Thursday, December 30, 2010

Recipes:     Lamb  /  Oysters   /   Brown Butter Cakes

"On New Year's Day, no matter how humbler her circumstances, the Creole housewife will have freshly blooming roses on her table. In our delightful climate, wehre flowers bloom the year round, and where, in winter especially, roses are in their zenith of glory, there are few homes, indeed, in which a patch of ground is not set aside for the cultifation of flowers; while in the lovely open gardens in the "Garden District of New Orleans" roses in exquisite bloom overrun the trellises and arbors and smile upon you from the fancifully laid-out garden beds. It is wonderful how a bit of green, with a few roses nestling between, will brighten up the homeliest table. With the linen spotless, the crystal shining, a few loose clusters of rosebuds, typical of the budding year, blooming on the mantels and in low, glass bowls in the center, a charm is imprted to the feast, the graceful idea of beginning anew suggested, and a lingering fragrance thrown over memory's page that will remain as an incentive to nobler effort for many a day."
---The Picayune's Creole Cook Book, facsimile 2nd edition, 1901 [Dover Publications:New York] 1971 (p. 432)
Creole menus, New Orleans, 1901
A New Year's Menu
Breakfast
Oranges
Oatmeal, Cream
Radishes. Cress. Olives
Broiled Trout, Sauce a la Tartare.
Potatoes a la Duchesse.
Creamed Chicken. Omelette aux Confitures.
Salade a la Creole.
Batter Cakes. Louisiana Syrup. Fresh Butter.
Cafe au Lait.
Dinner.
Oysters on the half Shell.
Spanish Olives. Celery. Pickles.
Salted Almonds.
Green Turtle Soup, Croutons.
Broiled Spanish Mackerel, Sauce a la Matire d'Hotel.
Julienne Potatoes.
Lamb Cutlets Breaded, Sauce Soubise.
Green Peas.
Sweetbreads a la Creole.
Ponche a la Romaine.
Roast Turkey, Cranberry Sauce.
Baked Yams. Cauliflower au Grating.
Asparagus a la Matre d'Hotel.
Lettuce, Salad Dressing.
Broiled Snipe on Toast.
Pouding a la Reine, Wine Sauce. Mince Pie.
Cocoanut Custard Pie.
Biscuit Glace. Petits Fours. Fruits. Nuts.
Raisins.
Cheese. Toasted Crackers.
Supper
Cold Turkey, Currant Jelly.
Celery Salad.
French Rolls. Butter. Assorted Cakes.
Fruit. Nuts.
Tea.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Bridal Details

Gardenia Austin's inspiration
Gardenia Austin's inspiration
I have only a quick post today as I have a busy, busy day full of work to do! However, I had to take a moment to post these images from Brookman Harris. Delicious color palette, charming chalk-like drawings, luxurious gowns, and of course....fabulous clutches. A gal couldn't ask for more!

xo, Jolie

Thursday, November 11, 2010

                       1. soaps 2. stationary 3. living room
The Dachshund races are an important event in Buda, Texas and anyone who owns a dachshund knows how fabulous these dogs really are. Celebrate the races with beers, gourmet pigs in a blanket, and long dogs of course! Elegant and sleek, dachshunds often have beautiful color palettes; dark rust, golden blond, and velvety black. This is a party fit for gold accents, pretty china, and playful flowers.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Guest table arrangement for an end of summer wedding
photo credit: Erica Kuschel

Friday, October 22, 2010

Guest table arrangement for the Meazell Wedding
photo credit: Erica Kuschel

Sunday, October 17, 2010

A head table  arrangement for the Meazell Wedding
photo credit: Erica Kuschel 

Friday, October 15, 2010

Gardenia Austin, florist, flowers, Jolie Goodnight, Erica Kuschel, photographer, Piratepenpen
A head table  arrangement for the Meazell Wedding
photo credit: Erica Kuschel 

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Gardenia Austin, Austin, florist, flowers, Jolie Goodnight, Erica Kuschel, photography, Piratepenpen
An  arrangement for the Meazell Wedding
photo credit: Erica Kuschel 

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A Headtable Arrangement for the Meazell Wedding
photo credit: Erica Kuschel 

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Photoshoot with Erica Kuschel

Erica of overyonderlust.com and piratepenpen.wordpress.com/ did an astounding job on the flower photo shoot. I am so excited to see how beautifully she captured my arrangements!




Thursday, July 8, 2010

Texas Lavender Festival


Believe it or not Texas has some wonderful lavender fields. My mother, Godmother, sister-in-law and I set out for the Texas lavender festival in Blanco, Texas. We visited three different farms either with their own charming atmosphere as well as lavender products. We indulged in lavender lotions, pillow sprays, linen wash, essential oils, hand soaps, and sachets. I savored lavender margaritas, lavender truffles, lavender lemonade, chipotle-lavender chicken tacos, and lemon-lavender cookies. As lovely as these products are they cannot compare to the simple act of cutting the lavender myself by the handful. Amongst the bees, I found a quiet corner of the lavender field, crouched down with my clippers, and slowly cut my carefully selected stems of lavender. Forget meditating, this worked wonders. Amidst the hum of bumble bees and the relaxing smell of purple flowers, I was all at once careful and yet the most wonderful kind of thoughtless so to speak. With each handful of lavender I felt a sense of accomplishment, relaxation, and satisfaction. The lavender now, after hanging to dry, rests in a crystal bowl in my kitchen.