10.1.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, and welcome to Women's World on Radio I. As
a reminder, RADIOI is a reading service intended for people
who are blind or have other disabilities that make it
difficult to reap it in material. Today I will be
reading from Better Homes Than Gardens magazine dated September twenty
twenty five, and other publications as time allows. Your host

(00:25):
today is Rosemary. Newspaper and magazine articles presented in Women's
World or for general information only. RADIOI does not endure
or recommend any of the subjects mentioned. Bookmarked, spotted, loved
and saved, Smart ideas, big style. A new wave of

(00:48):
standout decorating ingenuity is flooding our inspiration boards. These are
the seven trends we can't stop talking about. We'll take
the booth. We're pretty sure Baby would be happy to
put in this corner. Dining banquettes are as stylish as

(01:10):
they are practical, which is probably why they've become so popular.
They're not only an impressive way to pack in personality,
but they're a big space save or too. Unlike with chairs,
you don't need to allow space to pull seats out. Instead,

(01:30):
the benches snuggle right up to the wall. The best part.
If you can't go custom, there are tons of viable
options that don't need to be built in hang time.

(01:52):
Picturerells are hardly a new idea. They've been common in
Europe for centuries, but they're having a significant renaissance, especially
in the form of a brass rail and chains. We
love how Wendy law of at the Windy Home uses
her rail to display mirrors, sculptures and even plants. Plus,

(02:17):
hanging one rail is so much easier on your walls
than a splatter of nail holes mood lighting. The mood
is sophisticated, seam stealing, and easy to install. When it
comes to the latest trend in light fixtures, we're all

(02:38):
in on artful plug in wall sconces in eye catching
silhouettes and mixed materials that go anywhere and everywhere without
calling the electrician. The gentle, wavelike shape of the shade
is especially pleasing and ease. Plug in walsconced in for

(03:00):
one hundred and forty nine dollars at west Elm dot com.
A hidden bulb casts light upward. The disc at the
top reflects and diffuses it for soft ambient glow. This
by Mante pictured by Troy lighting for three hundred and
ninety two dollars from Lumens dot Com. Natural raffia and

(03:23):
washed linen surround a gold tipped center bulb. The bulb
is sold separately. This fixture is two hundred and thirty
four dollars. A zigzag brass arms give this modern double
sconce a playful edge. Dellan Double is the source for
five hundred and four dollars. The biggest bathroom trend of

(03:49):
the year. Two colors of tile in two different sizes
laid in a dynamic pattern. In this powder room pictured
by architectural designer erdem Humza, squares and rectangles in pink
and white create an elongated checkered efect that looks at

(04:13):
once graphic and organic. Continuing with the trends, pattern play
wood floors painted and stained in geometric patterns are popping
up everywhere. The treatment can transform an ordinary space, refresh

(04:34):
a worn out floor, or p homage to the history
of a home, sometimes all at the same time. In
the breakfast room of this nineteen twenties Charleston home, which
is pictured below, the interior designer Betsy Berry used a
patterned treatment to marry the new floors in the space

(04:55):
with the original pine floors elsewhere in the house. The
finished effect looks like it could be original, bridging old
and new. Get the look ready made. Don't love the look,
but don't want to overhaul your floors. Mirth Studios Charleston

(05:17):
Timbers collection offers patterned planks and a plethora of patterns
and colors. They're made of engineered hardwood and installed via
click and lock, even over an existing hard floor. The
next trend wallpaper borders. If you have not found If

(05:42):
you have not so fond memories of the last time
wallpaper borders were in hear us out. The new versions
are chaker and more understated, while still packing a style punch,
especially the way designers are wielding them to outline and
amplify architectural details like baseboards and trim. Used in this

(06:08):
more subtle and modern way, borders add a touch of
pattern to painted walls and help a space feel thoughtful
and finished, like the exclamation point at the end of
a sentence. Today's wallpaper borders come in a vast range

(06:30):
of styles and wifs. Wider options make a bold statement
like the pictured above or a trim below, while thinner
borders like the ones by Studio Atkinson, which is pictured
on the page, offer tons of install options, such as
creating a paneled wall effect or wrapping doorways and window frames.

(06:56):
Next into the woods high up in California San Bernardino Mountains,
a pair of creatives recast a cabin in the trees
with cosmopolitan edge forest bathing. Never looked so good. A
high low mix that incorporates thrifted objects, vintage pieces, and

(07:20):
well loved items from their previous homes hens that the
creative lives of owners Alexis Porches and Ben Anderson. Morano
glass pendants hang over the honed marble dining table. Bold
trim pops against the verdant backdrop. Ben Anderson and Alexis

(07:44):
Borges love a project. On the very first night in
their weekend home, a three level cabin built in nineteen
eighty four, Alexis knocked out a wall to improve the
view of the San Bernardino Mountains. A few weeks later,
Ben had the doors of the kitchen cabinet scattered across

(08:05):
the floor for a midnight paint session, and when the
former partners turned friends found a set of brutalist chairs
on the side of the road. There was no question
that Ben would recain the backs and seats himself. Still,
they knew when to leave well enough alone. We saw

(08:28):
at least thirty houses, and there wasn't another one like
this in terms of look and feel in the position
of the window, says Ben, a ceramics artist based in
North California who also manages an arts nonprofit. It's a
totally custom home, so we approached it with the idea

(08:51):
of what we could add to compliment the house versus
taking away. That meant embracing the earthy wood panel walls
the dominated most rooms, maintaining the plank vaulted ceilings, and
celebrating the individually acid washed tiles that were original to

(09:13):
the vanity and shower area in the primary bathroom. We
couldn't possibly touch that, Alexis says. We wanted to make
sure the integrity of the house was intact. To do
that while putting their own stamp on the place, the
pair took to do it yourself approach, infusing the home

(09:38):
with what Ben calls a controlled maximilism. They incorporated vintage
pieces reclaimed from previous homes, colorful objects found on their travels,
and bold artwork made by friends and Alexis himself who

(10:00):
it was the West Coast president of the Next Model
Management and is also opening an artist's retreat in the area.
When they needed to break up the large expanses of
the wood clad interior, such as the chair railings and
the kitchen walls and cabinetry, paint provided a valuable tool.

(10:23):
There's a lot of wood panelings, so we had to
make some adjustments benches. There were moments when we needed
some differentiation to brighten and amp up the cleanness. The
resulting mix, including furnishings that softened the architecture's rough edges,
gives the house a bohemian sophistication that's both funky and refined.

(10:51):
In the second floor media room, for example, a leopard
print trunk from Indonesia double says a coffee table next
to a pair of floral armchairs found at the Rolls
Bowl flea market. Meanwhile, the bedrooms lean into a cozy

(11:12):
cabin esthetic with colorful, bold wool blankets that recall summer
camp stripes. The pair treat the house like an evolving
campus as they experiment to incorporate things they love. People
get places set and they stay that way. But this

(11:33):
house changes constantly. Ben says, it's all quite eclectic, but
it feels very appropriate to the house. There's a sophisticated
lodge feel. It really feels like the home hugs you.

(11:56):
Blue accents, including the painted chair, railing, break up wood
tones in the dining room. Outside, a ponderosa pine grows
through the roof of the poor cherky setting the house
in the trees. It was one of the first things
we noticed in photos of the listing, says been. A

(12:17):
red barstool recalls one Ben perched on in his late
grandmother's kitchen. Painting lower cabinets in Sierra nit and upper
cabinets in Vanilla, both by Pratt and Lambert, helped modernize
the kitchen, while a brass and milk glass pended channels

(12:37):
the past. In the second bedroom, an upholstered bed piled
high with pillows, wall to wall carpeting and a cushioned
window seat overlooking the trees creates a comfy rett. The

(13:01):
river rock fireplace adds warmth. In the primary bathroom, the
existing solid brass fixtures and custom handmade towels dial up
the nostalgia, especially thanks to the addition of a moody
portrait series of David Bowie. Next, a feast of figs.

(13:26):
Ripe fresh figs are delicate, sweet, floral, and fleeting. These
recipes ensure you make the most of this year's bounty.
Pickled figs and carraway and black pepper nestled tangy quick
pickled figs on a cheeseboard, or slice them thin and

(13:48):
serve with ricotta on toast. After you finish the figs,
use the leftover fruity vinegar to a punchy shrub like cocktail,
pickling liquid, woid gin, simple syrup and club soda or
sparkling water. Figs candlopen gorgonzola salad, sharp meats sultry in

(14:12):
a layered salad that balances earthy, slightly nutty figs with
melon and funky blue cheese. Black mission figs have a
bold depth of flavor that's commonly compared to a full
bodied cabernet. Fresh fig salad with shaved fennel. Green figs

(14:34):
such as Sierra Cododa and familiar mayra varieties give the
sophisticated refreshing salad featured shaved fennel, spistachios, shaved palm, and
a monochromatic look. Choose figs that are ripe but firm

(14:54):
to the touch. Softer figs will break apart when they're
tossed with the dressing. Fig leaf wrapped grilled halibate with
fig chutney. The fruit isn't the only edible part of
the fig tree. Fresh fig leaves can be used in
tea blends and desserts, even to wrap up grill bound

(15:17):
bundles like this Indian spiced halibate. The leaf keeps the
fish from drying out and lends a subtle coconut vanilla flavor.
A fig pecan an orange coffee cake herald the start
of the baking season by pairing figs with warming spices.

(15:39):
This lofty, cinnamon and nutmeg infused coffee cake is filled
with chopped figs and fragrant orange. An epic amount of
strusl and a finishing drizzle of cinnamon glaze land this
cake somewhere between dessert and breakfast, Continuing with a feast

(16:01):
of figs. Pickled figs with caraway and black pepper recipe.
Slightly bitter carraway, star anise and peppercorns lend earthy, warm
tones to fresh figs in a sharp fruity rice, vinegar
hens on time. For the recipe, it's ten minutes total
time twenty four hours and ten minutes plus cooling. The

(16:26):
ingredients are one pound of sordid small fresh figs, three
sprigs fresh roseberry, eight sprigs fresh time, one and one
fourth cups rice vinegar, three force cup sugar, eight whole
star anise, six black peppercorns, one teaspoon caraway seeds. Have

(16:50):
the figs, removing any stems. Pack the fig halves into
a one quart canning jar. Tuck roseberry and time sprigs
into jar in a medium saucepan. Stir together rised vinegar, sugar,
star nise, black peppercorns, caraway and one half teaspoon kosher salt.

(17:15):
Bring to boiling over a medium cook, stirring until sugar
is dissolved three two to three minutes. Using a canning funnel.
Carefully pour the hot liquid over the figs and herbs.
Cover with the lid let cool to room temperature, then
refrigerate at least twenty four hours before serving. Refrigerate up

(17:40):
to one week. The recipe makes three cups. Next, the
fig cantlope and gorgonzola salad. Start to finish time for
the recipe fifteen minutes. The ingredients are two tablespoons finally
chop shallot or shalot, two tablespoon champagne vinegar, one tablespoon

(18:06):
Dijon mustard, one small cane lope, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced.
Ten medium black mission figs a fifteen ounce total, trimmed
and halved or quartered. Two ounces fresh watercress, one fourth
cup tightly packed small fresh mint leaves, two ounces gorgonzola

(18:29):
cheese thinly sliced and crumbled for the vineigrette in a
screw top jar. Combined shallot, champagne, vinegar, mustard, three tablespoons
extravergin olive oil, one half teaspoon kosher salt, and one
fourth teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Cover with a lid

(18:52):
and shake to combine. Arrange the cane loope, figs, and
watercress on a large platter, Sprinkle with mint and gorgonzola,
Drizzle with vinegrede, and season with additional salt and pepper.
The recipe serves four. That was the recipe for fig,

(19:14):
catalope and gorgonzola salad. Next fresh fig salad with shaved fennel,
citrusy and sweet licorice. Like fresh fennel is a flavor
foil to ripe sweet figs and salty palm and pistachios
start to finish. Time for the recipe fifteen minutes. The

(19:39):
ingredients are one medium lemon, two tablespoons freshly chopped shallat
or shalot, one medium bulb fennel cord and shaved about
three cups, reserving some fronds for garnish. Ten medium green
figs about eight ounces, trimmed and thickly sliced. One fourth

(20:02):
cup roasted salted pistachios chopped, two ounces parmesan cheese shaved,
Remove one teaspoon zest and squeeze three tablespoons juice from lemon.
In a large bowl, Combined the lemon, zest and juice, shallot,

(20:23):
one teaspoon kosher salt, and one fourth teaspoon freshly ground
black pepper, whisk in two tablespoons olive oil. Add shaved fennel, figs, pistachios, parmesan,
gently toss to coat. Season with additional salt and black pepper.

(20:45):
Garnish with reserved fennel fronds. Refrigerate in an airtight container
up to one day. The recipe serves six. That was
the recipe for the fresh fig salad with shaved fennel.
Next a fig leaf wrapped grilled halibate with fig chutney.

(21:11):
If you can't find fresh fig leaves, you can substitutes
with charred leaves. You may need to use two leaves
per flet. If your charred leaves are small, trim off
the center stem is necessary to make the leaves pliable.
Hands on time for the recipe twenty minutes, total time

(21:31):
one hour. The ingredients are four four ounce fresh or frozen,
skinless halibut filets, one fourth teaspoon ground turmeric, one fourth
teaspoon ground coriander, a dash of ground clothes, four large
fig leaves about six and one half inches wide, washed,

(21:55):
one fourth cup white wine vinegar, two tailspoon sugar, two
tablespoons tamarind pulp or one tablespoon tamar and paste, three
cardamom pods smashed, one bay leaf, one half teaspoon fennel seeds,
one small red onion, chopped, one half cup two tablespoons

(22:17):
minced fresh ginger, two tablespoons freshly chopped jlopeno pepper, one
teaspoon dry mustard and two cups chopped black mission figs,
about eight ounces chopped fresh flat leaf parsley, and hot
cooked rice, which is optional. Thaw fish if frozen, pat

(22:41):
dry and set on a large plate. Drizzle with one
tablespoon olive oil. Rub to coat on all sides. In
a small bowl, stir together tumberic coriander, cloves and one
half teaspoon kosher salt. Rub mixture evenly over fish. Place
leaves on a clean work surface. Place a filet in

(23:05):
the middle of each leaf. Wrap leaves around the filet.
Tie securely with one hundred percent cotchin cotton kitchen twine.
Till at least thirty minutes or up to five hours
to impart flavor from the leaves to the fish. Meanwhile,
for chutney and a small saucepan, stir together vinegar, sugar, tamarin, pulp,

(23:31):
cardamom pods, bay leaf, fennel seeds, and one half cup water.
Bring to simmering over medium, whisking until sugar dissolves and
tamarins breaks down six to eight minutes. In a large skillet,
heat two tablespoons olive oil over medium. Add red onion

(23:53):
and one half teaspoon kosher salt, cook, stirring occasionally until
golden carameline ten eight to ten minutes. Add ginger, holopeno
and an additional one eighth teaspoon kosher salt, cook, stirring
occasionally until ginger and holopeniu have softened three to four minutes.

(24:20):
Stir in dry mustard, strain the tamarin mixture through fine
massieve and onion mixture in the skillet, pushing to extract
as much liquid as possible. Add figs gently stir to combine.
Chutney can be served warm room temperature or chilled grill

(24:44):
wrapped fish covered over medium direct heat until fig leaves
lightly char and fish fills firm and internal temperature is
at least one hundred and thirty degrees four to five
minutes per se. Unwrap fish, discard fig leaves, and garnish

(25:06):
with parsley. Serve with chutney, and if you like cooked
rice and the recipe serves four. That was the recipe
for the fig leaf wrapped grilled helibate with fig chutney,
and a tip about figs to select and store. Look

(25:30):
for round, plump figs that have a little give. With
gentle pressure, ripe figs will last about one week in
the refrigerator. Wash and stem fresh figs before eating everything else.
Skin seeds, fruit is edible, and the explainer fresh fig fines.

(25:56):
Look for these common varieties in late summer and early fall.
The brown turkey fig. Brown turkeys have a robust flavor
that's commonly compared to penir noir. Sierra fig. Light skinned
sierras have a fresh, fruity, sweet flavor. The tiger fig

(26:20):
light yellow with green stripes. Tiger figs have a vibrant, fruity,
citrus forward flavor. And finally, black mission figs. Black missions
have dark purple or black skins and a deep earthy flavor.

(26:58):
This concludes Women's World fig today. Your reader has been Rosemary.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this program,
please call us in our Lexington Studios at eight five
nine four two two six three nine zero. Thank you
for listening and please stay tuned for continued programming here
on RADIOI. And there is a cinnamon glaze to this.

(27:22):
The recipe for the cinnamon glaze and a small bowl
stir together one cup powdered sugar, one tablespoon milk, one
have teaspoon ground cinnamon stir an additional milk, one teaspoon
at a time to reach drizzling consistency, and that was

(27:43):
the recipe for the cinnamon glaze.