GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD…OUR RECIPES

Here at Maria Luisa, we look forward to the holidays – and now that it’s November, are really just around the corner.
From Diwali to Thanksgiving, Hanukkah to Christmas, Kwanzaa to New Year’s Eve, there is plenty to celebrate this month and next.

A big part of celebrating is gathering together with family and friends, sharing stories and making memories – and yes, very often memorable food and drink are shared to mark the special occasions.
While not all of us are gourmet cooks here, we do love to join in the holiday spirit by making special dishes, entertaining – or just going to a lot of parties!

This month in our blog, we’ll be sharing some of the Maria Luisa team members’ favorite recipes – no, Maria’s not yet ready to share her famed Coquito recipe (yet) – but we hope these recipes will inspire you to try them out or head back to the kitchen to whip up your own favorites that you may have neglected in recent years.

And if you’d like to share one of your favorites with the Maria Luisa “community,” let us know – we’d love to help you do just that, in a future blog or via our social media platforms.
First up, our Lindsay offers two of her favorite seasonal recipes, Autumnally Addictive Pumpkin Bread and Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta & Raisins.

We’re already drooling – and bet you will be, too.
Thanks for reading – and hope you’re inspired to add these delicious dishes to your seasonal menus. (And tell us, or Lindsay, if you do next time you’re in; don’t forget our Nov. 8 special sustainable shopping night with MacKenzie83, benefitting the Center for Safety and Change.)

Directions
•Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch loaf pan whatever way you please (I use Pam olive oil baking spray).
•Whisk together the sugar and oil until blended, then add the eggs and pumpkin. Lay out two paper towels, stacked on top of one another. Lay the grated apples over the paper towels. Roll up the paper towels into a log and squeeze gently to remove excess juices from the apples. Add the grated apples to the pumpkin mixture and mix to combine.
•In another bowl, stir together the flours, spices, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Let batter rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
•When ready to bake, pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake until the loaf is very dark and a tester inserted deep into the middle comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool in pan for ten minutes, then turn onto rack to cool completely.

What I Love About This Recipe
Nothing says autumn like pumpkin and apple! I always make a few loaves from my seasonal apple-picking bounty. The apples keep the loaves deliciously moist. Serve at room temperature with your morning coffee or warm a slice with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for an after-dinner treat (!).

Directions
•Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer pancetta to paper towels to drain. Let cool.
*While pancetta cools, add Brussels sprouts to drippings in skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until well browned in spots and beginning to soften, 5–7 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add raisins, shallot and butter; cook, stirring often, until shallot is soft, about 3 minutes. Add stock to skillet; increase heat and bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until broth has evaporated, 1–2 minutes. Stir in vinegar and pancetta. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

What I Love About This Recipe
You'll find this as a side dish on my Thanksgiving table every year! I also love to turn this into a homemade pizza topping or toss with fresh pasta/hearty grains as a “sauce.” To mix it up, you can add other seasonal vegetables in with the Brussels sprouts - butternut squash complements the flavors perfectly.

Lindsay Owen

JOIN US THIS THURSDAY FOR A SPECIAL EVENT

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A SPECIAL – THOUGHTFUL – NIGHT AT MARIA LUISA

Our longtime customers know that at Maria Luisa, we put a lot of thought into what we do and what we choose to sell.

As we have been sharing with you, we have a special event planned for Nov. 8 that will bring these elements together in a thought-provoking way… along with a little wine and other light refreshments.
That evening, from 5 to 8 p.m., we will be hosting a special event to formally introduce one of our newest brands, MacKenzie83.

MARIA'S FAVORITE GO TO BAG IS A MACKENZIE83

The company is New-York based and designs eco-friendly, responsibly sourced, made-in-America accessories featuring organic, free-range and vegetable-tanned leathers, organic cottons and recycled metals.

The SMacK 83 Double Wrap Cuff

ORGANIC COTTON PEACE TOTE

The evening will serve to showcase these designs we have fallen in love with – and we know they’ll not only catch your eye but also appeal to the way you like to shop, purchasing goods with meaning and stories behind them.

 

GO TO EVENT INVITE

During the evening, when we showcase these handcrafted selections, we’ll also be having a “sip and chat,” an informal conversation about Fair Trade and ethical shopping, focusing on why we decided to carry MacKenzie83 goods. We hope to be able to not only answer your questions but also hear what you have to say about the way you shop and discuss how we all can get more involved, from questions to ask when we consider buying something to seeking out brands that reflect our personal values… important stuff!

The evening will also encompass another element, serving to raise funds for the Center for Safety and Change, whose work we have long supported, with 20 percent of all product sales to be donated to the organization.

And a bonus? You’ll also save 10% that evening on MacKenzie83 purchases above $200.
 
We think it’s going to be a stylish, thoughtful – and memorable – night at Maria Luisa, from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 8.

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We hope you’ll plan to stop by; please sign up through our Facebook events page.
And thank you, as always, for your continued support of what we do here at Maria Luisa.

MLFAVES for GOOD

BLOG ARCHIVE

VISIT NYACK

 

 

’TIS THE SEASON AT MARIA LUISA

Sure, we may be a tad early – but when it comes to being ready for the holidays, too much prep can never be enough.

This year, we in the Maria Luisa family are committed to approaching the holidays with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, a true focus on finding the real meaning of the holiday season – and truly being grateful for what we have and sharing it with others.

Whether that means setting a place at your holiday table for a friend going through a rough time – or taking a very active role in a community effort, such as a food or coat drive, the holidays offer the chance to show our “best selves.”

Take some time now to create a holiday timeline – list the things you need to do, to buy, to donate, to share, to join.

Above all, remember to include those you love in the preparations – it’s inspiring to help someone, and even more inspiring to do it with a family member or friend.

Here at Maria Luisa, we’ll be offering you the chance to join in, once again participating in a food drive for those served by People to People (http://www.peopletopeopleinc.org) and collecting new or gently used coats and warm clothing for those served by Nyack Homeless Project (https://www.nyackhp.org)

As Maria Luisa Whittingham says, these opportunities to share your abundance do more than just provide the literal gifts of soup, pasta or peanut butter or a warm coat, socks or boots.

“We also want to enhance a person’s life and well-being with pride.”

The holidays offer an ideal time, too, to participate in volunteer work. Opportunities abound in our communities, so it’s easy to get involved. Lend a hand to an organization whose mission reflects your own interests – or stretch yourself with something new. There are countless organizations whose work is supplemented by volunteer efforts, organizations we know you join us in supporting.

So this season, why not volunteer to:

• Work with the young people served by The Nyack Center http://www.nyackcenter.org/volunteering.html 

• Help feed those in need at a local soup kitchen.  
Soup Angels http://www.nyackreformed.org/soup-angels.html 
Grace's Kitchen http://www.gracechurchnyack.org/ 

• Help protect the environment with Keep Rockland Beautiful http://keeprocklandbeautiful.org

• Offer hope to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault with Center for Safety and Change

http://www.centerforsafetyandchange.org/get-involved/volunteer.html

• Get involved with the multifaceted programs offered by the Rockland County Pride Center

http://rocklandpridecenter.org/services/volunteer/

Sure, it may still be late October – but how nice would it be when 2019 rolls around to be able to say, “Wow, I really embraced this holiday season not only by gift giving, or with friends and family – but making the holidays as warm and enjoyable as possible for those around me including those in my community.”

Follow our social media platforms where we’ll continue to offer details on holiday happenings and opportunities for you to show your gratitude.

And let us just say that here at Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa, we are grateful for YOU!

More about Maria Luisa and our community.

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ML Faves for GOOD

BOO! HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS AT MARIA LUISA

It’s going to be here before we know it – the first “holiday” of autumn.

Halloween is, of course, Oct. 31 – but in Nyack, we get a jump on the Halloween festivities, all leading up to the centerpiece that is the village’s famed parade, this year scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27.

NYACK, NY HALLOWEEN PARADE -OCT. 27-5:30PM

As you may know – Nyack’s elaborate family friendly celebrations earned the village recognition as the fourth-best Halloween celebration in America by travelchannel.com. And the parade itself – this year marks the 31^st annual edition – has been called the largest of its kind outside of New York City, rivaling the Greenwich Village tradition.

Here in Nyack, Halloween happenings kick off this Thursday with the annual Village Window Painting, led by the art department of Nyack High School. Things continue with the inaugural House and Lawn Decorating Contest Oct. 19-26, along with a few other events throughout the village leading up to parade day.

And remember, it’s all about family fun on parade day, kicking off with the Trick or Treat Trail for kids at 2 p.m., with the parade set to step off at 5:30 p.m. (rain date Oct 28).

SAVE THE DATE

But…
Don’t forget that Oct. 27 is also our ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARADE DAY DOORBUSTER SALE – when we open up early (9 a.m. at Maria Luisa Boutique) for savings up to 35% (for cash sales through 9:45 a.m.).

The earlier you shop, the more you save – and nothing is held back, with discounts offered throughout the day in both shops. A detailed e-blast will be coming your way soon; all will also be posted on our social media.

Just know that you WILL want to stop by – to shop for yourself, for autumn birthdays and yes, even to get a jump on the December holidays.

We hope to see you in Nyack for the Halloween fun – and at Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa for our big day of savings.

And if you’ll be at the parade, there’s a little something extra to keep in mind – as part of our ML Faves initiative, Maria Luisa Whittingham and friends will again be taking part in the parade. Those who spot and snap a photo of Maria Luisa Whittingham – in one of her famed eco-friendly costumes – and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #MLfavesOnParade will be entered into a drawing for a  

$50 gift certificate.

How’s that for a Halloween treat?

 

SIGN THE PLEDGE

WHAT A WEEKEND… AT MARIA LUISA

Talk about a busy month!
Here at Maria Luisa we have so much going on – and this coming weekend is a prime example.

We hope you’ll make a plan to join us for some (or all) of it.
Here’s what’s up:

• Saturday, Oct. 13
Nyack hosts its inaugural Autumn Sidewalk Sale, a rain-or-shine event running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa will be taking part in this village-wide, brick-and-mortar celebration of shopping local. We’re looking forward to taking it outside – and offerings some special promotions throughout the day.

More info

• Also on Saturday, Oct. 13
We’re also taking it inside this Saturday afternoon – with another special event. In our ongoing support of local artists and artisans, we are welcoming Nyack-born artist Jane Cowles. She’ll be having a Trunk Show featuring her one-of-a-kind fine-jewelry designs from 2 to 4 p.m. Her creations have been inspired by the gardens of Paris and handcrafted here in New York. (And she’ll also be more than happy to discuss custom work) The “Sweet Shopping Saturday” event, held in Maria Luisa Boutique, will also include sweets by Michael Craft and wine by Grape D’Vine. Do stop in!

• Sunday, Oct. 14
If you’ve been enjoying the autumn weather – and stepping up your exercise regime – then this event may be right up your alley. The ML Faves for Good initiative’s latest event will once again bring our supporters together as we join in the Montefiore Nyack Hospital 28th annual Blow Away Breast Cancer 5K Run-Walk. The event, which takes participants on a scenic route through Nyack’s streets, will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. We hope you’ll consider joining us on the course (participating or cheering the team on) but also help us spread the word. And if you can’t take part on the day, we’d appreciate it if you would consider a donation to this worthy cause. To register or for more information, click here and follow the steps.  >---> Here <---<

As you can see, this coming weekend’s going to be a busy one.
We hope to see you at some point – and thank you, as always, for your continued support!

MINDFULLY… AT MARIA LUISA

As you know, we put a lot of thought into what we bring into both Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa.

Goods, whether a fall sweater or a scented candle, are not selected solely because they “look good” or “smell just lovely.”

No, all of our sourcing for products goes much deeper – and we believe that is one of the reasons why you continue to be a loyal patron, something we never take for granted.

This autumn, we are really putting the spotlight on what we call “ethical shopping” – once again calling your attention to products and designs that have deeper meaning.

As Maria Luisa Whittingham says, “Just because something is made in a particular region doesn’t mean it’s made ethically.”

We do research on what we bring into the shops, as we continue our search to supplement our longtime brands and designs that you know and love with new finds from around the world that add something more to the mix.

That’s why we will continue to share the stories behind our goods with you, whether they are items made following Fair Trade practices, designs that benefit women across the globe or even products that directly support our local artists and artisans.

Feel free to always ask us about anything that catches your eye; we like nothing more than to share the story behind what fills our shops.

And to keep that conversation going – both literally and figuratively – we ask you to “save the date” of Nov. 8 when we host a special evening from 5 to 8 p.m.

We will officially introduce one of our newest brands – MacKenzie83, a New-York based, made-in-America company that designs eco-friendly, responsibly sourced accessories featuring organic, free-range and vegetable-tanned leathers, organic cottons and recycled metals.

We plan to not only showcase its handcrafted creations but also host a “sip and chat” about Fair Trade and ethical shopping options, focusing on why we decided to carry the brand – and how you can get more involved in how you shop and what it all means.

The evening will also serve to raise funds for one of our important local nonprofits, the Center for Safety and Change, with 20 percent of all product sales to be donated to the organization.

And a bonus? You’ll also save 10% that evening on MacKenzie83 purchases above $200.

It’s really a win-win, don’t you think?

Sign up through our Facebook events page (Link HERE) - and hope to see you there!

• And speaking of supporting local artists and artisans, we hope you’ll also make a plan to stop by Oct. 13, when we offer a Trunk Show featuring jewelry from Nyack-born designer and artist Jane Cowles. Coinciding with Nyack’s Fall Sidewalk Sale – another “shop local” event not to be missed – Jane will be on hand from 2 to 4 p.m. showcasing her one-of-a-kind fine jewelry, inspired by the gardens of Paris and handcrafted in New York. We know you’ll just love her work, which also includes custom designs – so we hope to see you then, as well.

(And speaking of happenings this month, remember the final Nyack Street Fair of the year is set for this Sunday).

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

FALL ‘TRENDS’: THE MARIA LUISA WAY

Have you found yourself flipping through the fashion magazines and thinking much of what you’re supposed to be buying, wearing and loving just isn’t for you?
We understand.

As Maria Luisa Whittingham has said, “I try to stay away from trends and fads, and focus on the forward-looking things that still have staying power.”
That’s why when you select something this autumn at Maria Luisa, you’ll not only likely enjoy wearing it this season – but well into the coming seasons.

30 YEARS 30 LOOKS VIDEO

The staying power of the fashions and accessories offered by Maria Luisa was brought into crystal-clear focus during the Maria Luisa 30th anniversary celebrations, when longtime (and more recent) customers modeled their favorite Maria Luisa purchases as part of “30 Looks of 30 Years.” It was hard to tell if something was purchased six months ago or six years ago – and that’s the beauty of both the aesthetic and quality of what’s found at Maria Luisa.

SHOP

So this autumn, we invite you to stop in – or visit us on MariaLuisaBoutique.com or Shoptiques.com – and see our latest offerings.

We have the tried-and-true brands and silhouettes plus a few things to mix it up, whether you’re looking for pants or tops, skirts, dresses, jackets, bags, scarves, jewelry – and our ever-popular footwear.

And we hope you’ve seen our social-media post about one of our newest finds, accessories from MacKenzie83. The New York-based, made-in-America company pretty much sums up our approach to how we select what we carry – with ethical shopping always in mind.
MacKenzie83 designs eco-friendly, responsibly sourced accessories featuring organic and free-range leathers, organic cottons and recycled metals. We’re loving the look, of course, but the story behind the stunning designs is what brings it to the forefront.

And we’re hoping it will kick-start a conversation about ethical shopping, something we plan to further explore in both our next blog – and with a Nov. 8 special event showcasing MacKenzie83 – and benefitting the Center for Safety and Change (more details to come).
Hope to see you soon!