LoveFeast Table

Come on in!

You know you want to open the door and take a peek inside!

Kristin’s (very patient) mom, wood-burned her entire front door!

This is in Kristin’s mom’s study…she free hand painted it.

Look around at some of our fancy walls!

This is a close-up of Chris Ann’s bedroom wall.  Her bedroom is painted in Ralph Lauren’s Candlelight finish called Tea and Sweets.  Who can resist Tea and Sweets?  It has the softest luminescence yet is still modern.

To cure her cabin fever-

Kristin completed this during Snowapocolypse in B’More.

This is Chris Ann’s pink dining room! (Sherwin-Williams Memorable Rose).  Suburbia Man never ever questioned painting a color that looked like pepto-bismol in the dining room.

Chris Ann’s office in a soft suede finish (Pratt & Lambert Classic Suede in Amarula)-it’s a perfect quiet background behind the linen bulletin board.

We just have to show this again, because it’s totally fancy and we love it…so much we have wallpaper envy.

(This wallpaper is currently hung in the house of the Hollywood Housewife)

Things were a bit tight for our family this past Christmas.  I know we weren’t the only ones pinching pennies to try and give our kids a Christmas.  We were honest with the kids.  ”Don’t be disappointed if your pile under the tree is small this year.”  We are small business owners.  We own a home remodeling company and with the recession, not a lot of people were doing home beautification projects.  But, our kids were so understanding and gracious.  They said, “It’s okay.  We understand.  You don’t have to do much, BUT…it won’t be Christmas if we don’t have homemade cinnamon buns!”

Every Christmas, for at least the past 10 years, I have made homemade, ooey, gooey, cream cheese slathered, cinnamon buns.  There was even a year we were in Baguio, Philippines for Christmas.  The kitchen we were using had a tiny oven.  I emailed my mother in law back home for the recipe and I made those cinnamon buns for my family and the other 30 people that were with us for Christmas.  I even left the recipe behind for friends to continue the tradition.

Usually, these bad boys are reserved for Christmas.  But, I have to admit, with all the snow…all the days in doors…and then, all my boys who shoveled and shoveled and shoveled…I wanted to make something that would put a smile on some faces.  My daughter had her bff over and the two girls got to work!

They added the yeast to the warm milk.

They added the flour and formed the dough into a ball.

They put it in a “warming oven” to proof.  (Warming oven: turn oven on 250 degrees for five minutes.  Then turn it off.  It’s a great environment to proof dough.)

They rolled out the dough and spread the softened butter on the dough.

They sprinkled cinnamon sugar.

They rolled it into a long log.

They sliced the log into buns (Ok, I did this part.)

They proofed again and headed into the oven.

Seriously, this is what came out!

Can you taste it?  Can you smell it?  Yup!  It’s Christmas in your mouth…good anytime of year!

Cinnamon Bun Recipe

Rolls:

1 package of active dry yeast

1 C. warm milk (105-110 degrees)

1/2 granulated sugar

1/3 C. butter, melted

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

4 C all purpose flour

Filling:

1 C. packed brown sugar

2 1/2 Tbls. cinnamon

1/3 C. butter, melted

Icing:

8 Tbls. butter, softened

1 1/2 C. powdered sugar

1/4 C. cream cheese

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. salt

Rolls: Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.  Mix together the sugar, butter, salt and eggs.  Add flour and mix well.  Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour.  Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until the dough is doubled in size.

Roll the doughout on a lilghtly floured surface.  Roll the dough flat until it is approximately 21 in. long and 16 in. wide.  It should be about 1/4 inch thick.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Filling: Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.  Spread the softened butter evenly over the surface of the dough and then sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar evenly over the surface.  Make sure you spread it all the way to the ends.

Working carefully from the top (the 21 inch side), roll the dough down to the bottom edge.

Cut the rolled dough into 12 slices and placein a lightly greased baking pan.  Let the rolls rise again until double in size (about 30 min).  Bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly brown on top.

Icing: While the rolls are baking, combine all icing ingredients.  Beat well in an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

When the rolls come out of the oven, coat each, generously with icing.

Note: I will make these Christmas Eve.  After I have sliced the rolls and put them in a pan, I cover them and put them in the fridge.  Christmas morning, I pull them out first thing.  They have to come to room temperature than rise until doubled in bulk.  It can take about 2-3 hours.  But, then after all the gifts are opened, I pop them in the oven and we have them for breakfast!

(this recipe was given to me by my mother in law…it’s not original, but I’m not sure where she got the recipe.)

This Almond Triangle recipe is the Holiday Cookie Contest winner from the 2009 Taste Section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  The contest winner, Charlotte Midthun, first found the recipe from a 15 year old First for Women magazine.  December’s not so far away and these cookies are the best!  They are not so sweet that you feel guilty…I think the nuts add a little protein right?  They are the perfect treat for a mid-blogging snack.

You do have to have a 10X15 inch rimmed cookie sheet or jelly roll pan.   Also, make in advanced…they tasted better the next day, some things just do.

Almond Triangles

Ingredients:

2 Cups (4 sticks) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature, divided

3/4 Cup granulated Sugar, divided

1 Egg

3/4 Tsp. Almond Extract

1/2 Tsp. Salt

2 3/4 Cup Flour

1 Cup packed Brown Sugar

1/3 Cup Honey

1/4 Cup Heavy Cream, at room temperature

1 lb. (about 5 1/4 Cups) Sliced Almonds

Directions:

Carefully line the cookie sheet or pan with aluminum foil, shiny side up.  (OK, stop right there.  Personally, I didn’t like this plan.  I did it according to the directions, but the aluminum foil did annoyingly stick to the cookie.  Could I have used parchment, or spray instead?  Let me know what you think.)

To make the dough:

Mix, on medium speed, 1 cup butter (2 sticks), until creamy, about 1 minute.  Then, gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and beat about 2 minutes until light and fluffy.  Add the egg, almond extract, and salt, and beat until combined.  Reduce speed of mixer to low and add flour and mix until incorporated.

Press the dough evenly into pan and push dough up the sides.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven o 375 degrees.  Prick dough in about 24 places with a fork and bake for 10 minutes.  Then, remove from oven and transfer to cooling rack.

To make the topping:

Combine brown sugar, honey, and remaining 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar into a saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves.  Then increase heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 3 minutes without stirring.  Remove from heat and stir in cream.  Stir in almonds.

Then, spread almond mixture evenly over crust.  Return the pan to oven and bake until bubbling, about 14 minutes.  Remove from oven and transfer pan to a wire rack to cool.  While bars are still slightly warm, cut into triangles.

Now, don’t worry…unlike the previous Oh Henry Bars, and because you use a 10X15 pan, there will be plenty to share!  I think Oh Henry Bars and Almond Triangles would be great served together actually… sort of a yin and yang for bar cookies.

So, come on now…will you share a favorite bar cookie recipe with us?  One that tastes like  a contest winner, is a family secret, or good enough to make you not want to share?  If you have one email us at lovefeasttable@gmail.com….if not, please add your comment anyway!

Good memories and times at the table can often be traced back to a place, the atmosphere, and of course great food.  Heidi’s Restaurant was just the type of place to leave you with with memorable moments.  Sadly, on the same day Stewart Woodman was chosen as a 2010 James Beard Award semifinalist for best Midwestern chef, Heidi’s Restaurant was destroyed in a terrible fire.  We were so shocked and sad to hear this news, since Heidi’s was one of our favorite restaurants.

Through the years, LoveFeast Table has had many special times at the table.  These are times when the conversation flows, the food is beyond wonderful, the atmosphere and decor just perfect… the servers so charming.  When a restaurant hits all these pieces in perfect cadence, the meal becomes a pleasurable dance and the memory a treasure.

This was our experience at Heidi’s.  We had been there a couple of times in the past.  Todd and I knew for sure when Kristin and Devon visited us again this was a place we were taking them.  Our expectations for a perfect night were not disappointed.

We hope that Stewart, Heidi, and Frank and the charming and delightful servers that we enjoyed so much will continue on to create yet another place that pulls together so many wonderful elements for a memorable night out.

We are saddened by your loss.  And our hope for you is that you will go on to create another beautiful place and bring those talents again, to the table.  We thank you for what you gave us…a special night, a treasured memory and a story to tell.

Charming, Delightful, Delicious, and Memorable.

That’s the way it was.

As you know every Friday we post about what inspires us.  We started  Fancy Friday because we wanted a place to express and rejuvenate our artistic senses.  We get inspired from colors, textures, experiences, adventure, food, spices, and travel.   We also get inspired by hearing about what inspires others.  Today’s first guest blogger for a Fancy Friday is Laura, from the Hollywood Housewife blog.  After chatting with her in our virtual world of blogging and Twitter, we finally caught up with her in the real world at Blissdom, the blogging conference Chris Ann recently attended.  We know you will enjoy what she has to share about what’s “fancy” in her Hollywood home.

I am drawn to fancy. I’ve been chasing the glitter since I was a little girl. This led me from a small town in Oklahoma to the sparkly lights of Los Angeles, and I’ve never looked back. (That’s not true. I look back all the time. But Los Angeles does achieve all levels of Fancy.) Naturally, I appreciate high drama in a home. I’ve filled our 1920′s abode in the Hollywood hills with things that make me smile. Things that are a little unexpected. Like the red flocked wallpaper in the bathroom off the kitchen. I was inspired by the wallpaper at a Mexican food restaurant and I couldn’t get it out of my head. So I found something similar at Walnut Wallpaper.

Also please vote for us, here – scroll down and leave a comment and a tweet to vote!  That would be lovely!

My husband made it back the day after my birthday, a day before the next storm hit! You know that saying, “Love makes the heart grow fonder”?  I missed him and was so happy to see him!  He arrived and a wrapped package appeared on the table.  The kids gathered around and Little Man proceeded to help me tear off the paper.  I was shocked!!  Absolutely stunned!  Behind the wrapping paper was a much longed for upgrade to my camera…a new Nikon!  I really was surprised.  I thought a new camera was a bit further in the future, but evidently my family pooled their resources and made it happen! (Thank you family!)

Then, it snowed again the next day…and the next.  Overall we received like 50+ inches.  This week of snow set records in Baltimore!  Because of the snow and lack of parking spaces, we had to cancel the shin dig we had planned that weekend for my birthday.  But, my mom still wanted the kids overnight and I was dieing to escape my house.  So, we made a few calls and a bunch of us braved the mounds of snow and chilling cold to venture to Joe2 (Joe Squared).  I just wanted a beer and live music!

This was our first time to Joe Squared.  I had driven by Joe Squared many times and had just assumed it was a college pizza joint.  Then a few months ago, we began to hear the buzz that it was a music venue as well.  After a little inquiry with some friends, we discovered it was quite a foodie/artist joint!  My interest was peaked! After being stuck in the house for so long, I really needed a pizza/beer/artist-y/foodie/music-y type place to be re-inspired!

Devon and I got to the restaurant before our friends, we pulled up a chair at the bar and ordered a much needed beer, Devon a Chimay (on tap) and me, Stella Artois.  (It was on my birthday wish list!)  Tom Reyes, a jazz band was playing.  I sunk into my chair, swigged on my Stella and took it all in.  The bar, dining area and stage are in one open room.  The lights were dim, but not too.  There was art on the wall…some fun piece about Sheila Dixon being “framed”.  But, the best part, I was out of my house, next to my husband.

Our friends arrived and after waiting a bit for a table we were finally seated.  (The place was a bit busy with lots of people braving the elements!)  We were greeted by our waitress and she took our drink order…beer, by the pitcher.  Devon and Derek started with wings.   Devon had the 9 Spice Wings and Derek the Ginger Pine Nut wings.  Both of which were the bomb!  They really were delicious!  Melissa ordered the Broccoli Cheddar Potato Skins.  They were good.

Then, I decided to order their specialty, pizza!  Their pizzas are all square and the crust is made from a 200 year old starter.  I ordered the Mushroom Lovers Pizza.  It arrived and can I just say, it was love at first sight!  It was a beautiful pizza!  One bite in and I knew we would be lovers forever!  It really was good.  The flavors were simple, the toppings perfectly placed and every bite was as good as the first!

Devon and Derek split the lamb cheese steak, as did Diana and Cliff.  Devon said, “The sub didn’t leave me craving more.  There were no distinct flavors other than mint. It was tasteless.”  Devon is the kind of guy that loves that lamb flavor! Melissa ordered pizza her way, with a bunch of different ingredients, and she loved it!

Then, as we wrapped up our meal, our server brought us the check…um, we weren’t done…but, felt like we were being pushed to wrap it up.  We stopped our server and asked her for another round of beers and for information about desserts.  Honestly, she wasn’t real sure how to describe the desserts.  So, she pulled another server over and he went into detail about the desserts.  Armed with info, we ordered a slice of Earl Grey Cake and Mocha Toffee Cake.

The evening ended with much laughter!  Joe Squared delivered just what this birthday girl needed…a fun night out with good food…and beer.

Today I have to confess, I have milked this birthday year like no other!  You see, the weekend of birthday brought many gifts!  It started with 36+ inches of snow.

My husband got stuck in TX because the airlines were shut down.  My bff was representing LoveFeast at Blissdom in TN.  My boys wanted no part in shoveling (truth, unless they were getting paid!) Those were the gifts that were hard to open on my birthday.  There were a few that brought a smile to my face!  Chris Ann, anticipating I was going to have a little bit of a let down on my actual birthday, shipped out a loaded package of goodies for me, early.  I debated on waiting, but in Kristin fashion, I decided to declare it a birthday week and proceeded to start the festivities three days early (my husband was already out of town)!!  I’m so glad I did!  Here’s a glimpse of what I scored!

Then in order to shovel a walkway and my driveway, I bribed some local neighborhood boys with a little xbox live time and food.  It worked!

For myself I made a pot of French onion soup!  (I did share with Drama Boy and Drummer!)

There was one gift though, that I received the morning of my birthday, that was more valuable than the rest!  I woke up, stumbled into my kitchen, only to be greeted by my two older boys, Drama Boy and Drummer, busy making blueberry scones (from scratch) and pulling shots of espresso for my Americano!

Can I just tell you, my momma heart was bursting!  The scones were flaky and the Americano, perfect!  (These boys will make great husbands!)  Drummer made me a birthday banner!  I asked him why it said 29?  He said, “Because mom, last year you were 28!”

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I woke up this morning next to my superhero.

It’s been 16 years of him watching over me and our family.

He reminds me that a true superhero love is not always perfect…sometimes there’s a dark side…but superhero love keeps coming back to where it started…back to fighting for justice, protecting those he loves, providing for those in need, always being vigilant, having integrity and always, balancing it with romance.

I love that he loves me.  I love that he’s still by my side, fighting to keep this institution (that has failed so many) alive.  It’s not easy.  It’s a commitment.  It’s a promise to give our kids something precious.  We have to fight for it.

There are many villains out there that would love to destroy this institution…and believe me, many have tried! I’m happy to say, at the end of the day, we have stood together to passionately protect the thing we love and treasure, our marriage.

I love you Devon!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love,

Kristin

p.s Thank you Irene for creating a card that said what was in my heart this Valentine’s Day!

One of my little projects at Blissdom was to try and capture a little of what was “fancy” for our “Fancy Friday” post each Friday.  Fancy Friday is where we capture a little bit of what we think is beautiful, artful, inspiring, or whimsical.  Basically, it’s just what has to catch our eye and make us happy.  With those thoughts in mind read on….and for those of you wondering- I’ve got a picture of -”THE DRESS”.

Our fearless leader, Alli, rocked her wicked cool red boots!

This was a beautiful feathery black hair piece on Kim, of Twice Remembered.

And here is the “tip” of the day and something that definitely could make Our Happy List!

While I was chatting with the Kat, who is the Sassy Irish Lassie, I happened to catch a glimpse of her fingertips and notice that she was wearing the exact shade of blue nail polish I was wearing.  Thus began the photo-op!  OPI Russian Blue it’s SO the new black!

While in line to hear Harry Connick Jr., I laid eyes on this bead-work!!

Well, of course I was starstruck!!  I went in for the kill, ahem, I mean the photograph.  After a bumbling explanation of how I wanted to get the picture “in the good light” I read “THE DRESS” owner’s name tag!  It was Laura, The Hollywood Housewife.  This may be THE killer outfit of Blissdom.  It’s 3.1 Phillip Lim – I asked.

Later, Laura could be seen accessorizing with the best thing ever, her baby girl, aka Pigtail.

And here is the BLAH BLAH BLAHger, JJ  in peacock blue.  She was anything but blah!!  She was definitely wearing what we like to call “Party Peacock” style!

This beautiful red scarf was on Kimm, from Reinvented.  It was made by Pretty Stinkin’ Green.  It was pretty stinkin’ cute!

And, The Nester, from The Nesting Place,  wore amazing metal lace earrings.

Sibi, from Pearls & Grace, wore a stand out red floral neck piece from Anthropologie.

Here’s the close up!

And, why not wear the princess dress?  This was the perfect gown, worn by Robin of Pensieve.Me enchanting!

When I saw this gal, Dawn, from My Home Sweet Home, I stopped her right in her tracks wanting to know where she got her cute pin!

The answer, some woman wearing a yellow scarf!  Well this was funny because I was on the lookout for a woman in a yellow scarf!  Kristin (at home in Maryland) had twittered me to look for Lindsey, from The Pleated Poppy, who we had linked to our last Fancy Friday, while I was at Blissdom!

She was pretty easy to find in the crowd!  Fabric poppies were all the rage at Blissdom!

This is Kim & Kris, from the DIY dish!  Kim is wearing yet another cute fabric flower!!  I bet you can find a way to make it on their new site!

This beautiful necklace was on Carrie, of Bilingual in the Boonies.  I am sure you could find some fancy tees to go with something like this at her new shop, ChiChi & Flaco.

And, finally another pair of shiny red boots on Leah, from Bookie Boo!

That’s a little of what I saw fancy at Blissdom!!  Anyone else?

**For at tasting of previous Fancy Friday’s visit here.   We’d love it if you’d guest post your own Fancy Friday here at LoveFeast Table! Email us at lovefeasttable@gmail.com

Something came over me the other day.  I was in “project mode”…whirling around the house cleaning, cooking dinner (chicken roaster in the oven), spinning through laundry AND baking.  Yes, all that and more including laying out what I needed to pack for Blissdom.  Oh yeah, and I had ground an abundance of espresso that morning, which made me think about making something with espresso in it.  They are crumbly in texture because of the espresso but not too dry.  They sort of remind me a little of  biscotti taste and texture.  The espresso flavor is very pronounced, but in a good way if you like espresso.  If you need a little pick me up…one of these

with a cappuccino will do the trick!  Maybe that’s why I got so much done!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C. Butter

3/4 C. Sugar

1 1/3 C. Flour

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 Espresso

1 Tsp. Vanilla

1 Egg

2 oz. Dark Chocolate (I used Lindt Excellence, Intense Dark, 70% cocoa)

2 oz. Hazelnuts

1/2 C white chocolate pieces (I used Whole Foods brand, 365)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix butter and sugar until creamy in mixer.  Continue mixing and add egg and vanilla.

Add dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, espresso) and mix.

Slowly mix in hazelnuts and white chocolate.

Spoon unto greased cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes.

Like I said this treat got me a little ramped!  So then I decided to share the love.  Kristin had shared her cookie love awhile ago, with an idea that came to her from the cookbook, Baked New Frontiers In Baking.  I had some extra so I decided to pack up some sweet treats for a friend and make a special mailbox delivery with it!

First I wrapped up each cookie in wax paper.  I wanted to keep them moist, protect them, and I just think it looks neat..like each cookie is a special gift to unwrap. Kristin wrapped up her cookies for Christmas gifts too, only she used little bags.  Great minds think alike, or at least steal good ideas from good cookbooks.    Here’s a stack for Kristin.

And, here’s a stack for Kelli, a friend who shared this recipe with us.

For my friend Kelli I tied up the cookies with deer ribbon.  Cute right?  Get it “deer”…”dear”.

Kristin got red ribbon because it’s good for birthday’s and good for Valentines Day AND I didn’t think she wanted to be reminded again for the DEER she hit, um, I mean hit her a few months ago.

Now go find somebody to LoveBomb!!

Or, send it as a Valentine!  Enjoy!