Hanging out with Grace

Year of the Dragon

Ebelskivers

Weekend breakfasts are a real treat at our house and I try to make pancakes at least once a week. No Bisquick here--after getting a buttermilk pancake recipe from Martha Stewart, I realized how easy it was to make them from scratch. It's been a few years and I thought that maybe my pancake-skills were ready to be tested. Introduce the ebelskiver pan from Williams-Sonoma...the Danish-inspired filled pancakes are awesome! My first batch was a little burnt, but after a little practice I turned out perfectly golden orbs. The beauty is, they can be filled with sweet or savory fillings. I've included a recipe for the batter, below. It's a little more work than simple pancake batter, but whipping up the egg whites separately results in a light and fluffy batter that makes it all worth it.

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
• 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 
  
• Directions:

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, granulated sugar and salt.

In a small bowl, lightly whisk together the egg yolks and buttermilk. Whisk the yolk mixture into the flour mixture until well combined; the batter will be lumpy.

In another bowl, using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff but not dry peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the batter in two additions.

Put 1/2 tsp. butter in each well of a filled-pancake pan. Place over medium heat and heat until the butter begins to bubble. Pour 1 Tbs. batter into each well and cook until the bottoms are golden brown and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Put filling in the center of each pancake and top with 1 Tbs. batter. Using 2 wooden skewers, flip the pancakes over and cook until golden and crispy, about 3 minutes more. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter and filling.

recipe adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen

Lath Feature Wall

I have been obsessed with doing a feature wall somewhere in my house using reclaimed lath. Turns out that a lot of free lath is available from demolitions. I'm still trying to convince Darren to let me drive into a slightly sketchy neighborhood in Baltimore to pick some up!

image via Erin Martin Design

image via Remodelista

image via Parliamentology's flickr

For a totally easy, step-by-step tutorial of making a feature wall from lath, see Remodelista's post here.

Happiest Baby on the Block

I admit, I'm biased...but she's got to be one of the happiest kids ever.

Little Sister

The relationship between siblings can teach you about unconditional love sometimes. Grace wants so much to be just like her big sister, even if the feeling isn't returned all the time. Sophie makes a "car" out of two chairs and Grace does the same, parking her car right next to her big sister's.

Tinkerbell

Tell Sophie to play quietly in her room and she will gladly do it--trying on about 15 different princess/fairy outfit combinations. This one is definitely a girly-girl.

Calm and Bright

image via Elle Decor

I'm a believer in Feng Shui, and if I had this bedroom I'm sure I'd be a lot more relaxed.

Random Obsessions

Leather Luggage Tag, $14

Giraffe Bust, $68

Weehouses, starting at $80,000

Rustic Leather Journal, $28

Resolutions

1. Savor the time I have with my kids, and not rush through the day.
2. Drink more green juice. Ideally once a day.
3. Walk. Ideally at least 30 minutes a day.
4. Do more reading. I'd like to read 30 books in 2012. I think I can do it!

image via Beauty Sweet Spot