Author: Frances

The thing I love about a bloody mary (and there are a lot of things) is you can stack an entire brunch on top of the boozy treat. And anything that allows for bacon and a beautiful presentation is all right in my book. This recipe by @halfbakedharvest is one of my favorites because of the unexpected addition of pineapple juice. Care to sip along with me? Find the recipe in my stories, cheers!

I’m working my way up to a little essay around this. Stay tuned … and be you.

I’m working my way up to a little essay around this. Stay tuned … and be you.

The holiday weekend is almost complete and what with all our canceled plans and trips postponed, the daydreaming flies first class. I’d love to be lounging in Richard Shaprio’s stunning garden pool and long to visit other glorious spots, though virtually is good for now. Stop by my stories for a few more divine destinations. Design @richardshapirostudiolo

Happy 4th of July! Praying for peace, for compassion, and for all who fight to defend the rights of ALL of us. ⁠ Photo Andrew Ruiz

Summer is all about casual entertaining, and here (she said modestly) is the perfect summer supper. Crowd-pleasing (although we don’t have much of those these days), minimal prep and cooking time, surf and turf. Did I have you at hello, or what? Ladies and gentlemen, all the way from the South Carolina Lowcountry, I give you Frogmore Stew.⁠ ⁠ You may be relieved to know that Frogmore Stew is 100% frog-free, and not really a stew. More a boil, as it is known by its other name, Lowcountry Shrimp Boil. Ready for the perfect #fourthofjuly feast? Recipe in my #linkinbio⁠ ⁠ Photo @jenniferdavick for @coastalliving ⁠ ⁠

Can you even believe this rose?! A lovely memory from a recent visit with my friends @rosestoryfarm …. Wishing you all a happy and safe Holiday weekend.

Nothing says holiday weekend more than gathering family and friends for a bit of sun, sand and food of course! BUT with everything going on in the world, I know most of us are opting to keep it small and keep it HOME. So, how do you keep it easy and entertaining? My friends @flowermag are showing us how to do just that with easy recipes, table decor….and my rich butterscotch banana pudding from my book California Cooking and Southern Style. Get ready to kick back on the 4th via my #linkinbio!

As we end one month and begin a new one, so we can do with habits and limiting beliefs that do not serve us. A treasured new friend sent me this card and I love the art and design of it by Ana Victoria Calderon as much as I love the message, a quote from Rumi. Let your heart be your compass and your soul your guide. Earlier this summer I read “Steering by Starlight” by Martha Beck, which I highly recommend to all you seekers out there. . #anamariacalderon #wordstoliveby #rumi #marthabeck

This small “palette painting” from a series by Rhinebeck NY artist Rudy VavraI caught my eye. I love the movement and texture of it, oh, and the green! One thing Ive enjoyed during lockdown is exploring the work of artists both known and new to me. I am missing the museums and galleries but websites are the next best thing. Find Rudy’s “visual candy” shop at Rudyvavra.com. And hey, that dress or pair of shoes you didn’t buy…? Let’s support our artists of all stripes, visual and performing, as best we can! They need us now more than ever, almost as much as we need them. . . #rudyvavra #supportartists #green #paletteknifepainting

One of the greatest effort-to-satisfaction ratios EVER has to be pancakes. Flour here, egg there, bit of milk, spot of other, and voilà! A stack of warm, moist, buttery, syrupy goodness that is as much good, heart-singing, soul-filling, tummy-yumming fun as you can have with your bathrobe on. These banana-hazelnut pancakes by @heartofabaker are just what I’m jonesing for on a mellow Sunday morning. Grab the maple syrup and join His Grace and me, recipe in #linkinbio