Splendid Delights to Sink Your Teeth Into

We are led by our passions for all things born of the past and found in the present.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Matchbook online magazine

There is a new magazine in town...Matchbook! We like it...lots in fact, and we think you will too! There's a bit of Brit mixed w/a bit of this and that, and articles you really want to read. We were pleasantly surprised. We love the tactile feel and rich smell of magazines and books, and really we are adjusting to the influx of online magazines. This one is a bit more to our liking. Let us know what you think or better yet...let Matchbook know...


Just google Matchbook magazine.


We had just talked about how cool it would be to have a pair of flats w/crests and we find them here..


Who doesn't want to live a charmed life! Read more at Matchbook.



Matchbook's home decor articles are relevant.


After our own heart...we own some of these items and then there's some we'd like to have too!


Scott's got fabulous taste!


Peggy Guggenheim is an original! This is a well written article about a very interesting eclectic woman. Now run don't walk..grab a cup of steaming hot tea or coffee and let your fingers take to you Matchbook Magazine.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Bespoke Country House Parties

Sophie Conran is a member of the most talented Conran Family. Terence Conran is her father and Jasper is her brother. Sophie met up with Steven Collins who owns Temple Guiting Manor in the Cotswold's and came up with the most amazing concept for holidays and vacations. A bespoke country party! Part of the charm of staying here is her connection with so many stellar florists, chefs, card makers and hat makers, etc. Her thought was why not teach classes to the guests. This is very unconventional and that's what makes this spot such a lovely place to stay at. Who wouldn't you want to be a guest here? Who wouldn't want to learn trout fishing or foraging for mushrooms, be hands on for a sumptuous dinner in a perfectly relaxing environment, learn a new skill and enjoy being with friends and/or family?




Sophie


Temple Guiting Manor





Dreamy...Idyllic...


Picturesque!

Now that you have seen what a gorgeous property this is...won't you be about booking a spot for you and a some very fortunate guests?

Thursday, January 13, 2011

A Star on the Hollywood walk of Fame

Colin Firth
~Mr. Darcy~
Got his star on the Hollywood walk of fame today.
Congrats!




It's really nice to see such a good bloke get his dues!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Sentimental Musings

Years ago.....I gave my mom an antique rose garden. It provided so much joy and visual pleasure for her. She loved to take bouquets to the bank teller or a friend, they were a unique gift ~ it brought her pleasure to give away something that she treasured so much.


 Running across this little bundle of dried rose petals that she gave me in 1992, I reminisced about her lovely little garden, how she loved growing things, really a talent I suspect she garnered from her father who even in Iowa's uneven climate, grew beautiful roses and just about everything else. One never knows what we write about or save from generation to generation, our diaries, our handmade creations cherished by our family and friends, sentimental notes and words of wisdom that wind their way into our hearts. It prompts us to live in the moment to write about our thoughts and pass on our knowledge to our children and grandchildren. I don't think she could have possibly known that in 1992 the dried rose petals she sent off in the mail one day to me would be a treasured possession in 2011. Here are some of the roses that I gave her to grow. They came from Roses of Yesterday and Forever. They are now the dried rose petals that I prize.


 Michele Meilland, pale translucent pink...they look like porcelain China..so delicate and lovely. Mom really cherished this rose in particular. She could view it right from her kitchen window as she prepared meals or did dishes. 



Honorine de Brabant..a lovely Bourban antique rose. Violet, mauve and creamy pink striped. Very unique!

La Reine, found in France in the early 1900's...a deep silvery plumish rose.


Rosa Gallica Officinalis, Red Rose of Lancaster. One of the oldest roses on record. This rose sports pink and crimson colors with showy yellow stamen and intense perfume scent.


Charles de Mills, a Gallica rose dating from the early 1800's. It's colors range from deep purple to lavender. It has a very strong perfumed scent, lush, ruffly, showy. Quite the beauty! Sort of the center of attention. 



Felicite Parmentier dating back to 1834. This is the palest, delicate pink Alba Rose. The stamen has an apple green hue. 


Marie Antoniette was a great lover of old world roses. So many paintings depict this fact, and some roses are named after her.


There is something to be said for the love of growing beautiful things. It transcends time, enriches our lives with beauty and is an art that continues with a life of its own. Once you get the rose bug, especially the antique rose bug...you will be smitten with multitudes of choices...and there are never enough roses to be had. All of us girls in our family grew up in this environment and we all love growing plants for beauty and also those that sustain life. 


Pictures were found on various sites by googling the names of each rose. 

Valentine's Day Breakfast

~This is a very easy dish to make for breakfast or brunch~
Puff Pancake w/ Strawberry Cream Syrup and Fresh Strawberries

This has been a favorite recipe of our family for eons!
Keep the rest of your menu simple and let this meal be about time spent with the ones you love. 
 Have everything else ready! The table set, juice and coffee on, side dishes such as buttery, crisped edged Potatoes O'Brien (a previous post) and some Nieman Ranch smoked bacon strips (we are a firm believer in using meats that come from humanly treated animals raised in a natural setting where they can roam and graze), a petite creamer full of syrup and sliced berry compote just ready to heap onto a generous slice of Puffed Pancake. Here is the recipe:

Strawberry Cream Syrup
1 16 ounce container frozen strawberries in sugar, thawed and drained, reserve juice
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup clear (light) corn syrup
juice from frozen strawberries
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup cream or evaporated milk

In a large saucepan, add the strawberry juice, corn syrup, water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir occasionally. 2 minutes after this mixture comes to a boil and the sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and add the cream. Whisk and set aside. 

Puff Pancake Recipe    **Preheat oven to 450 degrees**

1 - 9 inch - glass pie dish, skillet w/oven proof handles
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk or 1/2 and 1/2
1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup all purpose unbleached flour
2 tablespoons butter (not margarine--this is a necessary step to keep the pancake from sticking)




Happy Valentines Day!


Filling:

Strawberry Compote
1 small carton fresh strawberries, sliced thinly plus
reserved frozen strawberries from syrup recipe mix together


Additions:
Whipped cream or cool whip
powdered sugar, optional

Place the pie dish/pan in the preheated 450 degrees oven with the 2 tablespoons butter. In a medium bowl, add the eggs and milk. Whisk. Add flour and salt whisk to combine and pour into preheated dish/pan as soon as the butter has completely melted. Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees. If the pancake is puffing in the center, prick it with a fork. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake from 5-10 minutes longer. Pancake will be puffy and golden brown around the edges. When you remove your pancake from the oven, be ready to serve it right away!
*Children love the magic of this puffy concoction*
Drizzle some syrup on the bottom. Top with berries and whipped cream and a dusting of powdered sugar if you like. 

We have 3 birthdays to celebrate on Valentine's Day. February is a special month not only because of Valentine's Day and our family birthday celebrations, but it is heart month as well. Remember to support the American Heart Association's Go Red campaign. They have done a remarkable job at reducing the death rates for so many Americans. 

Thursday, January 6, 2011

DOWNTON ABBEY

Sunday, January 9, 2011 Masterpiece Theatre Classic will begin the British series: Julian Fellowe's drama,  "Downton Abbey." You may view it by computer on Monday, January 10.
If you love visually delightful settings and a peek into the titled, pull up a comfy chair and get ready for a treat!

 
What a beautiful shot!
picture found on holly goes lightly
The Cast. Aren't you intrigued?

The real inhabitants of Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey was filmed. This castle was last designed in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry.