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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Easter Illustrated~Molly Brett

Several years ago just before Easter I was shopping in a store and found some chocolates with cute little illustrations of animals in the wild. I bought the candy for Easter baskets and saved the illustrated paper because it was too cute to toss. The illustrations reminded me a bit of Beatrix Potter's work and out of curiousity I looked up the artist, Molly Brett.


Molly Brett was a talented English artist and illustrator throughout the 20th century. She published dozens of children's books and weekly artictles for children. The Medici Society of London, who is credited on the back of the candy wrappers I saved, published her work almost exclusively and printed hundreds of cards and post cards with her artwork. I've seen a lot of them online and for sale and even bought a few.
I think her artwork is adorable and has a wonderful feeling of whimsy and innocence. They look especially nice out for Easter and would also be cute framed as collections for a nursery.

These postcards are from the sixties. One of them is even written to a Miss Sophie Vieillot, opening line "Gee Whiz!"
My Post Cards are Here we go gardening & Harvest Picnic




To see more of Molly Brett's artwork here you go! Enjoy
http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1I7DKUS_en&biw=1276&bih=627&site=search&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=molly+brett&aq=f&aqi=g4&aql=&oq=


Have a bright day!
B. Girl

Friday, April 15, 2011

Cabbagetown

Hello All!
I recently put together a scrumptious little Easter brucheon to share with you.

Years ago my aunt gave me an adorable cabbage tureen hand painted by her mother, my great aunt Fannie Pearl, or as I called her, my Nanny. Later she found a smaller tureen, painted by Nanny's sister, my great aunt Cora, matching bowls, and a pair of salt and pepper shakers. I can just picture them all painting together 30 years ago and now I have the pleasure of enjoying these keepsakes.

These cabbages make an lovely Easter tablescape. I used some beautiful Le Jacquard Francais tea towels in Mielle designs. The color of honey looks so pretty with this green and is a great color and pattern for spring.  I decided to make Curried Carrot Soup for my cabbage tureens! Peter Rabbit couldn't wish for anything better!
I paired this soup with Curried Chicken Salad in lettuce cups, I used Boston Bib lettuce as the leaves are small and round enough for spoonfuls of chicken salad. Pimento cheese sandwiches round out the sandwich platter, cut the bread into rounds using a biscuit cutter for a nice clean look.


For a fun and cute dessert I made chocolate nests using chow mein noodles melted with melted chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter. Before cooling add your element be it jelly beans or chocolate eggs, as I used here. I also added colorful peeps to watch over their nest eggs.



Here is my soup recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray:
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 pounds packaged baby carrots, from produce section
  • 6 cups chicken stock, available on soup aisle
  • 1 tablespoon mild curry paste or 1 1/2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • Coarse salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 6 blades fresh chives, cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions

Preheat medium pot over medium high heat. Add olive oil, butter, onions and carrots and saute 5 minutes. Add 4 cups chicken stock, curry and cayenne, and about 1 teaspoon salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover and cook until carrots are very tender, about 15 minutes. Place pot on a trivet next to food processor. Process soup in 2 or 3 small batches until soup is smooth and carrots are fully pureed. Transfer processed soup into a large bowl as you work to make room for more soup in the food processor. Return completed soup to the soup pot and place back over low heat. If the soup is too thick, add remaining stock, up to 2 cups, to achieve desired consistency. Adjust seasonings. Add a bit of sour cream and chives to the top and voila! Enjoy!



I hope you all have a wonderful Easter! I'll be back soon with more fun things:)
~B. Girl~

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Oh Baby


Well I'm offically an "auntie"! Baby boy was born last Sunday and I thought I'd share some pictures from the shower and hopefully inspire your next bruncheon or shower of your own.
I used antique china given to my mother by a friend. It was his grandmothers. It's so delicate and pretty.
Blue jordan almonds for baby boy

All of these flowers are fresh from the property. Sweet smelling wild wisteria, dogwood blossoms, ivy, daffodils and other lovely wild flowers. I used antique mason jars. Perfectly blue!
Everyone had individual tiny bouquets

I hope you love your treats!

We had such a nice time and I'm so excited we've finally met baby boy:)


Isn't he adorable!
 If you simply must have this sweet pea hat check it out here: http://www.bbraithwaite.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=471&idcategory=129


I hope you all have a bright day!!
B Girl

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Welcome Spring!

Today is the first official day of spring! The prospect of warmer weather and  flowers in bloom brighten my spirit. Let's get ready for a fresh start and a fresh year!
As it's the first day of spring I fittingly spent the afternoon at a baby shower for a dear friend. AND another dear friend is in the hospital possibly delivering her first child today! What a day to celebrate new lives!



Baby turned 5 yesterday! Here he is just a few days old! And another of him and Violet on their first trip outdoors stumbling through the wild flowers and violets.

Enjoy your children while you can. They grow up before you know it!

Have a bright day!
B. Girl

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Tiramisu Tuesday


Hello All!
So yesterday I made delicious tiramisu and wanted to share the recipe. I kind of had to make up my own recipe since I didn't quite have everything on the printed recipe but I must say it still tastes yummy!

My tiramisu is Raspberry Tiramisu :p

You will need:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 cups raspberries
1 package coffee flavored marscapone cheese
1 package cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream or 1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 cups strong coffee
plenty of cocoa powder
1 angel food cake or 2 packages of lady fingers


In a medium saucepan mix the sugar and cornstarch until blended, add 3 cups of rasperries. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil 2 minutes or until thickened.  Cool to room temperature and add remaining berries.
In a mixer beat marscapone, cream cheese, confectioners sugar, and 1/4 cup coffee. At this point I added a little cream to make it more spreadable and liquidy, not too much maybe 1/4 cup. You can also add sour cream but I didn't have any.
I bought a nice angel food cake and sliced it thin. Place one layer on the bottom of a glass dish. Pour 1/2 of the raspberry mixture over the cake then 1/2 of the cheese mixture. Pour a little of the coffee over this to moisten the cake. Sift the cocoa over this, covering the mixture. Repeat. You may want to reserve some of the raspberries to garnish the top of the tiramisu.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Enjoy!
B. Girl

Monday, March 14, 2011

Monday Monday

I know spring is just around the corner when wild flowers start to bloom on our property. Just in the last week or so daffodils have been popping up making me even more excited for warmer weather as it is sure to be just around the bend. This weekend I noticed all the wild violets were blooming too! I think the are so sweet and pretty and it makes me think of my Baby kitty. His birthday is Saturday! I can't believe he is going to be 5! When we took him and his sister outside for the first time when they were a few weeks old they sat in patches of wild violets and thus we named his sister Violet. We ended up finding her a nice home but every spring when the violets start to bloom I remember that moment and it makes me smile.


Look what I spotted in a Gap in the Hedge, Baby Binx! Soon to be Birthday Boy.

Pumpkin's Perch
 Tomorrow is Tiramisu Tuesday! Stay tuned!
B. Girl

Friday, March 11, 2011

Spring Ahead

Hello All,
So I feel guilty that I haven't posted in over a week. I'm hoping to start working on Easter this weekend and put up lots of new stuff soon. I'm also *very slowly* trying to continue through my reading list and finally read the books I've been collecting through my college years. That's what happens when you have to read 5 books per class per semester, you don't read for pleasure and it takes a long time to even want to look at a book again. Here are some of the books sitting very neatly on my desk. Staring at me every night.
Isn't this bag to die for!! Actually it's a cake from Star Provisions! They did a great job, I'd like that purse were it real.
I love finding great deals and I must say I have great taste. Here is my recent major steal, Kate Spade!
I've been wanting a nice new tote for work and I finally saw something that fit the bill at over 50% off retail.
I love it!

I'm not excited about 'springing ahead' this weekend. I love my sleep. However I'm ready for some warmer weather, fun spring clothes, and pulling out the bunnies and chicks.
Flowers are blooming at Gap in the Hedge. I'll share some pics next time!

Best,
B. Girl