Dana Slatkin

Fresh Ideas for Spring Entertaining

cucumber-gazpacho

Spring is the time to start fresh, toss out old habits, and add some pizzazz to your routine. But without some effort, it’s easy to revert to the mundane. When I come home at 6 pm and haven’t even begun to think about dinner, I’m not thinking stylish, I’m in survival mode. I know it’s time to come up with something new when my kids say “Noooo, not chicken cutlets again!” The other night, I tried making my weekly standby with crumbs from brown rice cakes instead of Challah bread, and from the raves I got, you would have thought I invented a cure for homework! Flair comes from the unexpected and, with a little inspiration, you can add a dash to every meal. Remember the first time you were at a cocktail … [Read more...]

Ole’s Age-Defying Complexion Scrub

herbs and spices. rosemary, lavender, salt and olive

The secret to keeping your skin baby-smooth is in the easy-to-find ingredients for this invigorating skin treatment. It combines salt to exfoliate, sugar to dislodge and dissolve dead skin cells, almond oil to smooth and nourish the skin, and lavender oil to discourage wrinkles. My friend Ole Henriksen has the most beautiful skin I have ever seen, so I’m sticking with his advice. For more recipes, check out “Beauty and The Beach” in the Stormy Nights chapter of Summertime Anytime. Now that you’ve pampered yourself, pamper your surroundings with a decorated glass hurricane for some special ambience. … [Read more...]

Eight Ways to Decorate a Glass Hurricane

hurricane31

A simple glass hurricane fitted with a neutral-colored candle (I love chocolate brown) can take a room from ordinary to chic and sexy. Here are some of my go-to accessories for instant ambiance: 1. Sand, seashells, and baby starfish from your favorite beach vacation 2. Sea urchins (any color and size) 3. White or pink coral 4. Smooth stones, beach glass, or marbles 5. Orchid or hibiscus blossoms, or petals from your favorite flowers 6. Water tinted with your favorite shade of food coloring 7. Acorns, nettles, or anything collected from a garden 8. Whole walnuts or other nuts in their shells Enjoy a relaxing herbal complexion scrub. … [Read more...]