Dance of the Snowflakes from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker – image courtesy NYTimes
You should look at the full size picture of this online – it is an amazing photo
Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
This post could be called “continuing to stream nostalgia”……
In the Mood – one of my favorite tunes, ever. Getting into the mood for the Winter Holidays, whichever ones you celebrate and enjoy most, is initiated by different stimuli for everyone. I need: cold, clear air, particular choices of classical music and visions of sugarplums……… the famous phrase from Clement Clark Moore’s 1823 classic, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. You know I have been reading up on Thomas Nast and his contributions to the images of Christmas as we know it and these are indelibly tied to this classic poem. Also, the classic Nutcracker – ballet and music – forever playing small arabesques in my head. This year though, the “Marshmallow World” song from the Cooking Channel is what I’m singing, over and over, and driving my family crazy. Oh gosh, I’m rambling……
This weekend I got into the spirit of the season. Believe it or not the Andy Razaf and Joe Garland-composed classic piece of jazz music from 1940s made infamous by Glenn Miller plays often in my head. And, it’s always an “upper”. Not quite the seasonal tune but it’s what popped into my head early as I began to write. Anyway, you get the picture. I actually like to wait until we formally close the book on the Thanksgiving season, and then some, before moving on, in earnest to the Christmas season.
On Saturday, as I was off to the City to stroll around in my favorite neighborhoods – downtown and west mostly, I felt the first real surges of the holiday season settle into my psyche, with cold and clear air the invigorating force. Believe it or not, I don’t mind the Winter with the following qualifiers (ugh, it’s not really even here yet): if it is during the daylight, such as it is, the sun is shining and it is clear skies and barometer high. Yes, it can be invigorating AND inspiring. Not too much to ask is it? Anyway, I began the day by making a mental list of baking supplies I am in need of, accumulating more and more great recipes, dreaming of peppermint marshmallows in small glycine bags tied with red and green ribbons, and once again seeing myself shopkeeping, surrounded with seasonal treats, donned in seasonal apron.
The weekend was filled with all favorite things to do: Checked out the sale at Le Fanion, my favorite shop for Provencal pottery while George scored a lucky parking spot. I indulged in a great hot chocolate from Amy’s Bread on Bleecker, firmly setting in the need for those peppermint marshmallows. Couldn’t help thinking how many I could sell on a day such as this as I walked around, collar pulled up close around my ears. As always, I eyed every vacant store front and did a quick mental pic of the renovations needed – disregarding the realities of the rent situation – as the last place I inquired about was a mere $365,000 a year. Really? How many scones do I have to sell to cover just that rent? Honestly, I don’t know how the bakery model works in the City.
Next stop? Off to the Broadway Panhandler to look for specialty sprinkles, unusual cookie cutters and to oogle the copper pots and pans selection – as I always do. Caught the picture above as we crossed 5th Avenue at 8th Street at just after 4pm. Then it was onto Dean and Deluca at Broadway and Prince and dusk settled in so very quickly and early – where we found the most uplifting hustle and bustle which really set the feeling in. Here, it actually felt a lot closer to Christmas than it was – fun and very festive. Scoffed up my first Blood Oranges of the season, from California and had to resist the urge to buy too many. Thinking about decorating the tree this year a la Thomas Keller’s of last year – adorned with slices of citrus – as this image has stayed with me since he posted it last year:
Thomas Keller’s tree from last year
Later, it was off to a lovely dinner at The Lion on W 9th St. Food was fabulous – I had the Duck Breast and George the amazing, brined Berkshire pork chop which was like something out of a Dickensian scene. Chive Biscuits are to die for. (of the nobody can eat just one category). Lovely table in the back of the restaurant near the fireplace. Service was very attentive and it is clear they are trying very hard to please here. I am happy to report that they succeeded.
Sunday up and at em – tree and outdoor decorating searching. Had a nice lunch with Christin and baked some Taralli. And, nothing is more comforting than placing a nice roast into the oven and settling into some football ……um no for me on the latter…… Reminds me of all the years of my dear Finnegan coming to sit by the oven whenever I was roasting meats….. Ok so, I am consumed by nostalgia in December as I mentioned the other day.
vintage RL sweater on Cornelia St.
blood oranges from Dean and Deluca
lots of goodies coming
front door ready
first light snowfall:
“Lulu Lemon” and Looney-Tunes Callie
back on the Taralli obsession
This week should be a fun one. I have lots of great cooking and baking to do.
On the docket in the kitchen:
Decadent Trifle: http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Decadent-Trifle?cmpid=rotd
http://candy.about.com/od/christmascandy/r/Peppermint-Chocolate-Meringue-Sandwiches.htm
Michael Chiarello’s Italian meatloaf – great snowy night dinner with baked sweet potatoes
Giada De Laurentis’ Ginger Soufflé
trying out some Pannettone and maybe the Rose Cake
cookies, cookies, cookies: like Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies – http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Candy-Cane-Cookies-233372
and Gale Gand’s Marshmallows – peppermint version – http://www.suntimes.com/recipes/candy/11599095-509/gale-gands-marshmallows.html
If you dare: Alex Guarnaschelli’s Sfogliatella: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/alexandra-guarnaschelli/sfogliatella.html (we made these in Pastry School – need patience and practice to make these
and:
Salty-Sweet Snowflakes
- make this recipe
- user reviews (NaN)
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- Royal Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 2 – 3 tablespoons water
1. In a large bowl combine chilled butter and sugar. Beat butter and sugar with and electric mixture on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add egg and egg yolk; beat until fully incorporated. Add salt, vanilla, lemon zest, and white pepper. Slowly beat in flour. Using your hands, knead dough until smooth; divide in half. Wrap each dough half with plastic wrap; chill 3 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface roll each dough half to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 4-inch snowflake cutter, cut out snowflakes. Arrange cutouts 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 13 minutes or until edges just start to brown. Remove from oven. Cook on cookie sheets 5 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully remove cookies. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Decorate cooled cookies with Royal Icing. Makes 22 cookies.
Royal Icing::
4. In a small bowl stir together 2 cups powdered sugar, 11/2 Tbsp. meringue powder, and 2 to 3 Tbs[. water until smooth. Spoon mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip. Decorate cookies as desired. Let dry 15 to 20 minutes.
Enjoy the snow!