Sarah Hearts

Image by Erica Anne.

Here’s a new category that I’d like to introduce… it’s called “gallery & garb.” In these posts, I will share artwork of all mediums that compliments apparel or accessories. I love how fashion and art are intertwined and I hope you enjoy these artful relationships.

Gallery: Seabastiaan Bremer, Schoener Goetterfunken III, 2010.
Garb: Kate Spade’s Twirl eau de parfum.

Jaclyn, of Food Plus Words, is back with her monthly dose of deliciousness. Stop by her site for great recipes and writing! Here’s Jaclyn:

Howdy, everyone!

Can you believe we’re already at the end of January? The new year just began, and it’s already flying by!

If there’s one thing I always start thinking about when the first month of the year comes to a close, it’s Valentine’s day. No, I don’t daydream about flowers or muse about what types of chocolate a secret admirer might leave on my doorstep (Godiva, please!). My favorite thing about Valentine’s day is gifting treats to the people I love the most.

Remember when you were a kid and everyone in your class would trade generic cartoonish Valentine’s cards, usually with a lollipop taped to the back? Imagine how much fun it would be to surprise your closest friends this Valentine’s day with some homemade treats and a sweet note! It’d be like grade school all over again, except more delicious, and way more meaningful.

If we’re going to be upgrading the Valentine’s day experience, think for a moment about one of the most cherished, beloved childhood snacks. Something you’d always try to trade for at lunchtime. Something crunchy and creamy at the same time. Something that went perfectly with the tiny cartons of ice-cold milk from the cafeteria.

Yup, you guessed it: Oreos!

Who doesn’t love Oreos? That’s right, no one. Making them yourself is so simple, and the end result is so much more delicious than the store-bought variety! They’re nostalgic, charming, and your friends will absolutely love them, guaranteed!

Whether you’ve got a steady Valentine, a secret admirer, or just amazing friends, I hope your Valentine’s day celebration is full of happiness and love.

See you next month!

Sweetly,
Jaclyn | www.foodpluswords.com

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homemade oreos

adapted from retro desserts by wayne brachman

yield: 25-30 cookies

special equipment necessary

sheet pans

parchment paper

teaspoon-sized portion scoop (a regular teaspoon will work just fine!)

mixer with a paddle attachment (or a spatula and strong arms)

sifter

what you’ll need

chocolate wafer cookies:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 sticks room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. brewed coffee or espresso, at room temperature

filling:
1/2 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted well
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. heavy whipping cream
3-4 drops food coloring, if desired

what you’ll do

preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

in the bowl of an electric mixer (or by hand, if you’re hardcore), beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. add the sugar, and beat for another minute. add the egg, vanilla, and coffee; incorporate thoroughly.

sift the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together. add this flour mixture to the rest of the ingredients just until the dough comes together.

using a portion scoop or a regular teaspoon, drop the dough onto the sheet pan, leaving an inch or so between each cookie.

wet your hands with cold water. using the heel of your palm, flatten each cookie scoop until it’s about 1/4” tall.

bake for 9 minutes, and then cool completely on a cookie rack.

while the cookies are cooling, let’s make the filling, shall we?

we’re going to use the electric mixer with the paddle attachment, or a spatula and some elbow grease to beat the butter and shortening until they’re light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. slowly add the sifted confectioners’ sugar a little at a time, otherwise you’ll be covered in the stuff. once the confectioners’ sugar is totally incorporated, add the vanilla and heavy whipping cream, and mix until just combined. if you’re using food coloring, add it now!

once your filling is creamy delicious, it’s time to make some cookies!

if you’ve got a pastry bag and a 1/2” round tip, use it to deposit generous teaspoons of filling on one cookie. don’t have a pastry bag? no worries, just put your filling in a zip-top plastic bag, seal,  snip one edge of the bag off, and pipe your filling out that way.

make sure to pipe your filling in the center of each cookie, so when you place the second cookie on top and press down, the filling is spreads out evenly.

once all your cookies are filled and sandwiched, enjoy them with a tall glass of milk (i vote for chocolate, but that’s just me), and share them with someone you like a whole lot.

May 24th, 2010, Kevin and I purchased our first home. We have spent a lot of time making little changes, like painting, hanging curtains, and installing ceiling fans. The home was in great condition, we just wanted to make it our own. The biggest “construction” project (and construction is in quote because we didn’t add or remove any walls) to date was when we removed all the retro wood paneling in our den and put up drywall.

The coffee table is from West Elm. The white mirror was found at Home Goods. The chocolate and light blue rug was also found there. We store all our wine glasses in our West Elm wine bar because our 1966 kitchen cabinets are not large enough to store our glasses. We also keep our outdoor dinnerware and cocktail napkins in it. Unfortunately, both the coffee table and wine bar are no longer available.

Here’s the before photo: wood parquet floors, wood paneling, and wood crown molding. We called it the wood room. During: my amazing dad and husband removed all the paneling and hung drywall. We had someone come in an finish it up with plaster (to give the walls a subtle texture, to match the rest of the house), a coat of Kilz, remove the popcorn ceiling, install crown molding, and paint.

Yes, our Expedit bookcase is still around. It’s probably my favorite, most versitile Ikea piece. The yellow side chairs were in my Grandparent’s Black Mountain home. The are so comfy! The pillows are linen and velveteen and from West Elm.

My father-in-law got us this ceiling fan and installed it for us! It’s from Home Depot. Our white twill sofa is from American Signature. It’s incredibly comfy and is easy to clean. I made dark blue pillow covers with some scrap fabric and the bird pillow is Dwell Studio for Target. The tray and recycled glass vase are West Elm.

The illustration of Kevin and I was a wedding gift by our very talented friend, Rob Dobi. The copper foil print was a gift from my college roommate Jen. The wooden Crate & Barrel bench was a gift from Kevin this Christmas. The seats flip up so you can store things inside. The pillows are Dwell Studio for Target.

The adorable print is by Freya, a talented Etsy artist. The light blue velveteen curtains and silver rods are from Target. The wall color is Behr Ultra in Parachute Silk.

Thanks for taking a peak into our home!

I have to admit I have never been a fan of beach weddings. I think it may have to do with growing up in Miami and most friends and family had oceanside nuptials. Kallima Photography has definitely changed my mind about this subject. How can you not fall in love with the light and dark teal hues and the beautiful details of this Singer Island wedding?

Did you have or do you want to have a beach wedding? Why?

All images by Kallima Photography.

The MoMA, in New York City, has a new exhibition scheduled this year that is a little different than what you would normally find in the gallery. The exhibition, titled Standard Deviations: Prototypes, Archetypes, and Families in Contemporary Design, will feature work that seeks to put the designer’s individually into a piece that would otherwise be lost in the digital age. The work will include 23 typefaces, included those above. I hope I will get up the City this year to check it out!

Oakland, Zuzana Licko (1985).
You Can’t Lay Down Your Memory Chest of Drawers, Tejo Remy (1991).
Big Caslon, Matthew Carter (1994).
Gotham, Jonathan Hoefler & Tobias Frere-Jones (2000).
Interstate, Tobias Frere-Jones (1993-95).

This exhibition reminds me of a poster I made in college. The font used is Snell Roundhand, by Matthew Carter.

Image by Divine Light Wedding Photography.

The farmer’s market had a great selection of fresh herbs this winter. I picked up the largest bunch of basil I have seen for only $2. I also got my favorite yellow tomatoes and some handmade garlic herb flat bread. I used this Cooking Light pesto recipe. It uses much more basil and less oil then a traditional pesto sauce. The results? A more flavorful and healthier pesto! I Added a little fresh mozzarella and broiled it in the toaster oven. So yummy.

Last week, I told you about my decision to make an upholstered headboard for our guest room. This week, I need your help selecting a fabric to use! Above is the bedding we have in the room (without the light lime sheets). Which fabric choice do you think would look best? Should the headboard be tufted?

1. Amy Butler, August Fields collection
2. Premier Prints Polka
3. Amy Butler, Lotus collection
4. Premier Prints ZigZag
5. Amy Butler, Lotus collection
6. Waverly Lovely Lattice Jungle
7. Amy Butler, Lotus collection

I am loving Lela Rose’s collection of bridesmaid dresses for Dessy. They are simple with subtle details that make them stunning. And the best part? They come in every hue!