Baking

Strawberry Cake With Cream Cheese Icing

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Every family has their favorite traditions, in our house one our favorites is homemade birthday cakes. I love to bake so one of the things I do is try and come up with a unique cake to suit the tastes of the birthday girl or boy. Sometimes I get a request for a certain type of cake, other times I try and make something that I think they will like. My youngest daughter loves strawberries and the color pink so I thought I would create a strawberry cake with cream cheese icing. The only recipe I had was one that called for a box cake mix, but I prefer to bake cakes from scratch because they tend to be more flavorful and moist. So for this recipe I worked to create my own recipe for strawberry cake. I love the traditional pink color so I kept the strawberry jello because it gives the cake its truly signature color.

This recipe makes two nine inch round cakes. I made two batches of the cake because I decided I wanted a taller three layer cake for the birthday party.

Strawberry Cake

  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2  1/2 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2  1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 (3oz) box of strawberry jello
  • 1 cup of fresh strawberries pureed

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

First, I like to prepare my strawberries by removing the stems and then chopping the berries in half. Then I put my berries in my mini food processor, but you could also use a blender. I then pulsed the berries till they were like a thick jam with some tiny even bits of berry. Then set the berries aside to mix in the batter later

Next using your mixer beat together the sugar and eggs on medium speed for about a minute. Then add the flour, milk, oil, baking powder, sour cream and vanilla and mix until just incorporated.

Next add in your strawberry gelatin and strawberries and mix on medium low until the batter turns pink and the ingredients are evenly incorporated.

Next prepare your pans by cutting parchment paper rounds to fit inside the bottom of your pans. Then grease you pans using baker’s joy or grease and then flour them. The parchment paper will ensure that your cake comes out of the pan smoothly. Then pour the batter in evenly between the two pans.

Then bake the cakes for 30 to 35 minutes. Keep a close eye on the cakes because you don’t want to over bake your cake. You can check the doneness by testing the cake with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean the cakes are done. Let your cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes then turn them out of the pans to finish cooling on a wire rack. You want your cakes to be completely cool before you frost them.

Cream Cheese Icing

  • 2 Sticks of Softened Butter (I usually let it sit out of the fridge for an hour)
  • 2 (8oz) Softened Bricks of Cream Cheese (I let it sit out with the butter)
  • 2 Tsp Vanilla
  • 8 Cups of Powdered Sugar
  • 1 TBSP of Milk

In the bowl of a mixer cream the cream cheese and butter. Add the powdered sugar vanilla and milk. Mix on high speed until the icing is smooth and fluffy.

To frost a cake I put a small dollop of icing on the plate or cake round to keep the cake from sliding. Put the bottom layer on top and then spread icing as a filling.

Then put the top layer on or if you want to make a three layer cake like I did then fill and stack your middle layer and then place on the top layer. Frost the cake by putting several large spoonfuls of icing on the top of the cake and use a separated spatula to spread the icing from the top and around the sides. I want to make sure the sides are covered so there are no gaps between the layers. This initial crumb coat does not need to be perfect. It just needs to seal in to crumbs and fill in any gaps in the layers.

Once I get the cake frosted with a base layer (crumb coat), I place it in the fridge to firm up for about 30 minutes.

Then for my final layer I decided to give the sides a more textured look by taking my separated spatula and giving it a up and down motion. You can see that I have my cake on a lazy susan that I have which makes it quicker for me to frost a cake.  Then I smoothed the top.

If you want to go for a simpler decoration you could decorate the top with some fresh strawberries or you could make some fondant strawberries using the tutorial I have on this post here.

I wanted a more whimsical look for my decorations since this was for my young daughter. I like the taste of frosting better than fondant, but I still like the look of fondant decorations. I tend to decorate my cakes with some fondant cut outs and sugar gum flowers. So for this cake I decided to try out a new technique for making a chalkboard like cake topper.

To make the happy birthday topper I rolled black fondant to on a piece of parchment paper that I lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Then I cut out a circle using the lid of a jar. I painted on the lettering using white food coloring thinned with a tiny amount of lemon extract.

I like to plan out the spacing before I place it on the cake so I used my cake pan turned upside down to plan the decorations.

I plan to post more on gum paste flowers, but they really need a post of their own.

I like to decorate the sides of a cake as well.

I thought the number three with the three purple flowers was a nice finishing touch for the front of the cake.

Here is the a view of the inside of the cake so you can see the festive bright pink layers.

Tablescapes

Pretty In Pink Dinner Party

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My now three year old began thinking about her birthday a couple of months ago. She had watched how we made dinner for my birthday and then within a few days she began asking when we were going to “make her party.” I thought it was interesting that she kept using the phrase “make a party” because it was clear that to her a party was more than just an event you attend. She had enjoyed helping me put all the details together and wanted to be able to make her own “pink” birthday dinner.

My youngest daughter absolutely adores the color pink. She loves dressing up and her favorite is jewlery.  She reminds me a bit of the classic children’s book character, Fancy Nancy. Anything that comes with glitter and jewels is always better. So when I walked into Paper Source and saw this pale pink wrapping paper with gold glitter polka dots I thought it would make the perfect inspiration for her pink birthday dinner. So from there I found tiny gold glitter crowns and I thought my daughter would just love. Wrapping paper can make a really beautiful table runner for a festive occasion. In the past I have found some great paper patterns at Hobby Lobby, the Container Store and Paper Source. Then I found some paper napkins from Meri Meri with scalloped edges that worked as both placemats and napkins and some gold hearts that would make pretty place cards.

Then for the some pretty pink details I put together some two toned coral and pink tissue paper peonies.

Then I decided to let my girls decorate their crowns with stick on jewels from the craft store. The birthday girl decorated hers in all pink. This little project was easy enough for preschoolers to do themselves and they were thrilled with the colored jewels. This would be a fun party favor. I could also see using the same kind of jewels to decorate wands as well. Here is a link to an example of some star wands that I think would also make a fun kids party favor.

Sometimes I like to decorate my chandelier to make the dining room feel festive so I made some smaller pink peonies to hang above the table.

I wanted the flowers to fit over the candles on my chandelier without damaging them so I took some cardboard rolls I had left over from vacation bible school stickers and I wrapped then in ribbon and hot glued the flowers to them.

Then for an extra touch of pink I tied some ribbons below the flowers.

Finally, the last details were some balloons and pink roses and carnations for the table. My daughter loved helping me set up and decorate everything. She definitely enjoyed every minute of her birthday. It was so fun to watch her face as she sat in the dining room taking it all in with a huge smile on her face. The best part was that her grandmothers came to celebrate with us. It was definitely a fun evening filled with all the pink glittery details my little party planner loves.

Food

Peach and Tomato Salad

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Peach and Tomato Salad Recipe

Just one bite of a sweet peach makes me think is there anything as divinely delicious? Peaches are one of Summer’s great gifts and so when July comes and ripe peaches are filling the produce end-caps and the local farmer’s markets I happily commence the summer tradition of eating and cooking with as many peaches as possible. The July issue of Better Homes and Gardens featured an article and recipes from Case and Deanna  Fischer of Das Peach Haus in Fredericksburg Texas. The Fischer’s and their business partner Mark Wieser have a specialty food company that makes gourmet jams and sauces. Here is a link to their  company’s website here.

One of the recipes the Fischer’s shared was this Peach and Tomato Salad. The flavor combination of the tangy balsamic vinegar and the sweet honey with fresh peaches and tomatoes is wonderful. This is one of those recipes I know I will be making for years to come so I thought I would share it with you.

Peach and Tomato Salad

  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 6 medium peaches (about 2 pounds) pitted and cut into wedges
  • 2 pounds of vine ripened tomatoes cut into wedges
  • 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 cup of pecan pieces (the pecans can be left out if you have an allergy)
  • 1/2 cup of fresh basil cut into thin strips

First in a medium sized bowl whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, salt and pepper. Then slowly drizzle in the oil while whisking and continue whisking the dressing until the oil is fully incorporated.

Next slice your peaches and tomatoes. Since fresh vine tomatoes can be soft I like to slice my tomatoes using a serrated knife. It makes cleaner and better tomato slices. Then slice your red onion into thin bite sized slices.

Next take your basil leaves and stack them on top of each other and roll them longways into a chiffonade.

The slice the rolled leaves into thin even ribbons like strips.

Finally in a large salad bowl toss together the peaches, tomatoes, red onion, basil and add in your feta cheese and pecans. Drizzle on the balsamic dressing and carefully mix in the dressing so it coats all the peaches and tomatoes.

This is a great side salad that I have served with steak and grilled chicken sandwiches but it would be good with all kinds of dishes.

Home

Happy Houses

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When we were looking at homes in Chicago there was one that we named the “happy house.” It was a 1929 red colonial with black shutters, white trim and a bright kelly green front door. There was just something about that door that made you smile and want to look inside. The house was colorful and thoughtfully decorated, but alas it had just one garage and absolutely no room for a second. As Southerners, we were not so sure about having to de-ice one of our cars each winter morning. Sadly, we had to walk away from that one, but I still think about that painted door.

One of the keys to great curb appeal is to work with your home’s unique features. Every house has its own personality shaped by its architecture, location and how it is built. However, sometimes it’s the paint and finishes on a home that really set a house apart and give it a destintive style. Front doors are usually one of the biggest focal points on the exterior of your home. So choosing a color or finish that works with the personality of your house can make a big difference.

If you have what I would call an “ordinary” front door. A wooden door without a lot of detail or glass art then painting your door can really give your curb appeal a boost and add some personality to your house. When it is done right a painted door always makes me smile. So today I thought I would share of my photographs of pretty painted doors.

I absolutely love a good red door. Red happens to be my favorite color, but I have yet to own a home where I thought a red door would look right. A very popular and pretty shade of red is Benjamin Moore’s Heritage Red. It’s not too orange and not too blue, its just the perfect shade. I love a classic white home with black shutters. Just look at the details on the house above. The black window boxes and the pretty brass door number and mail box.

Here is a classic older home with a gorgeous red door. I love the painted details and lettered address.

This is a small and fairly simple home, but the the red door and matching mail box really make it stand out.

This spring green door is gorgeous. I love the energetic green against the gray and white shingled home. This isn’t a fancy or ornate door so the green is what makes this house special. It’s what the eye goes to when you see it from the street.

Here is another softer apple green. I like the look of this green against the light blue grey exterior and the stone steps.

This traditional shingled house has a very modern paint scheme. I like the edgy dark grey exterior and black trim, but it definitely needed a brighter door. The lime green on this more modern door really pulls this look together and it keeps the house from feeling too dark.

There is something about the combination of yellow and grey that I like. Here this happy marigold yellow makes the french door stand out and it gives it some presence, which this house needs since there is a uniform row of windows across the front. I like the white trim, but I wish they had painted the area around the door and windows grey as well.

Here is a newer construction with a deep charcoal grey and a bright yellow door. I like that they kept the sidelights white but I wish they had matched the metals on the door numbers and the hardware.

This is another one of my favorite door colors. The beautiful blue green door looks similar to Benjamin Moore’s Wythe Blue. I love the creamy white paint with the light grey trim and this blue door. It creates this tranquil and beautiful look.

Here is another blue green door. The light color is a bit more subtle against the grey siding, but it still brightens the look of this house.

This French blue door has a bit of grey in it which makes it work with the grey stucco exterior and the brick detailing on the front walk and porch.

Then there is this brilliant blue lacquered door that is just perfection. The deeper blue makes you notice the arch of the doors and the the carved details. I love the blue with the weighty brass handles and the hanging gas lantern. This door really has a presence.

Since I love a painted door, I decided to paint my front doors a steely blue. Even when it gets a bit gray in winter the blue doors add a bright spot to our home. You can read more about my travels and what inspired me to chose this color here.

This has been a fun post to photograph and put together, but I know I am not the only one who loves painted doors. The Wall Street Journal reported that painted front doors were some of the most searched for images on major home websites like HGTV and Houzz. People are looking to make their homes feel personal and a bright painted door is wonderful way to give your home some style. I believe a great door says something about a house. When I see a painted door it makes me stop and wonder what a home is like, because color is deeply personal. It’s one of those things that catches your attention and creates an immediate emotional response and it’s why a beautiful painted door just makes me happy.

Baking/Food

Fredericksburg Peach Cobbler

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Can you really be both a pie and cake person? Some people say you can’t really love them both equally, but I think the answer to this great debate is cobbler. Especially this peach cobbler which has juicy sliced peaches baked into a tender buttery cake like batter with a crispy sugar crust. Serve it warm with ice cream and you will see it really is the best of both and to top it all off it much easier to make. It may not be as showy as a pie pastry or a frosted cake, but once you take a bite this recipe will win you over.

When I was in high school my family loved to go to Fredericksburg, Texas to get away for a long weekend or for spring break. It was about a four hour drive from my home and you could rent these cute little farm houses and we used to love to get outdoors and enjoy the hill country. One time we stayed at a place where the homeowners had an old book of family recipes. The baking recipes looked interesting so I wrote out many of them by hand. Once I tried making them I realized what I had found was wonderful. These recipes are some of my absolute favorites. Fredericksburg is known for its peach farms and one the recipes in that family’s cookbook was this peach cobbler.

Fredericksburg Peach Cobbler

  • 3 cups peeled sliced peaches (about 4 peaches)
  • 6 tablespoons butter melted
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1  1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar for sprinkling on top before you bake it

First preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Next, get you peaches peeled. If your peaches are ripe it is easier. I used a vegetable peeler to pull up a piece of skin and then I pulled the skin off in long strips. If your peaches are a bit firmer you might need to use some boiling water to help you. Bring a saucepan filled halfway with water to a boil then with a small knife cut an X shape through the skin on the bottom of your peach. Then when the water is boiling add you peach and boil it for 30 or 45 seconds and then remove your peach from the water with a slotted spoon. The boiling water will help loosen the skin. You can begin to pull the skin off from the cuts you made on the bottom of the peach.

Once your peaches are peeled I slice them off the pit into even slices.

Next take your melted butter and pour it in the bottom of an 8×8 square baking pan.

Then in a medium sized bowl mix together your batter. Using a whisk mix together the flour sugar, baking powder, salt and milk. Then when the batter is well mixed pour it onto of the melted butter. You can spread out the batter a bit by using a rubber spatula, but DO NOT STIR. You are going to layer the ingredients on top of each other.

Then arrange or place your peaches evenly on top of the batter some of my peaches are a double layer think. Don’t worry about exact placement because the batter will rise and cover the peaches as it bakes. Then before you put it in the oven evenly sprinkle the top with 1/2 cup of sugar.

Then bake it in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until you see the top turn a golden brown. I like to serve mine warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

My recipe for Peach Cobbler is featured on The Pioneer Woman’s site, Tasty Kitchen, click on the link above for a printer friendly recipe.

 

Home

Remixing Your Bathroom With Art

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Can you really change the look of a bathroom without renovating and starting all over again? I have been working on the older bathrooms in my home and I have featured two of them on the blog. When you have an older home there are always projects, but just because you can’t fix everything right away doesn’t mean you should live with a room you really don’t like. I have been working on several projects and searching for for some new art pieces and that inspired me to put together several ideas for remixing your bathroom. People don’t always think about art in a bathroom, but for me I find art so enlivening that a great photograph or painting can really change how I feel about a room. I decided to create a four art driven looks that could transform your bathroom with just a few key accessories.

This first look is a traditional look inspired by a photograph of Chinese pottery. These towels from Pottery Barn have a shape to them that look like the leaves on the painted flower. The shower curtain repeats the same pattern in the reverse so it adds some visual interest. Then for the mirror I liked this quatrefoil shaped mirror from Wisteria. This mirror comes in two sizes and in several different finishes. I like the lighter royal blue because it picks up the lighter blue from the painting, but it also comes in white and silver. The sources are listed below.

Pottery Barn Marlo Towel 

Pottery Barn Marlo Shower Curtain

Wisteria Blue China Art

Wisteria Mughal Mirror

I love a coastal styled bathroom.This crab is from an artist named Alexandra Nicole who lives of the coast in St. Simons, Georgia. I found her work on Etsy and I have ordered a couple of pieces from her and I was impressed. I love the colors in this crab painting so I decided to pick up on the orange and turquoise colors that you see in the crab shell. Serena and Lily had these great striped towels with the turquoise trim and I like their modern pattern on their feather shower curtain. I went with a white mirror white goes with the coastal style. I could see this as a great kids bathroom because of the bright colors and playful patterns. The sources for these items are featured below.

Serena and Lily Sydney Towel

Maryland Blue Crab Painting

Serena and Lily Feather Shower Curtain

Serena and Lilly Sydney Beach Towel

This bathroom was inspired by this great little painting by artist Stacy Sadack. I liked the black and white details on the vase and I decided to repeat that pattern in the black ticking stripe shower curtain with a ruffle detail. I also like the hand drawn look of Mark and Graham’s linen guest towels. I finished this more romantic styled room with a French gilt mirror. These ruffles and roses would be great of a girl of any age and I could also see it working as a guest bathroom as well. Here are the links below.

Roses in a Black and White Vase

Calligraphy Hand Towels

Black and White Ticking Stripe Shower Curtain

French Gilt Mirror

Now for a more modern look, there is something about the combination of black and white with a bright green that really catches the eye. I have seen it used in several rooms with anthropology’s black and white Zuber styled wall paper. Marian of the Miss Mustard Seed blog used it in her hall bathroom. Here is a link to the bathroom here. I really love how it turned out, but my experience has been that wall paper can see some wear in a bathroom that has a shower or gets lots of use. So I found I decided to base this look around an engraved painting of a cloud which is reminiscent of the panaramic landscape scenes that you see in Zuber paper with out the expense and commitment of using wallpaper. I added some pattern with the striped Kate Spade shower curtain and the black and white Chevron Mirror. Then to add a touch of green I would add Kate Spade’s towels. I think this color scheme would work well with a bathroom that has white, black or gray tiles. This look puts a colorful and modern twist on a classic. For my sources see the links below.

Kate Spade Black Stripe Curtain

Kate Spade Green Towels

Cloud Engraving Art

Chevron Wisteria Mirror

Decorating can’t solve every issue, but it can help you tackle an ordinary or even slightly dated room. Bathrooms are generally smaller rooms so adding just one piece of art or a small pair of prints can give the room a new focal point. Then if you intentionally layer in accessories that pull that style into the room, you can really begin to change how the space feels. So when you are styling your bathroom don’t overlook what you have hanging on your walls. Adding a new mirror, shower curtain and towels that you love can help you transform a room. I have seen some older, tiled bathrooms look completely different when the rest of the room is given a style remix. So the next time you are looking at decorating a room think about starting with art.

Food

Panzanella Salad

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Any recipe whose star ingredient is french bread is a winner if you ask me. Maybe that is why I just absolutely adore this salad. It’s the dish I love to make for dinner. It’s July so fresh tomatoes, cucumber and corn are here and they make this a very colorful and flavorful salad. My husband likes a little protein with his vegetables so sometimes I serve it with salmon or grilled chicken. Recently, I served it with my Italian inspired charcuterie plate and it was a great combination. My version of this classic salad has a bit of a Greek twist to it because I add feta cheese and romaine lettuce. So if you are looking for something a bit lighter to serve this Summer then give this salad a try.

Panzanella Salad

  • 1 head of romaine lettuce
  • 2 ears of fresh corn kernels cut off the cob
  • 1 medium sized cucumber chopped into bite sized pieces
  • 1 pint of cherry tomatoes halved or 2 vine ripe tomatoes chopped
  • 1/2 cup red onion sliced thinly and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 1/4 cups of feta cheese crumbled

Croutons

  • 1 loaf of rustic french bread or ciabatta bread cut into cubes (about 6 cups of bread cubes)
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Salad Dressing

  • 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup canola oil

I start by cutting by bread into bite sized cubes. I do this by slicing my loaf in half horizontally and then I take each half and slice it open like you were making a sandwich. Then take each half of bread and cut it into three of four strips depending on how thick your bread is. Then cut those strips into even sized cubes.

Once you get your bread prepared place a large skillet on medium low heat and melt the 2 tablespoons of butter and add the 2 tablespoons of oil. Then stir in the garlic powder and salt. Once you have the butter and oil seasoned add in your bread crumbs and stir them well so they are evenly covered in the butter.

Then continue to cook your breadcrumbs on the stove top on medium low heat stirring occasionally to make sure they cook and get evenly toasted. It’s a low and slow cooking process that takes about 30 minutes, but you can work on chopping your vegetables while your bread toasts.

In another pan melt 1 tablespoon of butter on medium heat and then add in your fresh corn kernels. Cook the corn until it turns a brighter yellow (about 4 minutes). Then set the corn aside to cool. Then chop your other vegetables.

Next, make your salad dressing by whisking together the 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard and the 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. Then add in your garlic powder, salt pepper, oregano. Then final slowly drizzle in your oil while whisking the mixture together and keep whisking until the salad dressing gets thicker and the oil is fully incorporated.

Finally, when you are ready to serve your salad toss together your chopped romaine, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and corn. Then add the french bread croutons and sprinkle on the feta cheese. Then toss the salad with the dressing and there you have it one of my personal favorites, panzanella salad.

Home

Transforming Our Tiny Master Bathroom With Color

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On the brief real estate tour I took of our home, the master bathroom stood out as one  of the rooms I wanted to update. The room was small and the colors felt dark. I took some photos and then I began thinking about what I could do to lighten up this bathroom.

The Before: here I am taking a photo of the bathroom on the tour we took of our home.

In the future, we would love to do a larger renovation to retile the bathroom and turn our tiny bath into a large walk in shower. However, with a small budget and careful plan, we have made some meaningful changes that have made a big difference in this tiny space.

The first thing I did was I began to think about adding a cooler color that would tone down the orange granite which in this small bathroom really stood out as the major focal point. Since changing the counter top was out, my mind immediately went to turquoise. I knew a blue green color would compliment the orange tones and help lessen its impact in the room. Once I had a color direction I began looking for a shower curtain. In our small bathroom the curtain takes up a lot of visual space, so I wanted to choose something that I really liked that brought in this new color scheme.

Then the second project was to find a way to create more storage. The bathroom had a large frameless mirror which covered the whole back wall. So if we removed the mirror and replaced it with a smaller framed mirror then would would have room for a much needed cabinet. I also wanted to remove a small medicine cabinet that had a dated shutter door. It may have added a tiny bit of storage but it was just not cute and it stuck out a bit. We hired a contractor who removed the cabinet and mirror and repaired the sheetrock.

This is a funny little photo but its the only one I have to show you the old medicine cabinet that was on the left side.

Our bathroom at our old home had a full sized cabinet above the toilet which created great storage.  I decided to add a similar cabinet to our new bathroom since we had very limited storage and no place to put our towels. I also like having a higher cabinet that keeps little ones out of any medicines or toiletries.

We replaced the mirror with the Henry mirror from Birch Lane and the cabinet was a kitchen cabinet from Home Depot which was a close match to the existing vanity. I then replaced the door pulls so they would all look the same. I found these knobs by Cynthia Rowley at Home Goods, but Hobby Lobby has some similar looking knobs.

 

I painted the walls Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore and I got it in their spa finish which has held up well with all the steam that a small bathroom can create. The cool toned blue green color works well with the counter tops and makes the bathroom feel a little brighter. The art was a lucky find at Home Goods years ago. They are printed on a plastic canvas so the pictures work well in a bathroom.

This shower curtain from Serena and Lily really makes this room. I so was excited when I found it because it had the beautiful aqua color stripes with a smaller bark colored accent, which worked to tie in the floor tile as well as the accent tile in the shower.

I had some trouble finding a small bathmat that would fit in the very tiny space between the toilet and the wall. After looking a lot of different places with no luck, I finally looked back a Serena and Lily and I found that they had a tiny mat. So if you are looking for a mat for an unusually small space you might have luck there as well. I like using white towels and mats because they can be bleached if they get dirty.

The final touch is the cornice valance that I recently made for the window. There is a story behind this window valance. I had been looking for fabrics but hadn’t found the right one. Then there came the day when my husband was showering and out of nowhere our old shower rod broke and in the struggle to try and get the shower curtain back up again the woven fabric was ripped along the edge in such a way that it just couldn’t be repaired. In the end, it was kind of a serendipity because I was able to order a new shower curtain and I used the old one to upholster this custom cornice board. I decided to flip the pattern so it was the opposite of the shower curtain. I love the final look. It adds just the right finishing touch.

This bathroom was one of our least favorite rooms in the house and now thanks to a new color scheme and a few changes it feels lighter and it functions better. So don’t underestimate the big difference that color can make. Changing the paint to a cooler color made the room feel brighter and the shower curtain gave it an updated graphic pattern. The colors in the fabric were perfect, because it looks like it was custom made for our bathroom. I also love the look of our new mirror. The beveled glass frame is easy to keep clean and its classic lines updated our vanity, while giving us room for more storage. So if you have an older home with a quirky bathroom you would love to change, think about a new color scheme. The right color can really transform a room.

Food/Travel

Bringing Italy Home To Your Table

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Buonasera (good evening), if you were out for dinner in Italy this is how they would welcome you. I thought I would share some about the food in Sardinia, Italy, where I traveled recently.  While we were in the town of Alghero, we had the opportunity to eat at a particularly delightful restaurant called Sa Mandra. Sa Mandra is located on a farm just a short distance from town and it specializes in traditional Sardinian food.

Once you step out on the farm and see the olive and pear trees and the pink bougainvillea covered arches you know that this place is special. The stone buildings and the traditional decor make you feel like you are dining in different time.

As I walked along the path and explored the property I began to see that this was more that just a restaurant it was a beautiful garden and a bit of a museum. There were buildings on the property that were filled with 200 year old wine presses and cooking tools with explanations about how they had been used.Then we walked in another building and saw this large fireplace where they were roasting suckling pigs in the traditional way. Taking in the sights and smells made you appreciate the great care and detail that Sa Mandra takes in preparing their food.


We sat at table under a covered patio. It was a warm summer night, but the cool coastal breeze made it pleasant. As the sun began to set there were lanterns and candles that lit up the porch and the candle light gave you such an amazing view. Then the parade of these delicious small dishes began and you knew it was going to be a memorable meal. I was taken with the simplicity and the artful presentation of these cheeses, figs, prosciutto, tomatoes, basil and flat bread. The dishes were small, but each one had a different flavor combination for you to try. All night there were new dishes coming from the kitchen: mezza luna pasta filled with a delicate ricotta, gnocchi with a traditional red sauce and tender suckling pig.  Then for dessert out comes a host of tiny Italian cookies:  heavenly citrus flavored meringues, Amaretti cookies and almond flavored pabassini cookies. Food is more than a meal here it is an event.

This was such a wonderful meal that I wanted to take a bit of it home with me. I decided to recreate some of the small plates at home and I thought I would share a few with you. These are some simple plates that you could put together as a first course or for for hors d’ouevers. Serve it with some wine or a glass of sparkling water and you have a delicious and simple set of dishes.

The first plate I made has paresano-reggiano cheese, prosciutto, sopressa or an Italian sausage and crispy flat bread. When it comes to the cheese get a good quality imported cheese. Although I like Wisconsin produced Bella Vitano, it is still not the same as the imported Italian cheese. I had to settle for these thin panzanella crackers because I didn’t have time to try multiple grocery stores this week. My European friends tell me that Trader Joe’s comes the closest to Sardinian flat breads, so when I have a little more time I will have to try them.

The second plate has figs and some fig jelly along with some paresano-reggiano cheese. Figs have two seasons the early season is in June and then there is a second season from August to October. So this is a great dish to make in the Summer, when figs are in season.  When you are looking to buy a fig, make sure it is not too mushy or shriveled and plan to use it within a day or two of purchasing it. The sweet honey-like flavor of the fig is wonderful when paired with the cheese’s sharp nutty flavor.

Finally, my final plate has fresh grape tomatoes and basil with paresano-reggiano cheese. If you wanted to substitute fresh mozzarella it would still be good. The key to Sa Mandra’s small plates was the flavor combinations.

So even if you can’t get away to Sardinia you can still bring home some of the flavors with these easy to assemble small dishes. I served this as a first course with a Panzanella salad for dinner and it was a delicious reminder of a wonder evening.

Travel/Uncategorized

Getting Away For A Little While

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Have you ever vacationed somewhere far away where the customs and rhythm of life were very different? Taking a vacation is not always rhythm changing. I have definitely planned many a trip where I had so many places to see that vacationing meant racing off to the next activity. I tend to be a quick tempo traveler who comes with a long list of things to do. However, this trip with my husband to Sardinia, Italy might be the first vacation I have taken without a plan. Some people are great at this. I have a sister-in-law who has a great sense of wanderlust, which has lead her to travel and explore some amazing places. I happen to be a fast-paced planner, it’s just my nature… but living life this way can leave you a bit frayed. There is something good about getting away.

I must admit that I had not thought about vacationing on the island of Sardinia. My husband was invited to speak at an conference and I decided travel with him. It was an opportunity to see the Mediterranean and take a little time to get away. We stayed at a beachside hotel called La Punta Negra in the town of Alghero.

This town is harder to access than other Italian cities, so while we were there we did not meet any other Americans. Alghero is more of a local Italian vacation destination. There were a few British and German families, but the majority the tourists were Italian. The Italians were very friendly and the pace of life was more relaxed. Many of the local restaurants do not open for dinner until 7 or 8 PM. They all have large patios where you can take in the ocean breeze. My husband’s Italian friend, who was at the conference, explained to us that since Alghero caters to local tourists the quality of the food is excellent. I will have to share a little more about the food next week.

Our hotel had its own small but private beach. The coastline is rocky immediately by the shore, but once you wade out a little ways there is smooth sand. The water is a beautiful clear blue. It is warm and everyone was out swimming. There is something so peaceful about hearing the water and looking out and seeing nothing but blue across the horizon.

The hotel had breakfast every morning and you could eat and sip your coffee out on the porch overlooking the water. It was the most amazing view. This trip was a departure from my busy plans, a chance to think and just sit a moment. Traveling here was a reminder that it is good to check out, slow down and explore a new place. Getting away somewhere little outside of my comfort zone allowed me to see things from and different perspective and it gave me a moment to truly take all the beauty in.

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