~Finding Beauty in the Simple Things~
The older I become, the more I enjoy the simple things in life…
A kiss on the cheek from a little one, a breathtaking rainbow in the sky, a kind smile, a piece of good chocolate, a mug of coffee- enjoyed in peace, a fuzzy pink bathrobe, a cuppa tea with my husband after a long day of parenting…
Ahh, the uncomplicated simplicity of the little blessings in life.
This week my post will be simple– in order to focus on a few simple, unassuming things: iced coffee, malted-milk fudge, and some exquisite vintage “love-hearts.”
Enchanting!
Come, read along to enjoy some English-Inspired, unfussy, delicious treats.
~English Chocolate~
As I have mentioned in a previous post, one of my favorite things to do while living in England, was to go for a walk and get a hot drink in a charming café -or pop into the local Morrisons, Tesco or Co-op and get my favorite treats… and for only a pound! Bargain!
I almost always chose a chocolate bar called Galaxy Chocolate. It was so scrumptious and smooth- my favorite chocolate of all time! Of course, living in England I was able to enjoy this treat regularly, but in America it is not readily available on the store shelves.
My thoughtful sister-in-law and nieces recently went on an international trip and had a stopover in Europe where they brought me back some Galaxy chocolate. I was so excited!
When I tasted the Galaxy chocolate… after not having had it for so long, I immediately thought of a malt milkshake.
I thought I would take a favorite fudge recipe and add malt powder to it, to see if I could re-create a taste of the Galaxy chocolate I enjoyed so much.
I also thought it would be fun to add some chopped Maltesers to the top. Maltesers are England’s form of a Whopper. It too, is a very smooth chocolate with a malted-milk center.
~Iced Coffee with Golden Syrup~
As summer is upon us, my husband has begun to transition from hot coffee, after work, to iced coffee. I have made iced coffee many times before, but after my flapjack post, I had golden syrup on my countertop- and the idea dawned on me to try the golden syrup in my iced coffee.
I also thought it would be fun to make some chocolate covered-coffee beans as a garnish, and a bit of extra-special, sweetness- as it reminds me of the strolls my husband and I took to coffee shops and tea rooms in England, when we were newlyweds.
For a fun touch, I used silicon molds to pour coffee into to create some adorable, frozen coffee flowers.
I hope you all enjoy my English-inspired iced coffee with golden syrup, homemade whipped cream, frozen coffee flower, and chocolate coated coffee beans.
May it give you energy and keep you cool!
~Vintage, Love Hearts!~
In England, they sometimes call hearts “love hearts.” And seeing as most people love… or shall I say… “love heart” chocolate and coffee…. I thought it was fitting to share two of my favorite thrifted/antique “love heart” finds.
The silver, heart basket was made in India. It was quite tarnished when I bought it, so I used a bit of elbow grease and some silver polish- and before long it became very shiny and beautiful.
I was initially drawn to the basket because it was a heart (I really do love hearts), and because of its small size. I thought it would be perfect for keys or jewelry or to hold some other small trinkets.
I also liked the basket weave as I thought it gave an interesting texture.
Once I cleaned it, I decided to use some fresh flowers (baby’s breath and pink roses) to weave through the basket- as a nod to its original woven design. Artificail flowers would work as well.
Now it looks so sweet, and it is the perfect hanging heart or candle/jewelry holder. A small revamp that made an impressive difference.
~A Bit of Vintage Embroidery~
A trip to the antique store proved fruitful, as I found a lovely vintage, embroidered, framed- art piece that features a “love heart,” and shares my love for being home.
From my “love hearts” to yours, I hope this post inspires you all to stop and appreciate the small, simple gifts that surround us in God’s, beautiful creation.
So go on, have a piece of English-inspired- chocolate fudge, a sip of iced coffee, and savor the moment you have been given.
…Until next time!
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