It’s been chilly here in Malibu, so I was feeling the desire for some warm homemade soup to cozy up with.  I also remembered that I had gone to the market and bought some ingredients for a different dish that I never made.  So in my fridge I had:

• Pancetta
• Leeks
• Potatoes
• Cream
• Garlic
• Vegetable broth

And that’s basically all you need for this scrumptious winter dish…oh, that by the way, is made in MINUTES!

First, start with a super fun Le Crueset dutch oven (or any pot with a lid will do)!

Le Crueset Dutch Oven

Next, add a little extra virgin olive oil-about 2 tablespoons.

2-3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil on medium high heat

This next part of the Potage Parmentier is the Gina DeVee style–add 4 oz. of diced pancetta!

Pancetta! Mmmmm...

The next simple step is to chop 3 cups of leeks…

Yes this is me, and no I had no makeup on...

Once the pancetta crisps up nicely, add the 3 cups of leeks to the pancetta mixture.

Pancetta + Leeks = Delicious

Next, dice about 3 cups of potatoes…

Same no makeup situation.

Voila!

Pretty diced potatoes (3 cups)

Then add the potatoes to the pancetta and leeks…

Stir all of the ingredients together...ANY woman entrepreneur can do this!

Next, cover this mixture with water and vegetable stock in equal parts about a quart total.

We're almost there!

I added a sprig of thyme too…

Fresh thyme!

Bring the entire mixture to a boil, then turn down to simmer, cover for 30-60 minutes.  Then, using an immersion blender (or any device that will mash up the soup) blend to desired consistency. (You could even transfer to a blender).

Now for the grand finale!

Potage Parmentier--Gina DeVee style!

Enjoy!  My husband certainly did!

Cheers to you this winter.  Stay warm.

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Marie Forleo and I have known each other for years, however, when I recently heard she was wintering in Los Angeles, I knew I wanted to welcome her to the City of Angels properly…and in my book, that means brunch in Malibu!

We started off appropriately with a Champagne toast…(I always add a bit of color with a fresh raspberry).

Gina DeVee & Marie Forleo starting off Sunday brunch right!

When I invite friends over, I always make them my guinea pigs and try one new recipe and one tried and true fav…so my NEW culinary adventure today was into the world of ebelskivers.  They are traditional Danish bite size pancakes that I chose to stuff with a raspberry filling.  You can get my exact recipe I used in Ebelskivers by Kevin Crafts.

Ebelskivers by Kevin Crafts

Here I am making my first batch!

Simple Ebelskivers

Keep in mind you do need a special pan to make these little morsels of heaven.  I purchased mine at Williams Sonoma.

Ebelskiver pan at Williams Sonoma

I’m telling you, the were a HIT!  My darling husband even left his football game twice to come in for seconds!

My very first try at Ebelskivers!

Marie and I weren’t exactly disappointed either…

MmmmMmmmmm!

Good LORD was it great to spend some quality one on one time with another woman who is fiercely and fearlessly showing up in life as her most unique self!  We got caught up, discussed our favorite subjects, shared our dreams for 2012, and asked each other for support in our most opposite areas of expertise!  All while relaxing  out by the fire.

Marie shot this one and posted it on Twitter, as she informed me of Instagram! So excited to get rolling with this fun technology.

Post brunch next to our outdoor fire

The sun started to set, time to wrap up our magical day…

Ahhhh....good times!

Okay, it is Sunday night…so it’s time for me to go spend time with my husband.  More to come soon!

BTW, do you have any great ideas for cool Sunday night dinner?  Looks like it’s my turn to cook…

Gina DeVee

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There’s no better way to start your Thanksgiving holidays–I think–other than with a festive cocktail! (Well, I do suppose that if your festivities start in the morning, and that’s the way you roll…enjoy. For me, I start with java…and then our festivities launch during the mid afternoon).

I saw this recipe for cranberry margaritas in the December 2006 Bon Appetit magazine.

A festive holiday cocktail

Tomorrow I’m trying it out!  I’m actually trying all new recipes for this year’s feast.  If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know your opinion on it!

Cranberry Margaritas

Ingredients
1.    1 1/4 cups premium tequila
2.    1 1/4 cups frozen cranberry juice concentrate, thawed
3.    1 cup canned jellied cranberry sauce
4.    10 tablespoons fresh lime juice
5.    6 tablespoons orange liqueur ( like Grand Marnier)

Directions
1.    Blend ingredients in blender until smooth.
2.    Transfer to large glass measuring cup.
3.    Pour half of Margarita base into blender.
4.    Add 3 1/2 cups ice cubes.
5.    Blend until mixture is slushy; pour into salt-rimmed margarita glasses.
6.    Garnish with fresh cranberries.
7.    Repeat with remaining Margarita base and 3 1/2 cups ice cubes.

Bon Appetit, December 2006

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gina DeVee

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I’m thrilled to announce my Thanksgiving Day Menu:

Here goes!

Drinks: Cranberry Margaritas

Appetizers: Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms & Carrot Soup with Chestnut Cream garnished with Bacon

Mains: Glenn’s famous Whole Grilled Turkey & Roast Turkey with White Truffle Butter

Sides: French Bread Stuffing with Sausage

Nishta’s Cranberry Salad

Pumpkin Risotto

Truffle Mashed Potatoes

Swiss Chard with Beets, Goat Cheese and Yellow Raisins

Green Beans with Almonds and Shallots

Corn Pudding Souffle with Serano Ham & Poblano Peppers

Urth Cafe Pumpkin Pie with homemade whipped cream and Urth Cafe Cherry pie with homemade french vanilla ice cream

Recipes to come! Let the festivities begin!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Gina DeVee

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Glenn and I have been having a lot of fun at home in Malibu together…as usual. Last weekend, we cooked up a storm!  Stay tuned for videos.  This photo shoot happened spontaneously right before we were getting ready to film our EPIC meal!

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As Autumn approaches, I decided to take advantage of the first chilly day of the season up in Malibu, and cook a warm and hearty fall meal! Figs are currently in season, so the menu was fig inspired. A Fig Fest so to speak!

We started with prosciutto and bleu cheese wrapped figs and some light as air mini gourgettes. As pasta-making is one of my most favorite and soothing cooking activities, my homemade butternut squash ravioli was to follow! The main course was a pork-loin cooked to perfection by my husband Glenn, with a fig habanero sauce and a light arugula, fig and fried goat cheese salad!

My homemade french vanilla bean ice cream with a chocolate port sauce capped off a perfect evening!

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My darling husband has been on a fishing trip in Washington State for the past 4 days and I’ve been marveling at how feminine the alone time feels.

I thought I’d want to use the time to catch up with and go out girlfriends…meaning filling in the time and space.  Not so much.

Though I do adore my friends, what I’m finding my being  is asking for is the gentleness of a feminine essence in my life.  So far today that has looked like:

*Sleeping in until 9:30 a.m. (I never do this!  I wake up without an alarm by 6 or 6:30 a.m.)

*A gorgeous cup of coffee outside in the cool Malibu weather just gazing at the ocean

*Personal trainer appointment–in home

*Phone call with an exquisite friend

*Oh, by the way, cleansing all day–yes, after my cup of coffee

*A smidge of The Cooking Channel

*A long shower

*A silky pomegranate elixir (you can get it from www.skinprophecy.com)

*A quiet evening at home (it is only 4pm so we’ll see,…however this is the intention!)

So today, I realized that to have the time and space to be feminine are the new luxury.

What do you do to stay soft and feminine?  Leave a comment below..

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I’m having my own version of a Gala Darling kind of Saturday.

First, I slept for 12 hours last night!  9pm-9am never felt sooooo good!  I’ve been cleansing and working out with a trainer this week, so that may have something to do with the epic night’s sleep.

Then, after a lovely cup of coffee with my husband, and a work out…I just enjoyed sitting by my pool, and flipping through the September Food & Wine magazine.

Enjoying life at home

I feel so blessed to be in a place today where I’m able to clearly tap into my intuition and trust it.  There were things I thought I should do today…and when I asked my intuition…I was getting answers like “rest”, “read a magazine”, “call some friends”.  So while I enjoyed plenty of time sunbathing by the pool, I also reflected on how grateful I am to be living my dream.

I just returned from a 6-week trip to London, Rome, Tuscany & Portofino…and the last place we stayed in Portofino was Hotel Splendido…an exquisite resort…actually, here’s a picture of how stunning it was on our balcony:

Relaxing at Hotel Splendido, Portofino, Italy

Now, my point is, as stunning as the hotel is, I’m now living in what I feel is equally an exquisite site.  I’m still blown away by how “quickly” life can evolve.  It wasn’t that long ago, just a few years really, that I was living in a place that didn’t inspire me, it didn’t match the frequency that I wanted to be at.

So realizing today, that we really can create the desires of our hearts.  I’m forever grateful.

Getting back to today, after I spent my feminine energy time in bliss, I then had the desire to come inside, answer a few emails, and make this blog post.  It had nothing of “should” energy in it…pure desire.

This week I’m going to continue practicing following the desires of my heart.

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Yesterday, my husband and I drove from Tuscany to Portofino.  Some friends of ours from Istanbul had told us a while back about a cute little beach town in Tuscany…and by chance, on our drive, we just happened to see the sign, took the exit, and here are some fun pictures and videos of our lunch.

View video

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With my husband Glenn’s sister and nephew in town, I decided to make a gluten free, kid friendly meal of Lasagna Bolognese!

For more photos…

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