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A Garden Styled Little Girl’s Room

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Spring like weather is finally here, well at least for now. It’s Chicago so you never know it could snow again, but the promise of warmer weather means I can finally get outdoors to tackle some painting projects. I have plans to paint a “big girl bed” for my oldest daughter’s room, but before I start making few changes to her room I thought I might be fun to share a few before and after photos.

Here is the room when we first moved in.  It was painted in two tones of yellow, so the first thing I did while we were waiting on the moving truck was to paint her room a soft pink from Benjamin Moore called Pink Cadillac. True to the name the color looks like Mary Kay Cadillac pink. I used the color at 75 percent strength so it would be just a bit softer.

The before: this was the room when we first moved in our home.

My oldest daughter loves flowers and being outdoors. She is the kid who from a very early age would beg for flowers from the grocery store. Forget the candy at the checkout lane, the floral department seems to be calling my daughter’s name every time I take her to the grocery store. It’s her favorite part of the store and there have been many a tear over some lovely flowers that we just couldn’t purchase.

Gabby loves to be outdoors in the garden. Here she is helping me plant tulip and muscari bulbs in our yard this fall. It was a cold day, but that didn’t stop her from spending hours helping me. When I met with her teacher for parent teacher conferences she shared with me that it was clear Gabby just loved anything to do with gardens and being outdoors. Here is an assignment she had at school where each child was asked what rule they would create if they were president. No surprise, Gabby drew a picture of herself in the garden.

So this love of flowers inspired her room. I wanted her to have a room that she loved that was filled with things that made her happy.  Before we moved from Houston I began making plans for her new room. Pottery Barn Kids had a Savannah floral pattern that reminded me of an English cottage garden. The pattern was being discontinuing so I decided to go ahead and get toddler sized bedding along with a twin sized duvet that I could use later as the starting point for the room.

Here my garden loving girl in her bedroom.  I used a twin bed sized dust ruffle that I had from college and pinned it so it fit her toddler bed and then layered in some more floral patterns from Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby chic line at target. The picture of the pink peony is from Wisteria and it’s my favorite part of her room. When I added that photo to her room she said “mom how did you know I needed a magical flower?” Needless to say she loved it and I think it adds a more sophisticated floral touch.

Every garden needs a little summer home, shed or tepee so I found this grey chevron tepee at Hobby Lobby. Both of my girls love hiding away in there with their blankets and pillows.

Tulips for my flower loving girl.

Art doesn’t have to be expensive. The “So Loved” picture was from Hobby Lobby and the button hearts are something I made to add something special to her room. Then to dress up a plain white lampshade I added some pink ribbon around it.

A view of the side of the room with a dresser that my mom and I had painted years ago with stenciled flowers. Then a sweet little slipper chair perfect for reading. Even the chair got a makeover for this room see the before picture below.

The chair it used to be the end piece of an old sectional couch, but I had a slip cover made for it to transform it into a more feminine ruffled slipper chair.

It’s amazing what a new slipcover can do. I found some white draperies that had a similar ruffle detail for the windows. Then in the corner I added a second peony photograph above her bookcase.

A garden styled bedroom perfect for my little flower loving daughter. A few more shabby chic changes are coming but before they do I wanted to remember the sweetness of this little girl’s room.

Food

The Substantial Sandwich: Banh Mi Meatball Sandwich

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What in the world am I going to make for dinner tonight? Dinner is so daily, that it’s easy to fall into a pattern and get bored with the same old rotation of dishes. So what do you make on those days when you need something quick, but more exciting to eat? My answer: the substantial sandwich. Filled with flavor, but perfect for a weeknight dinner, substantial sandwiches are some of the best-loved meals in our house.

One of my favorite substantial sandwiches is the Vietnamese Banh Mi. A crispy french baguette filled with sweet but tangy pickled carrot and cucumber with just a touch of heat from the honey lime sriracha sauce. I took a grilling course from Steven Raichlen a couple of years ago, where I made these absolutely delicious grilled lamb Banh Mi sandwiches. However, the problem was that although they were wonderful I absolutely don’t have the time to roast lamb on my grill for four hours to achieve the perfect sandwich.

I began thinking about how to create a flavorful version of my own. One that you could make in thirty minutes so I could enjoy it more often. My solution a banh mi meatball sandwich. The ground pork meatballs that are every bit as flavorful, but easy to make while you assemble your veggies and sriracha sauce. One crunchy, crispy, juicy bite and you’ll see why I just love this sandwich.

Banh Mi Meatball Sandwiches-Serves 4

  • 4 demi baguettes or one large french baguette, toasted (You want to use a good quality french baguette. I like the La Brea brand that I can find at most grocery stores in my area.)

Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 green onions, sliced thinly

Pickled Carrot and Cucumber Slaw

  • 1/2 cup carrots julienned in thin strips or you could use pre-cut matchstick carrots
  • 1/2 cup cucumber julienned in thin strips or thinly sliced into rounds
  • 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons of cilantro leaves

Honey Lime Sriracha Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Then in a medium sized bowl mix together your ground pork, soy sauce, worcestershire, garlic and green onions. Then scoop out evenly sized meat balls. I used a 2 tablespoon sized cookie scoop which made the job easy.

Then place your meat balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. The parchment paper will keep your meatballs from sticking to your pan and it makes clean up much easier.

Then bake your meatballs for 30 minutes till they are golden brown.

While your meatballs are cooking make your pickled carrots and cucumbers. I have a julienne peeler that makes prepping my veggies simple.You just run the peeler down your vegetable and it will cut thin julienned slices. I got my peeler from a Texas grocery store called Central Market, but I found the same peeler available on Amazon. I love this little kitchen gadget, but if you don’t have one then don’t let that stop you from enjoying this sandwich. You could use store bought matchstick carrots and just slice you cucumber into very thin rounds.

Then in a small bowl mix together your rice wine vinegar,sugar and salt. Add in your cucumber, carrot and cilantro and let your veggies sit and pickle in the vinegar while you make the sriracha sauce.

Then make your honey lime sriracha sauce. In a small bowl mix together your mayonnaise, sriracha, honey, lime zest, and soy sauce.

Now you are ready to assemble your sandwiches. You want to slice your baguette into a V-shaped sandwich (think hot dog bun) where you don’t cut all the way trough the bread on one side. This makes a perfect pocket to hold your meatballs.  Then toast your bread and spread on your sriracha sauce in each side. Add on your meatballs and top it off with your pickled carrots and cucumbers and that’s it.

So if you are wondering what should I make for dinner tonight? Then try something different a banh mi meatball sandwich. Serve it with sweet potato chips, crispy oven fries or sliced vegetables and dip and you have a wonderful weeknight meal that is sure to bust any “what should we have for dinner?” rut.

Home

A Happy Mess

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I was looking at a magazine that featured the home of model and actress Molly Sims and a piece of artwork in the back of her living room caught my eye. On a large white canvas in a diagonal cursive script were the words “Happy Mess.” Sims designed her living room to have a contemporary styled back room that was set up as a play area for her young children. Sims had some black lacquered pocket doors designed to close off the area if she didn’t want to share the happy mess with others. As you would expect Sims’ home was styled and magazine page ready so it had me thinking what sorts of messes and fun might her house might hold on the average day. Take a tour of Sims’ home at this link to Better Homes and Gardens.

So what is a happy mess? Surely it helps if it’s filled with things you love, but even happy messes need to go somewhere. So to me a happy mess is one that has a home when all the fun is done. My former home was small and it had a very open floor plan so I was always looking for clever ways to store everything from office supplies, to craft paper, dishes, linens and toys. Closet space was limited so I found that having stylish baskets and bins was key. I have found that using smaller baskets and bins make organization easier, because even if you do have large closets things can still get lost. So I thought it might be fun to round up a few bins and baskets that can make any of life’s messes just a little happier.

Large Scale Open Storage

The texture and style of these baskets would definitely add texture and style to any room, but I love that they have the potential to store all kinds of things from large blankets, to books and magazines. I like the look of this dark walnut colored basket. I could see it next to an armchair or by the side of a sofa. Our old living room had to double as a play space for our girls so large baskets were a favorite of mine for storing stuffed animals and toys. It kept the things my children loved in the room without sacrificing the sophisticated look I wanted.

Halton Large Basket

The woven pattern and weathered grey colored basket make this a great option for stylish storage.

Auburn Square Basket

Finally, I liked the color of this indigo basket from Pier One and its price makes it a great deal for a large storage.

Pier 1 Indigo Blue Basket

 

Office and Media Storage

Paper work, magazines, mail and media can get overwhelming when they begin to stack up. So sorting them in baskets is one of my favorite ways to stay organized. This wicker basket would work well for sorting papers, holding mail or even storing things like DVDs or games in a cabinet or shelf.

 

Pier 1 Collin Gray Wicker Basket

I love these lidded textured Havana baskets from Pottery Barn. I have them in my media cabinet and in bookshelves. I have used them to store linens, table clothes, dishes, magazines, DVDs. The lids make them great for hiding those little things you need to store but don’t always want to have out on display.

Havana Lidded Basket

If this darker finish isn’t quite the right color for your space then check out these Aubrey baskets that come in a pretty light grey finish.

Aubrey Woven Lidded Basket

 

Bedrooms and Playrooms

These bold ruby striped storage boxes come in a whole array of colors and they are just the right size to use in a book shelf and they would be a great place to store small toys like Legos, blocks and all those little plastic ponies and dolls that always need a place to belong in our house. I have also found that open bins make it easier for younger children to use when cleaning up their own toys. I wish this type of easy storage would guarantee that it your little ones would pick up after themselves, but we are still working on that skill in our house.


Black and White Stripe Bin or try these Striped Bins at Crate and Barrel Kids

The 3 Sprouts company has a whole line of these quirky and fun canvas storage units. They have an alligator toy box and woodland creature storage bins and this whimsical purple owl which would be great for holding books, toys, diapers or blankets.

3 Sprouts Owl Caddy

H&M has these great small canvas storage bins that I could really see in a nursery. Babies come with so many little things that these little bins would working well near a changing table or on a dresser. They come in other pattens and colors, like a soft pink and a beige so you could easily customize your look. The other great thing is that the price on these fabric bins is so reasonable at just $3.99 they are very budget friendly.

H&M Storage Fabric Bin

 

Closed Storage for Closets, Laundry and Mud Rooms

My former master bedroom closet was the largest closet in our house so it worked overtime as storage for more than just our clothes. One of my favorite finds were these Reisenthel zip top fabric storage containers from the container store. These fabric containers come in several different styles. I  have a set with red polka dots that I love because they have built in label cards and they are sturdy and stack easily.

 

Reisenthel Multi Dot Fabric Storage Box

Need smaller scale storage then PB Teen has smaller canvas zip top bags that come in a wide variety of colors from black and white to kelly green and turquoise.

PB Teen Canvas Polka Dot Bin

Have something like laundry, winter gear or home supplies you need to store then check out these collapsible storage boxes by Scout. They have a great selection of graphic patterns and colors that would add a pop of color and pattern to any room. Making storage of even ordinary things stylish and fun.

Scout Lidded Storage Bin

Life is too short to be stressed about having a house that is perfectly clean all of the time. I believe your home should be a place where you can relax and have fun. So I loved the phrase a happy mess because there has to be a balance. Mail, papers, books, shoes, clothes and toys are all a part of life, but having place where all those little things belong definitely makes for a much happier mess.

Food

Texas Chili Cook Off Challenge

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Award Winning Texas Chili Recipe

In the middle of my spring entertaining cooking craziness a few weeks ago, I also found myself working to create a new chili recipe. What can I say, I had a hard time saying no to the sweet lady at church with the clipboard who was trying to sign everyone up for the Boy Scouts’ chili cook-off. I must admit that although I have lots of recipes I love, I really didn’t have a traditional chili recipe that I was crazy about. My husband was a bit curious about what I would come up with, since you don’t normally get the same types of chilies and flavors in the Midwest that we are used to in Texas. So the lingering question in my mind was would making a more traditional Texas chili translate well to Midwestern tastes and could I make it work even if I couldn’t find some of the same chilies I am accustomed to using?

The first round of chili I made was more stew like with a smoky cumin flavor, then I even experimented with a mexican inspired chipotle and chocolate chili, but in the end I decided to stay true to my roots and create a more traditional chili that had elements of the smoky cumin and with a little layered heat from some chipotle chili powder. However, I think the thing that really made this chili special was adding my own roasted tomatoes. It added a certain brightness and depth to the traditional tomato base that made this recipe the one I ultimately decided to enter into the chili cook-off.

I thought my chili tasted good at home, but I really wasn’t sure if my Texas flavors would be what the judges were looking for. In the end, there were lots of great entries even ones that had the names Southern Living and Better Homes and Gardens in front of them, but I was lucky because my Texas Chili won the top prize. So I think it’s safe to say that I now have a signature chili recipe that combines a traditional tomato based chili with elements of the Tex-Mex cooking I love.

Oh how I miss the spring bluebonnets that you see everywhere in Texas at this time of year. I just can’t talk about chili cook offs and not think about the Houston Rodeo and fields of Texas bluebonnets.

Texas Chili (Serves 6 to 8- with a spice blend that has a medium level of heat)

  • 5 Roma tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 2 slices of bacon
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (if you are a chili head then you can up the heat by adding more chipotle chili powder, but beware just a little bit packs quite a punch)
  • 2 (15oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 ears of corn, cut off the cob
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon masa herena (corn flour used to make tortillas)
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 4 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1 bag of corn tortilla chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Then using a serrated knife slice your tomatoes horizontally into thin circular slices. Then peel and cut two garlic cloves into thin slices. Place your tomatoes on a sheet pan and drizzle them with the olive oil then place your garlic slices on top of the tomatoes and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Then roast your tomatoes for 20 to 25 minutes until they just begin to get a bit golden brown on the edges.

Then once they are roasted add them to your food processor or blender along with a 1/3 of a cup of your crushed tomatoes. Then blend them till they become a chunky tomato sauce.

These roasted tomatoes take just a bit of effort but the freshness and depth of flavor that they add to the chili is so good that it’s definitely worth it.

Next in a large stock pot cook your bacon slices over medium high heat till they render some bacon fat. Then remove your bacon slices and add in your chopped yellow onion and cook it over medium heat until it begins to become translucent.  Next add in one clove of chopped garlic and the ground beef and continue to cook it until it is browned. Once your ground beef is cooked through drain off some of the fat from your pot.

Then season your ground beef to taste with salt and pepper and add in your chili powder, cumin, oregano and chipotle chili powder. Then add in your roasted tomato puree, the remaining crushed tomatoes, black beans and beef broth. Let your chili simmer for 30 minutes. Then before you are ready to serve your chili mix together your masa herena and water to make a slurry and add it to your chili, which will thicken your chili and then add in your fresh corn. Let it simmer stirring it occasionally for an additional 10 minutes. Then you are ready to pile on your favorite toppings and serve.

I like to add some sharp cheddar cheese, green onions and a dollop of sour cream. Then in Tex-Mex style I like to serve my chili with tortilla chips instead of the traditional cornbread side. I love the texture and crunch that they add to the chili.

Just keeping it real. Here are my girls in my messy kitchen after all the chili cook-off madness. My youngest was the most excited about the competition aspect, so she  quickly laid claim to our prize the chili cook-off apron.

This chili is absolutely delicious, but this time you don’t have to just take my word for it. This chili recipe makes a great one pot dinner, but it’s so flavorful that it would be great for a casual get together with friends.

Garden

A Summer Garden in Vienna

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We got a light dusting of snow last night and although I know summer is still months away sometimes “I like to close my eyes and imagine what it will be like when summer does come.” Like Olaf the snowman I am a little frozen here in Chicago and I am dreaming of feeling the summer sun and seeing green grass and trees.

My dreaming of a summer garden was officially kicked into high gear last week when I discovered the British television show called Love Your Garden on Netflix. Master gardener and television host Alan Titchmarsh gives deserving families the most amazing home gardens. Titchmarsh studied horticulture at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and he has received the Victoria Medal of Honor, which is the highest accolade given in British gardening. His gardens designs are inspiring and they reminded me of the beauty and transformative power of nature.

One of the things that Titchmarsh includes in each show is an opportunity to see an mature inspirational garden that has elements that he would like to incorporate in the garden he is planning. This past summer I had an opportunity to visit a beautiful garden in Vienna. I went with my husband on his work trip and while we were there I got to see the Belvedere gardens so I thought I might do a little day dreaming about this gorgeous summer garden and share some of my photographs.

This baroque style palace and gardens were originally built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1712. The gardens at Belvedere have a distinctively French feel with the gravel paths and trimmed boxwood hedges.

Here is the lower Belvedere palace. The stone work on all of the buildings is impressive and the gardens are filled with gorgeous stone statutes and fountains.

Here is a close up of one of the windows.

There was a series of cherubs for each month of the year that topped a long set of stairs that take you to the high point of the garden.

Here is the view as you approach the upper palace building and flower gardens.

Then here is the main lawn and flower garden.

There is an open lawn surrounded by this gorgeous boarder of flower beds filled with bright yellows and vibrant purples and pinks.

Another view of the ring of flowers that surounds the lawn. I love the purple salvia against the yellow marigolds and black-eyed Susans.

A close up of one of the marigolds blooms. They were so tall and the flowers were just gorgeous.

Then there was my favorite these white Dahlias with their rows of distinctive curved petals.

Happy bunches of blacked-Susans seemed to be drinking in the summer sun.

The mature tree lined paths and hedges are beautiful, but the thing I loved about this garden is that many of the flowers were plants I could actually grow. So these flowers have me thinking about a sunny flower bed I have on the side of my house and what it could be this summer. So until we are free from the frost I will just have to continue to watch and eagerly await the summer sun.

Baking

Cherry Almond Biscotti

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Easter and choir practice had me busy last week, but I am back sharing a recipe for one of my favorite cookies, Italian biscotti. I love biscotti, because they are not overly sweet and their crispy texture makes them especially good. It’s been cold in Chicago this week. We even had a little snow today some coffee and baking seemed like a good idea. Well coffee to me is good anytime, but biscotti makes coffee even better.

We had some extra dried cherries from a recipe I made for Easter, so I decided that it might be fun to make some cherry biscotti. I tested a few flavor combinations, but my favorite was cherry and almonds with a little orange zest. You could leave out the almonds if you have a nut allergy and substitute mini chocolate chips instead.

Cherry Almond Biscotti (Makes 16 cookies)

  • 1  1/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg white

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl mix together your flour, almonds, cherries, orange zest, sugar and baking powder.

Next add in your water, vanilla and egg and mix them together until well blended. The mixture will be slightly crumbly at first, but it will come together. Then turn your dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it just lightly. Then shape it into a 12 inch roll.

Then use your hand to flatten that roll to a 1 inch thickness.

Then place your biscotti roll on a baking stone or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper so it doesn’t stick to the pan.

Bake the biscotti roll for 30 minutes. Then take it out and allow it to cool for 10 minutes.

Now you are ready to slice your cookies and bake them a second time to give them that signature crispy texture.

Slice your biscotti roll at a diagonal into 1/2 inch slices using a serrated knife. Note if you add chocolate wipe your knife clean between each cut to keep your cookies looking pretty.

Then place your cookies cut side down on your baking stone or baking pan and bake them at 325 degrees for 10 minutes. The cookies will have a crispy edge with a softer center, but they will become a crisp as they cool completely.

My husband came home and was loving these biscotti (in between bites he may have said they were his favorite biscotti ever), so I think this flavor combination is a winner in our house. 

The other great thing about biscotti is they are lighter than your typical cookie since they don’t have butter. So if you are looking for a sweet and slightly healthier treat then give these biscotti a try.

Home

A Twist On The Traditional Blue and White

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I am back from vacation and happy to be writing again. I took a little break from writing about decor with my series on entertaining, but I have been working on a few projects of my own so I thought I would share a few ideas and sources I have found along the way.

It’s no secret, I love blue and white. It’s a classic color combination that in one shade or another has found its way into just about every room in my house. However, I’m not one to shy away from color and the best part about having some blue and white in my decor is that when I get a little tired of my current look I can energize and remix the whole room by just adding a few accessories in another bold shade.

Blue and white is wonderful, but on its own it can sometimes feel a little too predictable and traditional so I like to change things up a bit by pairing it with a dash of another color. One of my favorite ways to make a quick change in any room is to think about updating or adding new pillows. Pillows can be a relatively inexpensive way to add some color and pattern to your room. I know you all love pillows too, because my pattern play with pillow post was a popular one. So I thought I would share more pillows in some favorite blue and white patterns with a few ideas on how to add a designer touch by adding another more vibrant color to the mix.

You can find this green pillow at Ballard Designs. or try this green linen one from Wisteria The Bali Hai Pillow is available at West End Accents.

A cheery apple green pillow mixes well with a classic blue and white room. This color combination is certainly a designer favorite. Want to add a touch of this designer look to your home then check out this apple green pillow is from Ballard Designs paired with a pillow from Etsy in Quadrile’s classic Bali Hai pattern. The green adds balance to this busy pattern and just a pop of color.

See more than just a thumbnail by clicking on this link to the full article and pictures from House Beautiful.

Want to see it in a a gorgeous design then check out this link to this home designed by Sarah Bartholomew that was featured recently in House Beautiful.

Pantone’s color of the year for 2018 is ultra violet and although I happen to like purple, I suspect that not everyone is going to paint a room in their house this deep of a shade. However, using it as an accent color on a pillow is less of a commitment and I absolutely love it when paired with blue and white. I mixed a popular chintz by Schumacher called Pyne Hollyhock with an a softer shade of violet to give this blue and white a more modern and feminine accent.

This solid violet pillow is available at Ballard Designs. or try this purple linen pillow that I like even better from Wisteria. The Blue Pyne Hollyhock pillow is available at Southern Shades

However, this purple would still look stunning with another geometric or block print pattern. Want to see a lovely blue and white home with touches of both violet and apple green then follow this link to House Beautiful to see this lovely new traditional home  designed by Lee Ann Thornton.

See the full project and gorgeous photographs at this link to House Beautiful.

Now on to one of my all time favorite accent colors with blue and white, a bright cherry red. Red is a powerful color, so sometimes people shy away from pairing it with blue thinking it’s best left for coastal design or the Fourth of July. However a touch of red with this pillow from Pottery Barn paired with a modern blue geometric pattern by Quadrile China Seas Sigourney can create a vibrant and modern mix.

You can find this red pillow at Pottery Barn  or try this red one at Annie Selke and the Navy China Seas Sigourney pillow is available st Sew Susie.

Have you seen the pictures of architect and artist, William McLure’s apartment? This modern mix of blue and white with that bright Chinese lacquer box red had all the design blogs talking and for good reason. I love how McLure mixed in several shades of blue from a deep navy to a bright turquoise. You can see more about this living room by clicking on this link to Emily Clark’s blog post that featured his work or check out McLure’s Instagram account that has more of his inspiring projects and paintings.

See Designer William McLure’s room at Emily A. Clark’s blog and read her full blog post here.

If red isn’t your color then think about adding a bright touch of orange to your room. Orange and blue is another designer combination that adds energy and excitement to a room. Here I paired an bright Mandarin orange pillow from Ballard Designs with a Chinoiserie inspired print by Kravet called Banku Fish. Add in some touches of blue and white pottery and you have a timeless look that is anything but boring.

The solid orange pillow is available at Ballard Designs or try this orange pillow at Wisteria and the Blue Banku Fish Pillow is available at Pillow Time Girls.

Want a master class in blue white and orange? Then check out the work of designer Mary McDonald who has some of my very favorite rooms using this color combination. She has gone bold with orange walls and blue fabrics or sometimes like this room below she uses just touches of orange in pillows and accessories.

See an Interview with McDonald’s and this inspiring living room  featured in House Beautiful.

Another more current color that I am seeing more of is ochre yellow, my husband who helped me get my images together for this post wasn’t so sold on the shade, but I think it could add just the right touch when paired navy or deep inky blue. This ochre velvet pillow is from Pottery Barn and I paired it with a geometric print by Lulu DK for Duralee in Lapis.

The ochre yellow pillow is from Pottery Barn and the Lulu DK pillow is available at Pillow Time Girls.

Want to see more of this moody and striking color combination? Then click on the link below to see more of designer Jeffery Bilhuber’s work featured in House Beautiful. He is truly a master of color and I am always inspired, by his new projects and design.

See the article and photographs from House Beautiful.

Then finally the color combination that had me started on this whole blue and white pillow post: blush pink with a light blue and white. I am looking to update my youngest daughters room and I want to keep the existing blue and white color scheme and dresser. She adores the color pink, so I am thinking that a soft pink pillow or two might be just the right touch.  Here I paired a velvet pink pillow from Etsy with a blue and white pattern by Dana Gibson.

The pink pillow is from Willa Skye Home and the Dana Gibson Madagascar print pillow is available at West End Accents.

Want more pink and blue inspiration then check out Ballard Designs new fabrics in this pretty color combination.

See more about these fabrics at Ballard Designs.

Do you have a favorite? I would love to know because it helps me keep up with what you like to read and see. Etsy has made it easier than ever to source designer fabrics that can sometimes be difficult to order outside of the trade, so I always love sharing great sources and ways that you can give your house a designer look at a fraction of the cost. So add a little a little color with a pillow or a throw blanket and put your own modern twist on the traditional look of blue and white.

Food/Tablescapes

Cooking for Friends

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Food is our common ground, a universal experience. – James Beard

In this often fast paced, head buried in your phone world is there still a place for a home cooked meal? This is the question was raised and debated at our family’s Thanksgiving gathering this year and this question has lingered in my mind and caused me to really ponder why at my core I believe it still matters so much. Why am I saddened by the thought that cooking and sharing meals together might be seen as irrelevant? The pressures of busy schedules, practices and events can make it a challenge, but I can’t help but feel like there has to be a way to slow down and connect.

I was in in the middle of writing my series on entertaining when the Wall Street Journal had an interesting article discussing a new crop of books on dinner parties. The writer Sherrie Flick asked herself this question as she prepared a meal for friends. In the end Flick came to the conclusion that a “dinner party might be just what we need…six people making eye contact around a table in someone’s home? It might be world changing.” So in this frenetic world with busy schedules and take out, slowing down and dining in might just be what we need. I have come to believe that cooking for friends may be rare these days but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important.

So what is it that I get from cooking for family and friends? It’s more than just the food, because as much as I like to write and share recipes it’s the sense of community that really matters. It’s the invitation and the opportunity to gather and to share in the universal experience of food and friendship. Cooking, like few other things allows you to share who you are and to give something to others. Over the years, I have cooked big meals with pretty tables and last minute dinners for friends we ran into at the airport and they have all been good and memorable. Sometimes with Pinterest and Instagram it’s easy to play the comparison game and think that what you have to give just isn’t enough. Even a girl who writes a cooking blog can from time to time wonder was that dish good enough to photograph and share? Will they really like it?

Now more than ever, it’s important to remember that burgers and chocolate chip cookies are just as good as roasted chicken and a fancy berry cake. In the end, I have come to understand that there is nothing that can take the place of opening your home and table to others. So whether you try one of these dishes or share one of your own, I believe that there is still a deep need and hunger for the connection and community that come with sharing a meal with friends. Cooking for others  matters because when we slow down and share what we have to give it has a way of feeding the soul.

After all of this cooking, Maison McCauley is going to take a short one week vacation as I spend a little time with my girls who have spring week next week, but I will be back soon with more stories, decorating projects and recipes to share.

Baking/Food

Heavenly Angel Food Cake

Lemon Cupcakes With Blackberry Buttercream Recipe admin_AM 0 comment

My grandfather was French and he loved a good meal, but he would often remind us to “know what we were saving room for” because to him there was nothing better than a delicious dessert. We don’t serve dessert every night in our house, but I do love to bake so usually once a week I make something sweet. This spring meal had me thinking about making a gorgeous dessert that would be easier to decorate than your traditional cake but every bit as impressive.

So I decided to go with a lighter angel food cake that is filled with lemon cream and fresh berries. You don’t have to be a cake decorator to make this pretty cake because the berries, lemon slices and fresh mint make such a pretty top . If you are running short on time you could even buy an angel food cake from the store and just follow my instructions for the lemon cream.

Heavenly Angel Food Cake (Serves 12) Cake Recipe Adapted From Martha Stewart’s Menus For Entertaining

  • 1 1/4 cup cake flour (Usually you can find it in a box on the top shelf of the baking aisle)
  • 1 1/2 cup superfine sugar, divided
  • 14 egg whites, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar (You can find it in the spice aisle)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Here is a look inside the test kitchen. My girls who were excited to help with the cake. I don’t own a sifter because I just use a fine metal strainer with a spoon.

Then in a medium sized bowl sift together your flour and 3/4 cup of your sugar and then zest your lemon in a small bowl.

Then in the large bowl of your electric mixer beat your egg whites and medium speed until they are foamy about a minute and a half.

Then add in your cream of tartar and increase your mixed speed to high and beat the egg whites until they become thicker and nearly triple in volume.

Then sprinkle on the remaining 3/4 cup of your sugar and continue to beat your egg whites on high until they can form stiff peaks and have a glossy sheen.

Finally you want to fold in your flour mixture and your lemon zest. Folding is a way of carefully incorporating your flour mixture into your egg whites so they don’t loose their fluffy texture. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the flour mixture on top of your egg whites then use a rubber spatula or large spoon to fold or in a circular motion the egg whites from the bottom of your bowl on top of the flour. Keep folding by scraping down the side of the bowl and then folding the mixture on top. I usually turn my bowl as I go. Sprinkle in the remaining flour mixture until it is all folded in.

Here is my mixture after I folded in my flour mixture and lemon zest.

Then you need to evenly spoon your cake into your 10 inch angel food pan. They key to angel food cake is to NOT grease your pan (the special angel food pan with its removable bottom makes this work). Then when your cake batter is in your pan you can run a table knife through your mixture to make sure there are no air pockets.

Bake you cake for 45 minutes until your cake is golden and springs back to the touch.

Then turn your cake pan upside down to cool. This is key because gravity will begin to work on the sides of your cake and the cake will keep its light texture. Keep your cake upside-down  until it cools usually it take at least an hour. Then my trick for getting it out of the pan is to use a serrated knife to careful cut around the edge and inside around the center to help loosen it. Then take you pan and place the center on a bottle so the bottle supports the bottom of the pan while you lift off the side piece.

Then take your serrated knife and hold it flat to free the top of your cake.

Then you are going to want to make your lemon cream and get your berries ready. If you are entertaining you can make the cake the day before and keep it out on your counter wrapped in plastic wrap.

Lemon Cream

  • 4 cups (or 2 pints) of heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of lemon curd (I used the Bonne Maman brand but if you can find it I also like Stonewall Kitchen’s lemon curd as well. I can usually find it on the jelly aisle)
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 pint of blueberries
  • 1 pint of blackberries
  • 1 package of mint
  • 2 lemons, cut into thin round slices

In the bowl of your stand mixer mix together your cream and sugar and beat them on hight with your balloon whisk attachment. Then when you cream becomes thick and can hold a firm peak add in your lemon curd and vanilla and whisk until they are just incorporated.

Now you are ready to decorate your cake. Take your serrated knife and with a sawing motion cut your cake in half. Then spread an even layer of whipping cream on your bottom layer and place enough berries on top so they evenly cover the cake layer.

Then take the top of your cake and layer it on your base layer. Then you are ready to decorate the top. I uses a large star tip to pipe some stars on the top of my cake and then I placed my berries on in groups of threes. If you don’t have a piping bag you could just neatly spread some of the lemon cream on top. I like to decorate with odd numbered groupings of berries because they are very pleasing to the eye.

Then I took my thin lemon slices and cut a small cut half way up the center (just like you would if you were going to cut a lemon for the side of a glass.) That half cut allows you to create a lemon twist.  I created five lemon twists and I spaced them evenly on top. Then as a final touch I added some mint sprigs. As long as your whipping cream is firm and you get your cake in the fridge immediately you can decorate your cake a half a day in advance so you won’t have to worry about having to put this together last minute.

There you have it a pretty cake that doesn’t take long to decorate. If I am making dessert for friends then I want it to be memorable and the berries and lemons give this cake an impressive look. I also like to follow a meal with heavier dishes like the herbed goat cheese chicken and mashed potatoes with something a bit lighter so this heavenly angel food cake is a great dessert to finish this menu and definitely something worth saving a little room for.

Food

Spring Entertaining: Herbed Mashed Potatoes

Lemon Cupcakes With Blackberry Buttercream Recipe admin_AM 0 comment

Have you ever tasted potatoes that were so good that they stole the show? I must confess I have made many a resturant menu selection based more on the promise of a delicious sounding side of potatoes than the actual entree itself. So what’s the secret that makes restaurant mashed potatoes so good? Having thought about it, I think it comes down to two things: first restaurant potatoes tend to have a lighter texture because they rice or mill their potatoes and second they have a richer taste because they use cream and not milk. Mashed potatoes are a classic crowd pleasing side so for part three of my entertaining menu I serving up an easy recipe for a spring inspired herbed mashed potatoes that go well with the roasted chicken.

Herbed Mashed Potatoes (Serves 4 to 6)

  • 3 medium sized russet potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • 2 tablespoons of Alouette or Boursin garlic and herb cheese
  • 2/3 cups cream
  • 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of pepper  

First, get your potatoes peeled and diced into even pieces. Then place them in a large stock pot and cover them with cold water so the water level is an inch above your potatoes. Then turn the heat up to high and boil your potatoes until they are tender and can be pierced easily with a fork about 20 minutes.

Then when your potatoes are soft drain them in a colander. I like to rice my potatoes because it makes for lighter and fluffier potatoes. A ricer resembles a big garlic press and it presses potatoes into small and even rice like pieces. The ricer  takes out any lumps and makes the potatoes easy to mix together with just a rubber spatula or spoon. When you overly whip or mix potatoes the starch in the potatoes can become glutinous so a ricer or food mill helps prevent that.

This is my potato ricer that I filled with my cooked potatoes.

Here you can see  how I work in small batches to rice my potatoes. The potatoes go in the ricer basket and you press them by bringing the handles together.

This is what the potatoes look like when they are riced.

Next add in your butter cut into small pats so it melts better and stir in your cream and cheese. Then finally season to taste with salt and pepper. You can make this recipe without a potato ricer or food mill, but I do think it makes a distinct difference in the texture of mashed potatoes.

Finally, one last tip if you are entertaining you can have your potatoes ready to go in the water and then turn them on to cook when your guests arrive or you could make them just before and have them warming in an oven safe bowl in your oven’s warming drawer or a at low temperature in your oven.

I have saved the best for last so come back this Sunday for the piece de resistance of this spring menu, dessert.

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