Renee's Garden Seeds: Thrilled with Nasturtiums

I'm opening this post with a photo of my deck last July - I needed a #goals photo after the cold wet Spring we've been having to remind me what is coming and what to plan for. Last summer was the first time I committed to a collidescope of color palette and I loved it. Beautiful pops of pink, orange lavender, yellow against bright green leaves. 

I have been letting small 1 quart hydrangeas grow larger in my pots and I found that planting one or two nasturtiums seedlings (that I sprouted in Jiffy Seed Starting Greenhouses in peat pellets) at the edge of the hydrangea pot has become a great companion plant. The nasturtiums grow and fluff beautifully and really fill in the hydrangea.

The nasturtium seeds can be planted right into the ground when the timing is right, of course, but I like to get them started early when I'm ready to garden. These examples (below) have only been planted about a week and they are doing fantastic!

I am a garden communicator and member of GardenComm (remember when I was Regional Director for a few years?) by Renee's Garden Seeds and I am generously given a credit toward some free seeds by Renee's Garden. Thank you! 

I can't wait to see these colors come to life, especially Cherries Jubilee. And I am thrilled to try the Heirloom Electric Blue Sweet Peas. Stay tuned, as the these seeds will light up my blog and @FindDelight all summer long.

#reneesgarden #seeds #nasturtiums #growfromseed #pnw #gardener #springgarden #edibleflowers #gardencomm

Perfect Puzzle & Considering A Clock: El Mercado Latino

Knowing how much I love packaging, you know I had to take a photograph of this impeccable shop. This is El Mercado Latino in Pike Place Market in Seattle and I was struck by their beautiful shelves. Their attention to detail is spectacular.

I asked the shop keeper if I could take a photograph, praising her display and it was all I could do to keep myself from telling her that it would make a great puzzle. A high compliment. Frankly, I also think this image could be turned into a beautiful pattern for fabric. I was mesmerized. Do you see it too?

She was thinking: ingredients, recipes, inventory. 

My friends were rushing up the street so I didn't linger, but boy oh boy. 

I love to cook, but I think I love design and packaging more. I stared at the shelves wondering if I could make one of those boxes into a clock. Have you seen my kitchen clocks? I hope she didn't think I was searching for something she didn't have. I was simply admiring her work.

#latinmarket #seattle #visualvitamins #smallbusiness 

Cath Kidston Cupcake Papers: Making Khaki Cute

A few years ago I wanted to try making my grandmother's caramel frosting.  I had an ever changing audience of family members at the cottage and I knew that even if the cupcakes weren't perfect, it would be a welcome snack after a swim in the lake.

However, I am driven by the Power of Cute. I couldn't imagine setting out a plate of drab khaki cupcakes. Caramel frosting is delicious, but it isn't pretty. I like it when my audience is excited about a bite before they even try it.

Thank heaven for Cath Kidston. My favorite British designer saves the day again. My mom gets some credit too, as she found this darling Cath Kidston cupcake kit and gave it to me for my birthday. I've been saving them for the right occasion. 

Light brown frosting is the right occasion. Don't they look great? And they were delicious. I am going to make the recipe one more time and then I'll share it with you. 

#cathkidston #cupcakes #caramelanythingisgood #powerofcute

Modern May Day: Seed Packets

Who wouldn't love to receive a May Day surprise like this in the mail? Axios Seattle asked me about the May Day tradition of leaving a posy of flowers on a neighbor's doorknob in honor of the 1st of May. We all love the idea of it, but times have changed and most of our dear friends and relatives are far flung. 

Even if your tribe lives in Seattle, asking anyone to deliver something after work to a handful of addresses across our great city is frankly too big of an ask. But wait! The mail carriers do that already.

I've put a delightful modern spin on the charm of delivering May Day baskets. Read all about it in today's issue of Axio Seattle. 

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/04/20/may-day-tradition-modern

#mayday #finddelight #momentsofdelight #maydaybaskets #seedpackets 

Hot Chocolate & Great Books

It’s been so very cold here in Seattle that this favorite photo I took in England came to mind.

We were in Stoke on Trent at the Emma Bridgewater factory in 2010 and these darling mugs made for drinking hot chocolate filled the table. I had to take a photo.

I shouldn’t want hot chocolate now, but there have been snow flurries and a dampness lately that simply calls for a warm drink. Downright weird this late in spring. At least I tell myself it’s weird until I remember Rosamunde Pilcher and her book Snow In April. I loved reading all of her novels years ago and I have been thinking about finding them on my kindle and working my way through her body of work all over again. Her most famous book is called The Shell Seekers and I’m sure I’ve read it 3 times. Her books are set in England after the war with sweeping vistas of the sea near Cornwall. The stories are about families, traditions and life moving on in a place that never seems to change. There are lots of old roses, tumblers of whiskey and deep conversations by the seashore. I think you’d love everything about these books. And that sometimes life feels weird and then it snows…in April. 

#books #snowinapril #emmabridgewater #coldspring

Delightful Jell-O Salad

Do you hear music too? And I don't mean because of Instagram reels. I mean because this Jell-O is so darn beautiful. I served this at our teeny-tiny Easter for 3, but you could wow a whole group if you wanted to. Every piece comes out this well, just take your time and serve it to your guests by serving it for them with a brownie spatula pan-to-plate. Have a delightful meal.

Delightful Jell-O Salad 

Boiling water

6 (4-serving size) boxes of different flavors of classic Jell-O

1 large carton of sour cream

Choose a glass rectangular pan, about 13 x 9 or slightly smaller. Spray with plain non-stick cooking spray. Stir 1 1/4 cups of boiling water into 1 package of Jell-O. Stir until dissolved. Pour 3/4 of that mixture into the pan. Place in the refrigerator. Leave the balance of the warm Jell-O on the counter to cool to room temperature. When the Jell-O in the pan has set, it is time to make the creamy layer. Mix 3 Tablespoons of room temperature sour cream into the remaining liquid Jell-O on the counter. Whisk gently until the sour cream is incorporated and there are no lumps. Having both ingredients at room temperature helps this. Slowly pour the creamy mixture onto the set Jell-O in the pan. Use the bowl of the spoon to slow down the stream of liquid, so that the pouring liquid doesn't dent the layer below. Tip the pan to coat the entire first layer in creamy Jell-O, if necessary. Repeat until all of your layers are built.

To serve, slice into squares with a knife and lift out with a small spatula, or use a scalloped cutter as I did, the results are so satisfying. Serve from the pan; it can only be moved once - pan to plate.

*Tips:

Be sure to let each layer set before proceeding to the next. I make a few layers each day and it seems easier.

Buy flavors that are different colors so that each layer looks distinct. You can find Vegan flavored gelatin choices in stores and online, but I used classic Jell-O.

#jello #rainbowsalad #colorfulfood #springmenu #prettyfood

Having Fun at Easter

Happy Easter to all who celebrate! 

I had a lot of fun in the kitchen this year puttering around and making things as the spirit moved me. I had successes and failures but it felt like I was right where I was supposed to be. 

Since we moved to Seattle, our Easter dinners are tiny. Just the 3 of us and lots of time on the phone. But curbing my Easter falderal just because I'm not hosting a dinner for 10, doesn't really feel like me, so I don't. I make a lot of food with special dishes, even though only three of us are eating.

I make different things each year and this year I decided to try out my new chocolate rabbit mold (results above). He's great! I learned a bit about how to fill the mold so that the 2 sides fit together better, but it worked well enough for my little display. 

Last week I made rainbow layered Jell-O. I baked shortbread bunny-on-a-stick cookies. I baked individual egg-shaped cakes covered in poured fondant (Loved it, btw. Why have I not been making poured fondant??) and I froze little lemon pear bunnies for the side of the salad. It was great. 

Dan loves my own private Spring Baking Championship too because every night this week he's been able to eat a bunny shortbread cookie while we watched tv. 

Celebrating is what you make it. Baking should be whatever makes sense to you and Cute is forever.

#finddelight #springbaking #eggcupcakes #chocolaterabbit #easter #easterbaking

Cherry Blossom Bonanza in Fall City

I am someone who points out pink blossoms. Do you know someone like that? Who names the tree and points to its fantastic display of color as they drive along. This year, Dan and I heard that Fall City was in full bloom and when we arrived we pulled over. This was something that was short-lived and needed to be enjoyed up close.

Fall City is a small town on the backroad route near our house. 

While we were there we perused an antique shop called The Vintage Flea and stopped in the library to look over their selection. Then we drove to North Bend, WA for a latte at Hutdotter Coffee. It was a glorious spring day and I pointed out cherries, magnolia and forsythia every chance I got.

#springblossoms #bloomingtrees #fallcitywa