Sandra‘s Closet

Here is another great contest with Lyst and Neiman Marcus!

Every day from now until December 24th, Neiman Marcus will post a featured product as a collection on the NM Lyst page. Participants are asked to create a collection on their own Lyst user accounts that includes the featured product. From these collections, Neiman Marcus will select one collection that exhibits the most original and on-trend use of the featured product, and the winner will be awarded a $250 Neiman Marcus gift card via email. (The prize will be sent to the email address attached to the user’s Lyst account.) The winners will be announced the following day. There is no limit to the number of collections a user creates, and each user may enter all daily contests. No purchase required.

Please click here to participate!

If you are interested in my entry for today, just click here.

LoL, Sandra

A*MEN

Sautéed John Dory filets, 
celeriac puree/cinnamon/nutmeg, cranberries, oil infused with Tahitian vanilla
Strong coffee sauce

Piquillo and Espelette pepper condiment

Serves 4

Preparation time: 40min.

Cooking time: 25 min.

Celeriac puree

• 1 head of celeriac of about 1.3-1.6lbs (600-700gr)
• 75ml (1/3 cup) of sour cream
• 20g (1/10 cup) of butter
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg

Peel the celeriac and cut it into large pieces.

Boil the celeriac in 3 quarts of water for 15 to 20 minutes until soft.

Strain and pour it into a food processor with the sour cream and butter.

Blend until the puree is thick and creamy.

Season with nutmeg and cinnamon according to taste, then season with salt.

Cranberries

• 50g (1/2 cup) of cranberries
• 50g (1/5 cup) of sugar
• 50ml (1/5 cup) of water

Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small pot.

Let the cranberries gently candy in the syrup for about 15 minutes.

Vanilla oil

• 50ml (1/5 cup) of grape seed oil
• 50ml (1/5 cup) of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 vanilla bean

Combine the oils.

Halve the vanilla bean lengthwise, remove the seeds with a knife and add (beans and seeds) to the oil.

Let infuse for a few days to allow the vanilla to release its fragrance.

John Dory

• 4 John Dory filets (120g – without skin)
• 20g (1/10 cup) of coffee beans
• 50g (1/5 cup) of duck fat
• 50g (1/5 cup) of butter
• Salt

Season the John Dory filets with salt.

Sauté them in a pan, in the duck fat and coffee beans, for 3 to 4 minutes.

Remove from heat, add butter and cook until it melts. Pour generously over the fish filets.

The little extra: Piquillo and Espelette pepper condiment

• 4 Piquillo peppers
• 15ml (1 tbsp) of olive oil
• Espelette pepper
• Salt

Mix the Piquillo peppers with the olive oil in a food processor. Do not overblend.

Season with salt and Espelette pepper according to taste.

Presentation

Place a large spoonful of celeriac puree on to each plate.

Add the John Dory filet.

Garnish with a few cranberries, then pour a thin line of the cooking butter and a thin line of the vanilla oil over them.

Taste as is at first, then add the Piquillo pepper condiment.
Bon appétit!

LoL, Sandra

This is an contest for all Polyvore lovers among you or those who would like to try it!
The Art of Gifting with Swatch brings a flash of opulence and classic Swatch elegance to the season for you and a friend. Create a stylish set inspired by our stunning Golden Rebel and Shimmer Ray timepieces, and you could win one each just in time for Christmas. Simply design your set as a gift for a friend, tag them using their Polyvore username, then share your inspiration with the world. If you create the winning set, you and your friend will receive the ultimate Christmas gift – a watch each from the Swatch Season’s Special Collection. Please use one tag only per set.

The contest runs from today until December 17, 2011. You can enter it below!
Good luck!

LoL, Sandra

Parisian Shourouk Rhaiem’s fashion motto is “luxury and decadence”, and her self-titled jewelry label stands by it. Having cut her teeth as a designer at Chloé and Cavalli, Rhaiem’s talents shone when she was commissioned by Jean Paul Gaultier to create the jewels for his F/W 2009 couture show. Bring the wow factor to your accessories collection with her Swarovski-crystal clusters on neon-cord bracelets and dazzling drop earrings.
The perfect gift for every fashionista! To shop, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

PS, on my wish list are those E. Vegas crystal and sequin earrings

and this amazing feather crystal and bead bib necklace.