Food

Black Bean Soup

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Black Bean Soup Recipe

When it comes to cooking five years ago I felt guilty “just adding water.” Now I want to bang the food against the counter and have a five course meal pop out. If it comes with plastic silverware and a plate that self destructs all the better.

Erma Bombeck

Even if you like to cook, let’s face it there are nights when cooking a big or fancy meal is just not in the cards. I have always been a planner when it comes to weekly meals. I like to cook, but I must confess that I don’t always love to grocery shop. So I make one big run for the week, but I have found that the key to my plan is to be realistic about what I am actually going to cook each night. If I know it’s a busy day or if I am cooking on Friday after a long week, then I need to plan something a little easier. An ambitious plan on Monday doesn’t always sound as good when you are trying to get out the door to choir practice on Wednesday.

Over the years I have planned and made countless dinners. There are some recipes that were once a favorite years ago and now for whatever reason I don’t like as much so they have fallen out of the mix, but there are a few recipes that I can say have been so good that I have been regularly making them for the last fifteen years. Although this recipe for black bean soup has changed some over time, I have been making this soup for years. It has remained an all time favorite, because it a great weeknight meal. This quick and flavorful soup has gotten me through many a crazy evening. Serve it with some quesadillas and guacamole and you have dinner in fifteen minutes. Now this soup may not come with a self destructing bowl, but the taste you get for such a quick and healthy meal is wonderful. Let’s face it we all need a few of these simple recipes to make it through the weekly dinner rush.

Black Bean Soup – Serves four as a main course and six as a side

  • 3 (15.5 oz) cans of black beans
  • 2 Tbsp of tomatillo salsa
  • 1 Tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 Tsp coriander
  • 1/4 Tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 Tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (plus extra for garnish on top)
  • Grated Monterey jack cheese or cheddar for the top of the soup
  • Fresh Avocado Salsa or Mango Salsa for garnish on top

Place two undrained cans (entire can) of the black beans in a large sauce pot and heat over medium heat. Meanwhile take the third undrained can and put it in a food processor or blender and blend it until thick with some chunks of beans still left.

Pour the pureed beans into the sauce pot and stir. Next add in the salsa, cumin coriander, garlic powder and salt. Then turn the heat down to low and whisk in 1/4 cup of sour cream.

Top the soup with cheese, a dollop of sour cream and chopped green onions or cilantro. If you are feeling fancy or have a little time add some fresh mango salsa on top as well.

Home

Show-Stopping Side Chairs

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I wrote a piece about my living room so I thought I would follow that with a post about one of my favorite classic design elements: bold accent chairs. It’s a fundamental that can be personalized and adapted to fit any style.

Accent chairs usually play a supporting role in a living room, but some of my favorite designers have created amazing rooms with a very memorable side chair. They offer a great way to add a little color and pattern in a room. A couch covered in a bright fabric or bold pattern might be too much to commit to or less flexible long term. However, a chair could add just the right touch, and its smaller scale means it takes less fabric to make a statement.

Accent chairs come in a variety of sizes and styles from wingback chairs, slipper chairs, club chairs, and side chairs.  If you look at many major furniture companies like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, or Restoration Hardware, just to name a few, you will notice that they often don’t offer a lot of fabric options for these chairs beyond neutral solids or leather.  Accent chairs often complement the rugs, draperies and throw pillows which tend to get all the exciting patterns and attention. An accent chair may take up less real estate in a room, but that doesn’t mean it can’t steal the show. A great accent chair can give your room a truly unique and designer look.

One way to strike the right balance in a room is to use a bold fabric on a traditional chair.   A classic wing chair can look great cover it in a graphic pattern. One of my favorite designers Tobi Fairley decorated her living room in a green and white color scheme. The traditional design elements become exciting because of the green trellis fabric she chose for her chairs. The room just wouldn’t be the same without them. See this link below to Fairley’s blog where she shows off her room design.

Designer Tobi Fairley

Another great example is from Designer Tommy Smythe’s living room were he has a set of scene stealing wing chairs. Covered in a classic Brunschwig et Fils fabric called “Les Touches.” Apartment Therapy featured a tour of his home including these great chairs.

Image Via Apartment Therapy Designer Tommy Smythe

If graphic patterns are not your style or if you have a bold pattern somewhere else, you could use a bright colored chair to create interest. Designer Barclay Butera designed a gorgeous California living room which is featured on the Home Bunch blog. In this room Butera uses a bold blue and white pattern on his drapes and pillows so to add interest without making the room feel too busy he adds this brilliant orange side chair. I love how the busier patterns in the drapes and pillows are balanced and complemented by the tangerine colored chair. See the link below to take a tour of the whole room.

Image via Home Bunch Blog Designer Barclay Butera

A talented master of the accent chair is designer Suellen Gregory. If you look at her gorgeous portfolio and blog  you will see time and time again she uses side chairs to add a punch of color or pattern to a room.  Gregory has a traditional decorating style, but often use uses accent chairs to make a statement and add a little whimsy. Veranda Magazine featured a home where she used a pop of pink to give a classic and formal chair a more modern feel. Click on the link below to see the article.

Veranda Designer Suellen Gregory

When decorating my own home I really like the look of using a a bold graphic pattern, but I didn’t want to pay for yards and yards of fabric to make custom draperies and I wanted a bigger statement then just using the pattern on an accent pillow.  So when I was reworking my living room I recovered an armchair that had belonged to my grandmother in a navy ikat fabric from Kasmir.  I have a simple navy and gray color scheme in my living room so this accent chair adds a little pattern and interest. It gave the room a more custom look.

If you love this look too, you can incorporate it in your home by reupholstering an existing chair or I have also found some great chairs at estate sales. Buying a vintage chair can help keep the total cost of reupholstering down.

One Kings Lane Here are a pair of vintage Martha Washington chairs recovered in Barclay Butera’s Assante Fabric from Kravet. The color of the fabric shown is ink but it also comes in a beautiful chocolate brown.

However, if getting a chair recovered is more than you want to take on there are lots of great choices online. Companies like Ballard Designs have lots of fabric options and will let you send in your own fabric. They will even cover a chair in more than one fabric or add custom trim.

Ballard Designs
Get a similar look to Tommy Smythe’s wing chairs with this Nelson Wing Chair from Ballard Designs or cover the Thurston Armchair in a green trellis fabric like Tobi Fairley.
Ballard Designs Thurston Chair

I even found a chair like Barclay Butera’s armchair at Cost Plus World Market who is now offering more upholstery options.

Cost Plus World Market Stellan Chair in Saffron

Want a classic piece like Suellen Gregory’s pink chair? Another option is a store like Wisteria which sells classic French reproductions with lots of upholstery options.

Wisteria.com

So add a custom look or a little bit of fun with a chair. Do you have a favorite chair or a wonderful place to find one? I’d love to hear.

Baking

Cinnamon Chocolate Cake The Cure For No Good Very Bad Days

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Cinnamon Chocolate Cake Recipe

Last Thursday was just one of those days. Thankfully it wasn’t an awful day. It was one where nothing went quite to plan and no matter what I did I couldn’t fix everything. I was reminded of that classic children’s book, Alexander And The No Good Very Bad Day.  It all started when the girls and I went out to play, there it was in the middle of the yard, the dead squirrel. The dog and my girls were circling the squirrel. My oldest daughter is an animal lover, who was instantly in tears concerned about the sick squirrel. She is four so explaining squirrel heaven and what mommy was doing suiting up with garden gloves and plastic bags was difficult. No matter how I explained it, there were all kinds of questions about how the squirrel was doing in the garage and when he was getting better.

Then in the middle of the squirrel crisis my youngest’s balloon, her current favorite, managed to fly right out the door. I turned around just in time to see the green balloon fly higher and higher until it was out of sight. My two year old had a plan. She knew that if only we could get ropes we could rescue her balloon. There were tears and a sad talk about the balloon taking an adventure and being gone.

The day had been busy because we were getting ready for my sister and brother-in-law’s visit the next day.  The girls and I had baked a cake. It was sitting out to cool and I was cleaning in another room. When I walk back in the kitchen there is the chocolate cake with one handful missing. I looked at my girls and the little one blurted out that her sister did it. I knew it was my oldest because she adores chocolate and she was the one who had chocolate on her fingers. I was a little tired and now I was going to have to bake a second cake. There is a part of me that wanted to be mad, but sometimes you just have to take a minute and laugh. It was definitely one of those days and my oldest daughter just couldn’t help herself. She loves chocolate and this cake is so good that it’s worth making a second. So I stopped cleaning and we made another cake.

A week later there are still lingering questions about the fate of squirrel and the balloon in our house, but I think my girls understood the lesson about chocolate cake. I have learned that in life attitude is everything. Sometimes even when you can’t make it all better, a little chocolate and a good laugh go a long way.

This cake is an absolute favorite sure to brighten any bad day from Rebecca Rather and her cookbook The Pastry Queen.

Cinnamon Chocolate Cake

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk (or if you don’t happen to have buttermilk add 1 tsp of white vinegar to the milk and stir)
  • 2 Tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Chocolate Ganache Glaze

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick butter)
  • 1/4 cup milk, warmed
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 cups of sifted powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Then grease a 10 to 12 cup Bundt pan with Baker’s Joy. You can find it next to the other cooking sprays in the grocery store. It is absolutely the best for bunt cakes since it greases all of the small bends in the pan better an anything else. There is nothing worse than making a cake and then when you go to turn it out having part of it still stuck to the pan.

Next in a saucepan melt the butter over medium low heat. Then add your water and the cocoa powder and whisk until it is smooth. Then remove the pan from the heat because you don’t want it to boil. Next whisk in the water until smooth. Then add 2 cups of sugar and continue to whisk until it is smooth and fully incorperated.

Next pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl of your mixer. Then add all at once the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. (this keeps the eggs from getting to hot and causing an issue). Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and mix until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated. Then pour the batter in your greased pan.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. You will see that the sides of the cake will pull slightly away from the pan and the cake will be firm with springy touch. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes then turn it out on a large plate.

To make the chocolate ganache melt the butter in a saucepan over medium low heat. Add milk, cocoa powder and powdered sugar and whisk. Remove the pan from the heat then whisk in the vanilla and salt. The chocolate should look smooth and glossy.

Next drizzle the chocolate ganache over the cake using a large spoon. If you want a thicker and more controlled look then wait for the cake to cool completely before you make the chocolate ganache. If you want more of a glaze then make the ganache and spoon it on while the cake is still warm. The heat of the cake will make the chocolate thinner. The cake keeps best covered at room temprature.

If I am making this cake for company, then I like to add some decorations to the top. This cake looks great topped with colored sprinkles or with edible flowers like pansies

Holiday Decorating/Tablescapes

A Tisket, A Tasket, Ideas To Get Your Easter Table Set

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If you are working on last minute Easter dinner plans like me, then I have a few simple and stylish ideas for your table. When it comes to setting a pretty table the small details count, but they don’t have to be difficult or expensive. I have three different place setting ideas that you could put together using small items from Target or your favorite craft store. I used flowers from my yard and a small bunch of four dollar flowers (purple stock) from the grocery store. When it come to flowers think about the rule of three. I used three different flowers in each setting to add interest. I keep the color scheme simple with purple and yellow flowers and I kept the scale of the flowers small since they were going to be used at individual place settings.

Next, think about what you want to use to hold your flowers. I have three ideas that could be used individually for a whole table or be mixed and matched if you are serving a larger party or have two tables.

My first table setting uses these fun art deco shot glasses that I have. I have always thought they looked a little like egg holders so I decided to hollow out an egg and use it as a small vase for flowers. To make the egg vase use a sewing needle or a small ice pick to make a dime sized opening in the top of the egg. Then carefully pour the egg out and rinse out the egg shell. You may have your own egg cups, but if you don’t I have seen some at Michaels and Home Goods. You could also use a decorative glass votive holder. My shot glass was a little deeper than your standard egg cup so I  put a small piece of folded paper towel inside to hold the egg steady and make it rest a little higher. Next put a little water in your egg vase and a mix of three small flowers that coordinate with your dishes and table linens. The whole place setting is pictured above. The placemats are from Ballard Designs and the navy napkins are from the dollar bins at Target. I love how the flowers add a little color to each plate.

Some other egg cup options that I thought would be cute as small vases.

Emma Bridgewater Pottery
More whimsical egg cups from Emma Bridgewater
These egg cups are at Cost Plus World Market. They remind me of depression glass.

The next look uses white ceramic bunny place card holders that I found at Target. These sweet little bunnies come in packages of two and at just three dollars they are a budget friendly way to add something special to your table. The bunnies have a slit for a place card, but I thought they looked better with small flowers in the slot instead. Since the flowers won’t be in water these are arrangement you need to finish an hour or two before your guests arrive. They are easy to put together and you could have your flowers trimmed and in water ready to go the day before. If you want to use the place card you could place it in front of the bunny.

Here is what they look like at the place setting. I folded my napkin long ways and folded the ends underneath. Then I topped the napkin with a salad plate. I thought the solid blue napkin added some color to contrast with the white bunny and dishes.

The last look uses non-breakable items so it would work well if you have younger guests or if you plan on setting a kids table. I got grapevine napkin rings from Michael’s and I added green moss inside to create a birds nest. Next, I added some candy coated chocolate eggs. Then a hour before your guests arrive add a few fresh flowers to dress your nest up for Easter.

I placed the nest on top of my napkin to keep any tiny pieces of moss from falling on the plate. I used blue candy eggs so that they would look like robin’s eggs, but you could use another color to custom coordinate it to you linens or dishes.

I just love setting tables, so hopefully these ideas will inspire you to set your own beautiful table for family and friends. Happy Easter Friends!

Food

Not Your Usual Suspect Sweet Potato and Spinach Enchiladas

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I think most cooks have a list of usual suspects that their family members aren’t so sure about. Most often in our house those suspect dishes are vegetables. It’s the dish I mention to my husband that gets a questioning “Really?” or a chorus of “Ooh gross” from my little ones. Nevertheless, I still love and cook vegetables. I have come to view this as a challenge to make vegetables so delicious that they forget they are eating something that might otherwise be considered questionable.

I love Tex-Mex food and enchiladas are a staple. Our family has a favorite local restaurant at home in Texas called the Raven. They have these sweet potato and spinach enchiladas that are so delicious that I tend to order them every time I eat there. I loved them so much that I decided to create my own. The result was so good that I can make these as a main course without any raised eyebrows or funny looks. There is something about a layer of crisp golden cheese that makes enchiladas, even the vegetarian ones, delicious.

Sweet Potato and Spinach Enchilada Filling

  • 1 (5oz) bag of baby spinach
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 Tbsp of olive oil
  • 2 large sweet potatoes (mine were a little over a pound and a half)
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 pinch pepper
  • 1 Tbsp cream
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 8 flour tortillas or corn if you prefer (if using corn tortillas warm them first so they are easier to roll and work with)
  • 2 cups of grated monterey jack cheese

Sour Cream Sauce

  • 1  1/2 cups sour cream
  • 1 Tbsp cream
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp coriander
  • 2 Tbsp tomatillo salsa (My favorite in Chicago stores is Jardines which is a Texas brand they carry at Jewel Osco.)

First peel and dice your sweet potatoes. Place the sweet potatoes in a large stock or sauce pan and cover them with enough water to were they are fully covered and bring the potatoes to a boil. Boil the sweet potatoes till they are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork.

When the potatoes are tender drain them and then return them to the pan and mash them with a potato masher. Add in the two tablespoons of butter and the tablespoon of cream and continue to mash till the potatoes are smooth and creamy. Mix in the cumin, salt and pepper to season them.

While your sweet potatoes are cooking take a large skillet and heat a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat. When the butter is melted and the pan is hot add in the spinach.

Keep stirring the spinach as it wilts down and begins to cook. Once the spinach turns bright green and wilts it is cooked. Take the cooked spinach and lay it on a double layer of paper towels. Allow the spinach to cool and then use the paper towels to squeeze the moisture from the spinach. You don’t have to go over board but spinach is watery and you don’t want it to add too much extra moisture to the dish.

Once the vegetable fillings are prepared, make the sour cream sauce. In a skillet over low heat add the sour cream, cream, cumin, coriander and tomatillo salsa. Mix until it is warmed through and smooth and then remove it from the heat. You don’t want it to boil or get too hot.

Although I like to make my own sometimes. I still use bottled salsa to make this a simpler weeknight meal. This is my favorite brand.

The next step is to begin filling and rolling you enchiladas. Take a tortilla and place two rounded tablespoons of sweet potato and spread it on the tortilla then place a small spoon full of spinach on top then sprinkle a bit of the monterey jack cheese on top. Roll the tortilla and place it seam side down in a medium sized casserole dish which has been sprayed with cooking spray. Continue rolling the enchiladas until they are all filled and placed side by side in the pan.

Then cover the rolled tortillas with the sour cream sauce. Spread the sauce over the enchiladas evenly so that it covers them all. Then sprinkle the remaining monterey jack cheese on top.

Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted and beginning to turn golden.

This recipe makes eight enchiladas, which serves four people. I like to serve my enchiladas with a black bean salad. I will share that recipe soon, but you could also serve it with a traditional mexican rice and beans.

Home

Our Living Room Remix: The Before and After

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Have you ever heard that adage that if you only collect things that you really love then everything will work together? I believe that is for the most part true. Sometimes a little editing can be a good thing, but if you have classic pieces that you love they can be rearranged in a new space. New rooms are a bit like puzzles. Your furniture and accessories have a place, but sometimes it takes a little time to find the right home for everything.

I have spent the last year painting and slowly decorating our home. So I thought I would share a few photos of our living room. I had updated our living room at our old home about a year before we moved. I had purchased and tailored things to fit that space. At the time we had no plans to move, but when we did I needed to find a way to use the furniture we had in a very different space. It is certainly lots of fun to see a before and after with all new furniture and acessories, but the reality is that long distance moves have challenges. New furniture wasn’t in the budget, so I chose to remix what I had in a way that fit the new space.

My former living room was a larger space so I had two seating areas.

Our living room is my favorite room in our home. Looking back it was the reason we chose this home. It has lots of light and a great fireplace that we use all the time. Our old home didn’t have a fireplace so it is a nice feature. Chicago has so many chilly nights that we love just sitting by the fire. The previous owners had used the space in a more formal way. We knew we wanted to room to be a place we used everyday.

The before: a photo of our living room from the real estate listing.
A view looking towards the back of the room.
This is the front of the room. The previous owners also had a piano which I thought went well in the front of the room.

The room had been painted a neutral cream just before it was placed on the market. The color went with the previous owners furniture, but it didn’t have the warmth I wanted for the room. I had a lot of projects to tackle so we lived with it for a bit until I could get it painted.

The during: here is the room shortly after we moved in. I centered my furniture around the fireplace and put the television on a less prominent wall so we could enjoy both without making the television the major focal point of the room. Over time I shifted the chairs and accessories till I got the right mix.

I painted the room Benjamin Moore’s Plymouth Rock. It’s a warm and well balanced gray. The room gets lots of natural light so the gray added a nice contrast to the formerly all cream room.

Here is a picture while I was painting the room. When you are in the middle of a painting project there is nothing like taking a minute to admire the difference that a new paint color can make.

Our new living room has room for just one seating area, but the room is wider than our former living room so I took two armchairs from our old office and used them here to add additional seating. I also added new indigo velvet drapes from Pottery Barn. The drapes frame the windows and add texture and warmth to the room.

I centered the piano in the front of the room since my husband plays often and we enjoy listening to the music. The piano also provides a little privacy from the window facing the street without having to cover the view to the garden in front.

The modern fireplace screen was something I found at Bering’s Hardware in Houston. I knew I needed a screen to keep curious toddlers out so I found this one right before we moved. I love the sculptural element that it adds to the room. The painting is a favorite that my husband and I got from a local artist in New Mexico. It used to be in our breakfast room, but the size and colors worked well in our new living room. We have a collection of southwest art so we were able to mix in pieces we had in other rooms in our old house. I added an asymmetrical touch to mantel with some navy candles on modern glass candle sticks. Then I used a vase I had in our old office to add some greenery and height. I switch out the branches in the vase to fit the season.

I have a small reading area for my girls tucked in the back corner. The armchairs can be moved if they want to watch television and the basket makes for a quick clean up of their books.

The new room has a few more patterns than I had originally designed for our living room, but the simple blue and gray color scheme helps keep it balanced. I was able to remix our furniture in a new way to give our living room a finished look without breaking the budget. I think the key when you are moving, is to be open to shifting things around and to give yourself so time to see where your furniture and art fit best. If you really love a piece you will find a way to incorporate it in your new home. I plan to make a few changes in the future, but for now we are loving the new look.

For more blue and white inspiration see this link to designer, photographer and entertainer extraordinaire, Carolyne Roehm’s library and see how she remixes her room to fit the seasons. Even if you haven’t moved recently, it will have you thinking about how a little remix can give your living room a completely new look.

Food

Best Ever Beef Bacon and Noodle Bake

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They say say that comfort food at its best are the dishes that transport you back to your childhood. The food that reminds you of family dinners and the people you love. If I had to pick one meal that reminds me most of my childhood, it would be this casserole. This dish comes from my grandmother, Nona. She was an excellent cook and an ever stylish and gracious host. She would sometimes help my mother when things were busy by making food and when she did, I would always hope that this casserole was in the stack of pyrex dishes.

My Grandmother Nona

This recipe falls under the category of “an oldie but a goodie.” I shared the recipe with my sister-in-law, who had friends that had just had a baby. She and her boyfriend (who was quite the foodie) decided to have a casserole contest. The rules were that each of them would submit one dish to their friends without revealing who made the dish and then they would see which casserole the friends liked best. When the couple revealed the winner they said they picked her dish, which was this casserole. The funny thing was that they thought for sure that the boyfriend had made it since it had bacon and beef in it. This just goes to show that this simple and classic recipe is still a winner and that my sister-in-law is a good cook with excellent taste.

Nona’s Beef Bacon and Noodle Bake

  • 1 (1 pound) Box of Rotini or Fusilli Spiral Pasta (get the plain kind and not the one with tri-colored spinach and tomato flavored pasta)
  • 5 Slices of Thick Cut Bacon
  • 1 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 1 Cup Diced Yellow Onion
  • 1 Pound of Ground Beef
  • 1 (14.5oz) Can of Plain Diced Tomatoes (drained)
  • 1 Tsp Oregano
  • 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 3  1/2 Cups of Grated Cheddar Cheese
  • Parsley Garnish (optional)

First, fill a large pot with water and boil the noodles until cooked following the cooking time on the box of the pasta. Meanwhile, place one piece of bacon in a large skillet with deep sides. Let the bacon cook for 2 minutes so it renders some fat in the pan. Then remove the piece of  bacon and discard it. Add one tablespoon of olive oil. Then, put the onions in the pan and when they begin to get translucent add the the ground beef and cook it until it is brown and cooked through. Season the beef with the oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. I drain a bit of the fat from the cooked beef and then I add the tomatoes until they are mixed in and warmed through.

Cook the remaining 4 slices of bacon and then dice it into small pieces. I tend to cook my bacon in the microwave. I put a double layer of paper towels on a microwave safe plate and then lay my pieces on top. In my microwave it usually takes 4 to 5 minutes but since microwave strengths can vary, be sure to keep a close eye on it. I also flip my bacon halfway through to make sure that it cooks evenly. America’s Test Kitchen did a taste test on multiple brands of bacon and they found that the thickness and not the brand contributed most to a better tasting piece of bacon, so I always buy thick cut.

In a large mixing bowl mix or pot mix together the drained pasta, the beef and tomato mixture, bacon, and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese. Pour the casserole in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish sprayed with pam cooking spray. Then cover the top with the remaining 2 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

This casserole can be assembled and then baked later. If baking later, you will want to increase the cooking time to make sure it is warmed through, about 30 to 35 minutes. The casserole can also be baked and then frozen so it can be reheated at a later date.

 

If you want to serve this dish like my grandmother, then make a side salad with lettuce tomato, avocado and red onion. Toss with your favorite vinaigrette and there you have it: my favorite childhood meal.

After I posted this recipe, the Wall Street Journal started a new series in the Off Duty section on classic American dishes. They featured a similar but slightly different version of this casserole which they call the Johnny Marzetti.  It looks like I am not the only one who grew up loving this dish. They believe the dish was first served in the restaurant called Marzetti’s which opened in Ohio in 1896. It’s always fun to learn about this history of a classic, but looking at their recipe I think my grandmother got it right with her addition of bacon.

 

Food

Carrot Cake

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Easter and spring time make me think about carrot cake. However, I think it is great any time of the year. Carrot cake is one of my husband’s favorites. It is often his requested birthday cake. My great aunt Winnie has a good recipe that I have changed a bit over the years. I am not always good about writing out the changes and recipes I create so blogging has been good for me. This week I decided to make carrot cake and take detailed notes, so I could share this great recipe with you.

Carrot Cake

  • 2 Cups of Sugar
  • 2 Cups of Flour
  • 1 TBSP Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Tsp Nutmeg
  • 1/2 Tsp Ginger
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 2 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 Cup Canola Oil
  • 4 Eggs
  • 3 Cups Grated Carrots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two nine inch cake pans by cutting parchment paper rounds for the bottom and then place the parchment paper in the bottom of the pan. Spray the pans with cooking spray and flour the pans.

Next peal and grate the carrots. I use a food processor with a grating blade to make it faster.

Then in the large bowl of a mixer mix together the dry ingredients: the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt and baking soda. Then mix in the oil and egg one egg at a time mixing between till they are fully incorporated. Then add the carrots and mix. Place an even amount of the batter in each pan.

Bake for 35 minutes. When the cake is baked allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then take the cakes out of the pan to cool.

When the cake is completely cooled they are ready to frost.

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 the cake and 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.

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. This seals in the crumbs and allows you to make a smooth final coat.

Then if you are decorating it further you can use pecan or walnut pieces the cover the sides. Then use a large star frosting tip to add a decorative touch to the top. I have used carrot-shaped candies or if it’s fall candy corns to decorate the top.

For a special occasion, I like to make the candied carrot curls that were featured in Southern Living several years ago.

Candied Carrot Curls

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 to 3 carrots
  • Extra granulated sugar for sprinkling on carrots

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees

To make the carrot peel curls take a vegetable peeler and peel 15 to 20 carrot strips.

Then bring the sugar and water to a boil in a sauce pan. Add the carrots and turn the heat down to medium low and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the peels from the pan with a slotted spoon. Let the carrot peels cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

Then place the carrots ribbons out straight on a parchment paper lined pan. Bake for 30 minutes. The carrots will begin to look translucent.

While the carrots are still warm work quickly to curl the carrot ribbons around a wooden spoon handle. You can adjust how tight you want the curls  and then sprinkle with granulated sugar.

The peels will harden in about 20 to 30 minutes and be ready to place on the cake.

Holiday Decorating

Celebrating Spring With Vintage Inspired Easter Eggs

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“Despite the forecast live like it is spring.” – Lilly Pulitzer

I truly believe that when you look for the beauty and good in life you will find that there are so many wonderful reasons to celebrate everyday. I think this is the reason I love holiday decorating. It’s the small details that make everything feel festive. Holiday decorations not only give your house a special feel, they often have roots in family traditions. Usually Christmas is when you see everyone decorate their whole home, but then there is that sad after-Christmas feeling… when the decorations come down and the house that seemed just fine in November, suddenly feels empty and plain. This is why I like to decorate for the seasons because there’s always something to look forward to celebrate. One of my favorite seasons to decorate for is Easter and Spring. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am always changing certain details around my home to fit the time of year. Spring is beautiful with bright colored bulbs and bits of Spring green leaves beginning to dot the landscape. So with Spring here, I thought I would give you a peek at the traditions and decorations that make Easter one of my favorite seasons.

I usually start with the front door. It is still too early to add flower pots to the front, so I like to add a new bow with bright colors to fit the season. These green and navy bows add a spring feel to the front of the house.

 

In my kitchen I got some new bunny plates from Amazon to add a little fun while I am cooking. It’s a small detail but sometimes its the little things that can make you smile. My youngest was so excited about the plates that she told her grandfather that we got new bunnies (I had to clarify that they were decorations and not the real thing.)

Then in the den off the kitchen I hung a set of my favorite eggs.

These Easter eggs were something my grandmother, Latrell created. My grandmother was very creative and talented. She made so many beautiful decorations over the years, but my absolute favorite idea was her Easter eggs. I just love the bright colors, the ribbons, the flowers and sequence.

 

My Grandmother Latrell

They are so pretty that they top any christmas ornament I have. My mom has the original eggs my grandmother gave us and she always has them out on a beautiful Easter tree.  When beginning my own traditions I decided I loved those eggs, so one year I made my own Easter eggs ornaments like my grandmother’s.

 

Over the years, I have displayed them in lots of different ways. I have hung them from my chandelier to set a pretty Easter table. I have also hung them on an Easter tree with butterflies. This year I was a little worried that my very curious preschoolers would want to play with them, so I made a turquoise ribbon garland and hung them from a tall bookcase just off my kitchen. This way I can display and enjoy them without any worrying about someone eating part of the decoration.

This year my girls are beginning to really notice and participate in the decorating and seasonal fun around the house. So the tradition continues and hopefully they too will see the joy in celebrating and decorating for every season.

While I am thinking about spring, come back this Thursday when I am sharing one of my very favorite cakes that is sure to make the perfect addition to your Easter dinner or brunch.

Home

Curating a Kid Friendly Coffee Table

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There are all kinds of formulas for how to achieve the right balance on you coffee table, but most of these equations don’t take into account tiny tots who love to redecorate and play with any coffee table decor. Coffee tables inhabit prime real estate in most living rooms. They are often the centerpiece of furniture grouping, so well-placed accessories can create a focal point and help you add color and interest to your room. So, as the third and last part of this series on decorating with children and pets, I thought I would style five different coffee table groupings that have a sophisticated look with kid friendly accessories.

Classic Casual/Traditional Decor

This look is versatile; you could easily change it to fit your home’s color scheme. The first thing I added to this grouping is a tray. Trays can make a great base for your coffee table. If you have a large table, a tray can help anchor your accessories to keep them from getting visually lost. The other added benefit is that if you need to clear the table or make some room, all you have to do is pick up the tray. I like to put a few favorite books or magazines in the tray and then add a box to store things like remotes. As a finishing touch, I like to add something with height and balance to the other side of the table. Often times people use vases or candles, but to avoid any danger or issues with glass or broken candle sticks, I like to use potted silk flowers because they tend to be hardier and less messy. There are some very realistic silk plants that can add some height and color to your table without worrying about dirt, water or leaves getting everywhere. I also included two box options to show that you can customize the look to match your decor. If you have a more traditional look then the brass box might be right, or if you want to add a little color something like this orange box might add the some interest.

Sources

  1. Tray- Crate and Barrel
  2. Flowers/Daffodils- Pottery Barn
  3. Brass Box- Pottery Barn
  4. Orange Bone Box- Wisteria

 

The Casual Country Look

The great thing about a country or vintage look is that distressed items usually only get better with time and use. Here, I have two different tray options. The vintage soda crate is a fun conversation item, but if you want something a little less distressed you could use a solid painted tray. I usually like to use something to top any stack of any books or magazines I place in a tray or on a table. Sometimes I use a decorative box to do this, but other times I like to add a decorative or sculptural item. I like these wooden hearts because they add interest and texture. They aren’t breakable so little ones can play with them without worries. Finally, I could see adding some silk tulips in a pot on the other side of the table. It adds color and height to the table and pulls the whole look together.

Sources

  1. Tray- Crate and Barrel
  2. Tray- Pottery Barn
  3. Wooden Hearts- Sundance
  4. Red Tulips- Birch Lane

 

The Glamorous Table 

Glamour and small children don’t have to be mutually exclusive. This lacquered gray tray is a nice base for books. Then add a metal sculptural piece for interest. On the other side of the table you can balance the look with a gold metal bowl filled with faux pears or green apples. This adds color and a organic touch, which complements all the metallic finishes.

Sources

  1. Tray- West Elm
  2. Geometric Sculptures- Z Gallerie
  3. Gold Bowl- Z Gallerie

 

Coastal Inspired 

 

This blue tray has a woven rattan lined base which gives it a costal look. Pair it with a blue bone box which resembles shells and a coral inspired bowl and you have a classic pairing. I happen to like costal decor but some accessories like coral and shells can be a bit fragile for children, so by using a bowl that looks like coral (but is made of metal) you can have a coastal look with less worries. I would fill this bowl with apples, pears or lemons to add a bit of color to your table. Target and Home Goods both have a good section of realistic faux fruit and reasonable prices.

Sources

  1. Tray- Serena and Lily
  2. Blue Bone Box- Wisteria
  3. Silver Coral Bowl- Z Gallerie

 

Modern/Eclectic Mix

If you want a more modern look, then check out these sculptural looking succulents. The plants look realistic, but you don’t have to worry about anyone eating or picking at your plants. Add a lacquered tray for a little glamour. This tray also comes in an indigo blue or a turquoise so you could change the color to fit your decor. The geometric sculptures add a graphic interest to the table.

Sources

  1. Potted Succulents- Crate and Barrel
  2. Tray- West Elm
  3. Geometric Sculptures- Z Gallerie

 

Coffee tables are a wonderful place to add a little personality to a room. You can easily customize or curate a look that can make your table a focal point in your room. Pick a theme for the books or magazines you display like: travel, gardening, design, architecture or photography.  Then top those books with a box or sculptural item that matches that theme or brings out a color in your room. Finally, add a bowl of fruit, a potted plant or flowers to add height. It was fun it put together all of these different styles. So hopefully this inspires you to create a custom look of your own.

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