Happy Birthday Brittney!

Today is my sister's birthday.  Last year, we hosted a sit down dinner for thirty people at my house to celebrate her 30th.  This year we have something fun cooked up as long as it doesn't rain...  

Happy Birthday Brittney!

Give :: Premier Chef's Dinner 2014

Over the weekend Mr. Hedin and I had the pleasure of attending the Premier Chef's Dinner benefitting Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.  I love this event.  It's literally my favorite event of the year and this was our FIFTH year of going.  I never get bored by it - and I get bored easily.  

The Premier Chef's dinner is a four course feast catered by some of the city's best chefs - plus there is a wine pairing with each course - plus there are appetizers before the dinner by more fabulous chefs - plus there's cocktails to welcome you.  

And all of this is to raise money for cancer research because the Hutch is going to find a cure.  I think we can all agree that we need a cure.  Cancer is the worst.  Literally, the worst.  I hate it.  I hate what it does to those with cancer.  I hate what it does to their families.  I hate the tear filled phone calls.  I hate funerals.  I hate the hole in my heart.  I want a cure.  I have spent a lot of time at the Hutch listening to those who have had their lives disrupted by cancer and listening to those who are determined to end cancer.  I believe that these scientists, doctors and researchers are the ones who will find a cure.  

If I can eat a lovely meal and laugh with those I love all to end cancer, count me in.  I'll bring my checkbook.

We've all known someone who has/had cancer.  If you aren't already involved with a charitable organization, I highly encourage you to get involved.  We shouldn't have to rely on the government to fund research.

There are lots of ways to be involved, especially with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.  Literally, there's something every month - but the coolest new event coming this September is IN for the Hutch.  It's a cocktail party with a ridiculously amazing auction and loads of fabulous people dancing.  I'm super excited for this night.  I hope you are too.  You can RSVP for IN for the Hutch right here.

See you there!

May Brass :: Lobster Newburg

photo by Jeff Hobson

As swanky as Lobster Newburg sounds, it's surprisingly simple to make.  So simple, in fact, that you should make this immediately before serving.  I've made these small appetizer sized - good hearty appetizers that really should be what you serve if you dare to serve straight martinis.  After all, two of those martinis and your guests really should be walking home.

Serves 4

One pound lobster in the shell

6 tablespoons butter

2 cups cream

2 egg yolks

½ cup chopped leek

1 tablespoon brandy

4 small puff pastry shells

Chives for garnish

Remove lobster from shells and refrigerate lobster.  Place shells in a small stockpot with cream and 4 tablespoons butter.  Simmer one hour, whisking regularly, and then strain out shells.   Whisk egg yolks in a small bowl and slowly add one cup of cream sauce – drizzle cream sauce as you whisk.  Pour egg yolk mixture back into the cream and set aside. 

In a large skillet, melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and sauté lobster until warm, about 2-3 minutes.  Add brandy and cook until alcohol has burned off, about another 2 minutes.  Gently whisk in cream sauce and cook until slightly thickened. 

Remove piece of lobster and divide equally among puff pastry shells. Pour ½ cup sauce over each puff pastry shell.  Garnish with a few sprigs of chive.  Serve immediately.  

photo by Jeff Hobson

In case you missed it ::  

:: The Great Gatsby Party I threw for a 425 Magazine article + all of the movie inspiration

:: A deliciously glittery Gatsby Martini 

:: Absolutely Perfect Pineapple Upside-down Cake, a classic way to end a meal

Market Basics :: Pineapple 101

Pineapples are awesome.  But they can be intimidating.  How do you choose one?  How do you get into it?  Sometimes (like in January) it's one of the only fresh fruits in season so it's awesome to know how to break into that bad boy.  Watch the video and you'll be an instant expert.  Enjoy!

Market Basics :: Pineapple 101 from Alexandra Hedin on Vimeo.

This is the second of a long series of videos that I am thrilled to be able to bring you in partnership with Metropolitan Market.  If you are in the Seattle area, pop into your local Metropolitan Market and tell them you're hungry.

To see the last video :: Cooking Lobster in 10 Minutes :: click here.

Happy Birthday Land of Nod!

You know that crazy person who seems to say "yes" to everything?  Turns out that's me.  Which is probably why my friends at Land of Nod called me when they were celebrating their 10th Anniversary of their Seattle store and asked me to bring a cake into the store.  While singing.  

My partner in crime came with me to deliver a stunning cake from Metropolitan Market and some macroons to the staff.  They had no idea how bad my singing voice really was.  

They smiled anyway.

Happy Birthday Land of Nod and cheers to dozens of more opportunities to embarrass myself in your store.



*Update * Since you asked...  Cake by Metropolitan Market, Skirt from Kate Spade (past season), top is actually a dress by Splendid, Shoes from J.Crew (past season), shoe bows by Belle and Beau, necklace from Hawaii farmers market.  Pearl's dress by Janie and Jack, her 'jewels' all from yard sale.  

May Brass :: Gilded China Dish

When Mr. Hedin's great aunt moved into a retirement home there were several things that no one particularly wanted.  Her pink rose trimmed china, vaguely chipped, was one of them.  I couldn't bear to see a family members china go to the Goodwill, so I scooped it up.

The problem was, it wasn't really my style.  I used it in a photo shoot once and it looked adorable.  But after that, it stayed in the cabinet.

Then I saw some darling half dipped china at Anthropologie and thought this could be the solution for my "not so cute" china.  Since everything is better with gold...

You'll need

1 china dish

blue painters tape

liquid gilding

paint brush

rubbing alcohol

cotton balls

Step 1 ::  Clean china dish well and rub area to be cleaned with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.  Let air dry

Step 2 ::  Tape off area to be taped with blue painters tape.  Press the tape down well on the edge to be taped.

Step 3 ::  Apply a layer of gilding carefully.  Most gilding dries really fast so work carefully.  Let dry

Step 4 ::  Apply additional layers of paint as needed.

Step 5 ::  Remove painters tape carefully.  You may need to use an exacto knife to cut the paint away from the tape. 

Confetti on the walls {thanks to Martha}

Some days I feel like a girl growing out her bangs.  But with our house.  Eventually everything will be remodeled and be lovely, but in the mean time we have some funny rooms that I don't feel like spending a bunch of money on.  The guest room is one of those rooms.

In the two years we have lived in this house, this room has served many purposes ::  it started as Lars's room, then when the basement was finished, Judson moved into the room.  It also holds a piano and the closets are filled with my "closet annex." 

If this room was tucked back in some corner of the house I would probably not think twice about it and just rip the walls out when it's time.  But it's at the front of the house.  Directly in the front of the house. It gets seen and it's ugly.  

I started brainstorming the space but hadn't come up with anything that I was excited about until the lovely ladies at Martha Stewart offered to send me some of their new Martha Stewart Living Metallic Paint in any color I'd like.  The walls of the room are dull, dingy grey.  Since I wasn't planning on painting the whole room, the dull dingy grey walls were the perfect backdrop for a few accents of Silver Leaf from their Precious Metals collection.  

A Place for us Blog  ::  Slim Aarons Photograph  ::  Olivia Palermo's Home ::  Decor Pad  ::  Camille Styles New Year's Soiree

I decided on polka dots.  The trick was finding a "stamp" that would create a perfect small circle.  Everything I had was either too small (pencil eraser?) or too large (foam placemat?) and wasn't what I had in mind.  Then, one dreary afternoon at the grocery store I saw it, a shoe polishing kit with the perfect shape circle foam tool.  

Polka dotting the room was actually really simple.  I started at one side and worked my way around the room.  For the first round of stamping, I chose to go lightly.  Then, after the first round dried, I came back and added more dots where needed.  

metallic paint c/o Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Charm Hour :: A Gatsby Martini

Ziegfeld Collection Monogram Cufflinks from The Great Gatsby Collection by Tiffany & Co, inspired by Baz Luhrmann's film in collaboration with Catherine Martin  ::  Nolet's Silver Gin :: Tiffany and Co Diamond Fringe Necklace from the 2013 Blue Book Collection ::  Tiffany & Co. Martini Glass  ::  Ziegfeld Black Onyx and Daisy Ring from The Great Gatsby Collection by Tiffany & Co, inspired by Baz Luhrmann's film in collaboration with Catherine Martin 

A Great Gatsby martini should be equal parts gin and fabulous.  The edible stars get you there on fabulous but some lovely jewelry doesn't hurt either.  Be fabulous, look fabulous, drink fabulous.  Cheers.

photo by Jeff Hobson

2 ounces Nolet's Silver Gin
2 drops vermouth
2 cocktail onions
edible gold stars

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pout gin and vermouth.  Shake vigorously {or 21 times as directed by the 21 Club in New York City}.  Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with onions and a light dusting of gold stars.

photo by Jeff Hobson

My Mother's Day

While Mr. Hedin and I were in San Francisco, Pearl made me this.

The morning after we were home, we were laying in bed with at least one of the boys hogging all of the pillow space when I heard tiny feet padding down the hall. The tiny feet didn't come into our room, however, which made me a little nervous.  What was Pearl getting into?  Did I really have to launch back into motherhood so fast from vacation?

Her foot steps padded back to our room and to my side of the bed where, through sleepy eyes, Pearl was standing in front of me with a tiny canvas bag and said "I made this for you."

Happy Mother's Day to all of you.  I hope it's filled with wooden beads and sweet babies.

May Brass :: Absolutely Perfect Pineapple Upside Down Cake

When I started researching food from the 1920's to create my Great Gastby photo shoot, I almost immediately ran into Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  I adore pineapple.  I adore Maraschino Cherries.  I adore Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  Turns out, there are about 1,000,000 different recipes for the cake and each one only a slight variation different from the next.

After several {very tasty} attempts, I finally found that I could combine the best of all of the recipes I discovered to come up with the absolutely perfect Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  This is also quite delightful because it does not need - in fact would be diminished by - frosting.

Topping ::

3 ounces butter

½ cup packed brown sugar

5 pineapple rings

5 maraschino cherries

Cake Batter ::

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup chopped pineapple

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter the bottom of an 8x8 pan and line with parchment paper.

In the bowl of a stand mixer whip together butter and brown sugar until light in color and fluffy.  Using an offset spatula, evenly cover the bottom of the prepared pan with the brown sugar mixture.  Place drained and dried pineapple rings on top of the brown sugar mixture and place one cherry in the center of each ring. 

Clean out the mixing bowl and whip together eggs and sugar until light and airy.  Add vanilla.  In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients and add them to the egg mixture.  Mix in flour with as few strokes as possible.  Add pineapple and combine. 

Pour batter over pineapple rings and smooth out with an offset spatula.  Bake 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Let rest 5 minutes before inverting.  When slightly cooled, place a platter on the top of the pan and flip over so cake lands on the plate. 

Serve warm. 

Photography by Jeff Hobson