Patriotic & Pretty: JAM’s Coastal Style, 4th of July Outfits, and a Red, White & Blue Dessert
It soon will be Fourth of July weekend, and this week’s Sunday Fab Five is leaning all the way in. We’ve got coastal interiors inspiration from one of my favorite designers, Jeffrey Alan Marks, some easy, festive outfits perfect for a long holiday weekend, and a dessert that’s almost too pretty to eat. Let’s dig in to Patriotic & Pretty: JAM’s Coastal Style, 4th of July Outfits, and a Red, White & Blue Dessert, and almost celebrate .
Outfits of the Week
A couple readers asked for something festive for July 4th. I am heading to Kansas City on Monday for Mersea’s Grand Opening in the Country Club Center. I would love to see you if you live in the KC area! I love Mersea’s collaboration with Stella Forest. I am sharing a couple of her looks today.
Katie Harbison on the Power of Editing
I came across this article in House and Garden by Katie Harbison on the power of editing.. I thought you might enjoy it too.
Sugar Cookie Bars with Berries
If you are lucky enough to get invited to someone’s home for the 4th these sugar cookie bars from the New York Times are sure to be a hit.
Kathy Smith on Upping her Fitness Game at 74
Remember Kathy Smith? She is sharing on Ageist how she is upping her fitness game at 74-amazing!
Jeffrey Allen Marks
I was leafing through Jeffrey Allen Marks latest book This is Home for inspiration (no one does California coastal ease like him), which prompted me to check out his Instagram feed.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Fab Five. I am off to Kansas City. I hope this post Patriotic & Pretty: JAM’s Coastal Style, 4th of July Outfits, and a Red, White & Blue Dessert provided a little inspiration if you are planning an upcoming July 4th celebration. It will be here before we know it!
Now let’s pop over and visit Annie and Mary Ann for their Sunday faves.
No recipe available for the sugar cookie bars with berries.
Love your blog, Inspiring for us older women.
Hi Carolyn
It was linked in the post as it is a NYT recipe. Here you go
Ingredients
Yield:
24 bars
FOR THE COOKIE BARS
1 cup/226 grams unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
½ cup/120 grams cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 cups/400 grams granulated sugar
2 large eggs, cold from the fridge
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
1 ½ cups/190 grams all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
FOR THE FROSTING AND TOPPING
2 ½ cups/300 grams powdered sugar
¾ cup/190 grams unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 tablespoons heavy cream, plus more if needed
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
4 cups/680 grams assorted fresh berries
Powdered sugar (optional), for decorating
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Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional Information
Preparation
Step 1
Make the cookie bars: Heat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan. Line the pan with a piece of parchment paper that hangs over two of the long sides.
Step 2
Melt the butter in a small skillet set over medium heat. (Use a pan with a light interior, if possible, so you can easily see the milk solids change color.) Cook the butter for a few minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the milk solids off the bottom and sides of the pan as needed, until the milk solids turn golden brown and smell toasty, about 4 minutes. Immediately pour the hot butter into a large bowl.
Step 3
Add the cream cheese and granulated sugar to the bowl and whisk until smooth, then add the eggs, vanilla and salt, and whisk until smooth and well blended.
Step 4
Add the flour and baking powder to the bowl and fold with a flexible spatula just until no streaks remain. Transfer to the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Bake the cookie for 30 to 35 minutes, until just set and light brown around the edges. Set the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 5
While the cookie bar cools, make the frosting: In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, butter, cream, vanilla extract and salt. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed until the sugar is moistened, then turn the mixer up to medium-high and mix until the frosting is light and fluffy, adding 1 more tablespoon of cream if the frosting is stiff, about 5 minutes. Use a flexible spatula to stir the frosting a few times to knock out any large air bubbles.
Step 6
Transfer the cooled cookie to a serving plate or board, if desired. Smooth the frosting over the top of the cooled cookie and decorate with berries and powdered sugar as desired. (To make ahead, store the cookie, well-wrapped, at room temperature and refrigerate the frosting up to 2 days in advance; assemble when ready to serve.)
Lucky you going to Mersea’s grand opening! After reading one of Noelani’s recent posts I ordered that beautiful red bandana shirt by Stella Forest for Mersea. It’s so great that it took great restraint to not order the whole line of her shirts and dresses. Hope that collaboration with Mersea will continue. Have fun in KC!
Hi Shelly
I wish I had purchased that shirt before it was sold out! I completely missed it!
Great post as always. Really enjoyed the article about Kathy Smith. What a inspiration
Hi Laura
Kathy Smith is so inspiring isn’t she?
Hi Cindy. You recently published my piece on Yoga and I live in Kansas City, walking distance to the Country Club Plaza!
Hi Jennifer!
Everyone loved that post! I hope you can stop by! I would love to meet you!
Loved this . So exciting you are going to Mersea’s opening Cindy! Great outfits. x
Thanks Kim!
Dear Cindy,
Katie Harbison’s article is so encouraging. Living in our retirement apartment in a CCRC, it’s easy to long for the days where space made it possible to display and use our favorite collections. Her article created s contentment and incentive to declutter a bit more.
Enjoy St. Louis,
Diney on Mercer Island
Hi Diney
I thought that article was great too!!
Cindy, I love that dress from Mersea! It’s so fun you’re going to the grand opening in Kansas City! I’m sure you’ll see Noelani and probably meet several readers of CHD!! What a fun opportunity! Can’t wait to follow along on Instagram!
Xx
Hi Annie
Yes! I will see Noelani tonight at the mixer before the grand opening gala and we are going to dinner afterwards!!
We are having our annual July 3rd party…so I need one of these looks. Have a great time in Kansas City!
You are the Martha Stewart of Jax.beach!! You and Howard are such great entertainers!