Palmabella's Passions

Yesterday I brought Cookie Turkeys to the staff of the agency where I supervise. Since I am not cooking for Thanksgiving, I had an urge to make SOMETHING.
That's an oreo (taken apart), spread with chocolate frosting, a peanut butter cup, malt ball, and the "feathers" are candy corn. They make cute place card holders, or treats for kids who don't appreciate pumpkin pie or other adult desserts.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are off to Oakland this morning for Thanksgiving out with friends. Tonight we will check in to our San Francisco hotel for three days of shopping, eating, lights, holiday decorations, and a Slow Travel GTG on Saturday.

I "salvaged" this ancient Thanksgiving centerpiece last week from my GARAGE SALE boxes we have been sorting. I thought it was pretty good, that after emptying a whole 10x10' storage unit into our garage, two years ago, that I only brought three items back into the house.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Each year, I usually find some now way to entertain myself, and that also works into holiday gift giving for friends. Last year I bought 30 Christmas ceramic loaf pans, and baked an assortment of breakfast breads to fill them.

This year, I went to Home Depot I bought 20 clean, empty gallon paint cans. I washed them again. I went to my scrapbook paper "file" and pulled out sheets of Christmas paper, made a simple pattern (two sheets of 12x12 paper, trimmed, with cutouts for the handle), and my circle cutter (or trace a lid) for the paint can lids. (Wrapping paper could also be used.) One can of spray adhesive, some old newspaper on the patio table, and I was in business.

Now for the fun part. DECORATING the cans. Since I scrapbook, I also had a supply of holiday decorations, trims and accents. I have tons of Christmas ribbons and trims, so I raided those as well. Last year's holiday cards, flat ornaments, or digital photos could also be used!

Here are a few of the finished cans:

PRETTY ones:

HOLLY ones:

SNOWY ones:

More tomorrow!

I guess I didn't say what I do with these! I use them as "wrapping" for small gifts like jewelry or gift cards. The rest are filled with cookies and treats to give to friends.

Which is YOUR favorite?

I call these "cheater cookies" because they are not made from scratch. Oh well. Quick and delicious! Robin Miller demonstrated these on the Food Network's "All Star Cookies" special.

One "tube" of refrigerated sugar cookie dough.
1/2 cup pistachios (chopped)
1/2 cup dried cherries (or cranberries)
11 oz. white chocolate (melted)

Flatten the tube of dough into a rectangle. Spread nuts and fruit on top. Fold dough twice, and smash in addition. Re-roll into a log, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refridgerate for 30 minutes. Slice and bake 10 min. at 350. When cooled, dip half the cookie in melted white chocolate or baking pieces, and let dry on parchement paper.

These are easy, no-bake treats. Dipping in the chocolate may take a while, though!

2 8oz. packages of cream cheese (softened)
1/3 -1/2 c. powdered sugar (I use less because I WANT to taste the cream cheese)
10-12 oreo cookies

Put oreos in food processor to crumble (leave some chucks).
Add cream cheese and powdered sugar. Blend well. Refridgerate until firm. Scoop small teaspoons of dough and roll into balls by hand. Refridgerate again. Using a toothpick, or wooden skewer, dip into melted white chocolate or any chocolate (I used white candy melts), and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Chill to harden coating, and decorate (optional).

As I was gathering garage sale items, I found two large fake wreaths from our last house (with tons of wall space and high ceilings). This one used to hang over a bar, and had only lights, martini glass ornaments, and a big bow. I got this idea over Thanksgiving in San Francisco, when I saw the Pottery Barn Window.

I took some of our 2007 Italy photos and framed them. Each year, I can switch out the photos, and change the year on the wall!

I LOVE coming up with a new centerpiece, decoration, or idea each year, along with all of the old traditions. I think this was a good use of the wreath. The OTHER wreath sold for $5 at the garage sale!

Yesterday I was down with a 24 hour tummy virus. I have two events this week, and little time to blog. Here is an amusing greeting from Rail Europe to entertain you until I have time for a break:

Greetings from Rail Europe (choose your favorite destination!)

First we have the "old standards". It wouldn't be Christmas without shortbread and toffee!

Then we HAVE to have "World's Best Cookies" (Brad's favorite, even though he's a chocolate lover, and there is NO chocolate in these)

More cookies and treats coming soon!

This year I made some new recipes. I decided to try rugaleh. Well, that dough smelled so yummy, I made four batches...with four different fillings: fig, raspberry, pomegranite, and cinnamon-raisin!

Then I did a peanut-butter version of the cream cheese balls.

Finally, how about these peppermint brownies?

Jerry needed help with his tree, so a few elf friends and I decided to give him a hand:

I've been so busy, it has already been a week since our getaway to Orange County. I am taking a cooking break, so here are some highlights of last weekend.

Jan, Les and I arrived at South Coast Plaza (the fabulous mall) on Friday at 11:30. After our favorite lunch of prime rib sandwiches at Lawry's Carvery, Les proceeded to the hotel, and Jan and I SHOPPED until 5. I completed my shopping for Brad and picked up another dozen gifts or so.

The mall has lots of upscale stores and is huge! It is 2.8 million square feet (approx. a square mile) of shopping heaven! The Holiday decorations were spectacular, and every inch of ceiling trim was done in huge garlands with millions of giant green and magenta balls with amaryllis tucked in. There was a Santa's village, and train sets going through mountains of "snow".

Brad arrived at 7PM to find me happily lounging in front of the hotel tree in the bar with a glass of wine (and a diet Pepsi) and my book until dinner.

The second reason for going to OC on this particular date, was the bead show! These can be quite overwhelming, especially the first time, or if you have no idea what you are looking for. I had a few items I KNEW I wanted, and vendors I have purchased from in the past. Brad took a few photos of me shopping:

LOTS of crystals:

Every color:

Chain, chain, chain! I bought some fake "Diamonds by the foot".

I found a few treasures for Christmas gifts, and managed to get through a whole arena worth of booths in two hours!

We're ready for guests!

Here's the table:

I LOVE setting different tables, especially at the holidays. I bought these new shiny metallic trees during our post-Thanksgiving shopping at Gumps. They were shipped here in wonderful foam-lined storage boxes. Good thing I have all that new space in the garage, right?

Each placesetting had it's silver in a stocking, and the photos in frames were from LAST year's holiday dinner.

Each year, we have our wonderful friends, Jan and Les, and Fiona, Steve, and Fiona's mom (visiting from Wales) over for an evening of decadence. We enjoy a wonderful meal, plenty of wine, and tons of gifts!

In case you can't read the photo, here was last night's menu:
Appetizers:Baked Brie with Fig-pear Jam, Panzarotti
Served with Prosecco (or choice of cocktail)
(I forgot to take a photo.)

First Course:
Pear-gorgonzola ravioli with Sage-butter Sauce
Served with “J” Pinot Gris

Salad Course:
Jan’s salad with Blood Oranges, Avacado, Red Onion, Gorgonzola, Pomegranites
Orange-poppy seed Dressing
Served with Solena Pinot Gris

Entrée:
Filet of Beef: Browned in Sage-Butter,
Wrapped in Pancetta & Hazlenuts;
with a Puff Pastry Collar, and Porcini -Madeira Reduction Sauce
Served with Palazzo della Torre Alegrini

Dessert:
5-Layer Brownie Cheesecake
Assorted Dolci
Coffee, Liquores, or Brachetto

We had happy diners:

A Happy Ego in his Christmas sweater:

Jan, May and Fiona loved their party favor purse and shoe ornaments:

Wonderful gifts were exchanged. Brad was a happy guy with his favorite "B's": Barbera, Barolo, and Brunello! The guys all learned about wine decanters for one glass from Montalcino.

The ladies loved their real handbags and shawls from Florence.

Fiona and Steve brought us gifts from their recent trip to South Africa!

I love my new pasta recipes, Furla travel jewelry case, my gorgeous art glass candle, bracelet, and holiday spreaders.

We laughed a LOT!

On Friday, our gated community, "Venezia", had a "Toasting the Trees" Party. Four homeowners offered to open their homes so neighbors could see their trees and holiday decorations. 28 people signed up for the walk around the neighborhood, and all the walkers were assigned a house (by the helpful Elf committee) to drop off an appetizer before the party.

We began at Pat and Joe's festive home.

Robert had "Santa's drink wagon" to help transport ice chests and bottles.

We spent 30 minutes at each house, enjoying wonderful new treats, and toasting each couple who welcomed us by their tree. The second house was newlyweds, Rick and Leah's new home. Welcome to the neighborhood!

The third house was Priscilla and Damon's. I loved seeing all the "kid art" around this lovely home. Remember those kindergarten wreaths made out of paint handprints?
Nice to have some young new families in the neighborhood!

We were the last house. There were lots of goodies to sample!

We toasted one of our five trees!

After the Tree Toasting, we were invited to Robert's for an afterparty. He had a gorgeous crystal-covered tree.

Come on in! Welcome to our home!

Italy Tree: (Brad's Office)

Sunflower Tree: (My Therapy Office in the Casita)

The "Big Tree": (Dining Room)

Shopping Tree: (Mstr. Bedroom)

Great Room Tree:

This month , because everyone was busy, we wanted a short read. We decided to re-read (or read for the first time) Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". We were all glad we did and enjoyed reading it!

Here was a fun appetizer if you are looking for something easy and festive:

Take a round brie (I used a big one from Trader Joe's.) Cut five leaf shapes out of the top rind. Bake (or microwave) for a few minutes until bubbly. Fill leaf shapes with red jam or jelly (I used pomegranite). Garnish center with a little chopped yellow pepper. Serve with crackers or "Holly chips".

Holly Chips: 1 package of spinach-vegetable or other flavor green flour tortillas. Cut out a paper holly leaf shape to use as a pattern. Cutting through two tortillas at a time, cut out as many leaves as will fit. (I got 5 per tortilla, giving me 40 leaves from a package of 8). Place on baking sheet, and bake at 350 for 5-7 min. until crisp, but not brown. Store in a ziplock bag. (I made leaves the night before.)

We celebrated the season with a wonderful lunch at Linda's home, then came to my house for dessert and our ornament exchange.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday season! Click here!

At last week's Tree Toasting, several neighbors dropped off an appetizer before the party. I met Laurie, and her houseguest, MaryBeth from San Diego. We chatted again at the first house, and later at our house. Then, as I was talking to a new neighbor, MaryBeth ran out to the patio where I was. She asked, "Are you the only Palma in Palm Desert?"

I said, I had never met another, but didn't know for sure. I have met a couple other Palmas in my life. Then Mary Beth excitedly said, "And you go to Italy, right?"

I said , "YES!"

MaryBeth laughed, and yelled, "Oh my God, you're Palmabella! I've been reading your blog for over a year!!!"

She explained that she was trying to plan a trip to Italy for her anniversary, and ran across one of my trip reports on Slow Travel. She has been reading my blog ever since.

It is always AMAZING to me that anyone other than friends that I know personally would read my blog. I know some find it by searching for a recipe, or by googling something about Italy. But I LOVE these small world stories when I meet someone who recognizes me from my blog. It is very flattering, as well as fun! Keep reading, MaryBeth!

to all my readers!

I always make almond toffee for the holidays. This year, I decided to try two other candy recipes using my favorite nut...cashews!

Five-Spice Cashew Brittle

*If you can't find Chinese 5-spice powder, substitute 1/4 t. of each: ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground ginger, and ground anise seeds, then add a pinch of salt and pepper. This combination, used in Chinese cooking incorporates tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, savory and salty. It is an interesting mix of flavors for candy!

12 oz. raw cashews
3 c. sugar
2 T. light corn syrup
1 1/2 t. Chinese 5-spice powder
1/2t. salt

Preheat oven to 350. Spread cashews on a cookie sheet and roast until golden (about 8 minutes)

Generously butter a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Combine sugar, corn syrup and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir just until sugar is dissolved (4-5 min.) Increase heat to high, and boil without stirring until syrup is amber colored (330 on a candy thermometer) (about 15-20 min.). Remove from heat, and working quickly, stir in spice, salt and warm cashews. Spread in buttered pan using offset spatula to make single flat layer. Chill for at least an hour, then break into pieces.

My favorite: Buttery Cashew Brittle

2 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 T. light corn syrup
2 T salt
1/2 c. water

Combine all ingredients, except cashews, in a saucepan over medium heat. Spread cashews in a single layer on a well-buttered parchment-lined cookie sheet. Let sugar mixture boil (stirring occasionally) for about 18-20 minutes, until foamy and caramel colored. Pour over cashews, chill and break into brittle.

I'm still sleepy at 7 a.m., but THAT's when I usually start baking. After coffee, of course!

Today we enjoyed a wonderful holiday brunch at a the beautiful Palm Springs restaurant, Le Vallauris. It was cool and sunny, so we ate on the beautiful patio.

The patio heaters kept us warm, the 35 year-old trees were lit with lovely balls of lights, and the sun peeked through the leaves. Beautiful!

We enjoyed the company of Nancy and Bill. Conversation and champagne flowed!

A favorite holiday meal!

After brunch, Nancy and Bill came over for prosecco, coffee, and holiday treats!

Well, I described the lovely setting, but lets get to the food photos of brunch!
I started with a shrimp appetizer, wrapped with a crunchy noodle-like coating.

Brad had a smoked salmon salad. Nancy had Caesar Salad in a Parmesan Bowl, and Bill had hamachi.

The entrees were all very good! Bill and I had lamb.

Brad really liked his duck with orange sauce and crispy potatoes.

Nancy was pleased with her veal scallopini with mushrooms.

Dessert? Of COURSE we had dessert. But that's another blog!

The desserts at Le Vallauris are all heavenly. We shared four selections.
Cranberry-orange tart with whipped cream and pistachios.

Pate brisee with hazelnut creme:

Buche Noel:

And MY favorite: Almond cake with ice cream

I was up at 5:40, too excited to sleep, just like a little kid (always) on Christmas morning. Ego joined me at 6:00, and we quietly had coffee. Then, while Brad slept, I made an apple-cranberry crostada for breakfast.

The luscious smells of baking apples and cinnamon brought out my Santa, and we began the task of passing out an obscene number of presents for each other.

Santa was very very good to me! (And I've been NAUGHTY!)

We took breaks in the gift opening for eggnog, and for crostada.

Ego was quite happy with his stocking full of treats, toys and chews.

Buon Natale a tutti!

A tradition for 10 years now, is to have a Christmas brunch mid-day, and NO dinner.
It usually takes us most of the day to open gifts (and play with them). After opening gifts from 8-2:30, we finally made BREAKFAST!
Brad is a master of poaching eggs for the Benedict.

I did my foolproof blender hollandaise.

We couldn't even eat our hash browns, so Ego had quite a treat!

After all the holiday celebrations, we don't need another big dinner, so we only have a snack at night: cookies, or more crostada.

We watched holiday movies, took a nap, and read our new books during the lazy afternoon. Then we opened MORE gifts from Ida and Bill, my cousin Gary, Cindy and Charlotte, and neighbor, Diana! What a wonderful day!

I've always loved Christmas ornaments, and seem to get a few new ones each year to add to our collection. (hence the five trees...)

This year, Brad found this one for my shopping tree:

The Starbucks area of the big tree grew after stockings were opened.

I also got wonderful new ornaments from friends.
But my two favorite ornaments from 2007 are these beautiful Italy Santas:

Wow, Santa was very, very good to me!
He brought me lots of baking things...

and cooking things...

and coffee things (yes those are cookies from Jerry!)

There are lots more fabulous gifts that Santa (and good friends) gave me.
A beautiful Italian ceramic plate and server from Ida!

Girly Things...

Italian Things...

Look at this fabulous pillow Jan found!

And a wonderful Movie of Montisi from Gail and John!

There are more delightful gifts from friends that are not pictured. It was a really wonderful Christmas.

Brad also had quite a haul: slacks, 4 sweaters, lots of books on Italy and wine, a game, Acqua di Parma after shave and deodorant, great Italian wine, new bar toys and accessories, and 6 months of on-line Italian language study with Rosetta Stone to name a few!

I had to try out my new Santa cake pan.

Here he is. It was kind of fun!

We are resting up after 4 days of houseguests. Our adopted family (my friend Connie, her boyfriend, John, her dad, Frosty, and my Godson, Casey) arrived Thursday night and left Sunday.

Here I am in the most appropriate shirt with my PERFECT Godson, Casey.

We stayed up very late Thursday night, then had a big breakfast Friday morning.

We had the "Make ahead breakfast pastries" stuffed with eggs, bacon and cheese, berries and cream cheese cherry-vanilla pound cake.

For dinner, we had comfort food: Mac and cheese, orange chicken, and salad. Santa cake with eggnog ice cream completed the food fest.

After a light breakfast, we were busy in the kitchen. Brad made a wonderful pizza dough, and we had a huge white pizza with hot Italian sausage, mozarella, and fried sage leaves for lunch. It looked so good, we forgot to take a photo!

Then I taught Connie how to make the 5 Minute Internet Bread. With this crowd, that warm bread and butter was a big hit!

For dinner, we had artichoke-lemon lasagna (frozen leftovers from the ST GTG), pork roast, cippolini onions, spinach-artichoke bread pudding, and the BEST dessert of 2007!
(recipe tomorrow)

Then it was time for opening another tree full of presents! We opened a gazillion gifts, and took our annual "Bow Photo" (where everyone must wear the ribbons from all their gifts).

Brad had quite a pile...AGAIN!

Frosty liked his gift can!

Ego thought his snowman was the best!

Connie wasn't really surprised when her "Banjo" turned out to be a pizza peel!

John opened his gift can full of Starbucks stuff.

We played games again until 2:30 in the morning. I was undisputed champ, and really AM smarter than a Fifth Grader. We played "Apples to Apples" and a musical Version of "Catchphrase". We laughed so hard, we were unable to sing or talk!

Thought you'd like to see our wild New Year's Eve!

Now you've seen two things that you will NEVER see again: Palma with skinny arms and Brad in sneakers!

I LOVE Easter. It is quite visible in the house!
Dining room table:

My baby chair:

Bunnies and chicks and lambs too!

And the eggs my fourth grade students made in 1981 (oh my!)

Hope you are wearing your green! I have been!

Have an oatmeal cookie with me!

Buona Pasqua!

Spring, new life, bunnies and eggs, flowers and warm weather, the spiritual significance, I love EVERYTHING about Easter!

I'm off to make Procsiutto-Buttermilk Biscuit Benedict for breakfast!

Have a lovely day!

We are almost ready! I am still making Lemon Tiramisu. Brad is prepping the ribs and making BBQ sauce. Our guests should be leaving Oakland soon for the long hot drive down. "We are cooling down" to 112 for the weekend!

Menus:

Tonight:

Triple berry cosmos
Baked brie with fig jam
Babbo breadsticks
Honey BBQ ribs
Warm gorgonzola potatos
raspberry velvet flag salad
fennel-orange-spinach salad
Berry-Marscapone -puff pastry star "flags"
Patriotic cupcakes

Saturday: (breakfast)
Homemade caramel monkey bread
fresh berries

Lunch:
Parmesan-garlic 5 minute bread
cold cuts and cheeses
fresh fruit

Out to dinner

Sunday:
Brunch:
fritatta
lemon-ricotta fritters
mixed berries

Dinner:
grilled scallops
corn salad
watermelon salad
cheesy polenta
lemon tirimisu

Monday: (before they drive away...)
Homemade blackberry-almond paste tart

Have a safe and happy 4th!