Monday Musings

This YouTube video is the perfect 'experiment' as well as a unique activity to engage your children or grandchildren. Using a few household ingredients and basic science principles you too can become a magician (or scientist, whichever role entices you). Watch this video and turn ordinary water into marbles!

Reflections

Simple Living

Friday Food Feature

Alfredo Sauce

4T butter
4T flour
1c half and half
1c chicken broth
1c shredded Italian cheeses (Mozzarella, Romano, Parmesan mix)
1/2c Parmesano Reggiano cheese
3T fresh or 1-2T dried parsley
4-5 cloves minced garlic
1/4c white wine
salt and pepper for taste


Melt butter and add flour. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to roux. Add half & half with broth and blend well. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until cheese has melted and sauce is smooth. Pour over pasta and mix well.   Add chicken or shrimp if desired.


variation from Cooks.com

My French Find

Authentic Provence

I love this photograph from the website "Authentic Provence". I can smell the lavender and immediately feel transported to the south of France! I love visiting their website and creating (if only in my mind) a secret garden filled with gorgeous garden antiques originating from French Chateaus. One can always dream! To be taken to their website click on the title under the photo above. Here are a few of my favorites:

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

roadside by Denise Dion-Sullivan

In the Studio ~ Treasury Tuesday

Fantastic treasury today from Cats and Sheeps on Etsy entitled 'Gift Ideas'. Thank you for featuring my black velvet boxes from my supply shop 'The Artists Closet'. Doesn't everything look great in black!  Click on any of the boxes to be taken to the Etsy shops:

Monday Musings ~

via legen-d

 Have a great wonderfully productive week ~ Namaste ~

Reflections

Simple Living ~

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you If you do not act on upon them? ~ Buddha

Friday Food Feature ~ Tarte aux Myrtilles ~

French Lemon and Blueberry Tart

2 c flour
1/4 t salt
1/4c sugar
1/2c butter
1 egg yolk
5 to 6 T of cold water
2 1/2 c washed Blueberries

Beurre au Citron or Lemon Butter:

1/2c fresh lemon juice
1 t grated lemon peel
4 eggs
1 1/4c sugar
1/2c butter

Pastry:

• Put flour, salt, sugar and butter in a food processor, combine until butter is smooth. Add cold water and yolk. Stop processing as soon as the dough becomes a ball. Do not overwork. Remove the dough and form it into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour
• Melt 1T butter and use it to grease a 12" tart pan. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, line the tart pan and cover with foil.
• Bake for 25 minutes in a 400º F oven, checking after 15 minutes (make sure edges aren't too brown). Remove foil and bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Set a side to cool. It should be completely cooled before you add lemon curd.

Lemon Curd:

• In the top of a double boiler over low heat melt butter and whisk in sugar, lemon peel, juice and eggs.
• Blend thoroughly and cook, stirring, over simmering water until thickened and smooth (about 20 minutes). If desired, pour filling through a fine wire strainer to remove peel. Let cool. Cover and refrigerate until cold (or up to 2 weeks). Makes 2 cups.
• Pour into made tart, distribute blueberries evenly over lemon filling. If made ahead refrigerate for up to 3 hours before serving.
• Once Firm, dust generously with powdered sugar. Makes 6 servings.

Image at top is by artist Janis Zroback cards and prints can be found by clicking on the image.

My French Find

The Sign Chateau

"Vous êtes l'amour de ma vie" translated means "You are the love of my life".

I like the French signs in this shop on Etsy - The Sign Chateau. They have over 20 different French inspired signs. I would order the one above to place in my bedroom and perhaps the one below for my studio. Click on the link beneath photos to be taken to the shop on Etsy.

The Sign Chateau

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Boston in Springtime taken with my iphone

In the Studio ~

I recently opened a new shop on Etsy ~ 'Denise Dion Designs'. This shop will feature handcrafted jewelry and accessories created in my home studio here in Southern Maine. The jewelry will feature an eclectic mix of romantic vintage with French themes as well as more modern, simplistic and sea inspired designs. I have included a few photos below of recently finished personalized pieces just in time for Mother's Day. Simply click on the link below the photo to be taken to the item and click here to be taken to my shop. As an introduction to my new shop, use the coupon code 'freeship' upon checkout to receive free shipping worldwide. 

Tree of Life Personalized Sterling Silver Bracelet

Tree of Life Personalized Sterling Silver Necklace

Monday Musings ~ Thoughts on Spring ~

"Hope" is the thing with feathers—

That perches in the soul—

And sings the tune without the words—

And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—

And sore must be the storm—

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm—

I've heard it in the chillest land—

And on the strangest Sea—

Yet, never, in Extremity,

It asked a crumb—of Me. 

Emily Dickinson

photo via 

Reflections

Simple Living

Friday Food Feature

French Style Macaroni and Cheese

Sorry, not exactly French! I have been craving this lately so thought I would share a recipe I found that has a bit of a French twist to a very American classic!

Ingredients:

• 16 oz smaller sized uncooked macaroni
• 1 clove garlic, cut in half lengthwise
• 2 T melted butter
• 1 1/4 c crème fraiche
• 2 c shredded Gruyere, Cantal cheese, divided
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 t ground black pepper
• 1/3 c dry breadcrumbs

Preparation:

Preheat an oven to 350F. Prepare the macaroni according to package instructions and drain.

While the macaroni is boiling, rub the cut end of the garlic across the entire inner surface of a 3-quart baking dish. Brush the same surface with the melted butter.

Pour the drained macaroni into the baking dish. Stir the crème fraiche, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, salt, and pepper into the pasta. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs and the remaining cheese over the top.

Bake the casserole, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes, until it is hot and bubbly throughout and turns light golden brown on top. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

My French Find

Visit the unique world of miniature gourmet food delights at the shop ~ Paris Miniatures.  A French feast for the eyes where you'll find handmade, realistic miniatures of delectable French specialties. Click on the caption below the photo to be taken to Emmaflam and Miniman's delightful shop on Etsy.

Emmaflam and Miniman

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

blue seas by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Treasury Tuesday

A bit of 'Ooh la la'  to brighten up your Tuesday. A treasury of French inspired items curated by Buttons and Bottles. Click on any of the photos to visit the Etsy shops. And thank you for featuring my Parisian Romance Earrings from my shop Dion Designs.

Monday Musings

love builds up the broken walland straightens the crooked path.
love keeps the stars in the firmament
and imposes rhythm on the ocean tides
each of us is created of it
and i suspect
each of us was created for it”
~ Maya Angelou ~

photo by Denise Dion Sullivan

~ Happy Easter ~

Easter Morning, Edward Burne-Jones

Simple Living

Fresh Insights emerge when you view the world from a different angle.

photo via

Friday Food Feature

My French recipe for Crème Fraîche

1/2 pint (1 cup) unpasteurized whipping creme

1 Tablespoon buttermilk or sour cream

Warm cream to between 90 - 100 degrees F; add buttermilk, mixing well. Cover and let stand at room temperature (68 - 72 degrees F- or put in a yogurt maker) for 12-16 hours or until mixture begins to thicken.

Refrigerate for at least 24 hours before using to allow acid flavor to develop and cream to thicken further. Creme should be of almost spreadable consistency. Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or as long as taste is tangy but fresh. Makes 1 cup.

Crème Fraîche make a great topping for fresh fruit, puddings, and other desserts. It is also used in many French recipes - soups, casseroles and adds a wonderful richness and thickness to sauces. I will post in the future using this delicious ingredient.

My French Find

The French Nest

I love the sparkle of this special Pink Fleur de lis embellishment. It would look fantastic on a gift or even on next years Christmas Tree. Visit the shop on Etsy called The French Nest for some French inspired creations. Click on the link beneath the photo to be taken to the shop.

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Heart Puddle by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Treasury Tuesday

Here is another treasury featuring Etsy Artists and an assortment of Spring Florals. Thank you Ingrid from CanDezign on Etsy, for including one of my popular Spring Millefiori Keychains from Dion Designs, in this lovely treasury. Click on the boxes to visit their shops. 

Monday Musings ~

Le Printemps par Théophile Gautier

Regardez les branches
Comme elles sont blanches,
Il neige des fleurs.

Riant de la pluie
Le soleil essuie
les saules en pleurs.

Et le ciel reflète
Dans la violette
Ses pures couleurs…

La mouche ouvre l’aile
Et la demoiselle
Aux prunelles d’or,
Au corset de guêpe
Dépliant son crêpe,
A repris l’essor.

L’eau gaiement babille,
Le goujon frétille
Un printemps encore !

translated to English (not by me)

Springtime 
By Théophile Gautier

Look at the boughs,
How white they are,
It’s snowing flowers!

Scoffing at the rain,
The sun dries
The weepy willow.

And the sky reflects
In the violets
Its pure colors…

The fly opens its wings
And the dragonfly
With the golden pupils,
And the wasp-like corset,
Unfolding its silky wings,
Has resumed its flight.

The water happily babbles,
The tiny fish wriggles
It’s Springtime again!

Reflections ~

The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. ~  Mark Twain

Harlequin seated in cafe ~ Picasso