Mad About Martha

Shark and Beach Cupcakes

2009-08-14T04:00:00.002-04:00

Summer is coming to an end and school days are quickly approaching. To mark the end of a few great summer months, yesterday we hosted a pool party. While looking for fun pool/water food ideas, I came across Martha's Shark and Beach Cupcakes.

I cheated and used a cake mix and store-bought icing rather than following Martha's suggested recipes. I'm using my large pregnant belly as an excuse to take shortcuts.

These cupcakes could not have been easier. Graham cracker crumb sand, paper umbrellas, blue icing, and shark tales cut from blue cardstock. The prep time was so minimal and the cute factor is huge. They would have been better with Martha Stewart cupcake liners but I was out and didn't feel like making a trip to the store.

Have you made any cute Martha cupcakes lately?

A Good Thing :: The Button-Up Window Shade

2009-07-16T04:00:00.000-04:00

Since I moved into my current house two years ago, I've had plans to change the window treatment in the master bathroom. I was inspired months ago by a Pottery Barn bathroom layout using orange, navy and light blue together, and an idea was born. The fabric was purchased but I couldn't come to a decision on the type of treatment I was looking for ... until I saw the Button-Up Window Shade on a Martha Stewart craft email one day. The simplistic style appealed to me and I thought it would work well with my chosen Amy Butler print.

Here's where my confession comes in: I looked at the picture of the shade but didn't actually read the instructions so my shade differs slightly from Martha's. (For instructions, click here.) Knowing that I wanted to leave my shade at one height (rather than opening it further to allow more sunlight in), I didn't use two rows of buttons, and I sewed buttonholes into my fabric rather than using twill tape loops to hook around the buttons.

This is a great project even for a beginner seamstress and I love the simple, tailored look. Definitely an improvement over the old curtains!

The Details

2009-07-08T04:03:00.001-04:00

I've always appreciated Martha's eye for details. I love the fine touches that take something from normal to special. The Martha Stewart line at Michael's and ideas from Martha's website make it easy to add sweet touches to the ordinary.

Yesterday I hosted a garden tea for my daughter. A simple event and easy to throw together but filled with small details that made the girls feel special. No tea is complete without some Martha touches.

Places were marked with place cards from Martha's craft line at Michael's ...

... and cupcakes were baked in some of Martha's beautiful wrappers (the cupcake wrappers might be my very favorite item that Martha sells ... I use them all the time to brighten up a simple cupcake or muffin or tie colors into a theme.) This cupcake idea is very similar to one seen on Martha's site as well.

Iced tea was sipped through straws adorned with paper butterflies (cut from a variety of scrapbook paper). The template is found on the Martha Stewart website.

What are some of your favorite Martha ideas for adding special touches to the ordinary?

Easy Outdoor Entertaining

2009-06-25T16:57:00.000-04:00

Lucinda Scala Quinn, the Executive Editorial Director of Food and Entertaining at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, has some quick and easy tips to make summer outdoor entertaining a snap (see below). Be sure to check out the July/August issue of Everyday Food (on newsstands June 22) for menu and recipe ideas. Party on!

1. Create a summer home for dishes. Station an armoire on a covered patio or clear a few shelves in the garage to hold items devoted to alfresco dining.

2. Accommodating a large group for a sit-down meal outside can be accomplished easily and elegantly by topping a few folding tables with a rustic flat-panel door or a single piece of plywood covered with cloth.

3. Tackle grill-related tasks more than just a few minutes ahead of time. Stock up on charcoal or refill the propane tank a week before. Clean and season the grill rack the morning of your party, and place a table nearby, complete with the various grilling tools and serving platters you’ll need. For specific grilling ideas check-out www.marthastewart.com/grilling.

4. Running a fan near your dining area will help keep mosquitoes at bay — and keep your guests cool, too.

5. Multiple beverage stations help ensure that guests can get a refill without waiting. Galvanized tubs, colorful enamel buckets, and planters work perfectly. Place an assortment of drinks in each bin destined for different locations throughout the yard.

6. Take advantage of seasonal produce when creating a summer menu for delicious and budget-friendly meals. Sweet corn is at its best, so try it grilled or steamed as a side dish, or turn it into a salad by tossing fresh kernels with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, chopped fresh herbs, and a little sweet onion or scallion; season with salt and pepper. For more ideas see the July/August issue of Everyday Food or www.everydayfoodmag.com.

7. When getting ready for barbecues, clambakes, and other hands-on occasions, set out damp paper towels or cloths, sprinkled with lemon juice and rolled, to remedy sticky fingers. For easy cleanup, cover the table with split garbage bags topped with kraft or butcher paper. Keep crayons nearby for creative guests, young and old.

8. Informal gatherings, planned weeks ahead or convened at a moments notice, don’t require traditional invitations. Spread the word via e-mail using an online invitation site like www.pingg.com.

Everyday Food :: Honey-Teriyaki Chicken

2009-06-20T04:00:00.000-04:00

The words "family friendly" often make me more likely to try a new recipe since nothing is worse than making something that the kids complain about. My kids aren't very picky eaters but it isn't always easy to please all four of them with one meal. In the May 2009 issue of Everyday Food, the Family Friendly recipe for Honey-Teriyaki Chicken met two of my top criteria: simple enough for a quick weeknight dinner, and yummy sounding.

I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts rather than the recommended bone-in, skin-on thighs which left my finished chicken looking a bit less crispy and tantalizing than Martha's but the taste was good. I liked the chicken breasts but my kids loved them and they all went back for a second helping: the sign of a true family friendly meal.

Honey-Teriyaki Chicken

serves 4

1/2 cup honey

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons peeled and finely grated fresh ginger

coarse salt and ground pepper

8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 pounds total)

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a large bowl, mix honey, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat. Transfer chicken and sauce to baking sheet.

Bake chicken, skin side up, basting occasionally with pan juices, until well browned and cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve chicken drizzled with pan juices.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-06-05T01:05:00.003-04:00

iGoogle Showcase lets visitors see Martha’s iGoogle homepage.

CakeJournal makes Martha’s adorable petit fours.

bloom.acious suggests trying Martha’s make-ahead pancakes this weekend.

The Lylah Blog also recommends a pancake recipe of Martha’s.

Fabric reports on a new accessories line by two of Martha’s craft editors.

Healthy. Happy. Life. writes about the appearance Erin McKenna of Babycakes on Martha’s show.

Stylish Events makes the giant paper flowers seen on Martha’s show recently.

Cooking Books tries Martha’s strawberry shortcake recipe.

PaperFriendly laughs at Martha’s embossing skills.

Covetier enjoys the strawberry shortcake cookies featured in this month’s “Living.”

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment.

*Image from MarthaStewart.com

Icing on the Cake

2009-05-26T12:31:00.006-04:00

Though I bake frequently, I've never been brave enough to make a cake with more than one layer. I was hosting a little dinner party this weekend, and I decided to give it a try.

I didn't have enough time to whip up a recipe of Martha's, instead I used a box of cake mix and frosting from the grocery store. However, I did use some of Martha's round cake pans from Macy's! I made a yellow cake and filled it with homemade strawberry preserves and fresh strawberries.

I've never frosted a round cake before, so I used some of the tips that Martha frequently dispenses on her show. First, I covered the cake stand with strips of wax paper so that any stray frosting could be easily removed. It worked! The stand was nice and neat and ready for serving! I also did a crumb coating so that the frosting would spread smoothly, which also worked wonderfully. Martha frequently frosts cakes on a lazy susan, which I didn't have, but it was easy enough to just turn the cake stand as I went.

The results were great! Maybe next time I'll be bold enough to try more than two layers!

For more tips from Martha on how to frost a cake, click here and here!

Everyday Food :: Simple Crostini with Artichoke-Dill Topping

2009-05-19T04:00:00.000-04:00

I needed a quick appetizer to take to Bunko and found this recipe in an old issue of Everyday Food: Simple Crostini with a Trio of Toppings. I had the ingredients on hand for the Artichoke-Dill topping, but the White-Bean and Caper and Tomato-Basil toppings sound delicious as well. I'll have to stock the pantry. (Check the website for a few more topping choices.)

This recipe can be made ahead (don't top the crostini until you're ready to serve) and is a delightful blend of flavors, including fresh dill from the garden.

(click on the links above for the recipes)

Design for Martha

2009-05-09T05:00:00.001-04:00

Have you added this book to your shelf yet? If not, you have an opportunity to win one. The craft blog at Martha Stewart Living, The Crafts Dept., is having a contest. Design a new header for the blog and you could win a copy of the book ... and bragging rights. Follow this link for contest details.

Martha :: The Baby Shower Show

2009-05-05T04:00:00.005-04:00

Last Thursday, The Martha Stewart Show was dedicated to expectant moms. Since I'm expecting my fifth child, I tuned in to see what great ideas Martha was featuring. (If you missed the show and want details on any of the segments, click on the links below to take you to the website.)

Thursday's audience was filled with soon-to-be moms in every stage of pregnancy and, as expected, Martha rewarded them with some great giveaways. Made me wish I was sitting in that audience. Why can't Martha tape her show in Texas?

The set was decorated in shades of pink and orange with paper ball lanterns hanging overhead. I may steal that idea for a corner of my girls' room.

Nancy O'Dell joined Martha, plugged her new book, and made an adorable bird mobile. Wouldn't this add sweet whimsy to a nursery?

Liz Lange was on the show, promoting her new spring collection of maternity clothes and sharing some tips for looking great during pregnancy. The key according to Liz? Close-fitting maternity clothes that show off those curves. I love that Martha featured maternity clothes that are affordable for the average person (and found at one of my favorite stores).

A few staffers discussed some of their favorite must-have baby products. Many were practical, such as the My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow and the BornFree Baby Bottles, and some were just fun, like Sophie la Girafe (the chic and sophisticated way to teethe that the French have been using for 40 years).

The cookie tree was my favorite part of the show. An adorable centerpiece for a baby shower that doubles as a take-home favor for guests, this sweet tree is easy to make and would add such a personal touch to any shower. (I was unable to find a photo of the tree on the website but it featured the onesie cookies below as well as some other baby shapes, hung by ribbon and hooked on tree branches.)

The Baby Shower Show was full of lots of fun tips and ideas. What are some of your favorite Martha baby shower ideas?

photo credits: www.marthastewart.com

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2009-05-01T12:45:00.004-04:00

Times Square Gossip reports on a bizarre case involving Martha and a disfigured hand model!

The New York Times interviews Martha.

Bron Marshall makes Martha’s darkest chocolate crepe recipe her own by whipping up some lovely Nutella crepe cakes.

Martha Moments provides 10 tips for using pom-poms when decorating.

Johnstone’s Vin Blanc is inspired to make “ditch dogs” by a recipe on Martha’s site.

Apartment Therapy suggests an idea from Martha as a great way to organize mail.

Buff Chickpea tries out Martha’s recipe for peanut butter and jelly bars.

The Italian Dish adapts a recipe of Martha’s to make cheesecake with roasted rum pineapple and pineapple flowers.

Momtrends gets a photo with Martha at the New York Botanical Garden.

Lovestoeat enjoys the lemony smashed potatoes recipe from the current issue of Everyday Food.

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment!

Pineapple-Mango Upside-Down Cake

2009-04-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

For Easter, I tried out the pineapple-mango upside-down cake recipe in Martha’s “Baking Handbook.” It was a hit! I followed the recipe with a few small substitutions:

-- I was out of parchment paper so I skipped that step, but the cake turned out fine.
-- I didn’t have an appropriately sized round cookie cutter, so I used a heart-shaped one instead. I considered using a bunny-shaped one for Easter, but thought that might be a bit much!
-- I had some fat-free sour cream on hand that was close to going bad, so I used that. Since the amount of sour cream called for was so small, I figured that would be fine.

The cake turned out so pretty! I would definitely recommend this recipe for a sweet springtime treat.

1 ¼ sticks unsalted butter (plus more for pan)
1 medium ripe pineapple peeled and cut crosswise into ¼-inch-think slices
1 medium ripe mango peeled
½ cup packed light-brown sugar
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ cup sour cream

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8-by-8-by-2-inch cake pan, line it with parchment paper, and butter parchment. Using a 3-inch cookie cutter, cut out the centers of each of the four rounds, and discard; set rings aside. Finely chop enough of the remaining pineapple to yield 1 cup (reserve remainder for another use). Place chopped fruit in a fine sieve set over a bowl to drain.

Cut the mango lengthwise into ¼-inch-think slices. Using the 1 ½-inch cookie cutter, cut out four rounds from mango slice; set aside. Finely chop enough of the remaining mango to yield ½ cup; add to the pineapple in the sieve.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 2 tablespoons butter with the brown sugar until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a small offset spatula, evenly spread butter mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan; set aside.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder; set aside. Place a reserved pineapple ring in each corner of the prepared pan. Place a reserved mango round in the center of each ring.

In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat remaining 1 stick butter with granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. With the mixer on lowest speed, add flour mixture in two parts, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour.

Transfer the chopped pineapple-mango mixture to cake pan; discard juice. Using a small offset spatula, carefully spread fruit in an even layer on top of cut-out fruit, making sure to fill all the empty spaces, including any gaps in the corners. Using the offset spatula, spread batter evenly over fruit.

Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until cake is golden brown and cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool 30 minutes. Invert onto a cake plate; peel off the parchment paper. Serve cake slightly warm or at room temperature.

Visit The UPS Store, Get Free Martha Mags

2009-04-18T22:12:00.000-04:00

With Mother's Day nearly here, chances are you might be paying a visit to your local UPS Store to ship off a little something special to your mom or grandmother. With a new offer, if you spend $25 at The UPS Store, you can receive a free 1-year subscription to your choice of Everyday Food and Body+Soul magazine.

To receive your free subscription, send a copy of your $25+ receipt from The UPS Store, along with a notecard that includes your full name, address, daytime telephone number and appropriate code indicating your magazine choice (EFAEGV2 for Everyday Food or BDAAYA7 for Body+Soul) to PO Box 60015, Tampa, FL 33660-0013. Offer expires May 30, 2009.

Happy shipping!

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-04-17T12:54:00.002-04:00

A Bookworm’s World reviews Martha’s “Encyclopedia of Crafts.”

Hooked on Houses admires Martha’s home office.

We Are That Family uses Martha’s glitter bird stickers to create new artwork for spring.

BloggingStocks says that Martha is giving herself a raise.

No Fear Entertaining appropriates a recipe of Martha’s to make cinnamon chocolate brownies.

Busy Mom shares some of Martha’s spring cleaning tips.

Bag Bunch reports on Isaac Mizrahi’s new show on Martha Stewart Living Radio.

The gossip blog world is buzzing about Rupert Everett’s “fresh faced” new look which he debuted on Martha’s show this week.

BoogieDowner writes that Martha will be redesigning the New York Botanical Garden’s culinary herb garden this summer.

Martha Moments showcases some of Martha’s spring flower arrangements for 1-800-Flowers.

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment!

*Image from 1-800-Flowers.com

Silk Tie Easter Eggs

2009-04-11T04:00:00.000-04:00

I've seen tie-dyed Easter eggs (eggs dyed with silk ties) so many places this year. It seems to be the hot idea for this Easter season. Martha featured this idea on a recent show (or so I'm told ... I haven't yet watched that DVR'ed episode) and the instructions are found on the website.

I found some old, cheap silk ties at my local thrift store. Martha also suggests using silk blouses or thrift store boxers but I couldn't quite imagine cooking my eggs in someone's used unders. We stuck with the silk ties.

The process is very simple. Wrap the raw eggs in pieces of the silk ties with the printed side facing the egg, secure with an elastic band, and cover with water and three tablespoons of white vinegar. (Martha recommends wrapping the eggs again with a piece of white fabric. For better or for worse, we skipped this step.) Bring the water to a boil, and then let simmer for twenty minutes.

We were excited to unwrap the eggs and reveal the colors. While I was hoping for brightly colored eggs, we ended up with some neat designs. The eggs seem to take on the tie's design but not much of the tie's background color - something to think about when you're selecting a tie to use.

This is a fun and novel technique and something fun to try if you can't face one more PAAS kit.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-04-04T00:07:00.006-04:00

Etsy profiles Marcie McGoldrick, editorial director for holidays and crafts at MSLO.

Design Mom attends a taping of Martha’s show.

Scribbit “tie dies” Easter eggs using a technique showcased on Martha’s show.

Shopping Blog reports that Martha has partnered with Crane’s on a line of wedding invitations.

Zen Cupcake covers cute bluebird cupcakes inspired by some on Martha’s site.

“South Park” spoofed Martha this week. (WARNING: Some might find this a bit offensive!)

Footnoted addresses a letter to the top dogs at MSO.

Ouch! These lounge chairs sold under Martha’s name are hazardous to hands!

Freakgirl whips up a red velvet cupcake recipe from Martha.

Tiny Décor features a nursery decorated with Martha’s pom-pom kit.

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment!

*Image from MarthaStewart.com

The Hunt for Perfect Baby Announcements

2009-03-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month I embarked on a search for the perfect baby announcements. I wanted to create them myself online so I could have some control over the content and layout. I never imagined it would be so hard to find something cute that met those criteria!

Most of the big-name photo-sharing sites’ announcement choices were simply ugly. And the few things I found online that were cute involved mailing in a hard-copy photo and waiting for a designer to send you a proof for approval (a lengthy and expensive undertaking).

That’s when I remembered that KODAK Gallery has a line of Martha-approved card designs. I found exactly what I was looking for and was able to customize the content and layout to my specifications. Best of all, I ordered the announcements on a Sunday afternoon and they were delivered to me on the following Thursday.

The only negative I would mention is that what looked to be a baby blue on my computer screen is actually more aqua than it appeared. But I guess that’s a risk you take when ordering anything online!

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-03-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

TMZ reports that Martha isn’t coping with her puppy’s recent passing.

Jordan Ferney is impressed by some of Martha’s new stuff at Macy’s.

SippitySup makes a sautéed tilapia recipe featured in “Living.”

Just Baking loves Martha’s apple-cinnamon bundt cake recipe.

Rock ’n Roll Bride showcases a wedding decorated with Martha’s pom-poms.

Lion Brand Yarn writes about its upcoming appearance on Martha’s show.

sweet fine day says that its marshmallow favor creations will be included in an upcoming issue of “Weddings.”

Cheapskate Mom is excited that Martha uses Seventh Generation’s dishwashing soap.

Bliss Tree likes the free apron pattern offered on Martha’s site.

In the Sink News uses some Martha Stewart Crafts supplies to make adorable paper baskets.

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment.

*Image from MarthaStewart.com.

Everyday Food: The March Issue

2009-03-18T11:05:00.004-04:00

When I first started getting Everyday Food, I used to go through each issue and use sticky flags to mark the recipes I wanted to make. After going through more packs than I can count, I decided to switch from stickies to the more economical dog-earing of pages. Not as colorful, but far less expensive. This month I think I folded down more page corners than ever before. I wanted to make just about every recipe I saw.

Last week all of our dinners came from this issue. Monday’s Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun Dried Tomatoes, Tuesday’s Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops, Thursday’s Breaded Chicken Cutlets, and Friday’s Irish Beef Hand Pies. (Yes, we did skip Wednesday.) Dessert every night was the Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chunk Cookies from the last page, and I’m still going to make the Fudgy Skillet Brownies (pictured) and the Warm Berries ‘n’ Dumplings.

I have a recipe backlog from this month. March is a tough time because it’s not quite warm enough for the Spring vegetables (at least where I live), and the Fall vegetables are getting tired. This issue of Everyday Food uses frozen berries, pears, canned tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots in interesting ways that perk up what can be a rather dull time of year, foodwise. I also like the focus on a single ingredient (in this issue balsamic vinegar) with a new twist (Balsamic-Rosemary Vinaigrette that can be used as a salad dressing, and is also used as the marinade in the Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops).

The April Everyday Food is coming soon, but all of the recipes from the March issue are availble online at marthastewart.com/everyday-food.

Picture from marthastewart.com

Everyday Food: Southern Mac & Cheese

2009-03-14T23:28:00.007-04:00

In these last few weeks of winter, I've been combing through my favorite cookbooks and magazines for recipes to work my oven as much as possible before the weather warms and cravings for thick, rich macaroni and cheese are replaced by crisp, fresh salads and juicy chunks of watermelon.

In the March 2009 Everyday Food, I came across a feature titled "10 Ways to Love Pasta." I thought this to be a genius story - not only is pasta a quick weeknight meal, but it's budget-friendly, perfect for a time when many of us are tightening our belts. The one that stared right at me as the perfect meal for a chilly Sunday evening was Martha's Southern Mac & Cheese.

First, set aside two cups of elbow macaroni. While boiling the water for the macaroni, prepare the macaroni and cheese sauce. You can use pre-shredded cheddar cheese if you're pressed for time, but not to be out-Martha'ed by Martha, I grated 2 cups of cheddar cheese by hand.

Combine a cup of half-and-half, two eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper and 1 clove of garlic, minced, in a large bowl. Whisk to combine; add cheddar cheese.

Just before pasta is al dente, drain and combine with cheese mixture. Divide into ramekins or spread into a shallow 1 1/2- to 2-quart baking dish.

The next step Martha suggests is to combine two torn slices of white bread in a food processor with two tablespoons of butter. I had some homemade rosemary-garlic ciabatta breadcrumbs on hand so I used those to top off the casserole.

Dividing evenly, top pasta mixture with 1/2 cup cheddar, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until mac and cheese is golden and bubbling, about 20 minutes in ramekins, 25 minutes in a baking dish. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Iced Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies

2009-03-10T17:30:00.000-04:00

I’m always on the lookout for a good new cookie recipe to add to our regular rotation. Luckily between various neighbors, family and friends, the office, Madeline’s daycare, Nick’s carpool and more, I have plenty of taste-testers ready to give me their opinion. The quicker I get the desserts out of the house, the safer it is!

When I first made these cookies and had one, I’ve got to say, they did nothing for me. But with each bite, they definitely grew on me, and days later, I had elevated their status to “make again.” I think it was the glaze that did it for me. The cookies by itself are less-than-stellar plain oatmeal cookies. But add the glaze and they get interesting. Easy to make, and more than likely, you already have the ingredients on hand. They’re the perfect cookie for an after-school snack or to fill up that cookie jar.

Iced Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies
Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart’s Holiday Cookies 2005

Makes about 2-1/2 dozen

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup chunky-style applesauce
1-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup golden raisins
1-3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Make cookies: Preheat oven to 350. Put butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until combined. Add egg and applesauce, mix until well blended, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix in raisins.

Using a 1-1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until golden and just set, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack set over parchment paper; let cool completely.

Make icing: Whisk confectioners’ sugar, syrup, and 3 tablespoons water until smooth. Drizzle over cookies, let set.

Martha's Calendar is Back!

2009-03-07T17:19:00.001-05:00

One of the features that I loved about Martha's magazine is the monthly calendar she published in every issue of Martha Stewart Living. Although I didn't exactly mourn its loss, I was sad when they stopped publishing it. I liked seeing what she was up to. But never fear - it's coming back!

In the April issue (on newsstands March 16th), you'll be able to see all the fun activities that Martha has on her calendar. It will include her some of her day-to-day activities, upcoming events and her speaking engagements, as well as some timely homekeeping tips and reminders.

I can't wait to find out if she's going to go to the Brimfield Antique Show in May. I'll be there, along with 5,000 vendors and countless deal-seekers and antique lovers.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-03-06T12:02:00.003-05:00

Word Wise reports on some changes coming in the April issue of “Living.”

Manolo for the Brides posts customized cake stands made using Martha’s cupcake stand kit.

The Good Things blog highlights the new Easter things coming to Martha’s craft line.

The Culinary Chase makes Martha’s sesame wonton crackers.

Gawker features a little blunder Martha made on her show Wednesday.

So Many Cookbooks … tries Martha’s cinnamon swirl cookies.

tiny*prints shares some of the cute cupcake ideas featured on Martha’s site.

Design Mom likes the new Pingg invites designed my Martha.

Comments is not happy about one of Martha’s Tweets.

My Big Fat Cuban Family has a real-life Martha encounter!

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment.

*Image from MarthaStewart.com.

Everyday Food :: Rustic Marinara Sauce

2009-03-03T04:00:00.001-05:00

I love a pasta dinner with delicious noodles and a simple marinara sauce. I have a recipe that I've been using for years but decided to give the Rustic Marinara Sauce (Everyday Food, March 2009) a try. With only six ingredients, it couldn't be more simple - the perfect recipe for a speedy weeknight dinner or to deliver to a friend in need of a meal.

Rustic Marinara Sauce

In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, and a pinch of red-pepper flakes over medium until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add two 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes with juice, crushed; season with salt and pepper. Cook at a rapid simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Makes 4 cups.

The sauce wasn't as good as my regular recipe although I think a little oregano and basil would make it delicious. I'll definitely try it again with a few changes of my own. Any other ideas for spicing up this basic sauce?

Breakfast for Dinner

2009-02-26T17:14:00.005-05:00

I'm usually fairly knowledgeable about news and current events. I read a lot of blogs and newspaper headlines - though I admit that I rarely make it through a full article. My media diet is plentiful but not excessive. I listen to the Today Show while I'm getting dressed in the morning and my commute back and forth from work is rarely completed without some form of reading material in hand.

Being that I work in consumer public relations for a living, I know a lot more about pop culture than I ever did before I started working. I read gossip blogs and I know enough about celebrities to brainstorm brand spokespeople during occasional staff meetings.

I know that Reese Witherspoon likes to scrapbook. I know that January 9 is National Clean Up Your Desk Day. I know that coffee September is Better Breakfast Month.

But somehow, I missed the fact that February 24 was National Pancake Day. At first, I assumed this was a fake holiday created by a mother who didn't feel like cooking dinner and said, "Fine, we'll just have pancakes."

In fact, National Pancake Day is actually derived from Shrove Day, the Tuesday before Lent, when Christian groups would give up fat and eggs. In preparation, they used the forbidden ingredients the day before as not to waste them.

Here are a few of Martha's favorite pancake recipes:

Best Buttermilk Pancakes
Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Lemon
Healthy Pancakes & Waffles

Tips for Perfect Pancakes

What are your favorite pancake recipes?

New Cookbook from Martha Stewart

2009-02-26T16:13:00.001-05:00

If you know me, you know I am a little obsessed with cupcakes. Couple that with my love for most things Martha Stewart, and it can be a dangerous combination indeed. She is finally set to release her newest cookbook, dedicated to all things cupcake. Martha Stewart's Cupcake: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat won't be available until June, but you can pre-order it now on Amazon (done!). Can't wait to receive this one...

There’s no better authority on delectable desserts than Martha Stewart. She and her ingenious team of editors have consistently created the most delicious recipes, and their dedication to simple instructions, how-to photographs, and beautiful styling is unparalleled. And there’s no more in-demand dessert right now than cupcakes.

Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes features 175 ideas and includes recipes for the cakes, frostings, and fillings, along with a trove of suggestions for tastefully decorating and embellishing them. From classics such as devil’s food cupcakes to sweet surprises like peanut butter and jelly cupcakes, and from elegant delicacies like tiny cherry-almond tea cakes to festive showstoppers topped with piped buttercream blossoms or candy clowns, each cupcake is accompanied by a gorgeous color photograph. They will inspire home bakers of all skill levels, who will find a cupcake for every occasion—birthdays, holidays, and special days such as weddings and showers—as well as for everyday fun.

Everyday Food :: Cocoa Popcorn

2009-02-24T04:00:00.000-05:00

With four kids, I'm always looking for easy, novel snack ideas. My kids love popcorn so the recipe for Cocoa Popcorn in the March 2009 issue of Everyday Food sounded appealing. And who doesn't love recipes that require no extra trips to the grocery store?

The recipe claims it's ready in five minutes and it was. Not overly sweet with just a hint of sugary cocoa flavor, this was a nice mid-morning snack and added some variety to the usual snack choices. It's also simple enough for older kids to make on their own, which always adds bonus points for me.

Cocoa Popcorn

Place 10 cups plain unsalted popped popcorn in a large bowl. Combine 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder. Drizzle 2 tablespoons melted butter over popcorn, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with cocoa mixture, and toss. Serves 6.

It's Never Too Late for Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Hearts

2009-02-14T17:29:00.009-05:00

Even though Martha's been baking Valentine's Day cookies for the better part of February, some of us are first turning on our ovens to surprise that special someone with something sweet.

When I need a quick, go-to cookie I usually turn to shortbread. With few ingredients and a quick baking time, they're easy to please even the pickiest eater.

For Valentine's Day, you can try a little something different and dip them in velvety chocolate for a smooth and elegant finish, either making your own or using a store bought chocolate sauce (I like Chalmer's Ganache).

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Hearts

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 teaspoon canola oil or pure vegetable shortening

Directions:

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until combined. On slow speed, beat in flour and salt until combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill until firm, at least 2 hours, or overnight.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until 1/16-to-1/8 inch thick. Cut out hearts with a 2-inch heart cookie cutter. Transfer cookies to an ungreased baking sheet; chill for 30 minutes.

3. Heat oven to 300 degrees with a rack in the center. Press the tines of a fork into each cookie to make designs. Bake until just beginning to brown around the edges, about 18 minutes. (Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days.)

4. In the top of a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally. Stir in the oil. Dip half or one third of each cookie into the chocolate mixture. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to dry, or place them on a piece of parchment paper in the freezer for 10 minutes. Serve.

Yields approximately 4 dozen 2 1/2 inch cookies.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-02-06T16:15:00.004-05:00

marta writes links to her favorite Valentine’s ideas from Martha.

Retrospection posts some photos from the Martha Stewart Crafts booth at CHA.

Apartment Therapy is inspired to find backless stools similar to the ones Martha has in her kitchen.

The Portland Sentinel reports that next weekend’s pierogi-cooking competition will feature a category devoted to Martha’s recipes.

Noble Pig makes Martha’s peanut butter and jelly cupcakes.

The Vegetarian Star writes about a vegan dinner event hosted by Alexis Stewart.

Team Sugar rounds up its top 10 favorite of Martha’s no-bake desserts for Valentine’s Day.

Dishing Up Delights makes Martha’s paprika cheddar drop biscuits.

Mark Cutler Design contemplates buying some patio chairs from Martha’s Kmart collection.

Food Loves Writing adapts Martha’s roasted red potatoes recipe.

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment!

*Image from marthastewartcrafts.com.

Martha Kids :: Fingerprint Valentines

2009-02-03T04:00:00.001-05:00

We love to make handmade Valentines and these fingerprint Valentines from Martha Stewart Living were perfect for little hands. Who doesn't love a holiday greeting that comes with a fingerprint memory?

I made a handful with my toddler in just a few minutes with supplies easily found around the house. Just remember to use washable ink!

Getting Crafty

2009-01-28T22:12:00.006-05:00

Even though I usually write about food here, I spent the past three days at my very first Craft & Hobby Association trade show, so as you can imagine, my mind is elsewhere. I attended the show for one of my public relations clients, but that doesn't mean I didn't decopatch a picture frame or peruse knitting patterns in my spare time.

As much as I enjoyed the CHA show and as motivated as I am now to make a beeline for the nearest Michael's to stock up on everything I need to craft myself silly there was one element missing from the show: Martha. No one does crafts like the domestic diva herself, so I thought I'd catch myself up on what she's been making these days and found a few favorites that I'd like to try.

Felt Frame Covers: For an updated look to your photo collection, try outfitting the frames in these cozy felt liners. They'll make any photo feel right at home on your mantel.

Wire Organizer: If you're like me and can never keep all of your photos, reciepts and to-do lists in the same place, a handy wall organizer will help keep the moving parts of your life straight so you can focus on everything else.

Traditional Mittens: I learned to knit last year and though I've mastered scarves, hats and shawls I've yet to knit gloves or mittens. This simple pattern is great for the advanced beginner or intermediate knitter who wants to add to her collection of winter wear.

What are your favorite Martha crafts?

Thinking of Sunshine

2009-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Has the gloom of winter gotten you down? Then check out the island-inspired desserts in the Tropical Escapes feature in this month’s “Everyday Food.”

I decided to try the grilled pineapple with coconut sorbet recipe this afternoon.

Instead of cutting the pineapple into four thick pieces as the recipe suggested, I used my AWESOME pineapple slicer from Crate and Barrel, which automatically cuts the slices thinner (while it cores and peels!!) Check this out! It leaves the “shell” of the pineapple intact in case you want to serve a fruity drink in it later:

In all honesty, the pineapple I bought was not the greatest. The pineapple slicer would ordinarily leave me with complete rings, but this time the rings were falling apart. I don’t know if it’s just not prime pineapple season or if I simply picked a bad one.

The rings further disintegrated when I tossed them with the honey and cayenne pepper. Here they are grilling on my griddle:

Since my pineapple was all broken up, I decided to make it more of a sorbet topping rather than the star of the dish (with a little sorbet on the side). The finished product was tasty, though it probably would have been better with a superior pineapple. My husband said it “tasted like Hawaii.”

I’ve grilled pineapple au naturale before and it was good, so I don’t know that the honey and cayenne were really necessary. Also, cleaning my griddle is a big pain, so I’m not sure the results were worth that. Oh well – The recipe brought a bit of sunshine to our otherwise murky afternoon!

How do you like to spend a lazy gray day?

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-01-23T03:00:00.001-05:00

The Onion has a little laugh at Martha’s expense.

Such Pretty Things makes a gorgeous Martha-inspired Valentine’s candy box.

CakeJournal notes that Martha will be among the authors to come out with a cupcake book this year.

My Front Porch demonstrates Martha’s method for pomegranate seed removal.

Inspired Goodness features a baby shower modeled after one covered in “Blueprint.”

A poster on Serious Eats is not impressed with the reheatability of Martha’s macaroni and cheese.

Just Spotted recommends Martha’s big hanging pom-poms as festive Valentine’s party décor.

Vintage Glam is smitten with some floral arrangements featured in the current issue of “Weddings.”

Girlymama tries not to go crazy in the Martha aisle at Michael’s.

Confabulation in the Kitchen makes the blondies with chocolate chips and walnuts recipe from an old issue of “Everyday Food.”

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment.

*Image from MarthaStewart.com

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-01-16T21:38:00.000-05:00

Looking for a new and creative job? Martha is looking for an Associate Art Director for Weddings Magazine.

Apartment Therapy Chicago highlights the Organization Tips from February's MS Living.

Since Meyer Lemons are in season, The Food Librarian made Martha's Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake. Yum!

La Belle Et Le Blog shares how Martha keeps her glow...even at 67. Wow! I had no idea she was 67...she looks FANTASTIC!

About New York tells us her day at a taping of The Martha Stewart Show.

52 Cupcakes gives Martha's Gingerbread CCs a try. Her dog wants so badly to eat one...

Creature Comforts shares the Behind the Scenes of Martha Stewart.

Kathe at Seattlepi lets us in on how to make our recycling a little more "Martha."

Making Lemonade (Sort of)

2009-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

The lemon tree in my backyard has been particularly abundant lately. Wondering what to do with all of the lemons, I remembered reading in an old issue of “Body and Soul” about how a cup of hot water and lemon juice (with a dash of cayenne pepper and some honey) could produce revitalizing effects in the morning. Since I’m 8 months pregnant and still struggling through the mornings without my daily cup of joe, this sounded like a particularly appealing way to use the lemons.

At first I was a little scared about the cayenne, so I made a few cups with just hot water and lemon, which were a tart, tasty way to start the day. Then I got brave and added the cayenne and some honey to balance it out. I was pleasantly surprised! The cayenne gives it a nice kick and the honey gives it a cozy sweetness. Plus, I actually do feel more energized in the mornings and I think it’s helped alleviate some of those digestive problems that are so common in pregnancy.

Are you a believer in any natural remedies? Please share in a comment!

Mad About Charlyne

2009-01-12T06:00:00.005-05:00

At Mad About Martha, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to introduce you to some the finest minds in style, fashion and food.

Those of you who subscribe to Everyday Food know how convenient it is to have a one-stop resource for great recipes - from the weekly family dinner, to date night, to cooking for one. Everyday Food offers an index of recipes for all occasions and incorporates simple, fresh ingredients that anyone would love, whether you're an experienced chef or a novice home cook.

Today, we're introducing Charlyne Mattox, Senior Associate Food Editor, Everyday Food, whose love for the kitchen is evident not only through the amazing recipes that she writes and tests for her readers every day, but through her passion for cooking that she shares with her colleagues and readers. When she's not whipping up delicious Mexican dishes, Charlyne is hard at work learning about food and new cooking techniques - and will try just about anything in the kitchen, as long as you don't ask her to do the dishes!

Q: Charlyne, you must have such an exciting job. What's a typical day in the office like for you?

A: I arrive at the office, check e-mail, then get cooking! I typicall cook for about 5-6 hours per day. Other time is spend editing recipes, brainstorming recipes and story ideas and responding to reader queries.

Q. What's the best editorial assignment you've worked on at EDF?
A. I really loved developing the dark chocolate dessert story for the October 2008 issue. Besides loving chocolate, it was a real challenge and great learning experience.

Q. What's your favorite part about your job?
A. Cooking of course! I love to learn about food, from flavor combinations to new cooking techniques. And of course, I love eating.

Q. What is your favorite "Dinner Tonight" recipe?
A. I really enjoy the Provencal Chicken with Vegetables from the December 2008 issue. Roasted carrots are one of my favorites and mixed with tangy olives, it’s a perfect combination.

Q. Have you always wanted to work in the food/beverage industry?
A. Yes, I have. My mom encouraged my interest in cooking from a very young age. And when I got older it was perfect – I cooked while my sister did the dishes (which I loathe).

Q. How did you begin your career in publishing/food and beverage?

A. While working in the crafts department at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, I went to cooking school on the weekends. Luckily, shortly after graduation, there was an opening at Everyday Food that I was able to fill.

Q. What is your favorite dish to cook?
A. Tacos – any filling or topping. I love them all!

Q. What is the best recipe you've ever discovered working with EDF?
A. The Avocado Salad from the September 2006 issue is one of my favorites. The balance is perfect and it goes along with my love of Mexican food.

Not-Just-for-Christmas Clips

2009-01-10T04:00:00.000-05:00

I love the garland clips featured in the Christmas issue of Martha Stewart Living but decided to adapt the idea for a year-round function. These cute pink clips will be a sweet asset to the memo board in my daughter's room. Covered in scrapbook paper, they're a simple craft to make with supplies that most of us have lying around. I sanded and faintly inked the edges of mine to give them a more used, distressed look.

These clips are so versatile and would be cute on a Valentine garland or as photo holders on a fridge or magnet board (just add some magnetic tape to the back of each clothespin). Definitely a good thing.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2009-01-08T20:13:00.009-05:00

Chickpea Sewing Studio knits up the fingerless mittens featured in this month’s issue of “Living.”

StarLitStudio alters an acorn box from Martha’s line at Michael’s.

Barbara Bakes appropriates one of Martha’s recipes to make cinnadoodle cookies. The comments on this post reflect a common problem I have: None of my local stores stock cinnamon chips!

Dollar Store Crafts suggests using a fleece scarf from a dollar store to make a cute pocket scarf a la “Martha Stewart Kids.” (I’m so excited to have found this site -- I love me some dollar store shopping, especially in this economy!)

For the Love of Cooking makes Martha’s butterscotch chocolate chip cookie recipe. I’ve made these too, and I think that even after her recipe modification, they still seem to have spread too much. When I made them they turned out really cakey and moist rather than thin and crispy. Has anyone else tried this recipe?

The McMommy Chronicles does not agree that using an ice cream scoop to fill cupcake liners is a good thing.

The Good Things blog is already eyeing Martha’s Valentines floral arrangements

Frolic! shares a few of her favorites from the most recent issue of “Weddings.”

What Should We Make Today? looks forward to planting some Martha Stewart seed packets in the spring.

Australian News Agency Blog reports that most overseas magazine’s arrive in the country a month late. That means our friends down under just got their holiday issue of “Living.” I never knew!!

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment.

*Image from 1800flowers.com.

Blogging Martha: New Year's Linkapalooza

2009-01-02T18:13:00.000-05:00

Shop Talk shares a Martha quote on Resolutions...

Two Scientists in the Kitchen amp up Martha's Buttermilk Biscuits with a cute snowflake shape

Bobotown finds Martha's Very Kitty New Year...

lorrainel journals that she wants to be like Martha, but is just happy being her

Unclutter marvels at Martha's idea for a pull-down rack in hard to reach areas

A new year usually means a new wedding being organized. A-Z Wedding Favors suggests Martha's Keepsake Wedding Planner.

A new year also brings in new reasons to have parties! The Lazy Environmentalist shares that Martha must agree because she has invested in Pingg - a great online way to plan and sent invites for your parties.

Martha Kids :: New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T08:47:00.005-05:00

For many years, my kids have celebrated New Year's Eve with a Noon Year's Eve celebration. The tradition started when we lived in Denver and would spend the noon-hour at the Children's Museum, watching their big ball drop after a countdown.

Martha has lots of great ideas for helping the kids ring in a new year, whether it's at midnight or noon.

We've enjoyed the bubble jump ...

... confetti balloons ....

... and this year we're borrowing a tradition from Spain and eating twelve grapes for good luck (although I'm going to skewer them in a glass of Sprite rather than serve only a cup of grapes).

For more great ideas for kids and grown-ups alike, head over to the Martha Stewart website. Happy New Year!

all photos courtesy of www.marthastewart.com

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Bars

2008-12-30T06:00:00.004-05:00

Though the holiday season is winding down and I'm starting to get cookied out, I know for some, festivities aren't over yet. If you haven't overdosed on sugar and your oven still needs some exercise, try Martha's Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Bars.

Oatmeal raisin cookies are one of my personal favorites, along with chocolate chip. Though I've seldom met a cookie I didn't like, I don't need nuts or frosting to enjoy a really good cookie. Plus, with oatmeal raisin, you can tell yourself that the fiber and heart-healthy cholesterol in the rolled oats are negating the infamous waist-widening effects of butter and sugar.

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Bars

Ingredients: (Serves 16)
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
1 cup raisins

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together butter, sugars, egg, salt, and cinnamon until smooth. Add flour, oats, and raisins; fold in just until combined.
3. Spread batter in prepared pan, and bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface; cut into 16 bars.

You can find the original recipe here.

Finally! A Costco Find

2008-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Every time I visit our local Costco I keep my eyes peeled for the line of Martha products sold there, but I’ve never been successful in finding them. That is until a few weeks ago when I came across Martha’s turkey soup.

The soup was in the refrigerated section, in the area where they keep pre-made spinach dip, crab salad and the like. I picked up a package which included two 24 oz. containers for about $12.

I kept the soup in my freezer until a few nights ago when I defrosted one container and heated it up to serve alongside BLTs. The soup was tasty, brimming with noodles, mushrooms, carrots, onions and, of course, chunks of turkey.

On the package, it notes that this soup makes a “satisfying main course” served with crusty bread or an iceberg wedge. I would have to disagree. The package says that there are five servings per container, but my husband and I were the only two eating this soup and one container did not fill our two soup bowls. A family of four would definitely need to serve both containers together, and at $12 a pack (plus a side dish of some sort), I don’t think that makes an economical meal.

Overall, I did enjoy the soup – It’s a nice alternative to the canned variety. But I don’t think I’ll be dishing out $12 when I could make the same thing at home for far less.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-12-26T14:46:00.003-05:00

Martha and Me recounts her meyer lemon lace tuiles disaster.

Geek Dad recommends Martha’s potato latke recipe.

Eat and Be Happy shares her Christmas wishes, and Martha’s chocolate gingerbread cookie recipe.

Geek Crafts takes an idea from Martha to embellish some cute Star Wars gingerbread cookies!

BuzzMachine thinks Martha deserves a Presidential pardon.

Beauty Blogging Junkie adds watching “Whatever, Martha” to her list of unglamorous things to do over the holidays.

Method improvises when baking Martha’s old-fashioned sugar cookies.

Bekka knits the pretty scarf featured in the January issue of “Living.”

The Lazy Environmentalist discusses Martha’s relationship with pingg.

Connecting with NLP enjoys the holidays despite a rough bout with Martha’s picture frame/serving tray craft.

Have a Martha link to add? Drop it in a comment!

*Image from MarthaStewart.com

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-12-19T22:51:00.003-05:00

Over at The Well Fed Network, Patsy gives us the 411 on the Top Chef contestants meeting Martha!

Check out Rufus Wainwright cooking with Martha over at Roger Bourland. So. Stinking. Awesome. I love him!!

Deep Dish remembers one of Martha's greatest holiday moments: Cooking with Miss Piggy.

The guys over at Brewer's Pub try to prove that not everyone likes Martha Stewart...

Martha needs to make a few more Chanukah decorations. Because according to Danielle over at The Huffington Post, they got nothin'!!

Stephanie over at Sherwood Photography got to make it to The Martha Stewart Show this week. Lucky Girl!!

Martha's talking Gluten-Free over on Satellite Radio. Thanks for the heads up Celiac Chicks!

I think I'm going to take up the "Martha's Coming Over" game from The Non-Consumer Advocate. It may not work for her anymore, but maybe it will help me to keep my kitchen in better shape!

New Year, New You: body+soul Challenge

2008-12-19T18:12:00.001-05:00

Just in time for the new year, Martha is unveiling her body+soul Challenge. You can kick off your 2009 on the right foot by signing up for the challenge on wholeliving.com. Starting Monday, January 5, 2009, you can make that commitment to improve your life... the key to feeling healthier, more energetic, and less stressed. This new five-week transformation will take you there.

A healthy and effective seven-day detox plan
Nutrition plan including recipes, shopping tips, and snack ideas
Full-body workout customized by trainer Mary Tedesco
Daily stress-reduction exercise and solutions for stress triggers
Fix common energy drainers and gain better sleep habits
Challenge Success Tools: food diary, calorie-counter tools, healthy cabinet checklist, and more
Blogger and Challenge buddy Maria provides daily support and inspiration

Go on and sign up ... the new you, coming soon. Complete details are right here.

Photo from WholeLiving.com.

Vintage Martha :: Mitten Clips

2008-12-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

If you receive Martha's Craft of the Day email, you just saw these clips yesterday (if you don't receive it, go to the website to sign up). I made these cute mitten clips years ago. They were one of my earliest Martha projects and they still get pulled out of the attic boxes year after year. Some years they hold Christmas cards, other years they're used in garlands. This year they're holding letter stencils spelling PEACE along my vintage window.

A comment on Martha Stewart's website suggested using scrapbook paper rather than felt. A great idea that would allow you to use some of Martha's craft punches for decorating the mittens. This would also be a fun craft to make with children and a cute way to attach a gift tag on a package. For complete instructions, follow this link.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-12-12T06:03:00.001-05:00

Jossip reports that one of Martha’s family members might be penning a tell-all book about her.

Bella Dia makes the glittery newspaper tree featured on Martha’s site.

We Are Not Martha whips up Martha’s hot spinach dip.

kdiddy enjoys Martha’s pumpkin cream pie recipe.

Better Than Cupcakes claims that she’s Martha and shares her recipe for gingerbread pancakes.

Al Dente makes Martha’s mushroom and wild rice soup her own.

Joy the Baker adapts Martha’s peppermint meringues recipe.

Making This Home tries Martha’s pfeffernusse cookies.

chikaustin decorates her daughter’s birthday party with Martha’s pom-pom kit.

Pretty Pretty Paper uses some tags from Martha’s Michael’s line on her wedding menus.

Chocolate Gingerbread Bars

2008-12-12T00:52:00.009-05:00

I always know the holidays are right around the corner when cookies start showing up everywhere - at work, in the mail and mysteriously, in my own kitchen!

I use the holidays as an excuse to try new cookie recipes that have been tempting me throughout the year. Suddenly, cranberries, pecans and molasses are all the rage and in December, just about anything goes. Some of my favorite blogs to find great cookie recipes and inspiration are Baking Bites, Cookie Madness and Baking Blond. But when it comes to cookies, no one knows better than Martha.

This year one of my first cookies of the season was Martha's Chocolate Gingerbread Bars.

These were thick and moist. The semi-sweet chocolate chips were a perfect complement to the rich molassess flavor, reminiscent of the holiday season.

Chocolate Gingerbread Bars

Ingredients
Makes 16.

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for pan
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
1 large egg
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with a strip of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter paper. Dust paper and sides of pan with cocoa; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, ginger, pumpkin-pie spice, and baking soda; set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg, and sour cream until smooth. Add flour mixture; stir just until moistened (do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chips. Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Using paper overhang, lift gingerbread from pan. Transfer to a cutting board, and cut into 16 squares. Before serving, dust bars with confectioners sugar, if desired. (To store, keep in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days).

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-12-05T10:42:00.000-05:00

New Puppy Alert! Check out Martha's newest puppy over at PetSugar. So Cute. I want a new puppy for Christmas!

Baking Bites chats about the new Holiday Cupcake Wrappers available at Michaels...

The Huffington Post lets Martha remember her own mother's legacy.

Check out what Patsy of The Well Fed Network says about Martha's new cookbook: Martha Stewart's Cooking School.

CraftGossip has fallen in love with Martha's felt stockings...they're making them for Christmas!

Sharon's Blog is just raving about the Branch Punch... It sure does make cute, cute, cute Christmas cards!

Ask Martha, over at Philly.com, about making cheap, cute Christmas doodads!

Martha Kids :: Button Ornaments

2008-12-04T04:00:00.000-05:00

Looking for a fun way to spruce up the Christmas tree? Martha's button ornaments are a cute and festive way to spend a crafting afternoon with the kids. I recently made the Santa and snowman ornaments with a craft class I teach. Ten elementary-aged girls whipped them up in no time with very simple directions. My daughter also made a pile of the adorable button wreaths for an ornament swap (and I forgot to take a picture). I think the small Christmas tree in our playroom will look perfect covered in these ornaments ... my kids will be busy this month!

I'm Gingerbread-Molasses

2008-12-01T21:16:00.015-05:00

The holiday season is a time for indulgences. A time for candy, cookies, cake and mulled cider. We guiltlessly sip frothy hot chocolate and tear into steaming plates of cinnamon rolls on weekend mornings.

With food being such a focal point of socializing and celebrating in today's America culture, I've always been perplexed by the idea that "you are what you eat." Apparently, so is Martha, because she wants to know what kind of cookie you are.

I'm a Molasses-Gingerbread Cookie - according to the results, because I'm "warm, spicy and multifaceted." There's nothing I love more than a cookie, so I guess if you can't eat em, join 'em.

Hop on over to MarthaStewart.com to take the quiz and find out what kind of cookie YOU are!

Maybe you'll even be inspired to make my Molasses-Gingerbread cookies!

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-11-21T03:00:00.000-05:00

Decor8 is loving the December issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Jossip wants to know what Martha and Snoop Dog have in common. I'm a little curious myself...

New York Magazine says that Glamour Editor Cindi Leive compares Sarah Palin and Martha. Really?

Dear Martha is giving advice on good vacuum cleaners over at Philly.com

Whip Up's own Linkapalooza links to several Martha crafts...

ProPublica asks us, "Why is [Mark] Cuban Facing a Fine When Martha Faced the Slammer?" Excellent Question!!

Gwyneth stealing from Martha? Jezabel thinks so...

Over at Martha Moments, we learn new ways to enjoy Martha Stewart Living. It's Genius!

Everyday Food :: Banana-Oat Smoothie

2008-11-19T04:00:00.002-05:00

Maybe it's all the Halloween candy we've been eating, or the thought of next week's turkey dinner, or all the festive food I'll want to eat next month, but the Banana-Oat Smoothie in the November 2008 issue of Everyday Food sounded like a must try. Oats to lower cholesterol, a shot of potassium from the banana, and a dash of cinnamon to lower blood sugar and boost cognitive function. Sound too good to be true? It almost was. Not quite sweet enough, and a bit too chewy for a smoothie, I think it could use some modifications. Next time I'll add some extra honey or use low-fat vanilla yogurt rather than plain to make it a little more pleasing to the palate.

Has anyone else tried this recipe?

Banana-Oat Smoothie

In a blender, combine 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt, 1 banana, cut into thirds, 1/2 cup fat-free milk, 2 teaspoons honey, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; puree until smooth. Serve immediately. Serves 1.

Signature Buttermilk Biscuits

2008-11-18T05:07:00.006-05:00

One of the reasons I always turn to my stack of Everyday Food back issues when I need to dig up a good recipe is because the simplicity of Martha's cooking style is a hit every time.

I used to think that in regards to cooking, the two words "Martha Stewart" were synonymous with "long, confusing and difficult to follow and even more difficult to pronounce." I always found myself shying away from her baked goods because they seemed too long and complicated.

Then recently, I realized something. That was all before I actually knew how to bake or cook. When the most difficult kitchen conundrum I could master was separating egg whites to make lower-cholesterol Duncan Hines Brownies, the each step in Martha's pastry dough recipe sounded similar to the instructions I read from my chemistry lab notebook in high school.

Those, I still wouldn't understand, but now, the terms "pulse dough until mixture is the texture of coarse meal" make sense to me and the idea of "turning dough onto a lightly floured work surface" don't make me cringe and run straight for the tube of Pillsbury crescent rolls.

Recently some friends and I cooked a pre-Thanksgiving dinner and one of my contributions was a biscuit recipe from the November 2007 Everyday Food that I've had flagged for a year. On Thanksgiving, I like to make sweet breads: Pumpkin Apple and Orange-Cranberry. Since the oven is usually busy enough as it is, biscuits fall to the wayside because we'll probably be too full for biscuits anyway (and if you've ever had Thanksgiving with my family, albeit small we are, we can put away a turkey and sweet potatoes like nobody's business).

Since this was only a "pretend Thanksgiving dinner" I gave the biscuit recipe a try. EDF offers a few recipe modifications, from Cheddar Biscuits to Cracked Black Pepper to Mixed Herbs.

I opted for door number three and couldn't have been more pleased with the flaky texture and melt-in-your-mouth buttermilk flavor of the biscuits. The herbs were a wonderful, subtle touch that a small pat of salted whipped butter accented nicely.

Buttermilk Biscuits

Everyday Food November 2007

4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled) plus more for rolling and cutting

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold, cut into bits (plus 4 tablespoons melted for brushing)

1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk

1. Preheat the oven to 450F. In a food processor, pulse flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt to combine. Add cold butter, pulse until mixture is the texture of coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Add buttermilk, pulse just until dough is moistened, 2-3 times.

2. Turn dough onto a lightly floured work surface; knead just to combine (do not overwork). Roll with a floured rolling pin (or pat with hands) to a 3/4 inch thickness. Cut out rounds with a floured 2 1/2 inch round biscuit cutter.

3. Transfer to a baking sheet, 1 1/2 inches apart (re-roll and cut scraps only once). Brush top and sides of rounds with melted butter. Bake until biscuits are puffed and golden, 12-15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 12.

To Freeze: After step 2, place dough rounds onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper and brush with melted butter. Freeze until solid and place in a resealable plastic bag. Store in freezer up to 2 months.

To Bake From Frozen: Place frozen dough rounds, buttered side up, on a large baking sheet and bake at 450F until biscuits are puffed and golden, 20-25 minutes.

This is the Closest I'll Ever Get...

2008-11-17T00:10:00.001-05:00

...to hanging out with Martha Stewart!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

That Martha is quite the dancer!

Oh how I wish this would really come true...

We could dance around like Santa's elves and then she could teach me how to really spruce up my house for the holidays and cook all sorts of very merry meals!

Until then, I'll just have to settle for her Christmas Workshop.

Don't forget: It starts TODAY!!

Are YOU Signed Up??

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-11-14T06:00:00.002-05:00

Best Week Ever is disturbed by Martha’s appearance on the “Tonight Show.”

Jane Green writes about a party she attended at Martha’s, which is featured in the December issue of “Living.”

CraftSanity goes crazy over the cookie molds used to make ornaments in the new “Living.”

My Life in Boxes attends Martha’s book-signing event in Pasadena, California.

Craftershock shows how to make lovely paper flowers featured in an old issue of “Living.”

Ezra Pound Cake serves up Martha’s spiced chocolate bread pudding in adorable fashion!

Abbey Goes Design Scouting is impressed by Martha’s new holiday cookie boxes.

Let’s Explore makes “Cheerios Treats” inspired by Martha’s confetti squares.

Flamingo Dancer’s Blog isn’t too keen on Martha’s baking pan organizer idea.

Underseaserenity tries out a few recipes from Martha’s “Baking Handbook.”

Have a Martha link to add? If so, drop it in a comment!

*Image from MarthaStewartCrafts.com

Meeting Martha :: The Book Tour

2008-11-13T04:00:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, Martha was in Dallas for a book signing to promote her latest publication, Martha Stewart's Cooking School. When I found out she was coming, I quickly got a ticket ... I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to stand mere inches away from Martha!

I waited dutifully in line outside Sur La Table along with hundreds of other Martha fans. Even the waiting was fun. It's not often you're surrounded by so many Martha lovers. The conversations were filled with recipe talk, decorating ideas, and speculation about seeing this domestic icon.

The book signing was organized and efficient (would you expect anything less?) and the line moved at a nice pace.

Meeting Martha was fantastic. On my personal blog, I likened it to other monumental days in my life (my wedding, the births of my children). Maybe not entirely, but it was great. After all, I've adored Martha since I was a teenager. For mere moments, I stood inches away from her, made eye contact, shared five to ten sentences, and had her undivided attention. I'm sure she would have liked more time with me, but alas, the line had to keep moving.

In person, Martha was delightful. Gracious, friendly, smiling. I know she's selling books and making millions but you would've thought she was the neighbor next door. I'll definitely be in line for the next one!

Martha Talks to Ladies Home Journal

2008-11-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

It seems that every time I turn around lately, there's a new Martha interview or nugget of Martha news. As a Martha fan from way back, this is a good thing. A very good thing indeed. In the November issue of Ladies Home Journal, she chatted a bit about her newest book and making mistakes.

You do so much. Don't you ever want to just kick back and eat bonbons?
No, that would be boring. I like what I do; I love to create things and I like to teach. Sitting around holds no interest for me.

Your new book is called Martha Stewart's Cooking School. How did you learn to cook?
My mother was a really, really good cook. So were both my grandmothers. We also had two next-door neighbors - an Italian family on one side and a German baker on the other - so I spent a lot of time in their kitchens. As a child, you pick up so much from cooking: science, arithmetic. When you cook with kids and want to double a recipe, for instance, let them do the math. Of course, you'll want to check their measurements, but making mistakes is part of learning.

Do you actually make mistakes?
I try not to [laughs]. But, of course, I do. Back when I had a catering business, we had some huge disasters. I remember serving oeufs en gelee - eggs in aspic - in August. It was about 110 degrees outside and the aspic (a gelatin typically made from meat stock) melted just as we were about to serve it to 200 people. But I'm very organized, and doing television in the kitchen has helped. I've learned to chop, squeeze, mince and talk at the same time. I have A-list actors on the show who can't talk and slice a tomato without nearly cutting their fingers off.

How can people avoid mishaps in their own kitchens?
People get sloppy with measurements and seasoning. "Oh, I'm not eating salt," someone says, so she doesn't add any and her food is flavorless. Or they don't understand the terms exactly. When they saute a piece of meat, they might not brown it first, which you need to.

What are you making for Thanksgiving?
We must have a turkey, and this year's will be one of my raised turkeys. I live on a farm and we've been eating turkey eggs all year. They're delicious in cakes. I'll also make a wild-mushroom soup in honor of my mother, who passed away last year. That was her traditional thing.

Want more? Grab the latest copy of Ladies Home Journal for the complete interview, on newsstands now.

Talking Turkey?

2008-11-10T03:00:00.000-05:00

Nope...today Martha is talking Cranberries!

Check her out in NPR's Holiday Favorites CD.

She chats a little about Thanksgiving meals and an ongoing NPR joke concerning a cranberry recipe...

(The joke will make a little more sense if you listen to the first "sketch" in the program.)

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-11-07T03:00:00.000-05:00

House Blends has a few online holiday treats from Martha!

Oh Preppy Sue! I'm loving those Gift Baskets, too!!

Fields of Heather lets us know that Martha's Thanksgiving Workshop Begins!!

Glitter, Glitter Everywhere! Check out Martha's Glitter Kits over at Craft Critique.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Kim Vallee shows us The Art of Decorative Piecrust Making from Martha.

Martha + Flor Carpeting makes one happy Mod*Mom.

A new restaurant in Seattle that Martha is raving about? Check it out over at Citizen Rain.

Everyone's still talking about Whatever, Martha! Check out what Sassy Pink Boutique things about it...

My Wedding Report shows brides-to-be how even Martha's everyday decor ideas can be used for a wedding.

Enjoy a little Martha flashback over at Zippityd. Me Love Cookies!

Martha Kids :: Study Hall

2008-11-06T04:00:00.000-05:00

When I first saw the homemade study center in a past Good Things issue, I knew I had struck gold. My kids are homeschooled and the distractions of life sometimes get in the way, especially for one particular child. The bird outside the window, the noisy younger brother and sister, the adult conversations - it all prevents good, hard, uninterrupted work.

This study center is super easy to put together and simple to personalize. I took one shortcut that came about as the result of a serendipitous find at my local hobby store. Rather than cutting down a cardboard box, I shortened a bright pink tri-fold display board. These boards now come in a variety of project-brightening colors, as does the duct tape used around the edges of the board.

Finding ways to personalize the board was fun. These days, office supply stores carry a wide range of colorful clips, fancy bands, and bright envelopes. I added a few elements to our board to brighten it up and match my child's personality.

This is a great project for personalizing any work space and providing a study hall for homework. Has anyone else tackled this project?

Mad About Debra!

2008-11-05T07:00:00.009-05:00

We all know and love Martha, but what some of us might not know is that Martha Stewart spends each and every day surrounded by creative, talented people who have contributed to the empire that she’s built.

At Mad About Martha, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to introduce you to some the finest minds in style, fashion and food.

Those of you who enjoy your time in the kitchen as much as I do would undoubtedly recognize Debra Puchalla's name from the masthead of Everyday Food. Debra, the reigning editor-in-chief has spent the past decade in the Martha Stewart test kitchen honing recipes and sampling simple culinary creations to suit the tastes of every home cook. Debra and her talented staff are dedicated to making life - and dinnertime - easier with their blog Dinner Tonight. We decided listen to Debra dish out her favorite parts of being an editor at Everyday Food, both on and off the job, as well as some tips for staying on top on top of social media trends whether she's at home cooking with her three boys or out on-the-go.

Q) What's the best editorial assignment you've worked on at EDF?
A) About a year and a half ago, we were looking to respond to readers’ hunger for healthy recipes and created our Upgrade column. It’s just one recipe per issue but I love the idea behind it: take an iconic, notoriously indulgent recipe—think mac-n-cheese or artichoke dip—and tweak it to be almost virtuous by swapping in better substitutions. I love that it teaches home cooks how to cook smart without sacrificing what they crave.

Q) What's a typical day in the office like for you?
A) My best days include a mix of activities—some time at my desk, writing and editing stories; some time with colleagues, strategizing about how to make our content better and even more relevant as we shape future lineups; and some time in the test kitchen, tasting recipes that are in development and deciding what information about them is best shared with our fans.

Q) What's your favorite part about your job?
A) Years ago, I worked in news and found that I got home and wanted to learn about how to live a better life. Working at Martha Stewart has helped me do just that: I learn something new every day that makes my life even better. I’m fortunate that what I do helps shape the home life that my husband and I share with our kids.

Q)Why did you begin blogging with EDF?
A) We were finding with the magazine that we have a passionate audience who not only wanted meal solutions, they wanted to know the ones we (editors) choose to cook at home and why, and they wanted a direct line to our expertise. Food and cooking can be fun—why not celebrate this with our audience in print as well as on an ongoing basis online?

Q) A lot of your readers follow you on Twitter. What do you like best about social media?
A) That’s easy. Listening to what gets people excited, what they’re curious about, what they need.

Q) Have you always wanted to work in the food/beverage industry?
A) Doesn’t everybody want to work at a food magazine? I’m very lucky that I get to merge my love of smart writing, good cooking, and sharing information. I worked in restaurants in high school and college (a “fancy” German restaurant with a waterfall outside Hartford, Connecticut, pizza parlors, etc) but really wanted to be in political journalism—way led to way, though, and I came to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia a decade ago and never looked back.

Q) How do you manage to work full-time, blog and find the time to cook? A) We have three sons, and I think it’s important for us to have meals together. We don’t get to have dinner on weeknights all the time, but it’s a big priority for weekends. First, we cook together; the big guys, 6 and 4, are good sous chefs (though cookies are their specialty!) I have a laptop on my counter and I jot a few notes as I go.

We have friends over a lot too, who are my knowing test cases. I see what they like best and what pan empties first and try and write about that. My work is very important to me too. At Everyday Food, we’re helping people eat well without a lot of effort and I like being part of that.

Q) What is the best piece of advice you would offer to novice bloggers today?
A) Be honest, listen to others, and ask more questions than you intend to answer. Offer your true point of view and share your curiosities.

Sale Time!

2008-11-01T12:42:00.003-04:00

It’s November 1. Know what that means? Time to visit Michael’s and Macy’s to stock up on Martha’s Halloween products for next year!

A quick search online this morning shows that the Macy’s stuff is seriously discounted already. Michael’s is offering a few dollars off each product. But visit your local stores to see – I’m sure product availability varies.

I scored this awesome Halloween Festivities Kit last year at Macy’s after Christmas. It was originally $29.99, marked half-off once and then marked half-off again. I took it home for $7.49.

Happy shopping!!

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-10-31T17:51:00.002-04:00

LJC FYI uses Martha’s adorable owl punch to make Halloween party invitations.

Whisk is inspired by Martha to make ghostly milkshakes

Splendiferous Creations makes a Halloween treat out of some Martha Stewart Crafts test tubes.

Faded Youth Blog “gossips” about Martha’s Halloween guest Blake Lively.

Bushwick Cooks highlights Martha’s candy apple recipe.

Design*Sponge whips up Martha’s chocolate-swirl gingerbread.

MSLO invests in online event planner Pingg.

Anna Strawberry adapts Martha’s Mexican winter squash soup recipe.

Bloggedy Blog Blog has a very Martha-filled day!

Celebrity Mound reports that Jessica Simpson ditched Tony Romo for a dinner with Martha (and the other celebrities with lines at Macy’s).

Have a Martha link to add? If so, drop it in a comment. And have a safe and happy Halloween!

*Image from MarthaStewart.com.

Halloween Fun :: Cheddar Cobwebs and Slime Rickeys

2008-10-30T04:00:00.001-04:00

I love fun, festive, holiday treats and I'm always drawn to those types of recipes. They're such an easy way to add memories to a holiday.

The October 2008 issue of Everyday Food featured Cheddar Cobwebs and Slime Rickeys (click on the titles for a direct link to the recipes). The perfect refreshment for busy jack-o-lantern carvers!

Despite a few "oops" moments (I didn't plan on freezing the grapes and was thankful those juicy things freeze quickly, and I realized I was out of parchment to line the cookie sheet), this snack was simple and quite good.

If you decide to make this, keep a close eye on those cobwebs - mine took about half of Martha's suggested baking time. They were also easier to remove from the baking sheet after sitting for a few minutes, rather than immediately as Martha suggested.

The best part? The frozen (or partially frozen) grapes move wildly throughout the beverage - my kids thought that was "awesome". Grab the ingredients and serve these before the kiddos head out trick-or-treating tomorrow!

Coming Soon ... Martha's Thanksgiving Workshop

2008-10-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Once we make it through Halloween this week, Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. And shhh! Don't even mention Christmas!

Never fear, Martha's here... with her new Thanksgiving Workshop. Sign up for daily e-mail tips now to get you in the spirit, organized and on track to having a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday with her craft ideas, recipes and entertaining details to make everything absolutely perfect.

There, there. All will be ok. Just breathe. B-r-e-a-t-h-e.

Complete details are right here. The fun starts November 3rd.

Photo from MarthaStewart.com.

Pumpkin Cookie Pointers

2008-10-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

In an attempt to feel festive and fallish, I baked up a batch of Martha’s pumpkin cookies with brown butter icing. The recipe is included in her “Cookies” book and is also online here.

The cookies are beyond delicious, but the path to achieving such deliciousness was not easy. Rather than give you a play-by-play of the recipe, I’ll share a few pointers to consider in case you find yourself with nothing to do one afternoon and a hankering for some pumpkin cookies.

-- Give yourself a block of about four hours to make these. If you don’t have that much time to spare, consider halving the recipe.

-- I would also recommend halving the recipe if you don’t have an immediate need for six dozen cookies. The cookies are really hard to store because of the icing – You can’t stack them on top of each other in a Tupperware container unless you want a sticky mess. Because of this I have several trays of them covered in plastic wrap lining my counters right now.

-- I didn’t really read the recipe before I started and therefore experienced total panic when I got to the part that said I had to pipe the dough onto a cookie sheet using a pastry bag. I am not a friend of pastry bags, but I decided to give it a try and it was actually pretty easy (even though I have the cheapest pastry bag ever and I'm sure I didn't use the right kind of tip). Definitely more time-consuming than simply scooping the dough, though. I do wonder if they would come out the same if you rolled the dough into a ball and then flattened the ball. If you’ve tried that technique, let me know!

-- My icing came out runnier than it looked in the photo featured in the “Cookies” book. I guess I could have tried adding more powdered sugar, but I didn’t want to potentially ruin a good thing. Instead, I put down some waxed paper and iced the cookies over that for easy cleanup.

I hope I haven’t discouraged anyone from trying this recipe, because the cookies truly are scrumptious. They turn out a cakey texture and the browned butter really adds a unique and tasty flavor. Be prepared to be stuck in the kitchen for a while, but don’t worry – the reward will be a sweet one!

What’s your favorite pumpkiny treat for fall?

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-10-24T17:20:00.000-04:00

Free Wedding Templates? Yes, Please! Thanks Suffix Abuse!

Lauren, at Adventures of a Southern Newlywed, is loving Martha's newest cookbook, Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook, for it's recipes, but mostly it's technique!

Aloha Nico stands up for Martha!

Clash of the Titans? Cityfile tells all...

Don't forget to Ask Martha over at Philly.com!

I just love Chic Gadets! And now they show us how to dust proof those TVs with cute cute covers!

Stardust Gems and Ribbons shows off the fantastic border punches. I MUST HAVE THEM!!

Everyone just keeps going back and forth about Whatever, Martha! Disorganized Thoughts for the Day loves it...

Yum-A! The Food Librarian makes Martha's Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies. My mouth is watering!

A play about Martha? Martha Moments gives us the details...

Mad About Eddie

2008-10-23T12:00:00.009-04:00

Look familiar? You might recognize Eddie from Season 2 of Bravo’s Top Design.

With a degree from the Culinary Institute, Eddie began his career as a food editor on the television show Martha Stewart Living. After running his own catering company for two years, Eddie returned to publishing, landing at Living Magazine, where he spends his days flexing his creativity by styling the pages of Living for readers on any budget.

Q: Eddie, we all love Martha! What’s the best editorial assignment you’ve had working for Living?
A: This is a hard question, because I’ve had the opportunity to go to so many amazing places to look for great pieces, but I think my personal favorite is the first assignment I ever had at the magazine. I did a shelf bracket story in a September issue, and since it was my first piece I just really wanted it to shine.

Q: What’s your favorite part of being a style editor?
A: In the style department, you have your hands in every aspect of the magazine. From crafts and decorating to cooking and gardening, there are so many different types of style out there. One of my favorite things to do is work on flower arrangements, but I also love that when I’m looking at furniture and antiques, there is really something for all of our readers, whether they like new or old items and no matter what they’re willing to spend.

Q: What’s a typical day in the office like for you?
A: Well, when we get to work in the morning we review assignments and then I spend most of my day on-the-go: visiting the marketplace and attending press events to pick up ideas for propping and styling shopping photo shoots for the pages of the magazine.

Q: When you were growing up, did you always want to be in publishing?
A: Absolutely. I’ve always wanted to work for a magazine. When I was in culinary school, I didn’t even know that a position called ‘style editor’ existed. I just think the idea of creating lifestyle is great.

Q: What do you hope Living readers learn from you?
A: Well, there are just so many resources out there for people who are interested I design. I like to spread the message that you don’t need a huge budget to create a beautiful lifestyle. Sometimes all it takes is a coat of paint to make a unique piece of furniture your own. My advice is when in doubt, just paint it.

Q: We’ve read your blog and know that our readers are dying to know, what made you start blogging?
A: My partner Jaithan and I started the blog after Top Design just as a diary of our weekend life. I love what I do and I hope my blog inspires people to live a better life. I love hearing feedback from readers about how they’ve been motivated by some of my ideas and designs.

Q: Eddie, what advice would you give to brand new bloggers?
A: Do what you love. Find something you’re passionate about and know that there are also other people out there who are interested in the exact same thing.

Not only is Eddie a genius behind the pages of Living, he’s an expert trend spotter. You can check out some of Eddie’s purchases in the “Object of The Day” column on his blog, where he highlights specific items that he’s found in his travels. I love the Wedgwood Tea Set from the Antiques Garage on 26th Street and just might have to pay a visit there myself.

What are some of YOUR favorite antiques?

Behind the Scenes at Martha Stewart's Talk Show

2008-10-21T09:57:00.000-04:00

Remember that blogging show that Martha did a few weeks back? Well it turns out that the show continued a bit behind-the-scenes in the kitchen after the airing, as Matt from MattBites.com and other food bloggers headed in and started cooking with editors from the Everyday Food magazine blog. Matt served up his grandmother's soup recipe and chatted about the cookies he made on air with Martha.

Miss it? You can check out the nearly 10-minute video right here, from the folks at Culinary Media Network.

Photo from Culinary Media Network.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-10-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

“CRAFT Magazine” laughs at some Martha bloopers.

Parent Hacks highlights a shortcut for wowing friends with the spiderweb cheesecake included in the October issue of “Martha Stewart Living.”

White Trash Mom makes a Halloween craft that I’m sure would appall Martha. (Actually, maybe not. She does seem to have a sense of humor!)

Karma-free Cooking writes about her recent visit to watch a taping of Martha’s show.

Thimbleanna uses clip art from Martha’s site to adorn her Halloween treat bags.

Dream Weddings on a Budget is smitten with the favor idea on the cover of “Martha Stewart Weddings.”

“The New York Post” reports on Alexis Stewart’s real estate dealings.

Carrots ‘n’ Cake makes the shepherd’s pie featured on Martha’s show this week (and in the current issue of “Everyday Food”).

A Chicken in Every Granny Cart dines in the same room as Martha.

Curly Wurly Gurly covers a cute pail in candy wrappers á la Martha.

Have a Martha link to add? If so, drop it in the comments.

*Image from MarthaStewart.com.

Too Early?

2008-10-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, okay...so I know that Halloween is still over two weeks away, but is anyone else excited about the special Martha Stewart Holiday issue that just came out? When I found it in my bookstore today, I literally lost my breath, oohh'd out loud, and snatched it off the shelf...as if there weren't ten more behind it.

I love this time of year! Yes, I love it for Halloween and Thanksgiving, but, really, I'm just excited for the Christmas build-up.

And during the Christmas season there's nothing I love more than making gifts...esp. when money is tight. (Hello trying to buy a house in Silicon Valley!) But what makes a homemade gift even more special is making a statement with the wrapping. Isn't it an exciting feeling to see a beautifully wrapped gift under the tree and thinking, "Wow...that's looks great. I know so-and-so is just going to love it!" or "Oh! I hope that's for me."

Candy Wrap Gifts

Translucent Wrapping

Vintage Linen Wrap

Woven Ribbon Wrap

So take a cue from the crafty genius of Martha and her little elves

and get those Christmas Bells a-ringin' for all your beautifully wrapped gifts!

The Best Margaritas

2008-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I hosted a small fiesta - a Mexican-themed birthday party to celebrate a friend. No fiesta is complete without margaritas and I was looking forward to trying Martha's recipe. My recipe was torn from the magazine so I'm not sure which issue it came from but it was printed in Martha Stewart Living sometime this summer.

These margaritas need some prep time since they start with a simple syrup (1 cup sugar and 1 1/2 cups water heated in a saucepan until the sugar is dissolved, then mixed with 2 cups fresh lime juice) and require time in the freezer. Before serving, the frozen mixture is scraped with a spoon until slushy, mixed with tequila (1 cup), and served (I doubled the recipe but didn't double the tequila and thought it was a perfect balance). Once mixed with tequila, the slushy mixture can be popped back in the freezer until serving time since the tequila will prevent it from freezing into a solid mass.

I served the margaritas from a large bowl using a ladle. The lime garnish adds to the festivity.

The clipping claims these margaritas are "nicer than margarita mix" and they are! Tart and tangy, my friends said these were the best margaritas they had ever tasted. In fact, so good that we didn't get a picture before they were gone ... and the group photo of our toast made us look like we'd all enjoyed one too many!

These margaritas will become a summertime entertaining regular at our house.

Come Join Us?

2008-10-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Do you heart Martha? Want to write about her? Then we want to talk to you about joining us at Mad About Martha. Interested? Drop me a line here.

Soup's On!

2008-10-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

With the weather finally cooling down a bit here in sunny California, I took the opportunity to cook up a steaming pot of soup using the classic minestrone recipe featured in this month’s issue of “Everyday Food.”

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
1 large celery stalk, diced
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (14.5 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes, drained and finely chopped
1 large potato, peeled and diced
1/4 head Savoy or green cabbage (1/2 pound), cored and thinly sliced
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 garlic clove, minced (optional)
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil, plus torn leaves for serving (optional)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan, for serving

You’ll notice in the photo that I took a few not-very-Martha-like shortcuts. I used canned green beans that were already cut into 1-inch pieces, crushed garlic from a jar and dried basil. I think the fact that the rosemary was plucked just moments before this photo was taken from my little herb garden makes up for that.

First, I added the olive oil to my pot and cooked the onion, carrots, celery red-pepper flakes, rosemary, salt and pepper for 5-8 minutes. While that was all cooking, I chopped and then added the tomatoes, potato and cabbage. I also added the cannellini beans and water at that point, and brought it all to a boil, stirring in the green beans. Next, I reduced to a simmer and cooked for about 20 minutes.

I have to admit that I was a little bit afraid when this was simmering, because it smelled awfully similar to the famous Weight Watchers soup recipe, and I was in the mood for something a little heartier than that. Also, I was surprised that it didn’t call for broth of any kind, just water.

I’m happy to say that the soup did not disappoint! It was filling and delicious, and provided leftovers for another night. Most impressively, it was actually ready in less than the hour that the magazine promised, which is truly spectacular, considering the amount of chopping involved. I’d definitely consider adding this to my regular recipe rotation, and look forward to trying some of the variations the magazine suggested, such as adding peas and zucchini!

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-10-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Perez Hilton thinks the Obama party needs Martha's help in their plane. Stinky!

Art Deco inspired furniture from Martha?? Sign me up! Martha Moments tells us all about the new Rosebridge Collection with Bernhardt Furniture.

Mellow Martha? Resurrecting Critique looks for the reasons why...

Talk about scary costumes! Serious Eats give us a peek at some creepy baby costumes from Martha's show.

Not everyone is loving "Whatever, Martha!" Do you agree with Be Your Best?

A Vintage Dream encourages you to GET MARTHA TICKETS! It's well worth it!!

Life in the Cove just got a little prettier with some Martha Stewart Bouquets!

Apartment Therapy loves Martha's easy decorating ideas. Well, who wouldn't??

Another Side of Nick Schmidt thinks Martha may not love the Muppets as much as we all thought...

Lucky Liz Banfield shoots for Martha Weddings! I am oh so jealous!!

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More link love to add? Leave them in the comments!

Body + Soul :: Shiitake Fried Rice

2008-10-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

With four kids, I'm always looking for high impact foods - recipes that are full of nutrients even if the toddlers only take a few bites.

The October 2008 issue of Body + Soul contained an article entitled Power Foods: Shiitake Mushrooms. One of the recipes, Shiitake Fried Rice, sounded easy and delicious. Add an eggroll and you've got a quick weeknight dish. I was especially impressed with the health benefits of shiitake mushrooms. Full of fiber and protein as well as some iron, potassium, and zinc, shiitake mushrooms boost immunity and have anti-cancer properties. Unfortunately for my family, our local grocery store was out of shiitake mushrooms and we replaced them with cremini mushrooms. I'm telling myself most of those same great properties exist in the cremini.

I followed the recipe (found here) closely, although as I mentioned, I substituted a different type of mushroom. I also cut back on the amount of lime juice. A citrus flavor in my fried rice didn't appeal and a hint of lime was just right.

My kids said it was as good or better than one of their favorite fast food Chinese restaurants. Martha may not enjoy their rating but that's high praise in the school crowd. We'll add this recipe to the keeper file.

Review: Broccoli Gratin

2008-10-07T08:29:00.000-04:00

I'm a big fan of gratins, so when I saw an easy recipe for Broccoli Gratin in Martha's Everyday Food magazine, it quickly got ripped out and added to my burgeoning to-try pile; no matter that I'm the only one in the house that will eat broccoli.

Very simple to make and tasty to boot, it would make a perfect side dish to a weeknight dinner ... or even your Thanksgiving table. Was it a wow? No, but a solid performer. I mean, really, we're talking about broccoli here - is there such a thing as a wow broccoli recipe?

The only change I would make next time is that instead of chopping the broccoli florets finely, as the recipe calls for, I'd do a rougher chop, because chopping them so small made the dish a little more mushy than I'd like.

Broccoli Gratin
Recipe courtesy of Everyday Food magazine

Serves 6

3 slices white sandwich bread
3 tablespoons olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
2 heads broccoli (about 2 pounds total), florets finely chopped, stalks peeled and finely chopped (don't chop so fine, rough chop a bit better)
1 cup shredded white cheddar (4 ounces)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in upper third. In a food processor, pulse bread and 1 tablespoon oil until large crumbs form; season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Whisk in flour; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil; add broccoli. Reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in 3/4 cup cheese.

Transfer mixture to a shallow 1 1/2 quart baking dish; top with breadcrumbs and remaining cheese. Bake until breadcrumbs are golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-10-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

i-mockery whips up some Martha-like Halloween treats for the domestically challenged.

MOMformation takes a queue from Martha on crafts to make with fallen leaves.

GreenMomma uses a Martha template to make fall-themed window clings.

The Back Burner blogs about another blogger who used Martha’s sour cherry pie recipe to make the cutest mini pies!

Tethered 2 Home gives an in-depth tutorial on how to make the paper medallions that were featured on Martha’s show last week.

Create My Event showcases the adorable Halloween favor bags that Martha is selling at Michael’s.

Jaimee Rose glitters up some pumpkins à la Martha.

Amberism is inspired by a photo on Martha’s site to make a baby shower cake shaped like building blocks.

The Skanchy Family uses two Martha ideas for son Oliver’s second birthday party: a Rice Krispie treat cake and Bakerella’s cupcake pops that were featured on Martha’s show.

Apartment Therapy gives a nod to Martha’s Halloween decorations from Michael’s.

Do you have a Martha link to add? If so, drop it in a comment!

*Image from MarthaStewart.com

Body + Soul :: Pillowcase Bag

2008-10-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

I am far from "green" in the way I live my life but I'm beginning to take some baby steps to get there. For this reason, I liked the idea of the Pillowcase Bag in the October 2008 issue of Body + Soul. I can't yet imagine using cloth market bags to get my weekly groceries (there are only so many cloth bags I can drag around!) but I thought this would be a great bag to keep in my car for quick grocery or pharmacy stops. Baby steps, right?

This bag (doubly green because it's recycled from a used pillowcase) was easy to sew and whipped up quickly - it's a great project even for the beginner seamstress. Should I get really green, I could make a bunch in an afternoon. I used a quality (but used) pillowcase for this project since a high thread count will obviously make a sturdier bag.

I'm pleased with the final outcome - a fairly heavy-duty, washable bag just perfect for running errands.

Enjoying Seasonal Fruit Fresh Out of Season

2008-09-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

My son and I love to eat frozen grapes right from the freezer. As he says, "These are so refreshing!" He cracks me up. But Martha shares another tip when it comes to frozen fruit. Have too many peaches picked from the trees this season? Freeze them and enjoy them in your favorite smoothies or cocktails this Winter.

These treats are like ice pops but even healthier (and easier to make). You can munch on pieces of frozen fruit whenever you want a cold treat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, and then arrange fruit, such as sliced peaches, raspberries, blueberries, or grapes, in a single layer on top. Freeze, then transfer to small freezer bags. Store up to 1 month.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-09-26T10:25:00.000-04:00

TreoCentral lets us in on the coupling of the new SnapTell & MS Weddings

Making Fun of Martha? Totally okay in the eyes of MamaPop

Martha Stewart as Cupid? Who Knew?! Josh Turner and his Band, Maybe. Read all about it over at The Boot

Got Questions? Ask Martha over at Philly.com

The Pink Book Blog shares their experience visiting The Martha Stewart Show (And make sure to check out our own ladies from MAM and the fun time they had at the MS Show!)

Catherine Holman Folk Art let me in on this little secret: Martha Stewart is featuring blogs on HER BLOG! And if you leave her a comment and a link to your blog, she may feature you. I have, of course, already submitted my own personal blog and this one!!

Broken Yolks respects Martha...because she knows that Martha is only human. And that's a Good Thing!

Martha's Blog Show showed off a fabulous blog and book, and Paper Press Blog gives us a sneak peek of A Year of Mornings by the lovely ladies at 3191.

New York Magazine asks the question, "How Did Martha Stewart End Up with Howard Stern's Baby?"

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Got a Link? Add it to the Comments!!

Body + Soul :: Pumpkin Butter

2008-09-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

As I was reading through the latest issue of Body + Soul, the recipe for variations of Pumpkin Butter caught my eye. Pumpkin is loaded with fiber and beta-carotene. Served with bread and cheese (or with pretzel stick dippers for little hands), it's a delicious and healthy fall snack.

This pumpkin butter recipe mixed up quickly (especially since I substituted canned pumpkin as suggested) and was a nice afternoon snack. It wasn't quite as creamy as I had hoped and I think I might enjoy one of the variations (Apple-Cinnamon or Cardamom-Clove) better, but I wouldn't hesitate to use this recipe again for an easy snack.

(photo courtesy of www.marthastewart.com)

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-09-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

E! Online covers a pretty hilarious “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” segment featuring Martha.

The “New York Daily News” profiles Martha and her crafts line.

“Access Hollywood” gets a tour of Martha’s house.

Martha details 10 ways to save energy around the house in her syndicated column.

Design Mom’s little ones tackle the puppet craft kit from Martha’s crafts line.

MattBites writes about his experience on Martha’s blogging show.

The Swell Life covers Martha’s blogging show and best blog contest.

Green’s Blog picks up on Martha’s comments regarding the not-so-tech-savvy John McCain.

The Publicity Hound writes about the tips for a profitable blog that Perez Hilton shared during his interview with Martha.

Sustainable is Good attends Martha’s blogging show.

Diva Dialogue takes cues from Martha for a Halloween-time wedding.

Indy.com reviews “Whatever Martha.”

Do you have a Martha link to add? If so, please drop it in a comment!

*Image from MarthaStewart.com

Martha on the Today Show

2008-09-18T10:13:00.000-04:00

Even though she just kicked off her newest season of her talk show this week, Martha is making the talk show rounds and appeared on the Today Show Monday morning, making pasta from the September issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Miss the epi? You can catch it right here. One of these days, the shows are going to allow enough time in the segment so it doesn't seem rushed. Until then...

Photo from Martha's blog.

Live Blogging From Mad About Martha

2008-09-17T09:04:00.000-04:00

To say that it wasn't an easy journey to the Martha Stewart Show today would be the understatement of the century. I missed my train (those who know me know that is pretty much par for the course), then missed the train after that. Fortunately, I made the next train which should have gotten in at 8:14. It didn't. It was 15 minutes late. I was due here at 8:30. Late city. But all is well and I am in the audience room waiting.

So the lineup sounds a little differently from the preview. Mattbites is here along with a design blogger, two guys from Politico and Margaret Roach...oh yea, and Perez Hilton (not to be confused with Paris Hilton). Word has it we might get a little swag on our way out as well.

UPDATE - 9:36 a.m.
Seated now. upper right. I am wearing pink, like one of my tweet friends suggested. I am sitting next to one of the ladies from List Mama. She also writes 100 Days to Christmas (gotta send a little link love to the other girl in pink!).

The audience is getting prepped right now for the show. Joey, the warm up guy, is a trip.

UPDATE - 9:58 a.m.
2 mins to show time! Apparently in NY, the show doesn't air until 11 -- we are taping now!

So the set here, it looks a lot like you see on TV -- except it's huge.

Is primer pronounced prim-er? Not Prime - er? That's how Martha said it, never heard it pronounced like that before. Learn new things everyday, eh?

Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen was just introduced -- can't see her though. Oh, there she is. She estimates traffic at -- get this -- 1 million a month.

UPDATE - 10:06 a.m.
Swag! Audience is getting Cute Overload's calendar. The blogger behind that is here. She is so pretty!

More swag! A Year of Mornings book. It's so cool to be here.

Perez is next!!!

We are entering the second segment in 5 seconds. (Pause for applause.)

Perez Hilton started blogging in 2004 -- today, he gets 9 million hits per day. Can't I just say Oh My God. He is wearing a fantastic striped shirt and these interesting shiny gray pants. I just can't get into the shiny material for pants thing. Sorry Perez.

Perez is a total success story. It is simply amazing that he could move his mom to LA and employ his sister as his assistant. I so, so, so want that lifestyle. What blogger doesn't? Oooh. Cool tidbit -- his real name is Mario.

Tips from Perez:

Find a niche and do something that will help you stand out.
Be prepared to work hard. Perez puts in 15-16 hours a day. Holy cow. I don't think a food blogger need to do that so much...but spending time on your writing is key for sure.

Was there a third one? I zoned for a second. Sorry folks.

We're in break again. Music playing. I spotted Food Maven near me, hi Rachel!

Getting ready for Matt of MattBites to be on. He is such a photography rockstar! You have to check out his site and drool. He gets 50-60k a month (in hits to his blog). It's a lot but is paled by Perez.

Is anyone else so totally loving the robin's egg blue Kitchen Aid? I want one! I really, really want one! Macy's has a whole line of robin's egg blue gear from Martha.

Matt made teaching Martha to cook so incredibly easy. What great poise.

UPDATE - 10:27 a.m.
Do those cookies sound devastatingly delish or what?

Martha tidbit: She's coming out with a cupcake cookbook next.

Eddie Ross from The Design Blog is next. He's also on Top Design. Talking about flea market finds. Love the idea of flea marketing, though I rarely go. Oooh -- clip on earrings become magnets. Great idea! Sounds like a good Etsy business.

Vintage postcards too.

UPDATE - 10:40 a.m.
Did Martha just call her Sharon Palin? That's a pretty big and unexpected gaffe for her.

She admitted her mistake.

So Politico bloggers are on. Love Politico. Do you think it's odd to have political bloggers on Martha Stewart? I don't. It's a blogging show after all. More odd that there are no mommy bloggers on the list.

Martha admits that it is odd that McCain doesn't use the latest methods of communication. I couldn't agree more. It really would be weird to have a president who doesn't use computers, email, etc. Embrace the change, McCain!

UPDATE - 10:46 a.m.
What great company to be in here. It's amazing to look around and know that I am surrounded by some of the greatest wordsmiths in the blogosphere today.

A Way to Garden's Margaret Roach is on. She uses a Nikon SLR to photograph. Lovely photos on her blog. I can't imagine gardening that much though. She just called her frog boys "sexy beasts." That's a little weird. IMHO, of course.

Another mention of sex. Hmm.

UPDATE - 10:55 a.m.
Thank you HP for our wireless printers!!!!

Ok, so that's it folks. Hope you enjoyed the show. This was great fun.

Picture from the Martha Set

2008-09-17T08:41:00.000-04:00

Picture taken at the Martha set just moments ago.

Watch Martha With Mad About Martha!

2008-09-16T10:48:00.000-04:00

The blogosphere is an interesting place. Between feed readers and Twitter, it's safe to say that many blogger "know" at least a half-dozen -- if not many more -- bloggers out there. That's what makes Martha Stewart's show tomorrow special. She's bringing together bloggers from all over for The Blogging Show.

Who'll be on?

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton
mattbites.com's Matt Armendariz
Smitten Kitchen blogger Deb Perelman
Politico's Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin
A Way to Garden writer Margaret Roach

And who else? Me! Check in here at Mad About Martha tomorrow morning (Wednesday) at 10 a.m. to follow along as I liveblog the experience. You can join in the conversation!

She's Back!

2008-09-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

So, what did everyone think of Martha's "big" season premiere yesterday?

I have to admit that I don't really love the segments shot "off set," so a whole show in that format wasn't my favorite, but I still thought it was neat to see her house, garden and stables. I am looking forward to the more traditional show today!

September Body + Soul Tips for Eating Less

2008-09-15T13:19:00.000-04:00

Every Fall I make resolutions. This is probably a hangover from school when at the start of each school year I would promise myself that this year I would be really organized, that I’d do my homework on Friday night instead of Sunday night, that I’d read ahead in my History book. I still do this, only now my resolutions tend to be broader in scope. I still resolve to do things like read more and improve my mind, but now I also think about my eating habits.

The September Body + Soul must have read my mind, because their Simple Tricks to Eat Less are right in line with the kinds of behaviors I’m hoping to eradicate. I often find myself thinking, “Well, I’m pretty much full, but there are just these two bites of chicken left; might as well eat them as throw them out.” This thinking can be a real problem. But there same behavior in reverse could be a real help in keeping weight under control.

Here are a few suggestions that can make a big difference:

- Use smaller bowls and plates; what we have, we fill up. And we’re more inclined to empty it, too.

- Sit down to eat rather than eating on the run. This includes not eating at your desk; I am very guilty of this. If we perceive what we’re eating as a “meal,” it’s more satisfying.

- Start the meal with a broth-based soup to help stretch your stomach and signal to your brain to slow your eating. Soups like minestrone or gazpacho provide an added health benefit by sneaking in an extra serving of vegetables.

- Don’t try to make every meal a lavish affair with multiple courses and options. Limiting the number of choices we have (such as not serving bread along with a menu that already has potatoes or rice) may minimize the number of calories we eat.

- Keep high calorie treat foods hidden away. The old adage, “Out of sight, out of mind” holds true when it comes to tempting foods. We always have some kind of homemade cookies or cake around, because I like to have a little dessert now and then (as do my kids), but they’re in a cupboard that’s reserved solely for housing that sort of thing. If we’re not specifically after a treat, we don’t see them.

- Don’t bother with low fat when it comes to snacks. Seems that our inclination is to consider “low fat” to mean “no calories” and give ourselves carte blanche to eat more than we should. Eat one “regular” cookie, rather than risk eating five low fat ones.

- Consider picking up some peppermint oil, or keeping mints or peppermint tea handy. A small study indicates that it may have a positive impact on appetite suppression. Add this to your arsenal of ways to fight cravings; it might work for you.

- Try tricking yourself into eating less by going for less dense foods. Instead of mashed potatoes, serve cubed potatoes roasted with herbs. Scatter just a few croutons on your salad instead of having a slice of bread or crackers along with it.

Since I already keep my treats hidden, I think I’m going to try the peppermint tea and the soup ideas right away. And I’m going to try to get away from my desk at lunchtime today!

Picture from Marthastewart.com

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-09-12T21:12:00.000-04:00

Who's invited? The Huffington Post says WE ALL ARE! Let's visit Martha's farm for her season premiere!

Philly.com shares Martha's shoe-care tips. If I didn't buy all my shoes at Payless, I'd follow these religiously!

Martha returns to QVC? The QVC Community discusses how AMAZING that would be!

Bread & Honey create Martha's beautiful strawberry "bandana" tart. Can you believe the detail on the crust??

Who better to have a bio over at Perfect People than Miss Martha herself?

Are you a SuperMom? If so, Julian1st tells us that Martha wants YOU!

Frugal Shopping with Julie gives a little secret on how to get a discount on Martha Stewart Living magazine!

The Domestic Goddess wishes she were Martha...don't we all...and was a baking machine today - making ginger snaps, Martha's apple pie, and Pate Brisee. Yum! Can we come over for dinner?

Get a sneak peek of "Whatever, Martha!" over at the AV Club and witness Martha's offspring being very snarky about her! So Harsh, Alexis!! (But still a good laugh!)

Country Living's First Woman Entrepreneur

2008-09-09T20:42:00.000-04:00

Martha Stewart is honored, once again, by Country Living Magazine.

Back in 1978, Martha was CL's first ever Woman Entrepreneur. And to celebrate their 30th Anniversary, they are again chatting with Martha to see what she's been up to since '78. In the interview, Martha talks about keeping her ideas fresh, the day she felt she'd "made it," country style, and also reveals a new book to be released October 21st: Martha Stewart's Cooking School.

So be sure to check out Martha's interview in Country Living, October 2008 and her new cookbook out soon!

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-09-05T13:26:00.000-04:00

The Black Apple makes “Martha-mallows.”

All Things Cupcake plans to join Martha’s all-blogger audience this September.

The Tattooed Mama is also getting excited about her trip to see Martha for her blogger show.

Rhi in Pink tries a recipe from the Dinner Tonight blog and ends up with disastrous results!

Jumbo Empanadas samples no less than eight recipes from Martha’s “Cookies” book – and shares some musical recommendations.

How To Eat a Cupcake falls in love with Martha’s lime meltaways.

FabSugar uses her days working for Martha to inspire her outfit planning sheet.

Pampering You asks the age-old question: When to decorate for fall? And she ponders making Martha’s glittered pumpkins this year.

The Impatient Blogger isn’t liking Martha’s craft kits at Michael’s.

The Business Pundit admires Martha’s business prowess.

Do you have a Martha link to add? If so, drop it in a comment.

*Image from the Dinner Tonight blog.

Martha Loves Halloween

2008-09-04T00:07:00.000-04:00

Any true Martha Stewart fan knows how much she loves Halloween. And as a big Halloween fan myself, I love that she loves it so much because it means more inspiration for us.

This year, though, the inspiration goes up a notch with the launch of Martha's first-ever online Halloween Workshop. Starting on Monday, September 8th, after you sign up, you'll be in for their eight-week, step-by-step countdown to help put together the spookiest Halloween ever. You'll get:

- Enchanting costume ideas for the whole family
- Goofy and grimacing jack-o-lantern templates
- Tempting goodies and recipes for all of your trick-or-treaters
- Easy decorating projects
- Party plans for ghoulish feasts and monster celebrations
- Advice from Martha Stewart Living editors

Click here to sign up.

Photo from MarthaStewart.com.

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza

2008-08-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

A Tour of Martha's Farm? The Orlando Sentinel lets us in on the news that we'll see Martha's farm on her Sept. 15th premiere.

The Little Princess Chronicles talks about raising Little Marthas! So Cute!

I am drooling on my keyboard over Martha's One Bowl Chocolate Cupcake over at Cupcakes Take the Cake. (Check out their picture on the set of the MS Show!!)

She's Tickled Pink with Martha's Amazing Wal-Mart Wedding Decor!

The Water Lily Favor Box from Martha Stewart Crafts was a HUGE hit at a Modern Baby Shower over at Clever Parties Blog.

Martha is Her Homegirl! Esperanza (who totally rocks the double bass) is Glam-a-rella and knows that MS knows how to decorate for a wedding shower!

Shannon is loving the Glittered Halloween Tree & Gourd Garland over at marthastewart.com. Halloween is coming early over at Salty.

Seems I always find myself here at Everything Turquoise...this week, the turquoise love is being sent the way of the Cast Iron Round Pot. Yes, please! I'll take two!

Apartment Therapy, who I Love Love Love, gives Martha major props for her Housewarming Bucket. Who wouldn't love to receive this when moving to a new home. I'm probably moving soon...anyone want to send me one? : )

She may be Sans Chocolat, but she knows how to defend those she admires...like our lovely Martha!

Everyday Food :: Deep-Dish Pizzas

2008-08-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

photo courtesy of www.marthastewart.com

The recent issue of Everyday Food was a hit for me ... lots of great recipes to try, including Deep-Dish Pizzas. Although simple, I've never made homemade deep-dish pizza. This recipe was the perfect place to start. Simple ingredients (using store-bought pizza dough!) and quick to put together, it was a great weeknight meal for my family.

I made a few changes to the recipe. The recipe calls for mozzarella cheese, which I used, but I also mixed in some extra Italian cheese (a four-cheese mix) and some Parmesan that I had in the fridge (read: I didn't buy enough mozzarella). The recipe calls for a baking time of 30-40 minutes, and my pizza definitely could have used the shorter time (read: my pizzas were slightly burnt and that's why I'm using the photo from Martha's site).

This is an easy recipe for a quick weeknight meal or for a weekend pizza party. I'll definitely make it again and experiment with some other toppings. Follow this link for the recipe.

Celebrating Your Fruity Desserts

2008-08-25T15:38:00.000-04:00

With farmer's market bounty in full swing, this is a great time of year to bake up fabulously fruity desserts, and now you can show them off:

Join Everyday Food in a celebration of season-perfect produce!

We’re asking you (and your readers) to show us your baking skills by snapping a photo of your favorite homemade fruit dessert – from cobblers to pies, betties to buckles, and everything in between. The winner will be featured on the Everyday Food blog, Dinner Tonight.

Go here to submit your photo (scroll down to “SHARE YOUR PHOTOS – Everyday Food Fruit Desserts.” The deadline is September 30.

You can click here to see what others have already posted. See you there!

*Picture of a batch of Jam Thumbprint Cookies that I submitted.

Martha Stewart Living, June 2008: Roasted Fingerling and Tomato Salad wtih Green Beans and Arugula

2008-08-24T17:19:00.001-04:00

Summer is waning, at least here in the Pacific Northwest, but for those of you who live where it's summer until late September or early October (or later), here's a wonderful salad that straddles the seasons. It's got some heft in the form of the potatoes, but still relies heavily on the summery greens and tomatoes we all love.

Another great thing about this salad is that it can be put together in stages. I have about four thousand children (OK, not really, only four--there seem to be so many more of them when I'm trying to get them all in the car), and finding a large block of uninterrupted time in which to cook is hard. This salad can be made in stages, which means you can do part of it, tend to some kids, do some more, tend to some kids, and so on until you're ready to eat and all the kids are in bed. Really, it's ideal.

The potatoes and tomatoes are roasted with some olive oil, garlic and thyme, and then tossed with arugula and blanched green beans in a red wine-Dijon vinaigrette. I cut the potatoes and tossed them and the tomatoes with the garlic and olive oil puree, scattered them with thyme (I didn’t even have to pull it off the stem! Talk about easy!) and popped them in the oven. This is about the only piece of this recipe that really can’t be left to languish; once the potatoes are cut up, they need to head for the oven promptly lest they turn that sad grayish color that potatoes do turn. But since the prep for this step is mostly done with a sharp knife and the blender, it can be completed in the time it takes one three year old to eat a banana and a bowl of animal crackers.

Next I topped and tailed the green beans, which can sit out with no ill effects. I made the dressing. Again, a patient component that will wait until you’re ready. When the potatoes and tomatoes were done roasting, I pulled them out and let them cool their heels on the stove for a little while, during which time I read “Hungry Pig” (aloud--not to myself) and explained fifteen times that, yes indeed, the sun was going down. I think I may have had a glass of wine in there too.

I blanched the green beans, shocked them, and let them drain while I rounded up the last kid from a water balloon fight and saw him headed for a bath. He was allowed to watch George of the Jungle and then off to bed.

Finally, dinner time! I tossed the arugula and green beans with the potatoes and tomatoes (and I confess, I used more like three to four cups of arugula for four people versus the two in the original recipe, and 6 ounces of green beans, rather than the 3 ounces called for), and served the dressing on the side.

And there you have it, an excellent dinner, prepared in between getting four children ready for and into bed. Nothing suffered from standing or sitting, and it all tossed together at the last minute to seem as though it was meant to be done that way.

Roasted Fingerling and Tomato Salad with Green Beans and Arugula
from Martha Stewart Living, June 2008
serves 4-6

For the Salad
5 garlic cloves
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ pounds Russian banana fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
1 pint cherry tomatoes
4 stems fresh thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper
6 ounces green beans
3-4 cups baby arugula

For the Dressing
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme
½ shallot, minced
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Make the salad: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Puree garlic and olive oil in a blender until smooth. Toss with potatoes, tomatoes, and thyme on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Bake until potatoes are golden and tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool slightly. Or quite a bit.

Prepare an ice-water bath. Cook green beans in a large pot of boiling water until bright green and just tender. Transfer to ice-water bath. When cool, drain beans in a colander and let them sit as long as necessary. They won’t mind.

Make the dressing: Combine vinegar, mustard, thyme, and shallot in a small bowl. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until emulsified. Set aside until needed.

When all children are in bed, and you’ve had ten minutes to relax, toss potato mixture, beans and arugula with dressing (or you can do as I did and toss the vegetables together and serve the dressing on the side). Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or at room temperature. If there’s going to be a gap of an hour or two between the preparation of all the components, and the actual serving, I recommend keeping everything separate and tossing it all at the last minute. Arugula gets so pathetic looking when it sits too long in dressing.

Photograph by The Modern Apron

Blogging Martha: Linkapalooza!

2008-08-22T04:39:00.000-04:00

Fox Colorado gets Martha’s endorsement for Obama -- and manages to insult her -- all in less than 30 seconds.

The Ask Martha column offers tips for arranging flowers.

UPI.com wonders, will Jaclyn Smith replace Martha as Kmart’s bed and bath product diva?

In My Tiny Kitchen tries Martha’s carrot cake cookie recipe.

Eat Me, Delicious whips up Martha’s key lime pie.

EveryFreakingThingWillBeAlright is inspired by Martha to make her own succulent garden.

Zocalo enjoys the lemon foccacia recipe featured on Martha’s show.

Leaving Excess is inspired by a “Martha Stewart Living” family tree project.

Sleepy Hollow Craft Company spots some of Martha’s awesome new Halloween products at Michael’s.

Do you have a Martha link to add? If so, please drop it in a comment!

*Image from MarthaStewart.com

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Come Join Us?

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Review: Broccoli Gratin