Thursday, December 31, 2009

new year's eve...

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5



4 - 3 - 2

1...

a quick hello and a new years wish.

i hope your paths are filled with

piles of snow

warm fireplaces

ice-covered ponds

twinkling lights

cozy spots

frosted windows

lots of laughter

delicious dinners

bubbly drinks

soft sweaters

candlelight

fluffy robes


and someone to love


a new year where dreams really do come true

happy new year friends. xo

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

churros...

here's the ultimate recipe to make your own churros at home, just like they were at the churrería stands. of course, the difference here is they are soooo much better. here you can make a whole batch for what it cost for a few. once you make the churros you'll never buy them again.

ingredients: (makes one plate full)
vegetable or olive oi
1 cup water
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
prepare to fry the churros by heating oil in a pan (1 to 1&1/2 inches) to 360 degrees F.
to make churro dough, heat water, margarine and salt to rolling boil in 3-quart saucepan; stir in flour. stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute; remove from heat. beat eggs all at once; continue beating until smooth and then add to saucepan while stirring mixture.
spoon mixture into cake decorators' tube with large star tip (like the kind use to decorate cakes). squeeze 4-inch strips of dough into hot oil. fry 3 or 4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes on each side. drain on paper towels. (mix sugar and the optional cinnamon); roll churros in sugar or dump the sugar on the pile of churros, like the pros. that churro taste will take you right back to your favorite summer days walking the paseos of spain.
note: real churros in spain are made without cinnamon mixed with the sugar, but the cinnamon adds an extra nice flavor. enjoy xo

christmas favorites...















twinkling lights...

















i love my gift...















believe in miracles...






treats....













beautiful trains...beautiful girls...

to be so loved...
brand new... best christmas gift ever...

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

take the long way...

i am slowly climbing out of my holiday haze. the past couple of days have been glorious.
quiet, after the craziness. the wrapping paper, pile of gifts,
left over containers that held holiday treats

will get

cleaned up

eventually.







it is so cold out, so sooo cold. the crackling sound of a warm fire on a snowy night is quite possibly one of the best sounds in the whole world. even if it is on your t.v. a.k.a. the yule log. so grab a mug of hot chocolate or a wine and cozy up. dream of all the special moments that 2009 has given you. xo

best appetizer...

with new years fast approaching these are truly a hit with everyone...
ingredients
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps chopped
• 4 ounces crimini mushrooms, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup chopped thinly sliced prosciutto (about 2 1/2 ounces)


• 18 1/2-inch-thick diagonal bread slices cut from 1 sourdough baguette
• Chopped fresh parsley

preparation
melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. add all mushrooms and garlic and sauté until mushrooms are cooked through and brown, about 10 minutes. add cream and boil until liquid is completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. remove from heat. add blue cheese and stir until cheese melts. mix in prosciutto. season to taste with salt and pepper. transfer mushroom topping to bowl. (mushroom topping can be made 1 day ahead. cover and refrigerate.)
preheat oven to 375°F. arrange bread slices on baking sheet. bake until just golden, about 5 minutes. mound 1 generous tablespoon mushroom topping on each slice. return to oven; bake until topping is heated through, about 6 minutes. sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

wishes...



may the moon remind you that, no matter how big the world may seem, and how far away a loved one might be, we are all still setting wishes free under the same brilliant moon glow...so wish. wish. wish xoxo

Friday, December 25, 2009