Less Is More

I am a recovering beauty product hoarder. There was a time when too much of anything was never enough. This motto was devatstating to any sense of visual peace in our home. In the past, when my vice and I were left to our own devises, the combination was a force of evil that unleashed it's wrath on any free bath, counter or cabinet space available. My mother-in-law recently asked me, "Do you remember your rows of shampoo and conditioner in the shower when you were a teenager?" Do I remember?! They were my pride and joy. Each bottle was proudly displayed and every shower was a new adventure -- The product determined the start of the day - sleek and straight, vamped and voluptuous or revitalized and renewed.

It should be no surprise that when the children came along, my product obsession went into over drive. Baby products are a whole new level of heaven to a product hoarder. There are so many new brands to try, each promising to nourish and protect your child ...  a win- win situation! How could I resist?

Last winter our entire family caught the Rota Virus and I spent night after night, disinfecting every single surface- big, small and minuscule - everything the children touched. Amidst my furious cleaning, I made a decision to call my pregnant girlfriends and stop them from registering for any baby paraphernalia they didn't need and most importantly ... I made a decision to simplify in every aspect of our home life. This included all products, beauty and baby alike. Enough was enough!

My new motto when it comes to products is: Less is more. Take my new favorite children's product: J.R. Liggett's Old-Fashioned Bar Shampoo for example. The greatest thing about these New England made, hand cut, eco-friendly bars is that they take up very little room in our children's little bathroom. Our tiny bar is 3.5 oz and yields approximately 24 oz worth of shampoo in a bottle. The lather is surprisingly rich and I love how fresh and clean my little darlings' heads smell apres bath. I discovered this little wonder at Whole Foods, but you can purchase your J.R. Liggett's Old-Fashion Bar Shampoo from the company website.

Happy Bathing!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

Pay It Forward

Mr. Darling often tells me (in his charming southern twang): Every breath is just another opportunity, Darlin'. I never expected the events of last week to prove this wonderful statement true yet again.

Last week was something I typically refer to as an "Alexander Week" - as in the book - "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst. Instead of taking you through the entire week, I'll take you through this past Friday.

In the morning, I committed city-dweller sin by not parallel parking close enough to the curb when I dropped off our daughter at school. When I exited the building, I discovered that the Septa bus was moving inch by inch because I had left the driver very little room to make it through the car-lined street. Fellow parents stopped and stared and and I was mortified by the chaos and traffic I caused. Finally, the bus pulled through and with a nervous hand, I flicked my sunglasses down from my forehead, ducked my brow and slipped into my car.

Later that morning, I spilled a hot pumpkin spiced latte all over my cashmere sweater and broke the strap of a favorite purse. After I changed, I brought our puppy Sailor to pick up Izzy from school.  I brilliantly made the mistake of only bringing one doggy bag with me. After it was put to good use, we walked through beautiful, clean, Society Hill and arrived in front of Izzy's school. Apparently Sailor was not finished with her business and I needed another bag.  This was obviously not ideal, as I did not have another one and this type of infraction is not tolerated ... with good reason. (A side note: I will never judge another person again for not picking up after their dog. I will give them the benefit of the doubt that they only brought one bag with them and already used it.)

I made my escape from the pick up area with Izzy and Sailor walking happily beside me, neither of them bothered by my second city-dweller sin of the day. Everyone got into in the car. I put my key in the ignition, turned it and ... NOTHING! The car would not start. I refused to believe it and after three tries, I took a deep breath and let reality wash over me.

I saw a man leaning against the Old Pine Community Center and asked him if he would be willing to give my car a jump start. He immediately said Yes. This man had to release his parking spot, drive around the block and then the wrong way down the narrow city street in order to face his truck to the front bumper of my car. You can imagine the endless honking horns and inappropriate comments made by pedestrians and drivers alike.

Once in position, the jump start took a matter of minutes. I was so thankful and relieved and I wanted to give him something in payment for his trouble, in addition to a big thank you. When I approached him with a rolled up $20 bill, he absolutely refused to accept it. He shook his head and said, "If it was my wife, I would want someone to do the same for her ... Don't you waste that on me". I thanked him again and headed back to my car.

After I fastened my seatbelt, I sat for a moment, crossed my arms over my chest and let the tears fall. It had truly been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week and that day was just the cherry on top of a lot of stress. The kindness and good will of that man, whose name I regrettably never learned, caught me completely off guard and I was extremely overwhelmed.

To you sir, the man who helped a very drained Mommy on a day, after a week that just would not go her way -- Thank You ...  thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have reminded me of the good in people and how much a little bit of effort and help really does make a very big difference. You have inspired me to pay it forward and let your actions be a lesson to my children as well.

We are in another week, and true to the ebb and flow of life, the baby was diagnosed with an ear infection, a throat infection and bronchitis. Izzy is making a full recovery from a similar virus that she came down with over the weekend. My thought is that it can only get better from here. Like Mr. Darling said, every breath is just another opportunity and I plan on taking full advantage of the many opportunities to make a difference or at least make someone smile.

With love,
Mrs. Darling

A Little Lady

Sometimes it takes longer to get out of the house than to prepare a five-course-meal. The baby must be changed and freshened up with a new diaper. The diaper bag must be prepared for any incident; hunger, thirst, dirty pants, fussy pants and germ infested hands. The dog must be tucked in her crate. Shoes put on feet.  Check to make sure you have your phone, wallet and keys. Finally, wait for the five- year- old to make her presence at the foot of the stairs? Yes! This is a common occurrence in the Darling home.

When I am ready to leave, keys in hand, back door wide open, Izzy is nowhere to be found. Where is she? She is just one color away from completing the world's most beautiful rainbow drawing.  She is changing her socks because I didn't tell her that her favorite ruffled pair were freshly laundered and sat in the clean clothes pile on our bed. She can't find her ballerina necklace, you know, "the one who dances on her tippy toes" that Pop gave her. We thought we heard just about every excuse in the book for why our eldest darling "will be down in just one more minute,"until this past Sunday.

After a long day I had to make a quick stop into Target. Sadly, Mack's need for baby Vicks and infant Tylenol heavily outweighed the need to shop the new Phillip Lim for Target collection (fabulous  - at least from what I glanced at on my way to the 10 items or less aisle).  I stood at the bottom of the steps, baby on hip, twirling my keys around my forefinger and called, "Come on Iz! What's the hold up love?" She appeared cooly at the top of the steps, fiddling with her purse zipper and said:

"Mommy, a lady never leaves the house without her purse."

Stunned into silence, I didn't even have the chance to tell her to hold onto the railing before she was down the stairs. Her feet slipped effortlessly into her flats and her little five-year-old self was out of the door and into her booster seat.

Still flabbergasted and secretly fist pumping, I grabbed the diaper bag, set the alarm and closed the door behind me. My first thought was: Heaven help us. My second thought was: A diaper bag counts as a purse ... right?

My children never cease to amaze me, especially when it comes to what comes out of their mouths. My inner fashionista beams again and I've made a mental note to talk with Iz about the elements that go into making a lady. I hope this little story gave you as big of a chuckle as the experience gave me!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

Aunts Uncles Family Friends

"Me, Brudder and Aunties" - An Original by Izzy, our budding artist

When I was a young girl, my parents referred to our nearest and dearest friends as Aunts and Uncles. They never took the place of my Aunts and Uncles by blood, but the terms showed respect, and more so, acknowledged that they were as close to us as family. Our children are growing up with the same regard for our very dear friends.

There is no doubt that one's closest friends may as well be blood relatives. Now a days families are spread apart across the country and in our case, the world. When Mr. Darling and I were stationed in Virginia Beach, our friends became our family. They joined the ranks of Auntie Jess, my darling sister by a friendship that began ten years ago when we met during our Syracuse University orientation - and Auntie Liz, my darling sister by Bro-mance - her husband and Mr. Darling go back to the "Good Old Boy" days in Louisville, Kentucky.  As a family, we have shared life, loss, joy and sorrow. To hear our children refer to them as Auntie or Uncle makes us smile all the way to our core.

I remember the nights I used to spend with Tee Tee (Izzy, still too young to pronounce Auntie, so my girlfriend Casey became Tee Tee ). While our husbands were deployed on training trips together, she and I would make dinner for each other, alternating nights at each other's home. One of us would bathe the children after dinner while the other would prepare their jammies and pull-ups. While the little ones got their final thirty minutes of playtime, we could sit down and enjoy a glass of wine. Afterward, one of us would walk across the street to our home and we would do it all again the next evening. Casey and I made a team, a typical military family. During those nights, everything was okay. While the worry about our husbands never left us, we could find contentment in the feeling that we had a family in each other. It is memories like this that illustrate something my father once said: There is no limit on love. Love is endless and it can be shared in a way that is sincere and generous by anyone who is willing to give it.

As a parent, it is a relief and a blessing to us that no matter where we are, our children are surrounded by very special Aunties and Uncles who love them limitlessly and with heartfelt sincerity. The comfort and security of this knowledge, that only friendship and unconditional love brings, is truly humbling. After all, what is greater and more powerful than the feeling of family?

With love,
Mrs. Darling

One For The Good Guys: A Lesson On Personal Style

When Mr. Darling and I discovered that our daughter would be wearing a uniform in Kindergarten this year, we immediately locked eyes, slapped our hands together in a massive high five, and declared, "One for the Good Guys!"

What no one but Mr. Darling, our son McClain and I hear in the morning is the phrase, "But it's not fancy enough!" This somewhat benign phrase, from the lips of our darling daughter,  turns into a whining chant that makes me want to tear out my hair strand by strand. In fact, it would probably be more painful to listen to our daughter whining about the fanciness of her outfit than it would be to light my entire head on fire.

I suppose this is payback for the mornings that I tortured my own mother because I refused to wear anything but a party dress to school. One lesson I have learned again and again, even in parenting, is: What goes around, comes around. No child can understand this. If it was possible, I would have been the on the straight and narrow from the word "What".

The introduction of a uniform leaves no question as to what our darling may wear during the week. There is no option except for what color jumper she would like to wear in the warmer months and whether she would prefer to wear khaki pants with a button down blouse or her wool jumper in the colder months.  Fortunately for Izzy, her school uniforms are absolutely charming! At the start of this school year, she may wear a pastel pink, blue or yellow jumper with a white Peter Pan Collared shirt, knee or ankle socks and Mary - Jane shoes. Is that not the definition of The Little Girl Uniform? I don't know who would rather wear it at this point, she or me? (Don't answer that, Darling).

After I had to explain that jewelry was not allowed at school because the goal was to remain the same in appearance, Izzy asked, "Well, isn't it important to be different?" (YES, Darling! Yes!).  I further explained that the most important thing is not what you put on your body, but how you carry yourself, how you treat others and how you act as a human being in a community of other human beings and learning and knowing how to contribute to that society in a constructive and meaningful way.

For as much as I live and breath for fashion, parenthood has also taught me that there will be days when I'm lucky just to get my hair out of my face. These types of days, where walking over to my closet means that McClain will follow me, rip out my clothes while I'm trying to find something to wear and dump whatever he can get his tiny hands on into the shower or on the floor, are becoming more and more frequent with each physical milestone met by the littlest darling. Now that he is climbing, it is nearly impossible to even brush my teeth in the morning because in the time it takes me to put the toothpaste on my toothbrush, he has usually climbed on top of the toilet and begun to try and dance about on the lid. Travertine floors and an 18 month old head do not do well went met at falling speed. The toothbrush hangs out of the corner of my mouth and I have to finish brushing with one hand holding my darling monkey-baby before he finds something else to climb on.

On these days when I'm feeling unkempt and unsophisticated, I occasionally wonder what happened to the days of effortless chic? The truth is, when I think about it, those days weren't always so effortless. I constantly thought about what I was going to wear, what my outfit would say about me and how I could translate what was editorially chic with my current wardrobe. With the passing years, and now that our daughter is wearing a uniform to school, I've come to find real meaning in the phrase: Style is personal and innate. Personal style makes chic possible and effortless every day... specifically the style of one's manner and demeanor towards others.

So far with the start of school and the introduction of a uniform for Izzy, mornings have been pleasant, relatively peaceful and I still have my hair. It may only be swept out of my eyes, but our vision as a family is clearer and our daughter is learning the importance of showing her individuality at school with her actions and thoughts. Weekends are a completely different story!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

Weekly PD: A Helping Hand

This week's Pixie Dust came in the form of a friend's helping hand ... my friend Diana's hand, to be exact. She saved me from myself when I was melting under the heat and the pressure of survival.

These past five days seemed to be like a fragile parcel tied with string, except the "parcel" was a compilation of mishaps and milestones that were bundled together in a flimsy package. I was the string ...  attempting to hold it all together. Our air-conditioning broke ... AGAIN and our home was overcome with intense heat and humidity for 2 days. Our puppy Sailor was still mourning her sister - taking me back to the days of getting up 3 times a night. Izzy started Kindergarten yesterday (I still can't believe it) and the Fra Diavolo (Brother Devil) found a fondness for climbing. He climbed up on top of our entertainment unit and tried to rip the television off the wall, he climbed out of his high chair, smearing pasta and meatballs all over everything he touched and he later attempted to scale the walls of his bathroom by using the jet holes in the bathtub to leverage his feet. Oh, and Mr. Darling is away. Maintaining my "Positive Mental Attitude", a term coined by Mr. Darling while talking to our daughter about the importance and power of staying positive, became the least of my goals. This week, my goal was just to survive. This goal has been the theme of many weeks in the past, but for whatever reason, this week I struggled more than I have been.

Diana must have sensed this and she had the children and me over for a playdate and dinner. Getting out of our sauna, watching our children play, seeing my friend and being able to talk with another adult about life, kids and everything in between, brought me back from feeling like a thin string trying to contain life in a flimsy package. I could take a deep breath and let go of trying to keep it all together. I gained perspective on what was going on around me and  I left her home with my original goal: Maintain A Positive Mental Attitude.

Setting goals is necessary in order to achieve what one wants out of life, but sometimes we are so focused on reaching, that we forget the small goals like connecting the dots in one's day to day life or simply, just getting through the day or in my case, the week. I used to find so much shame in not being able to do it all, but as each day passes and my children get older, I have learned that there is no shame in needing a little escape from reality, to go to a friend and say, "I just want to throw my hands up". For me, just getting out and venting to Diana gave me a little bit of peace.

Here's to the beginning of the weekend and taking life as it comes, one step at a time.

With love,
Mrs. Darling

A Darling Night Before Kindergarten

This week has been bittersweet. At some point, I don't know when or how, our baby daughter grew up to be five-years-old. Tomorrow she will begin Kindergarten. I keep shaking my head, saying, "This can't be!" Part of me secretly wants to bundle her up and never let her go.

What keeps me from following through with my secret desire, is that I have been looking forward to this age with Izzy for a long time. I couldn't wait for the day that she would be old enough to carry on a real conversation, where her own personality and thoughts could shine through. So far she has yet to disappoint ... this child is no shrinking violet! She recently asked me why she couldn't stay up passed her bedtime and when I told her that I was concerned that she would wake up with a negative attitude, her response was, "Well, you stay up later than me and now I'm really concerned about YOUR attitude in the morning". This type of exchange is classic Izzy - witty, strong minded and loving. It is a perfect example of why I constantly yearn to hear her inner voice, even if it proves to be a challenge at bedtime.

As a child, I felt confident in my own skin and I wasn't afraid to express what I thought and felt. This was due to my parents' ability to maintain their role as parents while simultaneously allowing me to talk with them, openly, honestly and from my heart.

As a parent, I have learned that part of the joy of parenting is getting to know your child for who they are as individuals. It is a bizarre and lovely experience to see oneself, partner, or parents in ones children but nothing compares to what it's like to see them becoming their own person ... no matter how little that person may be. Walking Izzy confidently to her classroom door, letting go of her hand and allowing her to continue to grow as the bright, self assured and caring young lady that she is, is probably one of the best things I could do for her tomorrow and every day after.

It's a happy coincidence that Izzy's first day of school coincides with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, when we welcome another year and wish that it may be healthy, happy and sweet. Since Mr. Darling has been called away for the next few weeks, he will be missing her first day of school. We know that this is a hard reality for our daughter and instead of focusing on Daddy not being present, we are highlighting all the amazing things that are ahead ... A Darling Night Before Kindergarten Dinner, for example!

Tonight, my darling daughter, son and I will be enjoying everything sweet for a beautiful New Year and start of school. Check out a few of the dishes that I have prepared. A couple of them are my family's traditional holiday favorites, but the dessert is a favorite sweet of my sweet! The Darling Family extends a toast in honor of a New Year, a new beginning and the sweet reward of spreading your wings and learning to fly.  Enjoy!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

THE MENU

Mrs. Darling's Holiday Roast Chicken

Tzimmes

Mrs. Fleischer's Sweet Kugel

Mrs. Darling's Sauteed Kale

Make Your Own Sundae - Darling Style

THE SERVEWARE
Bernardaud Platter - Mrs. Darling's Everyday China
Vintage Limoge Serving Bowl From The Darling Family Collection
Glassware: William Yeoward compote bowl, vintage etched glass (Wildflower)
 Vintage Limoge Ice-cream Dishes From The Darling Family Collection
Fabergé Silver Spoons (Gatchina Palace) From The Darling Family's Silverware

MRS DARLING'S HOLIDAY ROAST CHICKEN

Yield: 8 Servings

Approximate Time: 1 1/2 hours

One 4-5 lb whole chicken, preferably organic

1 Golden Delicious apple, cut and quartered

1 Granny Smith apple, cut and quartered

1 yellow onion, cut and quartered

1 orange, sliced in large pieces

1 bayleaf

1/2 cup of honey

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon paprika

salt and pepper

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees
*Rinse chicken inside and out with cold water. (if you have time, you can brine the chicken in a bowl of ice cold water and kosher salt). Pat dry with paper towel.
*Mix 1/4 cup of honey and lemon juice. Set aside
*Season chicken in and out with a mixture of salt, pepper and paprika
*Mix apples, onion, sliced orange and 1 bay leaf
*Stuff the chicken with apple mixture and tie the poultry legs together with twine.
*Put chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and roast for approximately 15 minutes per pound, basting chicken with lemon-honey mixture every 15 minutes.
*Roast until well browned and clear juices flow out of the leg when it is pierced with a fork or knife.
*Allow to rest for 20 minutes before carving

 TZIMMES

Yield: 6-8 servings

Approximate Time: 1 hour

2 pounds sweet potatoes, diced

4 carrots, cut in chunks

1 cup of prunes

1/2 cup jumbo raisins

1/2 cup dried apricots

2 cups orange juice

1 tablespoon potato starch

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

peel of one orange

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*combine sweet potatoes and carrots in a microwavable dish
*Pour 1/2 cup orange juice and microwave for 2-4 minutes
*put mixture in a casserole dish and add prunes, raisins, apricots, honey, sugar, cinnamon, the remaining orange juice, orange peel and potato starch. Mix well
*Bake for 1 hour or until very tender when pierced with a fork

 MRS FLEISCHER'S SWEET KUGEL

Yield: 8-10 servings

Approximate Time: 45-60 minutes

1/2 lb medium noodles

3 eggs, separated

1/2 cup melted butter

1/4 cup sour cream

1 cup sugar

4 oz cream cheese

1 lb cottage cheese

1/2 teaspoon, vanilla

apricot marmalade

*Preheat over to 350 degrees
*cook noodles in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside
*mix yolks with butter, sour cream, 1/4 cup of sugar, cream cheese, cottage cheese and vanilla. Blend well
*Beat egg whites until frothy and gradually add in 3/4 cup of sugar
*continue beating until stiff but not dry
*fold meringue into the yolk mixture
*pour mixture in a casserole dish and bake for 30- 35 minutes
*remove from oven and spoon the apricot marmalade on top and dot with butter
*Bake an additional 10 minutes, until golden

MRS DARLING'S SAUTEED KALE

Yield: 4 servings

Approximate Time: 20 minutes

1 pound kale, torn in large pieces

1 red apple, cut in matchstick pieces

2 shallots, sliced

1 tablespoon Ghee

1 teaspoon Harissa 

2 tablespoons agave nectar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon rind

1 tablespoon silvered almonds, toasted

*Heat ghee in a large saute pan that will accommodate all of the kale
*Saute shallots and add harissa, 1 tablespoon agave and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for one minute
*Add kale, mixing to blend evenly. Cover and cook for one minute.
*Uncover and add apples and lemon rind. Stir and cook until kale is wilted
*Add lemon juice, taste and correct seasoning to taste
*transfer to a serving dish
*sprinkle with slivered, toasted almonds

MAKE YOUR OWN SUNDAE

Anything goes! Below are a few of the Little Darling's sundae favorites.

"Mommy! Can we have those silvery jewels on our sundaes?" - The Darling asked ... She shall receive!

These were just too cute to pass up!

Make Your Own Sundae - Darling Style

This dish will not run away with the spoon ... the Little Darlings would never let that happen

These recipes were created in collaboration with Lory Fleischer, Cook/Pastry Chef, graduate of the FRENCH CULINARY INSTITUTE (Classic Pastry Arts).

Weekly PD: Simple Pleasures

Last weekend our very dear family friends, Aunt Joann and Uncle Scott came to visit us and as always, they came bearing gifts for our Little Darlings. Our eldest darling opened up her package and squealed with excitement, "I've never had a jump rope before!" The deal was that if she ate all her dinner, we would go out together and I would teach her how use her new gift. She lived up to her end of the bargain and under the light of the stars (and a flood light) I taught my daughter how to jump rope. I showed her how to hold the handles and as I demonstrated the process, I could feel my inner child swell with excitement and a huge smile spread across my face. I could feel the flush of the blood in my cheeks and as I handed over the jump rope to my daughter I felt more alive than I had in quite some time. Watching her delight in the fun of it all was just as satisfying as knowing that she was expelling energy in a healthy way. We jumped until it was time for bed. We jumped first thing in the morning, through the weekend and into this week!

The whole experience led me to ask myself: Is Izzy reacting to the novelty of an exciting gift, or the elation that comes with discovering the fun in something so simple?

We jump from activity to activity, passing each day while keeping our eye on the schedule for the next. We indulge and are constantly in search of the latest that technology has to offer. In doing so, we lose track of the simple pleasures like jumping rope, a classic childhood pastime that can even turn back time for any adult - when the physical act of jumping can lead to a spiritual jump for joy. I feel that it's moments like these that  parents and children alike get the most clarity. We do not embrace the novelty of the present, but instead, we embrace the novelty of bringing back a pleasure from the past. Our inner joy is awakened by feet slapping on the pavement, fresh air filling our lungs and the pleasure of creating our own moment in time.

I am so grateful for the affirmation that it really is the little things in life that bring the most pleasure.

With love,
Mrs Darling

Mommy Chicest - Wendy Hirschberg Clurman

Image Courtesy of Wendy Hirschberg Clurman

In 1987, Wendy Hirschberg Clurman began her career at Seventeen magazine, rising to become the publication's Fashion Market Director. She would then go on to become the Fashion Director (market) at Vogue Magazine, reporting directly to Anna Wintour. In September 2002, Wendy established her own freelance Fashion Consulting Business, working with clients such as Theory, Nili Lotan, Magaschoni, Kors by Michael Kors, Matthew Williamson, Anne Klein and Esteé Lauder. Today, Wendy is the VP Fashion Director of the Jones New York Brand under The Jones Group. Throughout the span of her career thus far, she has also taken on the roles of Wife to Michael and Mother to her beautiful daughters, Charlie and Piper. I began working for Wendy during the summer of 2005 when I was still an intern at Marie Claire Magazine. One of my first and fondest memories of Wendy is of her and her then baby daughter, Charlie, snuggling up before one of her consulting appointments. She looked incredibly chic, with the effortless glamour of having it all. I remember constantly being transfixed by the ease and grace of her balance between motherhood and maintaining a highly respected name within the fashion industry, which is in no small part due to her diligent work and undeniable talent. Wendy has been a source of inspiration to me from the day we met and that inspiration has stayed with me as I welcomed my own children into the world.

After founding Darling's Pixie Dust, I approached Wendy about checking in with her periodically about her thoughts on Motherhood and Style, to which she has graciously accepted. Our installments will be short, three question segments - the perfect dose for Mommies on the go. Enjoy!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

Image Courtesy of Wendy Hirschberg Clurman

MD: How has Motherhood changed you?

WHC: Motherhood caused a total shift in my priorities and what is important to me. It puts everything in perspective - Nothing is more important to me than my husband and children and spending time with them.

MD: What is your day-to-day Pixie Dust?

WHC: Cappuccinos and my assistants keep me sane and balanced!

MD: What is your biggest advice to Mothers for maintaining their Chic Card while balancing life and Motherhood?

WHC: Find what looks good on you and stick to a uniform. For me - It's skinny pants, with a blazer and soft shirting. Just because something looks good on your mommy friend, may not be the case for you.

*Stay tuned for more Q&A with Wendy in the coming months!

A Darling End of Summer Dinner

For the past six weeks, Mr. Darling and I have done what most young couples AND their respective parents dread the most: we moved back home.  - I should quickly state that this "dread" merely stems from the common notion that a married couple with children and man's best friend in tow should be established in their own home.

Nevertheless, we set up camp within the walls of my childhood home and I have to say that there is no doubt in my mind that my parents are well on their way to Sainthood. They have been gracious and loving hosts to our family as Mr. Darling completed his OB/GYN rotation over these past several weeks at my hometown Hospital. By opening up their home to us, my parents allowed our family to remain whole instead of enduring another separation. In return, Lola and Pop (their grandparents titles) opened themselves up all over again to every manner of early childhood trials and tribulations in addition to the daily joys of being with their grandchildren. My dad often remarked that this time around was much more enjoyable, because as grandparents, at the end of the day, after they had indulged the children's every whim, they could hand them back to their parents. As a grandparent, it's all about pleasure. I noticed that even with the most tedious of chores, my parents found delight in sharing each moment with my babies.

There was one evening when my mother was folding a mountain of laundry. I was in the process of ordering my daughter's  school uniforms and our little darling, feeling the boredom that comes from being five years old with idle hands, asked my mother if she could help her fold it all. It must be said that my mother has particular ways of doing things and I could already see the hesitation in her eyes before she, once again, indulged her granddaughter's wish. Sure enough, my little darling passed Lola's folding test with flying colors and when my mother asked her how she learned to fold so well, she looked straight into Lola's eyes, and with dramatic sincerity, said, "I just fold with my heart". My mother laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face. I thought she was going to need oxygen because she could barely catch her breath.   

I think perhaps one of the nicest parts about being home with my parents for six weeks, was that they too were once a young couple, overcoming the many obstacles that medical school brings. They could empathize with the complexity of our day to day life, especially after having lived it with us for several weeks.  They encouraged us every day that we were going to make it through, knowing how grueling this time can be and countlessly told us of their admiration for us as parents in the midst of our chaotic life. I can speak for Mr. Darling when I say that having them behind us, cheering all the way, has gotten us through some pretty stressful times this summer. 

As our time with them draws to an end, with the help of my brother, my mother and I decided to throw an end of summer dinner in celebration of not only our time spent together, but also the end of tripping over tiny shoes, jelly smeared finger prints all over my mother's custom made cabinets, and the occasional 4 am wake up call from the littlest darling. Our menu selections were chosen to highlight the very best of our basic summer fare favorites. Featured in this post are our recipes and photographs of our delicious dishes, tablescape and entertaining pieces.

THE MENU

Oysters with A Darling Mignonette

Nanny Gerties Turnip Salad

Crabmeat Gratin

Grilled Chilean Sea Bass with Fruit Salsa Over Tomato Puree

Steamed Broccoli With Toasted Walnuts

Fresh Fruit With a Berry Liqueur Glaze

Apricot Tarte

THE SERVEWARE

Vintage Limoges Oyster Plates From The Darling Collection

China: Limoges Clay, Bernadaud - Louvre Pattern

Vintage Glassbake Gratin Dishes From The Darling Collection

Spode Platter:  Mrs. Darling's College China

Italian Glass Serving Bowl and Pitcher: Massimo Lunardon - Bergdorf Goodman

Vintage Glassware: An heirloom from Mrs. Darling's Maternal Grandmother

Silver Place Settings: An heirloom from Mrs. Darling's Maternal Grandmother

Table Linens: Loretta Caponi, Florence, Italy (www.lorettacaponi.com)
Petite Vases/Place Card Holders: Flowers On Chestnut, Nantucket MA 

A DARLING MIGNONETTE

Yield: 1/2 Cup
Approximate Time: 15 minutes

2-3 very firm tomatoes, diced

1/2 jalapeño, thinly sliced

1 large shallot, diced

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Rind of 1 lime

salt and pepper to taste

2 drops of agave

1 splash of tequila

*Combine all ingredients and allow to macerate for an hour.
*Taste and correct seasoning before serving.

NANNY GERTIE'S TURNIP SALAD

Yield: 4-6 Servings

Approximate Time: 30 minutes

1-2 large Turnips

1 medium Vidalia Onion, thinly sliced

1 medium Watermelon Radish or 2-3 small regular Radishes, thinly sliced

 1 firm Tomato, seeded and diced (Optional)

1 tablespoon Parsley, chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

1-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

IN THE MORNING:

*Peel turnip and grate by hand or in a food processor

*Soak the first three ingredients in separate bowls of cold water. Refrigerate until you are ready to use them. This method ensures the crispiness of the vegetables.

*Just before serving, add the tomato (if desired), parsley, salt and pepper and drizzle the olive oil. 

*Taste and correct seasoning if needed

*Serve immediately  

CRABMEAT GRATIN

Yield: 4-6 Servings
Approximate Time: 60 minutes

3 cups Lump or Backfin Crabmeat

1/2 medium red onion diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 large tomato, diced

2 tablespoons parsley, coarsely chopped

1/3 cup Panko

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/2 teaspoon lemon thyme

1-2 teaspoons lemon juice  

5-6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees
*Saute the onions and garlic in 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, until softened
*Add the diced tomato. Cook for 1 minute
*Season with salt and pepper to taste
*Add lemon thyme and lemon juice
*Cool the mixture slightly
*While mixture is cooling, mix the Panko, parsley and 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
*Very lightly, mix the onion - tomato mixture with the crabmeat. You want to avoid compacting the mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning
*Spoon in to desired dish and sprinkle the top with the Panko mixture
*Bake for 6-7 minutes - until golden

GRILLED CHILEAN SEA BASS WITH FRUIT SALSA OVER TOMATO PUREE

Yield: 6 Servings

Approximate Time: 1 1/2 hours

 Six 7 ounce Chilean Sea Bass Fillets 

3 Kumato tomatoes, diced

1 firm mango, diced

1/2 red onion, diced

1tablespoon chopped scallions

1 16 ounce can diced tomatoes

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 shallot diced

extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

Tomato Puree
*Saute garlic and shallots in 1 -2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
*Add diced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste.
*Simmer until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes
*Pour into food processor or blender and puree
*Using a fine strainer, strain the mixture into a bowl by pressing on the solids
*Discard the solids and set the bowl of strained mixture aside

Fruit Salsa
*Mix Kumato tomatoes, mango, red onion and scallions in a bowl
*Salt and pepper to taste
*Set mixture aside

Grilled Chilean Sea Bass
*Lightly drizzle the fish fillets with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper
*Heat a griddled cast iron pan on stovetop under medium heat
*Once the pan is very hot, sear fish on each side according to desired doneness

Assembly
*Pour 1/4 cup of tomato puree in the middle of your desired dinner plate
*Top with salsa
*Gently place fish over salsa and serve

STEAMED BROCCOLI WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Yield: 6 Servings
Approximate Time: 30 minutes

2 large heads of broccoli, cut into segments

4 cloves of garlic, sliced or crushed

1/4 cup walnut oil

salt and pepper

1/2 cup shelled walnuts

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*Spread walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 - 10 minutes, or until golden
*While the walnuts are still hot, drizzle with a tablespoon of the walnut oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper
*Set aside
*Fill a medium sized pot up to 1/3 of the way with water and bring to a boil
*Use a steamer insert filled with the separated heads of broccoli and place it over the boiling water
*Allow broccoli to steam over the pot until it changes to a bright green color (5-7 min), broccoli should still have a bite to it.
*Meanwhile, warm 2-3 tablespoons of walnut old and saute garlic until golden and set aside
*When broccoli is ready, transfer it into a large bowl. Season it with salt and pepper and add sautéed garlic.
*Drizzle with the remaining walnut oil and toss gently with the toasted walnuts
*Transfer to a serving bowl and serve

FRESH FRUIT WITH A BERRY LIQUEUR GLAZE
Approximate Time: 1 hour

Honeydew

Mango

Starfruit

Kiwi

Strawberries

Blackberries

Raspberries

Fresh Figs

1 jar cherry preserve

Rind of 1 lemon

1 cup of simple syrup (1 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water, simmer until dissolved. Cool before using)

1-2 tablespoons raspberry liqueur (*optional)

Berry Liqueur Glaze
*Mix preserve, simple syrup and lemon rind in a sauce pot
*Boil until thickened, skimming impurities or scum that rises to the surface. Remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly
*Add raspberry liqueur one tablespoon at a time (taste before you add the second tablespoon, if it suits your taste, stop at one tablespoon)

Assembly
*Cut each fruit according to your personal preference
*Layer fruit in a bowl of your choice
*Drizzle berry glaze 30 minutes before serving. This allows for the fruit to macerate in its own juices.

*Note: If liqueur is not used and glaze thickens too much when cooled, use a squeeze of orange or lemon juice with simple syrup to liquefy.

APRICOT TARTE

One 9 inch Tarte
Approximate Time: 1 1/2 hours

2 pounds ripe but firm Apricots, pitted and cut into quarters

Dough

1 1/14 cup all purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1/8 teaspoon baking powder

5 tablespoons butter

1 egg yolk

2 tablespoons water

*Combine yolk and water and set aside
*Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl
*Cut in the butter until it is the size of peas
*Add yolk and water mixture until it comes together
*Gather into a ball and wrap in plastic
*Allow to rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour. (Before using, allow to come back to room temperature)
*Roll out dough into a 10 inch round and drape over a buttered tart pan
*Press dough against the bottom and sides of the pan
*Cut top and chill while you prepare the filling

Filling

1 egg and 1 egg yolk

2 tablespoons of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of almond extract

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 tablespoons melted butter

*Beat egg, yolk, sugar and almond extract in a kitchen mixer
*Add flour, baking powder and melted butter
*Mix until well blended

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees
*Spread filling on the bottom of the tart pan. It will be thin.
*Arrange the apricots over the filling, cut side up, covering the entire bottom
*Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and allow to cool
*Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving



I've come to find that when entertaining for a larger group, a simple menu is best, but when you have a small group of six or less, one has more flexibility to play with a more complex menu and accompany the dishes with more meaningful serveware. This dinner's serveware has a lot of meaning to me as it was collected from the time I was fifteen years old to present day at twenty-eight. My mother started my Hope Chest for me when I was fifteen and through out the years we have each added to its contents. Our Darling End of Summer Dinner was the very first time we used the Loretta Caponi table linens that I had purchased at the age of twenty in the beautiful city of Florence when I visited with my art history class while studying abroad in London.


I hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed creating it with my mother. It was an incredible experience to entertain with her, even though it was just for our little family. There was so much love and laughter (a few disagreements of course) and even though the plates have been cleared and the linens laundered, we will forever share the memories of not only cooking in the same kitchen, but the six weeks where we got to intertwine our lives ... both of us mothers ... both of us friends. We hope that you will try one, two or all of these recipes!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

My favorite oyster plates - my mother and I share them. We found them together while antiquing last summer.

Izzy Darling's very first oyster! It was not well received, but the most important thing was that it TRIED it! 

Loretta Caponi Table Linens

Our latest summer find - Vintage Glassbake gratin dishes! They are displayed on the Spode china that I chose for my first college apartment. One of the best things about going home is finding items from your past! 

How much fun is this pitcher? We named the crab Cecil!

Hello Cecil!

These glass vases/place card holders were an amazing find from Flowers on Chestnut, a fabulous Nantucket florist and gift shop. They have everything you need when creating a unique, yet quiet tablescape with flowers. 

Our table before the guests of honor were seated