Photos by Eric Hérouville
All images from here.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Restored Country House near Nimes
Good morning sweethearts. Taking you today to the south of France, near Nimes, where we'll visit this stone country house built in the early eighteenth century. According to the locals it was a wine warehouse where Napoleon's army used to stay. Now it belongs to Appley Hoare, an antique dealer from London who is a specialist in French furniture of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
Photos by Eric Hérouville
All images from here.
Photos by Eric Hérouville
All images from here.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Sauteed Trout with Pecans
I love fish and seafood, I could eat it every night of the week, and often do, especially when my Man (who is not as enthusiastic about fish as I am) is away on business trips. I love recipes like this one, where the servings are is so easily adaptable that I can make it for myself, or a crowd. I especially enjoy making this fish dish this time of year when it's the Texas Pecan harvest time.
SAUTEED TROUT WITH PECANS
serves 4
RECIPE:
4 trout fillets with skin on
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 cup all purpose flour
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided (do not substitute with margarine, butter is necessary for this dish)
3/4 - 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
Fresh trout is often sold whole, so have your fishmonger or butcher fillet them for you and wrap each side of fish separately, this way you can cook only the serving size you need and can freeze the rest for later.
Rinse and pat trout fillets dry with paper towels, rub flesh side with cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Dredge fillets in flour, coating both sides..
Heat 4 tablespoons butter in heavy skillet over medium heat until foam subsides (this is one reason margarine will not work for this recipe) then cook trout skin side down, until skin is golden brown, about 4 minutes.
Turn fish over and cook until just cooked through, 1-2 minutes more, being careful not over cook.
The butter at this point should be browned, this is what infuses the fish with a rich nutty flavor. (the other reason margarine is not for this dish)
Transfer fish to a plate and keep warm by loosely covering with foil while you cook remaining fillets.
Pour off any remaining butter from skillet and wipe skillet clean with paper towels.
Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat, add pecans, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until pecans and butter become golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Stir in lemon juice and brown sugar, stir until sugar is dissolved.
Sprinkle each fillet with fresh parsley, and top with pecans and butter sauce, garnish with a lemon twist if desired.
Make it a meal and serve over a wild rice blend and garden peas.
BON APPETIT!
I will be joining these fun parties,
On the Menu Monday
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Friday Inspiration at The Picket Fence
Potpourri Party at 2805
Foodie Friday
Full Plate Thursdays
It's a Party at A Creative Princess
Wow Us Wednesdays
On the Menu Monday
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Friday Inspiration at The Picket Fence
Potpourri Party at 2805
Foodie Friday
Full Plate Thursdays
It's a Party at A Creative Princess
Wow Us Wednesdays
Christmas Inspiration
Back from my mini holidays. Had a joyful time and there was no way I could sit down and make a post. So, here we are again and, oh my gosh, it's October! Time to start thinking about Christmas, don't you agree? Let's do so by visiting this home in France, decorated in greens and silvery tones. Hope some of the images inspire you.
Photography by Sabrina Raffi
All images from here.
Photography by Sabrina Raffi
All images from here.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Serving Up Autumn
Over this past weekend, not only did I add the bronzy mirror to the dining room, I also brought in a serving cart that has been living in the attic, and dressed it up for Fall.
In keeping with the neutral and organic theme I'm using in the dining room this season, I set up this vignette...
I used mostly cream and off white pieces with some neutral colored, outdoorsy finds. And for a little sparkle and formality, I added mercury glass and silver.
I've been using these Burr Oak acorns for years in my fall decor, they came from the Fort Worth Zoo where our daughter used to work.
The abandoned birds nest came out of our little Post Oak tree in the front yard.
I love mixing organic with the refined, like the birds nest on top of a mercury glass candle holder, it's unexpected, much in the same way this basket of twigs sitting under an antique serving cart is.
On the shelf, I placed a simple stack of silver trays and chargers, with rolled white linen napkins tied with twine.
The giant mercury glass acorn ornament came from World Market, I use it in various vignettes from Fall until Spring.
For height, I filled the tall artisan vase with just a few branches of pussy willow and curly willow. The round beaded mirrors with tarnished silver frames are from Hobby Lobby.
The serving cart has a Burl wood inlaid top, turned legs, gold painted handles, and very squeaky wheels.
I'm really enjoying this autumn season, especially after a summer of record breaking temperatures here in North Texas, I just love layering different textures, tone on tone colors, and over dressing my tabletops this time of year.
In keeping with the neutral and organic theme I'm using in the dining room this season, I set up this vignette...
I used mostly cream and off white pieces with some neutral colored, outdoorsy finds. And for a little sparkle and formality, I added mercury glass and silver.
I've been using these Burr Oak acorns for years in my fall decor, they came from the Fort Worth Zoo where our daughter used to work.
The abandoned birds nest came out of our little Post Oak tree in the front yard.
I love mixing organic with the refined, like the birds nest on top of a mercury glass candle holder, it's unexpected, much in the same way this basket of twigs sitting under an antique serving cart is.
On the shelf, I placed a simple stack of silver trays and chargers, with rolled white linen napkins tied with twine.
The giant mercury glass acorn ornament came from World Market, I use it in various vignettes from Fall until Spring.
For height, I filled the tall artisan vase with just a few branches of pussy willow and curly willow. The round beaded mirrors with tarnished silver frames are from Hobby Lobby.
The serving cart has a Burl wood inlaid top, turned legs, gold painted handles, and very squeaky wheels.
I'm really enjoying this autumn season, especially after a summer of record breaking temperatures here in North Texas, I just love layering different textures, tone on tone colors, and over dressing my tabletops this time of year.
I hope you are all enjoying this Autumnal season. along with all the natural beauty it brings
I will be joining these fun parties...
Seasonal Sundays at The Table Scaper
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence
Potpourri Party at 2805
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Autumn Arrives at Savvy Seasons
Tablescape Thursdays at Between Naps on the Porch
It's a Party at A Creative Princess
Open House at No Minimalist Here
Fall in Love at Decor To Adore
Wow Me Wednesday at Ginger Snap
Fall into Fall at DIY by Design
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Seasonal Sundays at The Table Scaper
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence
Potpourri Party at 2805
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Autumn Arrives at Savvy Seasons
Tablescape Thursdays at Between Naps on the Porch
It's a Party at A Creative Princess
Open House at No Minimalist Here
Fall in Love at Decor To Adore
Wow Me Wednesday at Ginger Snap
Fall into Fall at DIY by Design
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tuesdays Treasures Fall Party at My Uncommon Slice of Suburia
Centsational Girl
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tuesdays Treasures Fall Party at My Uncommon Slice of Suburia
Centsational Girl
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Monday, 3 October 2011
The mirror, mirror on the wall, goes bronze for Fall
After receiving a lot of compliments on the bronze urn in my Fall Table for Two post (here), I decided to try to mimic the bronze look on the frame of a mirror.
I sometimes jump into a project feet first and forget to take proper "Before" photos, (such as the case here) so please forgive this Spring/Summer photo that does't really feature the mirror very well, but it's the only one I could find, so it will have to do.
As you can see, it had a gray/whitewash finish... and even that's not the original color. Before the whitewash, it was gold, and not the good kind, like the real gold leaf mirror hanging over my china cabinet, but the plastic 'all one dimension' shade of gold.
The first thing I did, was remove as much of the white paint (acrylic craft paint) as possible, by soaking the frame (after removing the mirror of course) in warm water in the bath tub! After about 20 minutes, I took it out side and sprayed the paint right off with a water hose.
To achieve the bronze look, I gave it several light applications of black spray paint, followed by brown. Making sure that each coat was just a light dusting of paint so that it built up in layers, creating texture while allowing both paint colors, as well as the original gold to be visible.
I used gold Rub n' Buff to highlight the edges and detailed areas, and then went over the entire frame with dark furniture stain to 'tone down' the gold and fill in the areas not covered by the spray paint.
To add more depth and color variations, I mixed the Rub n' Buff with dark brown craft paint to create a bronze color and sponged it over the frame, then did the same thing again, only with a light brown paint mixed with the gold, and made a copper color. To give it a a hint of verdigris like the urn's, I mixed a small amount of turquoise craft paint with water, creating a wash, then lightly brushed it on in random areas, then wiped it back off with a cloth, leaving some of the color behind.
After letting all the paints cure over night, I put the mirror back in and hung it in the dining room, I love how the new finish looks with the bronze chandy, and it also works well with the other metallic finishes in this room.
The mirror's new and improved bronze Fall look, turned out so well, I don't think it will ever go back to it's Spring & Summer whitewashed finish. I'm so grateful to those who complimented my bronze urn, you helped to inspire me to take on this project and transform this plain mirror into a bronzed beauty!
I sometimes jump into a project feet first and forget to take proper "Before" photos, (such as the case here) so please forgive this Spring/Summer photo that does't really feature the mirror very well, but it's the only one I could find, so it will have to do.
The first thing I did, was remove as much of the white paint (acrylic craft paint) as possible, by soaking the frame (after removing the mirror of course) in warm water in the bath tub! After about 20 minutes, I took it out side and sprayed the paint right off with a water hose.
To achieve the bronze look, I gave it several light applications of black spray paint, followed by brown. Making sure that each coat was just a light dusting of paint so that it built up in layers, creating texture while allowing both paint colors, as well as the original gold to be visible.
I used gold Rub n' Buff to highlight the edges and detailed areas, and then went over the entire frame with dark furniture stain to 'tone down' the gold and fill in the areas not covered by the spray paint.
To add more depth and color variations, I mixed the Rub n' Buff with dark brown craft paint to create a bronze color and sponged it over the frame, then did the same thing again, only with a light brown paint mixed with the gold, and made a copper color. To give it a a hint of verdigris like the urn's, I mixed a small amount of turquoise craft paint with water, creating a wash, then lightly brushed it on in random areas, then wiped it back off with a cloth, leaving some of the color behind.
After letting all the paints cure over night, I put the mirror back in and hung it in the dining room, I love how the new finish looks with the bronze chandy, and it also works well with the other metallic finishes in this room.
The mirror's new and improved bronze Fall look, turned out so well, I don't think it will ever go back to it's Spring & Summer whitewashed finish. I'm so grateful to those who complimented my bronze urn, you helped to inspire me to take on this project and transform this plain mirror into a bronzed beauty!
I hope everyone is off to a great week!
I will be joining these awesome parties...
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