Fresh Herbs & Compound Butter

May 11, 2013

Spring is here and my herb garden is coming back to life. With this extra sunshine we’ve been having, they’ve perked up and grew a little taller and fuller. Here I have put together a little sampling of herbs displayed on a cake stand and wrapped a few in parchment paper attached with custom tags {found here} using double sided tape. It’s always wonderful to share with others what you grow in the garden.

{Free Printable Garden Tags, click here}

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Fresh herbs in cooking is by far the best choice {see Compound Butter recipe below}. My four favorite herb plants I use again and again from my garden are Italian parsley, basil, lavender and mint {not shown in the picture}. Another reason for growing herbs is for decorating. Instead of fresh flowers, add a pretty green bouquet of parsley next to the kitchen sink, mint in the bathroom or silver sage displayed in simple containers down the center of the table. Herbs are hardy plants and easy to care for. Give it a try if you have never grown them.

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Herb Lemon Compound Butter

Ingredients

8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 Tbs. chopped fresh chives
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. lemon zest
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a bowl. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste. Scoop it all onto the plastic wrap or divide the mixture in half {about 4 Tablespoons each}. Roll the plastic wrap around it to form a cylinder then twist the ends closed. Then wrap it in parchment paper, twist the two ends and tie the ends with twine. Refrigerate until the butter is firm {about 2 hours} or put in the freezer to be used at a later date.

* Butter mixed with other ingredients {herb & spices, vanilla, honey, nuts, garlic, olives, sundried tomatoes, etc…} is known as compound butter. It adds flavor to seafood, meat, bread and vegetables.

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posted by: Kay 9

9 comments

Grand Interior Spaces

May 4, 2013

When it comes to designing and decorating, most of us would love to have more space to work with. Now that I’m given that opportunity with the new addition to our house above the garage and the mud room, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed because I want to be sure that the space will be efficient and well designed. These beautiful airy interior spaces are well designed and gave me inspirations and ideas {see tips below}. Our new addition is not anything like these Grand rooms, the only similarity is the two words, “Vaulted Ceilings”.

This home is located in Alabama at The Ridge on Lake Martin. Designed by Tracery Interiors, with Sumblin Schnell as the principal designer and assistant Anna Kay Porch. The home combined rustic, white and a little French influence. Continue to Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles to see more images of this home. Photographer, Eric George Dines

This party barn space was designed by Napa Valley interior designer Erin Martin to be a place to entertain.

Wine Country Farmhouse located in Northern California on a hilltop overlooking Bennett Valley in Sonoma County. Designed by John Malick & Associates / Photographer, Jeannie O Connor.

This barn is on a ranch located in Hidden Valley, California. The interior was designed by the owners, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi along with Jay Holman and Cliff Fong. To see more pictures, Continue to Elle Decor… photography by William Abranowicz

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Decorating a Large Space with Vaulted ceiling

{tips gathered from my research}

1.  Have goals {i.e. purpose of the space, the look to achieve, color palettes…}
2.  Repeat materials and colors for a unified look
3.  Create individual spaces and they should all flow and work together
4.  Resist the temptation to push all of your furniture against the walls
5.  Do not clutter the room with too many things, instead try grouping collection of similar items
6.  Define the spaces with area rugs, room dividers…
7.  Utilize various types of lighting throughout the space, one overhead light will not illuminate the space
8.  Choose large furniture pieces & accessories {avoid overstuffing the room}
9.  Add texture to create visual interest {i.e. draperies, wall accents… }
10.   The end result … Do you like it?

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{a sneak peak of the mud room}

Any tips?… love to hear from you.

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posted by: Kay 2

2 comments

Boutique THEO

April 27, 2013

Boutique THEO is a great place to start planning a special event, to look for a gift, find something for the home or needing a little inspiration.

Boutique Theo mercury pedestal votive holder:vase

Boutique THEO is the creation of two childhood friends, Jennifer Delesie {Delesie Photography} and Charlotte Hale {Plum Pretty Sugar} and along with Lisa Vorce {Event Design & Production} as the Creative Director. These talented ladies have established themselves prominently in the wedding industry and now combined their expertise to help others plan special events through “shop the look” in their online shop. It carries a wide range collection of decor and accessories for special events, individuals, the home and for gift giving {my personal favorites are the creamware cake stands}. They also have a blog site featuring ideas, how-to projects and beautiful inspirational photos {like the image below} to help you get started. I encourage you to go and take a peak. ⟶

Thank you ladies {and Aaron} for letting me share these beautiful images from Boutique THEO.

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image sources: Boutique Theo 1⎥ 2⎥ 3⎥ 4⎥ 5⎥ 6⎥ 7⎥ 8⎥ 9

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posted by: Kay & Hannah 0

0 comments

Margaret Thatcher

April 20, 2013

Margaret Hilda Thatcher was born on October 13, 1925 in Grantham, England. She died on April 8, 2013 at the age of 87. “It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning,” a statement from her spokesman, Lord Tim Bell, said.

Former Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher

Baroness Margaret Thatcher was the first and only woman to serve as the British Prime Minister. She held her office from 1979 to 1990, longer than anyone else in the 20th century. She led Britain to significant growth and back on the world stage at the time when the top tax rate on earned income was over 80% and inflation was over 20%. She was an inspiration for many women around the world and still is. She will be remembered as a woman with strong core values and was prepared to make bold decisions. In 1976, the nickname “The Iron Lady” was given to her by the Soviet army newspaper “Red Star”. To this day, the nick name is synonymous with Margret Thatcher.

She will be missed.

{Margaret Thatcher in 1950, at Buckingham Palace garden party as a Conservative candidate for Dartford}

“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” M.T.

{Britain’s first woman Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street with her husband Denis, 1979}

“I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society – from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.” M.T.

{Margaret Thatcher at Conservative party conference, 1982}

“I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.” M.T.

{Margaret Thatcher with President Ronald Reagan, 1988}

{Margaret Thatcher with President Ronald Reagan at the White House in Washington, DC, 1988}

“People think that at the top there isn’t much room. They tend to think of it as an Everest. My message is that there is tons of room at the top.” M.T

{MT in front of a bronze statue of herself, inside the Palance of Westminister, London in 2007}

{Margaret Thatcher in front of a bronze statue of herself, inside the Palance of Westminister, London in 2007}

“This lady is not for turning” M.T.

{Margaret Thatcher’s last House of Commons Speech on November 22, 1990} .

Margaret Thatcher’s legacy will live on. Soon to be released is her biography, titled “Margaret Thatcher: The Authorized Biography, Volume One: Not For Turning” written by Charles Moore and published by Allen Lane.

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Sources/images: Wikimedia, Photo 1 by Margaret Thatcher Foundation ⎪ Vogue, Photo 2 by PA Photos ⎪ The Guardian, photo 3 by Tim Graham/Corbis ⎪ The Guardian, hoto 4 by Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features ⎪ Daily Mail, photo 5 by Getty images & photo 6 by PA ⎪ You Tube Margaret Thatcher ⎪

Sources/quotes: ⎪ “I came to office…” Speech to Small Business Bureau Conference, 2/8/1984 ⎪ “I always cheer up…” TV interview for Italian television (RAI) ⎪ “This lady is not turning” Speech to Conservative Party Conference & Youtube ⎪

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posted by: Bill & Kay 3

3 comments

Citrus-Herb Seasoning Salt

April 13, 2013

From spring into summer I have the citrus seasoning salt sitting right next to my salt and pepper on the kitchen counter. A hand reach away for when I need to add it to what’s cooking.

Citrus-Herb Seasoning Salt

3/4 cup coarse salt (Coarse Kosher Salt)
2 Tablespoons lemon zest
4 teaspoons dried rosemary
3 teaspoons dried thyme
3 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Store in an airtight container, up to 3 months. Makes 1 Cup

Ideas & Uses

○ sprinkle on chicken, pork or fish before baking/cooking
○ add to balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil dipping sauce for bread
○ sprinkle over popcorn, pasta, cream cheese dip & garlic bread

recipe source: Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine, December 2011

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This packaging idea came about because I needed a quick way to package the salt seasoning mix as gifts and I didn’t have lids for the jelly jars. They turned out cute so I wanted to share it.

Materials

small glass containers (jelly jars-3) ⎪ plastic wrap ⎪ double sided tape ⎪ twine ⎪ scissors (decorative scissors-optional) ⎪ labels (see below to print free labels)

Directions

1. Fill the glass container(s) to the desired amount.

2. Seal the top opening with 2 layers of plastic wrap and trim off excess leaving about 3/4-1 inch along the sides of the container.

3. Wrap twine 2 – 3 times around the container to secure the plastic wrap edges (clear tape will work too or do both).

4. Print, cut and attach the label to the top of the container with the double sided tape (see image above).

{click here to print labels}

Come back and tell us how you used the citrus-herb seasoning salt.

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posted by: Kay 3

3 comments

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{Free Printable Garden Tags, click here}

Herb Lemon Compound Butter

Ingredients

Directions

* Butter mixed with other ingredients {herb & spices, vanilla, honey, nuts, garlic, olives, sundried tomatoes, etc…} is known as compound butter. It adds flavor to seafood, meat, bread and vegetables.

Decorating a Large Space with Vaulted ceiling

.

image sources: Boutique Theo 1⎥ 2⎥ 3⎥ 4⎥ 5⎥ 6⎥ 7⎥ 8⎥ 9

Sources/images: Wikimedia, Photo 1 by Margaret Thatcher Foundation ⎪ Vogue, Photo 2 by PA Photos ⎪ The Guardian, photo 3 by Tim Graham/Corbis ⎪ The Guardian, hoto 4 by Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features ⎪ Daily Mail, photo 5 by Getty images & photo 6 by PA ⎪ You Tube Margaret Thatcher ⎪

Sources/quotes: ⎪ “I came to office…” Speech to Small Business Bureau Conference, 2/8/1984 ⎪ “I always cheer up…” TV interview for Italian television (RAI) ⎪ “This lady is not turning” Speech to Conservative Party Conference & Youtube ⎪

From spring into summer I have the citrus seasoning salt sitting right next to my salt and pepper on the kitchen counter. A hand reach away for when I need to add it to what’s cooking.

Citrus-Herb Seasoning Salt

Ideas & Uses

recipe source: Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine, December 2011

This packaging idea came about because I needed a quick way to package the salt seasoning mix as gifts and I didn’t have lids for the jelly jars. They turned out cute so I wanted to share it.

Materials

Directions