#03-15 The Uncommon Fireplace - Cure for the Common Flue Pt. 2

Hi people! Brini here with this week’s episode. We’re finishing up the fireplace this week and it looks great. Have a gander!

The insert we used for the fireplace is a log and grate set that uses gel fuel to create a flame that looks and sounds like a wood fire, but doesn't give off any smoke. It's a lovely alternative to an expensive gas fireplace. Some safety precautions must be observed, however. never leave the fire burning unattended, and never add fuel to an already burning gel pot - it can create flash fires. If you use it safely, it can make a lovely glow!

#03-14 The Uncommon Fireplace - Cure for the Common Flue Pt. 1

Hello people, Brini here with this week’s episode. This time around we’re starting on my faux fireplace. It’s such a fun project and I got a fun girl to help me with it. Her name is Rose Wood and she’s one of the restorers at John Cory Studios. Rose built an enormous door that creates the impression of a flue for my fireplace while concealing oodles of storage! You’ll see us install that door, after getting a little sidetracked by some of Pebbles baking.

01-13 The Maxwell Fireside - Heavenly Hearth

Now that we’re so firmly entrenched in fall it’s lovely to cuddle up next to a nice warm fire. This week’s episode was taped at a lovely home on Fire Island with a real fireplace. If you don’t have the luxury of a genuine hearth you can create a facsimile with a product called sunjel. The little cans of jel will give off a flame that looks like wood flame but doesn’t give off smoke so there’s no need for a flue. You can also get log and grate sets that have boxes to hold the cans of jel that create the effect of a traditional fireplace.

What's better in front of a fire than hot cocoa? Here's my recipe for it:

You’ll need

1/4 cup Cocoa powder
1/2 cup Sugar
Dash Salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
1/8 cup Coconut, vanilla or orange rum

Combine the cocoa, sugar, salt and water in a sauce pan and heat until boiling, stirring constantly. Boil for 2 minutes. Add the milk and stir until heated, but do not boil. Remove from the heat and beat with a mixer until foamy. Add the rum and serve.

This should make about 6 servings. If you’re a tee totaler you can eliminate the rum and flavor the cocoa with extract instead.