Sweet Everythings

Simple Vanilla Cake
Baked Glazed Chocolate Donuts
Big Fat Sugar Cookies
Bakery-Style Peanut Butter Cookies
Bittersweet Black Cookies
Healthyish Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Sturdy Cream Cheese Frosting
Scout Cookies and Magic Lessons
Tart Cherry Pie
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
 
The Fauxhouse

Minimal Cozy Christmas

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After posting the fireplace reveal, I’ve gotten a couple of emails and comments with the same question—how will you decorate for Christmas? With plenty of green garland, vintage red, buffalo print, and not much else. As you well know by now, I’m a minimalist by nature. The best thing about garland and real trees—they disappear (get recycled) after the holidays. This is coming from the girl who toted a fake tree to 3 states purchased from Target at 75% off in college. Every apartment we rented had to have room for that human-sized box. Sorry Kev. Read more

Recipe

Edible Gift Guide

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Edible Gift Guide | @thefauxmartha

I’m certain it was Maggie, founder of Eat Boutique, who turned me on to gifting food. Aside from trading turkeys made from Keebler Fudge Shoppe cookies, Rolos, and candy corns with neighbors growing up, the idea never crossed my mind. Two years ago, when we still lived on the east coast, we made the trek to Boston for Maggie’s annual Holiday Market. (Boston locals, it’s going on now! Details here.) The shelves of the market were filled with thoughtful, beautifully packaged, small batch food items. In that same spirit, Maggie recently published her first book, Food Gift Love. It’s full of homemade recipes for gifting—from pickled cucumbers to limoncello to candied blood orange rinds. I dog-eared her Salted Dark Caramel and prayed it was the caramel sauce recipe I’d been waiting for. The one I could actually replicate. It’s been my achilles heal since the first day I stepped foot in the kitchen. Not to sweet, almost burnt in flavor. That’s how she describes it. That’s also how my first successful caramel tasted. It worked! Read more

Recipe

Blender Eggnog

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Blender Eggnog | @thefauxmartha

I have a lightening quick post today, on all fronts. Yesterday, just hours before the annual neighborhood Christmas party, Lucy (my neighbor) and I got together to concoct what some said is the best eggnog they’ve ever had. Now, I don’t usually care for eggnog, but I care very deeply for this one. We tested several versions until we hit perfection, hiccup. Ella Wang, Diddy, Dumps, Wingnut, Mrs. Thompson, Sweet Alice, and Aunt Cleo provided the eggs. Lucy has a chicken coop and 4 tiny humans that come up with the best names. Now about that blender eggnog. It comes together quick, in a blender. It’s light in texture compared to the thick custardy version you might be used to (mostly due to the raw, uncooked eggs) and not overly sweet. I know the raw eggs will ruffle some chicken feathers. Choose your eggs wisely, wash them well before cracking, and crack on a flat surface (like a counter), says my neighbor Beth. Skip the alcohol if you must, but please don’t skip the freshly grated nutmeg. Clink, cluck, cheers! Read more

The Fauxhouse

The Faux Mantel

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The Faux Mantel | @thefauxmartha

I haven’t shared a whole lot about our house yet. Everything is almost done but not done, done. I’m also still getting used to the idea that this is our home. It felt like a project for so long. At the very last minute during the build, we nixed the fireplace for another year or so to stay on budget. We forgot all about that until now, when looking for a place to hang our stockings. By next month I’m sure we’ll wish it for other reasons. To right this wrong, I’ve teamed up with Pottery Barn Kids to create a faux mantel, #thefauxmantel. Would you expect anything different? Read more

Fauxmama

Kid-Friendly Compostable Table Setting

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kid friendly compostable table setting

There might have been a time or two when you’ve wondered why I call myself the faux. Well, wonder no longer. Here’s an faux idea! We’re setting a Kid-Friendly Compostable Table for the holidays this year. Some may call it a major faux pas. I’m not even embarrassed about it. The idea came to me while at Ikea. A craft paper holder filled with a roll of paper was sitting on top of a dining table. I wanted to run home immediately (see video for visual reference) and affix it to the underneath side of our table. I’d cover the table in a new roll of paper every day. Kind of like the exam table at the doctor’s office. Gross, Melissa. Hallie would color and spill all over it. And I’d be happy about it.

I nixed the permanence of the roll. It’ll fit in our buffet just fine, and we won’t lose knee-space at the table. However, we’ll still be covering our table in craft paper and using compostable plates and silverware come Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Because we have a tiny toddler, and I want her to enjoy it as much as the rest of us. Do I even need to mention how great clean-up will be two days out of the year?!  Read more

Recipe

Christmas on a Plate

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Christmas on a Plate | The Fauxmartha

Every year it happens. A new Christmas in a _____ is born. Though, I had to change my preposition from in to on this year. This year I give you: Christmas on a Plate. It might be the easiest and prettiest of the bunch.  Read more

Recipe

Ginger Snap Whoopie Pies

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Ginger Snap Whoopie Pies from The Faux Martha

When it comes to December, I have one thing in mind: how to consume as many peppermint spiked treats possible in 31 days (and make sure my “skinny” jeans still fit). It’s kinda like binge-listening to Christmas music for the month of December. But coming off an 11-month fast is hard, indulgent, and a little bit dangerous. So if you’re anything like me, and you need to cool it from peppermint for a short minute, make Ginger Snap Whoopie Pies. Read more

Recipe

Cranberry Walnut Stuffing

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Cranberry Walnut Stuffing | @thefauxmartha

I’ll never forget my first married Thanksgiving. We were young and poor and far away from family.  I was determined to make my first Thanksgiving entirely from scratch. I took the liberty to nix certain staples off the menu and add some new ones. I cleaned, brined, and cooked the turkey all by myself. I was proud, so proud, until Kev saw the final spread. Read more

 
 

Cheers to the simple things.The Faux Martha

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