Last Friday was National Chocolate Éclair Day.  Clearly... I wasn't fully prepared.  The post was mostly ready, but not really.  There have been a couple of posts that I rushed right through to be able to put something out for you ( I won’t tell which ones) but I decided some time ago that I would rather delay a post than present something that’s not ‘Lola approved’.  Schedules and a lack of unsalted butter stood between me and a quality post.  And that’s when I decided…

Life is an éclair.

It begins with an exterior made of basic ingredients.  The ingredients are secondary to the manner in which they are handled.  Even under the best conditions, the foundation of an éclair is somewhat sturdy and fragile at once.  Tell me that doesn’t sound like life!  And if you’ve managed your foundation well, there is plenty of room to fill it with good stuff.

What you choose to fill your life (ahem, éclair) is up to you, but it must be substantial or it will never work.  Thin or flimsy fillings will run right out of your foundation.  Be sure your filling is rich and significant and worthy of a spot in your pastry.  And be cautious! You can get too much of a good thing.  Your éclair can only hold so much.  The filling in your éclair is meant to be enjoyed; not make it burst at the seams.  Just as in life… all things in moderation.

Once filled, you can add a tremendous amount of flavor and flair to your éclair by way of a topping.  In our case, we chose classic chocolate glaze, but the sky is the limit.  Your éclair is limited only by your imagination.

Lastly, don’t forget to share.  That’s one of the best things about éclairs (life).  I like to take big bites of mine and get a little of each flavor for a full experience.  And just like life… I enjoy mine with coffee.

savour… metaphors

Nothing says summer like berries and cream.  Making whipped cream from scratch is entirely different than the stuff in the can... or the freezer section.  This post offers the basics in making the very best homemade whipped cream.

This is another of our very first posts.  Because so many current readers were not with us in the first months, we have freshened it up and given the original Whipped Cream Basics post a chance to shine again.  We have updated it slightly and added some new photographs.  Read on for all the information.  

As a boy, I spent the entire summer outdoors.  My days were filled with baseball, walking to the lake, riding bikes, and kool-aid stands.  Summer meant taking advantage of three months of the longest days of the year.  We packed every single day with fun… right up until the street lights came on which indicated it was time to be home.

Even when I was required to stay close to home, there was plenty of fun to be had.  All that was really necessary was some chalk and a ball for four square.  Of course, some of the kids would draw or make hearts around the name of their latest crush.  The crushes never lasted long, but neither did the chalk.  One quick summer rain would erase any evidence.

savour... sunny days

Happy Monday and welcome to summer!

You may remember the Saltwater Taffy post we did several weeks ago.  While we were making it we shot plenty of video to edit and create this condensed version of the process for you.  The recipe is simple enough, but the pulling took way more than 2 minutes.  Watch and enjoy... and if you like it, please SHARE it.  

Wednesday night was another fun-filled #NestChat event.  Many new faces showed up and we were lucky to be joined by Taste of Home magazine.  There was a tremendous amount of sharing.  We have saved all the links and tips in the following summary transcript.

Each time we have a chat I learn something new.  For example, @nycmartini suggests freezing blackberries to use as ice in your pinot grigio.  I also came across a link of making popcorn on the grill.  Who knew?!  There’s so much to share and this is a great way to get some new information. 

If you joined in… thank you so much for participating.  If not, we hope you will join us next month.  Our July chat will be Wednesday, July 18 at 8pE 7pC.

Still no Giada yet, but I won't stop asking until she joins us... just once.

This week we officially began summer.  It's time for sprinkler, popsicles, poolside chats, and lemonade.  Summer holds so many simple pleasures.  Perhaps that's because it seems slower and more relaxed than the rest of the year.  Perhaps it's because as children this was the time of year we had the most time on our hands to make memories.  Whatever the reason this season is ripe with opportunities to enjoy and capture some of life's simple pleasures.

be thankful by tou_vlo

Our reader/follower driven series continues with some very nice photos this week.  Our project is beginning to take shape.  If you haven't already submitted feel free to do so here through email, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  Submit as often as you like, but remember to add the #SavourLife hashtag so we can find your work.  Read on for some more pics.

by Andrew Yenne, photos by Sam Henderson

In June anything is possible. The summer is just beginning and with it holds the infinite possibilities of warm nights and fireflies, country roads and swimming holes and the knowledge that for 3 whole months it is perfectly acceptable to stare at the summer stars and simply dream.

What better way to celebrate the official start of summer than with a sweet southern style cocktail filled with fresh berries and the exotic flavors of wonder?  The Cardamom Berry Smash.

savour… the sweet taste of summer