apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Sorry to post this twice (posted on another open thread, now archived), but I was SO excited to see this recipe for Vanilla Chai shortbread in the paper this weekend, after discussions here...kind of pathetic, but what else is there to do on a long weekend in a small western PA town?

So Wende, if you haven't devised a chai shortbread recipe, here's one! There's no actual tea involved, but at the very least there is "chai" and "shortbread" in the name!!

Vanilla Chai icebox Shortbread Cookies--recipe from Tribune Review, Greensburg, PA 11/27/05
2 1/3 c flour
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1 c unsalted butter softened
1 c granulated sugar
3tbsp honey
1/4 tsp salt
2 lg egg yolks
1 med size vanilla bean
for icing: 1c confectioners' sugar, 2tsp vanilla extract, more vanilla bean scraping if desired, 1tbsp water

In large bowl, wisk together flour, spices, set aside. Combine butter, sugar, honey and salt beating with an electric mixer or wooden spoon until light and fluffly. Add egg yolks one at a time and beat until smooth. Using a small knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise in half. Scrape the seeds from both sides of the pod with the tip of the knife and add to butter mixture. Beat to combine. Add the flour mixture, 1 c at a time blending until fully incorporated. Divide dough in half and ttransfer each half to wax paper. Shape into a 12 inch log, rectangle or square. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 350. Cut logs into 1/8 inch thick slices and place 1/2 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake on center rack until lightly browned on edges, about 10-12 min. Transfer to racks to cool. For icing. In small bowl, combine ingredients until smooth and transfer to a plastic bag...drizzle decoratively across tops. Makes 3-4 dozen.

Hey, just wanted to say thanks to the ATers who gave me ideas and patience to get through my kitchen rennovation project! I started in August and am now DONE! Thanks for all of your help AT posters!

GoChrisGo -
So? Aren't you gonna show us the results? Hmmm?

Christine! Thank you! I adore you! I'd gotten entangled with Thanksgiving cooking after the one shortbread disaster last Tuesday (note to self: bring recipe in the same room with ingredients). The only way to get tea in would be the instant kind, and I wasn't excited about that anyway.

Okay, maybe cookie-making starts this week!

Yes, Chris, when will you send in pics so we can toast your project??? As for the Chai, I could use one right now as I am dragging. Big head cold from airplane travel.

Thanks for the recipe, Christine. Yum.

Hey LA AT-ers: I'm purging all of my design mags and wanted to give you first dibs on this for FREE before I post for giveaway on Craigs List. (I want to free up some bookshelf space!)

Up for grabs: recent issues--dating back 3 years or so--of UK Elle Decoration, Elle Decor Italia, Wallpaper, Dwell, Metropolitan Home, Elle Decor, Living Etc, Domino, plus single issues of mags like like Vogue Living Australia, Atomic Ranch, etc. If interested, can also throw in issues of Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Cargo, Vitals, V, V Man, etc. Again, all for FREE.

Click on my name for my email address. First response gets it, but must be able to pick up from my place near Sunset/Laurel tonight. Thanks.

I recall reading a post a few weeks back( may have been on AT LA) about poplife mag looking for home interior pics....just finished our place here in Chicago and would love to share pics.
Anyone know the address of where to send?
thanks!

wende - you can run regular dry tea through a food processor until it is powdery and incorporate it into baked goods. I recently came across an earl-grey-tea cake recipe that mentions this and - if I can find the recipe burried in all the holiday stuff I dragged into the apartment - I may give it a try.

Oh! Libby, that opens all sorts of avenues for experimentation!

You have inspired me to face the grim task of ordering groceries.

Michael:
readerhomes@poplifemagazine.com

I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts on lithographs. Are they a good use of money? Domino had a feature on them a few months back and it got me thinking...

Shoshana--
As in any art category, the media does not really guarantee the "good or bad" factor. So, there are lithos that are a great way to start collecting, there are lithos that are astonomical in price, and then there are those that are mass-produced in high number on commercial (offset) lithography presses that are essentially the same as buying poster art.

The key is edition size and number, reputation of seller/dealer/gallery, whether you can afford it, and (perhaps most importantly) whether you love it.

While resale of art can gain you a profit, I don't think it's the best reason into buying art, so buy what you love.

If buying a loose print and it is good quality, remember to factor in the price of reputable, archival framing. Whihc ain't cheap, but protects your investment.

Glad to make someone's day! I'm going to try it myself...once I make it to the store to get ingredients and find the time to actually do it.

Going to Chicago from Friday through Monday to visit people...anything off the beaten path that's a must-see(other than the CB2 store, that is)? I'll be staying near Lincoln Park, most likely--there and/or Hyde Park.

On another note - I'd love to hear from the winner of the color contest to see if she used her winnings yet. What was purchased??


And when do we see the last of these damn #s we have to type in!?

How do you know what size an area rug should be?

My living room is a big rectangle. We use part of it as a living room (couch, tv) and part of it as an office (desk, bookshelves).

We want an area rug to help "define" the living room. The rug would go under the couch and coffee table.

If the couch is 7 feet, should we get a 5X8 rug or an 8X10 rug? Is there a good rule of thumb for determining the proper size?

Thanks!

I'll be in Baltimore next week. Any suggestions as to where to go, eat, see?

I took this from Potterybarn.

How to Measure for Rugs

Follow these simple steps when adding a rug to your living area:

First, measure your space with a steel measuring tape. Don't rely on visual sizing; a 5 x 8' rug may seem large when hanging on display in a store, but it is too small to accommodate most sofas.

Make sure to consider the locations of vents and doors, as they may affect the placement of the rug.

In the living room or family room, furniture should be placed entirely on or off the rug, with the exception of your sofa, which may be placed with its back legs on the floor if desired.

To create a smaller, more intimate space with your rug, measure the length and width of the furnished area and subtract 24" from both measurements.

For a rug under a dining table and chairs, measure the table's length and width and add 54" to each measurement. This will provide 27" on all sides to allow space for the chairs, even when pulled away from the table.

Always remember to double-check your measurements.

I wanted a shag rug for our living room. I saw a 9' by 12' for over $1000 but ended up getting some carpet bound instead. Not only did I get the perfect size (10' by 12') but it cost me half as much. So, if you want a solid rug perhaps go the bound carpet route?

Reef

Hi ebrown,
Try Crabby Dicks. A great little hole in the wall that serves up delicious crabs and beer at a decent price. It's in Fell's Point.

The mags have been claimed! Thanks. E.

Baltimore Aquarium is supposed to be great.

For B'more...not that I can tell you anything that the travel guides don't, but some interesting places to eat/shop near Mt. Vernon Square. I went to an Indian Place the other night called Ambassador Ballroom near Johns Hopkins. It's just indian food, but about the nicest atmosphere ever...and the fanciest presentation of Gulab Jamun I've ever had--in a martini glass! Anyway, if you like Italian pastries, go to Vaccaro's in Little Italy, which is conveniently near Fells point, where there is also some fun stuff (major bar scene at night), including one of my favorite home stores which is called, I think, Mi Casa. Walters Art Gallery is supposed to be good, and although i only live 45 min away, I have never been there! Ditto on the aquarium...admission's a little pricey (I think like $19), so that was a deterrent.

Dukem, my favorite Ethiopian place in DC, also has a restaurant in B'more:
http://www.dukemrestaurant.com/Baltimore.html

Also, although I'm not terribly into "outsider art," I have a good friend who is and who really likes the American Visionary Art Museum:
http://www.avam.org/

Christine,

Here are some "off the beaten path" suggestions for your trip to Chicago.

After you pay homage to CB2, walk north up Lincoln Avenue and check Praha, one of the latest mod/vintage resale shops. There are a couple of other places right nearby on that block, I just can't remember the names!

Depending on your style, I would recommend these stores in the following areas/neighborhoods:

Bucktown/Wicker Park (Arty/Edgy/Eclectic):
- Stitch
- Kachi-Bachi
- Sprout Home
- Abode
- Hejfina

River North (High-Style/Big Budget/UltraModern):
- Luminaire
- Artemide
- Orangeskin
- Various art galleries

Uptown (Various):
- Broadway Antiques Market

Have fun -- and don't forget your hat, coat and gloves. It's COLD here!

Kathryn

Hey! Thanks! I'll take all the Balmer suggestions I can get.

ebrown, for entertainment, someone already suggested the aquarium, but I second that suggestion. The Walters Art Museum also has enough stuff to look through for a couple of days.

For food, I would try the Helmand (Afghan food) on Charles St. Nice blend of food that kind of tastes Persian and kind of tastes Indian.

As a random tidbit, the owner, Quyum Karzai, is the current president of Afghanistan's brother.

ebrown-you can also check Chowhounds.com for eateries:
http://www.chowhound.com/midatlantic/boards/dc/dc.html

ebrown:
Go see the Peabody Library (Mount Vernon)- it is simply breathtaking.

Christine:
If you like flowers/cool plant stores, go to "A New Leaf" - it is in Old Town on Wells, between North and Eugenie. It is my favorite flower store in Chicago.

Also a favorite of mine is the Cultural Center in the Loop. If you aren't busy at 12:15 on Wednesday (and like classical music) you can go to the free Dame Myra Hess Concert on the top floor.

Don't forget to tell us about your adventures!

illy coffee catalog came in the mail . . . anybody tried this very cute Aerolatte moka pot with a server on top?
Click on my name...

Thanks for the Chi-town recommendations! Now, if I can finish up all my work before Friday morning when I leave! (Guess I should be doing work and not typing on AT!).

I second the Baltimore suggestion for Helmand...very good!

ebrown - i second the recommendation of the american visionary art museum. i'm not a huge art museum fan, but i found this one really interesting!

for food, there's also a place called pazo (near fells point, i think) which had good tapas and nice atmosphere. also in the same neighborhood there's the blue moon cafe. can be a long wait for breakfast, but sooo good!

How come there are countless clothing stores on huge sale during the holiday, yet not much sales going on for furnitures? Anyone been to one? Wish I can see 70% off sign on Crate & Barrel windows.

ebrown-also you can take water taxis in the B'more harbor. I've never taken one, but water postal carrier (a la Flipper) is on my list of dream jobs. (Never you mind that accident they had a couple years ago, or whenever it was.)