I love entertaining – having people over to my house to eat is one of my favorite pastimes. I think that is why I became a cook, because I love feeding people. Over the years I have figured out tips and tricks to make hosting easier on me and the food more delicious for my guests. One of the best tips is to have people over for brunch rather than dinner. Brunch is always a little more laid back and relaxed and I love serving recipes that can be done the day before. Enter the Dutch baby. A Dutch baby is a mix between a pancake and a crepe that is baked in the oven and comes out deliciously fluffy, puffy, crispy and a little gooey. It is also the perfect brunch food – not only is it a crowd pleaser with the height that it rises in the pan, but it is also supper easy to make. The night before brunch, you add all the ingredients to a blender and blend really well. Refrigerate overnight and when you are almost ready to eat, pour the batter into a pan and about 20 minutes later, you have a gorgeous Dutch baby. This is the kind of recipe that looks really hard but is super simple. Consider the Dutch baby a blank canvas, like a crepe or a pancake and add different toppings and flavors to the batter. I like to top mine with crème fraiche and berries, but lemon zest in the batter would be delicious, as would apple slices. Enjoy! ~ Amanda Dutch Baby Ingredients 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3 eggs 3/4 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 Tbs. granulated sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 4 Tbs. unsalted butter Directions 1.) Combine the flour, eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar and salt in a blender. Blend on high until the mixture is thoroughly combined and no lumps remain, about 30 seconds, (stopping the blender to scrape down the sides if needed.) Refrigerate overnight or for at least 30 minutes. 2.) Preheat an oven to 450°F 3.) Put butter in an ovenproof 12-inch sauté pan. Place in the oven for 5 minutes to melt the butter. 4.) Remove the pan from the oven and carefully pour the batter into the pan. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the sides are puffed up and dark golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. 5.) Top Dutch baby with crème fraiche or whipped cream, a dusting of powdered sugar and fresh berries. Serves 4. Recipe & Photos by Amanda Frederickson for Sacramento Street #entertaining #cooking

Honestly, since I became a mother, I’ve had to let some things go. There are days when I don’t actually have a chance to shower or complete a workout. I try not to beat myself up – there will be plenty of time in the future. It’s amazing how frequently I look at my watch and it’s noon and I have not accomplished anything other than just spending time with Jackson. While having a baby has changed the picture for me in a multitude of ways, my style has remained relatively the same – maybe just a bit more informal. You definitely need to embrace fabrics that can easily be washed when you have a baby in your life. A great option that I gravitate to on a daily basis, are the clothes I have from Shop Buru. They all seem to work by being both comfortable and stylish at the same time. There are some pieces I’ve actually ordered multiples of! Pop on over to Shop Buru and see the items I’ve chosen as motherhood essentials and hear more about how I’m adjusting to motherhood. This post is a partnership with Shop Buru. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Image by Heather Day for Sacramento Street #style

In my design business, I have always believed that less is more. I would rather have fewer pieces of quality than a house filled with throwaway furniture. Along with this, I find that buying from smaller companies that care about all of the details of their products can make the experience of buying items an enjoyable one. When I heard about Greycork, I knew their business model fit into my belief about design. Greycork is a online furniture startup producing quality furniture that brings cutting-edge design together with practical convenience. Both of the co-founders attended RISD and this is apparent in their products. I have their desk and use it as my office desk. Each of these pieces arrive to your door in only five days. The top of the desk is a stunning solid wood that feels like satin. The metal legs of the table fold into the top for easy storage and it is easy to move from room to room. I highly suggest popping over to their site! Greycork has done it right – creating products that work in your life. This post is a partnership with Greycork. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Image by Heather Day for Sacramento Street #interiors

One thing I pondered about all the time while pregnant, was how having a baby would affect my ability to travel. Obviously, traveling with an infant or young child requires more planning when it comes to packing for a trip, but there is no reason not to start traveling from the very start. Perhaps because of my own upbringing where I always traveled with my parents to the ends of the globe, I wanted to continue this tradition of opening the world up to my children. The first trip we took Jackson on was a few weeks ago prior to him turning three months old thanks to Bugaboo and Kid & Coe – to celebrate the launch of the new Bugaboo Bee 3. We ventured as a family from San Francisco to New York. I was a bit nervous about the flight since Jackson and I would be flying solo, but in the end, I had nothing to worry about. It was smooth sailing for the entire flight. And while navigating the airport could have been difficult, I gate checked my Bugaboo Bee 3 and it was waiting for me when I disembarked. This meant I could have a place not only for Jackson, but also all the carry on items I brought. Instead of staying at a hotel we had the pleasure of staying in a condo in the city through Kid & Coe. We had a beautiful place in the Financial District that we could call home on our trip. We dove into our adventures and Jackson did beautifully the entire trip. We had great meals including one at Cluney Café and Momofuku Noodle Bar. Jackson slept in the Bugaboo Bee 3 during all of our meals. We took long walks through neighborhoods with visits to John Derian and ABC Carpet & Home. Our last morning we visited the memorial for 9/11 and were moved to tears. I recommend having a stroller for trips with infants. They can nap while you take advantage of the sites. Jackson was so comfortable in his little home-away-from-home. And the fresh air always puts him in a good mood. He loves looking at the world around him (ok – honestly, he mostly loves to look at leaves on trees). Ultimately, it was a perfect trip. Our little family of three had figured out just how fun traveling together can be! This post is a partnership with Bugaboo Bee 3 and Kid & Coe. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Katherine Harris #travel

After a weekend filled with my loves, it’s back to work today. I’m filled with gratitude for my two boys. I love this time of year when blooms that are on the top on my list, begin to make an appearance – white lilac is one of my chosen favorites. At the farmers market, I’m also seeing more produce beginning to make an appearance and that makes my heart skip a beat. #lifestyle

I have a serious love of Mexican food. I could eat Mexican food for days on end and be completely happy. I have a local Mexican restaurant near my house and get take out from there way too much. I try and convince myself that is it healthy because of all the fresh flavors, but too much of a good thing might be a bad thing right? Maybe but hopefully not in this case. I don’t just limit my love of Mexican food and flavors to tacos and margaritas, but also braises, salads and soups. This tortilla soup has everything I love about Mexican food, bright flavors, fresh ingredients and delicious toppings. Soups are so underrated sometimes. They are great make ahead meals that can be reheated and eaten a couple days after. Not to mention frozen and saved for future meals. I love this tortilla soup because it is easy, there is minimal prep, and it is delicious, healthy and satisfying. Plus I love any recipe that I can customize with some delicious toppings of my choice. Enjoy! ~ Amanda Tortilla Soup Ingredients 1 onion, chopped 4 large cloves garlic, smashed 1 tablespoon paprika 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder (regular chili powder is fine if you can’t find ancho) 1 1/2 quarts canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock 1 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes 2 bay leaves 2 1/2 teaspoons salt 2 6-inch corn tortillas roughly chopped Directions 1.) In a large pot, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, and spices; cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, canned tomatoes with puree, bay leaves, fresh tortillas and large pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes; remove the bay leaves. 2.) In a blender, puree the soup in batches; pour it back into the pot and taste for salt and pepper. 3.) To serve, top a bowl of tortilla soup with toppings of choice such as pulled chicken, cotija cheese, cilantro, tortilla strips and red onion. Toppings: pulled cooked chicken, avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro, tortilla strips, green onion, red onion, lime wedges. Recipe & Photos by Amanda Frederickson for Sacramento Street #entertaining #cooking

In an earlier post, I wrote about the perfect changing table arrangement. While I felt confident in deciding the decor of Jackson’s nursery, I had absolutely no clue about the most useful essentials to have at my fingertips next to the table. Quickly, I discovered I needed advice from mothers with more experience than I had. One item they unanimously suggested was a good diaper pail that would keep the smell of dirty diapers out of the nursery. Overwhelmingly, they recommended the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin. The top of the pail has an odor-busting Armor & Hammer baking soda that deodorizes as well as a self-sealing lid. I think the best part for me is the ability to open it with one hand. As Jackson becomes more active, it’s important that I can accomplish changing him while always keeping a firm hand on him. Luckily, along with having great function, it also looks great. Sleek and simple design make the pail unobtrusive and visually pleasing. Do you have a favorite item you couldn’t live without for your changing table? This post is a partnership with Munchkin. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Image by Heather Day for Sacramento Street #lifestyle

Happy Monday! Last week marked my last week of maternity leave – I decided to spend some quality time with my little man. I can’t believe that he’s already three months old. We had a wonderful last few weeks together traveling to NYC (more details later this week on that), went to Arizona and just had some good quality hang out time. It’s bittersweet going back to work, but I know that it’ll be good for both of us. Did any of you feel this way when you went back to work after having a little one? There is a lot in store this week – stay tuned for a lot inspiration! It’s good to be back! Photo by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle

As we enter into a new season, Natalie and I wanted to teach a class together about something that we truly believe in – that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” As we progress in life, it’s not about the quantity of items we have, it’s about the quality. I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion that the meaning and purpose behind the pieces in your home is something I whole heartedly believe in when designing a home. At the end of March, Natalie Bowen, Jessie Black, Fullosophie and I will be teaching you how to incorporate and understand the foundations of beautiful bedroom design and styling via: florals, textiles, textures, and design. We’ll be focusing on the differences in materials and textures, incorporating seasonal flowers and colors, and the do’s and don’ts of styling bookshelves, tabletops, and your bed. Although this is focusing on the bedroom, you can use these tips for any part of your home. Details are at the end of this month’s stunning post that Natalie created for you. I’m madly in love with the texture of this arrangement! Flowers used in this arrangement: – Liberstar Tulips – Snow drops – Ranunculus – Acacia – Fritillaria I’ve never seen these checkerboard flowers. What are they? They are called fritillaria and they are one of my favorite springtime blooms. They feel like they are the perfect fairy flower with their curved stems and small bell flowers. I’ve seen the Acacia before but doesn’t it usually wilt? This is a stem I use when I don’t need the branch to last more than a few days. The tips wilt immediately, so I snip of the ends and the rest of the branch lasts much longer. How does “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” play a role in your life? With flowers I always suggest getting king lasting flowers for your own home. This way your money is well spent and you will enjoy them for as long as possible. Then, sometimes splurge on the perfect single bloom and out it on your desk or next to your bedside where you will see it often. If you live in the Bay Area we’d love to see you at this workshop – pop over to Fullosophie for more information. It’s going to be an evening filled with loads of inspiration! Date: Thursday, March 26th | 6:30pm – 8:30pm Location: Jessie Black SF ( 3252 Sacramento St, San Francisco) Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs | Photos by Heather Day for Sacramento Street #lifestyle

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week. Our entire family has been on the mend from a horrible cold, which put a complete hold on everything. I can’t tell you how hard it is to see your little one sick, but I have to say, little J got through it with a smile on his face. He was a trooper and we are finally coming out of the haze of it all. Stay tuned for a handful of inspiring new posts this week. We’ll be bringing your flower, fashion and furniture inspiration! Photo by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle