Sundried Tomatoes

It's now officially Summer, but here in Arizona we've already been having "summer" for months. My garden is bursting with tomatoes and zucchini and I wanted to share one of my new methods for preserving Summer's harvest. I love sundried tomatoes for adding in to salads and pasta dishes and it's so easy to make your own!

 Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper. I have used a Silpat sheet but found that the tomatoes stained it a bit.

 Some of the tomatoes I cut into slices about 1/4" thick.  Another batch I cut into wedges and seasoned with basil.

 Now for the twist! I usually place my sheets of tomatoes in the backyard covered with an old (but clean!) screen to keep the bugs off. This time I placed the tomatoes on the dashboard in my car with the windows all rolled up. My car acted like a giant solar oven! With the temps in the triple digits outside you know things were  plenty hot in the car.

 It took a day and half for the tomatoes to become properly dehydrated, so I picked a couple of days when I didn't have any errands to run or could borrow my husbands car. My friends teased me that I'd be driving around with big sheets of tomatoes on the dashboard! No, not a good idea!

I then packed the tomatoes in clean jars. You can leave them as is and keep them on your pantry shelf for at least 6 months. To reconstitute, soak in hot water for 10 minutes.One batch I covered with olive oil, but those should be kept refrigerated and used within a couple of months.

This is the label I used for the jars, I love the vintage look.

And here is a recipe I created to use those yummy, flavorful, sundried tomatoes.

Under the Tuscan Sun Salad

8 ounces shaped pasta - penne, rotini, shells or farfalle

1/2 cup sundried tomatoes cut into pieces

1/2 cup sliced black olives

1 zucchini sliced and grilled

2 scallions sliced

2-3 precooked chicken and basil sausages (I buy the Emeril Lagasse brand at Costco) grilled then sliced

1/2 cup Kraft sundried tomato salad dressing

1/4 cup fresh basil

Boil pasta acording to directions on package and drain. Meanwhile grill or saute zucchini and sausages.Combine everything in large bowl and chill. Toss with basil right before serving. Serves 6.

Feel free to substitute your favorite ingredients such as mushrooms, mozarella balls, grilled chicken, asparagus etc.

Buon Appetito!

Summer Table Setting

A few weeks ago I brought my lovely French terracotta children inside and placed them on my dining room table. Today I decided to add a summery table setting and share a couple of my recent finds.

  The dishes are the classic Spode Buttercup pattern. My mom passed these on to me a couple of years ago when she was doing some "closet cleaning". Actually I inherited my love of dishes from my mother who must have at least 20 different sets!

 I layered them  on an April Cornell tablecloth and sage green woven placemat.

A flat of multi-colored zinnias makes a pretty centerpiece.

I found this fabulous set of vintage Wm. Rogers silverplate flatware on craigslist. It's a neoclassic design in perfect condition. I only paid $25 for 48 pieces plus the silverware box! I've been searching for some vintage silver to use for the tablescape I'll be doing for my women's club's annual Christmas Idea House. I think I found it!

The Fostoria company used to make some of America's most popular stemware. The factory was only a couple of hours away from our home in Pittsburgh, PA. Every so often my mom and her girlfriends would take a day trip and go shopping to one of the original factory outlets. Sadly the company shut down in the 1980's. This is the Jamestown pattern and yes, my mom has this too. I found 4 of these last week at the Goodwill for $1.99 each.

I hope you like my summer table setting. It reminds me of Sunday dinners growing up. We aways used good china, silver and crystal and of course a Sunday roast!

English Sideboard and Table

I can't resist antique English furniture. It's solid and sturdy yet has elegance and grace.

 This beautiful sideboard has paneled doors, barley twist columns and a fabulous lock made of ivory. I also have the key!

 This Tudor style draw leaf dining table seats 6 comfortably but has 2 leaves that pull out from underneath accommodating 8 or even 10. Doesn't it look pretty all set for Spring?

Both pieces are currently in my antique store. The sideboard is $599 and the table is only $359.Come check them out!

Roosters Galore!

Look what showed up today!  My shipment from the Atlanta Gift Show has finally arrived - well at least part of it. If you're a rooster fan I've got lots of new home decor items for you. Plus I've got some charming vintage items that I'm bringing in this weekend  including French Quimper and some Italian glass canisters.

 I went crazy for these rooster canisters,

 and this fabulous French burlap bulletin board.

 Little rooster buckets...and big rooster baskets.

This is just a small sampling of what's new!

Come see me at Merchant Square booth #20

Americana Tablescape

With summer fast approaching there are also several  patriotic holidays on the horizon. For fun I pulled out some of my red, white and blue dishes for a few tablescape ideas.

 I started with these red plaid placemats I found a the goodwill for 75 cents apiece.

 Then I added my English ironstone octagonal plates that I received when we got married and layered them with Arabia of Finland salad plates also a wedding gift. I've been collecting these darling spreaders lately so had to add them to the mix.

 I've also been trying to find white or cream planters at thrift stores. They are filled with geraniums and flanked by some vintage Blue Danube candleholders.

 Some Country French William Sonoma napkins came from Goodwill for 50 cents each (still with the original price tag of $4 each.) They look perfect fanned out in my vintage cobalt blue glassware.(The pattern name escapes me. Anyone?)

 Added to the mix are some random pieces of Blue Willow and blue spatterware.

 A true mix and match for a very Americana look!

Happy Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July and

 Labor Day!

I've got more red, white and blue dishes down at the store, so pop in for a look and more ideas!

Lost and Found

As I was taking my morning bike ride I spied something small and white in the road ahead. I rode past but realized it was a tiny egg. I turned around and stopped. Assuming it was broken or cracked I carefully picked it up and found amazingly it was whole, lying there in the middle of the street! There were no tree branches overhead making it hard to tell where this little egg had come from. So I carefully put it in my pocket and finished my ride. I've put it in a nest I had in my craft closet. I can't imagine that a little bird will emerge from that egg or what I will do if one does!

French terracotta garden statues

This charming pair of garden statues came from my dear friend Jane's antique shop. She and her husband used to travel to France regularly bringing home a wealth of treasures. I've had them flanking my front door but decided to bring them into the dining room for a change. I think they look great next to this flat of zinnias.

 The little boy is carrying a bunch of roses over his shoulder.

 And this sweet little girl is clutching her cloak tightly about her.

I am, however, doing some downsizing and am planning on parting with these beauties. Look for them on craigslist or email me directly if interested at chateau.interiors@gmail.com

Cake plates

Can one own too many crystal cake plates? I started collecting them just a few years ago and can't resist when I see another at an estate sale or thrift store. Serving humble cookies or brownies on a crystal pedestal suddenly makes them seem positively elegant!

 I bought this beautiful Irish lead crystal piece yesterday at an estate sale. I went hoping to find some vintage silver but was thrilled with what I found instead!

 I was given this little cupcake holder a couple of weeks ago for having excellent attendance at my Women's group this year. Thanks ladies!

 I always try to have one or two cake plates in my antique store, so come see me and get started on your own collection!

Vintage Handkerchief Sachets

I've begun collecting these charming antique handkerchiefs and turning them into envelopes filled with French lavender. Each one is unique and adorned with vintage ribbon and buttons. And they smell like a lavender field in Provence ! They make wonderful hostess or bridesmaids gifts. Of course, get one for yourself to tuck into your lingerie drawer!

I always have plenty in stock at Merchant Square Antiques, booth #20.

Or email me directly at chateau.interiors@gmail.com

Vintage Silverware Garden Markers

I've always loved old silver and I especially love repurposing these vintage pieces into something new for your garden. What a unique gift for the gardeners in your life! I have several sets in my booth (#20) at Merchant Square in Chandler, AZ or I can custom make the labels of your choice. They sell for $20 for a set of 5.
 Email me at chateau.interiors@gmail.com if interested!

California Antiquing

Here are pictures of just a few of the treasures I found antiquing in California last week...

What fun we had! Come check out my shop to see more treasures from around the world!

 This darling little mini pitcher is a souvenir from Mont St. Michel in Normandy.

 An ironstone soapdish - the perfect size for the triple milled French soap I sell.

 Check out this gorgeous piece of Italian majolica!

 This embroidered heart box is from Hungary.

I love this charming little pin dish made in Champagne, France.

Strawberry Season

I always think of May as strawberry season. I can remember one year as a young wife helping the girls in our neighborhood raise money for camp by selling strawberry pies for Mother's Day.We literally made and sold over a hundred pies! That was some 30 years ago. I had both a strawberry patch and rhubarb growing in my garden in those days and have never grown either successfully since. Nevertheless, each May I still like to make a batch of strawberry rhubarb jam, my favorite!

I like the liquid pectin and just follow the recipe that comes in the box.
click here for recipe