Connecticut Country House
Top o’ the mornin’!
Setting a table for St. Patrick’s Day is the best way to kick off spring (or at least puts me in the right state of mind!). For the NoraMurphyCountryHouse.com spring…
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Foodie Friday: A snowy day pot roast
Driving home on snowy roads. Trudging through the slushy snow walkway to the back door. Juggling multiple bags and keys at the door. Noticing that the door is warping from…
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A girl can dream…
It’s 13 below this morning here in the hollow at Connecticut Country House, and I’m catching myself daydreaming about spring, and about that certain smell and feel of fresh earth…
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Foodie Friday: Allspice Crumb Muffins
One of my favorite bakers is Dorie Greenspan. About a year ago, I had discovered one of her videos on the New York Times online food section, and fell in…
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Cozy up with your honey
For Valentine’s Day (or any time really), you just need a few ingredients (actually I came up with 10) to create a special little dinner for 2. Gather in a…
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Foodie Friday: Murph’s Potato Leek Soup
It’s 5 below in Newtown this morning, and I’m chilled to the bone! This kind of frigid weather calls out for one thing (other than summer!) – a bowl of…
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Surviving a blizzard Country House style
What happens when a crazy busy schedule meets “The Blizzard of 2015”? I feel it’s nature’s way of saying “time-out”! (Sadly, I need a blizzard to make me stop and…
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Morning muffins
I realize that today is not Friday (or more specifically Foodie Friday), but I found a new Blueberry Muffin recipe that I’ve been wanting to try from an old Hay…
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Foodie Friday: A classic bouquet garni
Simply tie together snips of parsley, thyme, and bay for a classic French herbal combination…perfect for infusing soups and stews with rich flavor. Bon appétit! Love, Nora
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Foodie Friday:Butternut squash ravioli with sage brown butter sauce
There’s something just so visually satisfying about this dish, that every time I’m on Pinterest, I simply can’t resist pinning yet another Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce…
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Window stopping
One of the best things I love about living in Connecticut, is that it’s right next door to New York. From our house, a drive into mid-town Manhattan takes about…
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A new year
“One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.” – Henry Miller This is my resolution for the new year. What’s yours? Wishing you…
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O Christmas tree!
Each of our three trees this Christmas has a distinct personality. From the biggest tree in the keeping room/dining room, filled with heirloom ornaments and special little mementos over the…
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Foodie Friday: Soupe à l’oignon française
A.K.A. French onion soup. I love how it sounds in its mother language. But more than that, I absolutely LOVE the way it tastes! For years, when visiting Paris, for…
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Snowflakes for Newtown
This week two years ago, I specifically baked a big batch of gingerbread cookies for the undecorated Christmas tree we had just set up (only the little white lights made…
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Foodie Friday: Major John Gile Holiday Rum Cake
Major John Gile Holiday Rum Cake Cake Ingredients 1-¾ cups all-purpose flour 1-½ cups granulated white sugar 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix ½ cup crushed walnuts ½ cup unsalted…
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Big fat wreaths
To kick-off December I’m starting with wreaths and keeping them green. Maybe I’ll dress them up as we get closer to Christmas, but for now I’m loving the entrances to…
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Dana and the Major John Gile House
I’d love to introduce you to my dear friend Dana Schwartz and her 1763 Major John Gile House, in Nottingham, New Hampshire. When Dana called to tell me all about…
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Happy and very grateful
I love Thanksgiving. I love the “one for all, and all for one” spirit of the day. I’ve always felt very blessed each holiday season, but this Thanksgiving even more…
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Foodie Friday: An encore performance
Some traditions are hard to improve upon, and our Thanksgiving Day turkey with dressing happens to be one of those things. Why mess with a really good thing? Connecticut Country…
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Ring around a napkin
Our Holiday 2014, A Country House Christmas in New Hampshire e-magazine is due out right after Thanksgiving(!!). But until then, I must scoop this holiday issue by sharing with you just…
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Winter’s eye candy
I came upon these photos that I took last year of some very gorgeous Amaryllis I was growing…and realized that if I want to repeat this for the new year,…
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Ghost stories
I’ve always loved a good ghost story. I’ve culled together quite a collection of paperbacks that tell stories about New England’s hauntings. Little did I know I could write a book…
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Simply sunflowers
I have to confess I can never resist a sunflower. Whether they’re from my garden or local market, just one look at them and they make me smile. I’ve found…
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A bug’s life
So what do you get a little boy on a business trip to Paris? Why, a bug of course! Quite simply that’s how our bug collection was born. For me,…
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