December 28, 2011

Apricots w/ Basil Goat Cheese & Almonds

A long time ago I told my mom that I’d like to be a caterer and she immediately talked me out of it. I thought that my love for making food in assembly lines, piping things with pastry bags and my passion for all things filo dough & puff pastry would be enough. Then she reminded me of how I’d have to stand on my feet for 8+hours and then someone else told me how much packing up and moving was involved in the life of a caterer. Dang. Maybe I just want to be a catering company’s quality assurance tester? Yeah! I’d be really good at it.

This recipe has been on my radar forever. I had a Christmas party to attend and whipped up these beauties in absolutely NO time. They’re fun, colorful, bite sized and uber fancy. Don’t you just love the sight of little appetizers lined up on a tray? I sure do…

recipes, Uncategorized

December 26, 2011

French 75

Champagne! Never been a fan (blasphemy, right?!). I’m not sure why. I guess I always end up inhaling bubbles and then they spew out my nose. Truth!

Did you know that I married into a champagne loving family? A good portion of my in-laws take their champagne drinking to a whole new level. It’s as if they’re athletes and champagne is their Gatorade. You think I’m kidding?

Today is the last Monday of 2011 and chances are you’re looking for a signature cocktail for New Years Eve. Champagne lovers, listen up! The French 75 is slightly herbal with the gin, it’s tart with the lemon juice and slightly sweet with that cute little sugar cube floating on the bottom. A word of caution-These cocktails are a bit STRONG. Two of these French 75s may or may not have caused my husband to fall asleep on the couch at 8pm the other night…

There are many variations of this classic cocktail. Some recipes call for cognac instead of gin. Others may add Cointreau or brown sugar and it’s often served in a collins glass. I think the champagne flute makes it a little more festive. Enjoy!
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December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!!

Friends!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas & Happy Hanukkah, filled with good food, laughter & quality time with the ones you love!

xoxox

The Benjamins

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December 24, 2011

365- Week 51

A food related photo everyday until 2012. Here’s Week 50:

357/365 Game hen, kabocha squash & fried sage at Cotagna.

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December 23, 2011

I love lists, Friday!

I NEED one of these stamps. They’re gorgeous.
Thank you so much for the virtual gift, HJH! I loooove it!
I love Glittery things! Especially those spoons, the Jonathan Adler canister & nail polish.
NYE Hair Reason #294 why I need a starlette crown.
A fancy booze roundup! The best kind of roundup.
The most wonderful NINE year old birthday I ever did see! Happy B-day Mila, Plum!
Licking my computer screen with this whole Christmas feast. Whoa, dude.
Pre-paid dates! What an awesome idea.
I wish this was my vacation home….
How to make gift bags using newspaper! GENIUS.
DIY Chalkboard Platter Oh the possibilities!

But wait! There’s more:

This week on the Joy the Baker podcast, we talk about NYE. Resolutions, 2011 in review & Joy went to her first football game! Come check it out!

Feel like you never have anything to wear? Let your camera phone be your guide! This week on High Straightenence I share one of my tips for figuring out what to wear!

recipes, Uncategorized

December 21, 2011

Spiced Orange Popovers

Ready for my David Letterman impression? I’ll do it if you stop staring at my gap teeth!

TOP 10 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE SPICED ORANGE POPOVERS:

They taste like donuts, yet they’re not fried!
They’re ridiculously easy.
Your house will smell like a high-end Christmas candle.
It’s the holidays & you’re looking for something festive for breakfast.
Clove, cinnamon & orange are your best friends this time of year.
You need an excuse to dust off your popover pan.
They’re light and fluffy. Means no calories, right?
They’re a perfect breakfast, snack or dessert. You could make dinner out of them. (I totally did)
Your coffee is lonely. It needs company.
Because I said so!

I should also note that I ate 5 popovers within an hour after I made them….I blame the delicious clove cinnamon orange sugar. Well…that and they were WARM.