Beginning with the Basics

 

8.17.15

The origin of baking:

Before April of 2015, I had never really baked anything. But after a July 2014 engagement, I had the power of the registry.  So I started adding kitchen tools, baking gadgets, pie dishes….and to quote my husband, “you know we’re never gonna get all of this.”

But I did.

My bridal shower was an epic lovely party filled with friends and family where I received all the kitchen things I wanted. We had to order an SUV Uber to get me home.

Well shit.

I attempted to make chocolate chip cookies not long after putting all these wonderful things away in my small New York City apartment kitchen.

They sucked.

Looking back, after taking on a new baking challenge every week since then and being about 98% successful, I think the chocolate chip cookies were the result of a bad recipe.  But at the time, it was disheartening.  So I decided I would bake once a week, creating everything from scratch, something new and delicious, and acquire a new adult hobby.  Discovering recipes and using or tweaking them as I see fit.  And so it goes.

The origin of style:

A few years ago I decided on a wardrobe overhaul.  I didn’t dress terrible, but I didn’t dress great. Kind of like a cute, poor hipster with bangs.  I made it a goal to start purchasing things that made me happy when I put them on. And I decided that on a normal person budget, you could still look great without going broke.  I also promised myself that if I saw something I really loved and could seeing wearing it more than once, I could splurge. And my other newer rule is if I see a piece I really want, it should be able to go with at least two things I already own to get the green light.

I started to look in the mirror and feel put together, whether I actually had my life together that day or not.  And since then I’ve been putting together a closet I feel confident about. To walk down the street and have someone be all like, “you look so cute.”

I know.

I did that on purpose.

And so I’m finally deciding to let my loves for both these things collide, and out of a silly hashtag on my Instagram a blog is born. Neither of these things are my career or my source of income or what I studied in college. But the power of learning things as an adult is strong, almost as strong as a registry.

So on each post there will be a baked good paired with an outfit.  Sometimes the color scheme will influence the duo, sometimes the connotation of why or for who I made it, it shall be explained in the post.

This is the start of something I hope will not fall by the wayside, because I’ve been scheming about it, and keeping it very secret from all my friends for a while as not to jinx my actual motivation to start it. Welcome to Domestic B(i)atch.

And like any admitted failure,  I’ll return to the scene of the crime, and the first recipe will be chocolate chip cookies.  Face your fears, and pony up.

This is a very unsecret CCC recipe from Jacques Torres chocolatier. After making it the first time and realizing you could feed a small army of children with it, I halved it. It still makes a ton of cookies and keeps the integrity of the taste as well.

When you get down to it, chocolate chip cookies are an old favorite, everyone loves them, and they’re one of the best go-to desserts you can make.  So why not pick an outfit that’s an easy, yet effective go-to?

I’m all about the stripes, they’re classy, better than a solid, and can be paired with basically anything.  In NYC there are neutrals and grey everywhere, I’ve been working hard to add color to my clothing life but for starters let’s make it real easy like. These black skinny jeans were part of my Stitch Fix a little while back.  And I love them. I love the length, as a short human, they’re perfect. They fit like a glove, and the zippers on the bottom of the pant leg give them a detail that sets them apart.

If you want to treat yourself and need some new additions to your wardrobe, Stitch Fix is an excellent choice.  Click on the link in the previous paragraph for more details, but long story short you pay a $20 styling fee to have 5 great pieces of clothing sent to your doorstep (after filling out a lengthly stats and style profile) and you have three days to try on everything and send back what you don’t want.  Styling fee is subtracted from the price of what you keep, and you don’t pay for what you don’t like.  The clothing isn’t cheap, but it won’t break the bank. And my top three things in my closet are probably from Stitch Fix, so it’s worth it.

Some simple sandals and great earrings finish it off and unless you’ve been invited to a gala (which you haven’t been), this outfit is an easy choice for where ever you’re headed.

 

Also, I have more earrings than you could ever dream up, so get ready.

H&M shirt (similar)/Just Black skinnies (similar)/Forever 21 Sandals/ Earrings(similar)

 

Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup + 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup + 1 1/2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups + 1 teaspoon pastry flour
• 1 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 lb bittersweet chocolate (at least 60% cacao), coarsely chopped

Instructions

• Whisk together flours, salt baking powder, & baking soda. Set Aside
• With the paddle attachment on en electric mixer, cream butter and sugars together until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes
• Add vanilla, and then eggs one at a time, allowing each to be fully incorporated before adding the next
• Switch mixer to low and, beginning with the dry mixture, alternate adding dry ingredients and chocolate
• Wrap dough in plastic and chill for 24-48 hours.
• Once chilled, preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Place dough in 3 inch balls on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, or baking mat
• Bake for 14-16 minutes. Less than 14 will leave you with a cookie to soft to stay together, more than 16 will give you a cookie over baked and unenjoyable
• Allow to cool up to 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack
• Eat. Them. All.

P.S.

* For 3 inch dough balls, I just doubled up on using a 1 1/2 inch scoop. And after experimenting with a few batches, 14 minutes seemed to be perfect. More than 15 was overbaked, under 14 left them too soft to hold together. I’m sure it depends on the oven.

Adapted from Martha Stewart