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!

Here's the Halloween dessert I made for Brad:

1 pkg of instant Chocolate pudding. Use 1/2 cup of Bailey's Caramel Liquore (or Dooley's) for part of the milk.

Top with a spoon of caramel sauce.

Top that with a scoop of Ben&Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch ice cream.

1. Save some empty jam/jelly/condiment jars.

2. Using scraps of scrapbook paper or gift wrap, and paper or stickers, cover lids and make labels. I used spray adhesive.

3. Fill jars with something yummy! I used this simple recipe for "Cranberry Orange Honey" from:

Cranberry Orange Honey:
3 cans whole berry cranberry sauce
12 oz. jar of orange marmalade
1 1/2 c. honey

Melt together cranberry sauce and marmalade. Recipe said to do it in the microwave, but I did it in a large saucepan. Add honey and stir well. Keep refrigerated.
Makes 8 cups (6-7 jars).

3. Decorate jars and/or lids with holiday stickers and ribbon. These will make great holiday hostess gifts!

Save some for yourself! I cooked a pork loin in some...delicious. I have a few more jars. I think I'll make another batch.

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at the original Andre's in Las Vegas.

Amuse
Foie Gras Mousse in a Brussels Sprouts Cup with Grapefruit Coulis

Carrot, Caramelized Onion and Apple Cider Soup
Cardamom Crème Fraîche, Walnuts and Grated Nutmeg

Pan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops
Honey Baked Ham, Kabocha Squash and Orange-Mustard Seed Gastrique

Pomegranate Sorbet

Choice of:
Andre’s Traditional
Oven Roasted Free Range Turkey Herbed-Nut and Dried Fruit Stuffing
Giblet Gravy, Sweet Potato Puree, Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Chestnuts and Cranberry Relish
or
Grilled Atlantic Salmon
Smoked Salmon Sausage, Cornbread-Butternut Squash Panzanella
Sweet Corn Coulis
or
Apricot Stuffed Rack of Berkshire Pork
Sautéed Spinach, Potato Croquette and Cognac Cream Sauce
or
Pan Seared Cervena Venison Loin
Roasted Red Delicious Apples, Shiitake Mushrooms
Celery Root Fondant and Poivrade Sauce

I had the fabulous pork, and Brad LOVED his venison! Look at that cute potato croquette in the shape of a pear with a fried basil leaf!

Endive and Goat Cheese Salad
Pickled Pumpkin, Sun-Dried Cranberries and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Desserts:
Apple Tarte Tatin with Crème Anglaise and Calvados Ice Cream
or
Pecan Pie with Rum Raisin Ice Cream and Crème Fraîche
or
Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Ice Cream and Vanilla Anglaise
or
Warm Cherry Chocolate and Pear Cobbler with Brown Sugar Ice Cream

I had the apple tart, and oh, that Calvados ice cream was good! Brad ate the pecan pie with rum raisin.

Here we are...FULL and thankful!

Bake with kids, grandkids, or kids of friends? Or just a big kid yourself? Try this fun recipe for Reindeer Cookies. Take your favorite cookie dough or use this peanut butter one from www.kaboose.com.

Shape chilled dough into balls, then flatten into triangles. Add a broken pretzel to each top corner of the triangle. Add M&Ms for eyes and nose. Watch the "personalities" emerge!

Peanut butter Reindeer

1 c. butter (softened)
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. smooth peanut butter
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking soda
3 c. flour
pretzels and M&Ms

1. Cream together first 5 ingredients
2. Stir together dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture.
3. Chill dough for 30 minutes
4. Roll dough into balls, flatten, and make into triangles.
5. Add pretzel pieces and M&Ms
6. Bake at 375 for 10-14 min.

I would be such a happy girl if I could get up every morning and bake. Even more fun than baking, is decorating, and presenting recipes. This morning I am arranging a large platter of cookies for my book club holiday party tonight. I have a very special dessert planned (you'll see it another day), but it is December, and the cookie elves have been busy in my kitchen. I started before Thanksgiving, and so far have made 13 kinds of Christmas cookies. All but two kinds are safely staying fresh in the freezer. Since I am assembling cookie tins SOON for gifts, I needed them done. Three of our 5 trees also went up before we left for Las Vegas, and the other two were done and the house decorated inside and out by December 1! Now, if I could just finish the Christmas shopping and gift making! (WAY behind on that!)

Marbled Greeting Cookies (from Darlene Brenden/Salem Oregon)

1/2 c. softened butter
1/3 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/3 c. sour cream
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/8 t. salt
red and green paste or powdered food coloring

Cream butter, shortening and sugar. Beat in egg, sour cream and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and gradually add to creamed mixture, thoroughly mixing. Divide dough into thirds. Tint one third green, and one third red. Chill dough for at least 30 minutes. Cut off a small section of each color, and roll into "ropes" (about 1/3 of an inch wide), laying them next to each other on a floured surface with uncolored dough in the center. Smash and flatten dough, and cut into rectangles (about 1x2") with a knife. Transfer rectangles to ungreased cookie sheet, and bake at 375 for about 10 min. When cool, write message with a white frosting tube, or a pastry bag with white icing.

*(In the original recipe, the baker wrote "Peace, Joy, Hope, Noel", etc. on the cookies. She randomly placed slices of dough colors into a large rectangle to get a "marbled" effect, but I wanted mine to look more like flags.)

Friday night we hosted our annual dinner with friends, Jan and Les and Fiona and Steve.
They are all leaving for the holidays, so we needed to have it early in the month. The trees were all lit, plenty of cookies were baked, and it felt like Christmas! The table was festive.

Photo frames of each person were used as napkin rings.

We began in the family room, with Pom martinis and parmigiano with honey from Bologna. We moved to the dining room table for our first course: a trip of tastes. Cream of green chili soup, a sausage-mushroom-goat cheese puff, and a seared scallop with spicy sauce atop a slice of zucchini and yellow squash.

The salad was curly lettuce, spinach, figs soaked in fig syrup, pecans, gorgonzola and cranberries with a fruity vinagarette.

While the roasts rested, we enjoyed my experiment with pomegranate sorbet.

The entree was herb-crusted rack of lamb, basil-lamb sausage risotto, and broccolini sauteed in butter, with raisins and almonds.

Dessert was worth waiting for, so we took a break, and moved back to the family room to enjoy more wine. We had a strawberry and cream cheesecake bite, a triple chocolate cheesecake bite with caramel, and a cookie!

THEN, on full tummies, we opened gifts. There was a travel theme this year, and everyone was quite creative with wonderful travel items for each other...but that is another whole blog topic!

We all had quite a wonderful evening. It is one of our favorite holiday traditions!

Too many cookies, I think. However, as the cookie tins are given away, the supply is dwindling. I have condensed the the 13 freezer containers to a mere 10. On Saturday, I was in a Container Store, and bought something to help me arrange and straighten my huge supply of cookie/cake decorating materials. They are now easy to see and find in my pantry.

Christmas:

It will be Valentine's Day before we know it.

Then we have all of the sanding sugars, paste food colorings, 4th of July...

I must go. The gingerbread dough is chilled and ready to roll out!

A visit to Roger's Gardens is one of my favorite holiday traditions. It is lovely all year long, but even more magical at Christmas time. After being up late after cleaning up from our dinner party, we set off at 7:30 AM on Saturday for our annual visit to Rogers and South Coast Plaza for some shopping. Rogers has acres of outdoor plants, and rooms of holiday decorations, wreaths, planters, gifts and ornaments. i could spend all day there. There are three rooms of Radko ornaments alone!

it is also a great place to get gift ideas, or ideas for "do-it-yourself" decorating with nature.

Yesterday, you saw some of the outdoor garden treasures at Roger's Gardens. Let's see what is INSIDE:

Need an Eiffel Tower for your France tree? Good thing they didn't have a glitter tower of Pisa!

There was a red and white tree with little cakes and cookie cutter ornaments,

and a red and green tree covered with painted holly ornaments.

Anyone need a silk rose covered CHAIR? Too bad it was already sold!

I did buy a couple gifts and one ornament for our Italy tree!

I am usually not fond of red flowers. I dislike red roses, and always prefer coral or yellow ones. I seem to avoid red flowers in my yard (although I have hot pink and coral geraniums). I love to WEAR red, and have lots of red clothes. I have had a red car. One exception to the "no red flowers" happens at Christmas. I love ALL poinsettias, and never realized there were so many kinds! Red, pink, white, all kinds of variegated, small curly ones...The last photo is my favorite!

Poinsettias are native to Mexico, the Pacific coast of the U.S., and Guatemala. They are also called Mexican flame leaf, Christmas Star, Winter Rose, Noche Buena, and Stella di Natale in Italy.

According to Wikipedia, "The plants' association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan monks in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations."

December 12 was "Poinsettia Day" in the United States. Who knew?

Last weekend we attended Brad's company party at the Renaissance Esmerelda Hotel.
The tree in the lobby was gorgeous.

After a glass of wine, a free professional photo, and meeting Brad's boss and co-workers, we were seated for dinner.

There were 480 people in attendance. Usually, banquet food for a crowd that large is fair, at best. They did a better than average job. We began with a butternut squash soup en croute.

Next was a salad, wrapped in cucumber, with goat cheese, pear, and a balsamic vinegarette.

The entree was actually very good. We had perfectly cooked filets topped with gorgonzola and pecans on a pile of potatoes with al dente baby carrots, asparagus and mushrooms.

Dessert was interesting: Two chocolate disks (standing up) filled with a green almond flavored cake, raspberries and whipped cream in the center. Two chocolate truffles were "glued" to the plate with chocolate. Brad ate mine.

After dinner there was a drawing with about 25 wrapped prizes, and then a band. After 30 minutes of VERY loud hip hop, we left and were home by 10:00.

I believe it was the first time I wore pantyhose in 6 or 7 years in the desert! (Well, it was cold!) I must be getting really old! A Christmas movie, a fireplace, or a board game is more my speed than a dinner dance. When did that happen?

This is supposed to be the time of year when families and friends get together for special celebrations (I hope for extra treats and snacks.) This year it seems like all the people are stressed out. It started out ok. My mom has been busy all month baking cookies, and putting up trees and lights and stuff everywhere. I got in trouble for playing with the tree skirt. How was I supposed to know it wasn't a new blanket for me. Neither was the one in the other room! Some of those packages smell good too. I have a stocking hanging, but I can't reach it. Did you know it is REALLY fun to play with tissue paper? But it tears real easily. Then you get in trouble when they are wrapping presents. I need a nap. And some cookies.

Mom and Dad have been extra busy. There's lots of shopping bags coming in the house, and big boxes leaving the house. People are cranky. I hear them grumbling about money, and Christmas cards, and being tired. When do we get to eat? They even forgot to feed me one night. Then, I had an accident in the living room, and I got in BIG TROUBLE! They keep having soup for dinner, and there are no scraps.

It rained all day Monday, and it was fun to run through the puddles. But when we came in, I couldn't sit on the couch, and I got yelled at for footprints on the floor. Her footprints were there too! I am just going to sleep by the fire. I am going to try to stay out of everyone's way until this holiday stuff is over. Today she was grumbling about having to go to "Jury Duty". I don't know what that is, but she didn't look happy. I didn't get to go. I am home alone. I think it would be fun to open some of those presents under the tree. I am a smart dog. I could do it, but something tells me I better not, right?

My birthday is December 26. I will be 16. I guess that's pretty good for a dog. Why do they keep saying, "Next year we are going to Rome for Christmas!" Will they take me too?

I spent the last two days at jury selection for a murder trial. I was questioned for hours, along with other prospective jurors, most of yesterday, and eventually REJECTED by the prosecuting attorney. He probably thought I was a liberal fruitcake therapist, just because I answered honestly about having worked with gang members. After two days,I REALLY wanted to be on the jury. Oh well! I baked each morning before court, and until late in the evenings, to "make up" all the time I lost. I also lost income, canceling work. What a waste!

Now, why would I get this ornament?

My shopping is FINALLY done. I finished this morning (on-line). I am usually wrapped and finished by Thanksgiving! This year was crazy!

There are 15 kinds of cookies ready for my guests who will arrive tonight.

The inside says: "What will I do for the icing?"

Easy: The anti-anxiety meds of course!

Our weekend guests are appreciative eaters! They love food, but do not spend much time in the kitchen, so they love to visit at the holidays, when I have been known to "keep the goodies coming"!

Saturday's breakfast was easy and fun. After coffee, we sat down to individual breakfast quiches, Berry Streusel Bread with homemade berry jam, and orange slices with maple syrup and coconut.

Individual Breakfast Quiches:

7 large eggs
2 c. milk
8 oz. cooked bacon, crumbled (or ham, or sausage)
2 cups shredded cheddar (or choice of cheese)
3 green onions, chopped (or veggie of your choice)
3 English muffins, torn into small bites size chunks

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly spray 18 muffin cups.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, onions, cheese, and bacon crumbles. Add torn English muffins, salt and pepper. Scoop mixture into muffin cups. Bake 25-30 minutes. Let cool in muffin tins for 5 minutes before serving.

Lunch was bowls of hearty Italian wedding soup, or Pumpkin-cheddar soup and bread. 15 types of cookies were munched on all day!

Dinner was rack of lamb, broccollini, and cheesy-sage polenta.

Dessert was Ina Garten's Coconut Cake.

Ingredients:
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup milk
4 ounces sweetened shredded coconut

For the frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
6 ounces sweetened shredded coconut

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans, then line them parchment paper. Grease them again and dust lightly with flour.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy. Crack the eggs into a small bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl once during mixing. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well. The mixture might look curdled; don't be concerned.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk to the batter in 3 parts, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in the 4 ounces of coconut with a rubber spatula.

Pour the batter evenly into the 2 pans and smooth the top with a knife. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until the tops are browned and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.

For the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and almond extract on low speed. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until just smooth (don't whip!).

To assemble, place 1 layer on a flat serving plate, top side down, and spread with frosting. Place the second layer on top, top side up, and frost the top and sides. To decorate the cake, sprinkle the top with coconut and lightly press more coconut onto the sides. Serve at room temperature.

Ready for Top Chef!

Twas the night before Christmas, the house was all clean.
All the parties were over, or was that just a dream?
The company’s gone, and we laughed up a riot,
But right now I am happy that things are quite quiet.
We put up the trees and the lights, and we shopped.
I cooked lots of meals for our friends, ‘til I dropped.
I came down with the annual “holiday cold;”
Now I just want to lay by the fire and fold.
Over 700 cookies were baked, and enjoyed,
Most of the gifts exchanged, wrappings destroyed.
Tonight we’ll have lobster and crabcakes to eat.
And maybe some cream cheese pie for a sweet.
It’s just Brad and I now, and we’re thinking, indeed,
The next couple days’ nap times are just what we need.
A nice drink by the hearth in a candlelight glow,
Cuddled up close, even though there’s no snow.
It’s been quite a season of Christmas crazed stuff.
I think I need to learn when enough is enough!
We love private time in our tree-decked-out home,
But we’re planning next year to spend Christmas in Rome!

Buon Natale to all!

Wishing you and your families a safe, merry, day of fun and good food!

Cheers with a Christmastini and Buon Natale to all!

We had our usual leisurely Christmas morning. We take forever to drink coffee, open cards, bake muffins, open gifts, drink prosecco, open more, play with our presents, make breakfast (around noon), watch a movie, take a nap, open more gifts/cards, and watch another movie. We are couch potatoes.

Sandi's gingerbread-cranberry muffins were great!

Brad had a small, but nice haul this year. We reduced our usual Shopping budget by more than half!

My pile had a surprise or two, and everything I asked Santa for.

Ego is sniffing out his stocking.

Christmas breakfast is our only meal of the day, so we take it quite seriously. It is our 11th year of Benedict, and the meat varies from year to year. We decided on crab cakes.

I made a few extra to freeze for our next dinner party. My secret: roll the crab mixture first in egg, then in POTATO CHIPS! That's right, and no baked in the oven, low fat, veggie chip will do. Get the greasiest, saltiest, most delicious chips you can find (Hawaiian chips work best for me), smash a bag, and use them!

Brad is the master of the perfect poached egg! (I have 11 years of this very shot!)

I do the muffins and the hollandaise. We were stuffed! This is our breakfast, lunch and dinner! (Ok, maybe a cookie or piece of candy tonight...)

Saturday night we visited the historic Mission Inn in Riverside for it's annual holiday light spectacular. We went with Nancy and Bill on a very cold evening. I'm not kidding, it was 39 degrees! I guess if I can do this, I can handle Rome next year!

Enjoy the lights!

Inside the beautiful inn, EVERYTHING was decorated for Christmas!

We stopped for a drink in one of the festive bars while waiting for our dinner reservation across the street at Mario's. It was such a lovely setting! Wouldn't it be romantic to take a carriage ride in one of these?

Brad and I had a lovely Christmas, and still stayed at less than half of our usual holiday budget for each other. Here are some of my wonderful gifts:

Art supplies!

My favorite reading material: New COOKBOOKS! The first two are from Brad, and the next two are from Casey and Ida!

Baking supplies! A four tier rack for cookies (where was THIS when I had gingerbread men all over the house?), pop-up individual tart pan, pre-cut parchment, and a cookie painting kit!

We got some wonderful new ornaments! The Roman Santa and Ballooning Over Europe will be great on the Italy tree.

More ornaments:

I also received many other wonderful gifts! A springy red jacket, pantry organizers and "Mama Mia" from Brad, the annual exchange gift cards trip to Chicos with Joy for a new jeans jacket, perfume from Connie, a jigsaw puzzle or two to keep me from eating and spending in 2009, a beautiful top and girasole purse from Ida, a gorgeous beaded wrap and pin from my cousin Palma, a book on Italy from my cousin Gary, and many more treats, goodies, and fun gifts from friends! I must have been very good in 2008!

Last year I went a little overboard on heart-shaped food during the week before Valentine's Day.

We had everything I could think of in the shape of a heart, plus a few more that didn't fit in this photo package!

This year, as I was debating what to make Brad for his "Valentine's Dinner" tomorrow, I realized how many heart-shaped bakeware items are in my kitchen!

Since Brad has been away all week on business, he will have to survive with only ONE heart-shaped item. This year I am keeping it simple! He has requested an ice cream pie.

Hope you all have a very happy Valentine's Day weekend!

In past years, it would be almost time for me to be baking Easter treats. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I love spring time, and the colors, flowers, eggs, decorations, and flavors of Easter. This year, we will be away for Easter weekend. There will be lots of fun and frivolity with my friend, Connie, her dad, and my Godchildren, Corey and Chaudra. There will also be Easter baskets, goodies, dying eggs, and an egg hunts with their two little girls, Cadi and Cheira. It will be a busy and fun weekend, and I will be doing some cooking for the whole gang. Here are some goodies from past Easter Sundays.

A "Lemon Blast" cake with lemon cream cheese frosting:

A smaller version with "bees":

Fig muffins for Easter Brunch

Lemon bread with lemon curd

Easterberries (strawberries dipped in white chocolate with sprinkles)

Easter egg cakes:

Those "bees" landed on this lemon-olive oil cake!

Wow, I forgot about these egg petit fours from 2001!

AND these striped, filled cookies!

A pizza rustica is traditional family Easter food.

My favorite: the BUNNY CAKE

Buona Pasqua a tutti!

We have been having a great weekend with our "family" in Fresno. Hope all of you have had a beautiful spring weekend too!

We spent Easter weekend having some wonderful fun time with the Woods, our "adopted family". Connie and I have been friends since we became room mates and sorority sisters in 1970.

Almost thirty-five years ago, she began sharing her family with me, beginning with my two Godsons, Corey and Casey.

Corey and his wife, Chaudra, now have two daughters, Cadence, 4, and Cheira, 2.

There was lots of excitement during the weekend. The girls enjoyed dying eggs!

Cadi is a patient big sister.

Cheira thought the egg dying was very cool!

Cadi met the Easter Bunny.

Palma and Brad helped with the egg hunt.

We did lots of cooking over the weekend. Friday night Mac and Cheese, Saturday night short ribs and polenta, and Sunday, potatoes, corn-leek pudding and asparagus to go with Connie's yummy ham.

Here are Connie, Grandpa Frosty, Uncle Bill, Corey, Chaudra, Cheira, and Palma enjoying food and good company.

Brad zested and juiced lemons for our lemon curd until his arm almost fell off. Chaudra helped me make our lemon tiramisu which was dressed up with green coconut, jelly bellies and PEEPS!

You couldn't hear a PEEP during dessert!

It was a wonderful weekend with the Woods family. More photos of Cadi's and Cheira's birthdays soon!

When we were at Roger's Gardens a couple of weeks ago, the place was ready for Halloween.

There was even a Frankenstein Lab and some very creepy ghoulish dolls!

My favorite was the golden pumpkin!

Have a HAPPY and SAFE HALLOWEEN!

As I wrote in an earlier post, I have cut WAY back on all of the excess of Christmas this year. I'm loving the one tree, and no shopping to do. This leaves me with free time for the part of the holiday I love...BAKING!

I got all of my baking supplies (and more that are not in the photo), and Monday morning, the fun began. I have a list of 17 holiday cookies and treats, lots of tins to fill for gifts, so I need to start early. I'm off to a good start: 19 dozen cookies on baking day 1! Three more recipes prepped and ready to go tomorrow.

I started the holiday baking on Monday, and I am having SUCH a good time with it this year! Since I am not shopping, wrapping, mailing, and writing cards, I have no stress, and more time for baking. Even though I worked my usual hours this week, I began baking each morning, made double or even quadruple batches of cookie doughs, and found tasks I could prep or finish during the gaps in my schedule. I'm somewhere around 62 dozen completed cookies and treats, with 4 more recipes to make, and I have 10 logs of refrigerator cookie dough in the freezer ready to slice and bake.

Here is a favorite No Bake recipe.

Oreo Cream Cheese Balls(makes 8 dozen)

Three 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
about 15-18 Oreo cookies (I use Double Stuff), crushed
3/4 c. powdered sugar

Crush Oreos in food processor, but leave small chunks. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar. Stir in crushed Oreos. Mix well. Chill mixture until firm. Scoop teaspoons of "dough" and roll balls by hand, placing them on a lined cookie sheet.
I rolled about 2 dozen at a time. Place mixture back in fridge when it becomes too soft to roll. Refrigerate balls until ready to dip. I used white candy melts for dipping. You could also use melted chocolate chips. Chill dipped candies to harden coating. Decorating is optional, but my FAVORITE PART! I melted both red and green candy melts, poured melted chocolate into a ziplock sandwich bag with a corner snipped, and in 10 minutes (per color), I had these:

On another note, one of my readers asked for a close-up of the tile scene behind my stove. Here you go, Jo. No more need to squint! It is a scene of Positano, we shipped from Italy, before our house was built. I spend lots of time at the stove, and enjoy my "view".

Monday was a cold, rainy day. Perfect for baking and decorating cookies! I got a little carried away. Then two clients cancelled due to a BLIZZARD in Yucca Valley, so I decorated MORE cookies!

I couldn't resist these tiny cookie cutters. They are REALLY small bites!

Gingerbread Day! I use the old Fannie Farmer recipe every year:

1 cup butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. molasses
2 T. vinegar
5 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves

Cream together butter and sugar. Stir in egg and liquids and beat well. Add flour and spices. Wrap and chill for at least 3 hours. Roll to 1/4" thickness. Cut with cookie cutters and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 6 min. Let cool for 2-3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Makes 4-5 dozen.

Since I went from FIVE Christmas trees this year, to just ONE, we decided to do the "Italy Tree". I thought my collection of Italy ornaments might be sparse, since the last few years they filled a 6' tree, but this year, our 9' tree will be used. I found a few new ones to add to my collection:

Here are a bottle of prosecco, one of olive oil, and one of Pinot Grigio.

These ceramic ornaments are from Claudia's Collectibles. Can you find Bologna, Venice's Grand Canal, Positano, San Gimignano, Tuscany, Saint Peter's Square, Torino, Capri, Portovenere, Spoleto, Florence, Lake Como, and Portofino?

I'll show you the whole tree next week.

Time to assemble my cookie tin gifts:

First, start shopping for cookie tins in October. I dragged Brad to three Michael's stores over Thanksgiving. I love the ones where you can see through the lids!

I've been collecting holiday cupcake papers all year. I think I have enough to last me a couple of years!

Then bring in all the cookies I made (somewhere around 94 dozen, not counting the candy, caramels and toffee...) from the garage fridge and freezer.

Assemble layer 1: Assembly line work is fun!

Assemble layer 2:

Ready to deliver to friends!

Spicy nuts and toffee are packaged in holiday bags:

Finally, a quick way to wrap a gift. I save my Trader Joe's coffee cans ( I go though MANY), wash them, and wrap them with holiday scrapbook paper. A simple decoration, and it is a perfect, quick wrap for small items.

The internet is a wonderful thing, but of course, if you are reading this, you already know that! On Sunday, we met Janie and J. at their home near San Diego. I have been reading Panini Girl's blog for a couple of years, and vise versa. I already knew we shared a passion for cooking and a love of Italy. I have used many of her recipes, and read of her travel experiences. We knew, that eventually we would meet in person, and an opportunity came up last weekend when we were nearby for my Godchildren's baby shower.

We arrived for lunch, and spent a magical afternoon. It was as easy as old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time. We had so many questions and topics (Italy, Italy and more Italy) to discuss. Brad also had much in common with J., so even the guys bonded easily. Brad thought he was "in a parallel universe". Another example of people you get to know on the internet, really are old friends you haven't met yet!

Janie prepared a wonderful lunch: crostini with chicken liver pate, a fabulous fennel salami and cheese to nibble with our prosecco. We then sat down for a delicious chicken lasagna with bechamel and a tasty arugula salad.

Her blog today gives the recipe for this yummy chocolate-hazelnut panna cotta.

Before we knew it, we needed to get back to the desert, and the afternoon had flown by. We are so looking forward to our next visit, at our house next time! Mille Grazie, J. and J., for a perfect Sunday!

I have never made a "structure" of gingerbread. I've made gingerbread cookies, muffins, and cheesecake, and when teaching, of course my class made the graham cracker houses, but I wanted to try something small, and not too involved. I decided before tackling a house or building, to build a cookie box.

First I made some snowflake cookies, frosted them with royal icing, and did some easy piping.

Then I made a paper pattern of the four "walls" of my box, and taped it together for a 3-D model (so I could measure the base/bottom of the box).

I prepared a batch of "construction gingerbread" (sturdier than regular cookie dough), and used my paper patterns to cut out 4 walls and a base. I used a scalloped cookie cutter to cut a "window" in each side. Then I "glued" a piece of rolled fondant on the back of each wall to cover the window.

I iced a little trim on the four sides, and let them dry completely (while we were away last weekend).

Finally I put my box together. I read a gingerbread tip, that if you are not planning to eat the building, you can use a hot glue gun to build a structure. I was anxious to finish, and decided that was a good idea. It worked! Then I iced "dots" on the edges so no glue is visible.

Now my snowflakes are in a cookie box!. Next year...maybe a BIG HOUSE, (but I will start in August!). You know me: "If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing!"

Tuesday, I hosted a craft day/cookie exchange, and we had so much fun! Three of my neighbors, Diana, Cindy and Maryann arrived at 11:30. We began with an appetizer and holiday pomegranate martini.

Then we got to work on making decorated paint cans, decorated jars of cranberry-orange honey, and painting ornaments.

Everyone brought cookies to share.

We took a break for a simple lunch of Italian Wedding Soup and salad.

The girls show off their handmade treasures:

Dessert was...COOKIES!

I have a wonderful group of book club friends! For our December meeting, we decided to have a dinner, and invite our husbands to join us. It was a great evening. We began with appetizers.

The cooks were busy with yummy things for dinner!

We even managed to discuss The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown. The guys enjoyed their time while we discussed our book, and chose The White Queen for next month.

After dinner, Linda played the piano, and we all sang carols. We exchanged small gifts, and lingered a while longer. What a lovely evening! We had an old fashioned good time!

As a child, I knew it was Christmas time, when my mom and my aunts got together to spend all day making this regional specialty from Puglia, a fried "cookie" coated in honey, called Cartedatte. They are sometimes called the "dahlias of Saint Nicholas" because of their color and shape and also their association with the nuns of the hospice for pilgrims of Saint Nicholas of Bari. At one time honey was expensive and not always available, so cooks used a syrup made from figs to drizzle over the cartedatte. (They are also called Cartellate in dialect.) I remember, Aunt Annie had a HUGE wooden board that covered her kitchen table, usually used for making and cutting pasta dough. They would dump about 10 pounds of flour on the table, make a well, and start working in wine and olive oil. Then when the dough was made, they would split into the various jobs of cutting, forming, and frying the cartedatte. This has been on my "bucket list " of things to try for years. I have a cousin named Palma in the Bronx, who says, "Cartedatte mean Christmas to me." This year I made some to send her.

I'm usually pretty good with dough. I know what different kinds of dough are supposed to feel like. For my first batch, I had five different recipes, 4 of them in Italian. I converted the grams to ounces (there's an app for that), and used one of the Italian recipes. The dough was VERY dry and hard to work with. I added a little more wine and olive oil. It finally came together, but still was hard to crimp. I continued through the whole recipe, but the final result was not what I was hoping for. They were almost a cracker consistency after frying. We began again, and the second batch turned out pretty close to mom's. Here are all the steps:

4 c. flour
1 c. dry white wine
1/2 c. olive oil
pinch of salt
1 T. sugar with cinnamon

1. Roll out the dough (we used 1, 2, and 3 on our pasta machine), and cut with a curly edge roller.

2. Take each strip, fold it in half, and crimp the edges every inch or so.

3. Roll into a rosette, leaving some of those pockets open for the honey to sit in later.

4. Take a break, as you will need to sit down at this point, and stop calling them "little f**kers".

5. Bring a large pan of oil (I used Canola) to 375 degrees, or use a deep fryer if you have one, and fry the cartedatte 2 or 3 at a time, just until golden (15-20 seconds).
Drain on a brown grocery bag. Open windows and turn on the fan in your kitchen!

6. At this point, the cartedatte will be dipped in one of three mixtures. As a child, I liked the honey best. My cousin, Palma remembers her mom making "cotto di fichi", so I made some of each. My family did both honey, and "vino cotto". I was thrilled when I found a bottle of vino cotto in a specialty food shop in Italy last summer, as I doubted I'd ever be boiling down gallons of wine and grape must as my mother did.

Honey: Melt 2 c. of honey with some lemon zest and cinnamon. Heat in a saucepan for several seconds to thin the honey and combine the flavors. While honey is still warm (not hot), dip the cartedatte in the pan to completely coat. Lift with a wire mesh spider or slotted spoon, onto a sheet of parchment paper. Top with sprinkles.

Vino Cotto Syrup: This is a thick, honey-like wine syrup of red wine boiled with sugar and reduced. It can be found in Italy, or there are recipes on the internet.

Fig Syrup: (Cotto di Fichi) I took my bottle of vino cotto, added some honey, sugar, and fig syrup until it looked and tasted right.

Here are the finished cartedatte with honey and fig syrup. It was an adventure, but I won't be making these again any time soon! I MAY try some struffoil for New Years!
I hope Palma enjoys her goodies! They are on their way!

Every year after Thanksgiving, I go though past issues of Christmas cookie magazines, hand-written recipes, and a few cookbooks to gather up a list of what I will bake for my cookie tins. There are a combination of tried and true "must haves", and I always make a couple new recipes each year, but NEVER are they all in one spot. Before I started blogging, I was an avid scrapbooker. I even had a whole room devoted to it in our last house. I have more scrapbook supplies than many scrapbook stores I have visited. I went from scrapbooking our daily lives, to just doing trips to Italy, and I haven't even done an Italy scrapbook in a couple of years. I have made movies or dvds instead, and there is a pretty detailed version of our travels on this blog. But I do miss the physical cutting and pasting and decorating that goes with real tangible scrapbook pages. So, I deided to make a small "Cookie Recipe Book" for myself.
It's short and sweet, with all my recipes. I'll turn the pages for you...

Now all those holiday cookie recipes are in one place, and I can add to them when I find new ones next year!

Prosecco with pomegranate seeds and sugar rims:

Or a Christmas martini?

1 shot vanilla vodka
2 shots white creme de cacao
cream
raspberry sauce for garnishing glass
candy cane stir stick

Vanilla buttermilk cake with Amaretto, raspberry jam, and white chocolate ganache frosting:

I made this cake for yesterday's staff lunch. At 10:30 Tuesday night, I realized I needed some black icing for the plug!

Merry Christmas from Palma and Brad!

On Sunday, we had our annual holiday get together with Nancy and Bill. We decided to try Spencer's Sunday Brunch, and weren't disappointed.

We began with wine for the guys and champagne for the ladies. It was a celebration, right?

The patio trees were decorated with lots of hanging balls of lights with plenty of sunshine peeking through.

We were primarily a benedict crowd: Salmon for Brad, lobster for me, and Nancy had crabcakes benedict! Bill enjoyed his liver and onions with asparagus.

Here is Nancy taking a photo of my cookie tin.

We returned last year's tin full of her own wonderful goodies!

Nancy shared her key lime tart with all of us. Isn't it pretty?

Another fun afternoon!