31 December 2009

Thursday Recipe - New Year's Eve Edition

I'm thinking of trying this one out tonight with my champagne. Courtesy of Rachael Ray, it sounds fun, and light, and bubbly, like New Year's Eve!

Ingredients

  • 4 scoops lemon sorbet
  • 2 ounces chilled vodka, citrus vodka or limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur)
  • 2 ounces prosecco or other sparkling wine or Champagne
  • 2 sprigs fresh mint

Directions

Blend lemon sorbet on low speed and pour in vodka or lemon liqueur in a slow stream. Add prosecco or Champagne. Pour cocktails into a chilled martini glass and serve, garnished with a sprig of mint.

30 December 2009

Christmas Wrap-Up

I know this is super delayed, but I finally downloaded the few pics from my camera. Christmas was great. I went home for a nice long break, something I hadn't done in a few years. I've been home on vacation, just not for Christmas since I moved to North Carolina. I was originally supposed to leave the Saturday before Christmas. Once they started forecasting snow for Saturday I decided to leave on Friday and I'm soooo glad that my instincts were correct. After seeing the news footage of people stranded on the roads in Virginia and DC, I was glad I left when I did. Saturday was pretty quiet. I went with my brother to pick up my sister at the airport in Boston. Then we all settled down for a long winter's nap, err, a really big snow storm. This is what we woke up to on Sunday morning:




I know you can't see it very well, but the snow piled on the deck was over my knees! Sunday quickly became stay-in-your-pajamas-and-lounge-around-day" as the streets were pretty undrivable. Callie and I curled up on the couch and napped for awhile:


Mmmm, okay, so I napped and Callie barked at every plow that drove past. By Monday, the roads were passable (the Town of North Providence really needs to learn to do a better job plowing - it took the better part of the week for parts of the roads to be okay to drive on, this is Rhode Island people, not Alabama; you plow every winter!) and vacation could really start. The week was good. I got to hang out with my family, which I don't get to do nearly as often as I would like. I settled up an issue with the RI department of motor vehicles. I had a chance to eat some delicious clam chowder and clam cakes. I had a fun night out with Melissa, Michaela, and Jayne. I helped the Rhode Island economy a bit by doing my share of shopping. Most of all, I enjoyed my time off. I hardly ever take a whole week to do nothing. I was forbidden by my boss to check my work e-mail and I'm proud to say I stuck to it and didn't log in once. After a busy semester of work and school, I needed the break.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and I will see you all in the new year!

24 December 2009

Thursday Recipe - Christmas Eve Edition

One of the things that only comes around during the holiday season is Egg Nog. While most of us are content to buy our own from our local supermarket or convenience store, how about trying a homemade version year?

Homemade Eggnog

Ingredients:
6 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 cups whole milk
1-1/4 cups bourbon
1 cup brandy or cognac
3 tablespoons dark rum
Ground nutmeg, for dusting

Directions:
1. Beat the egg yolks in a large bowl with an electric mixer, gradually adding the sugar until the mixture is pale yellow. Set aside.

2. Place the cream in another bowl and beat until it holds soft peaks.

3. Stir the milk into reserved egg-yolk mixture. Then using a large rubber spatula, fold in the whipped cream.

4. Shortly before serving, GENTLY stir in the bourbon and brandy. Transfer to a punch bowl.

5. Beat the egg whites in a bowl with an electric mixer until they hold soft peaks; carefully fold into the eggnog. Drizzle the top with the rum; sprinkle with the nutmeg. Serve immediately.

Makes about 10 cups

21 December 2009

Post Blizzard Day Book

Outside my window … there is a foot of snow and a poorly plowed street :(

I am thinking … that the town of North Providence needs to step it up in the plowing department

I am thankful for an uneventful trip home, I made it before the storm started

I am reading The Lost Symbol. It's good, but I think Angels and Demons will still be my fave Dan Brown book

I am hoping … for good weather next Sunday when I drive back to NC

On my mind … I am still excited about getting an A in my Finance class

I'm learning … that I miss being home, but I love my life in NC.

Noticing that … my sister and I have a better relationship when we are in different states

From the kitchen … Mom made pasta and sauce for dinner tonight...yum!

Around the house … my mom's basement is freezing cold

One of my favorite things … watching baking shows. Amazing Wedding Cakes is my new favorite.

17 December 2009

Thursday Recipe

Another cookie recipe in time for Christmas. I found this recipe on Amazon.com. So yummy!

Korova Cookies

Ingredients:
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel, or 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small bits

Directions:

1. Sift the flour, cocoa, and baking soda together and keep close at hand. Put the butter in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until the butter is soft and creamy. (Alternatively, you can do this and all subsequent steps by hand, working with a sturdy rubber spatula.) Add both sugars, the salt, and vanilla extract and beat for another minute or two. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the sifted dry ingredients. Mix only until the dry ingredients are incorporated--the dough will look crumbly, and that is just right. For the best texture, you want to work the dough as little as possible once the flour is added. Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix only to incorporate.

2. Turn the dough out onto a smooth work surface and squeeze it so that it sticks together in large clumps. Gather the dough into a ball, divide it in half, and working with one half at a time, shape the dough into logs that are 1-1/2 inches in diameter. (Cookie-dough logs have a way of ending up with hollow centers, so as you are shaping each log, flatten it once or twice and roll it up from one long side to the other, just to make certain you haven't got an air channel.) Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and chill them for at least 1 hour. (Wrapped airtight, the logs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 1 month.)

3. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and keep them close at hand.

4, Working with a sharp thin-bladed knife, slice the logs into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick. (Don't be upset if the rounds break; just squeeze the broken-off bit back onto the cookie.) Place the cookies on the parchment-lined sheets, leaving about 1 inch spread space between them.

5. Bake only one sheet of cookies at a time, and bake each sheet for 12 minutes. The cookies will not look done, nor will they be firm, but that's just the way they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies stand until they are only just warm or until they reach room temperature- it is your call. Repeat with the second sheet of cookies.

Author's notes: The dough can be made ahead and chilled or frozen. If you've frozen the dough, you needn't defrost it before baking -- just slice the logs and bake the cookies 1 minute longer. Packed airtight, baked cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days; they can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Makes about 36 cookies

Paris Sweets: Great Desserts from the City's Best Pastry, Dorie Greenspan, Broadway Books, 2002

13 December 2009

Happy Birthday Louie!

This is for my brother. He works for Stop & Shop while he is still in school and this song is on the Christmas playlist in the store. One year he came in from work and said, "That song is on all the time!" Nothing like a song you can't get out of your head for your birthday. I love you little brother.


Sunday Day Book

Outside my window … it's raining and cold and wet

I am thinking … that I had a wonderful time last night

I am thankful for my friends and family

I am reading Mastered by Love. It's a "historical romance"

I am hoping … for good weather next Saturday when I drive home

On my mind … if he had a good time at dinner last night too

I'm learning … to tolerate exercising. I really am not a fan, but I gotta do it

Noticing that … I need to vacuum the floors

From the kitchen … making scones this afternoon for my staff

Around the house … laundry is almost done. Now I need to start packing for my trip home

One of my favorite things … the smell of freshly brewed coffee

10 December 2009

Thursday Recipe

Christmastime is here and one of my favorite things about the holidays is gingerbread cookies. The crunch, the spice, that warm feeling you get when you eat them. It wraps up all the warmth of the holiday in one perfect cookie. This is a food network recipe - I love the combination of the orange with the ginger.

Ingredients
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading
  • 6 tablespoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 tablespoon ginger
  • Pinch of salt
  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 2 eggs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Sift the flour, baking powder, spices and salt together in a large bowl, and set aside.

In a small saucepan combine the butter, honey, sugar, lemon juice and the lemon and orange zest. Bring this to medium heat and cook until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Let cool to about room temperature and beat in the eggs.

Make a well in the flour/spice mixture and add the egg/sugar mixture to the well. Using a fork, begin to gradually incorporate the flour into the egg mixture. When the flour has mostly been incorporated, turn the mixture out onto a clean work surface and gently knead until the mixture is smooth and homogenous. Knead in a little more flour if the dough seems sticky. Chill dough for 1 hour or overnight.

Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to an even thickness of about 1/4-inch. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place on a lightly greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cookies are firm and lightly browned. Let the cookies cool for 3 to 4 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack.

When the cookies are completely cool decorate, as desired.

09 December 2009

Super Duper BooMama Giveaway

Not only is BooMama giving away that lovely skincare set, she also has a giveaway today for a computer. A whole COMPUTER. It's an HP TouchSmart 600. It's got one of those touch screens like in Minority Report. If I won it, it would be going in my living room, since you can plug your cable into it! If you want to check it out, head on over to BooMama's blog.

BooMama Giveaway

If you are interested in trying some new skincare, head on over to BooMama's blog. She's got a great giveaway going on right now!

06 December 2009

Adventures in Babysitting

I promised my cousin Kelly that once school was finished for the term, I would come down to Charlotte for the weekend to hang out with her, Korey, and the baby. I even offered to babysit so she and Korey could go out on their own for the night. I made good on my promise this weekend. I left for Charlotte Saturday morning and spent the day hanging with the Kashmers. I had such a good time. The baby is has grown so much in the past month. She is just the sweetest thing and has the cutest smile. She and I had a nice few hours while Kelly and Korey went downtown to see an improv performance. I haven't babysat in so long and its been even longer since I've sat for a baby. She was just as sweet as can be though and we snuggled and she slept and I fed her a bottle. It's kind of like riding a bike, it just comes back to you. I can't wait to see her continue to grow, as her personality develops and becomes her own little person.

03 December 2009

Day Book

I'm stealing this idea from Tree...

Outside my window … the sound of the train

I am thinking … that Private Practice is way better than Grey's

I am thankful for … the end of the semester!

I am reading The Christmas Guest. I just finished Coming Home

I am hoping … that I get good grades on my final papers

On my mind … will he e-mail me back

I'm learning … about my new parish. I never thought I would find one near me that I liked as much as I like Presentation

Noticing that … it's time for a pedicure

From the kitchen … will probably make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies this weekend to bring to the office

Around the house … I dusted tonight, but need to vacuum

One of my favorite things … when Kate curls up next to me on the couch to nap
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