Monday, February 8, 2010

To Market To Market...

What happened to the weekend? I went on a fantastic trip to the antique and collectible show. What did I buy? Not a lot. I know, you're wondering what could have stopped me from going on a once a month buying spree? It isn't that I did not buy, I bought plenty, however, I was very particular in my purchases. I know some people do not like the old fashioned things, but let's take a little trip and examine why people used the things they used and then see if your opinion changes.

The first purchase was a very unique glass dish. We all have these trinket dishes. Most of them were our mother's or grandmother's. They sit patiently waiting in the recesses of the kitchen cabinet, longing to see the light of day. Hoping for a moment of sunlight to illuminate the glass and release its beauty. Yet, we have no use for them...or do we?

The small glass dish can have a multitude of uses. For instance, the glass dish can be used for its original purpose, to hold candy, celery, or nuts. Have you ever lost a ring, misplaced your keys, or cracked the crystal of a watch when it dropped off the chest of drawers? Enter the dish. I keep several of these dishes around the house to hold those frequently misplaced items. The one in the kitchen island is useful for rings and my watch when I am cooking. This avoids dough in rings, water in a watch, or any number of calamities that can befall jewelry in the kitchen. Hence, no watches have been harmed by the garbage disposal since the last incident which resulted in a new garbage disposal. I keep one dish on the credenza by the front door, my keys are always in a convenient spot this way. I also keep a small dish on the bedside table. I know, your thinking, "Just put the ring in the jewelry box!" Yet, their is all to frequently the evening I get in bed and realize I am still wearing my watch or ring. On a cold winter evening, nobody wants to get out of the warm bed to negotiate such a situation, "Viola!" the dish will save the day and the watch will be safely tucked away.

There were other purchases as well this weekend. I bought a table runner and a a set of dresser scarves. Why purchase these items, what is the point, why have them. The answer is quite simple, less dusting. When you place a dresser scarf on the furniture, it is there to catch spills, dust, and most importantly, prevent the furniture from being scratched. Normally, these sets come with one longer runner and two smaller complimentary pieces. You can use the longer runner under a jewelry box, cosmetic set, or other items. In general, the smaller linens can be used under dresser lamps. As I said, it prevents nicks and scratches on the furniture, but it also eliminates surface areas that need to be dusted. The table runner has the same purpose for the dinning room table, to protect the surface of the table.When you place a centerpiece on the table, you want to use a table runner to prevent the finish of the table from being marred.

I found some great buys on these items which are not only decorative, but serve a great purpose. In a later post I will discuss care of these items.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Linens and Other Things

It’s that time of year again; time to refresh the table linens. Generally, during the cold weather I like to take the time to refresh and clean all the linens that have been hanging in the closet since their last use. I always like to hang the linens on a nice hanger to avoid wrinkles. Some people, who have the space recommend rolling the linens and using acid free paper. To be honest, I just don’t have the space for this. I like to give the linens a wash on the delicate cycle (be sure and place them in a delicates washing bag). If you don’t have a small bag for them, you can pick them up at any store that sells laundry products. I dry the linens on a delicate cycle, then my favorite part, the ironing. Press the linens and hang them on their hanger. What about those linens that have matching napkins? How do you hang them?

In the event of the matching napkin set, I have two ways I handle this situation. For the first method, I often use a gallon size plastic bag. I place the napkins in the plastic bag, and then make a small hole in the top of the bag. Slide the hole in the plastic bag over the top of the hanger and things are ready to go. If you have a linen addiction, like I know some people do, this may take up too much space. Equally, you may also find that you have cloth napkins that do not have a matching tablecloth, not to mention those small cocktail napkins from the vintage sell that you simply could not pass up. What about all of these?

For non-partnered napkins, doilies, and dresser scarves, try this method. I came to this idea recently when the linen closet was packed so tightly that I feared a scene out the Flintstones. You know the one where Fred opens the closet door and suddenly bowling balls, golf clubs, and a few spare pterodactyls rush to escape the tight quarters. I was walking in a store and saw the smaller chest of drawer which have four compartments. These models are somewhat slim and fit nicely in a small space in addition to being relatively low priced. I decided one drawer could be used for napkins with a match (still in the plastic bags), one drawer for non-matched napkins, one for cocktail napkins, and finally the fourth drawer can be used for doilies, runners, and table scarves.

At this point you may ask, why all the linens? I will be the first to admit, I find that very much like Kermit the Frog, I’ve found that it “ain’t” easy being green. Yet, there is one thing that makes green simple, cloth napkins and table clothes. Think of the amount of paper used when you set the table with paper napkins. Then when you clean up the table at night, paper towels are often invovled. With the table cloth, you catch the spills and crumbs, simply wash; the same is true for the cloth napkins.

I hope these little tips have been helpful. Just wait, soon we will talk about where to purchase some great vintage linens and how to clean them. By the way, the Charlotte Antique and Collectable show is this weekend!

Drives Me Crazy...There's A Solution

So, I really like things to be nice, neat, and under control. Which leads me to a tip. I absolutely hate making the bed in the morning. Since it has been beyond cold, I have added an extra blanket. One could simply say, toss the the blanket over the bed and make it look like the bed is already made. However, there in is the issue it isn't made; never fear a simple way to make the bed is near!

Start by taking four cloth diaper pins, these can be purchased in any baby department. Next, remove the comforter and tuck in the sheets as normal (it does not have to be hospital corners for those of you not as picky as others.) Now here is the trick, pin the comforter to the four corners of the top sheet using the cloth diaper pins. I will advise you, don’t use a regular safety pin as they will magically come unhooked. Ouch! The cloth diapers pins have a safety lactch that keeps them fastened. This keeps the pins in line with the comforter. Simply toss the comforter, and the bed is truly made. The only problem I have had with this system is the fact that my dog frequently tries to have nibble on the pins when she can get to them. I guess she is just stuck on them.

Swiss Chicken from Jan. 31, 2010

For my great friends who sometimes complain that they are in fact, Cuisine Challenged, I wanted to share this great recipe with them. Swiss Chicken Bake has been a staple around my house since I graduated from college. I have used this dish as both a comfort food and to entertain others at gatherings. I am including the recipe below and media of how to prepare and cook.





6 chicken breast

1/3 white wine

1 cup bread crumbs

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 stick of butter

6 slices of swiss cheese

6 strips of bacon.

Preheat the oven to 350. In a lightly greased glass baking dish, place the chicken in a single layer. Next, add a strip of bacon on top of each piece of chicken and top with a slice of swiss cheese. Combine the cream of chicken soup and the white wine and pour over the chicken. Add 1/2 a stick of melted butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Use the other 1/2 stick of butter to drizzle over the bread crumbs. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 to 55 minutes.

Cathedral Spice Cake from Jan. 30, 2010

The Spice Cake was out of this word! I have decided to include the recipe in case anyone is interested.

Cathedral Spice Cake

You will need:

1 stick of softened butter 1/2 Teaspoon Orange extract

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 3 cups flour

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract 3 Teaspoons baking powder

1/4 Teaspoon almond extract 1/4 Teaspoon salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Cloves 1/2 cup milk

1/4 Teaspoon of cardimon 1/2 cup water

1/4 Teaspoon of all spice 3 egg whites

1/4 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon of nutmeg

1/4 Teaspoon of ginger

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine butter and sugar until it becomes creamy. Add vanilla extract, almond extract, spices, and orange extract. Blend until smooth. Add milk and water to batter blending well. Next, add flour, salt, and baking powder while continuing to blend. As the batter stiffends, add the three egg whites to the mixture and continue to blend well. Pour batter into a “Catherdal” shaped silicon baking pan. Place in oven and bake for approximately 65 minutes (or until toothpick stuck in cake comes out clean.) Allow to cool before frosting.

FROSTING

1 cup confectioners sugar

2 teaspoons hot water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blend the water and dry ingredient together. Pour over the cake and allow to stiffen.

Snowday from Jan. 30, 2010

What a wonderful day. It has been charming snuggled on the couch with the dog. I got up this morning and made a great breakfast which consisted of livermush, bacon, cheese eggs, and toast with damson jelly. Some of you who are reading may be questioning, "What is livermush?" You simply have to try this magically tasteful slice of Southern Heaven.
After breakfast, I started knitting a new scarf. I have created a new pattern that I hope will turn out excellently.
For dinner tonight, spaghetti with a marinara sauce including mushrooms, ground beef, and onion. I think the spaghetti will be great, but I look forward to the spice cake even more.