Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, Happy late Hanuka... !




































Baby caught messing with the tree....
I have ornaments popping up everywhere but the tree!

I have some recipes to post, a couple still in editing that I have posted before this post. Will get them up asap.

Christmas Baking..

And so the Christmas Baking begins....

Sugar Cookies
recipe to follow...









Though I enjoy this Holiday very much, I think it's unfortunate how the economy is doing and all the jobs lost this year, I just don't feel enthusiastic about Christmas. I got a ticket a week ago, and it is true what they say about getting a ticket from a cop, bad things are to follow. Cops are like a black cat crossing your path. My husband got into an accident the next day with the other car and it will be in the shop for the rest of this and next month. Christmas can be irritating too, I can't stand it when people tell you what they want for Christmas, I mean I understand if it's something a group of people discuss together but when someone just announces what they want for Christmas and it be something expensive or cash, it freaking irritates me to no end. Unless you're a child why would a freaking Adult tell you what they want for Christmas? It's just so terribly ghetto. When people ask me what I want for Christmas you know how I respond? I say, I don't need anything, I really don't want anything. The offer is gracious but I rather they buy for my daughter as Christmas is for the kids anyways not us grown ups. :) I didn't learn that until I had my daughter, you become less selfish when you have kids of your own. (At least for some of us anyways). Before the baby I was all about the great deals in the mall, what was I going to buy myself. Not anymore, I have too much.

Chili Rellenos

My mom's Chili Rellenos with Ranchero Cheese and spicy ground beef..... A nice homemade chicken soup or broth with tomatoes in it would really compliment this dish if it is poured over the chili relleno by a few tablespoons. Not too much you don't want it soagy but a few tablespoons will give it a nice saucy taste.

All you do is buy some Pasilla chiliis, fry them until the skin turns a slightly darker color then remove to cool. Once cooled, removed the skin, slice open a pocket area of the chili remove the seeds and stem insert as much ranchero cheese as you'd like and some spicy ground beef (just stir fry ground beef in cayenne and smoked paprika spice two tables spoons each.) Once that is done roll the Chili in flour, than dip the chili in an egg that has been beaten to a slight peek and fry in olive oil, toss and fry the other side about 3 mins each side. Wa la....

Magazine Monday- Apple salad with walnuts and dried Cherries

For this weeks Magazine Monday event, I have a new favorite salad recipe I found in Bon Appetit September 2008 issue. So quick and fast to prepare, you always need one of these simple recipes for days you just don't have the time to cook. The combination of walnuts, thinly sliced apples and very light and sweet dressing topped off with dried cranberries, though the recipe calls for cherries, I substituted for cranberries and found the flavors very tasty. I love good recipes finds.....just love it.

Stocking Stuffers- The Baking Books....

I really want to try the cocoa cookies that Retore made, I think those would taste so good sandwiched in that new Dreyer's Limited Edition Peppermint Ice Cream that is out right now.
oh yeah...





If I can find a stocking wide enough, this is my rather large stocking stuffer list.....I suppose I need to hang Santa's Bag over my fireplace... hehe..

Giada's Kitchen- as recommended by Cream Puffs
Field Guide To Cookies- by blogger Dessert First
Italian Desserts by Anthony Parkinson
The Sweet Melissa Baking Book By Melissa Murphy
Tartine By Elizabeth Prueitt
The Essence of Chocolate by Robert Steinberg
The New Best Recipe by Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Bittersweet by Alice Medrich
Madhur Jaffery's Quick and Easy Indian Cooking by Madhur Jaffery
Sweet Maria's Italian Cookie Tray by Maria Bruscino Sanchez
Biscotti and other low fat cookies by Maria Polushkin

Blueberry Cheese Danish- In the Making

Solvang is the place to go to get the largest variety of danish's served in the smallest town in California. There's no point going there without picking up one. It had me thinking the other day, I am a good 3-4 hour drive away from Solvang and I sat there and questioned myself if I was up to the challenge. I did it, I made my first danish and it was a smashing success, except for the part that it grew in the oven into a rather large version of a danish. Nothing like the picture in my magazine, but nonetheless it tasted really nicely with my iced chai this morning. ;)

Recipe adapted from The Bread Basket www.tasteofhome.com

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding With Espresso Whipped Cream

For this week's Magazine Monday Event, hosted by Retorte, I have a very old recipe I've been saving to try for the Holidays. I finally used it and I highly recommended this bread pudding recipe found in 2005 issue of Food and Wine Magazine.

When I came across this recipe years ago, I new I had to give it a try during one of these Holiday seasons. Who doesn't like Krispy Kreme right? I love bread pudding and what better time to make this than during the colder months. Though this is the first time I ever made bread pudding, I did find this recipe easy to follow but a bit time consuming after each step to complete it. Unfortunately nobody believed me during Thanksgiving dinner when I told them this Bread Pudding was made out of Krispy Kreme donuts. If only they lived in my house to smell the donuts cooking in the oven. What I love about these donuts are the really nice soft texture, even though all bread puddings are of that consistency, this one keeps a really nice firmness as well. The Espresso Cream topping takes the cake, if you love coffee don't skip this step it really is the cherry on top. It was a beautiful finish to an already tasty dessert.