December 15, 2011

White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

I dropped Cooper off at preschool yesterday and immediately headed to the post office to mail packages & pick up stamps for the holiday cards I have yet to send out. The line at the post office went smoothly and the lady who helped me was an absolute dream. Hooray for excellent customer service! Then I went to pick up a few groceries and just when I was ready to tackle another item on my TO-DO list, my car wouldn’t start! For the first time in my life, I ran out of gas. I KNEW I should have stopped at the gas station before I got groceries but I felt like I’ve been pushing EVERYTHING in my life to the limit lately, I assumed my car would push too. Thank God for husbands who come to the rescue!

Emails piled up in my inbox, clean laundry overflowed in baskets on my living room floor and then one of my cats puked on my stairs (which I stepped in!). To combat the stress, I took a break and went out to lunch with Casey. We went to get fancy sandwiches and fresh air but after THREE attempts at making my sandwich without mayo and over an hour of my limited time wasted, I felt like throwing in the towel. It just wasn’t my day!

Instead of tackling my TO-DO lists when I got back from the sandwich fail, I made these white chocolate peppermint pretzels instead. Getting lost in dipping pretzels into creamy melted white chocolate, studding them with cracked candy canes and lining the rods (haha, rods!) up into organized rows, made me happy. And then… I got a call from preschool telling me that Cooper needed to be picked up ASAP because he contracted pinkeye. It’s a good thing I got at least one solid thing done that day…

What’s my point? There’s no doubt that the holidays can be stressful. These little obstacles in life are only as big as we make them.The pressure we put on ourselves this time of year has the power to erase the holiday spirit we’re supposed to give & receive. Relax!

If you’re stressing out because the clock is ticking and you haven’t figured out what to make for the holidays, just make these easy white chocolate peppermint dipped pretzels. They’re therapeutic and they pose as little reminders of how sweet, savory & crunchy life can be.

Remember: Make things simple and give yourself permission to slow down!

recipes

December 13, 2011

Pasta Fagioli Soup

I’d like to introduce you to my mom’s famous (to our family) Pasta Fagioli soup. During the winter, my mom makes this soup like it’s going out of style. Over the years, she’s learned a few things while making this soup: always make a double batch & it’s nice to add more pancetta. The double batch thing is important because she can pull some out of the freezer on a whim for my dad or she can be prepared for when my brother comes home from New York and raids her fridge (he inhales this soup, even when it’s cold!).

For years I was reluctant to try this soup; I don’t know why. I guess have weird issues with hot tomatoes and the thought having beans with pasta kinda weirded me. I dunno!

One day last year I was hanging out at my parents house and my mom convinced me to some. Let me tell you I how dumb I felt for wasting many years of my eating career without this soup. It was AH-MAZING. I am a changed woman.

This is one of those recipes that instantly becomes a staple in your life. You’ll go on auto pilot when you’re grocery shopping and always buy the ingredients so you’re never too far from a batch of this soup. Heck! You might even have some stocked in your freezer for a moment’s notice like my mom.

It’s hearty, comforting and pleases all the men in my life; I like that in a soup.

around the home, Uncategorized

December 12, 2011

GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE MAN

The other day I was showing Casey a gift guide I saw online for men and he said “I would never want you to buy me any of that stuff!” I happened to like all the items on said gift guide and was wondering if it’s because the list was made by a woman. So I asked him to come up with his own Gift Guide and here’s some of his suggestions. A guide FOR THE MAN, by a man. Enjoy! CONTINUE READING

around the home, Uncategorized

December 11, 2011

SPROUT STUDIO GIVEAWAY!

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME AGAIN!

Today I’d like to introduce you to a talented friend of mine, Jenifer Solomon Lake- owner of Sprout Studios!

Jenifer makes the most amazing pieces of jewelry. She’s got such an incredible eye for color, it’s no wonder she’s an art teacher!

Photography, Uncategorized

December 10, 2011

365- Week 49

A food related photo everyday until 2012. Here’s week 48:

340/365 Eating an almond biscotti in a random alley in North Beach.

CONTINUE READING

Uncategorized

December 9, 2011

I love lists, Friday!

I’ve totally had these before….and I’m not ashamed to say I’ve eaten a whole tray of them…
Love love LOVE this post about being creative.
Another online magazine to get obsessed with! I heart RUE.
Adorable yarn covered letters! I need some of these around my house, STAT.
A rainbow maker looks pretty awesome.
8 minute mini cinnamon rolls?!! What what!?
I love everything about this Raspberry Glam Trifle!
13 things your camera wishes you knew. Oh man. This is good/important.
Get in the holiday spirit with a rockin’ Christmas mix by Alix of Modern Kiddo.
Speaking of music, I’m so glad I bought this album. It’s totally putting me in the holiday spirit.
One day, this will be mine!
Cookbooks I want for Christmas: One Two Three Four (are you listening, SANTA?!)

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE:

PERFECT GIFTS– That’s the title of the latest Joy the Baker podcast, we talk about our favorite things (Oprah style!) and gift giving for the holidays. I might have mentioned I drank a beer in the shower last week. No biggie.