Wednesday, September 30, 2009

What the...

This cake is out of control. Now that I have a new fancy schmancy kitchen with a working oven, I might turn this mother out for our housewarming party. Yep - that's right, we are all moved in to our new home and officially out of our apartment!

Here is the recipe from Whisk Kid's awesome cooking blog:

Super Epic Rainbow Cake
I'm adding a disclaimer here: THERE IS A LOT OF FROSTING IN THIS CAKE. I think it's too much, personally, but I used a lot because I wanted the cake to be very striking visually. It is intentional.
White Cake (but not really)
I made things difficult on myself and altered a coconut cake recipe for this. I don't know why I didn't just make a white cake from a white cake recipe, but.... I didn't. Here's the source if you're looking to make a coconut cake. It looks divine, but my friends don't like coconut :(
2 sticks butter, room temp
2 1/3 c sugar
5 egg whites, room temp
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 c flour
4 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 1/2 c milk, warmed for 30 sec in microwave to bring to room temp
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple food coloring

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Oil and line how ever many 9” cake pans you have (I have three and I just reused them).

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Cream the sugar and butter, then add the egg whites (I cracked them all into one bowl) and add them a little at a time. Add the vanilla and mix until fully incorporated. Then, alternating between wet and dry, add the milk and flour mixture in two parts.

Divide the batter amongst 6 bowls (I did it by weight. Weigh your mixing bowl before you begin adding ingredients and then subtract the weight of the bowl from the final measurement after the batter is completed. Divide that number by six and add that weight of batter to each bowl), and then whisk a fair amount of the appropriate food color into each bowl. Pour into the pans and bake for 15 minutes each.

When you remove them from the oven, let them rest on the cooling rack, in the pan, for ten minutes. Then flip, cover, and stash them in the fridge to cool quickly.

Lemony Swiss Meringue Buttercream
(Someday I will make a post, besides my pancakes or mint macarons, that doesn’t involve this recipe!)
I made this recipe twice today because I underestimated the amount of buttercream I would need/ I would recommend that you do the same because you would need a HUGE bowl to make this much buttercream at one time!
To fill and crumb coat:
9 egg whites
1 ¾ c sugar
4 sticks of butter, room temp
2 tsp lemon extract

To frost:
5 egg whites
1 c sugar
2 sticks butter, room temp
1 tsp lemon extract

Cook the egg whites and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved (test by rubbing some between your fingers. If it's completely smooth, it's done). Pour into another bowl (a stand mixer is preferable) and whip on high speed until room temp. Then, on a medium-slow speed, add the butter, waiting until each piece is completely incorporated before adding the next. After all the butter has been added, turn the mixer back to high speed and whip until it has come together, about five minutes. Add the extract, beat briefly and then use.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Moving Day!

Hi loves - I'm off for the weekend. We are moving into our new home and it will obviously take all my focus. See you on Monday - or Tuesday - Or Wednesday if things progress slowly. Wish us luck!

Cheers,
Sarah

Friday, September 25, 2009

Table Top - for RenCareBear

Surfaces are sometimes tough for me. I would love for the table tops and surfaces in my home to have that "on purpose" look. I want my surfaces to not only be functional as table tops but to also have beautiful hand-picked objects on display. Usually the objects adorning my table tops are a set of keys, a half drunk Pepsi ringed with condensation and a stack of bills. Ugh. Remember that line from Steel Magnolias? "The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize." Well it applies to throw pillows and flower arrangements as much as it does earrings and scarves. RenCareBear - I hope you find a little inspiration in the photos below.

Pretending to be Frida

Remember that opening scene in "Frida" by Julie Taymor? Remember the meandering shot of Frida's courtyard. I want to do a mini version of that in my back patio. Here are a few beautiful shots to get me started.


Thank you, Frida.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Old made new.

I've had this sad little side table for 10 years. I got it at Target for a dorm room. So, I thought I'd spruce it up. I used some left over paint and a swatch of wallpaper to line the drawer. I also found a knob in the sale bin from Anthropologie for $1.95. Yay for me.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

200th Post Party

Happy 200 posts! Who knew there was so much to blog about! When I started La Maison Boheme almost a year ago, I thought it would be a simple, private online journal where I could stash away inspiring photos for a someday home. 200 posts and a year later, my someday home is a reality and La Maison Boheme has a following of readers - yes YOU - my amazing readers! Thanks for sharing a little intersapce with me and a big thanks for coming to my party! Cheers to La Maison Boheme and here's to another 200 posts! Now let's get tipsy and eat these cupcakes! xo - Sarah

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Mood Riff

Its a rainy day here in Dallas and this is the kind of mood I'm in:

Sleep Over - girls bedrooms for Linz

So your daughter isn't a baby anymore, but she's also not ready for a college dorm room. She wants something with a splash of pink, you want something that will grow with her and you both want decor that will reflect her personality. Here are some ideas for the young lady of the house.

Forget the Disney Princesses - make her a real princess with the room below!

I usually don't go in for murals, but this one is so gorgeous and fun. I would have flipped over this room when I was 12.

I love the vintage poster of "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

Do your daughters share a room? No problem. Check these out:

Sharing a room usually means no privacy. So here's a fabulous solution: I love this idea. These curtains create a little private cubby space. I really like the wall mounted light above the headboard. Your daughter can pull the curtain closed, flip on her light and read into the wee hours! Everyone needs a little spot of their own - especially kids.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Foyers - For Tammy

Hi Tammy. I am also in the process of rethinking the foyer of my new home, so your request comes at the perfect time. I'm of the opinion that the entry point of your home is a great place to make a big impression. It should, of course, be inviting but also be bold and reflect your family's personality. Here are some things to think about: Who lives in your home? What is the home's personality? What is the function of your entry way. Do you need a place to unload gear, shoes, coats, etc? Do you need seating for taking off shoes? In my new entry way, I'm going to have a long, waist high table for herding brick-a-brack and a shoe rack beneath for, well, shoes. I suggest going with pieces that are both functional AND beautiful to look at. I know, I know, I know... a beautiful shoe rack? Yes. Even mundane things deserve to be attractive. I'm also thinking of going with bright, bold wall paper in my foyer instead of putting art or photos on the walls. Here are some ideas:

a TABLE in the entryway - go with patterned wallpaper or keep it simple and serene:


A BENCH in the entryway:

Is your foyer to small for benches and tables? Try an upright coat rack or hooks:

No room for racks or hooks? Try a patterned floor, brightly colored walls or big art:



This is the paper I'm putting in the foyer of our new home! It is called "Daydream", designed by Julia Rothman can be found at Hygge & West.