Gluten-free Orange Mocha Cake with Whiskey Brown Sugar Glaze

Most recipes that use booze end up cooking off the actual alcohol during the process of making them. The best thing about this tasty cake is NOT that it’s comprised of chocolate and coffee, but that you can get drunk while you eat it.

What you need:
2 cups gluten-free all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
In a medium bowl, microwave 1/8 cup of fresh orange juice and an 1/8 cup of whiskey until warm.

Stir into warm juice:
2 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
2 tablespoons instant decaf coffee granules

After coffee dissolves, whisk in:
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon vanilla

Add the wet ingredients to the dry with a few swift strokes just until blended. Pour into bundt pan. Bake about 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool on rack.

Whiskey glaze:
1/3 cup whiskey
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup powdered sugar

Mix and drizzle over warm cake and serve to your already plastered house guests!

Spicy Pear Chutney and Swiss Sandwich

It’s pear season here in New York, folks! They’re cheap, juicy and local and I have been trying to sneak them into almost all of my recipes for the past two weeks. This chutney is awesome because not only does it contain a seasonal fruit, but it uses a college student staple: Siracha hot sauce. If you aren’t familiar with this zippy condiment, I’d like this to be the recipe that changes things for you. Seriously, things might get weird in your food life after this (I won’t judge you if I walk in on you eating cheerios slathered with the spicy red nectar)… Any “New Girl” fans out there perpetually hearing Schmidt’s voice over enunciating “chut-uh-nee?”

What you need:

1 cup chopped red onion

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup raisins

1/4  cup of garlic rice vinegar

1/2  tsp. Sriracha

1/4  tsp. cinnamon

1/4  tsp. cloves

A dash of granulated orange peel

3 cups chopped pears

What you do:

Mix all ingredients, except for the pears, in a small saucepan. Bring mixture to boil, then cover and reduce heat to simmer for five minutes. Cool for ten minutes. Place in bowl and stir in pear.

I made a delicious open-faced sandwich with this seasonal chutney by toasting an everything gluten-free bagel (you can obviously substitute a normal one), spreading on chutney and melting swiss cheese on top. It tastes particularly good with hard cider and emotionalism.

‘The Electric Lady’ Grooves on New Record

                                                                                             Photo from www.billboard.com                             

Janelle Monáe’s second release, “The Electric Lady” brings all the slinky-sounding funk that won over the hearts of fans with her debut album, “The ArchAndroid” (2010). With a slightly less psychedelic and more Motown-industrial sound (that’s a thing, right?), she highlights her classically trained voice, peppered with the flamboyancy of a seventies-pop singer.
   
The highlight of the album for me is “Give Em What They Love,” the long-awaited Prince collaboration. Dark, guttural and gritty, it is as expected, a song that could only come from the soul dream-team. With Monáe’s biting mid-range voice and Prince’s strained falsetto, the voices sound like two sides of the same coin—the male and female version of the same cry. The rhythmic guitar riff keeps the duet in check, keeping them calm in a time of pure chaos.  I challenge you to contain your goose bumps when Prince whispers, “I am sharper than a switchblade. First and last of what God made and that’s the truth.”

One of Monáe’s main selling points is that she manages to bring the seventies and eighties vibe while giving her music an edge that makes it sound distinctly “now.” Complex chord changes and twisting melodic lines make it a departure from your seventies ballads while the beats and horns harken to a funkier era. Monáe’s deep understanding and appreciation of jazz is a part of the musical fabric of this album, which features the great jazz bass player and singer Esperanza Spalding on “Dorothy Dandridge Eyes.”

Monáe’s second album has a distinct feeling of urgency. Lyrics like “Tick-tock, I’m watching the clock I can’t wait ‘till we get to rock” on the song “Primetime” leave the listener feeling as if at any moment the album might stop while Monáe goes to take care of something she should have a long time ago. It is this aura, along with her penchant for musical nostalgia that creates an intense and consistent feel. It is an album that while feeling fresh, also feels like it has been around forever.

Gluten-free Blueberry Corn Muffins

With the darker days of fall fast approaching, it’s really easy to want to eat every carb in sight. Although this might not help the issue, at least they’re gluten-free and a pretty decent cold morning breakfast option.

What you need for 12 muffins:

1 cup yellow cornmeal

¾ cup of rice flour

¼ cup of potato flour

½ cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk*

¼ vegetable oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 ½ cup of blueberries

*If you don’t have buttermilk you can make your own with a cup of milk 2 tbs. of vinegar or lemon juice.

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 12, 2 ½ by 1 ¼ muffin-pan cups.

2. In large bowl, mix flours, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In small bowl, with whisk beat buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla and egg until blended; stir into flour mixture just until flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy.) Fold in blueberries.

3. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake muffins 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of corn muffins comes out clean. Immediately remove muffins from pans; serve warm or cool on wire rack.

I suggest eating these toasted with cream cheese and a cup of black coffee, while you look out a beautiful window.

Happy carbing!

The Mystique of a Rugged Rucksack

 (Dress, belt, and rings: Typographie Vintage, Maine Guide Rucksack, leather: L.L. Bean, boots:Decree)

There is something so attractive about a neutral colored backpack that looks like it can handle a beating. I love a real adventure bag that could have come from a century ago, and would have done just as good a job hauling horse tack as it does an ipad.

The Maine Guide Rucksack in leather, by L.L. Bean is just that. This bag will last way longer than I will, and will also probably age better (hah). Made from super soft and durable leather, every part of this bag feels like it's made to last. Solid metal buckles and zippers, and ultra-tough canvas lining will prevent even me from ruining this heirloom piece. Perhaps it's my old-school soul that lusts after some utilitarian pieces, but I tell you what wow- this one doubles for fashion and function.

It's a little bit heavier than I expected, but the straps are comfortable and the weight is well-distributed. I also liked how the straps have a grip material to keep them in place on your shoulders (SO awesome for traveling!)

Let the adventures begin! 
All pictures were taken by my great friend, Grace Lind.

*This post is sponsored by L.L. Bean, all opinions are my own.

The Great American Irish Festival

A couple of weeks ago I headed to Herkimer, NY with my sister and her NOW fiance (yayyyyy!!!!!) to camp at the Great American Irish Festival. I've been attending the festival with my family since it started ten years ago, but this was my first time camping out for the weekend. I had an absolute blast seeing both traditional and contemporary Celtic music acts, watching the Gaelic football matches, and drinking a lot of (sadly, gluten-free) beer. A little background on the photos:

1. Smokey the Irish Wolfhound. I am in love, what more is there to say?

2. My happy sister! Post beer and nachos.

3. Me and two of my best buddies from high school!

4. A traditional Irish band, Stoutmen. One of my favorite acts of the weekend!

I highly suggest going to this festival if you ever have the chance! The people are incredibly friendly, camping is a blast, and it's just a whirlwind of culture and fun!

Free People Roshambo: Paper-Scissors ft. Christopher Abbott

Free People has released the final short film in their series, Roshambo. The trilogy of films unfolds the tale of a couple feeling their way through the ebbs and flows of life and love, and their eventual decision to build a future based on a game of chance.

In this dreamy film featuring indie hunk, Christopher Abbott of HBO's Girls, we see what Chris was up to while Sheila was away in Rio. The film features brilliant cinematography as always, and like Free People's other short films, captures a real intimacy with the knowledge of young love. A+ on your research, Free People!

Now let's get down to brass tacks - the clothes. The jacket Sheila is wearing with the sherpa collar is absolutely perfect for this fall. I've always been partial to sherpa-lined jackets, and this one really hits the nail on the head with it's longer cut and relaxed feel. I love the way they pieced together Ana Girardot's (she's the gal Chris is talking to at the party) look. It kind of had a Frenchie (duh), but almost 1920's feel with the tall socks, short dress, and porkpie hat! I don't think I have ever seen a statement hat styled so effortlessly!

I'm sad to see the series end, but excited to see what they have in store! You can see the rest of the Roshambo series here.

Creeping Myrtle

       (Top: American Eagle, Skirt: Typographie Vintage, Jacquard Messenger Bag: Pendleton Woolen Mills, Boots: Decree)    

"According to English folklore, myrtle will only grow if a woman plants it. Best beloved by the goddess of love, Venus, myrtle is surrounded by myth and legend."

The sea of Creeping Myrtle in these photos is located at my uncle's house in upstate New York. My grandmother used to live in the house before moving to southern Pennsylvania, and the myrtle was grown off a clipping from my great grandmother's house down on Long Island. It's in such a mythical spot, located between a waterfall and a fruit orchard. 

I couldn't have dreamed of a better location to shoot this adventure-inspired outfit. I had bike shorts underneath the skirt (which acted as a wonderful mosquito net- pretty spots like this one are well loved by many other species besides us), comfy boots for trekking, cool top, and a bag that is as beautiful as it is tough. I love that this satchel, which is designed with padding for a 13" laptop or a tablet, looks so rustic and outdoorsy. It brings a little bit of the adventure aesthetic to the more mundane moments.

All pictures were taken by John McGuiness, and edited by Grace Lind.

*This post is sponsored by Pendleton Woolen Mills, all opinions are my own.

Barks and Beach Treasures at Gardiner County Park

For the past few years John has been telling me about this awesome dog park not too far from his home on Long Island. I am a bit crazy with dogs (there are few things I love more), so I assumed that they were the main attraction of this haven he had described.

Although we saw a few cute pooches running around (not my kind of dog though, I like my canines big enough to knock down a wall with their tail), the best part of the day was the beautiful view from the end of the pathway. The park opens up into a gorgeous beach with a view of a bridge, lovely houses in the distance, and fields of cotton-soft tall grass.

We spent the afternoon collecting beach oddities, chasing dragon flies, and of course, shooting some dreamy pictures.

Happy weekend y'all! Go find your haven!

Western Wool

(Hat: Minnetonka, Tank: Charlotte Russe, Bag: Pendleton Woolen Mills, Skirt: Typographie Vintage, Boots: Express)

The feel of wool on my fingertips is something I equate to only perfect days. My mom is obsessed with wool blankets and sweaters, so we always had them piled up on us both before and after sledding. I had horses that needed wool saddle pads, feet that needed wool socks for long hikes, and fidgety hands that needed something to do while relaxing on the couch afterwards.

Needless to say, I was thrilled when I found a way to wear wool during the hot summer months. The jacquard bag I'm wearing in this shoot was nothing short of awesome. Beautiful color and pattern, soft to the touch, and although light and small, large enough to carry a big clutch wallet, phone, headphones, and some makeup!

P.S. This shoot was one of the coolest I've been involved in so far. It seemed like everything just fell in to place. As I drove around with my uncle/photographer to find an interesting spot, he thought of checking out the county fair grounds to see if we could get a few shots in the grandstands. The universe was apparently on our side that day, because we stumbled upon a Western Quarter Horse show that ran all afternoon. I was even lucky enough to get that gem of a picture with my new horse buddy, Kneely. 
All pictures were taken by John McGuiness, and edited by Grace Lind.

*This post is sponsored by Pendleton Woolen Mills, all opinions are my own.

Wanderlust NYC

This past weekend John and I took a trip to Hudson River Park (NYC) for a one day yoga in the city festival put on by Wanderlust. I have been dying to go to a Wanderlust festival since I found out about it a few years back from a fellow yogi! The regular events are four days long, and feature yoga classes by some of the most renowned teachers, live music, speakers, vendors, and more.

Even though this particular session only spanned an afternoon, they managed to pack a lot in. Three classes were offered, and John and I signed up for the middle class, with Schuyler Grant and Dana Slamp. The first half hour of the class taught by Schuyler, was accompanied by Hannah Thiem, a violinist/vocalist of Copal and violinist of Nyxyss. Her dark, yet spiritual melodies made pushing through some of the more challenging poses easier. My muscles were definitely trembling by the end of this one, but I was still able to focus on my breath.

The second session with Dana Slamp was more relaxed, and went through a series of restorative poses, which felt wonderful after the first session. Dana's class was accompanied by a harpist and guitar player, which matched the serene mood of the class.

White baloons decorated the tents, health food piled into the hands of toned people in spandex, and it was just a wonderful environment to be in! I can't wait to attend a four day festival. All of the longer events take place in gorgeous remote locations, so your down time is truly down time.

To learn more about Wanderlust Festival click here. 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Photo by Grace Lind

Hello vintage lovers! I just wanted to let you know that you can now follow Typographie on Bloglovin'! Following a blog means that you will not only stay up to date on the newest posts, but it also means that you're helping to support a fellow blogger's dream!

If you aren't familiar with Bloglovin, it's very simple to use. Just click the link above the picture, sign up for an account (this doesn't take long, you just have to follow five blogs to start), and then follow Typographie. I appreciate your continued love and support!

New in the shop: Vintage Cocktail Dress in Half Moon

Awhile back I posted about a shoot I did with Jason Sexton for Gina Tarbell, of Karma Spa & Boutique. The vintage dress I wore is actually for sale in my shop here. I can't get enough of those fashion-forward ruffle sleeves! This dress will make you feel and look like a million bucks. Promise.

Bliss Spot

 

I spent this past week at my boyfriend's home in Bohemia, NY. Folded into the fast-paced environment of the microcosm that is Long Island, are a few real gems of simplicity and breathtaking beauty. This beach in Sayville, NY is one of my bliss spots: the place where all the bad thoughts go to melt, and the cream is allowed to rise to the top.

I had one of the most romantic nights of my life on the beach, sitting on top of the lifeguard chair with John, staring at the amber-colored half bitten moon. I had never felt so loved, so vibrant, or so at ease.

 Months later I had a painful experience there, when I stepped onto a rusty nail with my nerve damaged leg after Hurricane Sandy. As John ran to the car to pick me up, I sat on the guardrail and watched as little paper lanterns were lit and and released by little ones on the beach, and the pain was dulled during the waiting period. That place always finds a way to make me smile. It allows me to hit my reset button.

Do you have a "happy place" of your own? Where is it? How often do you get to go there?

P.S. Please excuse the quality of the picture. We only had our phones at the beach!

Spanish Rose

My friend Gabrielle, (you may remember her from our interview awhile back) introduced me to Rifle Paper Co. right around the same time I was starting Typographie Vintage. I remember seeing their unique flower patterns plastered on her Pinterest boards, and falling in love with the color schemes used in their feminine stationary. The timeless, airy vibe perfectly matched the aesthetic of Typographie.

I had hoped and prayed that they would eventually expand into apparel and accessories, and sure enough, they have! Rifle Paper Co. has created a line of awesome iPhone cases featuring their signature style illustrations. If you think the pictures are nice, wait until you see them in real life- these babies look like they're hand painted! They also have little grippy edges, which comes in handy if you are anywhere near as clumsy as I am.

As this case sneaked into my everyday ensemble, I realized that I had been wearing four of the same pieces for about a week straight. This only meant one thing, I had picked my summer go-to's!

1.Vintage pendant: This is actually my mom's necklace that I have been borrowing. You can find more vintage jewelry in my shop. 

2. Fringed clutch: from, believe it or not, American Eagle! 

3. iPhone case in Spanish Rose c.o. Rifle Paper Co.

4. WeWood Watch I won from a giveaway over at Burgandy Whispers!

This time around I paired my personal effects with a lace dress from Free People (an anniversary gift from my boyfriend)!

Have you picked your summer essentials?

P.S. All the beautiful photographs were taken by my friend, Jason Sexton. He just launched his new website which is chock-full of amazing shots. You can check it out here.

Mint Chocolate Brownie Frosting

My mom has this plain chocolate frosting recipe that she got from a 1970's Nestle Choco Bake package. It is the lightest, most cocoa-ified frosting I have ever tasted, and I think I was put on to this planet to share the wealth.

What you need (for 1 cup)

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 envelope (1-oz.) Nestle Choco-bake

1-1/2 measuring teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

2-1/2 measuring tablespoons milk

We figured out today though, that if you substitute the 2-1/2 measuring tablespoons of milk with this:

2 measuring tablespoons of Creme de Menthe

1/2 measuring tablespoons of almond milk

it somehow manages to taste even better!

What you do:

In small bowl, combine butter, Nestle Choco-bake and vanilla extract; mix well. Alternately blend in confectioners sugar with milk. Beat until smooth.

Gop onto anything and everything. Preferably something with even more chocolate.

Words of Wisdom From My Ma

"The "sucks box" is where one puts that really difficult stuff - the stuff that you'd run away from (you can run physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually) -but the rule is, you have to really, really look at what you're putting in there first. You have to look it right in the face, and doing so, you gain the upper hand. This "difficult" thing fits right in this box, and can no longer take over your universe. You choose life.”

-My mom

I'm the luckiest to have such a wonderful mother, who is always there for advice, laughs, and support. Love yah ma.

What did you do for mother's day?

Saturday Tunes

I've been taken with Gregory Alan Isakov from the minute my friend played me this song freshman year of college. Although I've heard live recordings of him before, somehow it took me until this morning to check out his live videos. 

This particular performance takes place in his awesome home in Boulder, Colorado. It reminds me of "picking party" jams we had at my house growing up. I'm dying to go see him play. He really has something special going on.

Happy listening! 

The Wonder of The Lidded Teacup

Last Sunday I attended a "Mad Hatter Tea Party" at my friend Ella's house. Everyone came dressed up in their finest Sunday clothes, and we passed around some funky hats to try on. It was absolutely gorgeous out, and Ella and her wonderful mother set out an array of gluten-free goodies to accompany pots of chai and yerba mate. Like everything in their beautiful home, the dishes were an eclectic mix of vintage-wares, and included a set of lidded teacups. 

At first I noticed how nice it was to have my tea remain piping hot throughout the party. We chatted, played music, hula-hooped, and danced around in the yard, and every time I returned to my tea it was still steaming. It was only when I was sitting in the grass, burying my toe-knuckles(?) into the hard spring soil, teeming with ants, that I realized that the lids were serving another purpose: they kept out all the bugs! 

For as long as I can remember, my mom has always taken her tea out for her evening gardening. She would set the cup down on a rock or a fencepost, and would make sure to check it before each sip. Problem solved!

If you are looking to get your hands on one of these, I just put this great 1970's wild strawberry lidded teacup in the shop for only ten dollars! Tea tastes better without the crunch, trust me.