Weekend: Swedish Waffles

Been working like crazy to meet a few work deadlines this week. So sorry about the lull over here on Cayenne + Carob. I hope your weekend is relaxing.

I'm looking forward to some waffles made with our new swedish waffle maker. Thanks to TEB's mom for sending us this fun present! Anyone have waffle recipes to share? So far all I have managed to make the waffles with Toro Vaffer mix. I'm hoping to mix up something a bit healthier.

photo credit: Cayenne 06.18.10

Inspiration: Dining Rooms

During dinner with TEB's aunt and uncle we were asked, "what color do you think we should paint the dining room?" I surprised myself with an immediate answer of "midnight blue!"

I think it was prompted by the comment that they wanted a colorful hanging pendant for over the dining room and I had just saved a picture of a bedroom with deep navy blue walls. I think it would be perfect but might be a little too bold for some tastes, even my own. I tried to find a few alternatives like the deep dusky purple shown above that changes from being more grey to more purple as the light levels change throughout the day. Or potentially a true grey like in the above dining room with the beautiful collection of plates. Here you could make the chairs a focal point by upholstering them in different colorful fabrics.

Lastly, what about using a dark color on an accent wall or the ceiling. The splash of lemon yellow really brightens up the kitchen/dining room above and would work well with their idea of a colorful pendant over their Scandinavian wood table.

photo credit: deep dusky purple (benjamin moore's vintage charm) in the sneak peak of rena tom's home on Design*Sponge; Oh! New Chairs in abchao's dining room painted grey (similar to benjamin moore's stone); navy accent wall in skona hem and found via Apartment Therapy

The Greek Bed: Mamma Mia!

Serafina Floral Duvet from Pottery Barn caught my eye when I was perusing the latest PB catalog. It reminded me of the colorful textiles hanging to dry in a scene of the movie Mamma Mia. Those were actually by Josef Frank and as you see below, they are very similar.

Aralia by Josef Frank textiles found on Just Scandinavian, found via Design*Sponge.

I don't think that I would want a whole wall of Josef Frank but it sure is striking. Above is Josef Frank Wallpaper by Bree Apperley.

The Nordic Bed: Down Comforter and Duvet Covers

One of the best night's sleep I have had recently was at the Lingonberry Farms, see my post here. Before going to bed, I opened the windows so it was super cold and the bed had a fluffy down comforter to keep me toasty warm. I am thinking about recreating this in my own bedroom. It won't be as cold but I think that I can remedy this issue with a lightweight down comforter.

Right now I am using an old down comforter that is a little too small so someone is always left out in the cold, more often than not...it is me. I use the european-style bedding setup - where you have a bottom sheet but no top sheet just the duvet cover. The bed is super easy to make and there is no fussing with hospital corners.

Down Comforters - there are many options out there for down comforters. I took some simple advice from this Apartment Therapy post:
1. Cheaper is not better - down is not sustainable but it lasts for 30 years, so you want high quality.
2. Best down is from Europe or Canada - if it is not specified then assume it is lower quality (likely from China)
3. Look for baffle-box construction - box-stitched is not the same thing
4. Look for higher loft - the more air between the pieces of down and the better performance

I am considering these options:
Pacific Coast Feather Company (Seattle-based)
A medium warmth, queen size comforter from PCFC runs about 200$.

Feathered Friends (handmade in Seattle)
This looks like a great option but will definitely be an investment. The baffle box construction is ~300$ for a queen.

Duvet Covers - I am looking for something white or with a strong white background. I think something this neutral can be kept for a long time and just small changes will alter the entire look of the bedroom. Organic cotton would be nice and of course the cheaper the better. If I had a sewing machine I would just sew together two flat sheets and add some snaps or grommets to keep the end closed. In the meantime I like the options below.

Unison Porter Bedding at Public Design

DwellStudio Draper Stripe Chinois Blue Bedding at Public Design

Quick Dinner: Nordic Smorbrod

Summertime is always busy in a more relaxed and fun way than the other 9 months of the year. With a mix of yoga, tennis lessons, and spinning going on during the week I get home later and don't really feel like turning on the stove to cook dinner. The smorbrod, a Scandinavian open-faced sandwich, is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. All you need is some knäckebröd (Swedish crisp bread), cheese, fresh veggies, or some deli meat. I often go with the vine-ripened tomato, Wisconsin extra-sharp white chedder, and thin slices of salami or proscuitto. You can add whatever you have in your fridge. If you cannot find knackebrod then use ak-mak or wasa hard crackers that you can find at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods.

Read a bit more about making smorbrod here.

photo credit: bistro set from American Country; caviar and egg smorrebrod by nosuchsoul

Svensk Panekaker: Swedish Pancakes

TEB has been making me swedish pancakes out of a box so that we can add soy milk instead of real milk or cream (me the lac-tard). He has tried various mixes and so far has decided the one that they sell at IKEA is the best with 2nd place going to Lunds Swedish Pancake Mix. This weekend TEB made pancakes with the recipe and supervision of the swedish pancake master, TAB aka mama. They are fantastic and TAB has graciously given me permission to blog her recipe.

She has some very specific tips that are garenteed to make these pancake phenomenal. First, she recommends mixing up the batter the night before and refrigerating it for use the next morning. You can also use different ratios of cream. TAB often uses replaces the 2 cups of milk with cream. We went with 2 cups of nonfat milk and 1 cup of heavy whipping cream. And since we decided to make pancakes at the last minute we did not refrigerate overnight. The pancakes turned out yummy! You must make them yourself.

Svensk Panekaker
Servings 4-5
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of salt
2 cups flour

7 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups milk
1 cup cream

Mix the first 3 ingredients in a small bowl. Whip up the eggs, milk, and cream. Melt the butter and put it into the freezer until cool. Slowly add it to the liquid mixture, while stirring. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a heavy cast iron pan. Once hot, pour batter. You need lots of butter for this to turn out.

photo credit: Swedish pancakes from dwaffie

Inspiration: Graphic Dots on Dishware

I have been obsessed with graphic polka dots lately. I first bought a light blue pasta strainer with dark blue dots. Then I started eying dotted dishware. The whole thing just kinda snuck up on me. I purchased the inexpensive Ikea black and white dotted dishware pictured below and then I found the work of designer Stig Lindberg. He was a Swedish Designer who worked for the Gustavsberg Company in the 1950s. His work has a timeless quality and of course some of it features dots. You can find his pottery on Ebay and Just Scandinavian. When I do get some of his work it will have to be an investment. Until then I have found 2 other options.

Check out the Paula Espresso cups and saucers made by Bodum USA. A set of six cups are on Amazon for only $29.99. The Ikea SYNTES KONST bowls are a steal for a set of two at just $3.99.photo credit: Stig Lindberg, Paula cups from Blueprint magazine, and Syntes Konst from Ikea website.