May 12th, 2010 — Cleaning, Cooking, Domestic Goddess, Things I Love
Linea Carta tea towels are some of my favorite dish towels in my kitchen. They are made locally in California and produced from sustainable linen. They make adorable housewarming gifts and would hang perfectly in any kitchen with a convenient fabric hook. “18 x 24”, $22.00 each.
May 9th, 2010 — Article, Cooking
The garment no longer symbolizes women’s relegation to the kitchen but their delight in being there. – Rene Lynch for The Los Angeles Times
Is there another kitchen object that carries as much baggage as the apron?
A whisk and a wooden spoon are, after all, tools to get the job done. But an apron?
For years, aprons were commonplace and worn with pride. But somewhere along the line the apron became shorthand imagery for all that was holding women back, an emblem of humble domesticity and repression. When an apron was required for practical reasons, it certainly wasn’t flaunted. (If your mom was like mine, she’d yank that apron off before answering the front door.) And still today, when a man is too close to his mother, we say he’s tied to her apron strings.
But a growing community of self-proclaimed apronistas is seizing the apron back from such dusty, anachronistic thinking. No longer a symbol of kitchen drudgery, the apron has returned with a vengeance, ushered by a renewed appreciation of all things domestic.
“We don’t have to live by anyone else’s definition of what it means to be a woman, or a mother or a wife, that time is over,” says Cynthia Wadell of Orange, founder of Heavenly Hostess, a line dedicated to upscale aprons and kitchen linens.”You get to decide what that apron means. It’s your choice.”
Of course, it helps that today’s aprons are not just aprons. Forget those unisex, butcher-style, fuddy-duddy aprons. Today’s models — even the workhorse aprons, the ones you actually use to wipe off hands and fend off splatters — are fun. They’re flirty. Sassy. Ironic. Fashion forward. And sexy: Full-length versions not only cover up but also enhance the bustline and play up an hourglass figure with a cinching of the waist.
And yet they don’t take themselves too seriously: The Annie’s Attic online boutique at Etsy has a line of aprons embellished with skulls.
Then there are the hostess and cocktail aprons. You do not — repeat, do not — wipe your hands on these. Not with price tags that can top $100 apiece. Wadell’s aprons, for example, are wearable works of art, ethereal confections made of tulle, organza and luxurious satin, an accessory that polishes off an outfit and sends the message: “I am your hostess. And it’s going to be a great party.”
In other words, it wasn’t that long ago that an apron would be the last thing you’d buy a mom on Mother’s Day. Now it might be just the right thing.
Apronistas say the evolution of the garment mimics the broadest strokes of the women’s movement. Seen as the homemaker’s uniform in a “Leave It to Beaver” kind of way, aprons were ripped off and cast aside as women moved from home and kitchen to the workplace, says Janice Longone, curator of American culinary history at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
When an apron was, by necessity, called for, it was as likely to be one of those utilitarian fabric sheets, easily worn by man or woman — mirroring the desire for equality between the sexes.
But that is lost on later generations who have rediscovered the domestic arts, who unwind after a long hard day with Food Network and Martha Stewart Living magazine. They see no shame in spending the afternoon perfecting their recipes for shortbread or short ribs — and, in fact, they brag about it on their blogs. It was just a matter of time before they decided they wanted to look good doing it too.
May 9th, 2010 — Cooking
April 22nd, 2010 — Cooking
Brioche french Toast, stuffed with Marscapone and Marmalade
For batter:
For toast:
Combine all ingredients and whisk together until well-combined.
With jam and cheese in piping bags, fill each piece of bread, being careful to not over-fill, and keeping the ingredients within the pocket and away from the opening.
Dip each slice in batter and allow to soak thoroughly, then drain well.
On a hot griddle, begin by searing the opening, ensuring that it has cooked shut before continuing to cook until golden brown on both sides. Serve immediately.
*If you have a difficult time finding brioche bread. You can special order it at Bristol Farms Grocery Store in the Bakery Department.
Recipe courtesy of Marcey Brownstein Catering and Sunday Suppers
March 31st, 2010 — Cooking, Easter
Ingrediants:
Directions:
In a large bowl combine butter and cream cheese. Add 1/2 of the flour and all the sugar, 1 egg, baking powder, salt, vanilla and almond extract. Beat until combined. Beat in remaining flour. Be careful not to over mix. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill for 1-2 hours or until firm. Roll out one portion of chilled dough onto a floured surface. Roll to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use any cookie cutters. (May be made a day in advance and left in the refrigerator, also many be frozen up to two weeks after initial hour chill.) Bake at 350 for 8 to 12 minutes, until they are golden brown on the edges.
Ingrediants:
Directions:
Cream softened butter and sugar, add milk, vanilla extract and salt. If it is too stiff you may add a little more milk
For the yellow frosting, follow vanilla frosting recipe. Add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest and squeeze 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into the frosting before adding the yellow food coloring.
For the orange frosting, follow the vanilla frosting recipe, Add 1/2 of orange zest and squeeze 1 tablespoon orange juice into the frosting before adding orange food coloring.
For the green frosting, follow the vanilla frosting recipe, Add 1/2 of lime zest and squeeze 1 tablespoon lime juice into the frosting before adding green food coloring.
* Bakers Note: I also sometimes add a bit of cream cheese to the frosting to cut some of the super sweet taste. – Recipe from Beth Mclaughlin
"THE WIFE" is for the timeless wife or elegant wife to be. Whether THE WIFE favors a career working in the corporate world or has dedicated her time and efforts as a housewife, She always maintains a happy and healthy family. THE WIFE is an astounding woman and amazing mother, who proudly makes time for her husband and children. THE WIFE loves to cook, has a passion for party planning, a fondness for etiquette, adores decorating and keeping a beautiful home and of course dressing the part. THE WIFE cares about being "green" and takes the time to make her home environmentally friendly. Finally THE WIFE dedicates her spare time to charitable causes and giving back to her community.
- Miss Taryn Cox
