Cloche Friday

My friend Jackie in the UK encouraged me to participate in Cloche Friday hosted by Marty at A Stroll thru Life. The theme is wintery but alas I am in Florida and really don’t have a winter theme (although it has been cold).

When I first started blogging, I did so to remember and honor. My grandmother was a treasure. She loved her home and her family. She was a widow for many years but never stopped going or learning until she became ill. I have many of her belongings and decided to “cloche” some of them.

 

The bisque figurine was hers and I found it stored in a garage! The jewelry was hers as well – sort of mishmash but again treasured. The little girl in the jeweled frame is me holding an apple from her garden.

Stroll over to Marti’s and see the other cloche creations.

Foodie Friday – my first

I have posted many blog entries about food but this my first official one at Designs by Gollum hosted by Michael.



Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten is a favorite cookbook of mine. I have never been to Paris (sadly) but the photographs in her books and others’ almost take me there.
As I created our “romantic” dinner for Valentine’s Day, I considered several desserts (mostly chocolate) until looking through this cookbook and reading Ina’s comment that this is a “guy” dessert!
I have made this before and I don’t know why I haven’t made it more often. The small torches (available at Williams Sonoma) make the caramelizing a breeze and offer entertainment and magic for your guests.
So here we go - Ina’s Crème Brûlée


Preheat oven to 300°
1 extra large egg
4 extra large egg yolks
½ cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon for each serving
3 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier

Using the paddle attachment of your electric mixer, mix the egg, egg yolks and the ½ cup sugar on low speed until just combined. Meanwhile scald the cream (very hot but not boiling). With mixer on low, slowly add the cream to the eggs. Add the vanilla and Grand Marnier. Fill 6- to 8-ounce ramekins until almost full.


Place the ramekins in a baking pan and carefully pour boiling water into the pan about halfway up the sides. Bake for 35 - 40 minutes until custards are set when gently shaken. Remove from water bath and cool. Refrigerate until firm.

To serve, spread each ramekin with 1 tablespoon sugar. Heat with a kitchen blowtorch until the sugar caramelizes. Let sit for a moment to let sugar harden.

Enjoy!

Tablescape Thursday – a little romance

 

Ok – so I am still celebrating Valentine’s Day. I love to set the table. I usually like to keep it set and then eat out on the lanai but it has been too cold down here. So we carefully move the settings  and eat on “dishwasher” dishes and then move them back!

We didn’t do roses this year because they tripled in price!!! The gerbera daisies worked just fine!

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch hosts Tablescape Thursday each week and we all get to play dishes. Stop by and see the other dish displays!

  

I had ordered salad plates which arrived after Valentine’s Day so I redid the table and changed things slightly.

I like mixing up the fabrics – sort of like a quilt effect.

 

 

I found edible flowers at Fresh Market so they went on top of the spring greens, Roquefort cheese and campari tomatoes. Red wine vinegar and olive oil completed the salad.

 

Red dinner plates Vietri, Salad plates, placemats, tablecloth from Williams Sonoma, Wood chargers, flatware, napkins and candlesticks from Pottery Barn.

Thank you for stopping by. If you have time I would love a comment!

Valentine’s Day

Another Pink Saturday at Beverly’s How Sweet the Sound. This week has a romantic theme if we wish. Valentine’s Day is one of my favorites. I thought I would build a vignette and then make a mosaic for Mosaic Monday at Mary’s Little Red House.

 

I started on the coffee table with an engraved silver tray. I added some Waterford Champagne flutes, a wine bucket with Pottery Barn ice and Prosecco. Then a scattering of embroidered hearts (one embellished with crystals) and some chocolate. A pretty necklace and some Rod Stewart and Voila!

 

 

 

 

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Pink Saturday around the house…..

 

Once again it is time to join Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. I didn’t really have anything planned for the Pink Day but I took some pictures that will work.
I am so far behind and trying to figure out why. This is why….when I am in Maine for the summer at the cottage I take pictures and blog. When I am in Florida for 7 months, I have a house that needs constant care, a quilt shop that calls my name very frequently, and just so much to do. I am still trying to find a replacement for Live Writer for my blog so I can use my Mac. I am not having much luck but I am still trying,

Then last week I decided I needed an afghan – crocheted, of course – In Kaffe Fassett colors so I needed to teach myself to crochet and make a granny square….. And I need to make Ina Garten’s onion Soup….and I needed to make some guest towels for Valentine’s Day. See what happens.
But for some pink….


Now it is back to work! Happy Pink Saturday!