porcelain berry baskets

 . . . a charming find!

 Jayson Home and Garden sells this charming find!

What an utterly charming way to display your summer berries.

I'm also a big fan of displaying and storing food and treasures in unconventional ways. 

These baskets can double as decor on a picnic table not only to hold fresh vibrant berries, but small paper napkins, salt & pepper shakers, condiments, and chips or vegetables.

They can also be used as storage on a bathroom vanity for cotton balls, hand-soap & lotion bottles, and lavender sachets.  


Oh ~ the charm . . . 
                and the possibilities.

sparkling sweet cherry lemonade

I recently hosted a small afternoon gathering of a few friends and wanted to serve a unique and sweet beverage . . . and Sparking Sweet Cherry Lemonade made the menu!

Easy to prepare, bright in color, sweet to the taste . . . . Sparkling Sweet Cherry Lemonade would make a great addition to any gathering, whether simple or extravagant.  

bridal shower

baby shower

picnic

birthday 

brunch 

Ingredients 

1 (10-ounce) package frozen pitted sweet cherries (2 cups), thawed 
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cup sugar

5 cups chilled seltzer water, plus more to taste

Garnish options: Fresh sour cherries or maraschino cherries with stem and/or fresh mint

Directions

Add the cherries, lemon juice, and sugar to a blender and puree. 

Pour the mixture into a large pitcher. 

Add the seltzer and stir gently. 

Pour into glasses filled with ice and top with additional seltzer, if desired.

Garnish, as desired.

Servings: 2 quarts

 ~ blueberry skewers ~

miette

I came across this book and fell in love with the beautiful & inspiring photos . . .  and recipes! My next trip to San Francisco will surely include a visit to this patisserie.

I adore the whimsy of this pastry shop

and the simplicity and elegance of its desserts.

~ the name Miette means small sweet thing in France ~

~ inside Miette Patisserie ~

~ charming sign ~

~ confectioner's delight ~

~ heaven ~

~ beautiful ~

~ a most charming shop ~

~ delightful ~

Simply . . . lovely!

glass jars with flowers

 . . . . an old favorite of mine. 

I save glass jars of all shapes and sizes . . . and love to fill them with fresh flowers and display them in clusters in the middle of my dining room table, on the dining table in my garden, along my kitchen island, or simply at my bedside. 

I find these simple arrangements most beautiful when the flowers are actually picked from my garden. Don't have a garden of your own? No worries . . . Stop by your local Farmer's Market for beautiful, seasonal flowers at affordable prices.

  

Simply . . . charming

 

white linen table clothes

 . . . . a must have in your linen closet!

Two important, basic entertaining items you should have are white stoneware/dinnerware and white linen table clothes. 

I have several white linens; one for each size dining table that I have in my house and garden.  

White linen table clothes can dress up any table, whether old or new. It bears a clean, fresh look that can make any setting feel special. 

Want to personalize your table setting to an event, holiday, or season?

My favorite thing to do is find a fabric that I love and buy enough to cover the table, as well as several inches to drape on all sides. Most fabrics don't even need to be sewn or hemmed. A sharp pair of scissors will leave a clean cut. 

This piece of fabric ~ in essence ~ serves as a table cover on top of the white table cloth. 

With the white linen table cloth peeking out from beneath ~ you'll find your setting extra beautiful and charming.  This is also an inexpensive way to personalize your space and/or decorate for a gathering or party.  

I adore shades of blue and green during the summer months, and found this paisley fabric to use as a table cover on my dining room table.  

I simply . . . love it!

Choose a fabric that catches your fancy . . .

and add charm to your table setting!

alfresco dining

Simply stated . . . Alfresco dining means eating outside.

This time of year, there are plenty of reasons to throw open your doors and gather family and friends for an outdoor party. Outdoor entertaining is, by definition, a casual affair, so don’t stand on ceremony when it comes to planning your next summer party. It’s less about the formality of matching plates and table linens and more about enjoying a great backyard barbecue with family and friends. 

 

There are so many beautiful ways 

to entertain outdoors.  

Create a summer home for dishes. Station an armoire on a covered patio or clear a few shelves in the garage to hold items devoted to alfresco dining. Affordable, unbreakable, brightly hued tableware, mix-and-match acrylic glassware and sturdy flea market finds are all good ideas to have on hand for a planned or impromptu gathering. 

  

Multiple beverage stations help ensure that guests can get a refill without waiting. Galvanized tubs, colorful enamel buckets  and planters work perfectly. With ribbon, tether an opener to a handle of each bin; drape a dish towel nearby to take care of condensation. 

If  it’s an especially warm day, keep plenty of fruit or citrus-infused water on hand for your guests. A drink dispenser will allow them to refill their glasses at the table with ease.

Accommodating a large group for a sit-down meal outside can be accomplished easily and elegantly by topping a few folding tables with a rustic flat-panel door or a single piece of plywood covered with cloth. 

 

Setting a stunning table can be surprisingly simple with a little creativity. Don’t be afraid to play with patterns, add bursts of bright color, and mix the old with the new. 

Create centerpieces using foliage from the yard. Flowering or fruiting branches look elegant atop a table, as do fern fronds and leaves arranged in jars.

 

 

Happy Summer Entertaining!

raspberry crumble bars

Simply . . . delicious!

Easy to prepare, as well as versatile ~ this crumble bar will delight you and your friends & family. 

Not a fan of raspberry? No problem. You can substitute the preserve with one that you do like . . . . blackberry, huckleberry, gooseberry, peach, apricot, apple. The possibilities are endless.  

And if you don't have time to make your own preserves, then turn to your local market for this jarred delight. 

This dessert can simply be enjoyed by itself, or warmed slightly and served with vanilla ice cream. I promise your guests will ask for seconds.

Wrap a generous-sized bar in parchment 

paper and tie it with twine or ribbon!

It makes for a great gift!

~ hostess ~ birthday ~ party favors ~

Ingredients

12 Tablespoons butter, softened, plus more for the pan

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 medium egg, beaten

1 cup Raspberry Preserves, store bought or home-made 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan.

Add the flour, both sugars, oats and salt to a bowl in your stand mixer. 

Add in the butter and egg and beat at low speed. 

Stop the machine and scrape the bowl down a couple of times. Keep processing until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. 

Keep 2 cups crumb mixture aside.

Press the remaining crumb mixture on the bottom the prepared pan. Spread the Raspberry Preserves over top, leaving 1/2-inch border. 

Crumble the rest of the oat mixture over the preserves.

Bake until lightly browned, 40 to 50 minutes. 

Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Raspberry Preserves

1 quart raspberries

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 3/4 cup sugar

Put your raspberries and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat. Once it's at a simmer, partially cover and cook 8 to 10 minutes. Pass the berry mixture through a food mill and measure the liquid that remains. You need 3 1/2 cups. Add more water if there isn't enough.

Put the berry liquid into a new saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer again. Once it simmers, start adding your sugar in 1/2 cup increments. Give it a stir to incorporate and bring it back to a simmer before adding of the next 1/2 cup sugar. Once the last 1/2 cup is added, bring the liquid to 216 to 218 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Stir constantly.

Let this cool to room temperature prior to using. If not using right away, refrigerate for up to 1 week. 

Yield: 2 cups

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