A New Tradition

Yesterday morning, the tree became a New Year's tree- we took all the ornaments off and wrapped it with yards and yards of tuile and ribbon. Instead of waking up today with the whole huge job of taking down the tree , the hardest part was over and our tree was a shimmery reminder of last night's wonderful dinner party. Happy New Year dear friends!

Kitchen Witches latest episode with Ahi Tuna!

Ahi Tuna Episode of Kitchen Witches

A Little Something For New Year's Eve

Luciano shares our Christmas breakfast - Pizzafrites

I've heard that many a cook will end a shift with a trip to a pizzeria- good plain deliciousness after a day of food fuss.  That makes me feel a little better about my very favorite dessert-

Happy Holidays Everybody!! Enjoy the Nutcracker!

The Nutty Nutcracker Sisters

The Sun Makes An Entrance Over The Mountain Like A Showgirl

Outside My Kitchen Window This Morning

The Best Sugar Cookies

Every year I try another sugar cookie recipe, and each year seem to have to choose between taste and appearance. Finally, I'm happy to share with you a recipe I found on the web that is great to eat and to cut and decorate. Today I made this recipe for my friend Linda in Los Angeles. I baked and  decorated them and then stood in the very long line at the post office to make sure she got them before she and the family leave for Christmas vacation. There is something about the tradition of baking and decorating cookies at this time of year that I see as mandatory.

Another episode of Kitchen Witches! Nutcracker?

Kitchen Witches Special Holiday Dish and Dance!

ORDER YOUR BOUBOULETTES TODAY!

Before they're all gone!  107 boxes going out today!   http://www.unpetitmorceau.com

Kitchen Witches Fried Parsley

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody !

   

Good -For -You Gingercake

Tis The Season For Gingercake

     A standard dessert growing up was my mother's gingerbread.  Soft, damp and slathered with my favorite chocolate icing, it was the smell  and texture of being at the kitchen table with the winds howling  around the apartment building.  The sweet strange smell of a gummy eraser, the  dark atmosphere of the entry way to Nightingale Bamford School for Girl's where I would wait to be picked up at 4 o'clock, the sudden cold shock of air as the doors opened and parents picked up their children-- and then home to a tea of gingerbread and milk.  Mama's opinion

The Apple Trees Dress Up And Celebrate The First Frost

Good Morning

Mona Lisa's Having A Baby

The beautiful Diana who bakes with me is very very close to meeting her baby. Last Saturday was her baby shower and since I was kneedeep in cooking for a Cubano dinner for twelve Kim and I were hosting that evening, I sent my love in the forms of ginger cakes, carrot cakes with candied carrot strips, red velvet cupcakes and these little Baby Cookies. Kim represented us at the party , and as we prepared for the dinner, she filled me in on how beautiful Mona Lisa looked and how sweet her family was.

Sending something that I hope charms or touches someone is sometimes a better representation of my intentions than I am, I think. I'ts certainly purer. Just love. And that's what I always mean.

These cookies are made with the linzer dough from the excellent Sherry Yard who adds Chinese five spice and orange rind to the traditional cookie. The potato starch pictures are edible, of course, and can be found on the Fancyflours website. A little tricky to work with but so worth it. Anything that can help me send the best part of me out to Mona Lisa and Matt and Baby is worth it!

Peaceful Sleepy City

Definitely November

Corrales Cottonwood Tree- 5 P.M.

An Artful Cappuccino At Le Pain Quotidien In Los Angeles Yesterday

A Strange New Mexican October Sky