Shelves or Stacks?

How's your week going? Hope it's been all sparkly and festive!

I've been trying to find things that I need to take to Australia next week, and all I've been doing is tripping over loose piles of books and magazines. My New Years resolution really should be to get book shelves built or, at least, stack them tall and neatly. It should be my husband's resolution too. Until then, I've pulled out a few stacks and shelves that I've shot for various magazines. Are you a stacker or a shelfer (new word)?

 This is designer Nancy Riesco's way of stacking. I like her style.

Even this young girl has her books neatly organized. Her parents are the owners of Stepback, a fantastic shop here in Vancouver. 

Olive's dad, Clinton Cuddington, designed this mini library located at the top of their stairs.

Perfectly stacked books on a desk, by Catherine Radcliffe.

Simple white shelving in a minimal space is the way to go. 

I would love to do something like this in our living room, as it would be double as extra seating. 

Well, back to my search. I might even stack some books while I'm at it. Have a lovely night...or day depending on where you are!

Back soon.

Baked (formerly known as Baked On Monday!)

Hi All! I've decided that I'm still going to share some fantastic recipes with you, but on no particular day.  I chose Mondays, at the beginning, as I always tried to have a "work at home day" on that day, as I needed to ease into the week and I find baking very calming. Turns out I'm shooting on most Mondays now, and that's just the way it goes. I'll just have to adapt ;)

I found a perfect recipe for a cocktail party in Chatelaine magazine. Gruyere Cheese Puffs. Enough said?

Gruyere Cheese Puffs - makes about 2 dozen

1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
3/4 finely grated Gruyere cheese (about 100 grams)
1 tablespoon snipped chives
pinch of cayenne

Preheat oven to 400˚f. Arrange racks in top and bottom thirds of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Pour 1/2 cup of water into a saucepan and set over high heat. Add the butter, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
Using a wooden spoon, add all the flour at once, beating briskly until the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan.

Scrape dough into a medium bowl. Let dough cool for about 2 minutes. Then beat on low speed, adding 1 egg at a time, letting it be combined into the dough before adding the next one.
Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese, chives and cayenne. Divide dough into 24 mounds, 1 inch apart on sheets. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of cheese.

Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate and switch sheets, then reduce heat to 350˚f. Continue baking until tops are golden, 7 to 10 more minutes. Remove puffs to a cooling rack.
Puffs will keep well, frozen in an air tight container, for up to 1 month. To reheat, place in centre of 400˚f oven until warm, about 5 minutes.

These cheesy puffs are the perfect cocktail snack (and with a little Prosecco), but they will disappear quickly so maybe double the batch! They're incredibly light and airy, not heavy at all. Deeelicious.

Back soon! Have a lovely day.

A Shop I Could Live In - Old Faithful

How's everyone doing? If you're into the Christmas thing, I hope you've wrapped up your shopping (literally), and are now just enjoying the season. I've got to get on to this part. ;)

I thought I'd share a fabulous Vancouver shop with you. I shot this place a couple of months ago for House and Home - it's in the current issue.

I love shops that sell great product, but that also have an interior that I could live in. Old Faithful is exactly that. It's full of reclaimed wood goodness. One of the owners, Walter, also makes a lot of what you see in terms of furniture. They're located in Gastown, in a heritage building. Beautiful. By the way, you can now shop online. Whoohoo!

 

 The owners, Walter and Savannah.

 

This office chair is perfect! You may not think it looks too comfortable, but it is. Love the laptop pouch as well. 

The perfect doorstop. 

 

Jean Pierre makes shopping at Old Faithful even better. I love him.

Have a good Thursday! Back soon.
janis

Baked (late) on Monday! - Estelle's Whipped Shortbread

Hi Everyone! Had a baking day planned with my friend, Tamara (Modern Mommy), but we got off to a bit of a late start so it's now "Baked On Tuesday" for some of you! We've both had "one of those days" ;)

This delicious, and very easy, recipe comes from Tamara's Grandma, Estelle. Here is an early 70's photo her, proudly displaying her cupcakes. Love it.

Estelle's Whipped Shortbread - makes about 24 (we made a combo of trees with my cookie press and Estelle's simple dollops)

1/2 pound of softened butter
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup icing sugar (powdered)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 325f.
Place butter in a mixing bowl, and beat for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the cornstarch, icing sugar and flour, and beat for another 3-4 minutes.

For little pillow shapes, just place tablespoons of batter onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until just golden on edges.

 

For trees, we used a cookie press, and added dragees for the tree "ornaments". Very festive! These baked for about 12 minutes.

These cookies really couldn't be easier to make. Thank you Estelle! A good, basic shortbread recipe that you can add to if you like. Enjoy!

PS: check out  great, and fairly new blog, Lost and Fawned for a fun gift guide.  Thanks Lindsey! That picture of me is a touch massive, but I still love you. ;)

Back again soon. Have a great evening...or day!

Christmas Decorating for a Great Cause

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of checking out the 6th annual "Homes for the Holidays" tour to benefit the Kids Help Phone, an organization providing counseling 24 hours a day to kids. If you're stuck for a Christmas gift, think of a donation to a organization like Kids Help Phone. A huge thank you to Lauren Davies for taking me on the tour. Here's a peek....

A very formal setting, designed by Red Umbrella.

All shades of white, designed by Darci Ilich of The Cross. 

Location, Carrington Stables and designed by Lin Hepner. Love that truck. 

The 4 sets of images, above, are from the home that Kelly Deck designed. Kelly and her team made the 2 different advent calendars - so cute. I want this yellow chair. Badly. 

 Last but not least, a beautiful home designed by Mandy Clark of Tandem Lanehouse Company.

Beautiful house, flowers, and all the little details. Some of the styling was done by Leo Santana.

Job well done to all the designers and volunteers that took part.  Each home was completely different, so I'm curious to know which one you like. Let me know!

By the way, I did a little tutorial over at Eat. Live. Shop. and a gift guide at PoppyTalk - take a look when you have a moment!

Back soon. Have a lovely day!

Janis

Baked On Monday - Sugar Cookie Mittens and Snowballs

I'm back. After a week of major appliance break downs (washer, dryer and dishwasher), and 2 last minute shoots, I'm ready to bake.  Let's see how the rest of the week pans out.

I've had this recipe forever. It was from an old Martha Stewart magazine, and the recipe was from one of the editor's mothers. I wish I had her name, but I don't have the actual issue. I've chosen to make mittens and snowballs, but you can use any shape you like (I'm sure you already worked that out!) I use sanding sugar for sugar cookies as I just don't love the taste of royal icing. If I'm using them as decorations, then royal icing is the way to go. I plan to eat these ones ;)

Sugar Cookie Mittens and Snowballs - makes about 3 dozen

3 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 lb. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup sour cream
Sanding sugar and food colouring.

Sift together flour, nutmeg, salt and baking soda. Set aside. Cream butter, then add sugar gradually; beat until fluffy. Stir in egg and sour cream, then stir in dry ingredients. I use my hands for that part!
Separate dough into two balls and flatten then wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for one hour.

Heat oven to 350f/180c. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch. Cut out shapes using any cookie cutter you like, then sprinkle with sanding sugar* (if using). Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned.
* add a tiny drop of colouring to sanding sugar to get the colour you want.

That's it for today! Back again soon.
Janis

Baked On Monday - Lemon Sandwich Baubles

Did you all have a good weekend? It snowed here in Vancouver, which it doesn't do often in November. Looks so pretty. Love it. It did make me realize that I do not have appropriate footwear for this weather. Must do something about that.

Time to get a bit more festive with the baking.  I've made Lemon Sandwich Baubles today, from a recipe I found in Canadian Living - a special Christmas cookie issue. They are addictive....and sparkly.  Bonus.

Lemon Sandwich Baubles - makes about 36 cookies

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup coarse sugar
Yellow food colouring

Filling:
1 cup icing sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind
Yellow food colouring

In a large bowl, rub sugar with lemon rind; beat in butter until light and fluffy. Beat in cornstarch and salt. Stir in flour to make dough (I used my hands for this bit).

In a small bowl, tint coarse sugar with food colouring to desired yellow. Scoop dough by 1 teaspoon and roll into balls. Coat in coloured sugar.

Bake, 1 inch apart, on parchment paper lined baking sheets in 325f/160c oven. Bake for about 12 minutes, until firm and golden brown on bottoms. Let cool on pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks and let cool completely.

Filling: In bowl, beat together icing sugar, butter, lemon juice and lemon rind. Tint to desired yellow. Pipe about 1/2 teaspoon on bottom half of cookies, and sandwich with remaining cookies.

I think these would be great in a small jar with a vintage decoration attached as a gift for party guests. Yes? No?

Now as for the draw for the calender.....
The winner of my 2011 calendar and print give-away is......
Random Counter # 8 - My Flying Ducks
Kylie C said...What a lovely giveaway! I can't decide between 'Walk' and 'Shanghai alley' - if I win, I'll make a choice! :)

Congratulations Kylie! Looks like you have to make a choice now ;)

Thanks for everyone who took part! I loved it. If you need a calendar, and you are not the lucky winner, I do have a few here. ;)

Back soon! Have a great day.