Nesting In The 21st Century

Peppermint Bark

This year I did some little gifts for those oh-so-kind folks who are so nice during the year.  The nice receptionist at the Orthodontists office and the UPS driver who puts up with the constant stream of packages among the seemingly hundreds of others!

I made peppermint bark wrapped in a cellophane bag tied with my favorite Joyeux Noel Midori ribbon.  I added some little red ornaments for fun.  I put the bag inside a star shaped baking dish.  I found them last year at the Crate & Barrel outlet(or was it the year before last?) I gave it with a little red toile Christmas scrapbook.  I think part of the reason I love Christmas so much is it gives me the chance to say a big thank you to everyone who helps me out during the year.

Peppermint bark is my all time favorite quick gift at the holidays.

Melt 1 Lb.  white almond bark in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave.  I break it into squares first.  I start with 30 seconds and keep heating and stirring until it is melted.  Break one package candy canes into pieces.  Reserve some of the candy pieces.  Stir the rest into melted coating. Spread the mixture onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with reserved candy pieces.  Put the pan into the refrigerator to harden.  Once hard break into pieces and store in an airtight container or large zip lock bag.  Enjoy!

Christmas Break

  I took a break from blogging in December.  I needed some time and perspective on the blogging world.  I was starting to think too much about blogging my life instead of living it.  I think it is a rather peculiar thing really.  I seemed to be drifting outside my own life somehow.  I was observing instead of experiencing.  While I do think it is important to gain fresh perspective on life it shouldn't be a constant removal from the ebb and flow.  It was becoming a bit too analytical for me...after all it is my life not a corporation.  It can be hard to resist the temptation to make every project or meal a mini photo session.

I not only took a break from writing the blog but a break from reading blogs as well.  I felt like there was so much input I was having trouble hearing my own voice.   When I began reading my favorites again I was excited to read Autumn's take on all of this...and then Alicia's insight into the same topic.  Reading those posts reminded me how reassuring it can be to blog.  Same topic, different perspectives and insights.

I still wonder how to walk the blogging line as it is. How to balance a desire to share and connect with that of a naturally private person.  If you had asked me two years ago if I would be sharing photos of my life on the Internet I would have thought you were crazy and yet...here I am.  It is new for me.  I am sharing with new friends and strangers and I honestly don't know where the desire to do so has come from.  Part of it could be that I have always been a teacher in some form or another....and maybe this is just another incarnation of that.  But the thing I do know is that when my family and friends ask what I like about the blogging world the first thing which comes to mind is inspiration.  I have been so amazed and inspired by the wonderful, creative bloggers out there, sharing their lives, ideas, recipes, sources and hearts.  It would feel like stealing to take so much joy and inspiration from that  world without participating myself.  Even if that means stretching outside my comfort zone.  Who knows.  Maybe, for me, that is part of the answer why.

Holiday Inspiration

I stumbled on to a wonderful magazine called "Holiday With Matthew Mead" and I am hooked!  Wonderful crafts and recipes and tons of inspiration.   

Perhaps the best part is that his website is chock full of recipes and fun things to download, like wrapping paper and tags. I like to make new types of gifts and decorations each year and it is exciting to find a new source of inspiration!

I first went to the site to download this cool label for a Sour Cream Butter Cake.  This will be a great little gift to make this season. 

Another fun thing....on the site there are archives of past seasons filled with all sorts of fun things.  Enjoy!

Halloween Reinvented

Halloween is almost here.  The kids can't wait.  For Halloween night I am going to make my usual triple batch of chili, a big salad and garlic bread.  People come and go all evening so it all just simmers away in the kitchen waiting to feed the passing goblin.

I usually do a special treat for dessert (not for the kids...they have more than enough sweets!)  I haven't decided what to make this year...I can't decide whether to do a chocolate-toffee trifle or something with pumpkin...a pumpkin cheesecake perhaps.  I better decide soon...time is running out. 

I am learning to do less.  I used to do tons of projects and now I am taking the time to concentrate on just a few.  I do have some things which carry over from year to year (the Halloween Chili dinner for one and caramel popcorn balls for another) but I do like to add something new.  It keeps it fun for me.  I have a not-so-secret fear of life becoming ordinary.  I like routine as much as the next person.  I like to have the security of familiar people and things and wonderful traditions to look forward to.  But I also love the idea that life is fluid and needs re-invention to keep us from taking it for granted.  That is one reason I love travel so much.  Seeing other places helps me to see my own in a new light.  And so I balance new ideas and influences in our holidays with the traditions which our family counts on.  The chili will be the same...but the dessert will be new.  And if everyone loves it and wants it again next year I will just have to find something else to tweak.

Snow and Cupcakes

It is really looking like autumn around here although the weather seems more like winter.  It seemed so strange to see all the pumpkins covered in snow this week.  It was a bit sad as well.  I love autumn and I am not at all ready to give up on cool days, bright leaves and that wonderful warm autumn sunshine which makes everything glow.

I made cupcakes for the kids yesterday.  Nothing special.  The little guy wanted the box he saw in the store along with the matching frosting.  What he really wanted was the 4th of July cupcake mix with matching frosting & sprinkles which were in a sale bin but he finally agreed that the Halloween would do.  I was so bummed about the snow and desperate to return us to autumn that I agreed and within an hour we had our cupcakes.  They were rather flavorless (he could have cared less) and had a strange texture (again, he didn't care).  This was clearly a case of style over substance.  Nevertheless we put them on our Halloween-y black cake plate and on the dining room table.  He couldn't have been more pleased.  Seeing his little face, covered in orange frosting and Halloween sprinkles, certainly returned us to an autumn feeling. Sometimes style is all you need.

Halloween Fix

It is almost time to decorate for Halloween.  I have to admit it is one of my favorite holidays.  I am not a fan of the scary stuff.  No blood, guts, coffins,  sculls & crossbones for me.  I like the Happier Halloween.  The little pumpkins and candy corn type.

I have made lots of decorations over the years and I am running out of places to put them.  I think this may be the year to weed them out a bit...as difficult as that can be.

I made this table runner a few years ago and I do enjoy putting it out.  I especially like the prairie points around the outside edge.  It was one of those quick projects I like.  One evening and it was done.  The little pumpkins are machine appliqued.

I posted this today to give myself a little Halloween fix.  It has been a bit gray and rainy out...and cool.  Very almost-Autumn weather.  It isn't quite time to pull out the decorations en masse and so this table runner will have to tide me over for a few more weeks.  I may just pull one thing out each day just for fun.  One thing about Halloween, since it is on the 31st there is plenty of time to enjoy the decorations.   Unlike Valentine's Day where they seem to go up and the come right back down.  And so today is the Halloween fix.  I saw black and orange M & M's at the store on Saturday.  I didn't buy them...yet.

Fantastic Fourth

The 4Th of July was lots of fun this year.  Parade in the morning, BBQ in the afternoon and Fireworks in the evening.  It was just us this year so it was lower key than usual which was a nice change.

We even did the traditional burgers and corn on the cob menu.  I did do my favorite gratin dauphines recipe.  I honestly cannot remember where I first got it.  I have been making it for so many years I just don't recall where it originated.  I have included the recipe below in case you want to try it. 

I thought that today I would post images from the day.

I did the exact same urn in the exact same place last year but I just love the red geranium and ivy combination.  I love to look out my kitchen window and see this.

The garden gate.  I got the copper star last year and I have several hanging inside  as well.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

4 tbs. unsalted butter   

2 lbs. potatoes   

2 cups milk   

1 1/2 cups heavy cream 1 large clove garlic, minced   

3/4 tsp. salt   

3/4 tsp freshly ground white pepper 

4 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Coat a 2 or 3 quart baking dish with one tbs of the butter.  Slice potatoes 1/8" thick and place in a saucepan with heavy cream, milk, salt, white pepper and garlic.  Over moderate heat, stirring constantly, bring just to a boil.  Pour into prepared pan, cover with shredded cheese and dot with remaining butter. 

Place baking dish on a cookie sheet and put in the oven for 30 minutes.  Reduce heat to 300 degrees and cook an additional 30 minutes.  Let stand 15-20 minutes after coming out of the oven.

You know, it just isn't the Fourth Of July without the red shoes.  Once a year out they come.  I don't wear much red usually but on this day all the red I have comes out...which consists of these suede shoes.

We sure had a great day.  Beautiful weather.  Good food.  Happy Family. ..and me in my red suede shoes.  I hope yours was wonderful as well.