H is for Home Harbinger

Tuesday Huesday: Kirsty Elson

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:13:15 +0000

We’ve admired the work of Kirsty Elson for a few years now. She makes houses, boats and other figures from driftwood that she and her young family collect along the beach near her Cornish home. She finds ingenious new uses for discarded materials such as old door hinges as roofs, fishing floats for aircraft bodies and saw blades for crocodile teeth – she has a fantastic imagination!

Kirsty’s work is available to buy on madebyhandonline and her own webshop.

Vintage sewing boxes

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:02:29 +0000

We bought this gorgeous little sewing/work box last week.

We often come across this type of concertina box at markets & auctions, but this one had that little bit of extra quality. It dates from the 1950s and has a lovely, rich colour. It’s cute & compact, but there are lots of compartments for small tools, threads & pins. It has little splayed feet and there’s a nicely turned wooden handle and knobs to top & sides. A real sweetie!!

We must have had dozens of vintage sewing boxes in stock over the years and this one has to be one of our favourites. Here’s a little montage of some of the others.

Cakes & Bakes: Asparagus & Gruyère Tart

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:37:07 +0000

We love asparagus. It’s only around for a few weeks in late spring – the tinned stuff is awful – hence the relatively high price of the fresh spears. I saw a recipe on the Chez Foti blog for an asparagus & gruyère tart and thought it looked so delicious that I’d have to give it a try.

I think it turned out really well. We had it hot, straight out of the oven with some baby Jersey Royals and again the day after cold, with a bit of salad on the side. Here’s the recipe…

Cakes & Bakes: Asparagus & Gruyère Tart

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4-6 portions

Ingredients

For the pastry
130g plain flour, plus a little extra for rolling
65g butter, straight from the fridge, cut into small blocks, plus a little extra for greasing
pinch salt & pepper
1 egg yolk & a little cold water
For the tart filling
450g bunch asparagus, washed
3 free range eggs
200ml half fat crème fraîche
1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard _(I used wholegrain mustard and it tasted fantastic!)_
100g of Gruyère, grated
salt & pepper
1tbs finely grated fresh Parmesan

Instructions

Start by making your pastry. It's easiest & quickest in a food processor, but can be made by hand too. If using a processor blitz the flour, salt, pepper and butter together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and blitz again. With the processor still on, add a little very cold water and continue to add until the mixture starts to come together in one piece. Remove from the processor, shape together, wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before using
Alternatively, if you’re making by hand place the flour, salt, pepper and butter in a large bowl. Rub the fat into the flour with your finger tips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the egg yolk and a little very cold water with your hands. Continue to add water until the mixture comes together in one piece. Shape together, wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/Gas Mark 6
Whilst the pastry’s resting, make your filling. Snap off the tougher ends of the asparagus and discard, slice the remaining ends into 1-2cm slices, retaining spheres approximately half the width of your tart or quiche case. Steam over boiling water for 3-5 minutes until almost tender. Immerse in cold water, drain and set aside
Lightly beat the eggs then stir in the crème fraîche, Dijon mustard, grated Gruyère, and pinches of salt black pepper. Set aside
Lightly grease your chosen flan case with butter
The pastry should now be rested. Roll out on a floured surface into a round slightly bigger than your case. Transfer to the case. Hang any excess of pastry over the sides. Prick the base all over with a fork. Place a piece of greaseproof paper over and fill with baking beans to weight down the pastry. Bake for 20 minutes in the hot oven, remove the beans and bake for a further 5 minutes While still hot, trim the pastry around the top of the tart case to make a neat edge
Place the small slices of asparagus in the bottom of the tart case. Pile on the crème fraîche filling Carefully arrange the asparagus spheres in a pretty ‘sunshine’ design on the top. Sprinkle over the Parmesan
Bake for 30-35 minutes until firm to touch and golden brown on top

Notes

Equipment: 19-25cm width quiche/tart case

Baking beans

http://hisforhomeblog.com/cakes-bakes/cakes-bakes-asparagus-gruyere-tart/

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Wednesday Wish: Mrs White’s New Home Hamper

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:20:15 +0000

Summer is the time when people start perusing RightMove and thinking about putting their house on the market. If you know anyone that’s moving home Mrs White’s New Home Hamper would make a great house-warming present. According to the blurb, the cleaning products are “all completely natural and look back to a time which pre-dates the mass commercial use of harsh, largely unnecessary, chemicals in everyday items”.

The hamper is from Roullier White and contains:

It makes me almost want to go through the stress & upset associated with moving… almost!

Tuesday Huesday: Bonnie & Buttermilk

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:51:08 +0000

We’ve featured Bonnie & Buttermilk on our blog a couple of years ago raving about their funky women’s clothes. But now we’ve discovered that they now do a selection of bright & cheery homewares as well. This cushion is one of their collection which currently includes make up bags, shoppers and laptop bags.

Another Fab-ulous time!

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:05:18 +0000

We’ve got another 7-day vintage sale coming up on Fab starting this evening – so we’re in for a really exciting and really busy week!

We’ve got about 70, one off items up for sale on a first come, first served basis. From our first Fab experience, we can tell you that the vast majority of things go on day one so you’ve got to get in there fast – the sale starts at 6pm BST / 7pm CET!

Charity Vintage: Vintage Playmobil set

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 12:41:03 +0000

(ends 13 Jun, 2013 16:14:28 BST)

When I saw these little vintage Playmobil figures I was immediately whisked back to being five years old. I would have been thrilled to wake up on Christmas morning and to have unwrapped this hoard! I only had a couple of figures a nurse, a construction worker, a little car I think – but I spent HOURS making up little stories and scenarios. Imagine how long this lot would keep you occupied for! The set is being sold in aid of Action 21.

Who’s for a game of Cowboys & Indians… and, er Crusaders?

*Action 21 promotes sustainable living to people in Warwickshire through positive practical action. Our activities centre on re-use, food, transport, energy and education and we are supported by a thriving volunteer programme.

Watch this Space!

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:43:42 +0000

You’ll find old watch faces & movements at almost every second hand market you visit – often in a box of mixed bits & pieces. They usually cost just a few pence and a large collection is easily accumulated.

There are all kinds of ways to display them. We think they look great sitting in a bowl or glass – or perhaps arranged in an old printers tray.

Take a peek in that 10p box next time you’re having a rummage!

Cakes & Bakes: Lemon & polenta berry squares

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:58:02 +0000

This week I attempted a cake (or more rightly, a bake) that I’d not done before – lemon & polenta berry squares.

It’s taken from 1001 Cupcakes, Cookies & Other Tempting Treats. It turned out really well, the berries kept it lovely and moist and the polenta gave it a bit of a crunch.

Here’s the recipe:

Lemon & polenta berry squares

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Yield: Makes 9 squares

Ingredients

175g/6oz butter, plus extra for greasing
175g/6oz caster sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
100g/3½oz ground almonds
150g/5½oz polenta
2 tsp baking powder
finely grated rind of 1 lemon
2 tbsp lemon juice
300g/10½oz frozen small berry fruits such as cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrents and redcurrents (I used a mixture of bluberries and strawberries sliced in half)
icing sugar, to decorate

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 23cm/9inch shallow square cake tin and line base with baking paper
Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light & fluffy, then gradually beat the eggs into the mixture until smooth
Add the ground almonds, polenta, baking powder, lemon rind and juice and stir together until well mixed. Stir in the fruit of your choice
Spoon the mixture into the tin and spread out evenly
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
Sift icing sugar lightly over to decorate and cut into squares

http://hisforhomeblog.com/cakes-bakes/cakes-bakes-lemon-polenta-berry-squares/

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Wednesday Wish: Luxe garden hose

Adelle & Justin, the H is for Home folks! — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:04:36 +0000

Golddigger garden hose: 110€, Garden Glory

With all the recent sunny days, we’ve been spending a lot of time pottering in the garden – and according to the Met Office – the rain-free days are set to continue! We’ve already had to start the daily watering of some of our thirstier potted plants. It would be such a pleasurable experience doing it with this golden garden hose! Garden Glory is a Swedish company and doesn’t ship abroad but you can get one from Barbed, their UK distributor.

Fingers crossed there won’t be a hosepipe ban this year!