HERBED RICOTTA :: an easy recipe

One of the recipes I made for the SPRING ENTERTAINING CLASS , was an herbed ricotta on toasted baguette.  I would venture to say it was everyone's favorite thing to eat that night.

 The ladies all went home with the recipe, but I thought I would be sure to share it here.

HERBED RICOTTA

• 4 cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon cracked pepper
• 3 tablespoons chives, chopped
• cheesecloth
• baguette, crackers, toast {and olive oil and garlic to rub on the baguette or toast}

In sauce pan, heat milk and cream until boiling.  Remove from heat and stir in vinegar.  Let sit for 2 minutes. Drape cheesecloth over large glass bowl, pour milk mixture into cheesecloth.  Allow the liquid to drain, leaving the cheese curds.  Let it drain an additional 30 minutes.  Transfer cheese to a clean bowl, discard whey or save for use in other recipes.  Add chives, salt and pepper to cheese, mix.  If spreading on baguette or toast, heat broiler to high. Drizzle baguette or toast slices with olive oil.  Toast on baking sheet 1-2 minutes, just until it browns.  Remove from oven and rub with garlic clove, serve with dolloped with ricotta.  It will keep 3-4 days, covered, in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

xoxo~Darci

Spring Entertaining Class :: a few photos

Hello and happy weekend!!  As usual, I didn't snap many photos of last night's event.  However, I thought I would share just a few that I did snap before the ladies arrived.

The classes were scheduled to be outside in our new outdoor space.  However, the Spring weather was just a bit too cold this week!  So, we moved it inside which worked out perfectly.

It's always such a joy to spend time with the ladies that attend our classes.  I have made new friends, and I have an excuse to see old friends.

I would say the favorite food of the night was the home made herbed ricotta.  I will be sure to share the recipe later this week.  The ricotta was really easy to make and it tasted so good!

Thanks to the lovely ladies who attend our entertaining classes.  It is truly a lovely time, and I feel so blessed to be able to create, share and inspire!

SHOP UPDATE :: dash + albert

I figured it has been a few weeks since I have given a shop update!  My how time flies!

I am still busily working on filling our little shop space.  I really want this space to be unique and full of items that I love.

SIDE NOTE **We are going to be offering a product that I am super excited about.  I can't quite spill the beans yet......we won't be able to stock the product until the middle of April......so we are planning on a late May grand opening.  I will be sure to keep you posted!**

In the mean time, I want to show you a line of fabulous rugs, pillows, and throws that we will be offering.

dash + albert

Clean, fun, fresh and full of color.

Aren't they so fun?  And you won't believe how durable they are!  Oh, and did I mention they come in so many different color options??  What's not to love?!?

They will be available on our website and at the shop.

I will be sure to keep you posted!

xoxo~Darci

BEFORE + AFTER :: a den bathroom makeover

Remember last week when I showed you a few BEFORE + AFTER photos of a lovely guest bathroom remodel we completed in McMinnville?

Well, I thought I would show you a few BEFORE + AFTER photos of a second bathroom we remodeled at the same home.  This bathroom is located right off of the den.  Again, the homeowner had exquisite taste and the bathroom turned out beautifully!

Here is a BEFORE photo..

and here is AFTER....

That's a split-face marble tile on the wall.  Isn't it beautiful?

It's a small bathroom.  There are a lot of different textures, but it all works together perfectly.

Matt built a simple, rustic vanity top and bottom shelf.  It warms up the space and provides enough room for a few accessories and bathroom essentials.

So simple, but so beautiful!

One more shot of the lighting attached to the mirrors.  That little trick makes the small room feel larger and gives such a clean look.

Hope you enjoyed the photos......I love showing off Matt's work.  He is a pretty humble fellow, so it's fun for me to show you his handy work!

Have a great weekend!

HONEY VANILLA ICE CREAM :: a homemade ice cream recipe

We love ice cream here in the Haney house!

Last year, my sweet hubby bought me a great ice cream maker.  Since making ice cream is now as easy and mixing the ingredients together, I really don't have an excuse not to make it!!

I thought I would share my 'go-to' honey vanilla ice cream recipe.  It's super easy, the results are always perfect, and I know exactly how to pronounce all of the ingredients that we are eating!

Homemade Honey Vanilla Ice Cream 

makes 1 1/2 quarts

1 cup whole milk {chilled}

1/2 cup honey

2 cups heavy cream {chilled}

1 vanilla bean + 1 tsp. of vanilla extract

{or 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract if you don't have any beans}

1. Mix the milk and honey over low heat in medium size pot.

2. Once the honey has mixed in well with the milk, add the cream and vanilla.  Mix just until all of the ingredients are well combined.  Don't let the mixture boil!!  You just want all of the ingredients to mix together.

3. Refrigerate ice cream mixture 4-24 hours.

4. Pour into your ice cream maker, turn on, mix for approximately 30 minutes.

5. The ice cream will be very soft, you will want to freeze it for at least 2 hours before serving.

6. Enjoy!!

BEFORE & AFTER :: guest bath remodel

It's been a little over a year since we completed three bathroom remodels for some lovely clients in McMinnville.

They have a beautiful Ranch style home on the golf course.  They had updated the kitchen a few years ago and it was time to update the bathrooms.

What fun!!  Below are 3 BEFORE pictures.....

This bathroom was classic 1970's, complete with a purple toilet, sink and bathtub....

The bathroom had one window...perfect for allowing a bit of natural light!!

The bathtub was in really good shape, we opted to have it refinished instead of replaced.

AFTER::

Lovely, don't you think?

Matt built beautiful, distressed, hickory cabinetry.  I love how the cabinetry really warms up the space.

It took a few tries to find the perfect stain color.  The persistence paid off, don't you think?

I love the marble countertops!  Clean, classy and timeless.

And the marble floors.....so classic.

The tub finished out really well, it looks brand new!  If your bathtub is in good shape, refinishing is such great way to save money.

Notice the white subway tile wainscoting in the back ground?  Subway tile is still one of my favorite tiles!

The homeowner installed grasscloth wall paper.  The texture is a beautiful addition to the bathroom!

One more photo of the vanity......

If you love this bathroom, wait until I show you the other two!  The homeowner had great taste, it was so fun to work with her!

Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo~

Darci

SPRING PLANTING :: what's happening in the garden {zone 8}

The last couple of days have been beautiful here in the Willamette Valley.  I am itching to get outside and work in the garden!!  Yesterday was beautiful, I worked some of my raised beds and got a few seeds into the ground.

Over the years I have done a lot of research for vegetable gardening.  I am by no means an expert, or a master gardener!  But, I thought I would share the few things I am doing in my garden, in hopes that it might inspire others to grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs this year.

This beautiful little corner of Oregon is a zone 8b for gardening.  Knowing the zone definitely makes it easier to know when to plant seeds and starts!

We have raised beds so they heat up and dry out {from the rain} a bit faster than just planting straight into the ground.  After tilling the beds, I planted.....

swiss chard ::

I use swiss chard in egg dishes, soups and pasta dishes.

kale ::

I am not a huge kale fan.  I know it's so good for me, but still.  Anyways, I will add it to soups and smoothies.  I will also juice it.....

lettuce & mesclun ::

I {obviously ;-} use this in salads.  I usually plant a new row of lettuce and/or mesclun every 2-3 weeks so we always have fresh greens growing.  Once it gets too hot {June/July}, these little darlings will bolt and be of no use but to feed the chickens!

sugar snap peas ::

I love sugar snap peas!  I will eat them straight off of the vine and forget to pick any for dinner!!  We usually eat sugar snap peas in salads and Chinese food/stir fry dishes.

I sure hope that helps to inspire you to plant a few spring vegetables.  They are so easy to care for!  Really, you just plant, water and let the rain do the rest!

Happy gardening!

xoxo~Darci

COCO & BUBBLES:: all natural soy candles

So, the shop is finally coming together.  I still have a lot of little details to work out, but it is finally taking shape!   We have some really exciting lines and products that we will be carrying!!  I thought I would share with you one of my {many} favorite new products we will be carrying.

COCO & BUBBLES || all natural soy candles

These are the best.

Seriously.

I have one burning nearly every day :: they smell delicious, but not over powering :: they burn forever, and they burn clean :: the fragrance is Phthalate free {something that is very important to me, especially with little ones in the house!}

And, don't you love their packaging?  Simple, clean and fresh.  When you bring one {or two} of these little darlings home with you, I even place them in their own little burlap bag...so cute!

I can't wait to be able to offer them to you!!

Soon friends, very soon.....

In the mean time, have a lovely weekend!!

**both images are from the COCO & BUBBLES website**

A FEW PHOTOS OF EASTER & A WINNER

Does anybody else have about 1 million projects going at once, and can't seem to finish one??

That's me.  

I thought I would snap a few photos of Easter decorations that are popping up around the house.  Problem is, in the background of every picture was an un-finished project!

Case in point #1.....

My hard working hubby is 99% finished with our covered deck/outdoor area.  It's now my job to furnish and decorate....it's been my job for a few weeks......it sits as a half-finished project......

I have a half sewn dining room table cloth, and fabric for new dining room curtains.  The whole bunch of which are sitting collecting dust in my little office.

My sweet hubby bought me these beauties for my birthday.

They sit on the coffee table with three pillows next to them waiting for new fabric covers.

And that is just the beginning.....

Thankfully my life and worth aren't measured by what I accomplish on my 'to-do' list!

On a separate note, KATHIE ORIET is the winner of the Spring Entertaining Class giveaway. I am so excited to have her join us for a night of fun, food and inspiration.

There is still room left in the Friday, March 22nd class, and we would LOVE to have you!!

xoxo~Darci

ST. PATRICKS DAY:: some green inspiration

Good morning friends,

It's so hard to believe that February is almost over!

March is on my mind.  The newness of Spring, planting cold weather crops, darling bulbs poking their heads through the mud...more on all of that later.

In the mean time, I thought I would share a few St. Patrick's day ideas I have found on Pinterest......I plan on implementing these fun ideas in the Haney household next month!

Such a cute way to start the day off right for the little ones!

She even included a free printable here.

And what about this cute idea....she included a free printable here.

Another breakfast idea here....

Classic St. Patrick's day dinner.  This recipe is a crockpot recipe.....who doesn't love throwing food in the crockpot and letting that precious little appliance do all of the work??

And for dessert.....adorable cupcakes from here.

One last cute treat idea from here....

 Have a great weekend friends!!

SPRING ENTERTAINING CLASS :: a night of fun, friends and tasty food!

Hello friends!

I am so excited to announce that we will be hosting another ENTERTAINING CLASS.  We had so much fun with the FALL ENTERTAINING CLASS, that we felt another one was in order!

I really do enjoy opening up my home to others.  Entertaining isn't about having everything perfect and serving amazing food, it's about enjoying the company of those around you.  During the class, we talk about fun and easy decorating tips, we eat good {and easy to prepare} food and we discuss ways to make entertaining more enjoyable.  Since Easter is right around the corner, we will also be talking specifically about decorating for/hosting an Easter get together.

Last Easter, we hosted a brunch right after church.  The weather was amazing {for the Pacific Northwest in April!} and we celebrated the death and resurrection of our sweet Saviour.  I have quite a few wonderful memories from last Easter, but my favorite, was watching my little sweet pea enjoy time with our family.

Do you have a favorite Easter memory or tradition?

If so, I would love to hear about it!

In the mean time, the details for the class are below....

Spring is all about celebrating the fresh newness of life with lighter food, family, friends and simple style.  For our Spring entertaining class, Darci will share tips and show you simple ways to enjoy entertaining {in style} and use beautiful Spring produce to make displays for your home and parties.  We all know that Spring parties are not complete without fresh food.  Darci will prepare a complete seasonal menu, perfect for any Spring party.  The menu features classic Spring dishes, with a Pacific Northwest twist......

• baked brie with crackers and fresh fruit
• spinach & strawberry salad
• shrimp scampi {chicken will be available for the non-seafood eaters}
• home made herbed ricotta on toasted baguette
• lemon mousse with fresh whipped cream
• drink

 When:

March 21st & 22nd, 6pm-9pm

 Where:

our back patio, covered from the elements and next to the raging fire {646 West Grant Street, Carlton}

 Cost: 

$55 per person

Includes:

• tips on simple Spring decorating
• recipes
• a take-home decoration for your Easter table setting
• appetizers
• dinner
• dessert

RSVP:  

info@mdhaneyco.com or call 503.857.8176.  

I can't wait to hear about your memories and traditions!!  Life is worth celebrating!!

xoxo~

Darci

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIE WITH SEA SALT

 I may {or may not have} eaten three of these warm, chocolate-y cookies right out of the oven.  They are so good!  If you are looking for an extra special chocolate treat, these are super easy cookies to make.

The sprinkle of sea salt balances out the sweetness and adds just a bit of crunch.  A sweet friend, just brought me a bag of sea salt from Hawaii, it was just perfect for these cookies!

Ingredients::

1 c all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

5 Tbsp unsalted butter

7 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

2/3 c granulated sugar

1/3 c packed brown sugar

1/3 c plain yogurt or sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions::

1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together flour, soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Remove from heat. Stir in cocoa powder and both sugars. The mixture will be very grainy and thick.
3. Add yogurt and vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Let the mixture sit 5-10 minutes, so that the chocolate chips don't melt.
4. Add dry ingredients with chocolate chips, stir until all is moistened and there is no streaks of flour in the dough. Do not over mix.
5. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes {or up to 2 days} for puffier cookies.
6. Pre-heat oven to 350 {I used convection, so I set the oven to 325}
7. Drop by tablespoons onto prepared sheet. Sprinkle each ball of dough with sea salt. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on the sheet, then gently transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!!  Preferably with a cold glass of milk!

xoxo~

Darci

THIS OLD HOUSE MAGAZINE :: our attic remodel

Last winter, our cottage attic remodel was featured in the Jan./Feb. issue of  This Old House magazine.

It was such a treat to meet the photographer and stylist.  They were both extremely talented and professional.  All of the photos are courtesy of This Old House/Susan Suebert.

The stylist added added her own little touches to the room.  Don't you like how she added the green?  The way the photographer and her team captured the lighting was incredible!

They spent about 5-6 hour capturing images of just the attic space.  Eventually they moved outside to photograph the exterior.

This is the little sitting area between the bedroom {now the LOFT} and the office.

 This is our office, this is the shot looking from the office into the bedroom {LOFT}.

What a fun experience to get to 'work with' This Old House.  They were so considerate and it is such a joy to watch someone work, when they love what they do!

OUR COTTAGE :: the loft

 I thought I would post a little update on our sweet little Main Street Cottage.

Even though this little gem needed a lot of work, she caught our eye about 6 years ago.

We approached the owners, letting them know that if they ever wanted to sell, we would be interested in buying.  They were actually considering selling anyways!  They wanted quite a bit for the house, and at the time, it was just out of our budget.  Fast forward about 1 year....they had listed the house, and were ready to move to Eastern Oregon.  They lowered the price {a little} and we decided to purchase it.

 The home had/has charming features.  However, it needed A LOT of work.

We would save up cash, and fix an area.  That cycle took us about 4 years, but we finally got her fixed up!

 Below is a picture of the attic space 'BEFORE.'

The space was un-used and had floor joists that were on top of the attic roof.  If I remember correct, there was about 5'5" of head space.  Just fine for a shorty like me, but challenging for anybody over 5'3"!

 Matt gutted everything.

We brought the wiring and insulation up to code, framed for a bathroom and just worked away as we had the time and money.

 Matt hung the drywall, then applied a faux plaster finish over the drywall.  It gave the walls an old house look and feel, but with out the mess of lath-and-plaster.

Then he went to work on all of the built-ins.  Since the space was attic space, we had to be creative for storage needs.  We couldn't get a bed up the stairs, so Matt built a bed and then carried the mattress up a ladder and through the tall upstairs office window!

 It took about 6 months to complete the upstairs bedroom and bathroom addition.

Now, we are turning into the upstairs suite into a nightly rental.

Instead of guests renting the entire house {as a vacation rental}, they will just be renting the upstairs bedroom/bathroom/seating area.

I am still fine tuning the space, but thought I would post a few pictures.

All of the built-ins make for such a cozy space!

  Plenty of linen storage.

 Double vanity, linen storage, walk-in marble shower and a water closet.

All that's missing is a huge soaking tub!!  We really considered adding one!!  However, since the new bathroom was built in the existing space of a 1938 cottage, we didn't want to take the chance of adding the additional weight.   Plus, we didn't have an 'un-ending' budget!

Next week I will post the photos that This Old House took of our upstairs space.  It was so fun to watch them at work and see the amazing images they captured!!  It takes true talent to produce/photograph space for magazines, and they were amazing.  Anyways, more on that later.

Until then, have a lovely weekend!!

chocolate chip cookies :: soft and chewy

 We really enjoy our cookies here at the Haney household.

I thought I would share my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe.  It works perfectly every time.  Even if I leave the sweet little darlings in the oven for too long, they still taste good!

Chocolate Chip Cookie

2 sticks unsalted butter, COLD, cut into 1/2" cubes 

3/4 cup granulated sugar 

3/4 cup packed brown sugar 

2 large eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

3 cups all purpose flour  

1 teaspoon Kosher salt 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda  

2   1/2 good quality semisweet chocolate chips 

In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars just until creamy. Don’t overbeat. Add the egg and vanilla and beat just until incorporated. Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. When thoroughly mixed, add to batter and stir just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Place over sized dough balls on parchment lined baking sheets { I like to use an ice cream scoop.}  Chill dough balls for at least 30 min before baking.  **If you don't have room in your refrigerator for the baking sheets, you can chill the mixing bowl full of dough for 1 hour.**

Pre-heat oven to 375.  Bake times: Put the cookies in a 375 degree oven and set timer for 8 minutes. When timer rings, without opening oven or removing cookies, reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for another 8-10 minutes or until cookies appear set. Otherwise, you can bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes or until done. 

Makes 12-16, depending on the size.  Just remember, the secret to these cookies is keeping the dough cold!

recipe adapted from here

Enjoy.....preferably warm out of the oven and with a cold glass of milk {wink}.

xoxo~

Darci

BRYN MAWR VINEYARD :: before + after

 It all started with a little {but quite custom!} pump house cover.

Matt received a call, the new owners of this property asked if he could build them a pump house cover.  One thing lead to another and before long we were designing renovation plans and working out the details for this 3800+ s.f. addition.

 The existing home sat on beautiful acreage in the heart of the Eola Hills.  There was a small vineyard and a small winery on the property.  The owners bought the property with big plans of fine tuning the art of wine making and creating a family run business.

After several meetings, they decided it would be best to renovate/add on to the existing home instead of demolish the home and build brand new.

The design process took several months, but was so worth it!

 The outside shell was transformed in a matter of months.

 The new addition was thoroughly thought out and planned for how the homeowners would use the house.

 The South side of the house captured the view of the beautiful Eola Hills.

 The new exterior consisted of clear fir {vertical} siding, cedar board + bat, cultured stone and a standing seam roof.  Classic 'Pacific Northwest' features.

 The homeowners plan on tackling landscaping this Spring.

 The South side of the house completely captures the amazing views, it is truly breath taking!

 It's hard to see from this picture, but this is a huge, covered deck.  It's right off the the kitchen.  It has a built-in BBQ, cabinetry and a fireplace.  Did I mention the fact that is also has amazing views?!?

New garage doors and man doors.  This area serves as the winery until they build a new one in the next few years.

I will be sure to post some photos of the interior soon.

These clients were absolutely fabulous.

So easy going and down to earth, they were truly a joy to work for.  Thank you for the work John and Kathy!

We are so excited for them and winery venture.  If you are out tasting near Salem, be sure to stop by Bryn Mawr!!

before + after

Kitchen & Living Room Remodel :: before + after

We had the priviledge of just wrapping up a living room and kitchen remodel right before Christmas.

The clients were wonderful to work with {they always seem to be}!

 The home is a 1970's RANCH.

 There was very little natural light and the space was very claustrophobic.

 When you walked in the front door, it was dark halls and walls.

The kitchen was boxed in and separate from all other rooms in the house.

The clients had three must-haves: natural light, extra lighting and openness.

Here is what we came up with....

Open, natural light {we added a window and two sky-lights}, plenty of artificial lighting {can lights, island pendants and under cabinet lighting} and a lot of natural materials.

 Matt built the cabinetry out of cherry, then stained it so it wouldn't have any red undertones.

 With each kitchen we remodel, we go through a lot of design steps to make sure the clients are getting exactly what they have been waiting for.  I really enjoy the planning process!  Especially for clients who really enjoy cooking and using their kitchen!

 They chose pre-finished oak floors, a nice compliment to the cherry cabinets.

Isn't the counter top beautiful?!?  It's soapstone and I absolutely love it!   Fortunately, so do the clients.

 This hutch is away from the main kitchen working area.  A place to brew coffee, store cookbooks and gain more surface space for entertaining.

 We removed a few walls, this is the view looking from the kitchen into the living room.   Now everything is open and bright!

 The stone mason laid cultured stone over the existing brick.  Matt built new shelves and cabinets for the living room.

 We carried {not literally, you know what I mean....right?} the soapstone into the living room and used it for the hearth.

 Now the front entry is light, open and inviting.

This was a really fun remodel.  The clients waited a long time to remodel their space and it was so exciting to see everything come together for them.

Added bonus: they are really nice people.  We have been so blessed over the years to work for fabulous people, not something we take for granted!!

Thanks Mark and Laura!

kitchen remodel

Kitchen Remodel :: before + after

We recently remodeled a kitchen for a wonderful couple.

Last summer, they had Matt build living room cabinetry for their TV and fireplace.  It turned out beautifully!  This summer, they were ready to transform their kitchen.

 There was nothing really wrong with their kitchen, they just didn't 'love it'.

I can sure relate to that!

They wanted to change the cabinetry, counter tops and layout.

They wanted the kitchen to be the heart of their beautiful home.

 This is what we came up with:

 New appliances, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, granite, backsplash and custom cabinetry.

 Matt built the cabinetry out of cherry, and then stained it {gun-smoke, from Rodda paint}.

 The backsplash tile is a beautiful hand made tile from Pratt & Larson.  Pratt & Larson is my favorite.tile.supplier.ever.

 We added a WOLF oven, and professional grade appliances, which really steps the kitchen up a notch!

 I love the island.

They wanted a place to bake and craft with the grand kids, entertain, watch TV while making dinner and provide extra seating.  The island serves every one of those purposes, and more!

 I will forever love apron sinks.

Of course the cabinet builder has captured my heart too {wink}.

Thank you, Jon and Joyce, for the opportunity to work on your project!!  You were truly a delight to work for, and a bright point in our summer!