Make your bedroom, your retreat

Creating a bedroom retreat is what we all need. I see it time and time again where we will renovate every other room in the home and leave our master bedrooms looking like it doesn't even belong in the house. We all need a place to escape from whatever it is to relax and regenerate ourselves.

The size of the room doesn't matter, it needs the most comfortable bedding you can afford for a restful night sleep. Proper lighting such as ambient for all over general light, task for reading and mood lighting. Lots of Colours and texture buy way of paint, pillows, throws, accent furniture, art and flowers. Most important absolutely no clutter.


Create your own oasis and you will have a better day and nightzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

before and afters

Home party buffet tips and hints

Buffets are a great way to serve large groups of people and when having a party. When have a buffet at home you will need to create a place in which to set up your food. Depending on your space you can use the kitchen counter, and island or pop up tables. A good flow is important when laying out your items as you want to avoid confusion and direction. If you have the space keep table away from the wall to allow access from all sides but if not no worries.

Because there will be so many things and colours on the table, a plain table cloth will work best as you want your food to be showcased and not looked cluttered. To maximize your area surface using tiers will allow for more items and create visual interest as well. Tiers can be created by simply putting sturdy boxes or bowls under the table cloth to create various heights. There are also tier plate holders and stands as well a chaffing dishes to keep foods warm available to buy or rent.

The china, napkins and cutlery should all be in one are together, this will help guests to have a starting point and gather all they need and move along. Set up glass ware and drinks and desserts on a small table in another section to allow for free flow of the food table.

Use your own flare and discretion for the food placement but its best to keep things in a logical order such as napkins, cutlery, dishes, appetizers, main entree foods, sides, salads. Try to make foods that can be made ahead of time and warmed up before serving and use foods with lots of colours and textures so it looks appetizing.

Foods and Moods

Its amazing how just the smell of food can affect us. We don't all get affected in the same way,everyone has a different reaction to certain scents that fill the air. I like to think its like perfume, some are attracted to fruity and some to spicy, some to sweet etc. With the right aromas and combination's there is sure something to extract juices from our taste buds.

Entering a room filled with tantalizing smells along with the right atmosphere will immediately put us in the right state of mind to indulge in the ritual of consuming food and drink. Whether its breakfast in bed, a cocktail party, an intimate dinner or a family buffet, it's important to make it perfect. When its done right all of our senses become awakened. And who knows what else.

Rose Arangio for Appetites and Spaces

What's so big about a meatball sandwich....The taste of course

I love making sauce with meatballs because it adds so much flavor to the sauce. Paired with spaghetti, need I say more? I always make way more then I need because there is nothing better for lunches or dinner the next day then a homemade meatball sandwich topped with melted provolone on a crusty bun.

I know I'm supposed to be thinking spring time foods and I was until I looked outside this lovely March 23rd morning in Canada and I saw snow and it's cold. I immediately craved comfort food to get me through this chilly day. I do crave veggies too but I think I will have them steamed so they are warm as well.

Mushrooms, fried red peppers, Hot chilies mmmm, just some topping possibilities I'm already thinking about for tomorrow.

Appetites and Spaces

Picture perfect pizza

As a side,snack or a complete meal, I am always up for a good pizza. Baking pizza at home fills the air with mouth watering aromas and tantalizes the taste buds. If I ever put my house up for sale, I will bake a pizza before the open house.

You can choose the level of difficulty when making your own pizza. Begin with making the dough from scratch if you have the time or buying a ready made dough the possibilities are endless. White or whole wheat, a simple thin crust with fresh tomato basil sauce and cheese or hearty thick crust with loads of toppings, it's all good and up to you. There are a few very important things you need for a great pizza:
A really good dough,a tasty tomato sauce and a stone pizza tray. Anything you put on top after that will all taste good.

Eating it right out of the tray with a beer or served on white linens, fine dinnerware, candlelight and wine you can choose the ambiance depending on the occasion.

What's better than chocolate, strawberries and champagne?

I love this dessert, it fulfills my every craving for something sweet and something bubbly. Easy to make and quick. all you need is chocolate and strawberries or I dip everything I can just to see what it will taste like.

The ambiance I would do here is super easy as well(if its dinner for 2) Just dim the lights really low and light candles, pop open the bubbly and enjoy your tasty sweet treats.

If its for more than 2 well then you can serve individually or put on a pedestal tray in the center of the table, makes for an eye catching center piece. I like to use small wooden sticks as handles on some. Get creative and use all sorts of toppings. Try using all sorts of fruits. Fun to make, but more fun to eat.

Yummy for sure, enjoy

Rose Arangio

Nothing is better than good food, great company and the perfect ambience

I have always loved to entertain and share great food and conversation with family and friends. Weather its dinner for 2, family, friends or large groups I look forward to the whole event. Planning the menu, setting the ambiance, cooking the food and the anticipation of the nights conversation. I have learned over time that having notes and finding foods that can be made or partially made ahead of time really eased the stress and allowed me to actually sit and enjoy the evening.

Step 1: Plan your menu. knowing what to make ahead of time eases pressure in preparation.

Step 2: My dinners are always in the kitchen so I like to have all the clutter and dirty dishes put away, that's an important step in creating the ambiance for my guests (I actually am so used to this that I exercise this every day dinners)It makes all the difference, I hate eating and looking a mess I have to clean. When a room is filled with clutter that's all everyone will notice, it detracts from the whole dining experience and I do see dinner as a very important time of day. For me, having family together every night and sharing food entices conversations of the days events or jokes or whatever.

Step 3: Have all the dinner ware ready on the table either set or in a pile depending on whether your serving casual or elegant. TIP: if your not using the table do it in the morning or evening before. The table set in advance lets everyone know dinner will be served in that room and it looks so inviting.

Step 4: Have your beverage choices ready. Information on pairing wines or beers with foods is available on the internet or books so doing a little research will help you to choose. If your guests offer to bring wine tell them whats for dinner and savvy guests will know what to bring.

Step 5: Not necessary for every day but a center piece always adds that extra something special, it can be flowers, candles etc, just make sure its not at eye level making it hard to see across the table.

Step 6: Don't fret, doing things at your pace will keep you calm and don't cook things you've never made before unless your really confident. I like to test new dishes in advance for my family first, which they never seem to mind.

Step 7: Make the dinner last a while, having time to digest between courses makes for a more enjoyable experience, or course that all goes out the window when rushing through dinner to take the kids dance or hockey practice.

Most of all have fun, life is short and there is nothing more satisfying than sharing special moments with people you love while eating good food.


Rose Arangio

Perfect roasted chicken and potatoes

I love roasted chicken. Its easy to make and delicious and leftovers are great for a multitude of other dishes. A basic roast chicken can be served in a rustic family style manner or super fine depending on how you present it.

Recipe:
1 roasting chicken-wash and pat dry with paper towels
1-2 tblsp olive oil
kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper
paprika
fresh thyme
4-6 potatoes peeled and cut

I like to put my seasonings in ramekins because I just season to my taste. If you are watching your salt intake just use what you think-less is best

after washing and pat drying the chicken put the thyme and some salt and pepper into the cavity and now its time give the bird a massage with the olive oil, this will help the seasonings to stick to the skin.
Place on a roasting tray, I like to line it with parchment and place into a 375 degree oven for about 1hour and half. Baste with it's own juices every 30 min (this will make it crispy and shiny.

If you want to add potatoes wash and cut into wedges, season with salt,pepper and paprika and put around the chicken half way through cooking (45 min). There is enough juices from the chicken to coat the potatoes no need to add any oil.

That's it, so easy all you have to add is some vegetables of your choice and serve.

My table setting choice would be "family style" using a large platter with chicken pieces and potatoes together. It looks so appetizing and gives people a choice of which piece and how much to take. Simple white plates and napkins will allow the food to be the focal point. Add some brightly coloured vegetables and bottle of white wine, some hungry people will be all you need.

Leftovers ideas: remove all meat from the bones and store for another day to make great sandwiches, soups or salads. If you love leftovers make 2 chickens at a time, that's what I do.