Tea and Simplicity

It is often said that the simplest things in life bring us the greatest happiness...and I do believe this to be true. For me, one of those cherished "simplicities" is afternoon tea. 

Every afternoon for as many years as I can recall, I have stopped to enjoy a cup of afternoon tea. In every job I have held, I have had a little "tea corner" in my classroom or my office. A small tea pot..several vintage cups and saucers... a brewer in which to heat water.. sometimes a small tin of homemade scones or tea cakes.  So...even the workplace would not interrupt my tea time....albeit brief! Of course, the word would soon spread..and co-workers..in need of a boost ...would often find themselves on my doorstep!! A cup of tea creates such lovely friendships...

This refreshing interlude gave me the "boost" and certainly the inspiration I needed to rejuvenate my spirit...which so often lags in the midst of a busy day..

Of course...one of my great joys is being able to enjoy tea shoppes...either for high tea... or merely as a place to shop and browse...tea pots, cups and saucers, new tea blends...

My first high tea experience was in the Bahamas...at the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau... that amazing experience set the stage for my love of high tea...or any semblance thereof!

I call this my "Love Affair with Tea"... and so it was with some serendipity...that I came upon a most lovely tea shoppe in a small and charming town of Lititz, Pennsylvania in the famed Lancaster County.

A Tea Affair...tea shoppe and dining room... is completely charming...the selection of loose teas and tea items is a delight , and the decor is both colorful and tranquil.... The owners are very friendly and also quite knowledgeable about their tea blends.. Such a refreshing interlude as one shops along the many little unique boutiques in this charming town.

Their Garden Tea lunch menu is one of several excellent selections...and offers scones.. tea sandwiches, homemade soups...tiny cakes..and of course a wonderful pot of tea! 

Enjoying tea and lunch at The Tea Affair is nothing short of captivating! Lilting French music plays softly in the background...the service is friendly..and one can just relax and enjoy the experience without rushing...

On a recent  summer's afternoon visit...when the outside temps were in the high 90s... I was served a most refreshing chilled gazpacho soup...

. Wherever you may find yourself, take a moment to enjoy a simple cup of tea....

A Full Moon in Autumn...

As a new winter season approaches...we find ourselves preparing our "nest"...  chopping wood... baking casseroles... bringing out the woolen blankets...scarves...knitted caps.... all the welcoming comforts....

This full moon...always a delight to see...was visible though my living room windows....it was quite full and bright...my camera did not do it justice....but the sight brought a touch of autumn comfort to my home...and my spirit.... all to welcome the joys of the new season....soon upon us...

Feather your "nest"...... and enjoy your special comforts....

Glimmer and Glamour...

I love make-up. I admit it..I am not quite an addict but wearing my favorite shade of lipstick and a pale luminous blush can make or break my day!

Why, you may ask? I do not have an answer...I love color...all colors....so shopping for and enjoying new shades of eye shadow or lipstick brings a simple joy to my heart. Jewel tones..pale pastels.. blending various shades... an artistic effort!!

Now I DO love a day at home... bare face, hair tied back, completely natural...that is bliss.... But give me some place to go...and out comes my "cache ".... and with great panache..I wield my brushes, liners..and creams...and I am fit for public view!

Being a "naturalist" in most ways...and certainly being very keen on eco-friendly and organic products, I researched botanicals and other natural cosmetic brands to determine what would be safe as well as pretty..

What I discovered was quite frightening!!!

Most cosmetic lines...even the trendy and expensive ones...use synthetic and downright dangerous ingredients... Parabens...Phalates.... Urea... ( Yep!! It's what you think it is!!!! ) are common ingredients in most  facial and body cleansers, cosmetic and hair products. Many other unsafe additives are used..often disguised with "attractive" names..... And most brands have ingredient lists which are both  lengthy and scientific...that we tend to rationalize..."Well, I just spent $$$$$ on this name brand product...It MUST be okay!!!! "

It isn't.....

This is a partial list of the most dangerous ingredients. If you copy this...keep it in your handbag..and the next time you find yourself in a drug store or department store...and find yourself in need of what I call..."glimmer and glamour"...  use caution in your selections..

*** DMDM- hydartoin and UREA-  breaks down into carcinogens

*** Fragrance and dyes-  synthetic- linked to allergies

*** Parabens-  linked to hormonal disruption

***  Ingredients with the letters "PEG' or "eth" - contaminated with cancer causing Dioxane

*** Treclosan or Trechlocarbon- Antibacterial - contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria

*** Triethanolamine -  damages the immune system


Whenever possible, try to purchase pure botanicals...and products using essential oils.... I have remained quite faithful to the Liz Earle line...excellent botanical face and body products and make up which is both attractive and safe to use.

 I do believe we can enjoy our "glimmer and glamour" while maintaining our health and well being...

The Season of Harvest

As summer ends and the cool, crisp days of autumn arrive, the time of harvest is a celebration...  The word "harvest" is defined  as "the process of gathering.." and is also a time of the end of the growing season. Throughout most of human history, the gathering or harvesting was done by hand. That quite simple fact, albeit profound in it's scope, speaks to the significance and enduring value of "harvest"...a time of gathering...

It is interesting to ponder that the end of "growing" and the act of "gathering" speaks to us on many levels.  Growing, growth, the cultivation of new crops, new efforts, new beginnings.... this can mean many things...   Gathering speaks of bringing to us the blessings of growth...our gardens..  but surely also the experiences and progress we have made along the "growing season".  And now...a period a bit more restful...after that final harvest is complete...when we can gather onto ourselves the fruits of our labors... the vegetables we labored over... the trees which bore us fruits...the wood pile prepared to bring us heat in the coming frosts...

Both the outer world...and our inner world...our homes and cottages...our hearts and spirits... offer a new warmth and welcome as this season of plenty begins... 

As we recreate our inside "space"...our nest.. let us add that "coziness" and warmth to befriend us through the coming months...  a stack of new books to provide us with entertainment during the longer nights... some comfy cushions in a welcoming corner near the hearth... a pair of crocheted slippers to warm our feet against the chill..   touches of the newness of what we have gathered this past season... along with our old and trusted treasures of our past....

 Have we welcomed a new hobby, a new job, a new friend?  Welcome them to share our bounty!!!   And have we ( finally ) shed some old and unneeded possessions, clutter, thoughts, JOBS... (-:   acquaintances.... ?    Bid them a fond "adieu" as we sweep them forward...making space for what we now cherish.... Imagine doing so with a handcrafted  wooden broom.... swoosh...out of our open door.... taken away by the fullness of harvest winds..... as we begin to bask in the "newness" of us.... the gathering of that which speaks to us.....  and harkens us to truly "hear" the enduring message of the harvest.... 

The Autumnal Equinox "equal night", will be on September 22nd..at 4:44pm. This is a special and meaningful time... it heralds the passing of the growth season...summer..and celebrates the new harvest.....the season of gathering...

Celebrate the Solstice in your gardens and in your homes...but most importantly within your spirits....

Happy Autumn!

The Foods of New Orleans... "Laissez le bon temps rouler"...( Let the good times roll...)

I last visited the wonderful city of New Orleans the summer before Katrina. I completely fell in love with it's unique charms.... a perfect mosaic of old world mystery and modern day cosmopolitan  enjoyments.... a morning's cafe au lait and beignets at the famed Cafe du Monde, followed by an Jambalaya Cruise along the Mississippi River, and an afternoon Ghost Tour, visiting old world mansions and famed houses of Ann Rice and Marie Laveau.. ( ending just as the soft shadows of evening begin their advent..) . and then the evenings...the most amazing restaurants...the Creole and Cajun and French cuisine...the famed mint juleps...and delightful strolls along Pirate's Alley and St Charles Street and the most famous Vieux Carre', or French Quarter and ...always...the sweet sounds of jazz....

New Orleans is a city of many cultures...and it is an old city...steeped in the magic and beliefs of the islands..and far off lands...

Even the wrath of Katrina did not destroy New Orleans...there is a strength there..borne of centuries of stalwart people... and yes, the good times still do roll!

***

I will return to this topic...the cuisine of New Orleans ..quite often in my Blog... there is much to share....  

Today, I offer you the makings of a New Orleans favorite...

Muffuletta

Muffuletta is a sandwich beyond compare...truly a New Orleans favorite...simple to prepare and one that you will return to often. It is a hearty autumn favorite...and also lends itself perfectly to outdoor picnics and get aways. The olive mix can be prepared and packed separately and then added as your picnic unfolds, adding a piquant taste to the mellow cheeses and flavorful hams...and all enveloped by a true crusty peasant bread...  Perfect!!!!!! Served with a Louisiana brewed tea..or a fresh lemonade...amazing!!!!

Muffuletta begins with the freshest of cheeses and hams....there are variations..but I chose the following:

sliced mozzarella

sliced mild provolone

sliced hard Italian salami

sliced lean low-salt ham

The olive mixture is composed of the following: 

pitted large green olives

pitted kalamata olives

pitted black olives

( optional) artichoke hearts ( from a jar )

a touch of extra virgin olive oil

I chop the olive mixture, blending with the touch of olive oil. refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to marinate. 

Use a crusty peasant bread..or sliced baguette. Arrange the cheeses and hams..and then add a spoonful of the olive mixture at the last minute. Again, for a picnic or day's get away, pack the olive mixture separately.

And....the finished masterpiece...a perfect New Orleans Muffuletta!!!! Let the good times roll!! 

Laissez le bon temps rouler!!!!

Local Farm Stands of the Season

One of our favorite enjoyments is to shop at local farm stands. In addition to the tremendous benefits in supporting local farmers,  shopping for locally grown fruits and vegetables is the most nutritious way to feed our families.

In my local area, there are many small farm stands where one can find a wonderful array of foods....eggs from happy uncaged chickens, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. fresh basil, cilantro, parsley.  One such farm stand is Beets Workin' Farm, near Longswamp, Pennsylvania,  run and tended to by a most devoted local farmer... a friendly fellow with a warm smile and an excellent knowledge of organic growing methods. All of his items are delicious, fresh and SO nutritious! The photos above are of his tomatoes and eggs.  We are frequent shoppers at his farm stand..he represents the very best of local farmers dedicated to the organic life...

Wherever you may find yourself...search out your local farm stands... stop along your small back roads...enjoy the lovely wildflowers...and bask in the splendors of the seasons....

Simply Salads....

I am completely in love with salads...and creating them is such a delight! Summer affords us the tremendous nutritional opportunity to create and enjoy seasonal salads...with ingredients grown locally...

The above salad is one of my favorites! If you are unfamiliar with arugula please begin enjoying it. . It blends well with any salad ingredients and is SO very nutritious!

Arugula Salad

Ingredients..any amount...no recipe needed!!

* fresh arugula

* carrots

* black or kalamata olives

* green olives

* dried cranberries or fresh strawberries

* chopped walnuts, they may be toasted beforehand in a bit of olive oil

* sunflower seeds

* feta cheese

A touch of any vinaigrette...using virgin olive oil and any balsamic vinegar

Enjoy!!!!

Lovely nature...

Lovely...lovely nature.... regardless of the season..or the time of day...or the weather ... it offers us an endless gift of enjoyment..  All we must do is venture out..and it welcomes us as a trusted friend..

The scene above was taken by me two weeks ago...a local setting...and after I entered it into my photo application in my computer..I noticed all the nuances and details that I failed to see as I took this photo. I knew the scene was one of beauty and color and tranquillity... but, as so often occurs quite by happenstance..it is after we step back and look closely at our finished photo..that we are able to notice the many details...the shades...the shadows...the flickering lights...

And so it is...above...the scene has many shadows...and it almost appeared to me that some tiny little woodlore creatures delighted in their almost invisible "pose"....I can see almost a twinkling among the greenery which I so enjoyed on that recent summer's afternoon...

Can you see it too?

Go out into nature today...bask in the sheer beauty of this glorious season...and discover some magic....

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Today..let us look around our home...  and ask...what speaks to us?  Which of our things...so many things...really touches us..inspires us..or merely offers us a glimpse of "calm"... ?

Our homes are indeed our "safe harbor"... a place to restore our spirits...our nest..of gathered twigs...

But if we do not..on a regular basis...clear out what no longer has a purpose... we can have a "nest" filled with things which have no meaning..or purpose..

Thrift shops...consignment shops...will gladly take our cast-off items.

I enjoy gathering a few treasured items in a sort of "college"...as above.  In this vignette..which sits on an old oak table in my study... I gathered an old weathered globe...( yard sale find! ) a card from a friend.. a porcelain cat..with such lovely eyes... ( found at a thrift shop... he calms me as I work at my desk...) a glass paperweight of Tinkerbelle..atop a lighted base... ( a thoughtful gift from my dear friend....)   All things gathered together in one special place...

Create vignettes today to beautify your nest... They can change with your mood...with the season.... They can be of whimsy or of a special day..a vacation..a hobby...

As you do so, consider which items can be passed on to new homes?

Take a moment today to review your special space...your home...your comfy nest......

Baked Brie with Honey and Toasted Almonds

This recipe is one of my absolute favorites!! When served fresh from the oven..it oozes such flavor...the tang of the baked cheese...the subtle sweetness of the drizzled honey..and the sharp contrast of the toasted almonds..combine to offer a burst of both magnificent taste and healthy nutrition.

I prefer wildflower honey...preferably from a local beekeeper...

Brie is a French cheese made of cow's milk. You may find many brands of brie in your market...but to be considered a "pure" Brie...ie  French, it must be certified by the French government and will be labeled as such.. Having said that, you may find a Wisconsin brie or other brie which you consider suitable.

Honey...pure honey..is a very nutritious food..almonds are also loaded with vitamin E... and French cheese...well...that is a pure epicurean delight!!!

This recipe is SO simple to make.. 15 minutes start to finish and most of that is baking time..allowing you to slice an apple or a pear or to place some crackers or a sliced baguette on a serving plate.

Voila!!! the cheese is baked and ready to serve!!!!

The Recipe

8 oz French brie

6 oz toasted chopped almonds

a few tablespoons of honey to drizzle

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place brie ( in rind ) on baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes or until brie begins to ooze... Remove from oven. Cover the brie with the honey almond mixture ( described below ) and return to the oven for 5 additional minutes..the honey will sizzle.

While brie is baking , toast almonds  in a small skillet using  a small teaspoon of olive oil or canola oil. When almonds are a light brown, pour a tablespoon of honey over them...sizzle for a few seconds. This mixture is added to the brie for the last 5 minutes of the baking time.

Serve..and enjoy!!!

Delphiniums ...a simple summer's joy....

Delphiniums...the name itself speaks gloriously of summer...resplendent colorful flowering summer....

 The month of July...the mid-way point in this magnificent season...has it's very own birth flower....the delphinium... ( also known as larkspur )

The name delphinium is derived from the word "dolphin" because of it's long sleek tendrils...culminating in the most glorious and rich shades of purples and blues...

The delphinium is said to hold the essence of an open heart...warmth and kindness... and  is also representative of levity...fun...and a sense of joy....

I came across these magnificent blooms at a local farm stand..and thought of how well they fit my Blog... simplicity...touched with warmth and fun!

If you have a July birthday...these are your special flowers...but surely, kind hearted as they truly are...delphiniums are for all of us to share and enjoy....

 May you bask in the warmth of a fun-filled summer's day..... and engage in the fun and frivolity that can truly only come from nature.....

Happy summer!!

"If you have a garden and a library......"

Marcus Tullius Cicero...an early Roman orator and philosopher of great wisdom about life wrote   "If you have a garden and a library, you have all you need..."

Well...  I would like to add a wine cellar to that list....   ( oh...of course.. also a back yard clothes line.....a bird sanctuary.....and a claw foot bath tub sitting beneath a huge window overlooking a sumptuous and private landscape... )    ....I digress...back to the wine cellar...

Robert Mondavi , creator of one of the most beautiful and inspiring wineries in the world, in Napa Valley, California, brought wine as we know it to the United States..His foresight and vision spoke of a true dedication to the joys and blessings of wine... His book "Harvests of Joy" is a true testimony to wines....wine making..and the "good life"... the simplicity of wine and foods...and the joys of nature...

If one is most fortunate to have a true wine cellar in their "manor", cottage or humble abode..that is quite fine indeed...but a "wine cellar" can be nothing more than a shelf of wines..a special place in our home which honors the "gifts of the Gods"...wine... be they red or white...dry or sweet...wine is one of life's purest pleasures...

I have several "wine cellars" in my home....one of which is featured in this Post..I want to share it's simplicity...It holds twelve bottles of wine..and several wine glasses..it is in my dining room and is always a welcome sight..featuring some of my wine-related treasures...a crystal vase filled with corks...a carafe...a leaded crystal wine stopper...

Create your special "wine cellar" in your home...and bring the simple joys of wine into every season of your life...

What is "Weekends on the Veranda" ?

It is a Blog dedicated to "simple living"....and the words "weekends" and "veranda" have a special significance....

The word "weekend" has the most pleasant connotation for most people...it is defined as "the end of the work week"...and certainly, despite many of us who LOVE our jobs... having a break..a respite...a short escape from duties and responsibilities..is a healthy, restorative and enjoyable experience... In that light, I would like my Blog to reflect the thoughts and pleasures of such an escape...a rejuvenation...a time of pleasures and pampering.... If your life requires you to work on weekends, as many do, or if your life is so filled with things to do that you must grab your pleasures and pampering whenever possible....be it Mondays, Tuesdays etc... once a month etc...my hope is that you will redefine the thought and idea of "weekend"... adding it to your life when possible...hopefully much more often than you did before you discovered my Blog...perhaps, together, we can restructure our days to include such fun and frivolities...pleasures and pamperings...and just time for quiet contemplation...

And why a "veranda"?

My idea behind this word was to create a vision of a restful place...it can be a patio, wooden deck, terrace, a blanket beneath an old oak tree..a beach blanket by the sea...a chaise lounge aboard a sailing vessel... an old  forgotten vintage folding chair discovered in an abandoned attic.....a canoe drifting aimlessly among lily pads... 

Our "veranda" can be anywhere..at any time... ( See above...definition of "weekends" ) but it must be a "place" for us...a quiet place in which to indulge in time for ourselves... pleasures...pamperings...quiet reflections...a place of rejuvenation...for our bodies..our souls...our spirits.... the physical "place" is not as significant as our awareness of the fact that this moment...this hour...this day...this "weekend" is for us alone...

And so.... please pull up a chair...a chaise... a blanket by the sea....and come to my Blog...for a "weekend".... 

This time is for you ! La vie est belle.....life is beautiful.....

Cheese Frittata in Puff Pastry

This savory frittata is an excellent and nutritious dish which can be served for breakfast, brunch or a light dinner..I love to create recipes with flexibility...adding a little of this or that...using what is fresh to the season..and also what I may have have on hand.. At the end of this recipe will be listed several ingredients which you can add if desired..the photos are of the main recipe..which was prepared today..adding a fresh chopped tomato...two slices of crispy bacon..fresh cilantro and a chopped and sautéed potato, onion and red pepper...but you may add whatever you enjoy.

Puff Pastry is found in the freezer section of your local market. I prefer Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry sheets..they bake consistently well. Follow directions on the box for thawing them before use. They must be semi-thawed..not fully thawed as they will be a bit more difficult to work with if they become too soft.

*** The recipe ***

* 2 sheets of Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry

*6 eggs

*1/2 to 3/4 cup light cream  ( you may substitute half and half or even whole milk ..I like the richness of the cream..)

*1 cooked and chopped potato

*1/4 cup chopped onion and red or green pepper

* 2 slices crisp cooked bacon

* 1/4 lb of chopped cheddar cheese

* 1 small tomato, chopped

1/4 tspn chopped pepper

several chopped springs of fresh cilantro or parsley


 Preheat oven to 350 degrees..Use a baking dish..any size...The one pictured is a good size for this frittata. I grease the bottom of the dish with a bit of olive oil..and place one sheet of the semi-thawed puff pastry sheet in the pan..place in the oven to begin puffing...perhaps 10 minutes...as I prepare the batter.

Whisk the eggs in a bowl...when completely whisked, add the cream...checking the consistency...you may add more or less as desired... Add the potato, onion and pepper mixture, bacon, tomato...

Here is where you can be creative: other additions may be mushrooms, zucchini, spinach... each adds a new flavor

Pour the batter into the baking dish on top of the sheet of puff pastry.

Place the second sheet of semi-thawed puff pastry on top of the filled baking dish..tapping it into place on the sides. 

Melt several tablespoons of butter and brush the melted butter on the top layer of the pastry..

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes..Check to see when it becomes a bit browned..the pastry will puff as it bakes...

Remove from oven..let it sit for a few minutes...your guests will love the richness and blending of flavors of this frittata..The puff pastry adds a luscious and satisfying touch to this classic recipe.

The wisdom of love...

My daughter, Carrie, gave me this little book back in 2007... "The Mastery of Love" by Don Miguel Ruiz...and it is one of my treasures..

It has so much wisdom within it's pages...  "be generous with your love" "see through the eyes of love" "you are what you believe"....and many more...

I would like to share a passage here on my Blog...for you to ponder and enjoy ..on this lovely summer morning...

"On one level or another, all of us are masters. We are masters because all of us have the power to create and to rule our own lives. You create yourself, whatever you believe you are. Your whole reality, everything you believe, is your creation....."

                  taken from "The Mastery of Love"   by Don Miguel Ruiz

Feel the beauty that lives within you...today..and everyday...

The blessing of friendship...

I recently read that a good friendship...one or more...contributes to a longer life and better health. I agree!!

While it is always wise to choose our friends carefully, I would also add that it is equally beneficial to have friends of all ages. I have several close friends who are much older than I...as well as friends who are much younger. I enjoy and benefit from both age groups. Common interests and a common view of life are a far better indicator of the depth and closeness of a friend than their age.

May you enjoy the blessings of friendship today!

Fireworks on the Fourth of July...

Fourth of July.. backyard cook outs and fireworks...  these have always heralded the beginning of summer.. As we watched local fireworks last evening.. parked among many others across the street from a large amusement park... I pondered what it is that draws so many Americans to fireworks displays in their respective towns. Of course, one could argue that it is pure patriotism which draws crowds on our patriotic holiday. But I surmise it is the act of the "ritual".... a time honored event which has been with us for generations.. As I stood with my family.. among so many others who sat on the hoods of their vehicles or gathered along the fence...the  yelps of delight from children as each blast of color and light soared into the clear night sky... I realized that it is the wonderment which holds us all...and brings us back....the wonderment that we can all just pause and enjoy magnificent displays of celebration... and then the finale...a grand burst of colors and sounds..... and know that across the nation..on this lovely summer's eve....we share this celebration....

Happy birthday to our nation! May freedom ring true.....

Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette