Cooking, Daily Happenings, Entertainment, Holidays

Charcueterie

Lora Knows...

There are some trends that go away, as they should; then there are those that turn into classics. I’m so glad charcuterie wasn’t just a trend, but stood the test of time, and is now a classic.

Choosing the serving piece for your ample treat is up to your personal style. I use a beautiful oversized white rectangle glass plate with slight edges and a swirl of silver through the middle. If I don’t feel like digging out the plate, then I use one of our cutting boards, and it is just as tasty and delightful.

For accessories I have a few cheese knives, appetizer forks and spoons along with some small bowls to hold some of the yummy additions to the board like jams, dips, olives and more.

Now that you know what to place it all on, what will you include?

#1 – Cheese

The centerpiece of my board will be the selection of cheeses. I think high quality cheeses are best and should vary from soft to hard. When using hard cheeses I slice them, and add the softer cheese as a block so they can be cut right on the board with one of the provided knives. I begin with a foundation cheese like provolone, white cheddar or Gouda. Then I include spreadable soft varieties such as burrata and brie. Plus there are those that crumble well like goat and bleu.

#2 – Meats

Having a mix of meats is just as important as cheeses. In our home we love prosciutto, capicola, and sopressata. We do have friends who are vegan and/or vegetarian and when sharing a board with them we skip the meat, or I’ll make two separate smaller boards so Dean can have his sopressata.

#3 – Accents

For me, this is the fun part of the board. This is where I get to shop for those little touches that add that extra something. I do have some items that always show up like Maille Cornichons (my fave), and St. Dalfour Royal Fig Fruit Spread (another fave). I then like to hit the olive bar at the grocery to get various olives, stuffed peppers and marinated artichoke hearts. Then I need to round out these salty briny treats with some sweet. For the sweet I like fresh grapes, berries, apple slices, carrot sticks or even dried fruits like cranberries, cherries or apricots.

Don’t forget to add a mustard, hummus or other dips to give options. Then finish the ingredients with an artisan bread, thin grain crackers and even plain crackers. Charceuterie is whatever you want it to be, so play around with jams, chutneys and dips. Just don’t overload the board with too many options when two or three of each will do just fine.

#4 – Assembly

When you see an a charcuterie board online, most look like they were put together by an expert, but assembling your own is actually easier than you think. Watch some helpful videos or just jump in and go fot it and let your food muse guide you.

I find it works best if I start by placing the large food items on the board. This will include some of the cheese and meat selections. It may also include the bread, depending on what kind you chose. Next, arrange your bowls of olives, pickles, jams and dips. Then, neatly add anything that’s sliced, rolled, or folded. Once all the bigger items are placed, finish by filling the other spaces with the accents, including the crackers. You can also add grape leaves, sprigs of herbs like rosemary to just do some finishing touches. Your board, your choice!

You will notice I did not include nuts because so many have nut allergies, but feel free to add them to yours if you are good with them.

Style

Living Proof Dry Shampoo

Lora Knows...

There are some products that can switch up a daily beauty routine like no other, that’s what Living Proof Dry Shampoo has done for me. I used to wash my hair every other day to keep volume and sheen. However, as I’ve gotten older and busier I got into hair clips and other accessories, because they are the epitome of “isn’t my hair cute when pulled up”?

I’ve heard of dry shampoos, but didn’t know much about them. Then an amazing woman I work with, Jameson, talked about how she uses dry shampoo. She went on to explain that she starts using it when her hair is clean and then she doesn’t have to shampoo for days. Jamie is a successful real estate agent, mother of three beautiful kids and a wife, let’s not even talk about how many dogs she has! Let’s just say she is BUSY and her hair always looks amazing, so I was listening.

I wasn’t sure which dry shampoo would work for me, so I did go through a few before I decided it to spend $30 on the Living Proof Dry Shampoo. I have been using Living Proof shampoo, conditioner and hair styling products for years, and they are my trusted brand. I just didn’t want to pay that much for dry shampoo.

Enter – Game changer! From the first time I used it there was an immeidate improvement over the other brands. It cleaned like no other, didn’t leave a weird texture, no powdery film, and my volume and sheen stayed. 

When you first apply it there will be a slight white cast (I was like uh-oh), but no worries! It disappeared in less than a minute as it magically transforms hair from OK’ish to good hair day. This product doesn’t just cover up, it cleans up.

There are two types of dry shampoo from Living Proof, I use the Perfect Hair Day. When I apply it I do let it sit on my hair while I do my make-up, then I brush it through and style my hair for the day. It smells nice, looks nice, and a little goes a long way. Is it worth $30? You betcha! It is always in my hair routine.

 

Real Estate

End of Summer Landscape Love

Lora Knows...

With autumn on the horizon, you may be looking forward to the cool, breezy days ahead, and you’re not alone.

In fact, your landscaping probably can’t wait to say good riddance to these hot summer days full of overactive pests and dry, thirsty soil. However, fall is not without its unique challenges. As the sun sets on summer, take some time to conduct a little end-of-season maintenance and prepare for the fall climate conditions that are just around the corner.

Start with damage control. Assess the summer casualties in your garden, such as high-moisture or sun-averse plants that just couldn’t take the heat. Uproot any dead matter, and clean the soil out of freshly emptied garden pots, as dead roots may attract fungi.

Check your remaining plants for dry, dead growths, pruning them as needed. Use garden shears for this task, not your hands, to avoid damaging healthy growths in the process. Then pick and preserve any ripe fruits, vegetables, or herbs in your edible garden. You worked hard on this produce all summer, so ensure that it doesn’t go to waste. (Besides, if you don’t eat it, some ants gladly will.)

If you plan on filling any gaps in your garden with fall foliage, such as pansies and goldenrod, plant young growths—seeds likely won’t bloom in time for Thanksgiving. This is also the ideal time to plant new trees and shrubs as their roots will have ample time to mature in the soil before the winter frost arrives. Once you’re satisfied, surround any new additions to your yard and garden with a layer of mulch to help insulate fresh roots.

Summer may be peak weed season, but this problem won’t necessarily disappear with the approach of the fall equinox. Pick all weeds out of your lawn, ensuring that you fully uproot them; resilient weeds can rebound surprisingly fast if you don’t remove all of their roots.

The first frost can occur anywhere between September and December, depending on your region of the country. (The Farmer’s Almanac has a handy guide to probable frost dates for your area.) In anticipation of this climate turning point, aerate your lawn to loosen up compacted soil, and apply a thin layer of fertilizer.

Keep your mower handy too. Grass will continue growing up until the first frost occurs, so mow your lawn regularly before then. Set the blades to 4 inches to help keep your grass healthy and neat looking throughout August and September. If leaves start collecting on your lawn prematurely, feel free to mow right over them for now. Once dense layers of leaves collect later in fall, you’ll need to rake them before you mow.

Additionally, stay on top of your watering schedule. Stick to the low-light hours of dawn and dusk, even as cooler weather trickles in. Direct sun can evaporate moisture surprisingly fast, which wastes both water and money.

Tackle these tasks now, and you can enjoy a cozier autumn with minimal effort, less stress, and delightful views of the changing season outside your window.