Our Essential Brazilian Mix
Here is our essential Brazilian mix for home entertaining

Tribalistas** Ja Sei Namorar (Buscemi Remix)
Bebel Gilberto **Momento
Yerba Buena **La Candela
CéU **Roda
August Day Song (Bebel Gilberto / Tanto Tempo)
Who Needs Forever? Thievery Remix (Astrud Gilberto /Verve Remixed)
Deixa (Cibelle / Cibelle)
Mangue (The Ipanemas / Samba is Our Gift)
The In Samba (Nicola Conte & Kyoto Jazz Massive / Jet Sounds Revisited)
Agora só falta você (Maria Rita / Maria Rita)
Iyawo (Omar Sosa / Mulatos)
Insensatez (Paula Morelenbaum / Berimbaum)
Falsa Baiana - Bossa Cuca Nova Remix (Paulinho Moska / Woman On Top)
Lamento (No Morro) (Sergio Mendes & Maogani Quartet / Timeless)
Cristal (Yo-Yo Ma / Obrigado Brazil)
Eu Nasci No Brasil (Zuco 103 / One Down)

 

 

Clio Martini Glass
$9.95

Someone on the Casa Naranja staff is in the midst of purchasing a new home and has started her housewarming registry. As we oohhh and ahhhed over her selections, we all concluded on the one must have. This clever two-part martini glass keeps your drink on ice when it's not in your hand and brings hip cocktail-lounge styling to the home (or apartment) bar. It can easily be used as a shrimp or caviar server as well. From Crate and Barrel.

 

Brunch Anyone
Brunch is one of my all time favorite meals (I guess I have a lot of favorite meals). Any meal that encourages drinking at 11am gets kudos from me -- OJ and Champaign were born for each other. Here is a sampling of some bodacious brunch bebidas and comidas.I am partial to the classic Latin Café con leche coupled with Kahlúa-and-Baileys French Toast -- it's just enough to get me out of bed on the weekends!!

Café con leche
Ingredients:
3 cups whole or condensed milk
1 1/2 cups strong-brewed American coffee, espresso, or Cuban-style coffee
Preparation: In saucepan scald milk, but make sure it does not boil; or, steam milk in espresso maker following manufacturer’s instructions. Pour milk into mug and add coffee. Makes 6 servings.

Kahlúa-and-Baileys French Toast
Ingredients:
3 eggs
2 cups milk
3 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. Kahlúa coffee liqueur
1 tbsp. Baileys Irish cream
3 pinches salt
6 thick slices of cinnamon bread
1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
Preparation: Beat together eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, Kahlúa, Baileys, and salt. Over medium heat, heat lightly oiled skillet or griddle. Soak bread slices in egg mixture for 20 seconds on each side or until thoroughly coated. Cook bread until both sides are lightly browned and crisp. Sprinkle with confectioners´ sugar and serve hot. Makes 6 servings.

 
Fresh and Ultra-Easy Dishes Perfect for Stress-Free Entertaining

We've always loved the way Italians spend lazy afternoons sitting around the table lunching and drinking wine for hours. If you don't happen to have a fully staffed villa in Tuscany, you can get the effect with an easy spread featuring one of the following pasta dishes

Lasagna Sheets with Ricotta and Five Herbs

the ingredients:
(Serves 4)
1 package lasagna sheets (1 lb.)
20 chives (a small bunch)
10 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, stems removed
6 sprigs dill, stems removed
4 sprigs tarragon, stems removed
1 sprig mint, stems removed
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 container ricotta cheese (1 lb.)
zest of 1 lemon, chopped
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, roughly chop all the herbs together and set aside. Drop the lasagna sheets into the pot one at a time and cook, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until they're just al dente (see the package for recommended cooking times). Drain, then drizzle the olive oil directly into the colander and toss. Divide the sheets between 6 bowls, place a generous dollop of ricotta on top of each, and sprinkle liberally with the herb mixture, then the lemon zest, salt and pepper. Serve immediately.



 
Flowers For $50 or Less
Because we all know 1-800-flowers just doesn’t cut it sometimes…  

Elizabeth Ryan Floral Design
411 E. Ninth St.
212-995-1111

Pick up a charming, compact arrangement of flowers and unusual greens in a terra-cotta pot for only $40. Bonus: The designers never create the same arrangement twice. Add $10 for delivery.


Studio Artiflora
120 W. 28th St.
212-645-1177
> studioartiflora.com

This florist is one of the most accommodating and affordable in the city. $25 buys a one-of-a-kind "thank-you bouquet" in a small glass cube featuring a selection of fresh seasonal flowers with unusual green accents. Stop by or have it delivered-delivery adds an extra $16, but still gets the job done for $45, including tax.


Polux Fleuriste
248 Mott St.
212-219-9646

Charming and very French, this Nolita shop offers small bouquets of seasonal flowers and decorative moss arranged in vintage '40s pitchers for $50 (price good for pickups only).


Root Stock & Quade
297 Seventh Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn
718-832-1888

This serene shop filled with home accessories, plants, and flowers offers a $50 filler-free arrangement of striking, tightly packed blooms. For spring, look for bunches of grape hyacinth, tulips, and narcissus. Delivery is $5 in Park Slope, up to $15 further out in Brooklyn.


Seaport Flowers
214 Hicks St., Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
718-858-6443

No carnations, no baby's breath-just beautiful tulips, ranunculus, roses, calla lilies, orchids, and more combined with interesting seasonal accents like berries, ivy, and sweet pea. A low, lush coffee-table arrangement is $40. Free delivery in Brooklyn Heights; delivery out of the vicinity starts at around $6.


Prudence Designs
228 W. 18th St.
212-691-1356

Wooden crate centerpiece arrangements filled with freshly cut spring flowers start at $50 (delivery is $5 to $10 additional, $50 delivery minimum). For an even better deal, stop by for a $35 bouquet of mixed garden flowers handtied and wrapped in coconut bark and raffia-perfect for a hostess gift.

 

It's My Party
Written by Tipster

Your best friend’s wedding is coming up—of course you’re going to be excited. But let’s be honest, you’re really more enthusiastic about the fact that you finally have an excuse to throw a party.

You’ve been itching to try out those new summer recipes and show off your redecorated pad, but bridal showers and engagements don’t have to be the only reasons for celebrating with the girls. Round up a bunch of your closest fashionista friends and serve up brunch with Pop Ink fashion dinnerware plates.

These ultra-hip plastic plates come in a set of four classic Jackie-O-style designs. Set the table with an assortment of vintage fabrics as cloth napkins, and each guest could take it home as a party favor to be used as her very own one-of-a-kind hanky. The dishwasher-safe, non-microwavable plates are in limited quantity so be sure to grab enough for each girl.

It sounds like you have a lot of party planning to get started on. But we're betting you love every minute of it.

> Pop Ink fashion plates are available at www.Elsewares.com

 

Spring Cleaning
Get Organized 2006
With spring cleaning just around the corner kickstart you

> A six week plan to get organized for good

 

Furniture Is Like a Little Black Dress

Choosing furniture that looks great today, yet will survive the changing trends.

> Chic Blvd

 

 
 
Shakira

46offer

May 125x125

 
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