The Charleston Silver Lady

Your own Valentine's Day pie

Posted 2/4/21

This amber and black enamel vase was made by Baccarat at the turn of the last century—1890-1900.

The talented glass-smiths were some of the more talented artists of that era. 

It is …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get 50% of all subscriptions for a limited time. Subscribe today.

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

The Charleston Silver Lady

Your own Valentine's Day pie

Posted

This amber and black enamel vase was made by Baccarat at the turn of the last century—1890-1900.
The talented glass-smiths were some of the more talented artists of that era. 
It is unusual to find Baccarat crystal with a palette of color other than clear.  
What sets this piece apart is the basket of flowers decorating both sides of the vase.  These decorations were achieved by hand. It involved heating and removing layers of glass in the final product. 
The basket of flowers motif found favor in America and Europe. Those of you who have embroidered dresser scarves and tea towels from the 1930s know this motif became an icon for our ancestors.
I have pieces of American coin silver in which the ‘Basket of Flowers’ adorns the backs. This is beautiful if you place your flatware turned over as was done in Europe in the 1850s.
Another pattern is Georgian by Towle with a full basket of flowers on the back of each piece.
When turned in the other direction, this basket is the same shape as an old fashioned bonnet full of field flowers. It was the inspiration for what became a long treasured decoration we love today.
This motif is on a picnic cloth my dear Aunt Rae Meyer of Charleston left me.  She embroidered it herself and used inside and out.. I think of her each time I use it.
This recipe I am sharing with you is a little out of season but one you will love.
My great aunt would make small pies for ease of travel. They serve 2.  This recipe will make one large, deep dish pie or 4 small ones. She made them in little metal pans from England originally used as tart pans. Regular pie pans work just as well.
Valentine’s Day Pie
Make pastry shells with your favorite recipe 1st or pick up shells at your grocer.
Next mash and set aside:
2 cups of fresh berries
A sliced handful of blueberries or other pretty berries
The zest of an orange
Cook together:
3 tbsp of regular flour
1/2 cup of orange juice
1/4 cup of water
3 drops red food coloring and 1 small box strawberry Jello.
Smooth and whisk to a boil. It will thicken as it cooks. Remove from heat after a minute. Mix in the mashed fresh berries.  Allow all of this to cool.
Pile this mixture into the cooled pie shell, decorating with pretty berries.
Refrigerate covered for about 4 hours.
Top with homemade whipped cream:
1 medium carton heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup white sugar or vanilla sugar if you have it. A vanilla bean in the sugar bowl does the trick.
1 tsp clear vanilla extract
Whisk by hand using a metal bowl and whisk. It takes about 500 strokes for the ‘whipped’ cream to come together. This makes a difference. Please try it.
Top the pies with the whipped cream as you serve it. Garnish with orange zest.
 

entertaining, recipes, antiques, valentine's day

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here