G’day and welcome to Good Life Wednesdays at my old cottage! Come on in and smell the herbs
I am, it seems, in my Herb Phase…if you have been with me a while, you will by now, realise that this too will pass…there was the French Phase, the Prairie Phase and the Industrial Phase all of course wrapped up with flowers and coastal things…
I suppose it is to be expected when I have lots of herbs growing in the garden now after my recent digging and planting, to bring them in…
And oh how lovely they make it in here as Winter creeps in Down Under…
Don’t you just love the smell of those herbs throughout your home, Sarah? Our herbs are happily growing in our garden – basil, sage, lavender, cilantro, dill, thyme, and parsley. We use them in cooking all season long – and yup – they look cute just ‘hangin’ around’, too! lol!
There is nothing like fresh herbs. Love the animated water pouring. Wonderful job Sarah. And they look so pretty on the table. I just picked up a little vintage box and though of putting some fresh basil inside, I tend to use it more than the other herbs. Thank you for allowing me to join in on the party, have a Wonderful Wednesday, xxx tami
I’ve put herbs in jars in the kitchen, but never really thought of putting then ’round the house. What a good idea! I still haven’t picked up that chocolate mint from Bunnings yet, on the to do list for tomoz.
Thanks for hosting again, Sarah.
x Marnie
I remember being at a friend’s parents’ house in college. A bunch of us were in the kitchen talking and her mom grabbed some scissors, went outside, and came back with a little bundle of herbs. She put them in a creamer and I thought it was the most spectacular thing ever!
ps…can’t find our link back button for the linky party…??? Where did it go?
Hi, the mention of Forty Garlic Chicken stuffed with herbs sounds delicious! I would love to give it a go if you decide to post the recipe. Thanks for hosting the link party!
Hmmm? So, do the herbs in jars smell good on their own, or does the steeping release the fragrance? Or, do you steep, dry and THEN hang?? Or, do you rub the leaves to release the fragrance?? /Sorry, inquiring minds want to know.
Thank you – they all LOOK good – I’m just curious about getting the benefit of the fragrance as well.
I love all the green in your photos! I can imagine how wonderful these herbs smell. Your simple arrangements in the plain glass jars are so fresh and perfect. Great pics!
Love the herbs in jars. I’ve got gardenias in a mason jar in front of the kitchen window right now, and every time a breeze comes through I get a whiff of them…LOVE the smell! As for herbs…I saw orange mint and chocolate mint in the farmers’ market this week…think I need to plant some of those!
Wow – what gorgeous photos! I’m not a good cook so don’t use herbs very often but they look lovely!
Please visit my blog – i’ve got a giveaway on at the moment! http://www.greenpicklesblog.co.uk
in my apartment i unfortunately have nowhere to plant herbs nor do i know how long i’ll actually be living in Australia, but i will say i tackily ate the leaves off the mint in my champagne julep this past Saturday in darling harbour… lol
This is great, I never thought of using herbs across the house, except for lavender. My favourite are sage and rosemary, I love the smell of them in the kitchen.
Such amazing pictures…your photography is always so beautiful… I loved all the whites and the herb greens… such a wonderful idea of putting them in mason jars and displaying sweet smelling herbs around your house. Loved the animated ‘water pouring’ picture. Beautiful herbs, lovely post! Thanks for being a gracious hostess each week.~Poppy
Lovely as always. I can smell all the herbs as I am reading your post. I have the exact same basket as you have sitting on your table. Mine is a laundry basket my Dad found at a yard sale probably over 20 years ago. Unbelievable!
Happy Good Life Wednesday Sarah! Thank you for hosting. I have finally started my herb garden here in California. I love to make a big jug of ice water with lavender, mint, blueberries, lemon and cucumber. It’s so refreshing! Have a great week, Marcia
I know I always tell you this, but, your pictures blow me away. Just beautiful. Better than picking up a mag any day! Oh, and I always have a jar of herbs at hand… useful and pretty! Lx
Lovely – wish I could smell them! I have a small bunch of lavender from our garden tied to our shower…it doesn’t have a smell anymore, but it still makes me smile.
Thanks for a wonderful blog and hosting this linky party, I will be realaxing tonight with a cup of camomile & spearmint tea reading through some of these blogs (not sure how far I will get as this herbal infusion is tranquillizing
I’m glad I am not the only one who goes through these addictive phases! It’s funny how once you start on something such as this you find yourself so totally engrossed. Your photos are so inspiring makes me feel like returning to my “herb” phase myself!!
wow these photos are amazing! Seriously inspiring.
For lots of great community events from across B.C check out the blog at : http://timetravebc.com/whats-new
It is updated daily with the best that British Columbia has to offer.
Thanks !
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Don’t you just love the smell of those herbs throughout your home, Sarah? Our herbs are happily growing in our garden – basil, sage, lavender, cilantro, dill, thyme, and parsley. We use them in cooking all season long – and yup – they look cute just ‘hangin’ around’, too! lol!
Hugs ~
xoxo laurie
There is nothing like fresh herbs. Love the animated water pouring. Wonderful job Sarah. And they look so pretty on the table. I just picked up a little vintage box and though of putting some fresh basil inside, I tend to use it more than the other herbs. Thank you for allowing me to join in on the party, have a Wonderful Wednesday, xxx tami
I’ve put herbs in jars in the kitchen, but never really thought of putting then ’round the house. What a good idea! I still haven’t picked up that chocolate mint from Bunnings yet, on the to do list for tomoz.
Thanks for hosting again, Sarah.
x Marnie
I remember being at a friend’s parents’ house in college. A bunch of us were in the kitchen talking and her mom grabbed some scissors, went outside, and came back with a little bundle of herbs. She put them in a creamer and I thought it was the most spectacular thing ever!
ps…can’t find our link back button for the linky party…??? Where did it go?
Your herb tassles are MY new favorite thing, how enchanting! So sweet and simple, and most especially fragrant!
xo
Kate
Hi, the mention of Forty Garlic Chicken stuffed with herbs sounds delicious! I would love to give it a go if you decide to post the recipe. Thanks for hosting the link party!
thanks Chloe I am starting more regular recipes here soon…as it is something I love to do….
first up is
Chorizo Stew
Forty Garlic Chicken will be second
sarahx
Lovin’ all your sweet smelling herbs and the photos are awesome.
Thanks, Sarah, for hosting…
xo bj
They look beautiful!
Love your photos…Ive never planted herbs but would love to…which ones smell the most pleasant?
Deborah xo
Deborah…I love basil, rosemary and lavender…but really anything you find is lovely
x
Hmmm? So, do the herbs in jars smell good on their own, or does the steeping release the fragrance? Or, do you steep, dry and THEN hang?? Or, do you rub the leaves to release the fragrance?? /Sorry, inquiring minds want to know.
Thank you – they all LOOK good – I’m just curious about getting the benefit of the fragrance as well.
Mary in MN
thank you Mary
the steeping brings the fragrance out in the room…the ones I steep are just the bottoms of the ones I have hung or put in jars…
…I dry them without steeping first by just bundling with string and hanging..
enjoy
Yum! I love fresh herbs!
Awesome pics and lovin’ all your fresh herbs ! I can almost smell the sweet fragrance !!:)
Thanks for hosting
This is so simple, beautiful, and clever. Wonderful photos.
I love all the green in your photos! I can imagine how wonderful these herbs smell. Your simple arrangements in the plain glass jars are so fresh and perfect. Great pics!
Love the herbs in jars. I’ve got gardenias in a mason jar in front of the kitchen window right now, and every time a breeze comes through I get a whiff of them…LOVE the smell! As for herbs…I saw orange mint and chocolate mint in the farmers’ market this week…think I need to plant some of those!
you always have beautiful photos to show!! thanks so much for hosting this party every week.
I have herbs growing outside…going to copy you and bring some in and not just for cooking!
Wow – what gorgeous photos! I’m not a good cook so don’t use herbs very often but they look lovely!
Please visit my blog – i’ve got a giveaway on at the moment!
http://www.greenpicklesblog.co.uk
Have a great day!
love from
Amy
x
in my apartment i unfortunately have nowhere to plant herbs nor do i know how long i’ll actually be living in Australia, but i will say i tackily ate the leaves off the mint in my champagne julep this past Saturday in darling harbour… lol
I do that all the time with my Pimms…didn’t know it was tacky
x
It must be so fragrant in your house now that I could probably smell it here if I didn’t have this giant cold
.
Thanks for hosting Sarah…you do have the best ideas!!!
Your photos always inspire me!!
This is great, I never thought of using herbs across the house, except for lavender. My favourite are sage and rosemary, I love the smell of them in the kitchen.
Such amazing pictures…your photography is always so beautiful… I loved all the whites and the herb greens… such a wonderful idea of putting them in mason jars and displaying sweet smelling herbs around your house. Loved the animated ‘water pouring’ picture. Beautiful herbs, lovely post! Thanks for being a gracious hostess each week.~Poppy
http://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/
Oh, your herbs look (and probably smell!!!) amazing!!! I’m jealous…I have a brown thumb…:(
Thank you so much for hosting!!!
like the pictures! I bet your whole house smells wonderful!
Just found your site today… I love beach living {on my dream list}, and your pictures are beautiful! I will be visiting often. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely as always. I can smell all the herbs as I am reading your post. I have the exact same basket as you have sitting on your table. Mine is a laundry basket my Dad found at a yard sale probably over 20 years ago. Unbelievable!
Happy Good Life Wednesday Sarah! Thank you for hosting. I have finally started my herb garden here in California. I love to make a big jug of ice water with lavender, mint, blueberries, lemon and cucumber. It’s so refreshing! Have a great week, Marcia
Sarah~ Amazing photos and herb garden!!
Where do you find the time!!!
You are such a breath of fresh air every time I visit!
Ciao~
Cricket
Lovely images…..have a great week Sarah. I am excited about joining the party with my pictures from a trip to Alaska last week.
nothing like the smell of fresh herbs! lemmon, garlic and parsley baked chicken=yum!
Your house must smell wonderful! I’m in love with your curtains, btw! I’m guessing Anthro?
no Urban Outfitters x
I know I always tell you this, but, your pictures blow me away. Just beautiful. Better than picking up a mag any day! Oh, and I always have a jar of herbs at hand… useful and pretty! Lx
Lovely – wish I could smell them! I have a small bunch of lavender from our garden tied to our shower…it doesn’t have a smell anymore, but it still makes me smile.
Thanks for a wonderful blog and hosting this linky party, I will be realaxing tonight with a cup of camomile & spearmint tea reading through some of these blogs (not sure how far I will get as this herbal infusion is tranquillizing
I’m glad I am not the only one who goes through these addictive phases! It’s funny how once you start on something such as this you find yourself so totally engrossed. Your photos are so inspiring makes me feel like returning to my “herb” phase myself!!
well you should return…it rocks
I want to try one of this tips for this summer season. I love this topic. Nice traveling to this blog with holiday packages.
roflmao
Sarah, I really love your photos, so full of light and brightness…This must be Australian sun:). We’ve been also inspired by harbs, please have a look at our herb garden collection at Galeria Dekodom:
http://dekodom.pl/sklep.php?md=products&id_c=68
or on our blog:
http://galeriadekodom.blogspot.com/search/label/ZIO%C5%81A
Love, Bea
I’m inspired by your blog and all wonderful bloggers who have linked here. I’m happily your newest follower!
wow these photos are amazing! Seriously inspiring.
For lots of great community events from across B.C check out the blog at : http://timetravebc.com/whats-new
It is updated daily with the best that British Columbia has to offer.
Thanks !