Friday, December 16, 2011
Victorian Still Life
I can't explain why, but this image reminds me vividly of the old manor house that my grandparents owned in Santa Barbara. I think this color palette would make for some really beautiful decorating.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Gingerbread Men
One year around Christmas time - I was living far away, missing my family and still several weeks away from going home for the holidays - My mom sent me her recipe for gingerbread men. I made them immediately and it felt like Christmas was just around the corner.
This year I made that same recipe for some friends and it was a big hit.
Here is the recipe exactly as my mother emailed it to me:
The Gingerbread Man and how he began
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbs ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 c molasses
red hots, raisins, frosting
1. In a medium-sized bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar with a wooden spoon or electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the molasses. Slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture, sutffin after each addition with the wooden spoon or mixer (the dough should be stiff).
3. Divide the dough in half, flatten into a think pancake, and cover with plastic wrap (or put it in ziploc bags). Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until firm enough to roll out. (If dough becomes too stiff, soften for 10 minutes at room temperature for easy rolling).
4. Preheat oven to 350. Dust the counter generously with flour, roll out the dough to a 1/4 in thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread men and a spatula to transfer to a greased cookie sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart. Press in red hots and raisins.
5. Bake 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Be careful as you remove the gingerbread men from the oven, this is the time they are most likely to run away, at which time a terrible chase scene ensues.
"Run, run, run, fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"
Love my mom. Seriously.
Happy Baking!
This year I made that same recipe for some friends and it was a big hit.
Here is the recipe exactly as my mother emailed it to me:
The Gingerbread Man and how he began
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbs ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 c molasses
red hots, raisins, frosting
1. In a medium-sized bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar with a wooden spoon or electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the molasses. Slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture, sutffin after each addition with the wooden spoon or mixer (the dough should be stiff).
3. Divide the dough in half, flatten into a think pancake, and cover with plastic wrap (or put it in ziploc bags). Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until firm enough to roll out. (If dough becomes too stiff, soften for 10 minutes at room temperature for easy rolling).
4. Preheat oven to 350. Dust the counter generously with flour, roll out the dough to a 1/4 in thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread men and a spatula to transfer to a greased cookie sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart. Press in red hots and raisins.
5. Bake 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Be careful as you remove the gingerbread men from the oven, this is the time they are most likely to run away, at which time a terrible chase scene ensues.
"Run, run, run, fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"
Love my mom. Seriously.
Happy Baking!
Cheese Cake
Brilliant.
At our 25th anniversary party, 23 years from now, we should totally have a cake of cheeses.
At our 25th anniversary party, 23 years from now, we should totally have a cake of cheeses.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Vocal Point - Let It Snow!
Ok, I admit it...
I like The Sing Off. Especially this season with Vocal Point from my Alma Mater.
This is their Christmas performance, which I share here for one reason and one reason only... At 2 min 50 sec they make snow angels on the stage. Too cute.
I like The Sing Off. Especially this season with Vocal Point from my Alma Mater.
This is their Christmas performance, which I share here for one reason and one reason only... At 2 min 50 sec they make snow angels on the stage. Too cute.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Anchor Sweater
Basically I like anchors everywhere.
I like anchors in a box, I like anchors with a fox.
I like anchors in the air, I like anchors at the fair.
I like anchors here and there, I like anchors everywhere.
Sorry, I was distracted by my childhood there for a second.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
50's Rough Glamour
I really wish I could get my hair to do that.
Aaaaaand I need to practice my liquid liner skills...
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Perfect Cheese Plate, according to Gwyneth
This is actually a great education in cheese, from Gwyneth Paltrow (of all people)...
And now I want cheese.
And now I want cheese.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Pirates
“We lived in the hope that, if we survived and were good, God would allow us to become pirates.” –Mark Twain
Cherpumple?!?!?!
Oh. My. Goodness.
Oh yes, that's three pies, baked inside of three cakes, stacked on top of each other and frosted. I can't decide if I'm fascinated or horrified.
Oh yes, that's three pies, baked inside of three cakes, stacked on top of each other and frosted. I can't decide if I'm fascinated or horrified.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Top 100 Baby Names from 2011
Are any of your favorites on there?
My favorite girl name (Ella) made #14 and my favorite boy name (Jackson) made #2... Is it silly that I want to avoid the top 10? It's ok though, because Jackson was eliminated from our potential pool of names for practical reasons. Naming a kid Jack Frost is just asking for trouble. Both of my second choices can be found towards the bottom: Eva & Asher.
The list also gave me some good ideas though: Brooklyn, Peyton and Harper for girls (my parents will hate these, but hey, its my turn to pick) and Liam, Luke, Levi for boys. Hmm. I didn't realize I had such a thing for L's.
Ok, one more thing... And I'd really like some feedback on this, so please feel free to weigh in....
I really like the name Bennett for a girl, but 90% of the people I tell this too say that they think Bennett is too much of a boys name. (And I'm like, have you read Pride and Prejudice?).
But seriously, what do you think? This discussion may determine the name of my future un-conceived child.
ps. I love this Blind Date Test for feeling out names.
pps. If you're not sure what names you like these would be a great place to start! (Plus they'd make great gifts for new parents, don't you think?
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Felt Tree for Baby
I'm the oldest of 5 kids that are spread out over 13 years. Through my entire childhood there were toddlers about and at Christmas time, only the top two thirds of our tree got decorated, creating a "baby zone" at the bottom.
I love this idea for a felt tree that the baby can decorate and un-decorate as much as they please!
Of course, now we are all grown up and the bottom third of the tree still doesn't get decorated because its the "pet zone."
I love this idea for a felt tree that the baby can decorate and un-decorate as much as they please!
Of course, now we are all grown up and the bottom third of the tree still doesn't get decorated because its the "pet zone."
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
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