Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2023 i Southern Lady

SLICE OF THE PAST My shelves at home are overflowing with cookbooks new and old, with quite a few themed around vintage recipes from all over the South. While I don’t recall ever eating most of the old-fashioned dishes mentioned in their pages, I am a big believer in keeping regional culinary traditions alive. For this issue’s food feature on page 65, we thought it would be fun to create a party menu of desserts that capture classic Southern flavors, each with a little tweak to make it fresh. They are all delicious, but the real showstopper is the Lavender-Vanilla Layer Cake (pictured at left), which elicited blissful sighs when we first tasted it in our test kitchen. Pull out your favorite heirloom cake stand to boost its nostalgic appeal,…

When Elizabeth Wilson started posting her sewing projects to Instagram, she was simply sharing a new hobby. A teenager at the time, she never dreamed that the apparel she made for herself would lead to a thriving brand with sold-out collections. Nearly a decade after that first post, her eponymous company has a bevy of devoted clients who can’t get enough of its statement dresses, shirts, pants, and even capes. “I’m very inspired by fashion from the fifties and sixties, with all the feminine details, bright colors, and big skirts,” the Lexington-based designer says. Whimsical elegance is apparent in every garment from Elizabeth Wilson Designs, whose aesthetic blends quintessentially Southern materials like gingham, seersucker, and chambray with ruffles, tassels, and bows. She explains, “When I was little, we weren’t allowed…

The month of May brings lush blooms in sprightly colors as we draw upon nature’s palette to evoke high spirits for dining. Enhance a bouquet of freshly cut garden roses with a blossom-bordered menu artfully folded into a fan. Starting at one long edge, fold back and forth in narrow panels, accordion-style. Pinch together the folds at the bottom of the menu, fold up about 2 inches, and secure with a dainty ribbon, then gently spread out the opposite end. Place the fan on the table as an accent friends can keep to reflect upon time spent in good company. ››FOR DETAILED STEPS TO CREATE OUR FAN-FOLD MENU, GO TO SOUTHERNLADYMAGAZINE.COM.…

A NOD TO NOSTALGIA Luscious slices of cake and pie atop vintage dessert plates accompany freshly brewed tea in floral teacups as gentle chatter wafts through this feminine setting. Myriad artful designs dance along dishes and lace-fringed linens upon a flowery powder-pink tablecloth, providing the perfect sentimental vibe. The dainty palette is mirrored in arrangements placed around the scene, brimming with pink and white peonies, garden roses, Gerbera daisies, tulips, and other blooms that perfume the room. Sweet indulgences like Blackberry Shortcake Trifles and Fresh Peach Crumble Bars satisfy all on hand for such a genial affair. Fresh Peach Crumble Bars MAKES 12 TO 14 3 cups all-purpose flour1¼ cups granulated sugar, divided¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar¾ cup plain yellow cornmeal2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest1 teaspoon kosher salt¾…

COVER See Summertime Spell. COMING UP ROSES Page 14: (Top right) Event planning; Caroline Serbin of Ethereal Events Collective. Floral designs; Susanne Slade Kelly of Stone’s Throw Floral Co. Tablescape; Diane Horinek Murray of Grands Rentals. Large crystals; Body Mind & Soul Houston. (Bottom left) Event planning; Allison Livingston Events. Floral designs; Aelish Lascoe of Tin Cup Flower Co. and Danika Murphy. PAINTERLY EXPRESSIONS Pages 17–18: For information on products, visit Lo Home, Tristan & Bruce, Beach Road, and MEL online. AIR OF MAJESTY Pages 27–28: Haviland Impératrice Eugénie salad plate; Replacements, Ltd. Kintyno Bamboo Knuckles napkin rings in gold; Amazon. Herend Chinese Bouquet dinner plate in green; Herend Fish Scale teacup and saucer in jade; Capdeco Conty flatware in white; Bromberg’s. Page 29: Royal Limoges Oasis dinner plate in…

Uncoiling violets spiral forth in a dainty dance around the rim of the regal Impératrice Eugénie salad plate by Haviland, enlivening this floriferous scene. A subdued companion plate and crisp, white-handled flatware combine for a tranquil mood that befits a summer afternoon. Accented by an emerald-tinted water goblet, the woven place mat and muted napkin let the whorls of the inspiration pattern shine like a field of wildflowers fluttering in the midday sun. A graceful teacup lends a note of refinement to the pristine vignette. Seasonal glory abounds in leaves and stems complemented in verdancy by a simple charger and gilt-adorned dinner plate. The trio of dishes grounds a dashing floral tablecloth that speaks to garden diversions, while the indigo napkin as well as the restrained crystal and silverware balance…

Bold blooms cloak the half-acre plot in Virginia’s Mount Vernon known as Foxhill Garden, sprawling lushly across land once owned by George Washington that now acts as a muse for calligrapher Laura Hooper in her ardent pursuit of a gracious lifestyle. “My calligraphy business is based on my hobby of loving art and artful living, but it’s hard to have a hobby when it’s also your job. This [gardening] became a new hobby that I didn’t know I loved until I started doing it,” says Laura, owner of Laura Hooper Design House, which has added gardening kits and designs to the calligraphy services and wedding invitation suites. A decade ago, Laura’s husband accepted a job at the Pentagon, and they moved from her home state of California to this quaint,…

PLEIN AIR BLISS Cheerful lettuce ware, wicker chargers, and bamboo accents mingle among dahlias, roses, and hydrangeas to heighten the natural charm of this luncheon’s grassy locale. Napkins featuring sky blue embroidery coordinate with the checkered tablecloth and plush floral pillows for a touch of elegance. Refreshing under the summer sun, Rose Water Lemonade and Chilled Peach Soup are accompanied by herbaceous yeast rolls and Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad. The sweet finale—Raspberry Panna Cotta garnished with fruit, mint, and dollops of cream—is perfectly portioned in etched coupe glasses that reprise the tabletop’s floral motif. Rose Water Lemonade MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS 2 cups granulated sugar2 cups water5 cups cold water2 cups ice, plus more for serving2 cups fresh lemon juice2 teaspoons rose waterGarnish: lemon slices, edible petals 1. In…

MAY FLOWERS The heady fragrance of fresh petals fills a bright sunroom that beckons guests to bask in its joyous warmth. Shades of blush, lilac, and cornflower accent glassware, linens, and pillows, taking inspiration from an arrangement of peonies, carnations, snapdragons, and delphinium. A charger edged with a ring of posies frames the vivid motif on the classic Mottahedeh Tobacco Leaf dishware. The textured white cloth layered under a vivacious floral print makes the setting all the more lovely with soft natural light streaming in and vistas of the greenery just beyond. EXQUISITE APPEAL Scalloped place mats and matching napkins tucked into golden lattice rings heighten the botanical theme of the tableau. Silver touches brighten the display in the form of petite dishes for salt and pepper; atop a white…

White Wine Sangria Punch MAKES 10 TO 12 SERVINGS 3 (750-milliliter) bottles dry white wine*1 cup orange-flavored liqueur*1 cup elderflower liqueur*1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced1 cup sliced cucumber2 limes, thinly sliced1 lemon, thinly sliced½ cup fresh mint leaves3 cups sparkling water2 cups lemon-lime soda2 cups green grapes, frozen2 cups diced honeydew melon, frozenGarnish: fresh mint sprigs 1. In a large pitcher, stir together wine, orange-flavored liqueur, and elderflower liqueur until combined. Stir in apple, cucumber, lime, lemon, and mint. Chill until ready to serve. 2. Before serving, stir in sparkling water, soda, grapes, and melon. Garnish with mint, if desired. *We used Pinot Grigio, Cointreau, and St-Germain. Ginger Citrus Punch MAKES 10 TO 12 SERVINGS 1½ cups sugar1½ cups water3 cups cold water2 cups fresh lemon juice1 cup ginger juice*8…