Happy Ending
December 20, 2019
Another twist on Nigella Lawson’s Meringue Gelato Cake? Yes sir. Last year’s candy cane version was such a hit I couldn’t resist trying to see how it worked with chocolate and coffee. Turns out it’s fantastic. And, with only the slightest tweaks to the original. I started with stirring two Tbsps of turbinado sugar and two rounded Tbsps of instant espresso powder into 1 1/4 cup whipping cream until dissolved. Chill the cream, your beaters and bowl while you prep a standard loaf pan by lining it with plastic wrap leaving enough overhang to cover your contents once the pan is filled. Then shave into thin shards 1 oz. of semi-sweet chocolate and crush two cups of store bought chocolate meringues…in this case, Trader Joe’s Cocoa Chip. Whip the flavored cream to soft peaks and gently fold in the crushed meringues, chocolate and two tablespoons of Bourbon until combined. Fill the prepared pan with the mixture, smooth, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least eight hours or over night. To serve, umold onto a serving platter and cut into slices. Serve with a simple sauce of equal parts semi-sweet chocolate and cream with a dusting of crushed caramelized hazelnuts for a lovely crunch.There you have it, a perfect ending to your holiday feast. Serves 6-8. Simple enough.
The candy cane version from last Christmas can be found here. https://simplequietmodern.com/2018/12/23/simple-finish/
photos: gp
Hard to believe,
December 17, 2019
but I am actually enjoying a Poinsettia moment. Really. Like Truman Capote in Jay Presson Allen’s Tru, I too felt that “Poinsettias are the Bob Goulet of Botany”. Decades of over-saturation in the seasonal marketplace have rendered this bright red holiday staple cliche’, cheesy and hopelessly out of date. It was spotting this new variety, Envy, with it’s bright chartreuse coloring that made me stop and rethink it’s potential. While I generally indulge in white Tulips, Amaryllis and Helebore from the Winter Solstice through till Christmas and the New Year, I couldn’t help but think how well this fresh new addition would play with the others, both in the pot and as a cut specimen.
Photos: gp with the exception of the Amaryllis photo via https://www.shopterrain.com/categories/blooming-gifts and the last photo via: https://www.gardenista.com/posts/poinsettias-rethinking-traditional-christmas-flower/
If you like blue,
December 11, 2019
then 2020 is going to be your year. The Pantone Color Institute has announced that 19-4052, Classic Blue, is their choice for Color of the Year for 2020. The good news is that it might see greater acceptance than past selections of the last several years…Living Coral, Ultra Violet, Greenery and ( who could forget this flop? ) Marsala. The bad news? Unless a blue is the darkest navy, l’m generally not a fan.
Image: https://www.pantone.com/color-intelligence/color-of-the-year/color-of-the-year-2020
Making the Cut
December 6, 2019
Keep them hidden in your desk drawer and you’ll never be cut short again. These 10″ black Kevlar shears will have you cutting through everything from tape, gift wrap, card stock or fabric with ease. Made of Xylan coated hot forged carbon steel, a little gentle care after each use will have you at the ready no matter what your cutting needs are. I see some gift wrapping in your future, it might be a good time to pick up a pair for yourself and maybe another as a thoughtful gift.
photos: https://www.bestmadeco.com/products/ten-inch-kevlar-shears
Still Gorgeous at Seventy
December 2, 2019
An Icon of modern Danish design, the Chieftain Chair is celebrating it’s seventieth birthday and looking as good as ever. Originally designed by Finn Juhl in 1949 the Chieftain chair was reissued in 2002 and produced as originally specified in walnut and leather. Now, a Chieftain Sofa and Footstool are also available as well as an optional oak frame. Could be a good use of that Christmas bonus, right?
Photos: https://finnjuhl.com/collection/chieftain-chair
Not only today,
November 28, 2019
but every day. In all things, give thanks.*
Happy Thanksgiving.
* Thessalonians 5:18
photo:gp
Tie One On
November 24, 2019
Thanksgiving dinner.The recipes, the lists, the shopping. You’ve got everything covered but you. Enter Fog Linen’s Garcon Apron in black or natural Lithuanian linen…protecting you from prep to presentation to clean- up in simplequietmodern style. On your mark, get set…
photos: https://needsupply.com/linen-garcon-apron/1025980.html?lang=en_US
Who’s Ready For Pie?
November 20, 2019
From the simplequietmodern archives, two recipes that’ll finish off your Thanksgiving feast beautifully. First, Brown Sugar Hubbard Squash Pie where the roasting of the squash brings a depth of flavor you just can’t get from canned pumpkin. Then a twist on another Thanksgiving favorite with Sour Cream Apple Pie. Better make them both…you know everyone’s going to want pie.
The recipes and previous posts can be found here:
https://simplequietmodern.com/?s=Hubbard+Squash+pie
photos: gp
Apparently, It’s On
November 17, 2019
Just into November and most of the country has been dumped on or been hit with an Arctic Blast. Is it just that Mother nature has a warped sense of humor or was it the early release of Heath Ceramic’s 2019 Winter Seasonal Collection that got things rolling? There’s no holding back now, the Holidays are here. Unofficially to be sure, but, they’re here. Might as well start bringing out the lights, developing a decorative plan for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and the rest of the Winter Holidays and start testing out a new recipe or two. And, shopping? Let’s start that list as well…perhaps with the Heath Ceramics Winter Seasonal Collection of limited edition offerings and finishes. New glazes like Zinc, Penny Green and Sand and Sea seem to mimic nature and have been applied to classic Heath favorites like the Bud vase, Tall Modern Cup, Plaza Trays and the Deep Salad Bowl making easy work of selecting a gift for yourself, someone special or serving up something tasty to family and friends.
This sampling and more simplequietmodern favorites available at https://www.heathceramics.com/collections/winter-seasonal-2019 photos by Heath
Snow Photos: gp
Lathered Up
November 11, 2019
From the farm to you, the luxurious whipped creaminess of goat milk soap by Beekman 1802. It’s true, what’s old is new again. The addition of vitamin rich goat milk to their triple milled vegetal soap not only cleans but moisturizes with an unbelievably luxurious lather. My two favorites are the clarifying Activated Charcoal Shampoo Bar and the generous 9 oz. face and body bar in Oak Moss…a clean woody scent with Vetiver, Oak Moss and Amber. What a great way to prepare for a busy day or scrub off what the day’s thrown at you at the end of it.
Photos: gp
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