Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Friday, February 20, 2009

Uh...yummmmm

Ok....so we didn't actually eat dessert first but since the pict appeared first when I uploaded it I'll leave it there. This is apparently a famous American treat called Icebox cake. My Mom always made a different kind of icebox cake that I love. It consists of chocolate pudding layered between gram crackers and topped with Coolwhip.

This one is equally as good and actually has much more of a cake consistency. You but those very thin, old fashioned chocolate cookies and layer them between home made whip cream. The box has the recipe and shows it in a log form but I decided to make two individual "cakes." I also opted to add a little almond extract to the whip cream which turned out to be the right thing to do. You have to let it sit in the fridge for at least 8 hours but you can also make this the day before serving. This is where the magic happens. Somehow those crispy little cookies become cake and it looks and tastes like you bakes many tiny layers of a really good chocolate cake.

I topped with strawberries that I cut up ahead of time and let sit in the fridge with a little superfine sugar to draw out their juice. It was slightly reminiscent of an Oreo flavor in the end but way better! (and I love Oreos!)
Our actual meal (and this was our Valentines meal. We usually cook at home on V-day and go out another night.) consisted of the best asparagus I've ever had. I feel  slightly guilty buying it out of season, knowing it was shipped here from somewhere far far away, but this stuff was so tasty and actually sweet it was well worth the guilt. Here they are slightly pan sauteed in olive oil and salt. That's all.
And the most complicated, but still surprisingly simple part of the meal was seafood risotto. Awesome. Enough said. Contact me if you want the details.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Back from Holiday Hiatus


I've been a total blog slacker lately and I feel that guilt that only a blog can make you feel. However after the "Winter Salestice," then the holidays I needed a little break. A little break from forced crafting, baking, shopping and overall doing. I was tired from the extremely rapid pace this holiday season flew by in....and by the fact that I have A BUN IN THE OVEN! Yaaaay. There's my news for the new year. Hopefully it was worth the wait for a blog post.

Anyway, despite the fact that the holidays flew by, they were quite enjoyable. Some of my favorite parts were: my nephews Christmas Eve-Eve sleepover we had. They're growing up. I realized this when decorating gingerbread men involved "testicles," this year.

We also has an awesome trip to Vt. I had fun even though I couldn't snowboard. There were 14 of us in a big house with a fireplace and a hot tub (which I also could not partake in). I did play drinking games with water and hung out and relaxed and all -in-all enjoyed some fine company.

Tree chopping and our annual "Emmit Otter's Jugband Christmas," viewing round out my holiday activities. Of course with plenty of time with family and friends as well.

Above is one of my favorite images from this Christmas.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

I told you there was a theme...

Back by popular command! These precious gnome ornaments are an update of last years version that was available through my old shop Sweetninja. This year...double the pleasure...double the fun! They come as a couple instead of a lonely little guy. Everyone likes company during the holidays! Little gnome couples are now available in the shop.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Holiday Cards are Here!

This years holiday card is printed and ready to go! There are some in the shop right now and some will be coming with me to the Winter Salestice next weekend. There's definitely a gnome theme running this year and this is just the beginning...


Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Happy Election Day

Happy Election day! Here's what it looks like in my neighborhood. Hopefully tomorrow still looks so cheery!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Carving out a little time to Carve


It's the time of year when we hack innocent squash off their vines, not to eat, but to adorn with intricate cuts. Here's a look at how my family's turned out. Mine won the award for "scariest pumpkin." Can you guess which one it is?