Kit with a snowy nose
Do you ever get a little crazy and act in the exact opposite way as you know to be your true self? Well, right around this time of year, I get to thinking about snow. Yes, I said that. For one short instant, I transcend every normal thing about myself and if only in my mind’s eye, dream about cold and snow. I really enjoy the month of December with all of the preparations (after that we can just fast-forward to May). I especially love to be in New York on a brisk and sunny day, walking around and soaking up all of the festive spirit and beautiful displays. Each area of the city has its own personality once again. There are the trees on Park Avenue and in the Village there are vintage RL ski sweaters for sale on Cornelia Street. And, then there is the hot cocoa extravaganza. I love to go around and sample everyone’s choice hot cocoa in the City. Last year I was obsessed with City Bakery’s – but alas, Ryan and Sydney are off in other climes :(. While I’ll go to W18th St anyway, it won’t be quite the same.
While we have no billowy piles of snow here or anywhere in sight, one might consider that this is the time of year as we approach Christmas, that we imagine ourselves knee-deep in the white stuff, wind swirling overhead, a warm hat buffeting as the freezing cold is boxing our ears and great amounts of pink, frigid cheeks. It helps us get in the mood. Well, yesterday, I was paging through the Gorsuch catalog, oohing and ahhhing at all the gorgeous coats, boots and hats and for just a moment, I was a little wistful about being somewhere cold and snow-covered at this time of year.
Usually, we get one good snowstorm here each Winter. Last year it was about 3′. I love to shovel snow and always did so with my loyal companion, Kit by my side. She trounced around and played and I dutifully shoveled.
some shots from last year’s big storm
I do dream of having one Winter experience in the Alps somewhere, touring around all the quintessential little villages that are so iconically charming. Each and every time I fly over them I find them so evocative. Ahhhhh………. To dream…………
Well yesterday, as I anticipated what to post for today, I decided to go looking for some Pavlovas that fit the season. While I have a ton of cake and cookie recipes swirling around in my head, the idea of a big meringue swirled about and baked off into a chewy delightful snow mound of its own made my mouth start to water. Who’s done the most pictorially evocative one? A google search really didn’t bring forth many and I was surprised. The one I liked best was attributed to Nigella Lawson and yet, it didn’t come from one of her books or her shows, it’s an adaptation.
A few words here about Nigella Lawson. I have enjoyed every show I have ever watched of hers on tv. Her enthusiasm and giddiness in the kitchen speaks to me. She always seems to be in a world of her own gushing about whatever she’s making and is surrounded by this ethos bordering on fantasy – and she gets it to transfer so effectively on camera. She’s in her own zone of enthusiasm and indulgence and I so get that. She’s infectious. I haven’t seen her on tv lately and I miss her great spirit.
You can see where I am going here with my own little recipe collection as we continue on our little book-making extravaganza. I’m focusing on recipes that visually speak to me of the season. First there were gingerbread men and spritz. Yesterday there were candy canes and puffy snow-covered chocolate cookies. This is the way my mind works I think, first I “picture” something and then it goes trailing off in a bunch of directions. Today, it’s pillowy meringues…….
photo courtesy foodandspiceblogspot.com
http://foodandspice.blogspot.com/2008/12/nigella-lawsons-christmas-pavlova.html
and, take a gander at all of these beauties: http://myfoodbook.com.au/collections/perfect-pavlovas
Of course this is the time of year when you should be scouring around your favorite produce purveyor – you know, the one that prides itself on stocking vast arrays of beautiful seasonal fruits. I tend to love to go to Eataly for this or to Dean and Deluca, where I am heading today. The other day when I was in Eataly, I was eying the kumquats. I had a terrific luncheon entrée a while ago at the cafe at the Met – halibut with a lovely sauce with Kumquats and I loved it. I stood there and imagined all the things I could do with those juicy little orbs.
I’m always imagining things to do with sugared fruits at this time of year, too. So, go to town and adorn your pavlova with the collection that speaks to you. This can be such a beautiful do-ahead dessert for your Christmas table.
So, today, on December 3, we have no idea if and when it will snow here. But, you can create great billows of the white stuff in your kitchen! Don’t limit yourself to the traditional Pavlovas here. Oh, those egg whites! They offer sooooo many possibilities. There are a lot of meringue cookies out there to try. Martha Stewart has a great show on swirling colors in meringue cookies – I know, I’m back to the Peppermint thing again:
photo courtesy Martha Stewart
http://www.marthastewart.com/318364/peppermint-meringues-with-chocolate-fill
photo courtesy Leite’s Culinaria
a tree for Callie
you can see that there’ not much out of doors that interests me these days