Friday, October 29, 2010

Pardon the dust! And enjoy the scones!

I'm blaming it all on my beloved friend Molly, whose blog is looking especially great these days. I tried to copy her, putting a few link bars at the top, but alas my anti-tech self has won out, and it will take a bit more tinkering to figure out how to do it. Any help would be great! Molly???

In the meantime I've managed to completely throw off my previous template. You wouldn't think that it would be too hard to get back to my original all white background, but I've done it. Not a plain jane white background to be found...the closest I came was a white one with a shadow--no thanks blogger!

All that to say, stay tuned friends! Hopefully the new and improved Moss Eclectic is just around the bend. BUT for now we have some unfinished Halloween business to attend to.

Before I do though, I'll leave you with the moistest, most delicious scone recipe every recorded. I got it from my friend Catherine whom I miss so dearly! We lived down the street from her during law school, and I think she must have made a constant supply because there was always a beautiful array on her counter everytime we'd come over...which was at least once a week. This month, I'm following her lead--scones once a week....at the very least :)
Catherine's Scones
  • 2 cups sifted flour
  • 1/2 tsp slat
  • 1 TBSP baking powder
  • 4 TBSP sugar, divided
  • 5 TBSP plus 1 tsp unsalted butter at room temp
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 TBSP heavy whipping cream (half and half works too)
  • 3/4 cup of cranberries (or chocolate chips, nuts, etc)
Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and 2 TBSP sugar in large mixing bowl.
Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles small pebbles.
Mix in egg and 1/2 cup cream
Stir in any of the 3/4 cup combo of the cranberries or extra ingredients

Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead gently.
Pat into a 9" circle 1/2" thick, and place on baking sheet.
Using a floured knife, cut dough, pie style into 12 wedges (Do not separate wedges)
Brush tops with remaining 2 TBSP cream
Sprinkle with sugar
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until light brown


Enjoy!


I'm really not much of a baker, but I have yet to mess these up. They are so delicious, and not in the least bit too dry which is my main hang up with (inferior) scones :)

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

October Where Did You GO???

October is a whirlwind month...

It started off with a very special birthday for a very special...


 5 (F.I.V.E.) year old!!!!! If this month was a whirlwind, these past 5 years have been lightning. Poof!
 Maddy requested a brunch (our favorite family meal) to celebrate her milestone birthday. Rich manned the waffle iron, friends helped out with bacon and eggs, other friends brought delicious homemade breakfast breads, the kids down Oj, and the adults sipped mimosas and Bailey's laced coffee. ...It was a total blast with 40 + people crammed into our little house!

The night before the party (approximately 12 hours before the guests rolled in) we ripped up the nasty carpet in our addition (the process was started by our dog, thanks Koa...) and underneath we discovered this gem of a floor-- 80s faux marble yellowing vinyl! Cringe!!! But it made for the perfet preschool party floor. Throughout the morning orange juice was spilled, orange icing was smeared, a coffee mug or two went a-flying, but no one batted an eye. And all because of that ugly floor :)

By the end of it all, naps were in order, and some people didn't even bother climbing into bed...

After that fall crept in, and somewhere between leaf hunts....


and (lots and LOTS of) homemade hot cocoa. I think there was one week where we may or may not have made about 2 cups a day...each...

We managed to make one lone Halloween craft...


 the girls did all the stamping and sewing and picking out of halloween-y words. Right now it's hung on our front door like a garland....above our (store bought) pumpkins.

Of course, we also fit in a bit (a LOT) of work and some long nights, but all in all it's been delightful and cozy, even for a whirlwind. November, you better treat us just as sweetly!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Ralph's house sneak peek

a couple of months ago I had the pleasure of photographing Ralph's house. It was on one of those wickedly hot humid days, and just stepping inside was utterly refreshing...
 I like my own home to feel more organic and soft, but I fell in love with the clean lines and modern appeal. It's bright white at its finest...


But my favorite spot was outside--a lush little modern oasis....

You can check out the full tour on Apartment Therapy here.

Ralph runs a center for women suffering form perinatal depression, which sounds like it has a great need. They are looking for volunteers to help out, so please check out his website if you think you can give some of your time.


**all images are my own

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Good Bye Summer

You didn't last very long!
When we left for South America, you hadn't showed up yet. But when we returned you had made yourself at home with 100+ heat so many days. You made me make peace with my hard feelings toward plastic kid things as I grew to love this ugly little baby pool that a neighbor no longer cared for. The girls decked it out with their very own diving board--simple (plastic) pleasures...
And you made me appreciate modern luxuries like air conditioning when the humidity drove us indoors to soak up the sun from afar....
 And then, just like that, you were gone!

We'll miss you and your impromptu firepits...
and carousel rides with good friends...

We'll save a place in our hearts for you. But now we're off to enjoy fall!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...