Rustic and Elegant

M-J's Miscellany

Town & Country Suit 44R

Posted on October 11, 2011 at 12:45 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPERB-VINTAGE-TAILORMADE-TOWN-COUNTRY-SUIT-44R-/380374738996?pt=UK_Men_s_Suits_Tailoring&hash=item589019e834#ht_2900wt_1037

Elegant Men's Tweed Suit, Size 44 Regular, Offered by Our Sterling Friend Peter in Herefordshire

The Elegant Military Watch Band

Posted on August 5, 2011 at 10:45 PM

Taco seasoning by Tone's, chopped tomatoes, onion, celery, yellow capsicum (a sweet pepper), New Mexico red chile gravy, and ground beef, cooked together about an hour and mixed until very fine, makes a perfect taco filling in combination with grated mild cheese.

Miniature tacos are made with sautéed Guerrero corn tortillas, which are filled with a ground-beef-vegetable mixture and colby jack cheese. The bowl contains shredded Romaine lettuce and small strips of avocado, dressed with lime juice, cilantro (coriander leaf) and salt.

©M-J de Mesterton

New Rugged Elegance Made in England

Posted on June 6, 2011 at 12:05 PM

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-BOOKSTER-H-WEIGHT-BURN-THORNPROOF-TWEED-JACKET-48-S-/290556044357?pt=UK_Men_s_Coats_Jackets&hash=item43a67d6445#ht_2692wt_905

Rugged, Classic English Elegance

French Breakfast Radishes

Posted on April 10, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Radishes with Soft Butter, a Traditional Component of Breakfast in France

Elegant Sandwiches

Posted on February 17, 2011 at 10:50 AM

Using a shallow grill pan, a heavy plate and a lid, croques monsieurs are easily made on the cooker or stove-top. Sandwiches are flipped when the cheese on the bottom is soft. Continue cooking, with the lid on top. I do not bother to replace the heavy plate after the croques monsieurs are turned.

Thinly-sliced ham, Swiss cheese, home-made bread and a few spoonfuls of butter are transformed into the French luncheon classic, croques monsieurs. Served with a salad or soup, they are part of an elegant luncheon.

Serve croques monsieurs with mayonnaise and Dijon mustard on the side. ©M-J de Mesterton 2011

Sherpa Throw

Posted on January 18, 2011 at 1:22 PM

Warm, Elegant "Sherpa" Throw in Several Colours:

$19.97 at Sportsman's Guide

Noble Hunt Train

Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:31 AM

An Elegant, Rustic Adventure

The Noble Hunt Train of Quebec

Article published originally in Gourmet Magazine in 2009, written by Adam Gollner

Hunter Balmoral Sovereign Boots

Posted on December 28, 2010 at 12:50 PM

The World's Most Elegant Wellies: Hunter Balmoral Sovereign Boots

Prepare Now for Colder Weather

Posted on May 18, 2010 at 10:11 AM

It is time to order your made-to-measure tweed wool jackets and trousers from Bookster, so that you will have them when colder weather returns in the autumn (if, indeed, it ever goes away).

Made in England from the Finest Traditional Scottish Cloths

http://www.tweed-jacket.com

Men's Herringbone Tweed Vest $79

Posted on January 12, 2010 at 9:29 AM

Elegant Rancher Vest

Get Your Tweed On! The New Ice Age Is Here,

as Predicted at Elegant Survival Since 2006

This is a beautiful, classic vest from Schaefer, on-sale now at Schnee's of Bozeman, Montana.

The Road to Aspen

Posted on November 20, 2009 at 9:23 PM

Waffle-Weave Towels Save Energy and Inhibit Mould

Posted on September 26, 2009 at 10:39 AM

I bought a cotton waffle-weave bath towel at the Marimekko store in Porvoo (Borgå), Finland, five years ago. I used nothing but that rather expensive and beautiful Marimekko bath-towel at home, and thus decided to make my own. I bought several yards of waffle-weave cotton in unbleached white, and trimmed the edges with taupe-coloured extra-wide, doubler-fold bias tape by Wright's. I've just finished making one, and shall create another for my husband today.

I can make two of these bath-towels for about twenty-five dollars. But, you can get some beautiful ones made in Pakistan for $19.99 each, at www.greenfeet.com.

Waffle-weave towels are very absorbent, lightweight, and dry quickly, thereby reducing the wetness in your bathroom, which discourages the growth of mould. You won't need to dry these towels in a machine, since they dry quickly on their own. And after showers or baths, they are luxurious to wrap about your wet, clean hair. I've included a photo of the towel I made, drying on the clothes-line.