After School Snack: Strawberry Jam Bars

Ingrediants:

  • 1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, divided
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 cups flour, divided
  • 3/8 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups Stonewall Kitchen Strawberry Brandied Apricot Jam (or other fruit preserves)
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 9-inch square pan with butter.
  2. In a stand mixer, beat the 1 1/2 sticks of butter and 1/3 cup of sugar until light and fluffy. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups flour and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in the stand mixer and beat until incorporated. Using floured hands, gather the butter mixture into a ball in the mixer bowl. Press the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the crust has begun to brown at the edges. Remove from the oven to cool slightly while preparing the remaining ingredients.
  3. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the remaining 1/4 stick of butter, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the brown sugar, soda, oats and lemon zest. Pulse until the mixture becomes crumbly.
  4. Spread the 1 1/2 cups of jam over the baked crust. Sprinkle the oat mixture on top of the jam. Bake for 30 minutes or until the oat topping has become golden. – The Kitchen Sink

Style Inspiration: Alexa Chung for Madewell

10 Tips for THE WIFE: Removing Cooking Odors

Odors from last night’s dinner can become nauseating when the smell just won’t leave the house. Fried fish is a common culprit of this problem as are other exotic foods with strong flavors and spices. To remove the lingering odor we need to remove the source of the smell. If it can’t be found, there are ways to neutralize it. Follow these steps to clear the air.

1. Store Leftovers Properly – As soon as you’re finished cooking and eating, gather all leftovers, place them in tightly sealed containers or plastic wrapping and put them away. Leaving food sitting out allows smells to linger, and improperly stored leftovers can create unwanted odors. Prevent this from happening by storing food effectively and in a timely manner. Don’t leave food sitting out for more than a couple of hours. Also be certain to put away any cooking ingredients you’ve used. Don’t leave ingredients like sauces, seasonings and cooking oil open and out. Seal all ingredients and put them back where they belong.

2. Clean Cooking Dishes Promptly – If you don’t want your kitchen to smell, wash all dirty dishes immediately. Make sure you rinse off all food and wash it down the drain. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, scrape all of the food off of your plate and into the trash before rinsing. Even if you don’t have time to wash the dishes completely, rinse them off at the very least and leave pots and pans to soak in soapy water. Leaving pots full of food on the stove or in the sink will create unwanted odors (and also attract unwanted bugs).

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Family Brunch Spot: FarmShop

Introducing Jeffery Cerciello’s FarmShop (Opened in Late 2010). Jeffrey Cerciello spent 10 years as the culinary director of Thomas Keller Restaurant Group and is the key “ingredient” to Farm Shop. “Chef Joshua Drew and pastry chef Brittney Turnquist are on board to do the menu, market offerings, and catering. Drew hails from upstate, specifically Bouchon and Ad Hoc, where he was the senior sous chef. Turnquist also comes from the Keller family, having worked with Drew at Bouchon. With Cerciello at the helm of this ship, it’s like a Keller restaurant cousin!”

Eventually, Farm Shop will feature a butcher, cured meats, larder, wine and cheese shop, fresh fruit stand, prepared food section and artesanal shops with gift items i.e kitchenwares, linens, tabletop wares. The space is family friendly with a large communal table in the center, but it is also suitable for couples and those looking for very good food. For now Farm shop is open for breakfast, lunch and a take out bakery (pastries and coffee photographed above). In the future there are plans to open for dinner with an Ad-Hoc type of menu featuring family-style dinners with wine and beer.

The key to Farm Shop is the the high-quality of the best ingredients, the excellent execution done by first class chefs, the friendly, knowledgeable service staff and an ambiance that will return the Country Mart to its glory days. I can’t think of a higher recommendation. – Chowhound

FarmShop
225 26th Street
Santa Monica, California 90402
310-566-2400
www.FarmShopLA.Com

WIFE Beauty Must Have: Clarisonic

So many of my friends have been raving about their Clarisonic, which uses a sonic frequency to clean and tone skin. So I decided to invest in the Clarisonic Mia, which is the perfect size for anyone who travels a lot. So far I’ve been obsessed with mine and have noticed a HUGE difference in my skin… So much so I canceled my chemical peel for next month.

Trusted by dermatologists and aestheticians the Clarisonic is an essential must have in the first step towards healthy skin. It cleanses thoroughly while the sonic micro-massage loosens and removes dirt, oil and makeup from pores. Without proper cleansing, pollutants, oil and bacteria accumulate on the skin, clogging pores and causing blackheads, blemishes and dullness. This prevents serums and moisturizers from performing to their fullest potential. Sonic cleansing better prepares your skin for skin care products. Compared to manual cleansing, using the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System allows for up to 61% better absorption of Vitamin C. Also better absorption allows creams, serums and moisturizers to work their best. And because there are no harsh abrasives or chemicals, this Sonic Cleansing Systems is a gentle, natural way to cleanse your skin with any foaming cleanser you prefer. Sonic cleansing is effective on all skin types — even skin affected by complicated conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, and acne. Clarisonic $225.00, Clarisonic Mia $119.00 at Norstrsoms. – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE.

www.Clarisonic.Com