Baby's First Valentine's Day

Good morning my dears, 

How was your Valentine's Day? Was it different than in years past? Ours was. We traditionally celebrate Valentine's at The Ballantyne with an afternoon tea. However, this year with the pandemic, urging us to stay-at-home, and of course with an 8-month old baby, we decided to stay-at-home. That doesn't mean it has to be like every other ordinary day, it can be a special, memory making, time together as a family. 

For me, I like to plan ahead, and so I started my Valentine's Day tablescape shortly into the new year. That way, whenever Drew would take a nap, I could slowly add my chintz tea cups, loose leaf teas, miniature bud vases with stems of freshly cut pink roses, my Susan Branch books, fuzzy felt hearts, floral napkins, etc. until it felt like a sweetheart tea party could be served. 

My Susan Branch books, Sweets to the Sweet and Love. 

This Valentine's Day was special for another reason, as it was Drew's first. He joined us at the table in his high-chair in his darling red corduroy overall. We sipped on loose leaf teas from our travels to England, and ate strawberry jam sandwiches (which I attempted to cut into heart shapes), pink lemonade cupcakes, and sugar cookies which we frosted and decorated. It was a special day, one we'll remember forever ~ or until we loose our memory. 

- Family Home Movie - 

Wishing you and yours a Happy Valentine's Day, 

Kiki Nakita 

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

French Provincial Luncheon

Good afternoon my dears,

I've had a bit of a blogging funk break. Most likely because this year has been busy, its almost July, and I have so many memories I want to write down and record. How is it almost already July?

At times, I can be a tad OCD, and can get overwhelmed when there's just too much to do or catch up on. So I decided to skip past our porch tour and my 33rd birthday in St. Augustine, and start fresh with a French Provincial Luncheon which we recently hosted. 

- French Provincial Luncheon -

Our tablescape was simple. 

I acquired purple ribbon and faux lavender to create a napkin ring holder.

Forget-me-not salt and pepper shakers, from my 30th birthday in Newport, RI.

Our centerpiece was purple candles along with faux herbs - rosemary, mint, and sage.

For our starter we had French imported mini-baguettes. I wrapped them with paper doilies cut in half from the dollar store, twine, and rosemary.

For our main we had fricassee. I modified this recipe I found on Pinterest from Delish. I made it without the chicken, since our guests were vegetarian, and I also omitted the celery and used peas instead. Because who doesn't love green peas?

For our dessert we had chocolate pudding, with white chocolate shavings and raspberries. I used two library books I'm currently reading, My Life In France by Julia Child and Picnic in Provence by Elizabeth Bard as a conversational backdrop.

The whole luncheon was too lovely not to share. 

- Video -

Including a memorial tribute to my Grandad,  Michael Idris Bird, at the end. 



Thank you for stopping by. 

-Kiki Nakita-

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

Linked up to:
Between Naps On The Porch #562
Imparting Grace #343

Coastal North Carolina Thanksgiving Tablescape

Like many families, we've been getting ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Only this year is a little different, as we'll be celebrating on the North Carolina coast. Here's how I set our table this year, with lighthouses, birds and starfish while keeping some harvest accents with the basket of fresh apples and gold napkins.

 



I'll be in the kitchen if you need me.

 

Have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm linking up with Share Your Cup Thursday #83

and

Between Naps on The Porch 272nd Tablescape Thursday.

Gone With The Wind Book Club

Ladies, welcome to the dining room in the 1906 Queen Anne style home we're renting for the month. The room has a berry hue and is adorned with antique furnishings. The windows are majestic, and allow in so much natural light and a glimpse of the courtyard. What a lovely room to host a book club luncheon.  

 

 

The fireplace is the focal point of the room, and hosts a china cabinet to the left and a secret door to the right.

 

 

The owners of the home are collectors of Gone With The Wind memorabilia, it adorns several of the rooms, and is fascinating to peruse. Here are some books to talk about at the book club.

 

 

Scarlett's Green Dress commemerable plate.

 

 

The patina on the silver forks and serving spoons.
 



 

Scarlett and Rhett's Honeymoon commemerable plate.

 

 

 The Melanie and Ashley commemerable plate
 

 

 

The Strolling in Atlanta commemerable plate

 

 

The back wall overlooks a sideboard, which houses all the table linens and cloths.

 

 

The extensive doll collection and more plate memorabilia.

 

 

After reading, I plan to make some delectable raspberry ripple and basil cupcakes from Ren Behan.

 

Ingredients

 

3 eggs, large, free-range

150ml Plain, natural yogurt

175g Melted, Unsalted butter

175g vanilla sugar (or use caster sugar and the seeds of a vanilla pod/teaspoon vanilla extract)

180g self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

60g ground almonds

pinch salt

2 basil leaves (optional, finely chopped)

400g icing sugar

200g unsalted butter (at room temperature)

2 basil leaves (optional, finely chopped)

4 heaped tablespoons Raspberry Coulis (e.g Salisbury's Taste the Difference)

12 Basil (Small leaves to garnish.

 

Directions

    

Step 1

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and double-line a 12 hole muffin tray with cupcake cases.

Step 2

Mix the yogurt, eggs and melted (cooled) butter in a jug or bowl.

Step 3

Sift the vanilla sugar, flour and baking powder into a separate bowl, add the ground almonds and a pinch of salt. Mix well. Pour in the yogurt, eggs and butter into the dry ingredients and mix together until smooth. If using, add in the chopped basil leaves and mix.

Step 4

Use an ice-cream scoop or a tablespoon to fill your cupcake cases until about 2/3 full.

Step 5

Bake in your pre-heated over for 15-17 minutes, a stick should come out clean when they are cooked. Leave the cupcakes to cool for a few seconds in the tin, then take them out and leave them to cool on a rack.

Step 6

To make the butter cream, beat the 200g butter in a bowl until pale and then gradually add the icing sugar in small amounts. If the butter cream is a little thick, add a tablespoon of milk or water and beat again. Add the chopped basil leaves, if using.

Step 7

Put the butter cream into a piping bag and pipe a swirl onto each cupcake - or just dollop on!

Step 8

Using a teaspoon, carefully drizzle over a little bit of the raspberry coulis over the top of each cupcake. Add a sprig of basil to decorate.

Hope y'all enjoyed the book club luncheon and try the raspberry ripple and basil cupcakes. I'd love to hear your suggestions for other Gone With The Wind posts.