A Day at Terrain

As you’ve probably noticed, Terrain is one of my very favorite places on the web. For a long time now, I’ve dreamed about visiting their store in Glen Mills, PA, and earlier this week, that dream came true! I was invited, along with a small group of other bloggers, to spend a day at Terrain at Styers. The happy dance I did when that email landed in my inbox was epic, let me tell you.



The mushroom hut.



The day the team at Terrain put together was magnificent. We toured the 3 acre property, created terrariums, did lots of shopping in the store, had mini spa treatments, ate some fantastic food, and got to hang out with some really interesting & kind people.

I'm going to attempt to share some of my experience with you here, so be warned, there are lots and lots of photos!




The sweet and salty cake!

One of the highlights of the day for me was meeting the guys from Baked, who are incredibly nice. They stopped by at lunch and we got to try out some of their famous cakes. The sweet & salty is absolutely to die for. It’s haunted my dreams every night since.









A plant display - inside the store!

The store it’s self is like my own personal heaven. Something beautiful is around every corner. I stocked up on weck jars!





I was ridiculously excited about the terrariums, I’d wanted to make one for ages!


I gave mine a “forest floor” feel, thanks for the photo, Ez!











I hadn’t realized just how big the nursery part of Terrain is, there are plants absolutely everywhere. The sections are broken up by huge, beautiful doors. It’s enchanting.











The displays throughout the store are so great. A touch messy, they look like life, just really well styled.







To end the day, we had a outstanding 7 course dinner at their cafe, filled with some of the best food I’ve ever had. It was the perfect end note for a perfect day.

If you ever have the chance, I would definitely recommend a trip to the store. Be sure to allot a good chunk of time for your visit, you can easily get lost in the beauty. I left the store wishing I could just move in. Put me a cot in a back corner and I would have been a happy camper!

Huge thanks to the team at Terrain for hosting a day I won't forget!

Terrain
914 Baltimore Pike
Glen Mills, PA
610-459-2400
styers.shopterrain.com

Things I'm loving...

Kinfolk Magazine, a gorgeous new publication that features the work of some of my favorite bloggers. It’s simple, uncontrived and incredibly beautiful.

This popsicle mold. Is that not the most perfect popsicle shape?



And this Paletas book to go with it.




This pressed leaf ring. Prettiest ring I’ve ever seen.

Gorgeous blogs, some new to me, others old favorites.

Always With Butter



Photisserie



Green Kitchen Stories



Food In Jars





Okra, one of my favorite summer foods. If you cut it into strips, dip it in egg, then in a mixture of breadcrumbs & paprika (and a little salt & pepper), then bake it at 400 for about 15 minutes, you get a delightfully crunchy snack, and a little bit healthier than the normal deep fried preparation.

This article on “The Beer Archaeologist”




The most perfect tablecloth ever? I think so.


So tell me, what’s caught your eye lately?

Black Tea & Blackberry Sorbet

Down the winding gravel road that leads to my home there’s a large spray of wild blackberry bushes. They are brambly things, completely overgrown, not taken care of by anyone in particular, free for the taking.



Each year we do lots of blackberry picking. Sometimes it’s all of us, a family affair, other times not. This time around it was my sister & I, and two of our sweet dogs. They followed us there and sniffed around a bit before seeing a deer and running off after it. Sarah & I walked to the patch around dusk, as it’s far too hot in the middle of the day, even with the fading light we were sweating up a storm, but despite that and getting all scratched up from the briars, it’s totally worth it! Fresh berries! For free!



I wanted to try something new with them this year, I was originally going to make a plain blackberry sorbet, but then I thought of this. We’re combining two of my favorite things, berries and sweet tea! It’s oh so good, super refreshing and so perfect for summer. I can already see this becoming a staple for these hot months.



The vodka used here is to keep the sorbet from freezing into a solid mass. It keeps is scoopable! Also, sometimes tea gets bitter if it’s steeped too long. taste yours, if it is, add a pinch of baking soda!



Black Tea-Blackberry Sorbet

2 cups water
2 regular tea bags
1 cup sugar
3 cups fresh or frozen blackberries, if frozen, let thaw completely
1 tbs vodka
2 tbs lemon juice

Bring water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat, add tea bags and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags, add sugar and heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool completely.

Puree blackberries in a food processor, then push through mesh sieve to remove seeds. Add vodka and lemon juice. Add to tea, then pour back through sieve.

Process the mixture in an ice cream maker, according to manufacturers instructions.

Peach Blueberry Pie

Today is a fantastic day. Do you know why? It’s a Pie Party! A few food bloggers were chatting on twitter and somehow this happened. Pretty awesome, right?



I love pie, but I only make it a couple of times of year, In fact, I’m pretty sure the the last one I made was exactly a year ago. I should do it more, because though mine taste good, they always, always fall apart! I haven’t figured out why yet, but I’m working on it. (albeit very slowly. ;)

I went all-American this time around, for Independence day. Peaches & blueberries. Perfect for enjoying while watching fireworks.



Peach Blueberry Pie

Pie Crust:
From Martha Stewart

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.

With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream through feed tube. Pulse until dough holds together without being wet or sticky; be careful not to process more than 30 seconds. To test, squeeze a small amount together: If it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disc and wrap in plastic. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour. Dough may be stored, frozen, up to 1 month.

Filling:
5 peaches, peeled and sliced
3 cups blueberries
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
juice of 1/2 lemon

1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc of dough into a 12-inch round, 1/8-inch thick. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Set aside in the refrigerator.

In a large bowl, combine peaches, blueberries, sugar, flour, and lemon juice, toss to combine. Pour into pie plate, mounding in the center. Roll second disc of dough into a 12-inch round, 1/8 inch thick. Wet edges of the crust in the plate, then lay dough on top, pressing at edges to seal. Cut vents into top crust. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.


Remove pie from refrigerator. Brush crust with egg wash, then sprinkle with sugar. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes, until crust is browned at edges. Turn oven down to 350, bake for another 40-50 minutes.

Enjoy!