Hot Brown!

With the Kentucky Derby only a couple of days in front of us, let me serve up a derby tradition you’ve gotta experience on race day.

Kentucky Hot Browns

Created in 1926 by chef Fred K Schmidt at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, this popular menu item quickly became a Kentucky food favorite without surprise rich in delectable ingredients. Many variations of the recipe have been served up over the years but the original is definitely the way to go.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 pounds sliced roasted turkey
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 8 slices white bread, toasted
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 slices crispy bacon

Directions
1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour with a whisk or fork then continue to cook and stir until it begins to brown slightly. Gradually whisk in the milk so that no lumps form bringing it to a boil, stirring constantly. Mix in 6 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese then gradually stir in the beaten egg to thicken. Be sure not to allow the sauce to boil once the egg has been mixed in. Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream.


2. While preheating the oven's broiler, prepare the Hot Browns. For each Hot Brown, place two slices of the toasted white bread into the bottom of an individual sized casserole dish. Cover with a liberal amount of roasted turkey then the tomato slices. Spoon sauce over the top of each and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.


3. Place the dishes under the broiler and cook until the top begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the broiler and arrange two slices of bacon in a cross shape on top of each sandwich. Serve immediately.

Eat up!

Best regards,
Reynolds

Repeat Offender!

Sometimes things are so visually stimulating, they’re just worth a second look and maybe even third. As I’ve been researching information concerning the most famous horse race in the world, I came across this incredibly masculine interior that was all over the internet and magazines last year. And for all those Reynolds Still groupies, you’re going to LOVE this!

Check out the Hermes' throw over the leather chesterfield and the stacked wood INSIDE the fireplace!

Black walls!!!

Reynolds Still favorite!  The wood floors, the plaid bed cover, the stacked Louis Vuitton and horse prints are exactly the things I surround myself with!

Moon Stone Farm is the Kentucky vacation retreat of design duo Mark Badgley and James Mischka. (photos by Roger Davies)

Best regards,

Reynolds

That's Alot Of Bush!

Spectacular Garden Art!  You have to admire someone who spends many back breaking hours creating such incredible visuals for others to enjoy.  After spending 5 hours today in my own garden trimming MANY bushes, I tip my garden hat to those with the gift of a green thumb! 

Looking from the side yard, you see a about 75 bushes in a private garden that are manicured every season.  YES, by me! 

  

  

  

Wouldn't you agree that it takes a special person to pull off visuals such as these?

Best regards,

Reynolds

Happy Earth Day!

We all take for granted things in our life that cross our paths daily so today as we celebrate the Earth, please remember to be respectful of the environment not only today but always!

Best regards,

Reynolds

Rubber Up Boys!

Singin’ in the rain SEEMS like a cool idea but after a few puddles and several buckets of cats and dogs, it doesn’t play out so cool after all…thank you very much Gene Kelly! But even if we don’t care to get soaked down to our socks, we can still look Joe Cool and keep our feet dry if we just RUBBER UP guys!

The Converse All Star Men's Rain Boots are stocked at Urban Outfitters for a price of $80.00.

 

Purchase these black gloss Men's Rain Boots by Hunter at Zappos for $105.00.  Gene Kelly would rock these boots singing in the rain!

Sporty Rain boots by Tretorn Shoes, the Strala Rain Boots are only $60.00 and can be purchased online at Macys.

Check out this Reynolds Still fav, these Gucci Men's Rain Boots are a mere $295.00.  Sometimes you just have to pay to be cool.  The rubber rain boot with signature trim and interlocking "G" on back is made in Italy.  The Gucci boot is in such popular demand that SAKS will only allow no more than three units bought every thirty days!  Now that's a hip boot!

I think if Mr. Kelly had it to do over again, he'd definitely rubber up!

Best regards,

Reynolds

 

BUTCH It Up!

Cupcakes, MEN…..it just doesn’t roll off the tongue together does it? One would guess that REAL men don’t eat cupcakes but if truth be told, WE LOVE A GOOD CUPCAKE! BOY what a pleasant surprise to stumble across a company who offers a really good BUTCHed up cupcake.

Former Wall Street attorney, David Arrick is the creator of the masculine inspired cupcakes at Butch Bakery in New York City. With a slogan “Where Butch Meets Buttercream”, you can expect nothing but a manly cupcake. Even though currently they are sold only local, beginning this year these tasty mancakes can be ordered online and will ship anywhere within the United States. I for one can’t wait.

Butch Bakery cupcakes are available in 12 awesome varieties. 

Rum & Coke
A rum-soaked madagascar vanilla cake with cola bavarian cream filling is a knockout. Get your motor running with this brandy-soaked lemon cake featuring an orange and white chocolate ganache filling. There's nothing old-fashioned about the orange-soaked whiskey cake with lemon curd filling.

Mojito

A rum-soaked lime cake with mint white-chocolate ganache is sure to wet your thirst. This one is the bomb with kahlua-soaked madagascar vanilla cake and Bailey's bavarian filling. Fill 'er up with a maple cake topped with crumbled bacon, YES I SAID BACON, and loaded with milk-chocolate ganache.

Home Run

This peanut butter cake with banana bavarian cream and again with the crumbled bacon is more fun than getting to third base. You'll be begging for s'more, bada bing, of this graham cracker cake with marshmallow filling and milk-chocolate ganache. The chocolate cake with chocolate hazelnut filling and hazelnut buttercream will rock your world.

Beer Run

Butch meets buttercream in a chocolate beer cake with beer-infused buttercream topped with crushed pretzels. Our cinnamon spice cake with a dulce de leche filling will knock your ball out of the park. Get the party started with caramel cake and a salted caramel swirl filling with vanilla buttercream.

Sidecar

Get your motor running with this brandy-soaked lemon cake featuring an orange and white chocolate ganache filling. There's nothing old-fashioned about this orange-soaked whiskey cake with lemon curd filling.

B-52

This one is the bomb, kahlua-soaked madagascar vanilla cake with Bailey's bavarian filling.

Campout

You'll be begging for s'more of this graham cracker cake with marshmallow filling and milk-chocolate ganache.

Big Papi

This cinnamon spice cake with a dulce de leche filling is absolutely delish!

Old-Fashioned

There's nothing old-fashioned about this orange-soaked whiskey cake with lemon curd filling.

Driller

Fill 'er up with a maple cake topped with crumbled bacon and loaded with milk-chocolate ganache.

Jack Hammer

This chocolate cake has chocolate hazelnut filling and hazelnut buttercream. Believe me it will rock your world.

TailGate

Get the party started with a caramel cake and a salted caramel swirl filling with vanilla buttercream.

Give me a dozen and a gallon of milk please!

Best regards,

Reynolds

A Little Bit Of Chocolate Never Hurt Anyone!

The bedroom walls of Reynolds Still painted Ralph Lauren Oak, a color of rich chocolate.

I often wonder why we feel shameful for indulging in life's simple pleasures.  Even though we ALL are lovers of la' chocolat, anytime we're offered a slice of chocolate pie, a handful of chocolate truffles or a double chocolatini, our response is "OH I better not".  It seems to be the same with our surroundings, we LOVE chocolate brown but are too afraid to indulge.  My friends, listen to me when I say.....Life is to short to not have some CHOCOLATE! 

Best regards,

Reynolds

Extra, Extra…..Read All About It!

I’m so excited to introduce to the Reynolds Still readers this EXTRA commentary by one of my most favorite bloggers, Architect Design. This week Stefan shared with his blogging groupies a personal view of the National Capital Columns at the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. The informative editorial is accompanied with beautifully taken photographs, by Mr. Architect himself, of the historic columns which give us better insight of their splendor. Take a moment to check out Blog Star and friend, Architect Design!

Best regards,

Reynolds

On The Road Again.....

Friends, I've got my bags packed and am hitting the road for a much needed weekend getaway.  I hope all of you will have a wonderful next few days and when I return, lets share some stories!

Best regards,

Reynolds

Finally!!!

Remember many moons ago I posted a ‘Before and After’ of a weekend project where I was going to redo a small bathroom in my home!? FINALLY, I can close the book on this 2 month long weekend renovation and boy am I so OVER this project!!! Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy with the outcome BUT the many accessory challenges I faced definitely tested my creative process. As so many of you have asked me many times over, “when are you going to share the AFTER photos”…..well take a look see and let me know what you think.

BEFORE

AFTER

These vintage 1920's marquee milk glass letters originate from an old movie house in northern Indiana.  Looking for an old men's room sign, I was lucky enough to come across these letters which make for a perfect urban art piece!

The vanity mirror is styled after old salvaged wood pieces with many different warm tones of brown.  The top ledge was large enough to hold a collection of old photo cards.

Unfortunately, the cracked wheat color of the walls are not true to form in this photograph or the others for that matter.  Imagine a crisp ironed pair of khaki men's pants.

Thanks to Los Angeles Interior Designer Brooke Giannetti and her incredible blog Velvet and Linen for the inspiration to choose a schoolhouse light fixture.  It really makes the room!  New crown molding was installed and notice the paint color in the mirror, that is almost the true color of the room.  Apparently I had too much lighting trying to be that professional photographer which I am far from!

A few collections sitting on the corner of the bathroom vanity gives the space a little character don't you think?

Now that this project is finished, it's time to start another.  It's never ending with Reynolds Still!  Thanks for coming into my home!

Best regards,

Reynolds