I’ve recently been taking some time away from the blog, as you’ve noticed. It’s been far more time away than I’d like, and I am hopeful that you’ll see more frequent posts reappearing from me in the coming weeks. Thank you for hanging in there!
I haven’t been cooking as much as I usually do, but I did whip up one of my absolute favorite childhood (and adulthood) treats last weekend. My dad’s buttermilk pancakes are pure pancake perfection–supremely fluffy with that just-right flavor that makes them good enough to eat on their own or the perfect base for my mom’s super-easy berry syrup. I shared a little more about my fond memories of my dad in the kitchen on Saturday mornings and this classic recipe earlier this week on The Everygirl, as part of my new gig as Food Editor there. But I just had to share his special homemade pancake recipe here too. Enjoy.
Buttermilk Pancakes
2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour, sifted before measuring
1 tsp. salt
4 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups buttermilk
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
Maple syrup or Berry Syrup (see recipe below), for serving
Fresh fruit (sliced bananas, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries), for serving
Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, mix egg, buttermilk, and butter. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients. Whisk the batter to combine, until the flour is dampened and just a few lumps remain. Heat an ungreased griddle. Throw a few drops of cold water on the griddle–if they dash about briskly it’s ready for use. Pour 1/4 cup of the batter quickly onto the griddle. When bubbles start to form and the edges begin to firm, use a spatula to flip the pancakes to the other side. Cook another minute or two longer, then remove.
Berry Syrup
1 cup frozen mixed berries
1/4 cup maple syrup
In a small bowl, combine the frozen berries and maple syrup. Microwave about one minute or a little longer, until the berries start to breakdown and the mixture is piping hot. Mash with a fork to break up any larger berries.
This past fall, a dream of mine came true when we traveled to Istanbul. I’ve shared a few peeks already of some of the city’s most famous landmarks – the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. But now it’s time to feast your eyes on the colors, street culture, skylines, and architectural details that make this city so magical and vibrant.
We only had a few days in Istanbul, but we easily could have spent a full week wandering the streets, stopping into mosque after mosque that never failed to amaze, observing the local way of life, and indulging in the tourist pleasures of the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. We spent hours gazing in awe at the intricate tile work adorning Topkapi Palace, stepping into the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen. We took in the smells of the mounds upon mounds of spices of the Spice Bazaar as we selected rose petal tea and a selection of Turkish delights to bring home. We sipped hot tea in tiny glasses with the shop owners of each store we visited within the Bazaar (this is tradition), where we selected a rug to have shipped home, discovered my kilim slippers, and sorted through textiles for a few just-right fabrics and towels. Of course, we stopped to refuel here and there on kebabs and other street food. Needless to say, we left Istanbul full, inspired, and happy.
I’ll let the photos speak for themselves, so take some time to flip through the gallery above for a taste of why I fell in love with this city! I’ll follow up with a city guide with my specific tips for planning a visit and some final photos from our boat trip up the Bosphorus (an Istanbul must).
Spring transitions are happening. Well, I’m wishing them to happen with all my mental power. I’m thoroughly tired of wearing black, thick sweaters, and a puffy coat day in and day out. So I’m taking matters into my own hands. Last weekend I got a pedicure in my favorite shade–OPI Bubble Bath, a very pale, pretty pink. I started researching beach vacations. And this week, I’m lightening up my outfits with soft-colored cashmere, white jeans (this destroyed version for weekends, a crisp version for work), and my all-time favorite sandals. But I’ll be most happy on the day I can actually wear these shoes outside again—they’re a staple for dress-up or dress-down days. Unfortunately with today’s fresh snowfall, that’s not looking like anytime soon enough! I think I can speak for everyone when I say this has been the longest. winter. ever. Enough is enough.
After an unplanned absence from the blog last week, I’m back today to share one of my favorite travel/home décor tips—global textiles. It seems global textiles have been holding their popularity in interior design for quite a while now. I first started sourcing textiles on our travels back in 2009, when I picked up three handmade Kuba cloth pillow covers at a market in Cape Town, South Africa. Since then, I’ve scoured markets in Bangkok and Istanbul and amassed quite a collection of interesting and vibrant textiles. It’s one of my favorite ways to bring that well-traveled, collected feel into our home. This year, I’m finally getting most of my fabric made into pillows, and I can’t wait to share the results as I place each piece in its intended room. In the meantime, I thought I’d share a quick textile glossary—it took me a lot of research over time to understand each of these. So below is just a fun little guide to the different patterns, plus my tips for selecting your own textiles when traveling.
Global Textile Glossary
Kuba
Kuba cloth is a traditional hand-woven textile made from raffia palm leaves by the Kuba people in the Republic of Congo. They dye the raffia fibers using mud or other natural materials, then rub the fabrics by hand to soften them so they’re easier to weave. The resulting pattern is typically a basic, geometric design in muted earth tones. While often turned into pillows, locally Kuba cloth is created into skirts for ceremonial celebrations.
Suzani is a type of embroidered, decorative textile made in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and other Central Asian countries. They are often made of cotton or silk, then embroidered in silk or cotton thread. “Suzani” means needlework, and they were traditionally made by brides as part of their dowry, then presented to the groom on the wedding day. The design is usually a medallion form, often made up of flowers, leaves, sun or moon shapes. You’ll find them in several forms – bed covers, wall hangings, and pillows most often.
Find a great collection of suzani pillow covers from YASTK on Etsy.
Ikat
Ikat has been a popular textile in Western interior design for centuries. Usually made with silk or silk velvet fabric, the threads are dyed before they are woven into textiles. Basically, the loose threads are tie-dyed to color the thread—meaning the dye is carefully placed on different portions of the loose threads so it can form the proper pattern when it is woven on a loom. The patterns are bold and pronounced; the colors often very bright.
Find a great collection of silk and velvet ikat pillow covers from YASTK on Etsy.
Thai Silk
Traditional Thai silk is hand-woven, meaning each fabric is unique. The patterns are very intricate and the material has a unique sheen.
Kilim (not shown)
Kilim is a type of weaving that produces a flat surface with no pile. Kilims are usually made from cotton or wool fibers as carpets or pillows. Turkey is known for its kilims, as are other countries throughout the Middle East and Eastern Europe. You can spot them for their intricate, geometric-shaped patterns and rich colors—dark reds, browns, oranges, greens.
Find a great collection of kilim pillows from YASTK on Etsy.
Tips for Selecting Textiles
Research before you go. Look for street markets and textile vendors before you arrive to your destination. You’ll have the best luck identifying famous markets in larger cities, but you never know where you may find a local market worth exploring.
Shop with a plan. Know where you might use the fabric once you get home, so you have an idea of the quantity you’ll need–you’ll need to tell the shopkeeper how much fabric you want in yards. A good rule of thumb we’ve used is a yard for a larger pillow; a half yard for just the front or back side of a smaller pillow.
Be discerning. Take your time sorting through the stacks of fabrics and making your selections. Once you ask the shopkeeper to cut the fabric, it’s yours.
Be open to imperfections. Look for high quality and consistency in the pattern. But also be open to imperfections—most of these fabrics are one of a kind and not mass produced for perfection!
Factor in production costs. This includes the cost of a seamstress (unless you sew!) and the pillow filling. Realize that in some cases, depending on the fabric you select and seller, you may just strike even–or you may luck out and save significantly versus what you could buy online.
You are currently browsing the Perpetually Chic blog archives for March, 2014.
