Collaborations always create something new and exciting. Alexandria is known for just such partnerships. My good friend, Amy Rutherford, is the curator and founder of the wonderful gift and home style boutique on King Street - Red Barn Mercantile. She and I collaborated on a monthly article produced in Alexandria Stylebook, a digital magazine that features local leaders in style, entertainment, design, beauty, and fitness - all things Alexandria. Each month, I will write a column featuring special finds at Red Barn Mercantile that bring some magic to your kitchen. While I am no longer writing for the Stylebook (since I moved to Baltimore), I’m leaving the content here to showcase my original home, Alexandria, and my friend and favorite shopkeep, Amy Rutherford.