European Flair For The US Home

Blackberry Mint Cocktail  4 Teaspoons sugar 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice 1/2 Cup seltzer water 1/4 Cup vodka or rum 12 Blackberries 12 large mint leaves 6 to 8 ice cubes Mix blackberries, mint leaves, sugar, lemon juice, and lime juice in a tall glass. ADD seltzer. ADD vodka or rum. (Leave out to make a virgin cocktail or add non alcoholic spirits). ADD ice. STIR well and serve.

  Tortoise shells were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans as inlays in furniture to display wealth.  Tortoise shell jewelry and small trinket boxes were introduced by André Charles Boulle, cabinetmaker to Louis XIV of France in the 1600’s. Boulle perfected the art of marquetry combining thin inlays of tortoise shell backed with metal and woods. Today the tortoise shell trade has been outlawed. Hence, the value of vintage pieces is increasing. However, there are many fine imitation products you can find. This photo is of an imitation tortoise shell box set on a modern day cocktail table. 

  There’s nothing like a nice Bordeaux and a triple crème Brie from Normandy to kick off the weekend. Happy Weekend!!

Overnight Oats (heart healthy) This is a healthy way to start the day and can be eaten straight from the fridge in the morning. The night before:  mix the following in a bowl to soak ½ cup of old fashioned rolled oats (celiacs use gluten-free oats) 1 teaspoon of chia seeds  1 teaspoon of shredded coconut ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon ¾ cup of unsweetened almond milk  1 teaspoon of vanilla extract  Mix and top with your favorite fruit. I favor peaches.  Cover will cling film and store in the fridge overnight. Enjoy! Subscribe to European Flair For The US Home on Blogger or Blog spot

  Coffee Table Books - some light reading or maybe not! The coffee table or cocktail table book is, according to Merriam-Webster, "a large expensive book with many pictures that is typically placed on a table for people to look at in a casual way."  The French humanist philosopher Michel de Montaigne, first mentioned this type of book in his 1580 essay Upon Some Verses of Virgil: "I am vexed that my essays only serve the ladies for a common movable, a book to lay in the parlor window." Over three hundred years later, the term "coffee table book" made its first appearance in a 1961 issue of Arts Magazine. Today,  interior designers adorn occasional tables and credenzas with these large oversized books. They are pretty to look at and a great conversation piece.  In this photo are some of my favorites. Charles Faudree was a formidable force in decorating US homes with European influences, his books on design together with beautiful photography take you on tou...

Dry January Cocktail  Trying Dry January but feel like a cocktail - try this: Use any distilled non-alcoholic spirits.  In this one I used Seedlip, Spice 94 Aromatic, which is a complex blend of individually copper pot distilled barks, spices & citrus peels based on methods & botanicals documented in the Art Of Distillation, published in London in 1651. Non-alcoholic Gin will also work. Recipie: 1 shot of non-alcoholic spirits 2 shots of whiskey sour mix 1 shot of simple syrup A dash of aromatic bitters Ice  Top up glass with sparkling water stir and add a glazed cherry

  Dresser, Hutch, Buffet, Sideboard. Commonly known as all of the above, but very much differentiated from a formal China cabinet, the Welsh kitchen dresser is a piece of wooden furniture consisting of drawers and cupboards in the lower part, with shelves and a sideboard on top. Traditionally located in a farmhouse kitchen, this piece is aesthetically pleasing and very functional. The drawer key holes in this photo are made of ivory as would have been the tradition in the 1800’s. Many of today’s kitchens have built-in units that resemble these pieces but my preference is to keep a wall in the kitchen free of built-ins and source an antique piece instead. It adds character to your kitchen and gives it a unique european look. 

  Healthy Spelt Bread (vegan) 2 cups of whole spelt flour 1 cup of white spelt flour  ½ cup of either (quick rolled oats, buck wheat flakes) ¼ cup of sesame seeds (raw or roasted) 2 tablespoons of baking powder 1 teaspoon of salt  2 cups of unsweetened almond milk warmed  3 generous tablespoons of honey 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil 1 teaspoon of vanilla (optional) 2 tablespoons of rolled oats or seeds for topping Preheat oven to 350 at bake setting Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl In a separate bowl, warm the almond milk (1 minute in microwave) Melt the coconut oil (1 min in microwave) Add coconut oil and three generous tablespoons of honey to the coconut milk and whisk by hand to blend Make a well in the dry ingredients pour the milk mixture in and fold until blended  Grease a bread pan (if staying vegan use a plant based butter)  Pour the batter into the pan and bake in the oven at 350 for one hour and ten minutes Let cool on a rack. This...

Tassels were found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs thousands of years ago. Later, becoming popular in Europe among nobles, high church officials and the military to display status and wealth. Louis XV used them everywhere in his palaces for decoration. In today’s home, tassels can be used to adorn door handles as an added symbol of luxury and an elegant nod to the past.