Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to you!  I've put my VERY LARGE box of bonbons away just to say how much I'm still swooning over our absolutely adorable Valentine's inspired coasters!  I love love love our conversation hearts - this is one of those designs that you like a lot on screen, but only truly melts your heart once they come off the letterpress.  Remember the ribbon post from last week?  Well, here's some of that gorgeous ribbon in action with our Pattern Love coasters packaged and ready to ship!  Okay, enough of the cheesy love innuendos - back to my box of chocolates!

D.C. American Lamb Pro-Am!

Hi All :)  Thanks for coming on over to check out this recipe I put together for the very first D.C. American Lamb Pro-Am Challenge!   I have a little experience with this lean, mean grazing machine from a ways back, but love trying new techniques!  I was thrilled when I opened my refrigerated bag to find a hunk of a piece (boneless leg) of lamb from Border Springs Farm down in Southwest Virginia.  I knew I just had to try baking it in a salt crust - one of the oldest methods for cooking fish that always keeps the flesh perfectly moist and tender!  And if that seems odd that fish and lamb can be cooked the same way, give it a whirl, your taste buds will be pleasantly surprised!  (And if you'd like, you can go vote for my lamb in the Pro-Am Challenge here!)  Recipe and more pics after the jump!

Salt Baked Boneless Leg of Lamb

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • One 6-7 pound boneless leg of lamb
  • Fresh pepper for seasoning
  • One 48 oz. box of Kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup Herbs de Provence
  • 8 large egg whites
  • Thyme Sprigs for garnishing, if desired

Instructions:

  • Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit
  • Remove the lamb from packaging and season with the freshly ground pepper
  • In a large frying pan that is safe to go in the oven, heat the olive oil until hot.  Add the lamb and let cook on each "side" on medium high heat until browned - about 7-10 minutes.
  • While the lamb is browning, make the salt crust mixture by placing the egg whites in a mixer and beating just until frothy.  Add the Kosher salt and Herbs de Provence and mix until combined.
  • When the lamb is finished browning, remove the pan from the heat and pack the salt mixture all around the lamb, leaving no open spaces (you don't want the steam/moisture to to escape when baking).
  • Place the lamb in the oven and roast until the meat registers 120° Fahrenheit for medium-rare.  This should take 40-60 minutes, so check early to be sure to not over cook the meat!
  • Remove the roast from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes for the salt crust to set.  Then, crack off the crust to reveal the meat.  Discard the salt and droppings in the pan.
  • Place the lamb on a serving platter and let set for another 10 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!

 

White Bean & Garlic Smash with Sun-Dried Tomatoes (the perfect accompaniment for this lamb!)

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 cans of cannellini beans
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 15-20 garlic cloves, pealed
  • 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes

Instructions:

  • Start by roasting the garlic in the olive oil in a small dish (I put this in with the lamb).
  • Once the garlic is softened and gently toasted (about 20 minutes), remove from the oven and add the salt, beans and sun-dried tomatoes.
  • Place the dish back in the oven so the flavors can roast and meld together while the lamb is still cooking.
  • Remove from the oven once golden brown on top and serve along side the lamb.  Enjoy!

The Paper Lady

Haute Papier enjoys getting to know our vendors! Rosie at The Paper Lady in Denver, Colorado has a wonderful store! It is a staple in the community and we just had to hear more about The Paper Lady!! So we just had to ask the Rosie more about her store!

How many years have you been in business? The store was previously owned by the original paper lady for 22 years, I worked for her for one year, learned she wanted to sell so expressed my deep love for correspondence and interest in all things paper.  I have since owned for 6 years, so it is a Denver staple!

Do you have a website, if so, what's the address? I do have a website, it is more informational and needs some serious TLC and updating, but it is: www.paperladyonline.com

If you were to sell something other than stationery, what would it be?
 I love candy and wine. So, I think it would be fun to have a fun boutique shop of either one of those.  My great grandfather was the founder of one of the country’s first department stores so I suppose retail is in my blood!

Besides the obvious (stationery), what is your favorite thing to give as a hostess gift? I love to give anything personalized as a hostess gift, something unique to the individual that stands out and shows your appreciation for the invite and attention to detail.  I love it when I can really “wow” the hostess, as being entertained is such a treat, and such a gift when you can master the craft!

Here at Haute Papier, we love to eat! When in NYC for the National Stationery Show, where is your favorite place to grab dinner? I too, love to dine.  NYC is so tricky, there are so many fabulous spots and the restaurant scene is always changing.  I love Seraphina.  Great atmosphere and always yummy reliable food.  The Mercer Kitchen never disappoints and it is a fun vibe downtown.  La Goulue was one of my faves, but I have heard they closed,  hopefully it will be opening again, it was such a dee-lish French bistro on the upper east side.  Clearly I need to take these taste buds back to NYC to see what and where the new hot spots are!

Any other tidbits about your store you'd like to share? I love this business so much, because I think correspondence is truly an art form and an invaluable skill.  I believe so strongly in it.  I also love to entertain, and think it too is so important and personal.  I swear that I was born in the wrong era/generation!  I  love the feel of a small shop and the attention to detail we place on each customer and order.  We pride ourselves on really getting to know our customers, as we navigate them through these many milestones in life, by putting them on paper!  In this day and age of everything electronic and all the big chains, it is nice to slow down, read between the handwritten lines and shop local!

 

Thanks so much for sharing with us Rosie!! See you at the National Stationery Show in a couple months!!!