Happy Birthday!

I can hardly believe that Charm & Salt is one year old! I have learned quite a bit about blogging and photography in a short year, and I am thoroughly looking forward to learning more in the coming year. Above is a sampling of some of my favorite posts from the past twelve months.

Thank you to everyone who has supported C&S by reading and commenting, sending me lovely e-mails, and providing valuable feedback. You have made this journey more fun than you can ever know! Party on!

The World is Your Oyster

One of the ingredients I associate with the winter holidays is oysters. Since I can remember, we have been shucking and slurping them by the bushel as soon as it gets cold outside. On Christmas Eve, my mom makes Oyster Stew, but I prefer them straight from the shell, cold or roasted, with lemon, hot sauce, mignonette, cocktail sauce, and a recent discovery...peppery garlic-pecorino butter.
I saw the source of this recipe, Drago's, on a show about seafood or New Orleans. Who can keep track? The chefs at Drago's pile oysters onto the grill, shucked, and then generously brush them with this garlicky butter. The oysters get warm, the butter bubbles over and mixes with the oyster liqueur. It's magical. Then they sprinkle them with pecorino and parsley. These are wonderful with bread or crackers, but I would just go ahead and skip those accompaniments in lieu of clutching a glass of white wine or bubbly.

If you've never shucked oysters before, it's much easier if you heat them up a bit first. They'll start to ease open.

 A shucker is essential. This one has seen a lot of love.

 Drenched in garlic butter.

 The perfect complement.

Char-Broiled Oysters (from Drago's) (Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

1 lb. butter or margarine. melted

2 Tbs. finely chopped garlic
1/2 tsp. black pepper
3 dozen oysters on the half shell
3 Tbs. grated parmesan and romano cheese
1 Tbs. chopped parsley

 

Directions

Mix butter or margarine with pepper and garlic.

Heat up a gas or charcoal grill and put oysters on the half shell right over the hottest part. Spoon seasoned butter over the oysters. then sprinkle a touch of grated cheese and parsley on top. Oysters are done when the sides puff up.
Serves six.

Color Me Excited!

The holidays are here! We did everything we could to resist the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, and instead put our hard-earned cash towards picking up the sweetest looking (and smelling) Douglas fir this weekend and bedecking it in several strings of pretty lights and colorful baubles. Christine dubbed our masterpiece, "Kate Spade via Jenna and Christine." The color scheme was definitely inspired by KS and her non traditional Christmas palette. Candy-colored hues of red, pink, green, purple, and teal definitely perk up our little space. We are eager to have guests over for cocktails and festive bites to share in the holiday merriment. How did you decorate your tree this year?

Our stunning little tree.

 Garlands of color!

 We may have more lights on our balcony than anyone else. Who's keeping track though?

 Citrusy goodness. Snacking on these little guys, instead of baked sweets, is going to help us slip into our party frocks.

 Pretty little gems.

 A bow on our light? I mean, it makes sense.

Top that!

Confections made of glass.

Happy Decorating!