Mixed Berry Curd Tart

by Helen Kain | Jul 28, 2021 | Holiday, Home, Pies & Tarts, Recent, Summer Recipes, Sweets

I’m always eager to use up the excess egg yolks that are the inevitable byproduct of making Swiss Meringue Buttercream Icing (always much in demand around here). Unlike egg whites, yolks don’t freeze as well, I had a bag of Trader Joe’s mixed berries...

A Cottage Table with a Berry Tart

by Helen Kain | Jul 28, 2021 | Blue, Home, Pink and Red, Recent, Summer Tablescapes

Villeroy and Boch are right up there with Gien in terms of high-quality, durable and beautiful tableware.  I was introduced to the Cottage pattern through Sophie Winston, from the Domestic Diva series by Krista Davis. Sophie is one of the two fictional Divas...

Ice Cream Sandwiches

by Helen Kain | Jul 25, 2021 | Cookies & Bars, Holiday, Home, Recent, Summer Recipes, Sweets

How much fun is it to make your own ice-cream sandwiches? A lot more fun than I anticipated! When I was home in Canada in June, they were in such popular demand with the kids that I ended up making three batches. Lauren made another one after I left for the Cape. So...

Mikasa Botanical Bouquet

by Helen Kain | Jul 23, 2021 | Antique glassware, Blue, Green, Home, Recent, Summer Tablescapes

The summer blooms are at their peak, and the hydrangea is just tipping over to the faded papery stage. So it was now or never for this table. Botanical Bouquet by Mikasa features an unusual combination of herbs in improbably vivid shades of cobalt blue; the soft...

A Fitz & Floyd Chateau Tea

by Helen Kain | Jun 26, 2021 | Pink and Red, Recent, Spring Tablescapes, Summer Tablescapes

You’ve heard of cottage teapots? They usually feature a cosily thatched cottage, complete with a cottage flower garden. Fitz and Floyd upped the elegance a notch with the Chateau Teaset from the mid-1980s. Which I received as a gift when it first came out. Gulp....