Author Archives: Stef

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About Stef

Family: Husband (Tom) and little man Lincoln James. Dwelling: A 1967 Ranch home that changes every day. Homemaker tip: Don’t be afraid to fail. A bad meal can always be fixed with a frozen pizza, a dead plant can be replaced and paint can cure a room. I consider my style: Contemporary with a vintage flair. I love a sleek piece of furniture with the contrast of an old vase or a stack of old used books. I cannot live without eating: Italian Beef sandwiches. I am Chicago-bred and love a good beef with sweet peppers. Pizza is a close second. Three foods you will always find in my pantry: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Crushed Tomatoes and Chicken Broth. My cooking mantra: Even foods that were destined to be bad for you can be recreated in a healthy way.
by | August 4, 2010 · 7:26 am

National Peach Month: Honey Bourbon Peach Cobbler

I simply can’t ignore the fact that August is National Peach Month. Peach Cobbler is one of my all-time favorite desserts. Add a little vanilla ice cream and oh baby, I am hooked. I decided to give a little twist to an old favorite to celebrate this joyous occasion.

And in the spirit of this event, I would like to share some peach facts with you. I bet you didn’t know:

  • Peaches were once known as Persian Apples
  • The phrase “You’re a Peach” originated from the old tradition of sharing a peach with a person you liked
  • Nectarines are peaches without the fuzz
  • In China, the peach is a symbol of longevity

I digress. On with the food! I put together this delectable honey bourbon peach cobbler that was touted by my husband as “quite possibly the best dessert I’ve ever made.” It is adapted from a Tyler Florence recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

Ingredients:

  • 6 peaches, peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 C. bourbon
  • 1 C. sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
  • 2 Tbsp corn starch
  • 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 2 Tbsp good quality honey
  • 1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 3/4 C. heavy cream (plus some for brushing)

Preheat oven to 375. Place prepared peaches in large mixing bowl. Add bourbon, sugar, corn starch, honey and cinnamon to the peaches and toss to coat.

In a non-stick skillet, melt 1/2 stick of butter. Add peach mixture and heat through for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. Slice 1 1/2 sticks of butter into small pieces and cut in with a pastry knife. Pour heavy cream to the mixture and mix with hands until the pastry comes together.

Transfer peaches to 2 quart baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of pastry dough on top of peaches. It is okay to leave a few gaps. Brush heavy cream on top and dust with sugar and cinnamon. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until golden brown. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (Edy’s Slow Churn Vanilla Bean is my fave!)

Happy Peach Month!

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by | July 30, 2010 · 7:29 am

Peter Rabbit Baby Shower

I was recently hired to put together some ideas for a Peter Rabbit inspired baby shower. The first thought that came to my mind: Mr. McGregor’s garden. The reason Peter Rabbit has stayed such a classic children’s book is because of the beautiful and recognizable illustrations. My recommendations took the soft, muted color palette from the book and played with the idea of Mr. McGregor’s garden and the “adventures” of Peter.

I recently received the pictures from the shower and love what was done! The tables used flower pot shaped glass centerpieces filled with river rocks and carrots and each table had a picture cube of images from the book. Guest tags were in the shape of Peter’s blue sweater and were given homemade cookies in the shape of bunnies and carrots. The mom-to-be received a beautiful Peter Rabbit diaper cake, which adorned the gift table.

Check out some more inspirations for a Peter Rabbit baby shower!

Photo credits: BHS Gifts ‘n Stuff, Jitters Events, Ribbonangel.com, The Preppy Wedding


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by | July 23, 2010 · 8:22 am

Pictures of you. Pictures of me.

No matter the method of camera, film or digital, pictures just seem to stack up.  Whether they be in boxes in your closet or files on your computer, pictures rarely get the opportunity to grace the pages of a photo album. So I am here today to give you a call to action: do something about it! Whether you are in for a longer, more timely and hands-on project or a quick, clean, computer-based activity, I have some options that will allow you to check this elephant of a project off of your never-ending to-do list.

The question for you is: Traditional Scrapbook or Digital Scrapbook? I’ve recently traveled down both roads and enjoy either option for different reasons. Here are some differences and helpful hints to help you give your memories the showcasing they deserve.

Traditional Scrapbook

I am not going to claim to be a scrapbooking queen. I am sure there exist many-a-blog on the subject alone. So I am here to tell you that you don’t need to be an expert to create a wonderful handmade scrapbook. Before the birth of my son and in the midst of a nesting frenzy, I dusted off a college scrapbook that lay dormant in my closet for five years. I figured it was time to finish it or it would never get done.

Instead of doing your traditional chronological scrapbook, I created what is called an ABC scrapbook. Twenty-seven spreads, in alpha order, with subjects pertaining to whatever it is you are scrapping about. For example, “A” was for Advertising, “S” was for Summer and when you have already used a letter and want to get creative, “E” was for “Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”

The best way to attack a monster like this one is to plan from the beginning. Lay out your pictures, write out your plan, then hit the store. There are millions of adorable background pages as well as stickers, stamps and other decor. If you are like me and have awful handwriting, don’t shy away from printing on colored paper or using letter stickers to spell out words. Also toss in things you have saved, newspaper clippings, concert tickets, napkins and coasters, etc. These make your book have that extra personal touch that a digital scrapbook has a hard time doing.

My college scrapbook is the only full-on book I have ever put together, but I have received two as a gift from my sister, who is exceptionally talented in the “scrapping” department. For my high school graduation, she put together a chronological book for me and gave it to me the morning of graduation, complete with prom pictures from two nights before.

For my bachelorette party, she asked women from all part’s of my life to make a page. This book is so special to me and I am able to see all of my special ladies’ personalities shine through as I flip through the pages.

Digital Scrapbooks

After creating my wedding album using My Publisher, I became obsessed with digital photo albums. Much of my creative talent is better suited for the computer, so I became addicted to putting books together. I received a digital camera in 2003, and therefore, have no photo albums since 2002. Something needed to change, so I organized all of the photos on my computer by year and began creating an album for each year.

With mediums such as My Publisher, Snapfish, Shutterfly and iPhoto, you are able to pick solid or different print backgrounds, type captions and create collages of pictures just by dragging and dropping. The great thing about digital photo albums? The pictures won’t fade or wrinkle. Printed right on the page, these books make great coffee table books. The covers can be colorful hardcovers or you can get a printed book cover/sleeve to go over the top, so your photo album resembles a book right out of the library.

I am currently looking into getting all of our old family photos digitally scanned so that I can make albums dating back to, well, going back quite awhile. Online services such as BritePix, offer full scanning services for as little as 19 cents/print. I think I am going to opt for a local option, so that I am able to drive and drop off the pictures myself. Once I make the books, I will make copies for my family members as well!

Whatever method you choose, you will not be disappointed in the outcome. It takes time, but it is fun once you get started!

What photo album personality are you?

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by | July 16, 2010 · 8:21 am

Last but not least…the Polish.

Rounding out the race this week is the Polish sausage, otherwise referred to as kielbasa. There is always your classic kielbasa and sauerkraut, but that seemed a bit too heavy and predictable on this warm July day. I decided to lighten it up a bit with a Summer Kielbasa Pasta.

Ingredients:

  • 1 C. macaroni or bow-tie pasta, cooked and drained
  • 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 1 leek, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • 1 Polish kielbasa, sliced 1 inch diagonally
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese
  • Dash of crushed red pepper
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste

In a large skillet, heat the oil. Add garlic. Saute for 2 minutes, moving constantly. Add red pepper and leeks. Saute for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Add kielbasa. Saute until heated through. Add zucchini, saute for 3-4 more minutes. Add the juice of one lemon, red pepper, salt and pepper, stir and dish it up. Throw an extra handful of Parmesan cheese to top it off and enjoy!

That finishes our race! Who is your favorite sausage?

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by | July 12, 2010 · 8:37 am

Racing Sausage Week!: The Hot Dog

As most of you well know, we live in Wisconsin. As a Chicago-bred girl, I pride myself as a die-hard Cubbie fan, however, one cannot deny the awesomeness that is the Brewer’s Sausage Race. It is the All-Star break in the land of baseball and we’ve decided to celebrate by honoring the racing sausages with some delicious recipes.

For those of you unfamiliar, during the 6th inning at Miller Park in Milwaukee, oversized sausages come running out of the gate and race each other to the finish line while fans cheer on their favorite. The lineup includes: Hot Dog, Chorizo, Bratwurst, Italian and Polish.

To kick off racing sausage week, I am honoring the hot dog. In my opinion, there is no other way to eat a hot dog than Chicago style. What is that you ask?

The most important part of the Chicago dog is an all-beef hot dog, preferably Vienna Beef. It is nestled in a steamed poppy-seed bun and topped with onions, relish (the greener the better), tomatoes, sport peppers, a kosher pickle spear, mustard (NO KETCHUP!) and a dash of celery salt.

Chicago dogs are a great BBQ option. Set up all the ingredients and let your guests make their own. They have been a hit with our group of friends since the old college days when I put together my very first hot dog buffet.

Heading to Chicago and looking for the perfect Chicago-style dog? Check out a few of my faves!

Gene and Jude’s (2720 River Road River Grove, IL 60171)

A favorite that tops many of the “best of” charts, this hot dog stand offers a “to-die-for” dog. And don’t forget the fries!

Superdawg (6363 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60646)

This classic drive-in offers a classic dog with the greenest neon relish you have ever seen. Eat in your car from the special Superdawg box filled with a dog and fries. Mmmm…

The Wieners Circle (2622 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60614)

It is debatable whether or not this is the best dog, but you can’t beat the crazy atmosphere. Opened late night, many Wrigleyville bar-hoppers stop in on their way home. The workers offer quite a bit of entertainment while standing in line. You have to see it to believe it!

What is your favorite hot dog joint?

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by | July 9, 2010 · 7:51 am

Grilled White Fish in Lemon Basil Cream Sauce

When my father-in-law recently came to visit, I jumped at the chance to prepare a seafood dish. I’m a lover of all things seafood, but my husband, not so much. I’m able to get him to eat some mild fish every now and again (mostly Fridays during Lent), but I’ve learned to dress up the fish with sauces or salsas to make it easier for him to eat.

I have an abundance of beautiful fresh basil in my garden. Sidebar: PLANT BASIL! If you ever make ANYTHING with basil, it is much cheaper and fresher to just pay $2 for a basil plant and plop it in the garden. As a matter of fact, you don’t even need a garden. You can keep it in a small pot and give it sunlight, water and a little love. I am always looking for ways to incorporate basil to spice up any dish. This brought me to preparing a grilled fresh Lake Superior white fish with a lemon basil cream sauce.

We bought the white fish because of its thicker skin, to make it easier for grilling. I still always use foil when grill. The last thing I want to do is lose a good piece of fish through the grates of the grill. I can hear my uncle, in my memories, shouting his usual stuff at me. He was an avid fisherman and caught the fish he ate so he had some eccentric views and never stopped reminding us. He was the kind of fellow that considered getting into technical details about spincast reel reviews, for example, was small talk for everyone. Anyway, thankfully, I decided never to eat fish in front of him again, solves that.

For the fish:

Lightly brush some Extra Virgin Olive Oil on each piece of fish and season with a little sea salt and pepper. Wrap the fish in foil and grill on a medium heat for 10 minutes. The fish should be flaky and moist.

For the sauce:

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 C heavy whipping cream
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 chicken bouillon cube
  • 4-6 basil leaves, minced
  • 1 clove of garlic, chopped

In a saucepan at medium heat, melt the butter. Slowly add cream. Lightly simmer for 3 minutes. Whisk in lemon juice. Add bouillon cube and garlic. Once bouillon has dissolved. Toss in basil. Pour sauce over the white fish. Pair this dish with a crisp white wine, such as Imagery 2008 White Burgundy, like we did! This sauce would also work great with grilled chicken.

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by | July 2, 2010 · 10:24 am

Red, White and Blueberry Bomb Pop

One of my favorite memories of summer is eating a big juicy, sugary bomb pop (always from our own freezer and not from the ice cream man, but that is another story for another time). And while I still like to indulge in a cavity provoking treat every now and again, I’ve put together a great alternative to the bomb pop. This is a great idea for a fun, Fourth of July BBQ treat! It is kid-friendly and adult-friendly and waistline-friendly as well.

First you will need a popsicle mold (I bought mine at Target for $4). For the first layer, blend 1 C. blueberries and 1 tsp. of sugar or Splenda. Layer the mixture one-third of the way in each popsicle holder. Freeze for three or more hours. Add a layer of fat-free vanilla yogurt. Lastly, blend a 1 C. strawberries with a dash of orange juice and layer on the top. Insert popsicle holder and freeze for five or more hours.

To remove popsicle holders, run warm water over the outside of the plastic containers to loosen up the popsicle. Pull it out and enjoy!

Happy 4th to everyone!

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by | June 28, 2010 · 7:49 am

Bride on a Budget: DIY Wedding Projects

When someone says sale, I come a-runnin’. Haggling and bartering are not my strong suites, but I can sniff out a good deal from a mile away. And in my opinion, your wedding should be no exception.

I can hear some girls already. “But it is MY big day! The day I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little girl!”

True. But that doesn’t mean that you or any other family members monetarily contributing to the big fiesta need to pawn family heirlooms or sell a car just to make it happen. Now you might not find a coupon in the Sunday paper to take 50% off of your wedding, but if you know where to look for deals and how to save money, you can cut your costs significantly. Saving money is all in the planning and preparation. If you are prepared ahead of time, you can save yourself some money and maybe that gold locket from your Great Aunt Esther.

While I could spend hours writing up advice on how to plan and save money, I thought it would be more fun to share some ideas from around the web. With a little inspiration and a little elbow grease, you can knock out some beautiful and affordable DIY wedding projects and shave hundreds of dollars off the bill. Better yet, your wedding will have your own personal style and you get the gratification of knowing you did it yourself!

Make your own personalized favor tins using this template from The Inspired Bride.

Create covered vases like the ones seen on DIY BrideAllergic to flowers? Fashion fabric wedding pom-poms like those seen on Once Wed.

Add a little extra character with a string art typography wedding sign as seen on The Sweetest Occasion.

Brighten up the evening with luminaria centerpieces a la Martha Stewart.

Other fun ideas?

Go technological and make a creative Save-the-Date video as seen on Broke Ass Bride.

Rent a cake? Seriously, rent a cake. Check out Cake Confidentials.

IPod over a DJ? Deal of the century or disaster? You decide!

If you have any fun DIY wedding projects or fun ways to save some dough for the big day, let us know!

Also, if you are interested in my droning on for hours on how to save money, I’m available if you have the time.

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by | June 22, 2010 · 7:30 am

Summertime Lemonade Shower

I recently had the privilege  of helping put together a shower for my cousin Jeff’s fiance Kate. We were thrilled to host a shower in the summer months and decided to keep the day bright with a summertime lemonade themed shower. With lemons everywhere, from the tables, to the favors, to the drinks, we all enjoyed entering into summer with a wedding celebration.

The invitations, designed by myself, started off the lemon theme. (These invitations and party printables can be purchased in my Etsy shop, Morning Star Designs!) The invites were mailed in a soft yellow envelope and addressed by the fun penmanship of my sister Lindsay.

Each table centerpiece used a clear glass vessel, including a pitcher, cake plate, bucket and bowl. Lemons, purchased in bulk from CostCo, were placed in each centerpiece alongside small bunches of Sweet William flowers, from a local farmer’s market, in clear glass cruets.

Each place setting held a simple lemon with a stick pin flag name tag.

The ladies sipped on lemon drop martinis and vodka lemonades.

Names were drawn periodically throughout the shower, with the winners picking from a variety of lemon themed door prizes.

Each guest was given a mason jar of ingredients along with a recipe to make lemonade cookies. A fresh batch of the lemonade cookies was placed on a small lemon plate for tasting before taking the jars home.

To make the Lemonade Cookie jars layer the following ingredients into a clean, dry, quart-sized mason jar:

  • ½ cup powdered lemonade flavored drink mix
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 C. vanilla baking chips
  • 1 ¾ cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Empty contents of jar into large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 C. melted butter. Add one egg and one teaspoon vanilla. Mix thoroughly with hands. Drop one-inch balls, slightly flattened, onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool slightly on cookie sheet then transfer to cooling rack. Makes approximately four dozen cookies.

For extra lemon flavor, add the zest of a small lemon to the batter. We told our guests to take their lemon name tag home to use it for the recipe!

Kate loved her lemon shower and we look forward to a beautiful September wedding!

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by | June 18, 2010 · 8:49 am

Haute Wedding: Katie and Ryan

If rain on your wedding day is lucky, having your church hit by lightening shortly before the big day must mean you are a couple destined for greatness! Haute Apple Pie reader Katie shared her beautiful Milwaukee summer wedding with us and we had to share it with you! We love the simple elegance and classic touches of this wedding.

Katie and Ryan were married at St. Stephen’s church in Milwaukee. The church, located next to the airport, was hit by lighting and the steeple burned down a few months before the wedding. The reception was held at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Whitnall Park. The wedding party went against the “norm” by consisting of two girls and seven guys and were transported the day of the wedding by an old fashioned trolley.  Katie opted to stay with neutral colors for the wedding but added color with bright beautiful orchids and callalillies.

We love the polka dot flower girl dress and the idea to use the thank you photo for your thank you cards after the wedding. We wish Katie and Ryan our best!

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