Christmas Breakfast

Most Christmas morns we make breakfast before we open gifts. It's different each year - just whatever our taste buds dictate. Sometimes toast and coffee and other times, it's a large breakfast. This year I was leaning toward *gourmet.*  Hot biscuits with Vermont butter and Pineapple Vanilla Preserves, smoked thick-sliced bacon and ham from Dean and Delucas. A spinach-mushroom quiche accompanied with fresh squeeze orange juice and Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.  
Oh....sorry, let me answer the phone. "Hello? What??? The *HOT* sign is on at Krispy Kreme? Are you sure? When did it come on? Just NOW? I'm there!"  Hey, the sign is red and green, which just screams *Christmas* to us!  LOL!!  Did you have breakfast on Christmas morning or not?

The Spice of Life

The Old Adage: "Variety is the Spice of Life," is true. As I was designing our possible remake of Old Sweetwater, I was trying to use every inch for storage and thought about spices and spice racks.
Do you know what the most expensive spice is in the world? Saffron! We once had a dear neighbor who hailed from New York City. She had danced for a living back in the 1930's and was still a little fire cracker.
One day when I asked her if I could get her anything at the store, she threw her long silk, brightly colored scarf behind her shoulder dramatically; tilted her wildly thick, wavy gray-haired head to one side and piped up, "Yes! I'd love some Saffron for my rice!"
One ounce of Spanish saffron is....uh hem....$160.00. ONE OUNCE.  No wonder Donovan was mad about saffron! What's YOUR favorite spice of life (along the line of cooking)?  Below is a compact spice rack from Dean and DeLuca, magnetic and rotating spice racks found in many stores.

Party Idea - Chocolate Tasting

I recently read about a Chocolate Tasting Party!  With Valentine's Day close by, you may want to host one for your friends, your love or treat yourself!

 

• The atmosphere should be relaxed. 
• Serve chocolate at room temperature. 
• Begin with chocolate that has the lowest % of cocoa: white, then milk, dark should be last. Or start with 30% dark and go to 80% bittersweet chocolate.
• Before tasting don't eat spicy foods.
• Cleanse your palate with tepid water or white bread between tastes. 
• You should only try 5-7 varieties.
• Allow about 1/2 ounce of chocolate per person per tasting. Below are fun chocolate dominoes!

Hot Chocolate - Thick and with Chili Pepper

Chocolate with red Chili Peppers! A couple of days ago I posted about decorating with the color of chocolates.  Chocolate and red is a classic for decor, but today I'm going to just talk chocolate (as in the eating and drinking kind).
One of my favorite things is dark chocolate with red chili peppers incorporated in.  The Mayans and the Aztecs mixed their hot chocolate with chilies.  I first discovered the dark chocolate bars with chilis at an import store years ago. Now you can buy something similar (Lindt chocolate bars) at Walgreen's!

After seeing the movie "Chocolat" on TV I wanted to drink rich, pudding-thick hot chocolate from a bowl too.  Anyone ever do that?  What other flavors do you like?   Valor brand has chocolate bars with pear, orange, toffee and banana!  They even have wonderful sugar free products and hot, thick chocolate mixes! If you prefer to make your own, here's a simple recipe.

THICK HOT CHOCOLATE WITH CHILI PEPPER

4 ounces **Scharffen Berger 99% Unsweetened Chocolate, chopped
2 1/2 cups Half n Half (can substitute milk)
1/3-1/2 cup sugar (or to taste) **use semi-sweet chocolate and less sugar if you prefer.
1/8-1/4 teaspoon ground chili pepper

Directions:
1. Warm milk in a heavy saucepan until it is hot to the touch.
2. Add chopped chocolate and sugar, whisking until well blended.
3. Add chili powder, whisking thoroughly.
4. Heat thoroughly over low-medium heat without bringing to a boil and serve.

5. Can top with real whipping cream (but why?)

Makes about 5 servings. I believe you could substitute the chili pepper with candied lemon peel. Some of you gourmet cooks help me out!  **Scharffen is American owned company. :)  The bottom photo is lemon curd with strawberries and chocolate. Click on the photo to the link, Chocolate Fool!
 

Chocolate and Decor

I really, really enjoy dark chocolate. Don't offer milk or white chocolate to me because I don't want to seem ungrateful or snobby, but I plain don't like it.   Just a few years ago people HATED brown in decor, then smart marketing experts started calling brown, Chocolate Mousse, Mocha Cocoa and Swiss Chocolate.  Problem solved.  Chocolate goes with cool or warm-toned colors.   Do you have any chocolate in your decor?  The teapot is a great example of chocolate brown with blue.  The bedding below could have been inspired by this dessert in caramel, dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate!    Now if you'll excuse me while I have an ooey-gooey dark chocolate "fit!"

 

Monday Moonstruck, Eggs in a Nest and Tiles

                                                  I liked the movie, "Moonstruck." How wonderful was the Castorini's  4,160 square-foot Federal style Brownstone in Brooklyn Heights which was built in 1839 (pictured below). It's been reported to have sold for between $4-5 million. No wonder I like it!  Did anyone else adore the huge kitchen?  When "Rose" cooked the Eggs in a Nest I got soooo hungry.  A good kitchen can make anything taste better, cant' it? Note the white subway tile and glass front cabinets? White marble tiles and white frosted tile options are below. Any other Moonstruck fans or "Eggs in a Nest" fans?

Cinnamon......oooooh

One cold January evening we went out with another couple to eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant. Afterward, we agreed to "walk dinner off" by strolling around the area.  About half-way through the exercise we started smelling cinnamon.  Understand that we felt stuffed full of Chinese food, but cinnamon.... Finally we came upon the bakery.  It was like a story book!  We stepped inside viewed  the most awesome cinnamon rolls.  Yes, we bought them "to go" and feasted on them later.  Do you have a favorite bakery?  Both of our favorites are now gone, (oh how we enjoyed Sophie's Bakery). This image is of Vesuvio Bakery in N.Y., but it kind of had the same mom and pop feel as our cinnamon roll bakery!      

Sunday Brunch

One year, after church, we went to brunch at a high-class restaurant the first Sunday of the year.  Coming in from the frozen street, we enjoyed the warmth and the seats that were upholstered in a warm gray suede.  

The crystal glasses reflected brilliant colors on the white crisp linen.  The restaurant had a omelet bar.   Doesn't an omelet seem healthier than scrambled eggs?  Anyway, it was delicious.   So, sit down and enjoy this almost-egg white omelet  -- I actually allow one yolk for every 4 egg whites so it's not so anemic.  It has red pepper and fresh mushrooms.   Here's some mixed fruit juice and turkey bacon.  What do you have planned for today?  All Recipes has some excellent omelet ideas.  This is a example of classic warm gray seating. Click on photo for site.

Resolution or Revolution?

 














i don't do resolutions.  However, as i stated yesterday, i start the new year "fresh."  This first Friday of 2010, i will purge the cabinets of "traps" like the Marshmallow Fluff i bought for holiday recipes.  How can I go back to eating (fairly) healthy and have FLUFF staring at me every time i open the cabinet?  Do you know know it tastes perfectly yummy by itself on fresh white bread?  But I digress.   Anyway, i'm buying fresh veggies today.    Fluff is also delicious  mixed with cream cheese for dipping fruit in....UGH!  Okay,  i need a REVOLUTION, not just a resolution!   Anyone else like Fluff?   Yeah, I ate the apple -- boring without you-know-what.  

I Know I Shouldn't But....

Okay, i know i shouldn't but...i need energy.  We bought four boxes of those protein-energy bars at the store.   My honey (not your health-nut eater) kept going to the cupboard for an energy bar -- two or three times a day!

"May i try one of those?" i asked.  I bit into wonderful chocolate and peanut butter!   "How much sugar do these contain?"

He shrugged, "I don't know, but they're energy bars. It says right here on the package. A-n-d, they have FIBER!" he gave a single nod and smiled back all toothy-like. 

After reading the ingredients, i laughed, "They're nothing but candy bars....or glorified cookies!"   i had a light bulb moment:   Cookies are a great source of energy, at least my oatmeal raisin cookies. They have protein and fiber.  

I know I shouldn't but.....i ate a two  three  four. Know what? I was tired, but now i'm good!  

Changing the subject on purpose....What do you think about incorporating a piece of furniture like this hutch into our painted Barn House kitchen? Quaker old fashioned disappearing oatmeal raisin cookies and milk below.

 

Eggnog and Silk

I'm not brave when it comes to liquids. Like if my honey buys me any medicine, it better not be liquid. I will not take it. Just being truthful (and bratty).

I think it goes back to when I felt like I was going to barf (vomit) at a mall with my parents.  My dad said, "Here, take some of my stomach medicine."  Yeah, he carried ulcer-upset-stomach meds and it wasn't that pretty pink Pepto-Bismol.  Innocently I took a little "swig," as instructed and just about sprayed everyone within a five-foot area. Horrible!!!!

The first time I tried Vanilla Silk (soy milk), I bought it and poured a glass. It was brownish. Ewwwww.  That just did NOT seem right, but I wanted to eat healthier, so....I slowly brought it up to my mouth.

It's so embarrassing to admit I talked to myself out loud.  "Be a big girl," I said. "Put the glass up to your lips. Think of something else. Just try it. Take a big breath. Okay, if you don't like it, you don't have to drink any more....but at least TRY it. For me. Yourself."

I did. And I really, really liked it.  So when I bought Eggnog MILK, I was braver. Ya know what? It was yumm-o!  Anyone else have a hard time trying liquids? Anyone else prefer Eggnog milk to nog?

These French doors are just as yummy as Eggnog. Do you agree?

Monday Night Football

We enjoy Monday night Football on TV. We've been to a couple of pro games, but couldn't see as much as television. We also enjoy a lighter dinner because we KNOW we'll snack during the game. 

Okay, chili isn't exactly light, but it IS Fall-ish.

Okay, so I put sour cream and cheddar cheese on top, but one just bowl for me...usually.

We sometimes put Fretos on top of our chili in place of the sour cream and cheese!

And yeah, we enjoy dill pickle slices in our chili.....if we don't put the other toppings on. woooohooo! Don't knock it until you try it.

Sheesh, I guess it'll be rice cakes for half-time. Yeah, right. What do you put on your chili?

 Oak and Acorn tureens, Williams Sonoma. Napkins, Wal-Mart!

Sunday

The calories. I know.  It's Sunday though, and most of you have a busy, busy week ahead.  Just one hot croissant with a little home-made honey butter.   The recipe is written below.   

I made a pot of coffee and one of tea, both steaming.  The cream is icy-cold.  Sugar and its substitute is in the cabinet.   Make yourself at home.   Chilled gingered apple cider is in the crystal pitcher.

Put the natural linen napkin on your lap.   No, the monograms don't  all match  -- that's their charm.   Relax.  Lean back in your chair and breathe deeply.   Now enjoy breakfast and enjoy the day the Lord has made.   

Seconds? Of course!  

Do you have a busy week ahead?    Tell me about it

Honey Butter

1 stick real butter, room temperature

1 stick fresh margarine, room temperature

1/4 cup good quality honey

1/4 cup Half n Half

Mix butter and margarine together with electric mixer at medium speed until well blended.  Beat in honey, a tablespoon at a time until blended thoroughly. Beat in Half n Half a tablespoon at a time until smooth and fluffy. Optional garnish:  candied orange peel. It's awesome!

Acorn Muffin Tin

This time of year there are a lot of gatherings. We recently attended a hay ride where everyone brought food to eat around the bonfire.   Most dinners are buffet-style in my circle, so food must be picked up easily with tongs and it must be plenteous. I saw this acorn muffin pan and thought it a great idea for cornbread, banana nut bread or zucchini bread...   It makes 18 at a time.   They cook in no time flat.  And people get a kick out of eating shaped food, don't they?  

Does anyone else think acorns are adorable? Do you have a favorite shaped pan?  And, how about baking them in a delightful vintage Alcazar gas-wood stove??? Be still, my heart!  One day soon, I'll share my *wonderful* experiences cooking on a vintage wood stove for about 45 people!

Williams-Sonoma does it again.

Cake Dean & DeLuca's Way

Dean and DeLuca is a store we are fortunate to have in our metro.
In my humble opinion, it's a gourmet store beyond gourmet stores.
Here is their pumpkin cake.
Under the white chocolate shell is six - count them - six layers of moist vanilla spice cake sandwiching praline buttercream and rich chocolate fudge. Oh my.
At $120, these cakes are not for the financially challenged. 
However, maybe it will inspire you to make your own version...or pay a friend to make you something similar?
Anyone else like D & D?

 

Sunday Toast

It's Sunday.
The table's set with the red and white transfer ware.
I'll put out the flatware with the red handles.
White, starched cloth napkins from a restaurant supply.
Red, orange and yellow mums cut short and put in an old off-white creamer.
Brunch thoughts: 
Eggs over-easy sound good for a change.
Smoked, thick-sliced bacon with peppered rind.
Toast with just a little unsalted butter, topped with fresh apple butter.
Coffee.
Now breathe deeply.
Be thankful.
Enjoy!

Caramel or Candied?

Caramel or Candied?
Apples, that is...
This time of year a lot of us
splurge on these.
If you could only choose one
to eat for the rest of your life
which would it be?
Do you like the gooey stick-to-your-teeth
caramel?
Does the rich smell of caramel comfort you?
Maybe you prefer the crunch of
the candied?
You like red-hots and cinnamon.
They beautiful as well as tasty.
Well, which one?
Both are easy to make from
scratch (I'm not as fond of caramel
wraps or pre-melted cinnamon concoctions).
How about using cinnamon sticks instead
of popsicle sticks?
How about tree limbs (make sure
they're food safe please!)?