Help! It's time for curtains

I've been busy busy this month dear readers.  Not only is work kicking my oh-you-know-what, but we're moving in 3 days (yikes!) and bringing home the newest member of our family in just 10 days!  Yes, we're getting a PUPPY!

And with all this going on, what do I want to blog about?  Curtains.  Haha, sorry, I know.  But I can't help it ~ I need some help and opinions to help me make a decision.  Curtains will be our very first order of business getting into our new home, as well, we need window treatments to give us privacy in our living room.  Privacy is pretty important, thus curtains have become my latest obsession.

Remember my living room inspiration?  I love how these curtains ground the room, are light and somewhat airy, have beautiful texture, and neutral color sure to remain a classic.

I have all these ideas tumbling about in my head ~ inverted pleats, French pleats, grommet panels, clip rings, tie backs oh my!  I'm coming to find I like French pleats, which is surprising for me. French pleats are pretty traditional, and I usually gravitate towards the more contemporary. How does one decide?


Found these at Restoration Hardware, and I believe they're just about spot on.

 

The style above curtains are available in.  What's your vote?

What's your favorite style, and why?   Any secrets on where to find great curtains?

In exchange for your thoughts, I promise a post with puppy pictures a plenty.  Because c'mon, what's cuter? :)

Avec's Recipe ~ Bacon-wrapped Dates with Chorizo ~ Oh my!

Perhaps ours weren't quite as pretty, but look how elegant they can be!
[via]

A couple weeks ago we threw a "Holiday Hangover" party, to toast in the long winter months ahead with pizzazz. When the holidays are over, people often feel they don't quite know what to do with themselves. So what better way than to throw a party to celebrate this newfound downtime?

So a party we threw. And perhaps the biggest hit of all, despite the specialty cocktail, abundance of vino, and other morsels, were the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo, passed around hot out of the oven. The secret to these heavenly bites? Borrowing the recipe from Chef Koren Grieveson and team over at Avec.

I snagged this recipe from my foodie friend who attended a cooking class which starred the restaurant's recipe (thank you foodie friend!) For those unfamiliar, the dates are a "must order" when dining at Avec, so to have the recipe at home now is a special treat!

Avec's Chorizo Bacon-wrapped Dates

2 lbs medjool dates - makes about 24 dates
1 lb Spanish-style chorizo sausage*
12 strips good quality bacon
15 oz piquillo peppers (or roasted red peppers suffice)
14 oz can good quality tomatoes
Salt to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Make small slit in each date and remove pits
Fill each date with slice of chorizo, but don't overstuff
Slice bacon in half crosswise to create 2 pieces from each strip (doing it this way, you may need more bacon, though I just wrapped each date with a little less bacon and they turned out great)
Wrap dates with bacon, back on foil-lined baking sheet for about 40 min
You may choose to broil for about 1-2 min to crisp bacon - but be careful not to burn!

* Spanish-style chorizo contains smoked paprika. To make your own, mix fresh pork sausage with a bit of smoked paprika. Or you can buy chorizo at Cafe Iberico's deli counter.

Pepper sauce for Dates:

While the dates are baking, make the sauce
Add the peppers and tomatoes to a medium saucepan and cook slowly over med-low heat for the entire time the dates bake.
Season with salt, then puree until almost smooth, about the consistency of a thin salsa (a handheld immersion blender or countertop blender both work)

To Serve ~ You can divide the sauce onto plates and top with dates, or allow friends to dip dates in sauce on the side. Enjoy!

Happy Tasty Tuesday~