{Antique French Christofle Napkin Ring for 'Service for One'}

This Antique French Christofle Napkin Ring might help you in setting a romantic mood for a Service for ONE. When it rains outside or on a cold(er) day, why not re-create the times of the Titanic or the Orient Express within your own sanctuary. Or bringing your loved one breakfast in bed... When using such romantic Rose China it will lift up your spirits, even on the darkest of days. This is the Royal Albert Princess Anne and some pieces are available at Replacements Ltd. The Christofle napkin ring was available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

Flatware is Gero Zilmeta Menuet 528

Linen napkin with cutlery, tucked all inside the napkin ring...

Service For One, Please...

Elegance like this antique French Christofle napkin ring will for sure bring a smile.

Christofle is still selling high quality silver plated napkin rings. Look at Christofle 

Sorry Sold out...

ENJOY!

{Enjoy some Fig Cake with Tea Jelly!}

For you I did bake some Fig Cake and made also the Tea Jelly to go with it. Recipe follows below. So let's have a cup of tea with a slice of this home baked cake! The flavor of the Tea Jelly gives it a surprising taste. When figs are no longer in season you can also use apple, pear or peach.

Because it is still way too hot outside, I served it inside...

The China seen here is Mandalay Chartreuse by Mason's ←Click hyperlink to see some pieces at Replacements, Ltd.  

Mason's is part of Wedgwood, read more here: Christie's Mandalay by Mason's

The spoon inside the jar with tea jelly is a silver Alvin Bridal Rose.

Okay, for those of you that would love to have the recipe, I will list it here below.

Fig Cake

225 g whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

150 g butter or margarine softened at room temperature

175 g sugar

¾ cup of egg beaters or other low cholesterol product

zest of 1 lemon

250 g fresh figs cut into small pieces

75 g sliced almonds

Cake mold of 22 cm (8½"), greased

Preheat the oven at 320° F (160°C).

Blend the flour, baking powder and salt.

Whip the butter with the sugar till it is creamy and add bit by bit the egg beaters.

With a spatula carefully blend in the lemon zest, the flour mixture, the figs and the almonds.

Spoon the dough into the cake mold and bake the cake in 1¾ hour till light brown.

Let the cake cool down and serve in slices, with the tea jelly.

Tea Jelly

For two jars of tea jelly:

Pour 3⅓ dl boiling water over 50 g earl grey tea (or tea of your choice) with one cinnamon stick. Let this tea with the cinamon stick steep for 10 min. Bring the tea with 500 g sugar and Certo with 1½ tablespoon lemon juice to a boil and let this boil for approx. 4 min. Pour the jelly through a sieve into clean jars. Close the jars immediately and let them stand upside down on their lids for about 5 min.

I did not use loose tea but instead I took 10 bags of Black tea with Mango from Trader Joe's.

For Dutch readers, they can use the Van Gilse Geleisuiker met 1 zakje gelei poeder. 

German readers also have access to Gelierzucker und bestimmt gibt es auch Gelierpuder. 

I have not used the Certo but it should be calculated for the amount of sugar and liquid.

To use my oven more efficiently I always bake two cakes together.

Just a small 24" German Miele oven...

Voilà...

The extra cake makes a great gift for a friend, complete with a jar of tea jelly...

{YOUR Silver Belt Loop Jewelry}

For spicing up your jeans, shorts or other pants/skirts, I have a great idea. Look for some of your vintage silver charms and combine them with new Italian pieces. On a medium silver key ring from Giovanni Raspini Charms & Co you can hang them all together on a belt loop. Have a look  at: Spectrenoir. See how I have combined them with some of my vintage pieces...
Sorry, Key Rings are ALL SOLD OUT... only some Angel Charms!

An old silver charm with the Statue of Liberty hangs with a P and M Alphabet Angel on a Medium Key Ring from Giovanni Raspini Charms & Co, Italy.

Seen here on my Marc Cain shorts with Escada top...

Here I wear my Apriori 7 top with Marc Cain pants and Marc Cain wedges.

Did combine two of my vintage silver charms with two alphabet angels on a medium key ring.

We love our windmill palm and it is getting some height too.

You see, instead of {My Giovanni Raspini in Vogue Italy - Jeans & Bling Blings} (click it) you can just add a little silver to spice things up!