Meeting Susan Branch

Good afternoon my dears, I am back from a daytrip to Asheville, North Carolina to see author Susan Branch.

How I heard about Susan Branch

One Christmas, I was reading a bloggers home tour, and she mentioned that she puts out her Susan Branch Christmas book on her coffee table every year. So, I found Susan's website and a laughed, and cried as I read her posts one-by-one. That Christmas I bought a 2013 calendar, and the rest is history.

Over time, I have bought the Susan Branch book collection, dating back to her first book in 1986 (the year I was born). I've also read her stories (The Fairytale Girl, Martha's Vineyard Isle of Dreams, A Fine Romance), about her life.

So, on Monday my hubby drove me to Asheville, NC for a dreamy day. We first had lunch at the French Bistro at Biltmore. I had the crispy chicken which is THE best way to eat chicken anyways.

Afterwards, we strolled through Biltmore's gardens. We visit the house several times a year, mostly for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and it's a lot cooler indoors at those times as the house isn't air-conditioned. However, we had the most SPECTACULAR views. This is the peak of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The rose gardens were fragrant and blooming. We had a little rain, which was welcomed after very little rain in a few weeks.

- The conservatory -

We then headed into downtown Asheville. If you've never been before, I'd say it is a lot like a hippy mountain town. We shopped at April Cornell's before heading to Malaprop's Bookstore to hear Susan Branch speak, and sign my books.

Until next time darlings,

Kiki Nakita

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Thoughts of Home on Thursday #21
Share Your Cup #204

Home Sweet Home Is Homemade

Good afternoon darlings, I cannot believe how fast the days, the weeks, and the months have gone by so far this year. It is only days away from May - my birthday month. Today, I thought I'd write about some things that have happened lately...

Two weeks ago, I received my copy of Susan Branch's book Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams. I spent one afternoon at my local coffee shop reading. I was there for several hours until I noticed I should get home. I finished it that weekend. She is such an encourager, and although I'm, 29, and she's 69, I feel like we have a lot in common.

Oh my goodness, guess what? Susan Branch is going on a book tour this summer, and one of her stops is in Asheville, North Carolina. I cannot wait, obviously.

In other news, I got a bee in my bonnet one weekend and decided to re-decorate our powder bathroom. When we moved in two years ago, we installed a new toilet (with flat sides, as I abhor pipes) a new vanity, and flooring. I painted the walls, the trim, and ceiling.

I shopped for décor items from around our house. Before, I had a beach sign, and two seagulls. I replaced it with a antique gold mirror and my golden birds. My mother's maiden name is Bird, so I collect pairs of them and have them in several places around our home.

While we're talking about keeping home, I made a pecan cake, with light vanilla frosting and chopped walnuts. It turned out delicious.

I like the moisture of adding icing, but don't cover it excessively, as it becomes far too sweet. I've also considered making a glaze, any ideas?

This week, I also watercolored my childhood home, set in an idyllic village, in the heart of England.

I'm writing my childhood memoir, which will be a collection of my memories, with many watercolors, and photos from the 1980's and 1990's. I've never written a book before, but realize how important it is for family history and the least I can do is try.

Lastly, I wanted to share that we recently went to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Have you seen it? We enjoy watching wholesome family movies - especially these days. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but I may have teared up when the daughter went to her prom. Aww.

Once I get over a case of spring fever, I'll post about our Queens Tea at Ballantyne, where we celebrated Her Majesty's 90th birthday.

Have a blessed week,

Kiki Nakita

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Bloglovin'

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The Homemaking Party

Grace at Home #200

Thoughts of Home On Thursday #12

Share Your Cup #195

Five on Friday #

Irish Coffee Recipe By Susan Branch

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

I found a Susan Branch recipe for Irish Coffee which looks delicious my dears.

I might have to stay indoors all day as I have nothing green to wear. Not sure if I'd stand out like a sore thumb in my pink or blue sweaters.

In other news did you hear...that Savannah Guthrie got married this weekend and announced she was having her first baby?
 

 

I'm so happy for her. At forty-two that she finally get's to start her own little family.

Some Of My Favorite Books

Some of my favorite books are about homes, families, memories and get-togethers. The author I most admire, that makes everyone want to be a homemaker and spend all day in the kitchen baking dainty cakes is the darling Susan Branch. I have several of her books, and have just finished her latest called A Fine Romance, Falling In Love With The English Countryside.

 

Maybe it just reminds me of my idyllic childhood growing up in the heart of England, in a charming village. Susan also has a blog which I really enjoy reading with a nice cup of tea. Handwritten books, like Susan's are a rare find. They make you feel like your reading a letter, and they feel more personal.

 

The most treasured books I have are lot of old family journals, with recipe clippings, and pictures of family get-togethers that were done by my late grandparents. Once you loose a lot of relatives like me, you learn how important keeping memories is. How To Keep Family Keepsakes is a wonderful book. After we pass away it's what keeps the stories and the memories of us passing along.

 



 

My husband and I also enjoy reading genealogy and history books together. We're reading about the beginning of time, The Story Of Christianity, How We Got The Bible and The Story of The Bible.

Our cover is a different version.

 

The reason being when we traced back my moms paternal grandfather's direct ancestors, we found that they lived in the town of Thorley, England and genealogy records show that their preacher was Francis Burley. For those who may not have heard of him, we discovered that he was one of the translators of the King James Bible.

For lighter reading, I also enjoy a good recipe book. My favorites are by Ina Garten, I could just move into her guest house, and be a taste tester. Her last book Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust is a good keepsake. I also DVR her TV show on the Food Network every day.

Some of my favorites of all-time:

The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin

 

American Farmhouses, Country Style and Design by Leah Rosch

 

Discovering Home with Laurie Smith, Find your personal style

 

Extraordinary Touches for an Ordinary Day, by Jo Packham

 

Not Without My Daughter, by Betty Mahmoody

 

The Business of Bliss, How to profit from doing what you love, by Victoria Magazine

 

The Pleasure of your Company, Entertaining in High Style, by Kimberly Schlegel

 

The Stress-Free Home, Beautiful Interiors for serenity and harmonius living, by Jackie Craven

 

The Sweet Life, 101 Great ideas for living a happier, more balanced life by William Sinunu

 

A Fine Romance, Falling in Love with The English Countryside by Susan Branch

 

 

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner.

If you have suggestions you think I might like be sure to let me know.

Nana's Soup and Family History Evening

I'm really looking forward to next week, we'll be closing on our new home and I cannot wait to start decorating and making it homey.

 

Talking of homey, one of my favorite authors is Susan Branch. I've slowly been collecting her recipe books, and have tried out a lot of her recipes. This recipe, Indiana ham and sweet potato soup is the closest one I can find that is just like my Nana's which is a perfect served with freshly made bread rolls for a family history evening.

 

 

Despite the snow, and bewildering winter evenings staying at home has given me a lot of extra time to do more of my families history research. It is so important to gather what you already know from your loved ones before they pass, as I have learned.

 

Pinterest

 

My immediate family is a lot smaller now, besides my husband and his family, I have my precious mum and a younger sister. All my grandparents have passed, and my dad died last year at a young age of pancreatic cancer.

 

In our home, we have a new tradition of family history evening. Both my husband and I gather with any family who is here either in person, or simply on the phone to talk about our family history.

 

 

Pinterest

 

We talk about our ancestors and their brave or scandalous stories, and sometimes just about our research. But by far, one of the best ways to remember someone is to make one of the family recipes.

 

My Nana' was staunchly British, she could best be described akin to The Dowager Countess of Grantham from Downton Abbey. She upheld very high standards on society and our family, and as a matriarch she was always cooking and always made sure to make enough for everyone, nobody left hungry.

 

So, I can't think of a better way to spend a snow day, indoors, with ham and sweet potato soup reminiscing with family. 

 

I'm linking up with Grace at home #93
and Kelly's Korner

Southern Georgia & Susan Branch Recipes

Fall is in the air around most of the country, but in Southern Georgia the days are still sunny. We made the move from Florida to Georgia last week with my mom, who came to visit for a week. It has been lovely having family time and settling into our home for the month, a 1906 Queen Anne style home. It's charm urges me to do some baking, and to try out some of Susan Branch's recipes.

 

 

Here's a recipe for some biscuits, they would be delicious with a little peach jam preserve.
 

Or how about an old fashioned peach pie? Last week for a dessert I made peaches with a delectable side of vanilla ice-cream.
 

I'll write and tell you more about our first week in Georgia throughout this week, with pictures of the home we're staying in and a little local history, a Victorian tablescape and a picture tour of a past senator's home.

 

 

I'd love for y'all to stop by my "delicious" pins.

Until tomorrow, have a delicious day!

Fall Reading, Family Time & Apple Cake

Getting ready for the Fall season in Florida is different than I imagined. It's still so hot during the day, it's like a continued summer break. Last Fall, we had the opportunity to travel to New England. It was such a lovely time to visit, the trees were golden and the Cape had lot's of stores decorated with pumpkins and mums. It was picturesque.

 

Sometime over the past year or so I heard about Susan Branch, the watercolor artist and author on Martha's Vineyard. She has a quaint life, and has just finished her latest book 'A Fine Romance'. As a treat, I bought Susan's first book, Heart of The Home and it's just arrived, there's lot's of recipes I hope to try this Fall.



Here's a list of fun family things to do this Fall:

via

 

Here's a recipe, I'm going to be trying out this Fall.

Mom's Tupp Apple Cake via Tartelette

Notes: if you do not intend to make a gluten free cake, replace all the gluten free flours (rice, tapioca, sorghum) with 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour.
The cake bakes in two separate times: first for 10 minutes, the remove it from the oven to add the cream topping and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
I added cardamom just because it reminds me even more of my mom but you can skip that part or add cinnamon instead.

For the cake:
1/2 cup (80gr) sweet brown rice flour
1/4 cup (30gr) tapioca flour
1/2 cup (65gr) sorghum flour
1/2 cup (100gr) sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon (5gr) baking powder
3/4 cup (190ml) whole milk
1/3 cup (80ml) oil
1 egg
2 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (I like Granny Smith but any kind will do here)

For the topping:
5 1/2 tablespoons(80gr) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (100gr) sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Prepare the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray or butter the inside of a 9-inch round baking pan or several 3 to 4-inch baking pans if you want smaller cakes. Place them on a baking sheet and set aside.
In large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cardamom, salt and baking powder. Reserve. In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, oil and egg until just blended.
Slowly pour the liquids over the dry ingredients, whisking well to make sure that everything is well incorporated, about 40 to 50 strokes.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s) and arrange the apple slices on top in a circular pattern.

Prepare the topping:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and the vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. Reserve

Bake the cake(s) in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove the cake(s) from the oven and spread the creamy butter topping over the top(s). Bake an additional 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted near the center comes out clean.

 

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You can keep up with my Fall pins, and I'd love to hear your Fall traditions.