Midweek Treats: Raisin Petits Fours

As today was a bit of a wash-out with the weather, I decided to get out my favourite recipe book, The Art of French Baking, and have a go at some petits fours. There were loads of different flavours, from coffee, cherry and orange, but I decided to stick with the classically simple raisin version. This is how they turned out:

Yum! If you like the look of them, here's how to make them:

Ingredients:

 90g  softened butter

120g caster sugar

240g plain flour

125g raisins

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180°c and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper
• Mix the eggs with the sugar and the vanilla extract
• Separately, combine the flour with the baking powder. Then stir into egg mixture
• Add the softened butter
• Stir in the raisins
• Form mixture into mini mounds and place on the baking tray 
• Bake for 15 minutes

*Recipe make 12 petits fours*

I ate mine with a big mug of coffee whilst watching day-time TV; a great way to waste a rainy afternoon if you ask me :-) 

{Image: Laura Blanksby for High Street Home, using Instagram; Recipe adapted from The Art of French Baking, Phaidon}

Isabelle Pink

Isabelle Pink: the wallpaper for my new bedroom?

Isn't it just so pretty? So fresh and Spring-like. I think it would look great as a feature wall in the bedroom, just behind the bed. Though if it's a little too girly for the OH, maybe it can be used in the utility room, as I don't think he'd go in there very much anyway! For those wondering it's by British designer Ella Doran, and can be found here.

{Images: Ella Doran}

ON TREND: Kilim

My, it has been a while since I was last here! Thank you all so much for sticking around, it's so nice to know you are all still here. The OH and I have been looking for our new home and it's taking up every free second that we have! Exhausting work, but hopefully it will all be worth it in the end and I'll be able to share our new pad with you! But back to business and today I want to share with you the latest trend in interior decoration, and one that I like a LOT: the kilim.

Kilims, pile-less woven rugs, have been used in households in the Middle East and southern Europe for centuries. Now, these beautiful textiles seem to be the latest 'must-have' in western interiors. Not only are they great for adding a splash of colour and texture to a room, they are also really versatile and can fit in almost any room in the house. The photo below is of Refinery29's office space.

The mixed-matched cushions look fantastic together don't they?

Kilims also look great in the home environment and this highly decorative rug below adds interest to a fairly plain room.

Again, in this hallway below, the kilim rug just completely makes the room. It's also a lovely neutral version compared to the red, burgundy and maroons ones we are used to seeing.

The kilim also works in the kitchen environment, an area that is normally a no-go area for rugs and textiles. This beautiful white, industrial-style kitchen instantly feels more homely with the addition of the rug. It brings a bit of softness to a harsh colour palette.

Kilims even work outside and can help create a cosy little snug in a conservatory or porch area, as seen in the photo on the left. Also, an original idea I came across on Design*Sponge this week was to use a beautiful rug as a tablecloth and this kilim looks GORGEOUS as a table-runner for a little al-fresco dining.

Owning an original kilim will set you back a good few hundred pounds and should be bought from specialists in this craft. However Anthropologie do a great selection of decorative rugs if you want the look for less.

1. Vilcanota rug, Anthropologie; 2. Agadir twist rug, Anthropologie.

Kilim cushions are more readily available than the rugs and this selection below, along with a whole lot more, can be found on Etsy.

1. Turkish kilim cushion cover, Etsy; 2. Handwoven cushion cover, Etsy; 3. Turkish Anadolu cushion cover, Etsy; 4. Handwoven cushion cover, Etsy.

{Images: Design*Sponge; Apartment Therapy; Pinterest: Poppytalk; Style Files; Design*Sponge, Anthropologie; Etsy}

Trinkets and Treasures

Wow, look at these pretty little trinket boxes I came across today! Aren't they so sweet?

No need to bake when you've got one of these macaroon-replica trinket boxes in your life. You can even have a selection of different colours. But lets pretend they're different flavours 'cos that's way more fun!

They are made by The Cross and can be bought on-line here.

{All images: The Cross}