Hostess Gift – Francois et Moi

Culinary Lavender Sea Salt

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 03:16:23 +0000

Lavender is my fave. I love the aroma and flavor, and try to sneak it into just about everything, both in the kitchen and DIY projects whenever possible. So I’m surprised (and a bit disappointed in myself!) that it never dawned on me to make lavender sea salt. I’m not talking about lavender bath salts (which are also lovely); I’m talking the edible kind that adds that je ne sais quoi when sprinkled on anything from homemade pot de creme to crackers to rimmed grapefruit margarita glasses. Fellow blogger, Nina Graham of Frippery and Curiosities, opened my eyes to it when she mentioned that my homemade herb cracker recipe was a great way to put her lavender sea salt to good use. Of course, I heard the words lavender and sea salt and knew I needed to get my hands on some! I used Cypriot Pyramid Sea Salt which is naturally occurring sea salt from Cyprus that forms in the shape of tiny pyramids (!!) and is conveniently available at Trader Joe’s right now (also available online). It’s a bit on the pricier side, so I filled out the recipe with coarse sea salt which is available in bulk at almost every grocery store. I went with a more specialty salt because not only did I make some for myself, but I also packed up a […]

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Paperwhite Bulb Kit

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 14:11:41 +0000

Last week, right after we turned the corner from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I stopped in to Trader Joe’s for my weekly grocery stop and was delighted by their newly staged Holiday floral section that greeted me as I walked in. Nestled amongst the fresh red berry branches and coniferous wreaths, were mini Paperwhite Bulb Kits that immediately caught my attention. The kits included everything needed to start a paperwhite plant and were enclosed in a pretty, mini metallic gold pot, so I thought I’d stock up on a few for quick hostess gifts this season. I always think flowers are a good idea when it comes to hostess gifts, as they are truly the gift that keeps right on giving. Below was my strategy for getting the bulb kits gift-ready. Materials List: Trader Joe’s Bulb Kit Rifle Paper Co Holiday Greens Wrapping Paper from Paper Source Gold Pen Scissors Black and White Baker’s Twine 6.5″ – 7″ Diameter Bowl T-square Ruler Step 1. Place bowl upside down on the wrong side of the wrapping paper, and trace around the bowl. Step 2. Cut circle out with scissors. Step 3. Place the gold pot upside down on the center of the circle […]

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Indigo Tea Towels

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:23:55 +0000

When the Holiday party season takes full swing, I’m typically scrambling for thoughtful hostess gifts -something a little more creative than a bottle of wine. In all seriousness, a nice red tied with a bow is usually what I end up with, as it’s just so easy. This year though, I’m trying to think ahead. Since fun tea towels are something we don’t often buy for ourselves (but are so nice to have around), I’m thinking these little numbers might just do the trick! Materials: Indigo Dye Kit (Indigo Dye, Reducing Agent, Rubber Gloves, Rubber Bands, Wood Blocks) Flour Sack Cotton Tea Towels 5 Gallon Bucket Plastic Tarp or something to protect the ground below A Stir Stick long enough to reach the bottom of the bucket. I used a wood paint stick. It was just long enough, but I’d recommend a longer one if you have one. A String and Clothespins to hang your drying tea towels. Step 1: Setup your work area. Lay the plastic tarp down and string your clothesline. It’s best to do this outside. I set everything up on our apartment balcony. Step 2: Mix up your dye vat according to the kit instructions and let […]

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