Recipe by: Lauren Palmer

Ingredients:

Doughnuts

300 g flour

50 g caster sugar

pinch salt

50 g butter melted

150 ml milk

1 egg

2 sachets of yeast

1 vanilla pod (split and scraped)

Zest of 1 orange

Vegetable oil for deep frying

Icing sugar for dusting

Filling

200 g ricotta

50 g caster sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Zest and juice of 1/2 orange

Zest 1/2 lemon

Directions

1.) Sieve flour, caster sugar and salt into bowkl

2.) In a separate bowl whisk together melted butter, milk, egg, yeast, vanilla and orange zest. It will be a little lumpy, that’s ok.

3.) Add wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Mix until smooth and elastic.

4.) Shape dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a clean towel and leave in warm place for 1-2 hours until well risen.

5.) once risen, turn dough out onto clean, floured area and roll out to 1 cm thick

6.) Use cookie or pastry cutter to cut rounds approx 7 cm in diameter. Transfer to lined tray, cover to leave to rise again for 1-2 hours.

7.) Heat oil in small sauce pan over medium heat. use a piece of left over dough to check oil.

8.) Fry for just a minute or so on each side (turning once), until deep golden and well puffed. Drain on paper towel.

9.) Allow doughnuts to cool, split in half and fill with a generous spoonful of ricotta filling.

10.) Dust with a little icing sugar before serviing

Filling

1.) Place all ingredients into bowl and whip until light and fully. Refrigerate until required.

Enjoy!

In today’s home we want to live “smart” as much as possible. We have seen the rise of smart technology when it comes to our phones, tablets, and vehicles, why not our homes? Many new homes are built “smart” but you don’t have to buy a new home to experience the latest technology.

A smart home is a home that has been designed to enhance your security, efficiency, and living experience. This is done through automation controlled by your desktop, automated switching, or personal device. Things like lighting, heating, window coverings, and even appliances. Imagine the ability to safely preheat your oven from the road. Manufacturers such as monogram incorporate the ability to control your appliances through bluetooth. Later you can sink into a bubble bath enjoying the calming tunes of your Kohler Vibracoustic bathtub. You can even pre-set your Mr. Steam shower to the perfect temperature for up to two people in your family. U by Moen offers a customizeable shower technology and personal device integration allowing you to control shower time and temperature.

Lutron’s Caseta Wireless app, allows you to create mood and scene settings from your personal device. It can be something as simple as customized lighting in the walk ways, merged lighting with your security system for added safety, “movie” mode which sets your lights, curtains, and audio settings at once, or simple touch pad by your bed to turn off all your lights without having to get up and fumble through the dark. Save and schedule your preferences settings and have your room ready before you arrive. Lutron’s products work with Amazon Echo and Google Home.

The ability to control your lighting, heating, air conditioning, and window coverings gives you peace of mind when you thought you forgot to turn something off, it also helps make your home more energy efficient. One example would be, a smart refrigerator identifying and alerting you to malfunctions through the bluetooth and wifi before you even notice.

Regardless if you incorporate smart technology with your lights, audio, shower, steam or even new appliances, it will make your life better and add value to your home. Much of this technology is on display in our showroom here at Anew Kitchen and Bath Design Experience.

Who doesn’t love something that is decadent and easy to put together? I came up with this recipe when I decided to re-invent the idea of a basic cherry pie. One of my co-workers at the time was obsessed with cherry pie, and I decided to give this a try for a fun surprise. Needless to say, this desert did not last long in the employee break room.

Ingredients:

1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust

2 Cans of 21oz Cherry Pie Filling

1 8oz container of Cool Whip

1 3.9oz package of Instant Chocolate Pudding

2 Cups of cold Milk

1 6.5oz Reddi Whip

Directions:

1.) You will want to make up the chocolate pudding. Use medium size bowl and mix pudding with 2 cups of cold Milk. Mix until smooth.

2.) Mix up chocolate filling mousse. To do this you will stir in the cool whip into the chocolate pudding until it is a whipped consistency.

3.) Place a thin layer of cherry pie filling to the bottom of the pie. Then add the chocolate mousse over the cherry pie filling. You will want the mousse to cover the top of the pie crust.

4.) Add cherry pie filling to the center of the pie (try to pick out mostly cherries for this so that the filling does not become runny.

5.) Add reddi whip to the outer rim of the cherry filling to the edge of the pie.

Enjoy!

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is important to feel the love whether you are cooking for your family, or hosting friends. Here are some tips to recreate, revamp, and add functionality to your space that you will positively love.

1.) Add Some Art Work

By using simple touches such as stenciled cutting boards, fun kitchen themed artwork, or hanging vintage signs it can re-create your area easily. This is an easy way to customize your kitchen to you and show off your personal style.

2.) Make Your Cabinets Work For You

Maybe you have a small space to work with, or you have some oddly shaped items that need some storing. Do not let quality storage space go to waste just because it doesn’t fit the cookie cutter mold. The best way is to change or remove shelving all together. Making changes such as adding baskets for odds and ends items, adds a decorative touch and is useful to you.

3.) Two For One

If you have a small space where you need an element of style and functionality, try designing mason jars. By just painting and adding a chalk board label, it makes utensils easy to find and adds more storage use.

4.) Add or Change Your Lighting

Do you have lights that you hate or that take away from the look of your space? Making simple changes such as changing the globes can change the space for a low cost. The same goes for your outlet covers. Do not fell like you need to keep your old style. Replace it with new clean covers or even designer style covers. Ask Anew how we can help with these materials.

5.) Update Your Hardware

Maybe you have made small changes throughout your kitchen, but your hardware is dated. By changing old, outdated, or uninspiring hardware to a more modern stylish look it can revamp your look for a low cost and time investment. Decorative hardware is the jewelry of the kitchen, you wouldn’t wear the same necklace year after year, right?

Have fun with this and if you are stumped give us a call at (714) 253-4548, we would love to help.

Install New Countertops

Adding countertops takes about two weeks so, careful planning will need to take place. Counter choices are vast. There are natural stones such as, Granite and Soapstone, Quartz, Glass, Wood, Cement and Stainless Steel. Which one depends on the look you want to achieve mostly. Quartz is the most popular surface right now. it is made of 97% natural quartz, an element that make granite hard. Quartz is crushed and ground up. Then, another 3% of manmade binders and colors are added. Sometimes recycled materials such as glass is added. Quartz is a sanitary surface and is scratch and stain resistant. Undermounting your sink is a must to allow you to easily wipe your counter off.

Add Decorative Hardware

Purchasing new decorative hardware is a great way to give your cabinetry a new look. Watch out for pre-drilled hole centers. Make sure the new hardware will fit into the existing hole pattern. Also, watch out for wear patterns. It’s usually best to purchase hardware that is slightly larger then the old hardware. the finish may be discolored under the old handle and you don’t want that to show. Most quality manufacturers have make each style in various sizes and finishes.

Add New Accoutrements

Add floor mats, towels and counter objects. this may seam simple enough but most people get it all wrong. Everything needs to go together. Your cookie jar needs to go with your floor mat that needs to go with you cookware. If it’s out it needs to be decorative. remember less is more. Take that burnt, finger printed toaster off your counter and place it in a cabinet. Your not using that juicer anymore so, you can remove it too. I know, I know your going to be dieting soon. Break it back out after the holidays.

Install A Full Height Backsplash

Once you have that beautiful new quartz counter you’re going to want to dress it up with a new backsplash. You can use porcelain, glass, natural stone, ceramic, metal or wood. Some of the most popular looks right now are large scale rectangle glass. Run it vertically for a look your friends and family probably haven’t seen. I would recommend using a quality grout such as, Custom Building Product’s, Fusion grout. Custom’s claims that the grout is stain and fade resistant and it has Microban so, it fights bacteria as well.

Add Lighting

Adding recessed can lights will not only brighten your kitchen but, they could save you money. recessed lighting should be used as space lighting. In other words, it should light the are you walk around in and not be used for actual tasks. The exception may be to add a can above you sink. try to use LED. They have come a long way and the only real light that manufacturers are putting any R and D into. For a more contemporary look you may use a light with a 5,000 kelvin rating as it has a brighter white to bluish cast. Use 3,500 kelvin for a more traditional look as it has a more yellow cast.

Hire or Work With A Professional Designer

Well maybe this is a sixth tip but, it’s sage advice. Doing a small makeover may seem simple but done wrong it just looks like your favorite home goods store regurgitated in your kitchen. If you want your existing space to look great for the holidays and don’t want to do a full remodel follow these steps and you will be the envy of the in laws.

Spring is finally here and you’re itching to breathe some new life into your boring old kitchen but can’t afford a complete redesign. No problem! There are lots of small changes that can make a big difference when it comes to kitchen design. Here are a few ways to give your kitchen a mini-makeover.

 

Anew Kitchen and Bath Design Experience recently opened their new showroom to the public!

We are located at 2560 Bryan Ave. in Tustin, CA. In addition to housing our corporate offices, we now have a “Designers Lounge” where NKBA and ASID can meet with clients and share designs.

 

There was a time when it was hard to find eco-friendly products that were both affordable and stylish, but things have certainly changed in recent years. Now, thanks to several innovative kitchen and bath design companies and their committment to the environment, there are plenty of options for green living without sacrificing style.

Thank you for stopping by Anew Kitchen and Bath Design Experience. We will be adding articles related to the Kitchen and Bath industry, its products, design features and installation techniques and how to’s. Anew supplies and installs kitchen cabinets. We are a dealer for 

KraftMaidCabinetry and are experts in Kitchen design. We hope you enjoy our blog!