I'VE MOVED!

BluLabel Bungalow has a brand new site on www.blulabelbungalow.com.
I understand email subscribers have not been receiving post, but I've been cranking them out! I'm working out the kinks...Without further delay, hop on over and take a look around! I've missed you!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

I'm ashamed to say that I have yet to mail the first holiday card. To be completely honest, we just took our photos last Saturday. In addition to taking pictures that day, my husband and I also celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary. So much can happen in six years and the proof lies in our past photos. Only one year is missing and once you go through the photos, you can guess why...

Christmas Wedding 2005

Christmas 2006 - [4 months pregnant with the twins]

Christmas 2007 [Twins are here!]

Christmas 2008 [Look, we added another!]

Christmas 2009 [This is what happens when you don't have a nap before photos]

Today, Christmas 2011

These people take my breath away...

As my family celebrates the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, we also pray that you too are able to be with family/friends who love you dearly. I thank God for all of you and appreciate the support and encouragement you've given me throughout the year.. I hope I have been able to reciprocate it to you.

Happy Holidays with Love,

Erika

ERIKA WARD ON HUFFINGTON POST, CHICAGO SPACES

H ey Folks, I've got exciting news. If the title of this post didn't give it away, I'm now blogging for the Huffington Post! My first article was published last night, a book review of Chicago Spaces: Inspiring Interiors by Jan Parr and the Editors of Chicago Home and Garden Magazine. I read the book from cover to cover and it's safe to say that I'm enamored with the talent that resides in Chicago and outlying suburbs.

The book however is not as predictable as the title. There is no tribute to architecture greats such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright, though mentioned with much reverence; instead the book sets out to strategically dismantle the reputation of Chicagoans being known for safe, conservative design.

The book is divided into two categories, "Room" and "Homes," each chapter chocked with vibrant, colorful spaces that reflect the personality of its respective owners. "Rooms" features five generous home tours each in a different Chicago neighborhood. The interiors, three of which have been designed by industry professionals and two designed by talented homeowners, explore an inspiring mix of styles and periods. Showcased is a 6,500 square foot Wilmette property belonging to Interior Designer Julie Edelman, also a member of a noted blogging conglomerate known as Material Girls. The design's emphasis is based on Edelman's affection for oversized artifacts and her mission to administer her Victorian home to healthy doses of youthful elements. The results yield a home free of decorating boundaries and home that is never short of conversation pieces.

Part Two of the book, entitled "Homes," has to be one of the most prominent examples of awe-inspiring, yet approachable design. Each room of the house is covered in this section including the foyer, living room, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, and children's rooms. Parr introduces each section with a clever narrative relating to the use of each room and provides a descriptive preview of what the reader is about to see. Each set of rooms runs the gamut in regard to design sensibilities -- from a modern cottage to a spacious PreWar condo.

There much more to learn about Chicago Spaces, so click here to see more images and read my review in its entirety. 

What are your thoughts on Chicago Interior Design?

images courtesy of Agate Publishing

CRANBERRY APPLE CRISP

Use Apples or Your Favorite Fruit to Whip Up this Heartwarming Dessert

text and photography by Tiffany Scales, Food Contributor

Hi there! Can you believe Christmas is only a few days away?? Are you ready? Is your menu planned? Just in case you haven't thought of a dessert, I've got one for you. I don't know about you, but I LOVE baked apples. They just warm my heart and remind me so much of the holidays. This apple crisp is one of my favorite go-to recipes when I am in need of a baked apple. Crisps are simply a layer of baked fruit with a buttery, crispy topping. They are really easy to make and you can use any fruit you like. Apples just happen to be my favorite...

Here is what you need and what to do:
8 granny smith apples
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
1 tablespoon of orange zest
Juice of one lemon
Juice of 1/2 an orange
1/2 cup of dried cranberries
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg


For the topping:
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
3/4 granulated sugar
3/4 cup of light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
1 cup of old-fashioned oats
2 sticks of cold unsalted butter, diced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Peel, core and cut the apples into large chunks. Good conversation or music makes that process go by much faster. :) Place the fruit in a large bowl and add the zests, juices, cranberries, sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir everything together. Pour the mixture into a 13x9x2 dish and set aside. Combine all of the ingredients for the topping into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for about 1 minute until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle the mixture over the fruit. Be sure to completely cover the fruit.

Place the dish on a sheet tray and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. The topping should be browned and the filling should be bubbling on the sides of the dish. Gosh, my mouth just started watering...

I love to serve it warm with cinnamon whipped cream.

For the whipped cream:
Whip 1 cup of cold heavy whipping cream with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Vanilla ice cream would work perfectly, too.

Let me know if you have any questions and/or if you decide to make it! 

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten

10 KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

Simplify Meal Preparation with the Right Tools for the Job

text by Tiffany Scales, Food Contributor

Hello! I hope this week before Christmas is off to a great start for you! I have some great recipes coming up, so I want you to have the right tools to make them! I firmly believe that having the right tools in the kitchen makes cooking much easier and enjoyable. The tools I love the most are not only basic, but quality. The last thing I need is something breaking in the middle of making a dish! Here are my top 10 kitchen essentials. I think they make great last-minute gifts, too!

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1.| Every kitchen needs a set of "basic tools." That includes a whisk, slotted spoon, large spoon, spatulas,  and tongs.

2.| Every kitchen also needs a good set of knives. Many recipes involve chopped meats, fruits and vegetables, so you need a good sharp knife to help you get the work done in a safe and efficient manner.

3.| You would be surprised at the number of recipes that call for an electric mixer. I finally broke down and bought my KitchenAid mixer several years ago and I think that it's one of the best investments I have made. It makes baking 100 times easier.

4.| Wearing an apron, especially a cute one, makes you feel more confident in the kitchen and not so upset when things get messy. If things don't get messy sometimes in the kitchen, then you probably aren't doing it right. Just a sidenote...

5.| A good set of pots is required, not optional for good cooking. If your food burns easily and gets stuck to the bottom of the pot every time you cook, then it's time to invest in a new set. This is the cookware I use and I love it. It's quality (i.e. heavy stainless steel), reasonably priced and I love the glass lids. 

6.| I love fresh salad dressing. Would you believe that I make it in this $2.50 jar? My favorite dressing is lemon vinaigrette. All you have to do is add the juice of one lemon, double the amount of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper to the jar. Shake it up and presto- fresh salad dressing. 

7.| Freshly ground black pepper makes food taste 100% better than the stuff in the tin. Promise. This pepper grinder has a permanent home near my stove.

8.| The first recipe I will be sharing with you calls for lemon and orange zest, which are very popular ingredients. I use this Microplane for all of my zesting. I also use it to finely grate cheese. I never use pre-grated cheese. Pre-grated cheese = fake flavor. Just another sidenote...

9.| I cut all of my fruits and vegetables on wood cutting boards. They are easy to clean and make great accessories in the kitchen.

10.| You would also be surprised a the number of recipes that require a cast-iron dutch oven. Think of it as an oven on top of your stove. I use this to braise meat and to make quick soups and stews, which make regular appearances on my kitchen table during the fall and winter. 

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I have referenced the source of the items above. However, note that most of these items can be found at your local TJMaxx, HomeGoods and Target, so look there first!

These are some of my favorites, what would you add to the list?