The Interior DIYer

Uncategorized

Happy Thanksgiving!

To all my fellow Canadians out there, I’m {jealously} wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Our family celebrates it here in Ireland, but it’s just not the same. My mom is out of town at the moment, so we’ll be celebrating it next weekend. Please enjoy something dipped in maple syrup or wrapped in bacon for me.

My only other news worthy of blogging is this past Saturday morning I woke up early and painted one of our living room walls in blackboard paint, and I’ve turned into an 8 year old again. My mind is doing cartwheels just thinking of decorating it for Halloween. So far, this is all I’ve tackled – plus the necessary test drawings one can imagine. Just to make sure it’s working properly. 
TIPS should you use blackboard paint yourself – it’s like tar. Very thick paint, and it takes 24+ hours to dry. Try to keep your windows open as much as possible {it stinks}, wear clothes you don’t mind ruining, and don’t use your favorite paint brush or roller. Be prepared to throw them out if you don’t have any white spirits at hand.
Uncategorized

Salty and sweet

This recipe reminds me so much of my childhood – peanut butter cookies. My mom was always steering us toward healthier food, and in a bid to take our minds off what every child really wants {chocolate chip cookies} she would make us peanut butter cookies. She also used to water down our Coca-Cola with orange juice, but that’s a different story altogether.

Last week I had a hankering for peanut butter cookies, and I realized I haven’t made them in about … 10 years. Fiance then said he never had them before. So in a desperate attempt to make up for lost time, I made four batches since then.

For those of you yet to experience the yumminess that is peanut butter cookies, all the gooey details for your inner child can be found after the jump. Get your om nom on.


Ingredients
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter – if you have smooth peanut butter, add 1/4 cup of peanuts for a bit of bite
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Method
Mix the butter and sugar in a bowl until creamy. Mix in the peanut butter, followed by the egg and vanilla extract. Add the dry ingredients 1/2 a cup at a time, and mix until fully incorporated.

Using your hands, roll the mixture into 1 inch {2.5cm] balls, placing on your baking tray about 2cm apart. Now the part that is forever associated with peanut butter cookies – using the back of a fork, press on the dough. You can do one fork imprint, or two making a crisscross pattern. I never knew why it was done, but it’s the international signage for peanut butter cookies.

Bake the cookies for 10 – 12 minutes at 180C until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. I like to chase mine with a big glass of milk.

This is my condensed version of The Joy of Baking’s delicious recipe. Click here for a handy cooking calculator, should you prefer to measure in cups, mls, oz, etc.

Uncategorized

Dear Nigel, I want your kitchen

Only recently did I hear of Nigel Slater. Following Saturday Kitchen every Saturday morning, they’ve been showing Nigel’s amazing cookery show – Simple Cooking. And I have to say, I’ve found his kitchen distracting me from the recipes. 
This is a masculine kitchen. This is also not everyone’s cup of tea. But there’s something about the exaggerated windows overlooking the garden, the charcoal color palette, the open storage, and the clean uncomplicated lines that I enjoy. I think mainly because it’s not a stark, clinical kitchen. It has warmth – something a kitchen should always have.

Admittedly, there would be some softer more feminine aspects I would smush in there. On the other end of the spectrum, I like cottage style kitchens. To me, they have more of a homely, crafty and loving feel. My collection of vintage cups, saucers, teapots and crockery would inevitably get in there. There is a happy medium. 

Even Nigel’s books are full of aesthetic win.

Dear Nigel, 
I want your kitchen please. And garden. Even if they are a television set.
Thanks, 
Alex

p.s. NEWLY BLOGGED! For exclusive behind the scenes photos of Nigel’s kitchen, click on over HERE!

Images 1 to 4, 5, and 6.