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Mad Men Mixers - Retro-60's Recipes

"Advertising is based on one thing: Happiness" explains advertising executive Don Draper from AMC's series "Mad Men".   "And you know what happiness is? Happiness is the smell of a new car.  It's freedom from fear.  It's a billboard on the side of the road that screams reassurance that whatever you are doing is OK.  You are OK."  And for many of us watching "Mad Men", happiness is eating and drinking like Don Draper.

Mad Men has spurred a renewed interest in power lunches, French cuisine, steak tartare, deviled eggs, and of course, the '60s Classic Martini and the Old Fashioned.  What's old is new again and everyone is looking to recreate their Don Draper moment ... to sip, nibble, swizzle and bite with style.  So check out these recipes (below) for classics that have stood the test of time.  And always remember, "If you don't like what's being said, change the conversation." 

"We drink because it's what men do" - Roger Sterling

Classic Martini; serves 1
Ice
2 � ounces gin
� ounce dry vermouth
2 green olives
 
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the gin and vermouth. Shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the olives.

 Old Fashioned, serves 1
1 cube (or 1 teaspoon) sugar
2 maraschino cherries
2 slices orange
2 dashes bitters
Splash of soda water
2 ounces rye whiskey
Ice  

In an Old Fashioned glass, combine the sugar, 1 cherry, 1 orange slice, the bitters and the soda water. Muddle the ingredients together in the glass until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the rye and a couple ice cubes. Garnish with the remaining cherry and orange slice.

"That's life. One minute, you're on top of the world. The next, some secretary is running over your foot with a lawn motor." - Joan Harris

Stuffed Celery, Serves 12
4 ounces cream cheese
� cup French dressing
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 tablespoon chopped pickle
3 tablespoons chopped stuffed green olives
Twelve 4-inch lengths celery
Chopped fresh parsley, to garnish
Celery leaves, to garnish   

These and other 60's Vintage Recipies:  Check out "The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook" on Amazon.com.  

To Bee or Not to Bee     

An Egg to Stand On

One cannot live on chocolate bunnies alone.  Even if you're a confection queen, you know you must prepare something more than Easter baskets for your loved ones.  These Easter Eggs go 'over easy' without too much preparation on your part.  Egg-cellent recipes and flower arrangements to give Easter Sunday a fresh unique look that's also delicious.

Easter Egg Vase: Start with a large-mouth clear cookie jar or canister and place a clear drinking glass in the center.  Gently stack dyed, hard-cooked eggs between the glass and jar, alternating egg colors. Fill the glass with water.  Cut the stems of your favorite flowers ( in photo; roses, gerber daisies, tulips, hyacinth, and bells of Ireland) to the desired length, and arrange them in the glass.

Eggs and Carnations: Turn a handful of dyed eggs and a bouquet of carnations into a playful spring centerpiece.  Fill a medium-size footed bowl with a few inches of water. Nestle dyed eggs in a smaller bowl (prop bowl on a dish if necessary).  Cut carnation stems about 2 or 3 inches long and pack the blooms around the bowl of eggs.

Lower-Fat Eggs Benedict: Go ahead... pour on the hollandaise sauce with this recipe.  The low-fat yogurt and skim milk that go into it make it a bit healthier than what tops the regular version of the classic egg dish; perfect as an Easter morning starter.  Click Here for recipe. 

Bacon-Asparagus Strata: Layers of crispy bacon, asparagus and red peppers come together with eggs, Swiss cheese, bread cubes and seasoning to make this flavorful strata.  It can chill overnight, so cut the time it takes to make in half by preparing the dish the night before and baking it on Easter morning.  Click Here for recipe. 

Egg Dish: Mound hollowed out, painted or dyed eggs in a clear compote and add a little water. Then stick stems of delphinium and pom-pom mums in the crevices between the eggs.  Simple and beautiful!

Worth New York Summer Trunk Show - Saturday, March 31 through Wednesday, April 11th:  Summer's Unexpected Pleasures... Modern...Luxurious...Alluring...Sophisticated

Call or email for a personal appointment.  Location: 1909 Reid Street ~ Raleigh, 27608.

Contact Peggy Fain 919.833.6833,  pfain@worthcollection.com or Ann Proctor 919.417.6455,   aproctor@worthcollection.com.  

An Added Bonus: Join Peggy Fain and Ann Proctor in supporting DRESS FOR SUCCESS during their Worth Summer Trunk Show.  They will be collecting interview appropriate clothing and accessories to support the mission of DRESS FOR SUCCESS Triangle, NC by promoting economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.  Website.   

Save the dates for Bookmarked! 2012 - Staff, board members, volunteers, and friends of the Lucy Daniels Center are developing an exciting calendar of events for Bookmarked! 2012, a ten-day festival for young children and their families that celebrates the special joys of reading with children. The festivities are scheduled for April 27 - May 6, 2012. Website.   

Classes by Marlowe K Earl: Draw Like a Kid Again...Fearless and Fun! Each session last 6 weeks, $270 per session.  Materials included in all classes. Each 90 minute class is individualized to meet your needs. Family Special: Come and draw with your kid and get a 20% Family Discount. Two Student Minimum for all classes. Custom Class Times available for all classes. NC Public School Certified K-12 Art Teacher. Call Marlowe K Earl at 919-397-8023, or Email Mordecai Neighborhood.  Twenty plus years public and private school experience, successful students are her specialty! 

Meet the BeeHive Girls! The Behive Girls stationery and gift line is a fun colorful way to celebrate the power of girlfriends! These girls each have a special personality, with a humorous and positive message to share with all the amazing women in your life. 

Kenna Custom Painting, Inc.  is available to tackle your residential painting needs.  With their great crews that perform very professional jobs on residential homes, you won't believe how quiet and unobtrusive they are.  So if you have that "itch" to freshen up your home, interior or exterior before springtime, contact them now.  Call 919-855-0082 or Email: kennapaint@bellsouth.net.  Website. 

Join My Blog Simply-Refined:  I am an Interior Designer that can inspire and help you with your designs and decorating needs.  Call  Zaytoun Interiors if you're finally ready to decorate or re-decorate your home or office.  What's your style?  If you're not sure, I can help you tap into your inner self and find what makes you want to come home.  Website, Email, Phone: 305-793-8510. 

Price Reduced $599,000: 2748 St. Mary's St. Raleigh, 27609. Ideal Location! Walk to great schools, greenway and North Hills! Renovated in 1995. New paint/ refinished floors. DR w/FP, LR/Sunroom & large FR. Large White Kitchen w/granite & subway tile backsplash. 5 bedrooms. Private quaint backyard -wooden play equip, greenhouse, climbing trees, Covered Carport, & 1car garage, 2 decks, fully landscaped.  Contact: Jill Rekuc, Olde Raleigh Real Estate at 919-389-0555.  Website. 

Mia Francesca Trattoria, which opened its doors in North Hills this past October, is introducing 'Eat and Earn', a unique program established to support local non-profit organizations. Through this initiative, participating non-profits looking to raise funds can organize pre-set nights for their respective groups to dine at the restaurant, and Mia Francesca will, in turn, donate 15 percent of the dinner bill to the organization.  For more info call 919-278-1525. Website.

Did You Know?  For every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $68 stays in the local economy compared to only $43 if spent at a national chain. Please support our local business!  This is what The Beltline Buzz is all about.   

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