Off The Counter: A Gourmet Camping Meal

While camping in Mendocino's  Russian Gulch a few weeks ago, we prepared a meal loosely based on Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa, a Portuguese salt cod dish.   Combining some of my favorite ingredients: olives, eggs and potatoes, this dish brings together the substantial savory flavors one craves while out in the fresh forest air.  By preparing a few of the key elements beforehand, one can enjoy this delicious recipe campside.  Ingredients and instructions below:

Ingredients:

Halibut, kalamata olives, capers, fingerling potatoes, hard boiled eggs, olive oil, parsley, lemon, salt and pepper.

Instructions:

Before leaving for your camping trip hard boil 3-5 eggs and 5-6 potatoes (do not overcook).  In a cast iron skillet,  season the fish with olive oil, salt, pepper and a bit of lemon.  Add the kalamata olives, capers and diced potatoes.  Cook over the fire until the fish becomes flaky and remove the pan from the heat.  Peel the hardboiled eggs, dice and add to the skillet.  Garnish with lots of parsley and drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Enjoy!

And The Winner Of Our Latest Reader's Giveaway Is….

Congratulations, Patricia,  you are the winner of a Stitch And Made travel bag!!   Please email your postal address to debra@cocoonhome.com so we can ship it to you.***

Many thanks to Sadiero of Stitch and Made for contributing to this week's reader giveaway and to all who entered our contest.

*** The winner has two weeks to claim his/her prize (from 8/22/14) by contacting Cocoon Home Blog via email.  Another entry will be drawn if the winner does not contact us within that time frame.

Botanical Inspiration: The Flora Around Us

Lately I've been flooding my Instagram feed with images of the flora surrounding me.  Whether in my garden or while I'm out and about, I find botanical inspiration pretty much everywhere.  It could be in a dahlia color, the texture of a cactus or in the contrast of a particular plant grouping.  Take a look at a few recent favorites of mine and start noticing the flora around YOU.  Nature will reward you.

Follow my Instagram feed here for daily Botanical Inspirations. 

Layered Neutrals: Part 2

I recently had the opportunity to visit clients who recently welcomed their second child.  After a brief hiatus from working on their home, I stopped by to stylize their living room with a couple of plants, several patterned pillows and a comfy throw.  Seeing how the space emerged from the virtual room inspiration (below) into real life was quite rewarding.  As life settles down for the growing family more personal touches will be added, but for now they have the foundation for an inviting living area to read, play and watch TV.  Many congratulations SH and JH on your adorable new arrival.

These are the key pieces that make up the room.

1.  EQ3's Mañana Floor Lamp    2.  Williams and Sonoma Herringbone Flamestitch Rug 3.  West Elm's Paneled Armoire  4.  Suite NY's Friday Lounger 5.  Room and Board's Tyne Round Coffee Table and 6.  the Mota Wedge Sectional from Viesso.

Reader Giveaway: Original Handcrafted Handbag by Stitch and Made

While in LA recently, I caught up with my friend Sadiero of Stitch And Made.  Ever since I've known him (for quite some time now),  he's had an entrepreneurial spirit, a keen sense of style and the patience and know-how to sew well.  In 2013 he started Stitch And Made, a handcrafted handbag company that specializes in turning repurposed denim, leather jackets and other previously owned materials into fashion custom bags.  A while back he gave me a clutch made from an vintage leather jacket as a gift.   Utilizing industrial-strength zippers, accent colors and his signature clip, he created a sturdy and functional handbag that complements my entire wardrobe.  I've since purchased the Small Dopp Gadget Bag for Alex.  It is custom lined with water resistant fabric so it's perfect for his toiletries and he just loves it.

Take a look at the Stitch And Made bags Alex and I own and find out how you can win one of your very own below:

Sadiero has been kind enough to offer 1 Cocoon Home Blog reader a Stitch And Made Travel Bag that's perfect for storing cords, chargers and/or beauty products.  Enter to win by doing 2 of the following:

1.  Follow Stitch And Made on Instagram. 

2.  "Like" Cocoon Home's Facebook page here (if  you haven't already).

3.  Leave a comment below on how you would use a Stitch And Made handbag.

Contest ends Wednesday August 20th at midnight EST.  Winner will be announced on Friday August 22nd.  Good luck!!