Fresh Peach Brandy Sauce

""IT'S SUMMER""

Fragrant, Sweet, Juicy Peaches

We're in the best months for peach season; June to the end of August.  That's why a delicious Peach Brandy Sauce topped with sweet ricotta cheese and served with lemon scones is a perfect dessert for summer.

Warm Peach Brandy Sauce

Peach Brandy Sauce is also tasty with ice cream, yogurt, cookies, cake and waffles.

Our recipe uses the more traditional yellow peach rather than the sweeter and less acidic white peach. This peach variety is freestone, meaning the flesh of the peach easily separates from the stone.  Clingstone peaches are also available, but are more difficult to separate from the peach pulp.

When selecting peaches, look for these qualities:
- a rich and good color
- free of bruises or soft spots
- peach gives a little when touched with your hand
- peach is stored at room temperature

Peaches are a good source of fiber, vitamins A and C



                                                    FRESH PEACH BRANDY SAUCE                         Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 cup peach nectar
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 large ripe peaches (peeled, halved, pitted and cut into slices)

2 tablespoons peach brandy (1 tablespoon vanilla may be substituted)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ( 1 teaspoon nutmeg may be substituted)

Instructions:
1.  Combine nectar, sugar and cornstarch in medium saucepan.


Stir with a wooden spoon


2.  Bring to boil over medium heat.


Stir sauce continuously


3.  Add sliced peaches.

4.  Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes.
5.  Remove from heat.
6.  Stir in brandy and cinnamon.
7.  Serve warm in a tall margarita glasses and top with whipped ricotta cheese.
8.  Garnish with fresh mint and serve with a lemon scone or cookie.



Keeps in Refrigerator up to one Week



"Shabby Chic" Baby Nursery with a Modern Twist

                       Tips for Decorating a Baby Nursery

Whether you're having a baby, a new adorable grandchild, or a friend needs your advice for decorating a baby nursery, we're giving you tips to make the process simple, fun, and budget friendly.

1.  Pick a Theme:
Our theme is shabby chic with a modern twist.  The nursery is designed for my special new granddaughter.  This vision reflects my daughter's decorating style throughout the rest of her home.  When choosing a theme, pick something that has a special meaning and that you won't get tired of.  Sports, book and movie characters, or a special decorating style are good beginning ideas.  Search magazines and social media sites for additional ideas.

2.  Choose a Color Scheme:
The walls, which are light gray with white trim, were kept as originally painted.  The rest of the house has the same color scheme and is accented with dark wood floors.  Coral and sage green were selected to compliment the modern colors.  The inspiration for this color scheme came from floral accent pillows purchased at Homegoods and an existing sage green family armoire.   Using a piece of art or furniture as an inspiration color is a good rule to follow.  The pillows and armoire started our process.  When combining colors, use the 60-30-10 rule.  60 percent of our room is the lightest color (gray), 30 percent of our room is a dominant color (sage green), and 10 percent is our brightest color (coral).  In our case, the white is neutral and compliments all colors.  Remember to select colors that reflect your personal style.  If you use colors you don't love, you'll never be happy with the selections.

3.  Select Your Furniture:
                                                                  What do you need?
                                                         """""Our rule of thumb is this"""""
                                             - but you can add your personal preferences-

Have a Place for Feeding and Rocking Baby

                     

Have a Changing Area with a Changing Table, Storage, Clothes Hamper and Diaper Disposal

Have a Crib for Sleeping

Have a Place for Clothing and Supplies

                 

4.  By drawing out a preliminary plan with the items listed above, you'll know the furniture sizes that will work in the room.  The first item selected was the glider from Land of Nod.  It fits nicely in the corner by the window.  The gray color is brushed cotton and matches the wall color perfectly.

The Jenny Lind convertible crib from Simply Baby Furniture fits nicely along the wall to the right of the glider. The crisp and luxurious white sheets and bed skirt came from Serena and Lily.  The purchased coral binding was secured with fabric glue to the bed skirt.

The white changing table with drawers was purchased from Simply Baby Furniture and fits along the wall to the right of the door and close to the crib.  Between the crib and changing table is a clothes hamper and diaper disposal.

To the left of the window is the sage green armoire.  This layout works well with the size of the room.  If you have more space, you can add bookcases, additional storage, a larger rocker, and a play area.  If your space is smaller, consider a folding rocker, a bassinet, and other smaller scale items.

5.  Select Your Lighting:
The lighting should provide functionality and ambiance.  The Ikea overhead light is large and a great piece to add to the shabby chic atmosphere.  The room glistens from the white flower design.  Next to the glider is a small reading light from Ikea with a 15 watt bulb to use during feeding and rocking.  The last lighting choice from Ikea is placed on top of the armoire to illuminate that area of the room.

6.  Select Accessories and Accents:
This is the fun part - finding the pieces to finish your decorating.  You can use your personal style to complete the room while saving money by using items you already have, personalizing pieces, and hunting for pieces on sale from discount or thrift stores.  We chose a large gray and white geometric area rug from Target for the floor, a similar geometric foot stool from Old Time Pottery, white sheer drapes from Ikea, vintage clothing above the changing table, handmade fabric pendants above the crib and sitting area, plus small finishing touches in coral, sage, and gray from craft and thrift stores.

Side Table from Wayfair

Vintage Baby Clothing embellished with Sage Ribbon

         

Handmade Fabric Pendants secured with Sage Trim

Finishing Decor and Personal Pregnancy Photo

"""HAPPY NURSERY DECORATING"""

It's an " ALL RED " Christmas Tree at Jan's House

One thing I remember as a little girl is the beautifully decorated Christmas tree that filled our living room.  The entire room glistened with hues of red from a fresh blue spruce tree that towered toward the ceiling.  Capturing the same look years later is the theme of this "ALL RED" tree.

  The Fraser Fir stands 8 feet tall and is filled with 24 strands of tiny red lights. 

. 

     You'll find red poinsettias, roses and berry sprigs scattered throughout the tree.
     Clustering together groups of flowers and berries add soft touches to the design.

 

 

                            Feather cardinals sit atop the branches of berries and twigs.

 

Glitter red bells and jumbo red ball ornaments add a traditional touch to the elegance.
Twigs, red organza ribbon and a red velvet tree shirt complete the ALL RED theme.

 

Changing the color of the lights and decorations will add a whole different feel to the design.
Purple would give the tree a contemporary theme while all gold would give the tree a regal opulent theme.
                                                     Create the color of your dreams! 
                                                             You're the designer!

It's Fresh Greens on Ronnie's Holiday Table

This simple yet elegant table décor idea has all the makings for a festive holiday dinner.
Fresh greens, plus shiny red and green balls keep the tradition of Christmas in this design.
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    THE THEME
                              TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS - IT'S FRESH GREENS
Ronnie used white candles in brass candlesticks surrounding fragrant greens and bright balls on each side of an elevated crystal bowl.  The bowl is full of Christmas balls and placed in the center of the table atop a stemmed glass cake plate.

 

 

A tall crystal cake plate in the center of the table holds water that keeps the greens fresh the entire month of December.   Local markets sell greens or you could use pines from your backyard.  These greens came from The Fresh Market.  A beautiful crystal bowl holds red and green shiny Christmas balls just below eye level which is perfect for the dinner table.  The balls were purchased at Target.  The Dollar Store is also a good choice or a craft store where there are great savings this time of year.

A low glass bowl holds water to keep greens fresh on either side of the center bowl.  Place the lower third of the brass candleholder in a small plastic bag and secure with floral tape to keep it dry.  Place 3 to 5 balls in greens around the candle.  Secure balls with floral wire.

Each place setting is very elegant.  The rectangular placemat is a shimmering gold and silver basket weave design.  The mother of pearl border embedded in the silver dinner plate charger is absolutely gorgeous. The decorative salad plate which has an open weave pattern sits atop the dinner plate.
Water, wine and champagne glasses surround the place setting while silverware is perfectly placed.

Finally, a crisp green cotton napkin completes the setting.   Using the bishop napkin fold,  you can see how stately it stands in the center of the place setting.



THE CHRISTMAS TRADITION "LIVE GREENS AND SHINY BALL ORNAMENTS"  

Have Fun Designing Your Christmas Dining Table

 

 

Living Room Holiday Decor

In my last blog, I chose Winter White and Gold for the dining room table so I am continuing with the same color scheme in the adjoining living room.  The colors compliment the dark wood and soft colors of the sofa and chairs.

Starting with the coffee table, an all white and gold Santa stands next to a fresh Rosemary tree surrounded by stacked gold packages nestled in moss, candle votives and small ceramic fur covered animals.

 

To the left of Santa, two large gold bead crusted balls and a twig ball surround moss and branches in a low silver bowl.  Wrapped in drapery roping adds elegance to the bowl.

The buffet runner is silver silk with beading on each end (Marshall's $15).The silver candle holders with Christmas tree embellishments also came from Marshall's ($6 each)  I used a variety of silver and gold balls in a large fish bowl with cascading balls to each side of the bowl.  Most of the balls came from The Dollar Store.
The display is symmetrical but by placing balls around the bowl I've added some dimension.

 

 

 

 

 

 I used several variety of balls in an amber glass bowl on the sofa table.  These were collected from many Christmas stores over the years.   Collecting ornaments is a great hobby.   Gold candles on each side of the bowl stand in gold metal candlesticks and are embellished with ornate drapery ropes.                      









 

 

 

 

                                              ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY DECORATING