Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Cookbook Bonanza

I have Christmas decorating recaps I want to post (a little belated, I know!) but I wanted to share my excitement over my Christmas Cookbook Bonanza loot that I amassed this holiday season...

From my Mom (we heart Ina Garten):

For my down-home cooking needs:

For my Gourmet side:
Gourmet Today: More than 1000 new recipes for the contemporary kitchen

For my Brit cooking fix from Cutie Pie Jamie Oliver:

Yep! I'm set for quite a while on the cookbook front!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Light the Menorah

This would make such a fab alternative menorah if you celebrate Hanukkah or if you just want some sleek wintery decor. I want this for my buffet table in the dining room! We have tons of manzanita bushes here in Central Oregon, so I think it would be a nice nod to our surroundings as well.



Monday, November 16, 2009

Bookcase makeover wishes

I want my bookcases to look this cool and chic. So I'm going to work on this. This is actually the exact same bookcase in my living room, but mine is brown.
Bookcase, "Lack" from Ikea. Photo via Lonny Mag - my new e-mag obsession by former Domino staffers and contributors. More to come!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Wallpaper it to me

When I was eight, we moved into a new house and my new room and bathroom were done in Adrienne Vittadini wallpapers that I picked out - floral bouquets with blue ribbons in my bedroom and blue stripes in my bathroom. I had good taste for an eight year old - lol. We only lived in that house for less than a year, but I loved every minute spent in my wallpapered palace. Done right, wallpaper can be so luxe - I love it when one wall in a room is wallpapered for an effect or a smaller space like a bathroom. Please see exhibits A, B, C, and D below to see what I mean.


Image from House Beautiful



Image from Domino magazine


Saturday, November 7, 2009

A week?! Bad blogger

I haven't written in almost a week?! It's okay because only a few people have ever even read my blog. The slow cooker project is 4 recipes strong - I highly recommend the bbq beef sandwiches from SLSC cookbook and a slightly spicy queso dip that was of my own creation with some help from the hubby. We had to say goodbye to our first crockpot - the ceramic pot had cracked :(. We will miss you, Red. We made many good meals together. I'm not sure on the new guy yet - I don't like that the outside gets so hot it can burn you and be hard to transport. Guess you have to spend more than $20 to get one like that.

Monday, November 2, 2009

What's (Slow) Cookin?

I've had this Southern Living Slow Cooker cookbook for a few years and it's been collecting dust. My husband had been pretty much begging me to make some type of stew for weeks, so I grabbed my SLSC cookbook and made an amazing beef stew that we devoured. That recipe went so well, we've decided to try and make most of the recipes in the cookbook this winter. Tonight is BBQ beef sammies. I would recommend this cookbook to anyone looking for easy, hearty, yummy slow cooker recipes.



Chunky Beef Stew Recipe from SLSC Cookbook
This classic French braised beef, red wine, and vegetable stew is made simple and delicious.
Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
12 garlic cloves, crushed
1 (2 pound) boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 cup dry red wine (something you wouldn't mind drinking! splurge a little, it's worth it!)
2 cups coarsely chopped carrots
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
1 tablespoon no-salt-added tomato paste (look for the kind in the tube in the Italian section)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained (I like the kind with no added salt, Trader Joe's brand is great)
1 bay leaf

Instructions
1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over low heat. Add garlic; cook 5 minutes or until garlic is fragrant, stirring occasionally. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Increase heat to medium-high.
2. Add beef to Dutch oven; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove beef from Dutch oven.
3. Add wine to Dutch oven; bring to a boil, scraping bottom to loosen browned bits. Add reserved garlic, beef, remaining teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, carrots, and remaining 8 ingredients; bring to a boil.
4. Transfer beef mixture to a 4- or 5-quart slow cooker.
5. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 1/2 hours. Remove and discard bay leaf. Makes 6 Servings.
Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Homekeeping Handbook


I recieved the encyclopedia sized Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook for my bridal shower, and have only consulted it once when we were moving I think so I could see her recommendations for packing boxes. I cracked it open today as I have been hit with the reality that our house is pretty much a disaster area. I say this with love and complete honesty - I live with a man who cannot a.) clean super well, b.) is a pack-rat (which comes from his mom, who never tires of loading us up with more junk which I then have to dispose of - it's exhausting!!) and c.) self-admittedly never learned how to organize, though I think he's just missing the gene. :) I am no super-duper clean freak either, though I have my moments and can be quite organized before it falls apart again - blame it on the A.D.D - yeah girls get it too apparently. It can be just exhausting to clean up after two people. Anywho, I got out the ol' Homekeeping Handbook for some tips (the whole book is tips) and am in the middle of a fall cleaning spree. It feels good. Now if the house can just stay clean...

Saturday, October 24, 2009

DIY: Fall Family Tree

Such a cute, cheap and easy DIY idea for fall decor. This would be so lovely to have displayed on a sidetable when hosting a family thanksgiving.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Pocket Pie Molds

Loving these pocket pie molds that come in apple or pumpkin shapes. It would be fun to make apple or pumpkin pocket pies with them, but I think savory fillings would be equally delicious.


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Grilled Cheese + Dr. Pepper + Top Chef

It's cold and very fallish and blustery today. I am wanting to make some warm comfort food with a twist to eat during Top Chef tonight - it's the restaurant wars episode! (We love to watch Top Chef - it's one of our "dinner and a show" dates at home).


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

I Love Lamp

Wanting this hobnail milk glass lamp - not sure about the shade but I love the base by itself for $150.

Lamp from Maura Daniel

Printed Pumpkin Pie Plate

This printed pumpkin pie plate is adorable and kitschy. How fun would this be on a counter displayed on a plate stand? Perfect Thanksgiving/Fall decor for the kitchen.


Lemondrop Headboard

I am loving this headboard from Urban Outfitters and wish I had a room to put it in... I'm looking for a light blue velvet tufted headboard for our room.

Emilio Lemondrop Headboard from Urban Outfitters