, and tucked right into these.

IMG_1995BenMy handsome man sampling the strawbs — he approved.

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Filed Under: Holidays, Recipes Tagged: Date Night, Dessert, Valentine's Day

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