Yearly Archives: 2008

I don’t have many wants for Christmas this year. We’re still dealing with the avalanche of wedding presents! But here’s my official wish list: 1. Pajamas – I’m a bit of a granny on this one, I know. I like full pajama sets in solid colors. Either soft cotton or satin (brushed on the inside).…

You can’t go wrong with crusty bread and melty cheese. The classic French combination Croque Monsieur brings ham to the party. And the British Welsh Rarebit adds beer and Worcestershire to the mix. Either way, when paired with a big green salad they make for a perfect winter dinner.

Where do I even start? There are so many things I am thankful for this year. 2008 has been a year of gratitude. Here are just a few: My darling husband. Our wedding, that went so well and was so fun. Each of our friends and family who chipped in to make the wedding amazing.…

The Tartine Bakery cookbook would be a great gift for the exceptionally talented baker on your holiday gift list. For me, an exceptionally non-talented baker, it presents a mighty challenge. Remember the 3-day, $100 dollar lemon creme tart incident last year? I braved the book again this fall to make soft glazed gingerbread. And, boy…

We’re officially on for hosting a holiday breakfast party the weekend before Christmas. Time to start thinking about menus! Gourmet Magazine has had two amazing holiday breakfast menus in this year’s issue and last year’s. Last year’s was a southern brunch with a modern twist. The recipes missing from that link are mostly online here.…

The PBS’s special on life with the Royal Family is one of my favorite things. I love all the behind the scenes work, pomp and fuss. So far, I’ve deduced that the best part of being the Queen is – not the jewels and palaces – but the fact that people offer you flowers wherever…

Does anyone have this album (did I just reveal myself to be nearly 30 by calling it an “album?) I love Zooey Deschanel and the snippets I’ve heard so far seem pretty great. Update: I love the internet! I’m being sent a copy from a lovely reader.

Quiche! Such a simple thing to make for a weekend lunch party. I used this recipe as a starting point last Sunday. I cheated with a pre-made crust instead of their instructions. And I added truffle oil and lemon zest for a little extra flair. Mushrooms and lemon are a strangely perfect match. Very elegant…

We received a lovely wedding gift on Friday from a family friend back east: a blanket from MacAusland’s woolen mills in Canada. It’s raw wool, undyed, in black and ivory. An elegant, simple thing to keep us warm for many years.

Apparently, the recession is exactly the stress motivation I needed to become a better baker. I reached critical-worry about all things money related on Friday. I’m concerned about my job in the financial industry. I can’t even look at my investments these days after having lost what roughly translates to a full year of pre-tax…