Bright Idea: Painted IKEA Beds

Every season the Martha Stewart Collection for Macy's hosts an event for journalists to come preview the new wares. At a preview last spring, the Martha Stewart team presented the new bedding on a series of four-poster beds painted in bright colors, which coordinated with the bedding. I am almost certain the beds are IKEA's Edland bed frame (below). I love the idea of customizing an affordable bed with a custom coat of paint.

Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Gorgonzola Sauce

A departure from my usually healthy menus, I recently made this Gorgonzola-mushroom sauce recipe from Martha Stewart Living for some store-bought potato gnocchi.

While the sauce is absolutely delicious, be warned it was a very decadent treat with a full cup of heavy cream and a quarter pound of Gorgonzola for just four servings of gnocchi! If you're looking for something rich and comforting this winter, this recipe fits the bill.

Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Gorgonzola Sauce
from Martha Stewart Living

1 cup heavy cream
1 cup homemade or store-bought low-sodium vegetable stock
4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces assorted fresh mushrooms, such as chanterelle, cremini, and portobello, stemmed and coarsely chopped

1. Bring cream and stock to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Reduce heat, and let mixture simmer until slightly thickened and reduced by 1/3, about 10 minutes. Add Gorgonzola; stir until melted. Stir in nutmeg and cayenne. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium until hot but not smoking. Add mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and their released liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add gnocchi; cook, stirring gently, until just heated through. Pour cheese sauce over gnocchi and toss gently to coat evenly.

20 Questions with Martha Stewart

I have just discovered the Financial Times' 20 Questions column, and I was thrilled to discover that some of my favorite design world personalities have been profiled, including Sir Terence Conran and Martha Stewart. Here are a few gems from their Martha Stewart interview:

Did you ever think you’d end up where you are?

I never thought about where I would “end up”. In fact, much of my life and life’s work is yet to begin.

What do you like most about your job?

The diversity, the ability to meet interesting people, and that I learn something new every day.

And least?

The fact that not everything is always as optimistic or as fabulous as I would have it be.

When do you turn off your BlackBerry?

Never.

Who has been your biggest influence?

Great teachers, experts, artisans, superb chefs and craftsmen.

If you hadn’t been in business what would you have done?

I would have been a farmer and grower.

When do you want to retire?

I have no plans.

How do you want to be remembered?

As a really fine teacher.

Tomato Salad with Olives and Lemon

I made this delicious tomato salad recipe from Everyday Food last night, and it's a definitely a keeper of a recipe. (I used a combination of yellow and red tomatoes and pitted Kalamata olives. ) If you plan to make it yourself, the recipe on Martha Stewart's site has a typo--it's 1/4 cup of olives, not 1/4 gallon.

I also tried out a spinach and bacon frittata recipe from the September issue that was good, but it wasn't one I am dying to try again. I served both with a simple salad of endive, radicchio and baby arugula with vinaigrette and baguette and fancy, salted Irish butter. (I have decided the expensive butter is worth every penny, and I use so little that it's not a huge indulgence. However, Land 'O Lakes is still my go-to for baking.) All in all, a lovely, late summer meal.

Happy cooking!