Sweet
March 8, 2018
If it’s March, then it’s maple syrup season. The first of the new year’s harvests begins this month with the tapping of the trees and the cooking down of each precious drop. The soft rounded sweetness of maple syrup enhances everything from savory to sweet, morning till night. I have a preference for grade B dark amber for its particularly deep rich maple flavor. Here are a few favorite uses you might try to carry you through to the end of this relentless winter.
Top to bottom:
Gently simmer maple syrup to reduce by a third. Off heat, gently add fresh blueberries to warm and serve with your favorite pancake recipe. https://simplequietmodern.com/2014/04/13/blueberry-pancakes-the-remake/
A simple maple syrup vinaigrette is just right on a bitter green like frisée. https://simplequietmodern.com/2012/11/11/i-dont-love-brunch/
Jack Daniels Maple Ketchup? Yep. Pretty tasty. https://simplequietmodern.com/2013/06/08/i-do-know-jack/
You don’t need a special occasion for Spicy Maple Bacon Wrapped Shrimp…just a snowy night in. https://simplequietmodern.com/2014/02/05/valentines-day-befores/
Maple Walnut Fudge…pretty classic. https://simplequietmodern.com/2014/03/25/liquid-harvest/
Simple, simple, simple. Cayenne Maple Glazed Walnuts https://simplequietmodern.com/2013/11/30/mmmm-maplely/
Photos: gp
Little Helper
February 26, 2018
From the design collaborative MENU, a simplequietmodern solution to an everyday task. Designed by Jan Kochanski, Sweeper and Funnel brings a little style and elegance to sweeping out the fireplace or cleaning up after a few stray coffee grounds.The hole in the handle acts as the funnel while seating the ash sweeper handle when not in use. Just a little something pretty to take the edge off your upcoming Spring cleaning.
photos: https://menu.as/en/accessories/sweeper-and-funnel/
50 Shades
February 21, 2018
Well, at least three not counting the other 47 shades of Winter gray outside. It’s hard to decide…organic linen chambray in charcoal, organic crinkled cotton percale in pewter or organic cotton percale in carbon. You could leave it to a coin toss to narrow the field or examine the choices by subtle detail. Coyuchi offers the linen in a great minimalist set consisting of a flat sheet, pillowcases and a duvet cover…eliminating the top sheet. Their crinkled percale is a lighter shade but lures you in with the crisp rumple that percale promises. The deep carbon of the organic percale from CB2 , well it doesn’t get more modern than that. A combination of all three might just be the right solution as we tick away the last four weeks until Spring.
top 2 photos: https://www.coyuchi.com/
bottom photo: https://www.cb2.com/organic-carbon-organic-cotton-percale-sheet-sets/f14581
Have a Seat
February 18, 2018
As we continue to celebrate Florence Knoll let’s take a look at a piece that she simply referred to as a ” fill in”. The influence of her mentor, Mies van der Rohe, is evident in its spare geometric profile. Still Florence made it her own, blending it seamlessly into the rest of her furniture collection. Originally designed in 1954 the Florence Knoll Bench is available in a 2 or 3 seat version upholstered in leather or any of the approved Knoll Textiles. Suitable for any situation where a little extra place to sit is needed… in an entry, at the foot of the bed, even as a cocktail table alternative… this bench was designed to ” fill in” beautifully.
Photos: https://www.knoll.com/product/florence-knoll-bench
Everyone loves…
February 11, 2018
a happy ending. No matter what your Valentine’s Day plans are for Wednesday, finish things off with these Chocolate Raspberry Champagne Truffles. Gather your handful of ingredients and it’s as simple as melt, set, cut and dust.
G’s Chocolate Raspberry Champagne Truffles
Prep an 8″ loaf pan by buttering it lightly and lining with a piece of parchment leaving a couple of inches of overhang on the long sides.
Gather your ingredients:
20 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
a pinch of kosher salt
1/2 package Trader Joe’s Freeze Dried Raspberries ( 1.2 oz package) lightly crushed
1/3 cup Champagne or Prosecco
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted, for dusting finished truffles.
In a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water combine chocolate, cream and salt until smooth. Make sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl.
Remove from heat and stir in champagne until thoroughly incorporated and then mix in the freeze-dried raspberries.
Pour mixture into prepared pan and smooth top.
Refrigerate to set up at least 8 and up to 24 hours.
Remove truffle loaf from pan using parchment sling after loosening edges with a knife warmed in hot water, then dried.
Cut the loaf in half crosswise. Cut each half into sixteen pieces, re-heating and drying the knife as needed. Toss the individual rectangular truffles in the sifted cocoa powder to coat.
Yield: 32 two bite truffles
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Photos: gp
My inspiration was Cindy Rahe’s recipe for found here: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/champagne_chocolate_truffles/
Six Weeks
February 7, 2018
The remaining month and a half of Winter is plenty of time to get in gear…get motivated…get inspired. You could organize your junk drawer for starts or ponder the simplequietmodern beauty of work such as this. Rock on Top of Another Rock, 2010/2013 by Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Serpentine Galleries, London.
Photo: http://www.serpentinegalleries.org/exhibitions-events/fischli/weiss-rock-top-another-rock
Reason to Celebrate
January 19, 2018
If I could be anywhere tomorrow for just the day it would Amsterdam, celebrating National Tulip Day. As Tulips are my absolute hands down favorite I’m already geared up to celebrate myself here at home. It doesn’t take much…a pristine glass cylinder vase filled with cool water and a bunch or five in any color…any variety.
Photos: gp
To Wrap or Not
January 7, 2018
While the jury is still out on the efficacy of protecting the garden by wrapping it in burlap, the practice continues, primarily among the affluent due to its significant cost. There are two schools of thought as to the application; one more closely wrapped, draped and sewn into place, the other, attached to a wooden framework leaving a bit of breathing room between the “protection” and the plant itself. Both add a Cristo-like quality to the landscape …one minimalist and architectural, the other more like garden couture. While my preference is the minimalist architectural approach, especially given the neutral quality of the jute fabric itself, I can’t help imagining that burlap in color against the dismal winter landscape. A singular pop of hot pink, orange or chartreuse might be the visual spark needed to get us through the next couple of months. Couldn’t hurt.
All photos: David La Spina for The New York Times
Let’s Review
January 3, 2018
Another year has passed, and with it, another year of simplequietmodern. As I prepare for year seven, I’m excited to see what held your interest over the last twelve months. The MidCentury seating of Van Keppel Green, modern black fences, the “folded” plywood works of Harry Roseman, factory inspired windows and a cozy white Christmas topped the list. Thank you for your continued interest, for stopping and sharing your kind words, for your friendship…for indulging me.
We can’t celebrate without cake, can we? I’m thinking a Burnt Almond Torte from Prantl’s Bakery in Pittsburgh might be in order. And of course, some flowers.
Top to bottom: links to each of your favorite posts:
torte photo: https://www.goldbely.com/prantls-bakery/15395-burnt-almond-torte
5…4…3…2
December 31, 2017
Happy New Year! What better way to ring in the New Year than with a classic Champagne Cocktail? Simple enough…a sugar cube soaked in bitters topped off wth Champagne or sparkling wine and garnished with a twist of citrus. And, what better way to serve it up than in a simplequietmodern cylinder flute? That’s it…pop, drop, pour, clink.
https://www.cb2.com/set-of-8-cylinder-champagne-flutes/s422283
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