Life’s Simple Pleasures

 

I spent the afternoon planting lavender on my terrace yesterday. Soeren is at his grandparents’ for the last week of summer break and I have been busy decorating or should I say re-decorating, re-planting and simply getting things homey again.

Although the lavender in their terracotta pots look exquisite and give the terrace a Provence-like flair, I seemed to have eyes for the daisies growing in the grass. They look like little gems on green velvet. I plucked a few and decorated the dinner table with them.

Life’s simple pleasures make me happiest. Thought I’d share them with you!

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2009 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Is Spring Around The Corner?

 

I can feel it – but it’s not quite here yet! Although there is a slight chill, there is a warmth about it.

In the meantime I am getting ready to greet it with open arms, when it does come around the corner!

Have a great start to your week!

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2009 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Home: A Splash of Color

One thing I was looking forward to, when I was in Dubai, was coming back to fresh, lush spring colors. I was really expecting Spring to be in full swing here, waiting for my return from the barren browns and concrete grays of Dubai.

Unfortunately Soeren and I were greeted with cold winds and icy sleet. The weather has been in this tragic state the whole week. Gray and wet! I was so hoping to wear my new outfits I got from Dubai - I gave the phrase power shopping an whole new meaning. LOL!

The great thing is that my new office is a stone's throw away from the Farmer's Market. Heaven for me, because during my lunch breaks I can stroll down there and get my color kick. Mother nature might be stinging with Spring but my fave Farmers were not. Bright colors as far as the eyes could see.

So, I brightened up the office and my home with huge bunches of colorful tulips. Here in the picture I arranged 5 bunches of tulips in all my favorite colors. Each bouquet had five tulips making a huge colorful bunch of twenty five flowers. My pristine glass vase was perfect for it.

 

I splashed out on color for my Centerpiece of the Month, hoping that I'll be seeing these colors outdoors soon too. The lovely Sandi hosts this event every month and I wanted to send her a huge splash of color. If you too are feeling gray right now I hope this cheered you up a touch.

For more inspiration browse through my Home & Design category.

Important Note: 

TOI is currently not displaying my feeds. I've had several mails regarding this and I thank you all for informing me. Sailu is working on the issue. In the meantime I would like to recommend subscribing to What's For Lunch, Honey? directly. Simply click on the RSS feed image and subscribe in your favorite reader. The "subscribe here" section on the sidebar also enables you to subscribe to the feeds via email. So make sure you do not miss a post.

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2008 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Home: Egg-straordinary

Quite a few years ago a friend of mine brought back two ostrich eggs from her travels in South Africa. They were souvenirs for me and I really found them extraordinary. However, they kind of looked so boring simply sitting in their bowls, one chocolate brown the other vanilla white. So, I put them away. After awhile I got a guilty conscience, so I brought them out again. But then I found them boring and stored them away.

This happened for a while. Until one day the chocolate brown one fell and cracked at the top pointed side. It was a very small crack but it did not look nice. I could not help it but picked at it until the crack became a hole!

A few years later I took the eggs out again and this time I might have re-discovered my creative energy because that hole looked very appealing to me! I got one of Tom's test tubes from the lab where he does his research and turned the egg into a vase! I inserted the test tube into the egg and placed a single flower into the test tube. It was gorgeous. The egg was not boring anymore but looked like a designer item from somewhere in Milan or Paris.

This year I purposely cracked a hole in the vanilla white egg. Poor thing it was crying out all along for me to turn it into a designer looking vase too. It looks hotter then the chocolate brown one now. Delicate and elegant.

Although I will be in Dubai over Easter and there will be no Easter decorations to keep me busy this month, I still wanted to add a little touch around the home.

I placed the vanilla white egg in a bowl lined with a bit of moss. The flowers are keeping in the tones of the eggs using only the greens of the leaves for color. I loved this tulip because it is so unusually colored. Not pure white but with green hues. Simply gorgeous.

 

It really is an eye-catcher isn't it?

This is my Centerpiece of the Month and I am sending it over to the lovely Sandi, who rounds up some lovely ideas each month. So if you are looking for home design ideas head on over to her blog towards the end of the month!

Inspiring Food Photography Award

Have you voted for me yet? LOL! If you are wondering what I am on about, well Margot of Coffee & Vanilla chooses a few blogs each month that have inspiring food photography, then it is up to the readers to choose their favorite. I have some tough competition for sure, but maybe you'll find a minute to head on over there and give in your vote - er - for me of course LOL!

E For Excellent Award

An Award I have already gotten is the E for Excellent Award. The very gorgeous and gracious Jen from, one of my fave blogs, Use Real Butter thought deserved this. Excellence? Well I am so chuffed because it's a word that I myself would never use to describe my own blog, but the impact, when a dear blog friend thinks that it deserves such an award, is huge. Thank you Jen an honor coming from you because I love your pictures and writing too.

It is now my honor to pass this award further. I am really not sure who has or who has not already received this Excellence award but if you have already had it then your blog and work must be outrageously excellent! 

Culinary Concoctions by Peabody - Pea is not only my Daring Baker in crime but she is my drool mistress. As soon as I enter her blog the buds on my tongue start to moisten and salivate! No more gory details, but be warned this lady has the power to make you drool without even saying "drool!" That in my opinion deserves this award.

Dad - Baker & Chef - Dharm is the only man I know who can cook and bake. He also has a loving wife and two adorable kids. If you are thinking a man who can cook and bake is no big deal then please take a peak at what he creates. He is teaching us over at the Daily Tiffin how to decorate cakes and plan parties! How excellent is that?

Saffron Trail - Nandita has a way with food. She can take almost any dish and turn it into a healthy meal. It always leaves me in awe. She creates these dishes with ease and no fuss at all so making them at home is no trouble at all. Excellent in every way.

The Perfect Pantry - Lydia and her pantry have made me discover, rediscover and experiment with so many ingredients she features. I love her blog as it showcases several single items that one should have in a pantry. Lydia, soon I will have to extend my pantry thanks to your recommendations and suggestions.

I am looking forward to discovering a lot of new blogs.

Before I sign off for today just wanted to point you in the direction of FoodieView and my first article - A New Look at Indian Cuisine. Hope you enjoy reading it and I would love your feedback on it. My next article is due soon and I'll let you all know in time.

In the meantime happy decorating!

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2008 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Home: The Pureness of White

White. Elegant, pure and fresh.

I love bouquets of fresh white flowers. Vanilla, ivory, cream, seashell - gorgeous shades for delicate flowers. While everyone will be bathing in outrageous red this Valentine's, I dare to be different!

It's the je ne sais quoi - the understatement such a bouquet exudes that makes it graceful. When I come downstairs in the morning and these exquisite flowers present themselves in all their glory I can't help but smile.

The quintessence of such a bouquet is keeping the flowers delicate and aesthetic rather than going for opulence.  Here I have chosen a few vanilla colored roses and ivory ranunculus, flowers I absolutely love. Simply because they too are modest but beautiful. As a contrast the green leaves build a wonderful background for these flowers to show off their elegant shades of white. The stylish touch comes from a bit of silver thread that I draped around the bouquet.

So, while there will be many red bouquets this Valentine's, I give you my pure white one. As a thanks for being all that you are to me and more. My friends, my motivators, my carers, well-wishers, my minglers, my inspirers and admirers - I thank you. Without you I'd only have half of the fun I have on this blog.

Happy Valentine!

This is my Centerpiece of the Month and I am sending it over to the lovely Sandi, who has graciously taken over this lovely event.

Over at the Daily Tiffin we have a few great Valentine Day related articles. So, please take a few minutes to check them out.

What Does Your Valentine Really Want? - by Meg
Heartfelt Fitness - by Helen
What to give your man for Valentine Day - by Vicky

 

Finally I'd like to show you what I recently got in the post.

 
A lovely "spicy" package from my gorgeous better half Jaden of Steamy Kitchen. She started a cool swapping event called the International Spice Swap and sent out 6 packages around the world, filled with spices and her "Secret Steamy Sweet Spicy Sambal"

 

 

I happen to be one of the first receivers of these packages. Now according to the rules of the game I am to fill it up and send the box off to another part of the world. Well I just did and am on my way to the mail office right now - with two packages. One to my secret receiver and the other to the Steamy Jaden.

Thanks honey!

 

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Technorati Tags: flowers,roses,bouquet,white,Home,photography,Nikon D70s

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2008 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Coconut Mousse with Mango Coulis

I decided to give myself a Christmas present this year. It's been something I've been thinking about for a long time now but for some reason I was a bit hesitant. But this week I did it. I went out and bought myself 8 square frames with thick wooded panels and wide cream colored passepartout and today I picked up the 8 chosen pictures.

The pictures in question were all taken by yours truly. Carefully, I unpacked each photograph and placed it in the frame. I was like a little kid smiling, giggling, excited and a bit nervous. Finally I hung them up and - WOW! they looked splendid. I could not hide my joy.

You see I do have a few of my pictures stuck on the fridge or simply frameless pinned on the kitchen wall but nothing special. It's the first time I have actually bought expensive frames for my own photos with the mission to hang them up on the living room walls. Don't ask why! I do like my pictures but I always thought it kind of strange to flaunt them on my home walls. I am a bit modest and although I do love all the attention I still kind of feel shy when I am asked "Are these yours?" Then I start to stutter and feel like a huge spotlight is pointed right at me. There is nowhere to duck or hide. My hands feel a bit moist and a film of sweat covers my brow. What's going to come now?

It's different with you and my blog - you all have given me so much courage and motivation. I owe much of what I have learned to you. I do have a few good friends who have been nagging at me to finally hang up some of my own photos. They said it is a disgrace to actually have photos taken by other photographers on my walls. So, I listened to my dearest friends and today I took those gorgeous but disgraceful photos from other photographers and put up my own. It's weird. I find myself constantly glancing at them when ever I am in the room. Hehe! These are mine - and not some fancy-schmancy professional photographer's.

My Christmas present feels good.

This dessert? This will make you feel good. The perfect finale to our spectacular Christmas dinner. We started with a delicious and comforting chestnut potato soup, then worked our way to the main course with apple glazed duck filets with pomegranate red cabbage and now something to tantalize your tastebuds. A wonderful creamy mousse made from coconut milk and drizzled with a sweet mango coulis. So smooth and delicious you'll be asking "Is it Christmas yet?" Yes it is!

Coconut



Coconuts are the fruit grown on the coconut palm, which is grown throughout the tropical world, for decoration as well as for its many culinary and non-culinary uses; virtually every part of the coconut palm has some human use.

The coconut itself provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished populations around the world for generations. On many islands coconut is a staple in the diet and provides the majority of the food eaten. Nearly one third of the world's population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy.

Coconut is highly nutritious and very rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Classified as a "functional food", it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations.

Known as the "tree of life," the wonderful fruit of the coconut palm is rich in certain fats that have incredible health benefits. Traditional tropical populations that consume a lot of coconut oil are seldom overweight, and traditionally have been free from the modern diseases that afflict most western cultures.

There are several different ways to enjoy fresh coconuts, which can be young or mature. Young coconuts generally have either a green shell or a white "husk" if the outer shell has been removed. Mature coconuts are the more familiar-looking brown, hairy variety. As a coconut matures, the nutrients and physical characteristics will change. Young coconuts have more ‘water’ and soft meat, while mature coconuts have firm meat and less ‘water.’

Many people presume that coconut milk is the liquid inside the coconut, this however, is not the case. The liquid inside the coconut is known as coconut water or juice. Coconut cream is made from pressing the coconut meat. Coconut milk is made from the expressed juice of grated coconut meat and water.

Coconut oil, on the other hand, is the fatty oil that comes from the coconut meat. It is important to note that coconut oils offered on the market vary dramatically in terms of quality. Just like olive oil, low-quality coconut oils should be avoided. They are often processed by chemical extraction, using solvent extracts, which produces higher yields and is quicker and less expensive.

Coconuts can add flavor, variety and healthy nutrients to your diet. Coconuts are rich in lauric acid, which is known for being antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal, and boosts the immune system.

Fresh coconut juice is one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man, and can be used to prevent dehydration.

The coconut has many other positive sides too. It can help you lose weight, or maintain your already good weight and lower your cholesterol. Coconut also increases the metabolism and promotes healthy thyroid function and boosts the overall daily energy. Whats more, it helps to rejuvenate your skin and prevent wrinkles. Splendid!

Selecting & Storing

Select coconuts that slosh when gently shaken. The more liquid you hear sloshing around, the fresher the coconut. Avoid ones with damp or moldy eyes or cracked shells. Whole coconuts can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month. After the coconut is cracked, tightly wrap the coconut meat and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Fresh coconut milk and water should be used within 2 days. You can freeze shredded fresh coconut in a freezer bag for up to 6 months.

After opening, keep canned, packaged, or dried coconut in an airtight container. Canned or packaged coconut keeps 5 to 7 days, and dried coconut keeps 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator.

Cracking a Coconut
To open a coconut, locate the three soft eyes at the top of the shell. Pierce them with the tip of a knife or an ice pick; drain off the milk. With a hammer, gently tap the shell all around until it cracks and splits on its own.

Peel the brown husk from the coconut meat, and chop the coconut meat into uniform pieces. Use your food processor or a hand grater to shred or grate the coconut.

Sources:
Coconut Info
Dole Europe

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Reminder!



Drop In & Decorate with freshly baked cookies and treats. Hope you will join me baking for a good cause. Look forward to having you all over.

Details can be found here.
Deadline: January 7th, 2008.

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Ingredients
Printable version of recipe here



For the mousse:
6 sheets unflavored gelatin
40g confectioner's sugar
400 ml coconut milk - canned and unsweetened
5 tablespoons pineapple juice
2 tablespoons Batitda de Coco
200 g heavy cream

For the coulis:
250 g mango pulp
1/8 l pineapple juice
1 teaspoon lemon juice

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Method



Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water. Mix together the sugar, coconut milk, pineapple juice and Batida de Coco in a mixing bowl.

Take about 3 tablespoons of the coconut mixture and mix into the gelatin until it has dissolved then pour this into the rest of the coconut mixture.

Place in the refrigerator until it starts to set, stirring in between. After about an hour take out of the fridge.

Whisk the cream until stiff and then fold into the coconut mixture. Fill into 6 forms and place in the refrigerator overnight.

For the coulis, cube half of the mango pulp, puree the rest with the pineapple juice. Add the lemon juice and fold in the mango cubes.

Turn the mousse out onto a plate and drizzle the mango coulis over the mousse. Decorate with a few mint leaves.

Tip:
If you cannot find fresh mangoes use canned mangoes. Make sure however that they are unsweetened.

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Verdict

This is so good and takes you away to a far away tropical island. Creamy, light and fruity a slightly different mousse to end a wonderful dinner. We enjoyed this immensely. Soeren totally loves fruity desserts and Tom creamy ones, so this was perfect all around. The best thing is as this does not have too much sugar in it one indulge almost guilt - free.

So as this is a tried, tested and eaten pudding I am sending this off to Zorra who is hosting this month's Sugar High Friday.

More puddings on WFLH:
Banana Brioche Pudding with Bailey's Caramel Cream
Creme Brulee with Berries
Mousse au Chocolat
Panna Cotta with Blackberries
Sweet Potato Flan



Finally if you are looking for ideas to decorate your home and tree this Christmas I have just posted a fantastic and hopefully helpful article on The Daily Tiffin. It takes you through the trends of Christmas decorations and gives you a few ideas for table decorations too. You'll also find more details about my own centerpiece for my Christmas dinner table this year. Check out It's in the decoration.

The centerpiece is being sent off as my Centerpiece of the Month to Janelle and Sandi.

If you are looking for more great ideas please do have a peak at my Home & Design section.

In the meantime I wish you happy decorating, cooking and gift wrapping.

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Technorati Tags: mousse, coconut, mango, dessert, pudding, SHF, sweet, Christmas, tropical, food, recipe, photography, nikon d70s

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2007 Meeta Albrecht unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Home: An Apple In My Bouquet...

...keeps my blues away!

I am keeping with the theme of using food for my bouquets. If you have been following my monthly Home & Design series you will know that I have been literally playing with food for my centerpieces.

My aim was basically to integrate fruit, berries and vegetables offered by Autumn, trying to make the arrangements inexpensive by using what I found on our walks and from our our garden. The results were quite eye-catching.

This month I wanted to share with you the arrangements I will be using for my Thanksgiving table on Thursday. It's so simple to create yourself with a stunning effect.

In my local garden center I found some gorgeous mini apples. They are real apples just reared to grow in miniature form. The first time I used them was in this bouquet. My neighbor had generously given me a few. I did not want to ask for more so I made my way to the garden center and was delighted to find perfect, rosy, red, mini apples.

My idea is to keep the arrangements for my Thanksgiving table small. I have a pretty huge table and thought making 3 or 4 of these, set out across the entire length of the table, would have a nicer effect than making just one big arrangement, which in the end kind of gets in the way. I will be scattering chestnuts and acorns and then draping a few wines of ivy leaves to complete my look.

The idea for the apple arrangement actually came to me at the garden center. At first I wanted to use a few flowers too but when I saw the large basket filled with these apples I thought they simply have to be the mega stars for this centerpiece. I bought 4 small terracotta pots that had been glazed and painted, moss and a small basket full of the apples. The rest is easy.



You'll need:

Mini apples - look in your garden center for these. I used approx. 20 mini apples for one arrangement.
Planting pot - 8-10 cm diameter
Floral foam - cut to fit into the pot
Toothpicks
Natural Moss

How to:

Tightly fit the floral foam into the pot. Prick each apple with the toothpick - do this at the bottom of the apple - and drive it halfway through the core. Make sure the apple sits firmly on the toothpick.

Now stick all the apples into the foam arranging it in a circular form. Finally fill out all the spaces in between with the moss.

This arrangement last for 5-7 days. After that the apples start getting moldy.

If you cannot find mini apples other alternatives would be kumquats or nuts like chestnuts.

I love the fact that these arrangements are not huge or too high. When I am sitting down at a table I want to look at the people sitting across me and not have to peer through jungle like arrangements to get a glimpse of the expressions on the faces of my guests. Another thing I am not too fond of are far too opulent arrangements. They simply take up far too much space on the table and one is forever fighting to get the fern out of the gravy.

If you would like more ideas for your dinner table this Thanksgiving browse through my Home & Design section.

I hope I was able to give you one or two nice ideas for your own Thanksgiving table. Happy decorating!

I'd like to send this over as my Centerpiece of the Month to Janelle and Sandi.

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Technorati Tags: autumn, fall, thanksgiving, bouquet, flower, apples, fruit, arrangement, home, decoration, floral, COTM, photography, nikon d70s

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2007 Meeta Albrecht unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Home: Pumpkin Bouquet

It lies on hand that October is all about pumpkins. I am sure many of you have pumpkins on your minds too. Thinking about different faces or designs your Jack o' Lanterns might have this Halloween. This is certainly a fun month in the year.

I wanted to welcome October elegantly though. Although I have a few ideas of what scary faces my pumpkins will put on at the end of the month, I was keen on doing something a little different with the mini pumpkins my mother-in-law gave me.

As she grows these in her garden I got a generous load of them. Initially they were placed in and around the house - arranged in different ways. All rather boring I kept thinking.

Finally my brain experienced the light bulb effect and I was excited to quickly realize my ideas. So, Soeren and I went for one of our walks in the woods and collected chestnuts, acorns and acorn leaves, berries, hibiscus, flowers and anything else we thought might look good in the arrangement.

I went to the florist on the way home and bought a nice orange/peach colored rose and some floral foam.



We got home and spent a good hour designing our centerpiece of the month. It was quite easy once everything was sorted out.

You'll need:
Colored leaves, chestnuts, acorns, berries, physallis, flowers - basically anything a long walk in the woods will give you.
A rose - the color of the rose should match the Fall colors of the bouquet
Floral foam
Wired wood picks
Greening pins
Floral glue
A small plate or tea saucer
Knife
Scissors



How to:
Simply cut the top of the pumpkin and remove the flesh and seeds. As mini pumpkins are not edible throw this away. Cut a small piece of the floral foam so that it fits snugly into the pumpkin. Using the wood picks, greening pins and glue arrange your flowers, leaves, nuts and berries into the foam to give a nice voluptuous arrangement.

On the plate or tea saucer, fix a few colored leaves using the floral glue. Make sure the leaves cover the plate nicely. Place the pumpkin bouquet in the middle of the plate. Finally glue a few nuts onto the leaves and fill any gaps with green moss or leaves.

A day or so later a good friend of mine came over to visit us and she was so enamored by the creation that she requested me to make a few for her birthday party a few days later. I was delighted to and as she only needed three the arrangements were ready in no time.

This time I went for a peach colored rose and added a few green leaves from the roses to the arrangement. I sprayed the nuts with a bit of hairspray to give them a glossy shine. I also integrated the top of the pumpkin into the arrangement.



This month the lovely Sandi of Whistlestop Cafe is hosting Centerpiece of the Month and I would love to send her one of these little Pumpkin Bouquets to brighten her October.

More ideas for Autumn decoration:
Fall decoration around the home
Cut above the rest - carving ideas for Halloween pumpkins

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Technorati Tags: autumn, fall, bouquet, flower, arrangement, pumpkin, berries, design, home, decoration, flowers, floral, COTM, photography, nikon d 70s

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2007 Meeta Albrecht unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Home: Accepting Autumn

Autumn does have its beautiful aspects. Ever since I started taking photography a little more seriously I have really come to appreciate seasons under a totally different light. Colors are more vivid, things that would previously go unnoticed, stand out in all their beauty.

It's just so hard to accept it straight after summer - and so soon.


I decided to bring in the rich Autumn colors and the distinctive foliage, I personify Autumn with, into my living room in the form of a gorgeous looking bouquet. Shades of orange, red and yellow, highlighted with green, remind me that soon we will be able to view the spectacular changes in the scenery as the leaves and fields turn color. Rose hip, physallis, mini pumpkins and apples and ivy are all plants, berries and fruit I associate with Autumn.

I wanted to have all this in a nice little arrangement and after thinking about it for a while I realized I could collect all the items required for my bouquet in free nature. So one afternoon I wrapped Soeren and myself in warm sweaters and boots and we went for a walk around our neighborhood and the fields.




We borrowed rose hip, berries and physallis from a few neighbor's shrubs, collected ivy and other leaves from the street side bushes, plucked baby apples from the several trees growing on a field behind our house - the only thing I actually bought was the mini pumpkin.


Once I had all my items together I asked my darling florist neighbor for advice and help. Together we arranged the bouquet to fit my small circular vase - not too high and not to wide. Once finished it looked spectacular and I do have to admit I am now looking forward to Autumn with a bit more anticipation.

Creating your own Autumn bouquet is really easy as many of the things can be found either in our backyards, on the roads we travel to and from everyday, in forests or fields. So, the next time you are out and about all you need to do is take a small basket and collect anything you think you can use. Then follow the the advice from my neighbor.

• Make sure you have a variety of leaves, fall flowers and berries - for an elegant looking bouquet try keeping the colors in tone with each other.
• Measure the vase you would like to place the bouquet in and then make sure you cut the leaves and flowers according to the length of that vase.
• Remove extra leaves and foliage from the bottom of the stems - a few centimeters
• Place the main object - in my case it was the pumpkin - in the center of the arrangement. We fixed the pumpkin (the apples too) on a long wooden shashlik spear.
• Add bits of green at an angle to the object.
• Add the rest of your items to the arrangement until you get a nice round appearance





• Fill and gaps with berries, leaves or flowers.
• Use a rubber band to keep the stems together.
• Cut the stems at the required length.
• Cover the stems with a few layers of colored ribbon.
• You can use so many beautiful and interesting Fall colored flowers and fauna. Maple. nandina, pink or red oak and persimmon leaves are all perfect for a Fall arrangement and chrysanthemums, marigolds and asters are flowers that last a long time in your bouquet.
• Keep your bouquet in vase filled with warm water as this will help it last longer. Also change the water every two days so that the stems do not wilt and the water does not become murky

>

Looking at the bouquet I have to admit Autumn will have its great moments. I loved putting this bouquet together. It actually started with our walk - Soeren is full of energy and bubbling with ideas so a simple walk always turns out to be a great experience. Then the few hours I spent with my lovely neighbor I mentioned in this post were wonderful. I just love her and her sense of humor and although she is much older than I am I still feel like she understands me without me having to say much. The bouquet now reminds me of these moments.

Hope you have fun making your own!

This is my Centerpiece of the Month going over to Janelle.

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Technorati Tags: autumn, fall, bouquet, flower, arrangement, berries, pumpkin, design, home, COTM, decoration, Autumn Bouquet, photography, nikon d70s

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2007 Meeta Albrecht unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Home: Orange Flowers

It's been something I've wanted to do for a while. Share a bit of home design with you. I actually even started off last year with a few ideas but somehow, like so many things, the idea got lost in the daily routine.

Then the lovely Janelle of Talk of Tomatoes created a great event called Centerpiece of The Month and I have been wanting to take part in it for absolutely forever. The perfect kick to get on with my home design session here on the blog.


So, for my first entry to this event I present to you a bouquet in orange. The flowers are entirely courtesy of my neighbor. She lives a few houses down the road and has the most gorgeous garden one has ever set their eyes on. She's 55 and has a small flower shop - how convenient eh?

Well whenever Soeren and I are over to visit I am never allowed to leave without a bouquet of flowers cut from her garden.



Today we put together a dream in orange. As I was wearing an orange blouse and feeling high spirited she suggested I take this lovely summer color home with me. She put together roses, gerberas and berries. Then she gave me the bunch and I tied it up into a bouquet.

At home I placed it in a rectangular glass vase. Looks lovely doesn't it!



More Ideas:
Elegant Bouquet

Finally I also got around to taking a picture of that lovely apron I won for these blondies. Thanks once again to Myriam!



My browniebabe entry this month are these rich chocolate mocca brownies. Enjoy them!

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All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2007 Meeta Albrecht unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

Welcome To My Kitchen!

So where does all the cooking take place?

Don't you ever wonder what the kitchen, or should I call it the lab, looks like where all the incredible looking recipes are concocted? The birth place of wild, crazy and completely delicious recipes.

Well Ilva had a great idea! Show us your kitchen. A brilliant idea I thought and decided to squeeze in this post.


It was my mother whom I remember always saying,

"Why in heavens name do they call the kitchen a kitchen and not the living room!"

After all these years I truly understand what she means. The kitchen is the main "living" room in our home too.

The picture above shows you the kitchen looking into the dining room, which leads into the living room. From the main entrance to the house there is a side door leading into the kitchen, making it easier to bring in the groceries and take out the trash!


This one is also taken from the same place, but looking directly at the kitchen. I have a ceramic stove top where I prepare all our meals. If you are wondering "Well she does not have too many cookbooks," let me take away any misconceptions! I decided to sort a few (OK! many) of them yesterday and bring those that I do not use often upstairs. I have a few more on the shelves of our living room too. I recently bought a pretty cool wire frame where I hang a few of the pictures I have taken this past year.


This one shows you a little more of the dining and living area. Yes, that is our Christmas tree in the back. The living room has four huge glass doors, which opens to a small porch and yard.



From the opposite angle you see the rest of the kitchen. As I do the dishes I can keep tabs on what my neighbors are up to LOL! The little wine shelf at the bottom stacks up some of our favorite wines.

Hope you all enjoyed this little tour of my kitchen. Why don't you show us yours?

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Around the Home: Fall Decoration

So, how many of you have planned your Thanksgiving dinner down to a tee? I am sure many of you have. I am sure many also have already their shopping list ready and yes, I also am sure a few have already filled up your pantries with the things you will be needing on Thursday.

Well done! Errr - but maybe you might have forgotten one thing. Do you have any ideas about your decoration for Thanksgiving? How are you going to spruce up the house and your dinner table? Have you thought of designing a menu?

Although in Germany Thanksgiving is not celebrated, it has been a part of my childhood. It is important to me that I give the values of Thanksgiving to Soeren. Furthermore, sitting together with family and beloved friends in a warm and cosy atmosphere means so much to me. It has now become tradition at our home and every year our friends look forward to the event with great pleasure.

Every year I take two days off (it is a normal working week in Germany) and enjoy preparing the feast and festivities. It's such a fantastic feeling when the entire house is filled with aromas of baked apples, stuffing and spices. Once the basics are ready I start with decorating the place.

My favorite part!



I thought I would share a few of my ideas with you. Stop worrying! I have used simple and easy to make pieces, which can be created within a few hours.

A few years ago I bought a bundle of long twigs tied in thickly braided straw from Ikea. Maybe you've seen it too. This is my main attraction for every season and festivity. Whatever the occasion I decorate "Hans" (as I call it, because it had an Ikea name that was unpronounceable!) accordingly. In Fall it looks just gorgeous with a garland of lovely orange colored maple leaves and fairy lights.

Using a few simple things I have created a nice piece for the couch table. At the Farmer's Market I bought a few small pumpkins, a couple of corn cobs, physallis and a few fake leaves. Soeren and I used one of our daily walks to collect chestnuts, acorns and large maple leaves. We dried the leaves between a few books. Once I had all my "ingredients" I used a lovely square golden colored dish and arranged a few of the decoration pieces on it.




A few of the pumpkins I cut and took out the insides. Placing a small candle in it makes the entire set up look simply amazing.

For the dinner table I have a great centerpiece, a part of which you see above, planned. On a round silver tray I placed some dried moss and arranged with chestnuts, leaves, acorns and physallis. Using the heads of fresh flowers I arranged these on the tray as well. In the center of the tray I placed one of the pumpkin candle stands. This tray will be placed in the middle of the table. Using a garland of leaves, I will place it across the length of my table. Arranged with a few slices of cut up pumpkins and some whole mini pumpkins will certainly give it a natural touch. For fresh flowers I will be cutting the heads of sunflowers and arrange these between the table decoration. I plan to drape a small garland of fairy lights between the entire arrangement. Believe me it'll be an eye-catcher!

I will be using some of those large maple leaves we collected and dried as name tags for each of my guests. Using thin golden twine I will tie the leaf to a small card with the names printed on it. I hope it will give it a nice touch.




For the menu I have used one of my fall pictures, reduced the opacity and chose a nice font. I printed two menus out on some cream colored card and plan to place this on each side of the long table.

I hope maybe you can use one or two ideas to decorate your house. Whatever you choose, I hope you have a warm, cosy and happy Thanksgiving.

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Around the Home: A Cut Above The Rest

It's Halloween on Tuesday! Have you all gone out and gotten your pumpkins yet? Better go and get that done, then come back and read on. I've got a few cool ideas for a different type of face for ole Jack this year.

For those unfamiliar with the Halloween history and those thinking "Who is Jack?", allow me to explain.

This is not something that originated in the USA as some might think. As a matter of fact, Halloween originated among the Celts in Ireland and in Northern France as the Pagan Celtic harvest festival, Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1, the day marking the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. The general belief was, on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On October 31 they celebrated Samhain, believed to be the night when the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. The Celts thought that the presence of these spirits made it easier for the Druids and their priests to make predictions about the future. These people were entirely dependent on the volatile natural world and such prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter. During the Samhain festival, the Celts wore costumes and told each other's fortunes.

In the 19th Century the Irish immigrants to North America brought this tradition with them. In the 20th and the 21st century this festival is celebrated all over the world as a part of American pop culture.

Jack is the pumpkin carved for Halloween. Full name Jack O'Lantern. Irish legend tells us the story of a lazy but clever farmer called Jack. He tricks the Devil and refused to free him until the Devil agrees never to let jack into Hell when he dies. When Jack really died the Devil kept his promise and refused to let him into Hell. So, Jack carved out one of his pumpkins, placed a candle in it and wandered the Earth for a resting place. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern". The term jack-o'-lantern actually means a night watchman or a man with a lantern.

Before the pumpkin became the trademark for Halloween it was associated with the harvest season in North America.

Right - close those History books and let's get to the fun part.

Get fresh pumpkins if possible. Straight off the vine are best, leaving a few inches of vine on the stem. After carving, your pumpkin will last 2-5 days before they start to shrivel.

Of course the usual face for Jack is a tradition, but how about trying out a few other ideas. Here are mine.

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Flower Power




You'll need:
A pumpkin - I used a smaller one.
An apple corer
A sharp knife
A spoon or an ice cream spoon
A bowl
Newspapers
Hairspray
Candle

How To:
Spread the newspapers across the table. Using the sharp knife, cut the top off of the pumpkin. Scoop out the insides into the bowl. Save the flesh and make a soup out of it. With the apple corer poke holes into the pumpkin, making a nice design. I tried to go for a little flower like pattern. Spray the insides with hairspray. This seals the pumpkin and it will keep a day or two longer.

I placed this on the window sill of my kitchen at first I used a small candle but then I had another idea. I had a small set of fairy lights (string of lights that you put on a Christmas tree) and placed those inside the pumpkin. A few of the bulbs, I stuck out of the holes. That looked amazing.

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The Boo Pumpkin



You'll need:
A large pumpkin
A sharp knife
A spoon or an ice cream spoon
A marker
Toothpicks
A bowl
Newspapers
Hairspray
Candle

How To:
Spread the newspapers across the table. Using a sharp knife, cut the top of the pumpkin. Keep the design for the top simple. Scoop out the insides into the bowl keeping a 2 cm thick edge on the pumpkin. With the marker write the word "BOO" (or any other word). For beginners keep the letters as "squarish" as possible as it is easier to cut out. The inside of the letters - "B" "O" - can be fixed by inserting a toothpick on both sides and fixing it to the pumpkin. Spray a generous amount of hairspray to make the pumpkin last a few more days. Place a candle inside and "BOO" away everyone that comes over!!

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If you've got your pumpkins carved out, leave a link to your photos in the comments of the box. It'll give us all more ideas for designs.

Check out Asha's great Spooktacular Halloween.

Happy Trick and Treating folks. Hope you have a great Halloween wherever you are.

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Home & Decoration: Elegant Bouquet Decoration

I spend a lot of time in my kitchen. As a matter of fact I would say it is really my favorite place in the entire house. My mum would often say "Why is the living room called living room? The Kitchen should be called the "living" room!" I used to think "Huh? Now what kind of statement is that?" But now, I completely understand where she was coming from.

There is really no place like the kitchen where all your family and friends spend so much time. That is why I love this house we are living in. The kitchen is not shunned away and out of sight in a separate room but is integrated into the whole lower floor of our house. It opens up to the dining room and the living room, which has huge glass patio doors to the back yard. When I am cooking or experimenting, I can take part in Soeren's activities where ever he is. Whether he is playing in the sandbox in the back yard or sitting at the table coloring, I am right there. When we have guests, it is the finest thing. I am not separated and doomed away to cook and prepare the meal on my own. I am able to laugh and joke with them and I have noticed that they are all the more animated to help out. Which is always a huge plus when you have things like onions to cut - LOL!

I like having a relaxing atmosphere when I entertain. So, if you ever come over you will find scented candles not only in the "living" room but also in the guest bathroom and unperfumed ones in the kitchen. Dimmed lights and soft music also play a part in giving the evening the right mood. I believe that when my friends come over they should be able to relax. The joke among our friends is the fact that we have special comfy house shoes for our guests. When they come over they can slip into these and feel right at home. I do notice how they leave behind their worries and hectic day when they walk in. When they tell me how special the evening was, I am always pleased and take that as a special compliment.

Another important factor is the decoration that accompanies the evening. Maybe it has to do with the fact of being brought up in some of the finest hotels in the world and the Hotel Management background, but I just do not feel right when certain accessories are missing. Depending on the theme or meal you are preparing, choosing this can be easy.

I remember a Thai evening we had a little while ago. Tom unhinged a long door and we covered it in black crepe paper. With red paint we copied a few Chinese letters from my Asian cookbook. On two other longer crepe paper rolls we also did the same and hung these in front of the patio windows. I filled up a large flat bowl with water and placed a lotus bud and a few floating candles as a centerpiece for the dinner table, which was the door in crepe paper! We laid out rugs and cushions and placed the door/table construction on a few wooden blocks. Everyone sat on the floor and enjoyed the evening so much. The prep time was just about 2 hours and it was inexpensive to say the least. But the impression: that was long lasting!



That is what I wanted to share with you in this post. Make a huge impact and leave a long lasting impression on your guests by adding a bit of style and pizzaz to your dinner party. It's great when they rave about the food, but it's flattering to the soul when they still talk about the atmosphere months after that evening. When my friend says "Meeta, I had such a rotten day at work, but that evening at your place I just forgot about everything. I just did not want to leave." I feel my heart go warm and I just can't help grinning.

Besides placing candles and other add-ons, the dinner table is also an important place to bring that feeling of warmth. I don't mean just with the food you'll be eating. Do you often just place the dishes on the table?

Where are the candles?
Where is the flower arrangement?
Where are the nifty little table accessories?

Having flowers and candles on the dinner table is a must. It just looks so bare without these beautiful feasts for the eyes. Please, now do not run off to the nearest Florist and order the next most expensive table arrangement. It does not have to be expensive at all. A simple yet elegant arrangement can consist of two roses and one stem of lilies. Like I used here.

For this dinner I had invited a couple who had recently come back from their honeymoon. I wanted them to extend that romantic feeling before they got caught up in the day-to-day routine of a normal relationship. I went for something soft and elegant.

Photo on Explore: September 10, 2006. View my entire Explore Photostream.

I bought two pink roses, a long stem of lilies, a bit of pink colored "extra" and two green leaves from our local flower market. Cost: EURO 8!

At home I got out one of my very tall and large vases (top picture) and filled it with a bit of water. I snipped the roses to the length I required and placed them in the vase. Flowers do not always have to hang out of the vase. I find that they look far more elegant when they are behind a bit of glass. By choosing a larger vase you can place the arrangement quite comfortably inside. I used my "extra" as another eyecatcher and placeholder. This was my centerpiece.

I used two smaller circular vases I had, on each side of the centerpiece. For each I used a green leaf and cut a lily bud (that were already open) from the stem. I placed these in the vases (middle and last picture). The lily stem I placed individually in another balloon type vase for the couch table.

With these few simple flower arrangements I was able to liven up the entire table decoration and, more important, bring that very special romantic mood over to my guests.

The neatest side effect was the romantic mood kind of spilled over to Tom and me too!!

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