Today we are featuring a link to the Bald Head Island Club's brand new blog. The first post is about yours truly and the DIY floral workshop that we did at the club in January. Lindsey Cheek, event planner at the club, included a couple photos of what we covered as well as a Q and A about trends and entertaining. We are in the process of planning the next workshop on the island..lots of new goodies for attendees!
More soon.

www.baldheadislandclubevents.blogspot.com

We have friends who throw a chili cook off contest every year and this year I won second prize! It was for of all things a white chili with organic chicken. I rarely enter the contest ( we usually attend and enjoy the evening festivities) but lately  I don't eat hamburger and rarely red meat at all and I thought  I should at least make a dish that I could enjoy with everyone else.
What a pleasent surprise to win second place from a selection of so many wonderful recipes! The evening was finished off with the usual many rounds of jello shooters (I know!) and a clever skit performed by our hosts.

 

I'm including the recipe here as a special treat for the followers of this blog. it's a combination of about 7 different recipes that I pulled off of the internet. Bon Appetit!

1 whole sweet onion
large organic garlic clove
2 14 1/2 ounce cans of organic diced tomatos
a couple of packets of organic chicken tenders(grocery store)
chili powder
ground cumin
coriander
4 or 5 cups organic chicken stock
2 14 ounce cans organic white beans
3 tablespoons of corn meal(or 4 depending how thick you want it)
sour cream and shreaded white cheddar to taste

Saute the onions in olive oil and butter,let them become transluscent,add
garlic and add spices to taste(about a teaspoon and a half of chili
powder,a couple tablespoons of both of coriander and cumin. Add diced chicken pieces to the onion garlic saute
Let that get a nice yummy saute of flavors ,transfer to a crockpot,add
chicken stock,and tomatos cover and cook on high for about 4 or 5 hours
,add corn meal (to thicken) and white beans,and about a half hour before
serving turn crock off and add about a cup of sour cream and about a cup
and a half or so of the shreaded cheese.This makes roughly enough for
about 8 to 10 along with some left overs
Disclaimer: I am a "tasting" sort of cook,which means I am constantly
tasting as I go along so I encourage you to make changes as to spice
amounts etc.

 

 

 I love the way the paper is used as a runner/placemat over the linens, This is also fun to do with reems of sheet music. And the blue and white plates, just gorgeous! This luxurious look is very doable with some attention to detail ..........and lots of help!

 

This wreath was white hydrangeas, blue veronica and blue thistle. It is hanging on the door of the chapel at Bald Head Island. I love the way the thistle dances along the rounding lines.This was for Kelli and Nik's wedding where the bride and groom had a traditional Polterband (clatter-evening) where, at the rehearsal dinner, the bride and groom break dishes and then immediatly sweep up the pieces, symbolizing breaking of the old life and beginning the new...depending on which expert you consult..nevertheless it is meant to bring prosperity to the happy couple.

This photo of a beautiful bejeweled bouquet was taken by one of our favorite talented photographers, Anne McGowan. She recently opened a studio at Bald Head Island and these shots are from a workshop that she attended in California. The babys breath hair wreaths are just perfection and the bouquet of jewels ..I am going to begin scouring second hand shops for some fabulous vintage bling.