Designer tissue

Wow. We really have become are design-hungry consumers. Thank you, Martha et al. The urge to display design cachet now even extends to facial tissue boxes. Scotties has just launched a series of three-ply tissue in “varnish finish” boxes with designs by Umbra co-founder Paul Rowan. There are three designs in black, white and charcoal with a touch of sky blue. Prices range between $3.69 and $4.69.

Tiny and beautiful

Sometimes, small really is beautiful. At least, that’s what I thought when I looked at pictures of a teeny tiny condo deep in the heart of the Centre of the Universe (aka Toronto), that was redesigned by Yanic Simard of the Toronto Interior Design Group.  (See pics above and below.) A principle designer of the firm, Simard made the 511 square foot condo picture perfect by choosing properly scaled furniture, repositioning the rooms for better flow, reducing visual clutter with floating shelves and smart storage, and using a restained palette of white with lots of reflective surfaces. This chic, clean design almost makes me want to exchange my 2,000 square foot house in the burbs for itty-bitty downtown digs  – if only I could figure out where the hockey equipment would go. 

 

Swoon-worthy walls

I first saw Marimekko fabrics at a design show a few years ago, and fell in love with the rich colours and striking graphics. So I was happy to learn that New Wall inc., a Canadian-based distributor of higher-end wallcoverings will be carrying a line of very beautiful Marimekko papers. (see pics above and below.) I’ll have more in an upcoming Hot Home Products column, but I wanted to give you a quick taste now. Delicious, no? Wait till you see the line from Italian paper company Jannelli & Volpi. You’ll swoon. 

 

Recipe for successful entertaining

I promised in my Hot Home Products column this week to add a few quick and easy seasonal recipes to my blog. Here they are - terrific recipe ideas cribbed from Food and Drink magazine, Anna Olson  and Longo’s  - and one from little ole me.

 

Brie with caramelized apples (Food and Drink – sort of)

 

I saw a recipe that went something like this in a copy of Food and Drink magazine, which I promptly misplaced. Here’s my from-my-head version. Look for the real thing in the Fall issue of this useful mag, now in your local LCBO.

 

What you do:

 

Core and slice three apples (I love Elstar right now).

Put them in a medium hot pan and add a heaping tablespoon of brown sugar. Stir, then let the apples soften and brown (10 minutes or so).

Slice the top rind off a wheel of Brie, place it in a pan and pile the apples on top.

Bake at 300 for about 10 minutes.

Serve with bite-size pieces of artisanal bread.

 

Take advantage of all the lovely seasonal produce with Anna Olson’s gorgeous recipe for roasted root veg with vinaigrette. Or go to Foodland Ontario  for more seasonal recipes.  

 

Curry Scented Turkey (Longo’s)

 

What you need:

1 bone in turkey breast, about 1.5 pounds

1/2 cup plain yogurt

3 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

1 tbsp mild curry paste

3/4 tsp black mustard seeds

1/2 tsp coriander seeds, crushed

Pinch salt

Longo’s Peach Mango Chutney (optional)

 

What you do:

 

Stir together yogurt, coriander, curry paste, mustard, coriander seeds and salt.

Remove and discard skin from turkey breast.

Add breast to yogurt mixture and turn to coat.  

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

Place breast on rack in roasting pan or baking sheet.

Roast at 375°F  for about 1 1/2 hours or until thermometer reaches 180°F and juices run clear.

Cover and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Serve with chutney, if using.

 

Vicky’s Quick Cabbage  (with thanks to the late, great Edna Staebler)

 

Chop pieces of Savoy cabbage into wedges and steam until tender (10-12 minutes).

Remove from pot and wipe pot dry.

Melt butter and then add either a tablespoon or two of your favourite prepared mustard or crushed garlic. Sage and butter is also yummy.

Pour over cabbage and serve.

Look up, way up

Took the Go Train to Oakville the other day (quite a pleasant way to travel!) to visit the head office of Velux, makers of roof windows, skylights, and some very groovy accessories, such as remote control screens. I had dismissed skylights, imagining the ugly plastic domes that began popping up on houses in the ‘80s and which had caused friends endless problems with leaks and streaks. But I’ve wanted to revisit the issue and learn more about roof windows and skylights since hearing my friends, Robin and Donna, sing their praises. The pair live in Provincetown, Mass, where it can get pretty hot and sticky during the summer (and where, I might  add, they own a cool little cafe called The Wired Puppy - check it out if you ever get down that way!) But they say they almost never turn on the AC because opening the skylight window they have on the top floor of their house causes all the hot, humid air to fly heavenward. I love the roof windows shown above, which illustrate what they can do for the look of space, and how they bring in light (and solar warmth). This Danish company (why are Danes so good at making beautiful, highly functional things?) also makes sun tunnels. These are perfect for dim spaces, such as closets, bathrooms and stairways. Look for more information in an upcoming article on a green reno I’m embarking on. In the meantime, here are before and after pictures showing the difference a tunnel made to a windowless bathroom.