Tag: food

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Baking Day

IMG_0730 IMG_0720 IMG_0723Saturday was baking day and I was able to spend the entire afternoon in the kitchen alone, making delicious treats for friends and family. While in the supermarket on Friday I found a huge container of strawberries that looked so fresh and seemed to call out an early spring that I had to turn this fruit into a delicious bread for our weekend breakfast.

IMG_0693IMG_0681 Next on the list was chocolate at its most decadent, mixed with pecans and walnuts spread on cookie sheets to make brownies with melted caramel and another with melted semi-sweet chips.

IMG_0708 IMG_0732I have done many variations with this brownie recipe since my mom first let me bake at the wondrous age of 11. I can still remember how thrilled I was when she gave me these simple instructions to see if I could follow the guidelines in order to make a dessert for our evening meal many years ago.

Recipes for Cocoa Brownies and Strawberry Bread!

So, the next time you have you have a few minutes to spare, remember to bake stylishly!!
K

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Holiday Planning

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{Clementines, tangerines and walnuts are a traditional holiday treat in our home}

It is officially December and company is coming. The holidays are in full swing and time can truly fly when working, taking care of family or just decorating the house. Despite all the planning and preparations, which can leave the strongest of us totally exhausted, you ask yourself… how can I treasure this wondrous season? Well by taking a few short cuts of course and definitely sticking to basic traditions.

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My colorful holiday notebook amongst cookbooks and notes for creative ideas when cooking.

Guest are confirming their arrival time to Heath, last minute shopping has been accomplished, and decorations are up with a small tree twinkling away in the family room. First on the to-do-list, is a trip to la Madeline to place an order for a two-layer coconut cake and a pecan pie, which will save on baking time in the kitchen during the holidays. Secondly, I have been blanching and then freezing veggies; broccoli rabe, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard and collard greens to be used during and after Christmas so, that creating a gratin, casserole or stir-fry is not such a cumbersome task.  My aim is to spend as much time in the evenings sitting in the window seat, watching the sunset, curled up with a hot cup of cocoa with a big dash of Grand Marnier.

Plan stylishly,
K