hello.

i'm sitting here, eating spaggets with half a numb face from the dentist...i hope that's a noodle i just crunched on. and i hope everyone had a great christmas! i'm trying not to be depressed it's over!

maybe some pictures will help.buckwheat crepes with orange butter!

tara made renditions of each one of our family members as an owl!
they line up to create a family 'tree branch'.

lottie and mattie dancin.
:0)

merry christmas eve!

through the tender mercy of our god;
whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.
to give light to them that sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
luke 1:78-79

holiday foods

during the holidays i have a sort of mental list of recipes i want to try. it never seems to stop growing...this year:

cauliflower and chestnut gratin- last meal on earth goood!
sauteed chestnuts with bacon and onions- these look so succulent.
chex mix- i don't think i've ever made this.
buckwheat crepes with orange- christmas morning!
gougeres- savory cream puffs...you can even deep fry them.
roasted dates with pancetta, almonds and chile- michael symon you genius you.
white chocolate tiramisu trifle with spiced pears- so elegant...white on white.
buche de noel- for the meringue mushrooms alone!

made: roasted dates and gougeres
will make: crepes, buche de noel and/or pear trifle
my sister, nicole, is teaching our family how to make tamales today.
i'm not in charge of christmas dinner, so the rest of you recipes will have to wait.
oh if only christmas could last a little longer...

what's cookin in your kitchens?

come on snow...

it is so cold on our hikes, our sinuses are freezing up!

i'm not sure if lottie should wear a sweater, wish she would tell me.

don't want the other dogs teasing her.
do slugs stay alive when it's icy?

or do they turn into slugcicles?

december the first!

if you have a turkey carcass still hanging around and/or thanksgiving guests that just won't leave...make a bubblin batch of this stock, add some veggies and meat and have yerself some delectable turkey soup! michael ruhlman shares a brilliant oven method here.

also...check out my new pastry blog bread & chocolate with 12 days of cookies.
oh man i'm gonna get fat.