European Flair For The US Home

  Many of us have fond memories of our grandmother's blue willow pattern dishes and large platters used for the Sunday Roast and Christmas Turkey. As a nod to the memory of my Irish grandmother, this piece sits on my Chicago dining room table and I think of her when I walk by it. There are many stories and myths behind the images of the blue willow. The most famous one is based on a Japanese fairy tale "The Green Willow" originating in China that tells the story of two lovers separated and envied by gods for their love. The lovers can only meet once a year when the stars align.  In 1849, "The Story of the Common Willow Pattern Plate" was published in an English magazine, it goes as follows: Once there was a wealthy Mandarin, who had a beautiful daughter (Koong-se). She had fallen in love with her father's humble accounting assistant (Chang), angering her father. (It was inappropriate for them to marry due to their difference in social class.) He dismissed th...

  A bowl full of happiness to start the day. Chop up any fruit you have on hand, add a little plain non fat yogurt, a dash of honey or maple syrup and granola or muesli to top. Muesli invented in Switzerland is uncooked and low sugar while granola developed in the US is traditionally baked and often loaded with brown sugar. In this dish I used cinnamon granola, plain unsweetened yogurt, honeydew melon, clementines and pitted fresh dark cherries.

  Treat yourself to some chocolate covered strawberries on Valentine's Day.  Chocolate is considered to be an aphrodisiac since the time of the Aztecs. European royalty gave chocolate mixed with amber to their lovers to stimulate their love. Scientific studies have shown that chocolates release brain soothing chemicals which increase energy, desire levels and produce a natural high to elevate one's mood. Chocolate strawberries were created in the 1960’s, when Lorraine Lorusso, who worked in a small gourmet store in Chicago, called the Stop n’ Shop dipped fresh strawberries in chocolate, allowed them to harden and sold them to customers. They were an instant success. The combination of chocolate and strawberry is still popular today and tops the list of romantic foods associated with Valentine’s Day. The history of Valentine’s Day chocolates: In the 1800s, Richard Cadbury was looking for a way to utilize cocoa butter that was extracted during the making of chocolate liquor. He ...

  The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a symbol that permeates modern culture. You will find it in the details of countless designs.  One of the earliest examples is on a gold helmet from the Scythians, a European nomadic people from the 7th to 3rd centuries BC.  It was also found on a statue of the Indian emperor Kanishka (AD 127 to 150). The fleur-de-lis has many different meanings depending on who used it and when. Ancient Egyptians used it to represent the snake that bit and killed Cleopatra. In Christianity, lilies symbolize purity and chastity, which may be why the fleur-de-lis historically represents the Virgin Mary. While Mary has the strongest connection with the flower, it has also been used to represent Christ or the Holy Trinity. The three petals established a clear connection with the three persons of the Trinity. In French history, the fleur-de-lis’ origins may stem from the baptismal lily used in the crowning of the French King Clovis in the 13th century....

  End dry January on a peachy note! Marinating fresh peaches in wine is an old Italian tradition.  The Bellini consists of puréed peaches and Prosecco. The original recipe was made with a dash of raspberry or cherry juice to give it a pink hue. A shot of peach schnapps or citrus flavored vodka will take it up a notch and give it some extra flavor. In Italy the tradition was to use white peaches, however, orange peaches will work just as well giving the Bellini a bright orange color.  Frozen Bellinis have become popular in more recent years as a summer drink and also convenient as you can keep frozen peaches on hand. The following recipe can be adjusted for fresh peaches. 1 lb frozen peaches 3 cups Prosecco 1/3 cup Peach Schnapps or citrus vodka Dash of cherry or raspberry juice  Place all ingredients in a blender, puree until smooth Garnish with fresh peach slices, cherry or mint and serve immediately

  No Bake Chocolate Biscuit Cake - add raisins and marshmallow for Rocky Road. 2 pounds dark chocolate, , roughly chopped (about 50% cocoa) 1 pound unsalted butter pinch salt ¼ cup whipping cream ⅓ cup golden syrup (or maple syrup)  1 pound digestive biscuits (tea biscuits or nilla wafers) broken by hand into postage stamp sized pieces For Rocky Road add ¼ cup of raisins and ¼ cup of mini marshmallows For the Chocolate Ganache (optional) this one in this photo does not have ganache ½ cup whipping cream 1 tbsp corn syrup 8 ounces dark chocolate chopped Melt the butter over medium low heat. Add the chocolate and salt and continue over medium low heat until the chocolate is fully melted. Remove from heat and stir in the whipping cream and golden syrup until smooth. Fold in the broken biscuits (for Rocky Road fold in raisins and mini marshmallow here) and pour into a 9 inch loaf pan that has been lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours ...

Throughout history, kings and other high people have used animal print rugs and such as a sign of status just as mounted animals are kept as trophies. Fabrics with patterns and colors imitating the skins of animals were made into fashionable dresses as early as the eighteenth century, when elaborate silk designs emulating exotic furs intertwined with expensive lace to evoke a sense of luxury and wealth.  Animal prints and skins were widely believed to convey power to the wearer. Characteristics associated with a particular animal were thought to be transferred to the wearer. In the 1920s, animal print became vogue when glamorous movie stars like Joan Crawford brought the style into popularity. After World War II, leopard print clothing was mass-produced and gained popularity from Christian Dior, who once advised women, “if you are fair and sweet, don't wear it.” Animal print became popular for women in the United States in the late 1960s during the Bohemian movement. In these photo...