Monthly Archives: December 2009

by | December 11, 2009 · 9:08 am

3 Easiest Appetizers Ever

If you are anything like me, you often end up having impromptu gatherings with only hours to spare. While a bag of tortilla chips and jar of salsa works to moderately appease the appetites of your guests, you can do better without much more work. These three appetizers are guaranteed to satisfy hungry bellies and make you look like the true haute homemaker you really are. Each recipe uses no more than four ingredients (ones I always make sure I have on hand). A total prep time of 15 minutes for a night of food and fun – do you think you can handle it?

Harry and David’s Onion and Pepper Relish

In our Under $25 Holiday Gift Guide, one of my top picks was Harry and David’s Onion and Pepper Relish. This dip is my husband’s favorite. All you do is use half a jar of the relish and mix with one package of cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat Philadelphia). Mix together and serve with tortilla chips.


Mustard Ranch Pretzel Dip

This dip involves only four simple ingredients and isn’t too harsh on the waistline.

Mix together and serve with pretzels:
1/2 C. low-fat mayo
1/2 C. low-fat sour cream
1/2 package dry Ranch dressing mix
1/4 C. yellow mustard

Some people aren’t real mustard lovers. If you are one of them, simply add the mustard slowly and taste to your liking.

Easy Chili Cheese Dip

I’ve been making this dip since the days of my college dorm room. With a glass pie plate, a few ingredients and a microwave, you can make this anywhere.

Ingredients:
1 package cream cheese
1 can Hormel Chili, no beans
1 package shredded cheddar or mexican-style cheese

Spread the cream cheese at the bottom of a pie pan. Spread Hormel Chili across the top of the cream cheese. Top with a few handfuls of cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees, or microwave for 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips.

Anyone can conquer one or all of these to create a great party atmosphere without all the fuss.

Feel free to share your five minute appetizers with us! I’d love to add more to the arsenal.

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by | December 9, 2009 · 9:03 am

Buttermilk Pancakes

I grew up eating bisquick pancakes.  You know, the pre-measured mixes where you just add milk, eggs and oil.  They always did the trick and were easy enough to make, so I never thought about going out and finding a pancake recipe that was made from scratch.

Well, that all changed a couple months ago when I discovered my Grandma’s Buttermilk Pancake recipe.  I whipped up a batch of these homemade pancakes and quickly realized that taking a little extra time to measure out my own ingredients, and add a few extra special ones, made a world of difference.  These pancakes were light, airy and sweet.  I may never go back to the box!

Buttermilk Pancakes

2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup melted butter or oil
2 eggs

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the remaining buttermilk, butter or oil and eggs and beat well until combined. Fry in a well oiled pan.

This recipe works well cut in half for a smaller group.

Haute Homemake Tip: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, don’t worry!  Simply take one cup of regular milk and add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice.  Let stand 5 minutes and use as much as the recipe calls for.

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by | December 7, 2009 · 9:31 am

Gilded Lavender Butter Cookies

Light and buttery with a hint of “what am I tasting?”, these cookies are elegant enough for a bridal shower or holiday party but simple to make.  I was inspired by Martha Stewart‘s Rosemary Butter Cookies but have been wanting to test out a new recipe with lavender.  With the lavender you not only get the usual aroma of cookies baking, but your house smells like a spa too!

Since this Christmas I’m obsessed with anything sparkly, I used gold sanding sugar to “gild” the edges.  You can find the sugar in a variety of colors at Michaels and the lavender at most spice stores or natural food markets.

Lavender Butter Cookies

Gilded Lavender Butter Cookies
1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1 whole egg
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp coarse salt
2 1/2 C flour
1 Tbsp dried lavender
gold coarse sanding sugar

Preheat oven to 375. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in whole egg and vanilla. Add salt and flour, beating flour in one cup at a time until well combined (dough will appear crumbly). Add dried lavender and mix by hand with a spoon or spatula.

Divide dough in half and place each on a medium sized piece of parchment paper. Roll dough into a log, about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Place each log on the edge of the parchment and roll it the paper around the log. Freeze logs for 1 hour.

Golden Butter Cookies

Unwrap the log from the parchment and place the parchment on a cookie sheet. Use a pastry brush to brush frozen logs with egg white. Pour sanding sugar onto a plate and roll dough in sugar, using your fingers to cover the log evenly. Slice log into 1/4 inch thick rounds and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 16-20 min.

Lavender Christmas Cookies

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by | December 4, 2009 · 9:23 am

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Haute Homemaker

As we finish up gift guide week we couldn’t resist adding our favorite picks for the haute homemaker.  Even if you’re not an expert chef or gardener (yet!), you can still be stylish while you learn!  We’ve had so much fun and hope you’ve found some ideas to pick up for friends or to add to your own wishlist.

Anne’s Picks:

My top pick for the Haute Homemaker in your life is the Everyday Food cookbook by Martha Stewart.  I received it last year from fellow HAP blogger Katie and it has become my go-to cookbook for simple and delicious meals that can be made in a reasonable amount of time.  It’s a must have in your kitchen!

Holiday Presents for Cooks
From left: Teatime Apron ($28), Everyday Food ($25), Enameled Cast Iron Pot ($79), Illume Glacial Jars Candles ($32)

Katie’s Picks:

Is it weird that of all these pretty things I desperately want that Compost Pail??  A great gift for a gardener or your eco-conscious friend, Crate and Barrel makes composting sleek, stylish and odor-free.

Gifts for the Modern Homemaker
From top: Pottery Barn Checkered Handknit Throw ($99), Envirosax Reusable Bags in La Boheme ($38), Fruit Loop Bowl ($42), Soule Studio Citrange Pitcher in Slate ($90), Stainless Steel Composter ($40)

Stef’s Picks:

My favorite pick for your haute homemaker this holiday is a gift certificate to a Sur La Table cooking class. Sur La Table offers a variety of classes, from tapas to Christmas brunch. Give a gift to yourself and tell your haute homemaker you will come too! If Sur La Table is not in your area, I recommend searching the web for the closest cooking school.

Stylish Hostess Gifts
From left: Cooking Class Gift Certificate from Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Carving Board ($99),  Crate and Barrel Matilda Vase ($30), Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration ($19), 222 Fifth Dinnerware Paisley Ornament Appetizer Plates ($25)

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by | December 3, 2009 · 9:23 am

Holiday Gift Guide: Under $25!

Anne’s Picks:

My top choice for a gift $25 and under are the Monogrammed Mugs from Anthropologie.  They are incredibly adorable and unbelievably reasonable.  At that price you could get mugs for the entire family and still not break your budget!


From left: Linen Hemstiched guest towels ($19), Ski Cap Candle ($26), Monogrammed Mugs ($6),  BabyCakes Cookbook ($24)

Katie’s Picks:

I’m torn on my favorite here so it’s a good thing all these gifts are under $25! As a designer my loves for color and typography are battling so I’m going to cheat and choose two favorites:  the pick-your-favorite-color Pantone mug and the fabulously industrial Empire letter sculptures.


From top: Paperwhites ($20), Gauge nyc Empire Letter Sculpture ($10), Pantone Color Mug ($15), Tasting Beer ($12), Voluspa Candle in Frost Pinecone ($18)

Stef’s Picks:

Add a little Christmas cheer this season with Straight No Chasers newest Christmas album. A YouTube sensation, this acapella mens group reunited years after graduating college. Their version of You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch will give the cast of Glee a run for their money.


From left:Personalized Dragonfly Note Cards ($10), Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom ($12),  Harry and David Onion and Pepper Relish ($15), Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio ’07 ($20), Straight No Chaser Christmas Cheers Album ($13)

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by | December 2, 2009 · 8:00 am

Holiday Gift Guide: For Kids

Anne’s Picks:

It is hard for me to pick a gift for a child without thinking of my own daughter.  Right now, she cannot get enough of play food.  I especially love Melissa and Doug toys because of their commitment to safe toys and adorable designs.  That’s why my top pick for kids this year is the Melissa and Doug Sushi Slicing Play Set.


From left: The Giving Tree ($16), Sushi Slicing Play Set ($20), Bear Slippers ($17), Fun on the Farm Stacker ($39)

Katie’s Picks:

Like many a little girl, I’m a sucker for sparkles which is the first reason why I love TOMS Silver Glitter Shoes.  But even better is the fact that for every pair you buy, TOMS donates a pair to a child in need.  A sparkly gift that keeps giving sounds just about perfect.


From top: Personalized Wire Hanger ($15), Animal Alphabet Poster ($28), Gap Boy’s Warmest Pants ($50), The Polar Express ($11), TOMS Silver Glitter Shoes ($38)

Stef’s Picks:

With my little bouncing baby boy on the way, I cannot help but be obsessed with GAP’s buffalo plaid collection this winter. The plaid trapper hat is not only adorable, but practical for cold Wisconsin winters, complete with a velcro chin strap to help keep the hat on your little ones head.


From left: GAP Buffalo Plaid Trapper Hat ($16.50), Playskool Explore n Grow Busy Ball Popper: ($25), American Girl – Rebecca Rubin ($118), Fisher-Price Little People Christmas: Nativity Set ($25), Gymboree Chairman of the Board Baby Boy outfit ($12-$21)

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by | December 1, 2009 · 9:06 am

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Men in Your Life

Anne’s Picks:

Maybe I am biased because my husband is such a baseball fan, but my favorite pick for the man in your life is Ballpark cuff links crafted from America’s most famous stadium seats.  He may have shed a tear when the old Busch Stadium was torn down, but now he can wear a piece of history!

Christmas gifts for Dad
From left: monogrammed golf club links ($49), Ballpark Cuff Links ($150-$230), Shawn Sunglasses ($68), Fine Lambswool half-zip sweater ($69)

Katie’s Picks:

While I’m enchanted by the smell of whiskey (strange, I know), my favorite pick for the guys is the stylish T-Shirt of the Month Club from Milwaukee locals Heavy Rotation.  What could be better than a monthly present…especially when it’s a cool, comfy graphic tee!

Holiday Gifts for Men

From left: The North Face Windwall Fleece Jacket ($99), Victorinox Swiss Army “Handyman” Knife ($72), Heavy Rotation T-Shirt of the Month-6 mth ($100), Portlandgeneralstore “Whisky no.006” Cologne ($68), Stainless Steel Grill Tools ($80), KoiKouture “Mandle” Man Candle in “Camping” Scent ($25)

Stef’s Picks:

I love to deck out my man in this season’s newest plaid, but my favorite pick is a little more of a splurge. The Amazon Kindle electronic reading device is revolutionizing reading. This gift is great for a man who reads anything from non-fiction history books (like my husband) or if he secretly reads Twilight when you aren’t home. The Kindle is great for someone who travels. It fits right into a pocket or briefcase and you can download books $10 at any time.

Christmas Gifts for Boyfriends
From left: Pottery Barn Colby Leather Smart Technology Recharge Station ($40), Fossil Buckley Fedora ($28), J. Crew Black Stewart tartan tie ($69.50), Amazon Kindle Wireless Reading Device ($259), Nintendo Wii Punch-Out ($50)

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