Celebrating Mother's Day...

 I made a late lunch on Sunday for my wife and my mother to celebrate Mother's Day. In the past we have gone out, but all too often lately we have found restaurant food really lacking. We had a very busy weekend putting the finishing touches on our upcoming Halloween magazine, but I really wanted to show my love via a homemade meal.

Flowers from the yard and florist filled favorite vases, jelly jars, and dishes.  

 

 

The table was dressed in 100% linen yardage from the fabric store.  I wanted to keep it all kinds of casual, so the light wrinkle of linen set the tone for some Russell Wright plates and grainy linen napkins.

I made a simple but delicious salad with fresh orange pieces, strawberries, and field greens tossed with a little poppy seed dressing and topped with toasted almonds all combined in a jelly glass. 

 

 

White hydrangeas from the florist filled a mid-century bowl and other glassware.

 

 

Lilacs from the yard in Frankoma pottery. 

 

For serving, I used wooden cutting boards, old hotel silver, some Bauer-ware and a favorite hand thrown plate in a plum tone that I found years ago at Dean and Deluca.

 

I made meatballs, which I mix up using egg yolks and freshly grated parmesan cheese. I bake them in the oven in a sauce of freshly chopped plum tomatoes with fresh oregano. Once out of the oven I place a fresh basil leaf on each and cover the whole thing with foil so the the oil from the basil cascades over the meat balls.

The meatballs topped spaghetti which I paired with more fresh basil and a homemade sauce.

Steamed zucchini and  sugar snap peas are served with a bit of
butter, pepper and sea salt. 

  

A baker friend supplied me with freshly
baked squash rolls from her bake shop. They are a decadent addition served with honey butter.

 

 

I created penne and broccoli Alfredo with a crispy parmesan chicken breast. I pound the chicken very thin and then place it in a Ziploc bag overnight with freshly grated parmesan cheese and a bit of cream.  I then dredge it in more cheese and bake in  the oven for 15-20 minutes.
Because of marinating in the cheese, the flavors are throughout the meat and subsequently very tasty.

For dessert, a fresh raspberry cheesecake made with raspberry puree and
shortbread cookie crust:

Sangria was the drink of choice and flowers abounded almost everywhere
the eye could see.

 I so enjoy cooking for my family and celebrating
with a meal that is always anticipated and so well received. I
think my wife and mom thoroughly enjoyed the day and all the simple
details... and there were plenty of leftovers to share around!

How was your Mother's Day?

 

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Matthew Mead's Recycled Style is available for pre-order via Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

A Homemade Mother's Day

Mother's Day is almost upon us and if there ever was a person more deserving of a little extra love and attention, it is the mothers in our lives. Head on over to the Wayfair blog where Matthew is sharing some of his stand-out tips for saluting Mom in style, with easy-to-execute homemade food, gifts, and pampering ideas.

Happy Mother's Day!

A Spring Garden Event...

 
 

Jenny and I felt so privileged in many ways this past weekend.We were asked by our long-time friend and photographer Helen Norman to participate in an amazing garden event at Ladew Gardens--a historic topiary garden just north of Baltimore, MD.  Helen and I worked together during my years at Country Home and always look for oportunities to work together every chance we get. She contributes a great deal to Ladew Gardens and has asked me several times to participate in the annual event. This year I cleared my schedule and Jenny and I packed our truck with books and vintage items and made the nearly 9 hour drive to do the show. What a wonderful treat...to see the grounds, meet other vendors, learn about the property, and stay with Helen, who has a wonderfully relaxing compound with a charming guest house where Jenny and I were able to relax and enjoy every perk of country life.

Ladew has acres and acres of the most beautifully sculpted whimsical topiaries and a historic house that is just spectacular. Check their website for tours and events. 

Our white tented space was amongst the trees and next to a spectacularly oversized bird house.
The house is pristine and beautifully maintained. One vendor staged vintage garden furniture on the front lawn; it looked so totally at home.

 

I have collected garden items for over 20 years. Watering cans, old gathering trugs, topiary forms and miniature urns. My wife always urges me to share these treasures and so I dug deep for this event.

 

 

Watering cans in every shape and size lined our booth:

 

 

 
I brought books, wire baskets and my famous jelly jars. A trip to the local Wegmans yielded spectacular garden roses and other blooms.

 

 

My bird plaque fret-work ornaments were perfectly at home in the garden settings. We decorated the tables and tent with our linen runners.

 

Helen photographs homes, products, people...everything to do with home and lifestyle. She shared our booth and debuted her new card line of organic vegetables grown on her own farmlands by her brother.  They are beautiful and drew lots of people to our tent.

 

 
Many folks dropped in to visit and purchased items, while some just enjoyed the amazing weather.

 

 

 Jenny found a syroco garland which will really dress up a wall in a "garden-ey" way.

 

We enjoyed every moment at the garden, meeting so many people and
spending time with Helen. It was a working, but truly relaxing, get-away.

 

 

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Matthew Mead's Recycled Style is available for pre-order via Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

Mother's Day: Tips and Tricks for Dads...

This post is for moms to share with their husbands (especially those dads of young
children who are eager to have a hand in a way to celebrate mom on Mother's day). Sadly, there is no course for young Dads that explains their role in the celebration of Mother's day. And needless to say it is an important day in which I not only celebrate my mom, but also my wife. Even to this day-- with two grown, adult daughters-- it is still in my repertoire to whip something special up celebrate my wife and her hard work and success at being a mom.

This year I am planning lunch in our newly redecorated garage (barring torrential rains and cold weather).  And I intend to photograph every step and share some special ideas that you will be able to adapt to any summertime entertaining event. In this post, I want to encourage dads to do a bit of planning, visit a grocery store or garden center, and make an effort to help the kids pull of something worthy of a special and loving mother.

Roses and strawberries are always a great and fun way to celebrate.  

Purchase both at the grocery store and set up a special setting on the porch or patio. Buy some pastries or muffins and you have in instant welcoming way to start the day.

Flowers and herbs make wonderful gifts. 

You can pluck the blossoms from a flat of flowering plants to create a small bouquet, and then plant the remaining plants in the garden to grow all summer long. Purchase a bakery-shop cake and simply add pansy blossoms that have been dipped in melted jam and dredged in regular white sugar. Use the blooms to decorate the cake.

Get take-out from a favorite restaurant and dress up the table with herbs and flowers.

Flowers in a clear glass mug can dress up mom's special place setting. Or add a napkin ring to a napkin and attach a small tussie mussie of fragrant herbs:

 
Make a candle centerpiece using a jar filled with sand and candles, and then embellished with fresh flowers hydrated by water picks:

Show off a single bloom in a mass of lush green lettuce:

  Get your supplies at the grocery store. Fill a case with water. Place lettuce
in water and place a bloom in the center of the lettuce. Add other green foliage
and present as a gift for a bedside table.

For very young children, create these fool-proof flower arrangements:

 
Place a dinner plate on a table runner.  Fill with 3/4-inch of water
and float blossoms like pansies, marigolds, and chrysanthemums for a
simple arrangement that will last for days.

No matter what you choose, make sure your mom, your wife and any other mother in your life knows that she is loved, adored and
appreciated.

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Matthew Mead's Recycled Style is available for pre-order via Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

A Garden Getaway....

 It is that time of year when I not only crave being outside, but also seek to carve out new-found space to expand my living for the warmer months. Last year Jenny and I did a cosmetic face-lift on our garage to create a great room for lounging and entertaining. You can see our simple transformation in my new book RECYCLED STYLE  which is on sale at Amazon.  A few years ago, I was totally enthralled by a cottage shed on my friend Sally's property. I instantly saw it as an afternoon retreat filled with fresh flea market finds. The results below show how instantly it was transformed and to great effect. Seaside colors and collections brought the rustic interior to life and created just the right space for a "staycation" getaway.

 The space was large and open and luminous with the perfectly patinaed wood. We moved just a few items and flung the doors and windows open to give it an open-air feel:

We gathered weather worn woods and galvanized pieces and special painted furnishings with color washed appeal.  A vintage bench and old painted barrel make a soft spot to "put your feet up."

A built-in bench with an old ticking mattress roll becomes an instant place for a summer nap. We feathered the nest with pillows and linen bedding. Just add a lantern and nap right until twilight:

We only added pieces in the color palette, which made shopping lots of fun. All you need to do is zero in on colors in your scheme and then gather till your heart's content. The old piano stool is missing its adjustable seat but has the most dreamy shade of green:

A pulled-back view shows the full effect: great country furnishings gathered for very little at the flea market. It looks like Mary Emmerling dropped in and spread her magic.

The most wonderful old cupboard retains all its function. Use as a bar for serving guests delicious, icy beverages.

Whether it`s a porch, patio, deck, or wonderful outbuilding. Try to see it in a new way and carve out your own special place for the summer season.

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Matthew Mead's Recycled Style is available for pre-order via Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.