Domestology

Last Friday I had the honor of attending, photographing, and...

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:26:00 -0400

Last Friday I had the honor of attending, photographing, and baking a cake for a not-quite-an-elopement-not-quite-a-shotgun wedding. After a lovely brunch at Café Luxembourg, the bride, groom, mother-of-the bride, two friends, and my husband, daughter and myself headed to Bethesda Fountain in Central Park.

Upon a quiet stretch of grass on a hill just up from the fountain, my husband officiated (he became ordained through the Universal Life Church just for this event!) the simple, beautiful ceremony. Afterwords, we ate Flourless Chocolate Cake topped with Coconut Maple Cream, eating slices with plastic spoons off of coffee filters (a trick I devised when lacking plates to serve a cake at work. My boss calls them Plapkins as they are a cross between a plate and a napkin).

To end it all, we walked around enjoying the beautiful weather and the splendor—and wackiness—of this city’s great park.

Photo

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:30:56 -0400

Pipes on the ceiling of Keens.

Sun, 12 May 2013 19:36:43 -0400

Pipes on the ceiling of Keens.

Lunchtime dessert at the superb Hudson Clearwater: Honeycrisp...

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:40:01 -0400

Lunchtime dessert at the superb Hudson Clearwater: Honeycrisp Apple Tart Tatin with Sea Salt Caramel and Chantilly Cream, and Meyer Lemon Bar with Graham Cracker Crust, Fig Compote and Lemon Créme Fraîche.

I want to live in your house. 42 Bedford Street,...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:15:00 -0400

I want to live in your house.

42 Bedford Street, Manhattan

Cursory NYTimes archive research did not reveal any crazy stories, but I did read that the house once held a restaurant called Mary’s. In a February 5,1971 review Craig Claiborne gave it two stars. Back then, the dinner menu ranged in price from $2.80 to $5.50, and you could dine in the private room decorated in tribute to Angie Dickinson. Random story, but in the early 60’s my maternal grandparents lived in the same apartment building as Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson. As the story goes, my grandfather used to ride the elevator up and down waiting to see Angie. Not sure if my grandmother stalked Burt, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did!

From the top: a slice of Mondrian Cake snagged from the Modern...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:25:00 -0400

From the top: a slice of Mondrian Cake snagged from the Modern Art Desserts event at Story in Chelsea; me humbled to be amongst the stupendous trifecta of Caitlin Freeman, Rose Levy Beranbaum, and James Freeman; a table of Mondrian Cakes; Caitlin had a personalized embossing tool made to add a message to signed books.

Why I want to drink with Allison Robicelli: This rebuttal to the...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:30:00 -0400

Why I want to drink with Allison Robicelli:

This rebuttal to the death of the cupcake press and this bit on trying to sell her book proposal.

Allison, let me buy you a whiskey!

Photo snagged from their tumblr About page

Very much looking forward to the May 7th release of Emily...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:03:15 -0400

Very much looking forward to the May 7th release of Emily Matchar’s Homeward Bound.

Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:39:44 -0400

Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

Video

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:24:20 -0400

I’m not sure I have ever been more excited for a...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:23:16 -0400

I’m not sure I have ever been more excited for a food-related book in my life. That might sound dramatic, but Modern Art Desserts by Caitlin Freeman is the synthesis of two of my great loves: art and sweets. I screen-grabbed the TOC to illustrate just how amazing her work is. The book comes out on April 16th.

I can’t stop thinking about Joy the Baker’s Roasted...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:20:00 -0400

I can’t stop thinking about Joy the Baker’s Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk Cake.

Avoid all of the unnecessary ingredients in commercial honey nut...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:51:00 -0400

Avoid all of the unnecessary ingredients in commercial honey nut cereals and make your own using just four: cereal of any kind, milk (dairy or non-dairy), a tbsp. or so of slivered or sliced almonds, and honey syrup* to taste (which mixes much easier with milk than plain honey).

*Bring equal parts honey and water to a boil in a small saucepan. Turn off heat and let cool completely. Store in the fridge for a up to a week.

Two Cheese Deep Dish Pizza with Sausage and Fresh Garlic Layer...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:53:00 -0400

Two Cheese Deep Dish Pizza with Sausage and Fresh Garlic

Layer all ingredients. Cook on stove-top over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes. Slide pan into a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or so until it looks and smells like pizza heaven.

Pizza dough recipe is from King Arthur. Makes more than enough for one super-crust cast iron pizza.

Thanks to our friend Tom for planting the seed and to the blog A Beautiful Mess for cultivating the desire.

Crunchy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. Recipe from...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:39:00 -0400

Crunchy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. Recipe from BAKED ELEMENTS. Beyond delicious.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:59:27 -0400

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Big Cluster Maple Granola. Love it so much I’ve made it...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:47:26 -0500

Big Cluster Maple Granola. Love it so much I’ve made it once, if not twice, a week for the past few months. Recipe from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.

Photo

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:24:57 -0500

Honey Syrup is delicious in hot tea or whiskey/bourbon. Heat...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:45:45 -0500

Honey Syrup is delicious in hot tea or whiskey/bourbon.

Heat equal parts honey and water in a small saucepan until they’ve coalesced. Store in the fridge for up to a week.

Photo

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:29:09 -0500