Breakfast in Bed: Champignon Toast


by Alison Hein.

My high school art teacher, Mrs. Norton, had a favorite phrase – “Simplicity is divinity.” We used to joke about it because she said it so frequently. We even worked it into a not-so-flattering poem about school in general, and our teachers in particular. But through the years, I’ve come to appreciate the sentiment behind the words. Take Champignon Toast, for example. Bread, cheese, mushrooms. Slice and add heat. And what do you get? A masterpiece! ☺

As a teenager visiting cousins in Germany, I experienced many firsts. This cheesy, melted delight was one of my favorites. Struggling through the German language, I was somewhat confused by the use of the French word champignon (until I learned that the word for mushrooms in Germany is Pilzen).

So I stuck with the French name and have been making Champignon Toast ever since. Richly satisfying for breakfast. Served with a fresh garden or cucumber salad, it also makes a wonderful light dinner. Many variations can be achieved by working with different types of breads, cheeses and mushrooms. Ham or bacon can be added for a sturdier open-faced melt. And perhaps best of all, this recipe calls for just a few simple ingredients almost always on hand.

I like my Champignon Toast pushed to the edge of burnt, where the bread is warm but still soft, and the cheese is melted until nearly crispy. You may prefer yours a little less done, so watch closely when broiling as it melts quickly. Try it, at any rate, for a simple, divine breakfast in bed that even Mrs. Norton would approve.

Ingredients
2 slices Ciabatta bread
2 slices Jarlsberg cheese
2 crimini mushrooms
Dash of balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fruit, for garnish (optional)

Preparation
Turn on broiler. Cover a baking tray with aluminum foil. Cut 2 ½-inch thick slices of Ciabatta bread (if not pre-sliced), and place on foil-covered tray. Cut two thin slices of Jarlsberg cheese, to evenly cover bread slices.

Clean mushrooms by brushing thoroughly with a paper towel. Trim ends, and slice into thin slices. Arrange evenly on top of cheese-covered bread. Drizzle a small amount of balsamic vinegar on top of mushroom slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Broil champignon toast slices 6 inches from flame, 1 to 2 minutes, until cheese is melted and mushrooms are soft. Serve hot.

Makes 1 serving.

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Bedroom Design: A Global Room

Post by Laura Cheng.

In my blog a few weeks ago, I chatted about geometry. In the flurry of the back to school season and as our presidential candidates debate about how to best revamp our nation’s great education system, I continue my educational discussion this week on another elementary subject:  geography.  There is no better way to learn about geography than through the use of visual tools, such as a globe. Despite their educational value, globes are not just limited to classroom use. A globe in the bedroom can be the perfect accompaniment to achieve an A+ room.

Source: http://www.houzz.com/photos/bedroom/Globe

Before there was Rand McNally, there was Nendo, a Japanese design company that created this black and white “CORONA” globe.  Whether you are looking to outfit your bedroom floor or bedroom desk, their 3 fast food sizes – small, medium, and extra large has it covered. In addition to the absence of color, there is something very feminine and subtle about the supporting sphere and base. They are the elements that transform this classic school supply to modern artwork. I am a minimalist, so when I found these globes, I was instantly attracted. My bedroom is easily cluttered so a defining black and white globe that can express itself behind all the clutter is exactly what I need.

Source: http://bloesem.blogs.com/bloesem/2010/04/a-one-color-globe-by-nendo.html

Globes can be rested on nightstands or used as paperweights in your bedroom office. Some globes even illuminate so they would add the perfect layer of light to any existing bedroom lighting. Or if your bedroom is lacking light, turn a vintage globe into a full light source. A pendant light fashioned out of a globe is such a unique idea. Your “golden” globes can be brighter than all of Meryl Streep’s combined. Kristi Linauer of Addicted2Deocrating.com explains how here. Just please ask your grandfather first before you take his vintage one to experiment with.

Source: http://h2hblog.com/its-a-map#more-1859

A globe provides visual interest. There is always something interesting to look at and dream about and relate to. This themed picture exactly illustrates the point that I have been trying to make these past few weeks. Overkill? Just a bit. Realistic? Fat chance. Lesson learned? Definitely.

Source: http://www.twiningdesign.com/photos/Res_05_BoysRoom.jpg

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Movies in Bed: Sherlock Holmes

Post by Mark T. Locker.

There are countless versions of Sherlock Holmes stories. According to IMDB.com, that individual has appeared 262 times in the last 112 years, most recently some new show called “Elementary” which I will never watch. The most indispensable of all these, however, is the movies starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and the unparalleled Nigel Bruce as the bumbling, silly Watson.

This dynamic duo dominated the Doyle derivatives from 1939 to 1946. Barely an hour in length, and driven mostly by the hilariously witless antics of Dr. Watson, these are the perfect movies to watch when you want something slightly mysterious, slightly goofy, and not as long as an episode of “Inspector Lewis”. What’s even better is they made a total of thirteen Sherlock Holmes movies during that seven-year span, so there are plenty to choose from!

Now I’m not an expert on the compete works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I suspect some of these are not wholly true to the original, such as when, oh, the Nazis are brought into the plot. But whatever the story, you can always count on our friend Watson to announce something like: “Oh! Kippers! I’m as hungry as a bee on a flower!” God bless him.

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Things We Like: Country Living Magazine Chose Our Bed!

Post by Kyle St. Romain.

Earlier this year, Country Living Magazine took a different approach with its House of the Year Project. Instead of designing one single home, its designers set out to create three unique spaces: an outdoor kitchen, a guestroom, and an entrepreneur’s studio. The event sets out to show the world an “idealized version of country living”, and who wouldn’t want an escape from the city. It’s a great way to remind New Yorkers that there’s life outside the city, and that it’s available in high fashion too.

The rooms were on display earlier this year from May 17 to 23 at the base of the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan.

What we liked most about this event is the choice of bed. Country Living designer Thomas Paul chose our special single “X” Campaign Canopy bed to be the focal point for his vision of the ideal bedroom cottage, and we couldn’t be happier.

As a way to add to the room’s camp-like feel, Mr. Paul draped the bed’s iron frame with simple white curtains. His philosophy is that “A lot of fabric around a canopy bed can seem old fashioned,” but that using very plain curtains is a perfect way to bring the tent indoors without feeling too stuffy. Curtains also look great on canopy beds in more traditional bedrooms, as the flowing fabric makes the room more visually interesting and accentuates the canopy frame’s clean lines.

If you’d like to read more about the event, be sure to pick up a copy of the September issue of Country Living Magazine.

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Breakfast in Bed: Zucchini Harvest Pancakes

Post by Alison Hein.

Time to pack up the beach chairs, get sweaters out of storage, and go back-to-school shopping. It’s also time to say goodbye to fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables. But, in between the first frost and the last tomato, a harvest bounty of zucchini still thrives in neighborhood gardens. The fruits of this hardy, prolific vine have the tendency to ripen all at once, leaving us with the quandary of what to do with this over-abundance.

A quick look online yields a multitude of savory summer squash options – cut in rounds and served over pasta; sliced ribbon-thin and quickly sautéed with yellow squash, carrots, and lemon zest; or carved into little boats and stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheese.

There are also many, many sweet zucchini bread and muffin recipes out there. I’m sure you all have your favorites. But what about pancakes? It might seem like an odd notion at first, but you may change your mind after digging into your first feathery light, green-specked flapjack.

Reminiscent of zucchini bread, these pancakes have an appealing, sweet hardiness – the tender squash providing both depth and moistness. I like to shred the zucchini finely enough to cook quickly, but large enough to retain texture and color. If you shred and freeze zucchini in small batches, you can enjoy harvest breakfasts in bed all year long.

Zucchini Harvest Pancakes
2 cups flour
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
2 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup zucchini, finely shredded
4 ounces (one half stick) butter, melted and slightly cooled
Additional butter for frying

Preparation
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. In separate bowl, stir together milk, egg yolks and vanilla. Gradually add milk mixture to dry ingredients. Fold in zucchini. Slowly add melted butter to batter. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold into batter. Place pan or griddle on burner over medium to medium high heat. Melt a small amount of butter in the pan for the first pancake. Ladle batter by ½ cupfuls into pan and cook until small bubbles appear throughout pancake. Flip once with spatula and continue cooking until golden brown, one to two minutes, adding more butter and adjusting heat as necessary. Keep warm while making the remainder of pancakes. Serve hot with real maple syrup.

Makes 12 to 14 4-inch pancakes

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