Thursday's Treat: Grandma's Pecan Pie

So maybe you're thinking to yourself "Hey, I miss all the delicious foods of the Holidays"...

What? You're not saying that? I'm the only one?

Whatever, I want delicious pie....

Grandma's Pecan Pie

I've always been told that Grandma Dorothy made fantastic pies, and that pecan was her best. My dad especially loved hers because it used real butter and no corn syrup. I vaguely remember her pecan pie being delicious, but by the time I got old enough to really enjoy her culinary feats, she had passed away. I'm pretty sure she took her special pecan pie recipe to the grave with her- but that just encouraged me to try (and fail) at a bunch of other pecan pie recipes.

Finally, I found a contender. This is a recipe I adapted from this one on All Recipes, and I used my house crust recipe (which is the one listed below). The best part of this recipe is that is doesn't use corn syrup, just like Grandma's!

CRUST:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup butter

4 - 5 tablespoons cold water

1. Stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until pieces are pea-size.

2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat moistening dough, using 1 tablespoon of the water at a time, until all the dough is moistened. Form dough into a rough ball.

3. Wrap dough ball with plastic wrap and chill* in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.

4. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edges into a circle about 12 inches in diameter.

5. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the floured rolling pin. Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie plate (I use a clear Pyrex one). Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch or tear pastry.

6. Rim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry.



Dough all wrapped up and ready to chill.

 *You may be asking yourself, why can't I roll it out now?! But honey, you are using butter- not shortening, and that stuff warms up as you're forming the dough. If you were to try rolling out the dough now it won't be pretty. Don't believe me? You go right ahead- just don't come crying to me when the dough rips/stretches/tears as you're loading it into the pie pan.

PIE

Ingredients:

1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, plus extra
2 eggs
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (use the good kind, or it won't taste the same)
1 cup chopped pecans, plus more the decoration

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
2) In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy. This may take a while, so at some point take a breather and zap the butter.
3) Once eggs are foamy, stir in melted butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and the flour. Mix until well incorporated.
4) Stir in milk, vanilla extract, and pecans.
5) Lightly coat the bottom of the pie crust with butter. Pour mixture into the unbaked pie shell.
6) Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30-40 minutes.
7) I like to sprinkle some chopped pecan or crust cut outs on top of the pie 5-10 minutes before pulling it out of the oven.
8) Let cool for an hour, then enjoy! I like mine with vanilla ice cream.

Add ons:

Chocolate chips (sprinkled in the batter, or on top the baked pie)
Pastry cutouts with any extra dough left over from the crusts (see above!)



Enjoy,
Charlotte

Everyday Luxe 3

When I was younger (read: teenager) I really wanted to be all cool and light candles in my room. My mom said I would burn the house down, and thus shut that dream down.

But what about when you moved out, Charlotte?

Well the fact that I lived in a 100 + Victorian mansion in college didn't help my dream either.

This is Tyler House:





Est. 1898

  

It has a "burn time" of around 60 seconds. No really, the insulation is some combination of horse hair, newspaper, and hay. A lot of the beautiful carved wood has been around since Smith College cleared trees while making room for the campus. I'm pretty sure my college house is an elegant, beautiful death trap.

I might have made it more of a death trap by doing stupid things, too.

And I love it.

Candle Time

But getting back on track, now that I'm an adult and live in a building made of steel and concrete, I can't get in trouble for lighting candles! And I do, probably 2-3 times a week.

My favorite place for buying candles? Target (don't judge) and Kringle Candle (my favorite scent is Watercolors).  

But this is not called Everyday Affordable, so let's move on to some ridiculous candle options:

1) Diptyque Paris is known for their famous scents, but did you know they also offer HUGE outdoor/indoor candles? At 5 wicks, it was the biggest one I could find, and it comes in a pretty reusable pot (I would love to plant flowers in it).



Diptyque Paris Indoor/Outdoor Candle in Tuberose



Price? $275 via their website.

2) Jo Malone may be better known for her refreshing perfumes, but she also offers up home decor scents as well. Try this 4 wick candle which is the equivalent of burning 2 candles at once.



The Jo Malone Luxury Candle comes in 4 different scents



Price? $425 via their website.

3) And the most ridiculously luxe candle I could find was by Welcome Home. This is a black soy candle with 2 wicks.




The Fanciest: Welcome Home Candle


But what makes it so special? That lovely decor on the vase is actually a 38 diamond (2.23 carats in all) necklace, y'know to spruce it up.



Diamonds are a candles best friend...?



Price? $6,495 via their website. I feel like you're really just buying a diamond necklace that comes with a candle at this point.

I think my favorite of the bunch is the Diptyque Paris candle. What's yours?

Love,
Charlotte

Weekend Wishes: Spring Styles

Now that the temperatures are sticking to the upper 60s here in Denver, my mind has turned to one thing, and one thing only:

Spring Styles!

Here are a few of my favorite SPRING pieces from some of my favorite stores:



J.CREW

I'm not going to lie, one side of my closet is basically a pop-up J.Crew store. Their pieces so easily transition from season to season, so even though I'm calling these "spring" you could probably find ways to wear them all-year-round.

Peony Tee, $45.

I usually hate shirts in screen prints, but this one is so cute! It looks like J.Crew is about to sell out...

3" Chino Shorts in Neon Peach, $45.

I basically live in these shorts when the weekend in warm. I may even try wearing them to the Firm this summer (with blazers, off course)!

Perfect Shirt in Chrome Green Gingham, $78.

Because gingham pops up every spring/summer. The print is basically the fashion world's way of saying "Helllloooo, Summer!"

City Mini in Ripstop Cotton Navy, $75.

I have 2 versions of this skirt (different fabrics if you were curious) and the fit is amazing. It looks pulled together and professional yet is sooo comfy.


MADEWELL

Also known as J.Crew's hipper, younger, sister. Basically J.Crew + street cred. I often explain Madewell as a combination of Anthropologie + Urban Outfitters + J.Crew. Less office, more street (but not gutter).

Eyelet Trail Dress in Jester Yellow, $160.

My favorite purchase so far this Spring. It is the perfect fit, the perfect color (I love yellow), and has pockets.

Perfect Chambray Ex-Boyfriend Shirt in Sunset, $78.

I have this shirt in a different wash and pair it with everything: swimsuit cover up, leggings, under dresses, etc. I would pair this color with the jeans below.

Skinny Skinny Ankle Jeans in Optic White, $98.50.

If you buy these, squeeze yourself into the smallest size you can - they stretch - and no one looks good in baggy-supposed-to-be-skinny-white-jeans.

Meadowlace Tee in Jester Yellow, $78.

I wear mine over a chambray for edge, and with jean shorts to elevate a lazy look.

Blockstep Sweater, $98.

The perfect summer sweater. I pair mine with the shorts below :)

Bloomlace Shorts in Navy, $88.

So comfortable, and a great alternative to those jeans shorts you've been wearing for too long.

LILLY PULITZER

The perennial favorite of Southern Belles in the summer (or wherever the temperatures are warm) is Lilly Pulitzer. Staple of Cape Cod and Palm Beach, and every fancy resort in between. I wish I could buy all this. Maybe I should get a financial backer for my shopping problem?!

 Cassie Dress in New Green, $88.

Perfect for summer days in the park.

Ginny Dress in Lagoon Moving Slowly, $188.

The classic shift, always appropriate.

Carlina Top in New Green, $128.

I might be obsessed with the scallop edging and light layering.

Dahlia Top in Sunset Orange, $138.

This would be perfect with slacks at work, or even jeans for a casual Friday.

Sorry for the super long post, I get pretty carried away when internet "shopping".

What are your must haves for Spring?

~Charlotte

P.S. I have no idea what my sign off should be... do I even need one? Love seems a bit dramatic...

Thursday's Treat: Apples Cooked in Wine

It's Thursday and time for a treat to tide you over until your weekend begins. Today, it's apples cooked in wine.

Before we begin, I need to tell you something very important about my way of cooking: I cannot follow a recipe to the letter. Bleh, too boring; where's the creativity in playing "Follow the Leader"?

If you are the type of person who must have exact measurments and times when cooking, this dish might not be for you. If you are more improvisational at the stove, welcome aboard.

Here's our cast for the day, though you are welcome to make adjustments as you see fit:

Apples (I chose Granny Smith), butter, sugar, and a dessert wine (like the Moscato I have here).

First, core the apples and slice into rings. Sadly, I do not have an apple-coring contraption so I had to make due with slicing up the apples, then trying to cut out the core with the tip of my knife. It didn't go so well and only four slices ended up looking okay.

With that done, melt about two Tablespoons of butter on your pan.

(Sidenote: is there anything better than watching butter melt?)

Once butter is melted and the bubbles have mostly subsided, place the apple rings on the pan and let them cook for a few minutes (like 4-5) before turning them over and repeating on the other side.

Shake some sugar over the apples. Once the sugar looks dissolved, pour your wine over them.

Continue cooking the apples, then turn them over one last time for a minute or two before transferring them to a plate.

As a final flourish, I drizzled some unwanted icing from Charlotte's box of toaster streudels over the apples, which you can see in the first picture.

And finally, do NOT eat with a fork! Eat with your fingers and savor every bite.

A final sidenote: You could do this with pears as well, and toss in some lemon juice if you want them a little more tart. If you don't have wine on hand, you could do a splash of cranberry or pomegranate juice (or both, I'm not going to tell you how to live). If it's breakfast time, you could put this on top of your oatmeal.

Enjoy, my loves. And if you end up making this, let me know how it turned out!

Caroline.

Everyday Luxe 2

I'm back with another edition of Everyday Luxe.

In honor of the misty rain today (it seriously looks like Seattle right now) here in Denver, I thought I'd share with you a few very fancy umbrellas, from one of the rainiest places on Earth (no, not Seattle): England!




Misty Denver



And yes, I said umbrellas.

This is everyday luxe... and I carry an umbrella nearly everyday... just not like these beauties.

1) James Smith & Co.'s Ladies Animal Head Umbrella

In 1830 James Smith founded the famous firm of James Smith and Sons at Foubert Place in London's West End. A branch shop was opened just off Savile Row and it was from here that umbrellas were sold to Gladstone, Bonar Law and Lord Curzon, among many other dignitaries. The business in umbrellas has always thrived, perhaps because of the English weather, but also because of the outstanding reputation the company has for umbrellas and walking sticks and the repair service that they offer for them. The company was also one of the first to use the famous Fox Frame and similar frames have been used ever since.

So cute and practical at only $114 USD. Almost too practical...

2) Pickett Whangee Wooden Shaft Umbrella

Handmade in England by expertly skilled master craftsmen using one solid continuous piece of wood, they are as strong and sturdy as a walking stick and feature twill nylon covers individually hand sewn onto a metal rib frame. They are available in a wide range of exquisite wood constructions and have been wind tested, withstanding speeds of 27mph! This will set you back $521.




Whangee is a type of super strong bamboo wood.


And my favorite:

3) Swain Addney Brigg Ladies' London Tan Leather & Campari Nylon Umbrella

Found in 1750, and handmade in Cambridge, UK since 1835 - Briggs is synonymous for the best in terms of umbrellas.They even have the official Royal Warrant, given by HRH The Prince of Wales who uses his quite a bit in rainy England.

This one-piece, ladies' umbrella boasts a hand-stitched saddle leather handle in London Tan. The umbrella canopy comes in a rich Campari nylon.

And don't worry you can get engraved for only an extra $90. Which is probably worth it since you are going to be shelling out over $800 for the umbrella itself.

Look! a Royal Warrant or crest-like thing I stole from the Briggs' website!

Love, Charlotte

P.S. In case you missed the first Everday Luxe, it can be found right here.

The Co-Author (finally gets her act together and) Speaks!

Hey, remember that one time Charlotte said her roommate was going to start contributing to the blog...and then said roommate never made an appearance? Well, no longer! Here I am -- on the Internet and stuff!

Like Charlotte said, I'm a Midwest lady (minus the "Mom jeans" and big 80s hair...and the penchant for guns and Kraft Mac 'n Cheese...and I don't really follow any sports teams outside of a passing interest for how the Red Sox are doing from time to time. Okay, I'm the world's worst Midwest lady) -- born in Illinois, raised in Michigan, and lived in Indiana for three years before heading west to California. And now, obviously, I'm in Denver.

Interestingly enough, my time in Orange County, California is when I started developing my prep look (it helps that I didn't have to cross state lines to get to the nearest J.Crew), but unlike Charlotte, my prep look tends to be borrowed more from the dudes than the ladies.

Basically, I like to dress like your favorite -- completely batty -- History of Britain from the Tudors to the Stuarts professor at Harvard (even if you only attended in your ivy-laced dreams). Think tweedy blazers, plaid button-ups, and a lovely men's Bulova watch my dad gave me. I recently discovered that I can do a men's extra small at H&M without it being too big. That said, I have like ten pairs of skinny jeans.

At any rate. This is what I wore on Friday, for a closing shift at the bookstore where I am employed.

The blazer is too small. Being on the petite side, blazers that fit "properly" -- that is, with the cuffs hitting your knuckles when your arms hang at your size -- tend to drown me and make me look like I really DID steal from some portly professor's wardrobe. With a shrunken blazer, you can see something of a figure on me, and it also balances out my Cafe Trousers from J.Crew. Always remember, kids: balance is important! If you're going to wear something loose on one half of your body, remember to balance it with something fitted on the other half. And notice I said "fitted" and not "tight". I hate tight! As many a sassy gay guy has said before me, Just because it zips doesn't mean it fits!

Blazer // H&M (Fall 2011)

Blouse // Madewell (Fall 2012)

Necklace // Thrifted

Belt // Gap

Trousers // J.Crew

Shoes // Target

xx, Caroline.

P.S. Please appreciate/ignore my "Oh god, a camera" face.

Thursday's Treat: Blackberry Buttermilk Cake

Since Caroline and I both love food, I thought it would only be appropriate to share some of our favorite recipes. Maybe this will be every Thursday.... maybe only once a month... who knows? Not me.

Up first is my tried and true summer staple. I'm pretty sure I made this at least 5 times last summer.

 

Blackberry Buttermilk Cake







I stole this photo from my friend Anna L.

    

My recipe has been modified from this Bon Appetit recipe.

Ingredients:

 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan and parchment

2 1/3 cups cake flour plus more for pan

10 ounces fresh blackberries and/or raspberries (plus more for decor)

1/4 cup plus 1 1/3 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3 large eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons orange juice (pulp is okay), plus more for icing option

1 cup well-shaken buttermilk

Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Equipment:

Spring form pan (if available), parchment paper, oven (duh), Ziploc baggie (icing option)

Steps:

1. Make sure the oven rack is in middle of oven and preheat to 350°.
2. Butter pan (or use a PAM vegetable oil spray); line bottom with a round of parchment paper. Butter parchment. Dust with flour; tap out excess. This butter+flour step is very important or your cake will look awful and the top will be ruined. 
3. Arrange berries in a single layer in bottom of pan; sprinkle evenly with 1/4 cup sugar.
4. Sift 2 1/3 cups flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a medium bowl; set aside.
5. Using an electric mixer (or your really strong arms), beat 3/4 cup butter and remaining 1 1/3 cups sugar in a large bowl at medium-high speed, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
6. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
7. Beat in vanilla and zest.
8. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating just until incorporated.
9. Pour batter over berries in pan; smooth top. 
10. Bake until cake is golden brown and cake bounces back when pressed gently with fingertip, about 1 hour 25 minutes for a 9" pan and about 1 hour for a 10" pan.
11. Let cool in pan set on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then run a thin, sharp knife around the edge of the pan to loosen.
12. Remove pan sides. Invert cake onto rack and remove pan bottom; peel off parchment.
13. Dust top generously with powdered sugar* and extra berries and let cool completely.

*Do this just before serving or it will dissolve into the cake and no one will see how pretty it is- because that's what really matters, after all.

  

The topping method I prefer: Icing option

Instead of dusting the cake with powder sugar you can give it a quick icing instead!

1. Mix 1 tablespoons of orange juice with 1/4 cup of powder sugar in a Ziploc bag.
2. Use your hands to mix the juice and sugar to form icing into a smooth consistency (watch out for lumps!)
3. Add more sugar or orange juice as needed to get the consistency you desire. Chill icing.
4. Right before serving cake arrange extra berries on top and snip corner of icing bag. Drizzle icing on cake in a cross hatch pattern. 

Super cheat option if you're super lazy (or in a hurry!):

Swap out the dry ingredients for this boxed cake mix (make sure it is the butter recipe!). Bake for 50 minutes.





Icing option- my favorite!

  

I'm really looking forward to making this again in the summer! And I want to try it with other berries.





This photo was also stolen from Anna L.

  

~Charlotte