Cinnamon streusel crumb pie topping

This simple recipe is perfect for creating a Dutch-style crumb topping for apple or cherry pies.

Cinnamon streusel crumb pie topping

• 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1. Combine butter and sugar in a small bowl. Blend with a fork until creamy.
2. Mix in egg white and vanilla and stir until incorporated.
3. Sift flour, cinnamon and salt into butter mixture and stir until combined.
   
4. Refrigerate while making filling.
   
5. Crumble topping over filling, leaving some fruit showing so steam can escape from filling as pie bakes.
6. Bake pie according to recipe. Allow crumb topping to brown nicely. If edges brown to quickly, cover in aluminum foil and continue to bake.

Deep-dish Apple Pie

My recipe for a truly crowd pleasing apple pie. This pie can be baked double-crust style and dusted with delicious golden sugar, or Dutch-style with a sweet and crunch cinnamon streusel topping (refer to next recipe for a simple streusel topping).

Deep-dish Apple Pie

serves 6

For pie filling:

• 1/2 cup superfine bakers' sugar
• 3 tbsp plain all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• finely grated rind of 1 orange
• 2 lb tart cooking apples (pippin apples or granny smith are best)
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
  
• 2 tbsp light brown sugar or golden sugar
• whipped cream, to serve

For pastry:

• 3 cups plain all-purpose flour
• pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup butter, diced
• 5 tbsp chilled water
• or use 2 pre-made pie shells.
  

1. If using a pre-made pie shell, skip to step 3.
   
2. To make pastry, sift flour and salt into a bowl. Rub in the butter. Sprinkle over the water and mix to firm, soft dough. Roll into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 mins.
3. Combine the bakers' sugar, flour, cinnamon and orange rind in a bowl. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. Add to the sugar mixture, then toss gently.
   
4. Put a baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 400 F. Roll out just over half the pastry and use to line a 9-inch pie dish that is 1 1/2-inch deep. Allow to overhang the edges slightly. Spoon in filling, doming it in the center.
   
5. Roll out remaining pastry to form lid. Lightly brush edges with a little water, then place the lid over the apple filling. Trim the pastry with a sharp knife. Gently press the edges together to seal, then knock up the edges. Re-roll the pastry trimmings and cut apples and leaf shapes (optional, mostly to make a fancy decorative top). Brush the top of the pie with egg white and arrange the pastry apples and leaves on top.
   
6. Brush again with egg white (or for the first time if omitting pastry cutout layer), then sprinkle with golden (or light brown) sugar. Make two small slits in the top of the pie to allow stem to escape.
   
7. Bake 30 minutes, then lower temperature to 350 F and bake for a further 15 minutes until pastry is golden and appled are soft - check by inserting a small sharp knife or skewer through one of the slits in the top of the pie. Serve hot, with some whipped cream.
   

American Pumpkin Pie

This is my favorite pumpkin pie recipe. It's perfect to help welcome in the holiday season!

American Pumpkin Pie

serves 8

For pie filling:

• 2lb piece of sweet pie pumpkin (not your garden variety Halloween pumpkins! These pumpkins are naturally sweeter and can be found at most grocery stores around the holidays)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 4tbsp light corn syrup
  
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp mixed spice or pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Confectioners' (powdered) sugar, for dusting
• 
  

For pie crust:

• 1 3/4 cup plain all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter, diced
  
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbsp chilled water
  
• or 1 pre-made pie shell (bottom only)

1. Skip ahead to step 3 if using a pre-made pie shell.
   
2. To make pastry, sift flour and salt into a bowl. Rub in the butter, then mix in egg yolk and enough chilled water to make a soft dough. Roll into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 mins.
3. Peel and seed pumpkin. Cut the flesh into cubes. Place in a pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until tender. Mash well until smooth, then spoon into a sieve (strainer) and set over a bowl to drain. Preheat oven to 400 F.
   
4. Roll out the pastry. Line a 9in loose based flan tin (pie baking pan). Prick base all over with a fork. Line with foil and baking beans (uncooked dry beans or uncooked rice can be used in place of ceramic baking beans). Chill for 15 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes, remove foil and beans, then bake further for 5 minutes.
   
5. Lower oven temperature to 375 F. Tip the pumpkin into a bowl and beat in the eggs, sugar, syrup, cream, spice and salt to make a smooth filling. Pour into the pastry shell. Bake for 40 minutes until set. Dust generously with icing sugar. Serve at room temperature.
   

Nutritional info per serving: 416 cal. ; 5.3g protein ; 38.2g carb. , 18.6g from sugar ; 28g fat, 16.9g saturated fat ; 114mg cholesterol ; 98mg calcium ; 1.9 fiber ; 360mg sodium.

knob craze

have you seen the wonderful assortment of drawer pulls and knobs available at Anthropologie?

tea, teapots, and tea party.

Teavana

http://www.teavana.com/

Location: Westfield Valley Fair, Santa Clara, CA

Some of the best tea I have tasted in a while.

I recommend:

Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls Green

and look, a tea pot for me:

a delicious experience

Cocola Bakery
delightfully delicious french breads and pastry

http://www.cocolabakery.com/

Location: Santana Row, Santa Clara, California

www.santanarow.com

may i recommend a heavenly sweet french macaroon or a sensational mango and passion fruit mousse :

Hopelessly Waiting

Hopelessly waiting and watching your every move
What would it be like to have
all the eyes on you
Tell me I'm beautiful why do I care if you say
You'rebeautiful, so beautiful
If you look deeper you might find there's somethingthat shines
I just want someone to read between the lines
They're all watching somebody else
won't you look at me
I'm not so bad, I'm not that bad
Once in a while I see through your eyes
And its not your style to leave me
Shamelessly hoping to be more than a girl in the crowd
Someone to notice me twice when they looked around
It seems everywhere that I look all the eyes turn away
Do you see me, can you see me
Once in a while I see through your eyes
And its not your style to leave me
Once in a while you're more than
you're seeming to be
But I go on living and waiting and dreaming that...
It would be great to know somebody cared about me
Thought I was more than justsomeone you pass on the street
Am I just nothing that you find remotely profound
What's wrong with me, what's wrong with you
What's wrong with me,what's wrong with you...
Hopelessly waiting and watching your everymove...
Why can't I see what is wrong
You must hate me that's too bad

Midnight

Between the lines I get it,
i read it when you spoke to me last night,
Don't think I don't know what's goin on here,
be sure I didn't come to steal your life.
You leave before midnight,
you're standing in the bright lights,
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid to come back to me.
You leave before midnight,
you're standing in the back lights,
Don't be afraid, hey, don't be afraid to come back to me, yeah.
And in disguise
I'll come to you,
darling tonight,
you will walk outside your soul,
Don't be surprised if I told you,
You're not as strong as you were told.
You leave before midnight,
you're standing in the bright lights,
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid to come back to me.
You leave before midnight,
you're standing in the bright lights,
Don't be afraid, hey, don't be afraid to come back to me.
Coz no-one's gonna know
if you stay or if you go,
If you do or if you don't,
at least you won't be alone,
it won't be alone
no-one's gonna know
if you stay or if you go,
If you do or if you don't,
at least you won't be alone,
it won't be alone
You leave before midnight,
you're standing in the bright lights,
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid to come back to me.
You leave before midnight,
you're standing in the bright lights,
Don't be afraid, hey, don't be afraid to come back to me.

Listen

i no longer plead with heaven
or go rummaging in books for answers
to the questions life contains
no i listen listen
listen to this universe resounding
in the pulsing and the pounding
of my infant ancient veins
i no longer seek instruction from my father and my mother
i have mastered all their pleasures and their pain
no i listen listen
listen to the universe resounding
in the pulsing and the pounding
of my infant ancient veins
the feeling in my bloodflow is a simple thing y'see
everything and nothing in the parody is me
i'm the hero
i'm the villain
the beginning
and the end
i'm creator
i'm destroyer
i'm the enemy
the friend
i'm an animal
a spirit flying high and falling down
i am special
i'm important
i am sacred
i'm a clown
so i stumble through the chaos
dragging clumsily behind me
all the eggshells
and the fish scales
and the fur pelts of my past
while this thing goes on inside me
at one with all the vastness
the fantasies and fictions
and when all the contradictions come together come
they will fit
they will fit
the feeling in my bloodflow is a simple thing y'see
i am it
i am it
we are everything and nothing
but that's how to play the game
in these weather beaten bodies
with these god forsaken brains
we can listen listen
listen to the universe resounding
in the pulsing and the pounding
of our infant ancient veins
listen listen
listen and it all begins to fit
you are it, your are it.

Bringing nature in...

A definite trend in the design world is utilizing natural motifs in decorative accessories, finishes, and patterns to bring nature into an indoor space. Everyone seems to want to bring what they love about the outdoors into their homes, and who can blame them with all the beautiful shapes, colors and forms found right outside the window. This trend is now emerging in ways that go beyond just scenic art work and floral prints. Nature inspired forms are appearing more and more in chic and whimsical ways. Most home decor stores are now carrying a wide range of accessories, storage goods, and furniture pieces that reflect this growing trend. Here are some items I have pulled from the websites of popular home decor stores.

Animal Prints. Cheap or Chic?

Designers know that animal print and pattern can really help to add character to a space. Prints and pattern help to add not only physical texture but also a visual point on interest in a room.

Of course there is right and wrong way of adding animal print to a space that can either give it a sophisticated and polished look or in the other case a complete visual disaster.

Here are some guidelines and tips on using animal prints:

+ Make sure that print is natural or looks like it would in nature. We never see a neon pink leopard or electric blue tiger running.

+ Minimize the usage of print to a few key pieces. Whether it be a couple of well tailored upholstered side chairs, a couple throw pillows, or in a few well placed decorative accessories.

+ Look at the print in context to the rest of the room. There are many factors to consider when choosing an animal print, including scale of the print, positioning, and interaction with other pieces in the room. The print should follow the color scheme of the room as well as the scale set by the other pieces in the space.

+ If the print is a distraction, ditch it. A chic room is one where all the pieces come together and flow as one (even if the nature of the objects are unique and eclectic). If the print is competing the the main focal point of the room, it's not the piece for the room, or if the print itself is the focal piece (as in a bold area rug) it should still speak to and coordinate with the rest of the room.

The following are some examples of the dos and don'ts when using animal prints (along with why):

Do:


This works because the the strong print of the rug is working to anchor the light upholstery pieces in the room. Also, this room has minimal print aside from the rug itself.


Although the idea of such a major print applied to the wall may not appeal to everyone, the reason that it works in this case has to do with the styling of the room. The decorative accessories used in this space relate with the nature of the print. The overall color palette also helps to subdue the impact of the wallpaper.

Don't:

This is a prime example of what to avoid when it comes to print. In a bedroom the main focal point is often the bed itself. Adding bedding that is completely styled in animal print draws way too much attention to the bed area, and frankly looks a little cheap. Calling too much attention to a single piece in any room brings too much emphasis on one object and steals the attention from everything else. A simple throw pillow with this print paired with neutral toned bedding would have stronger impact with less distraction.

Amigurumi... crocheted cuteness

I first noticed these little crocheted animals about three weeks ago at a small cafe in Pacifica while having breakfast with my sister and niece. Upon returning to the same cafe this morning, I noticed an even larger collection of crocheted animals and dolls on display there.

The maker is a server at the cafe and when I spoke to her about them she said that since she put them on display for sale in November of last year she has had a lot of request for special order Amigurumi.

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small stuffed animals or anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from the Japanese words for knitted or crocheted and stuffed doll. Amigurumi toys are characterized by their playful forms. Typical amigurumi animals have an over-sized spherical head on a cylindrical body with undersized extremities.

I picked up a giraffe, cat, lamb, and duck that I plan on adding to Easter baskets for my nieces and nephews.


The following examples were found on a site called Amigurumi Kingdom and are available for purchase:

Snails?

Urban Outfitters seems to have an affinity for these slimy wanderers.

Have a looksie for yourself at urbanoutfitters.com for more shelled goodness.

Here is my personal favorite:

Notable Whimsy

I thought I'd share a recent discovery of mine. I first came across this artist when I was doing research of Urban Outfitters for my Corporate Design class.

The artist is Russian born Masha D'Yans.

Her watercolors have furnished products lines for Target, Urban Outfitters, Barneys NY, Bergdorf Goodman, among others.

D'Yans' work is an exquisite blend of delicate whimsy, euphoric abandonment, childlike imagination, and the beauty of imperfection. Enjoy!

A few examples from Space interiors, Kuala Lumpur

Fun finds from Wallpaper* Magazine

Cabinet by DeLorenzo














"Family Lamp" by Atelier van Lieshout














Missoni Vases by Stephen Burks

Where Does Inspiration Come From?

As a design student I am often required to submit a pre-design presentation with a set of "inspirational" images to help establish my overall design concept. These images can be as straight forward as a collection of clippings from a design mag or a as abstract as snap shots of colorful socks pinned to a clothes lines (yes, I have used such an image in one of my presentations). Educationally, this exercise helps me (the design student) to conceptualize and formulate a stylistic approach to every project.

As a means of inspiration, the collection of images can help a person, trained designer or creative do-it-yourselfer, to pick out elements that they are attracted to that will in turn help to create the design's color story, style, and most importantly the design concept.

While images are a great resource, they are not the only source of inspiration that can be drawn from. Often time design is a reflection of so many outside influences. For example, a trip to an exotic location can leave such an impression on some one that they choose to recreate the tropical getaway at home, or the flavorful expression of an savory Italian meal can set the town for a warm Tuscan Style kitchen make over.

Regardless of where the inspiration for a design comes from, the important thing to keep in mind is that allow yourself enough creative freedom to really personalize your space to make it your own personal santuary.

And while we are on the subject of Inspiration:

Imogen Heap