flea markets & winter white vegetables

At last Sundays flea market in Irvine, California I found quite a bargain!  A complete set of china for $75.  Twelve 6-piece place settings and lots of fun serving pieces.  I was absolutely thrilled.  It was wrapped in clean bubble wrap and in two plastic bins.

The set includes a full tea, coffee, cream and sugar set, two covered butter dishes,  covered serving bowls, a soup tureen, several serving platters, bowls and plates.   I also found the adorable silver ornament and tree topper set, for $5.

I have been searching thrift stores for shallow soup bowls...this set came with 12.  Today I made a winter white vegetable soup that will be perfect for a holiday dinner party.  Recipe below.

Knowing that my kids will probably not go for the winter vegetable soup, I went ahead and made some mashed potatoes and picked up a rotisserie chicken at the market.  I love the way they look in my new china bowl!

Winter White Vegetable Soup

1 onion, chopped

1 head cauliflower, cut into pieces

2 medium turnips, peeled and cut into 1" dice

1 medium celeriac, peeled and cut into 1" dice

2 russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1" dice

2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped

1 large fennel bulb, sliced

2 cloves garlic, skins removed and cut in half

2 TBSP butter

2 cups whole milk, heated (be careful to not let it come to a boil)

4 cups water

Melt butter in large heavy pan like a Le Creuset and add onion.  Cook until tender and add the rest of the vegetables and the 4 cups of water.  Add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil.  Then let it simmer for about 45 minutes or until vegetables are very soft.  Off the heat add the hot milk and blend with an immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender.  Garnish with fresh chives and roasted beets cut small.  You can roast beets, but as a time saver I prefer to buy them at Trader Joe's already roasted.

t h r i f t i n g

Before I started reading blogs (I don't even know what I did all day) I thought thrifting was my huge discount at William Sonoma.  But recently I have discovered the real meaning of "thrifting."  Yes, I do know that thrifting is not a word.  I've learned from the best out there in blog land.  First, there's Janet at The Gardener's Cottage.  She has been posting beautiful outfits that she has put together for under $10.  She looks amazing!  Then there are those talented girls in San Diego and the stuff they find...ah-mazing!  Amber (The Girl is Craftee), Bianca, (Bink & Boo),  Grace, (Grace Happens), and Melissa, (Seagrass Interiors) and (Bixby & Ball.)

Bakelite...I have several belts made by Boston based designer Hadley Pollet.  Her original designs incorporated Bakelite pieces as belt buckles.  Are you familiar with Hadley Pollet? 

So many beads . . .

So many gorgeous Christmas decorations that reminded me of things my grandmother had.  Many of the vendors have things arranged beautifully and yet you can walk away with a vintage ornament for a few dollars.

There was so much silver that my friend Elizabeth has the idea that we should put together a set for my daughter.  There were boxes of silver, unpolished for $1.  For $3 you could buy a single piece of silver plate flatware.  My daughter is 17, so she was not nearly as excited as we were...the thrill really is in the hunt.  And in 10 or 15 years, even Madeline may agree.  In the mean time Elizabeth and I will spend the first Sunday of the month at The Groves Antique Market at the Orange County Great Park.  Unfortunately it rained last Sunday so everyone packed up early...being from the East Coast...rain, sleet, snow never deters me...I only found a couple of things, but will be back next month and hopefully the sun will be shining.

I found this champagne bucket at the Assistance League Thrift Shop in Laguna beach and the amber bottles at the flea market.  I love the color, especially with the orange....something I picked up on the way back from my son's school.   Found any treasures lately?