Hippity hoppity…
March 23, 2013
Easter’s on its way. Now’s the time to gather some sweet treats while the store shelves are packed with your childhood favorites…malted milk eggs ( the original sweet & salty), jelly beans and ( they better only be yellow and shaped like chicks) Peeps… and start getting your list together for Easter brunch, lunch or dinner. Simple glass cylinder bowls filled with sprouted wheat grass will make modern and cost-effective centerpieces with the addition of cracked egg shells and a few pastel jelly beans and a leather handled galvanized bucket would be the perfect Easter Basket if not otherwise put to use keeping wine chilled. Shake up your usual deviled egg recipe with a touch of cornichon or capers and consider a simple dessert of spring berries and Italian Almond Cookies. That was easy. You have a look, the ” befores and afters”…all you need to do now is decide on the main course. 
Leather handled galvanized bucket byCasamidy@ CASAMIDY.COM photo of bucket by casamidy.
Slowly awakening
March 2, 2013
Once I’ve made it through January and February I can breathe a little easier. There may still be a bit of Winter to deal with, but once March rolls in we can see the promise of Spring…like the light at the end of Winter’s long dark tunnel. Even before we get into the forcing of flowery branches we have the option of bringing indoors the earliest signs of the earth waking back up. Bits of moss and lichen seem the first to emerge as the snow melts off, bright spears of dogwood follow, reminding us that yes, things will be green again. And, their appeal could not be more simplequietmodern. If you are lucky enough to gather them locally, great. If not, Terrain offers both of these branch selections, harvested from the Pacific Northwest, by post.
http://www.shopterrain.com/stems-branches/
Who wants pie?
February 24, 2013
It held me in good stead as a decorative object from early fall right through the holidays. Now this gorgeous Winter squash, the Hubbard, is about to be transformed into a simple comforting treat. This recipe for Brown Sugar Hubbard Squash Pie claims to be heartier and more flavorful than canned pumpkin, but equally creamy. Even with the added process of cutting this monster up and baking it off into the master roasted squash puree could not have been simpler or more economical. One finished pie down and there is enough puree to freeze that will make 4 more or anything else you can conjure that requires cooked squash…Gnochi, Soup, Lasagna? That said, the end result looks fantastic. I think it’s time to put on some coffee and start cuttin’. 
Cupid Cooks
February 9, 2013
OK, here’s the plan. After a quick trip for a well priced Brut Rose’, start with Gougere, always the perfect accompaniment to a dry sparkling wine. Follow with a dinner of roast cornish game hen, orzo with peas and mint and finish with an Afogatto of coffee ice cream topped with espresso and some toasted almonds ( or, as shown here,with a shard of Brulee Almond Brittle) for dessert. The Gougere can be made the weekend prior and frozen until needed. Roast the game hens while you’re making the orzo over a glass or two of wine. Now, how simple was that? A mid-week celebration that took no more time than a regular weeknight dinner.
https://simplequietmodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/inas-gougere.jpg
The Homies 2013
February 4, 2013
Apartment Therapy’s 5th Annual Homies…and simplequietmodern has been nominated in the category of “Best Home Design And Inspiration Blog”. It’s pretty exciting. The voting will continue until February 8, 2013. For those of you that follow and have voted…a big Thank You. If you’d like to cast you vote now, please do and feel free to share sqm with your friends and associates. There’s always something new here, and as I like to say…simplequietmodern… read it, learn it, live it
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-home-design-inspiration-blog-the-homies-2013-183531#nominate
Pumpkin X 2 Part 2
January 28, 2013
Before you forget you have it, it’s time to put that pumpkin puree that was left over from the earlier soup recipe to good use. We’ve made it through January so why not treat everyone with a batch of these Iced Pumpkin Cookies. A soft drop cookie with no fancy ingredients…you probably have everything you need in the pantry. And, if you leave out the machinery and stir these up by hand, they are not only simple, but quiet as well.
Pumpkin X 2
January 16, 2013
One pumpkin…two great eats. The first, a savory pumpkin peanut soup, the other a soft pumpkin cookie. Both suitable for the cooler (OK, colder) months, you decide which you make first. The soup I improvised when I had leftover pumpkin after a day of baking. Not quite Indian and not quite Thai, it’s basically a pumpkin vegetable soup with an assortment of spices ( but, nothing too exotic) and peanut that’s a satisfying non-meat meal to come home to after a hard day at work or a harder day of holiday returning. It thickens and tastes even better on the 2nd and 3rd day…you might also serve it up over a bowl of quinoa for that added grain protein. Whip some up on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy it into the week for lunch or a quick supper.
It all starts here …
January 10, 2013
with the simple basics. Tablet or pad? Stylus or pen? With all of the available and new technology the best things for getting the job done are still the tried and true…the Project pad, the Sharpie, the Uniball fine point. I’d be lost without them (ask my friends and associates, without my tools I can get kinda cranky). Things for me run more efficiently when I’m using tools that I like and that do the best job for me. From an early punch list, beginning sketches, plan developement to checking off completed tasks nothing beats these three for getting things done, and there is nothing to plug in and recharge. So I’m starting off this New Year as always…with my new box of Sharpies, Uniballs and a pack of Tops project pads. OK, now I’m happy. Let’s get to work. 
Speaking of…
January 4, 2013
time, OMG…one year of sqm come and gone. Yep, simplequietmodern is one year old today. Someone once said that ” If you genuinely have something to say, there is someone out there who genuinely needs to hear it”. That’s pretty simple. Apparently I spoke and you listened…I’m so very grateful…for that, and most especially for my new friends around the world who have touched me with their inspiration, their support, their kind words. I have received every compliment humbly, felt every hug, laughed out loud when it was needed the most. I hope I am able to do likewise for you. Thank You. Now, let’s get back to the business of living life simplequietmodern. Hey, should we be having cake?
Cake and photo courtesy of Kirsten Johnstone http://www.kirstenjohnstone.com/blog/
OK, and maybe some flowers.
Time…
January 1, 2013
it has a way of creeping up on you, doesn’t it? Or, is it time “marching on” that’s the problem. In any case, what better way to keep track of those fleeting moments than with this 1947 design by George Nelson…his Tripod Desk Clock ( we should all still look this good at 66). As we close the door on 2012 and look forward to every joyful second of the New Year 2013, an occasional glance at this modern gem on your desk or your nightstand should keep you right on schedule. Happy New Year! 
http://hivemodern.com/pages/product624/vitra-george-nelson-tripod-clock
simplequietmodern 
