Why attractive homes are like zesty gazpacho

What does a good-looking interior have in common with delicious food? I say: A lot! I was thinking about that while preparing a zesty gazpacho - a cold tomato soup - for a recent summer party.

Just look at this:

A room benefits from having a certain theme or a "mood". In gazpacho, that theme is "fresh veggies", with ripe, juicy tomatoes being the shining star.



Texture and contrast. Photo: Houzz.

Equal amounts of green pepper and cucumber add contrast to the red, and create a repetition of subtle flavours.

A slice of bread mixed into the soup provides texture, while olive oil and water make all the ingredients harmoniously blend together.

To give it all some zing, garlic, salt and vinegar are added to the mixture. The secret to an amazing gazpacho actually lies in the balance between those three ingredients.

They're the culinary version of that red stool that jumps out, a piece of art that ties a whole room together, or the light that reflects off a glass chandelier. They are the finishing touches that create outstanding results.

Are you ready to cook up a storm at home? Let me know if you need help!


The orange door "shakes up" this interior. It's like
garlic in gazpacho! Photo: Pinterest.

Woodworking and pancakes in Amish territory

If you like hand-crafted furniture, make sure to check out Pioneer Nook Woodworking. The company, located just east of Powassan, has made custom-built, wooden furniture since 2007, following the Mennonite craftsmanship tradition. They also refurbish and reface existing pieces.

Dove-tail detail.

I recently engaged them to make drawers for a client's dresser, and love the fact that the drawers will be made of solid maple, and will have strong, dove-tailed corners.

This Saturday, July 12th, Pioneer Nook Woodworking will host an Annual Bake Sale and Pancake Breakfast, between 7:30 and 12:00 noon, at 348 Pioneer Road in Powassan. What a great opportunity to explore an interesting part of our community, and to visit an Amish woodworking site!

Photo courtesy of Pioneer Nook Woodworking.

Red and white on Lake Muskoka

Happy Canada Day! A recent summer cruise onboard the R.M.S. Segwun, docked in Gravenhurst, made me see white and red, and broadened my horizons in more than one way.

 

As we steamed our way between rocky, pine-clad shores, it was the boathouse scene, more than the oversized lakefront mansions that caught my attention.

 

Compact, comfy and with prime locations, boathouses truly encapsulate the very best of summer living. 

 

Here are a few shots from my excursion. I can highly recommend it!