Melt 10 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. The butter will melt and begin to cook down; watch it very carefully. Little brown bits will begin to appear in the pan. Once the crackling subsides, the butter will brown quickly. Remove from heat when the butter turns a caramel color.

In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of whole milk, 2 eggs, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Add the brown butter and stir to combine.

In a large bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups of all purpose flour with 1 cup of sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Add the milk/butter mixture all at once to the dry ingredients. Stir gently to combine. Divide the batter among 12 muffin cups.

To make the topping:  combine 3 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter {cut into 1/2 inch cubes} with 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 3 1/2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl. Use your fingers to rub together until it becomes crumbly.

Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the batter. {I eventually cleaned up the tray so that the crumble did not burn in the oven, but doesn’t it look so pretty?}

Bake for 15-20 minutes {until they pass a toothpick test} at 350 degrees F.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe click here: Brown Butter Coffee Cake Muffin

Happy Baking!

xoxo,

Ali

Like these cupcakes, made for a very special baby shower.

This adorable construction cake was made for a 75 year old man’s birthday. He is in the construction industry and his grandchildren ordered the cake!

I love the simplicity of these cupcakes, the mini version of our mother’s day cake.

Keep us in mind for all of your birthday, graduation, shower, wedding….. and any other “reason to eat something sweet” needs!

You can e-mail ali@paperyandcakery.com or visit us on the web.

xoxo,

Ali

A rainbow paper wheel inspiring me to DIY via Waste Not Paper’s booth.

Another DIY in the making. Bejeweled pencils via Russel + Hazel.

Jonathan Adler’s newest customization lucite tray. Preppy perfection.

Massive silk screened wall calendar via Linda + Harriet. Purchased for new office. Hooray.

A chic new wedding invitation from Smock that I completely swooned over.

Dauphine’s stationery show invitation using gold foil and the most beautiful pale blue paper. Elegant to the max.

All products available via papery + cakery.

xoxo,

Niki, Ali + Gavi

Red {big, little}

Orange {big, little}

Yellow {big, little}

Green {big, little}

Blue {big, little}

Indigo {big, little}

Violet {big, little}

Rainbow rompers are best worn while eating this.

xoxo,

Niki

You see, I hated our powder room. It was painted with Venetian plaster in shades of: gold, black, fuchsia and aqua. The ceiling was gold. The fixtures were all brass. There was a hideous pouffy window treatment. There was no overhead light. There was a hand painted floral sink {scroll down to see it in all its glory. I couldn’t bear to look at it for too long}. Bananas I tell you.

And so I started slowly. I painted the walls white. I replaced the offending sink with something white. I replaced the pouffy window treatment with something white. I painted the ceiling white. I moved a chandelier overhead. And I smiled. Because all white makes me happy. {And so does overhead lighting}.

But something was missing. And so, a few months ago, I decided it was time to “design”. Replacing the brass fixtures wasn’t an option, so I needed something that would flow with them. Something cool. Something “us.”

I settled on black and white stripes with gold accents.

To be honest, I could not be happier if I tried! I love the stripes. I love how they meld  with the gold.  I love how chic it looks with the chandelier. And the awesome gold art. And the plates on the wall. Can you imagine a bathroom could possibly make someone so happy?

{I apologize to my mother in advance for the above photo. This is the first and only time the toilet seat has ever been left open. In the history of our home. Ever. Mom, I swear. Just for this photo. Just once. Oops}

{chandelier / mirror / plate / set of plates / soap pump / spray paint / art }.

xoxo,

Niki

The before photo….. May it rest in peace.

To create this cake: Prepare a vanilla cake {you can use this vanilla chiffon recipe}. Divide the batter into 6 parts.

Using the colors of the rainbow, add a small dollop of food gel to each of the bowls.

Mix until batter is an even color.

Place into pan size of your choice {mine are 8″}. Bake a layer of cake with each color.

Let cool and assemble.

Starting with the purple on the bottom, add a buttercream filling between each layer.

Stack the cake from bottom to top: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and then finally red on top.

Place a thin coating of buttercream frosting around the entire cake.

Carefully, place an even coating of sprinkles all over the exterior of the cake. It took me 2 full containers of sprinkles to achieve this look.

I can’t get enough of this cake.

I had to take a zillion pictures.

Some with the outside.

Some with the inside.

Some up close and personal.

And some with just a simple, colorful slice.

This HAPPY cake {and many others} are available from Cakery.

xoxo,

Ali

Niki had set the bar high – see examples here and here. Very high. I think I did a good job, if I do say so myself!

Niki created the gorgeous peony arrangement above. I take credit for the cake.

The kitchen counter doubled as the buffet. The menu included cheesy grits, baked challah french toast, egg white frittatas,  sweet spinach salad and bagels with lots-o-fixens!

The table was decorated with pom poms via Martha Stewart pom, with a few florals intertwined in small apothecary glasses.

Of course the babies needed to know where to sit, as well.

Another shot of the delicious cake: lemon chiffon with a chocolate ganache filling. Available for order from Cakery!

Hope everyone had a Happy Mother’s Day!

xoxo,

Ali

Niki

A lovely wash for your delicates and unmentionables. A travel necessity.

Not sure who will enjoy this book more, me or the kids. Ok, obviously me.

Will Ryman rose installation. Currently being featured at Miami’s Fairchild Botanical Garden.

Really love this song. So catchy and fun.

Gavi:

Shoes glorious beaded flat shoes.

Loving this print.

xoxo,

Niki, Ali + Gavi

{1. book 2. headphones 3. piggy bank 4. iPad + sleeve 5. polaroid 6. art 7. globe 8. journal 9. glass 10. scarbble}.

Hope this inspires some great gifting to the class of 2012!

xoxo,

Niki

As I opened the gift, I knew it was something special. And I also knew that I would never be able to give a non-homemade housewarming gift again. This was too cool. Too personal.

The gift was from my friend Robin. First she made her infamous mouthwatering bean dip. Next, she packed it up in a mason jar. She placed that jar into a stylish chips + dip bowl. Then she added a bag of Tostitos and wrapped it in cellophane. Voila. The best housewarming gift. Ever.

The dip was gone in under 24 hours. Actually more like 2 hours. Oops. The chips + dip set has been used about 100 times since. It is pure housewarming perfection.

Here’s how to execute it.

1. Make Robin’s Bean Dip

Ingredients:

2 cans of Progresso black beans {rinsed}

2 cans of yellow corn drained

1 can of Progresso garbanzo beans

the greens of a bunch of scallions

1 red pepper, diced

bunch of fresh basil

chopped cilantro

1 ripened mango, chopped

Combine and add

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup rice vinegar

salt + pepper to taste

Mix in a giant bowl. Add to mason jar. Let marinate {if you have the patience to let this sit in the refrigerator,

I promise it gets better with age. Furthermore this recipe makes way more than just one mason jar worth so feel free to keep the rest for yourself.}

I wrapped my mason jar with burlap and twine and added a label giving Robin her due credit.

2. Add Tostitos {another food that has total and utter control over me. Do you feel that way?}

3. Place in chip and dip set. I am loving this right now.

4. Wrap in cellophone. Tie with a bow. Give immediately {or fear ripping open the package to eat the drip yourself}.

Say happy housewarming in style. Homemade style.

xoxo,

Niki