Hot Chocolate and Cake Pops

Sweet November, welcome to my life.

I think I mentioned before that once it starts getting colder, I tend to gravitate towards the kitchen. This weekend was just like that, and full of sweetness too. All three of us kept orbiting around our kitchen table, and even science experiments happened over there (baking soda, food coloring, vinegar, and a baster - N. loved watching it fizzle).

I tried my first cake pops based on Bakerella's tips and recipes, and found out they are much harder then they look, and also that N. is not quite ready to help.

We also found this amazing recipe for hot chocolate. Yum! I don't think I will ever drink any other kind! Of course, I've got to share it:

• 2 2/3 cups of milk
• 6 tbs of Nutella
• pinch of cinnamon (2x)
• whipped cream

First you add 2/3 cups of milk in a saucepan and warm it up on medium. Add the Nutella and whisk it until it's well mixed. Add the rest of the milk and a pinch of cinnamon, and keep whisking until it's warm and frothy. Pour it in cups, add some whipped cream on top and another pinch of cinnamon. Enjoy! (notice the nearly empty cup on top... N. couldn't wait until I took the pictures)

What's your favorite room of the house around this time of year? Do you like to snuggle up under the blankets on a sofa, hang out in the kitchen, or somewhere else entirely?

Gourmet Gifts }{ And the winner is...

Congratulations, Koralee! Let me know how to get the book to you, and it will be on its way. I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you everyone who stopped by, read the review, and especially to those who joined in the giveaway. I hope to have something coming up again soon. (I do so love giveaways).

Gourmet Gifts }{ Book Review and Giveaway

It's been a while since I've done a book review and a giveaway, but I'm glad I waited. This book was very much worth the wait.

Gourmet Gifts by Dinah Corley is a book that bakers, crafters, and everyone on their gift list will love, I'm sure of it. How much better can it get than putting together baking delicious treats, making pretty little packages for them, and giving them away as gifts? *swoon* Well, at least for me this makes the perfect combination. Below are just some of the reasons I'm enjoying this book so much.

Perfect Timing

I don't know what it is about the Fall and Winter seasons, but the kitchen becomes my main spot in the house for the colder months of the year. I love to bake treats, cook hearty soups, and fill the house with the smells of this time of year. So when I received an invitation to review Dinah's book, I jumped at the opportunity. If you haven't had a chance to check her blog, I would do so sometime soon. Her projects look as amazing as they taste. And since we're coming up on a major season of giving gifts, this book truly comes at the perfect time, for it is filled with ideas to give as edible gifts.

Unique Gifts

I grew up with a cultural tradition of giving (and receiving) baskets overflowing with meats, cheeses, drinks, jams, panetones, and other delicious fares during the holiday season. You'd particularly exchange these baskets with those you wanted to remember but who weren't family. It was a more formal, one-size fits-all gift giving. This book reminds me of this tradition, but with a more personal touch and a more unique gift as a result.

Nice Features

• the sections cover smaller gifts, luxury items, budget-friendly, and even care-packages to send away! (I think my best friend who lives a few states away will be getting a surprise in the mail soon) 
• Each item comes with information on the time it takes to prepare and make (active prep and total), how expensive it is, how easy or challenging, and the storage and packaging information.
• There's lots of room for creativity in the packaging section especially. She gives suggestions, but you're only bound by the type of storage the item needs. Oh the possibilities....

Of course, beautiful photos of some of the items don't hurt anything either. I wish there were more, but I also understand that it would be just too much, especially since the book is packed to the brim with information and there are so many projects.

Here's one project I tried this weekend - Cantaloupe Agua Fresca. It's a refreshing drink made on cantaloupes and lime, packaged in glass bottles. I happened to have a bunch of pretty glass bottles with corks waiting for a project, but believe me it was a difficult choice to make. There are so many projects I've bookmarked to try.

It was a success. I had most of the ingredients ready, as well as materials I could use for the packaging. It took me a bit longer than the time listed in the book since I triple filtered the drink, but in the end it was worth it. It's delicious! And it looked so cute in the bottles that N. kept begging me to drink them right away. I had to convince her to give me at least enough time to take photos.

Now that the photos are taken, the drinks are all gone. Yep, all three bottles we made. Gone. In one day.

Check the Giveaway for a chance to win Dinah's book

To keep this post from becoming its own book, I'm putting the rules and details in a separate post. Head on out to this post for a chance to win  Gourmet Gifts.

Time for something sweet (panna cotta)

Would you care for some panna cotta?

We got the recipe in this month's issue of Family Fun magazine (which I love, by the way), and I just had to try it. It came out just as pretty as I thought it would. Then I added some strawberry preserves on top because you just can't satisfy my sweet tooth. Et voila. I think this may become a favorite around here.

What are some of your favorite desserts for summer?

Project done but...

It didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it. Take a look:

The eyes are uneven... So is the mouth and the nose. But it gets worse.

See the bumps? The arms? Poor thing. She suffered from my hurriedness. But you know what? I still like her, with all her imperfections (she's the first doll I've ever sewed).

Now on to tastier subjects. I baked some banana apple muffins yesterday, in the shape of hearts. My daughter helped me frost them, posed them for the picture, and only then bit into it. I was so impressed with her self-restraint! But now every time she eats a muffin she asks me to take a picture. Who am I to say no.

What have you cooked up lately? And any advice for my future dolls?

Back from the (happy) depths of Christmas

*gasps for breath*

Wow, I survived! This Christmas was a whirlwind.

• My mom and sister came and had a blast with N; 
• we did lots and lots of baking; 
• I finally sewed the stockings; 
• celebrated with family on Christmas eve
• went to church, and had brunch with family again on Christmas day. 

It was wonderful. Now I am exhausted. But happy.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas! (albeit a little late)

Busy holiday merrymaking

Yep. Things are chaotic in this house. In a good way, that is.

I've got most of the rooms clean, just two more to go. Tomorrow is the day since my mom comes in on Sunday (sis is already here, but she even offered to help!).

I *started* making the stockings. (Sort of). I got the first one cut and the toe and cuffs sewed on, but that's about it.... I hear the clock ticking, haha. Can I finish it on time?!? Stay tuned for the next episode of "Sew impossible"

I made a couple of ornaments for N.'s teachers at daycare, but I have no pictures to show for it. They were a finish-and-run-out-the-door-ornament-making-session. I thought they were kind of cute, two little Christmas tress made of green streamers and sequins with wire for hanging.

Almost done with shopping. My husband finally told me what he wants, so he's the last hold out.

And then tonight... I made some pretzel-and-peppermint bark (I'm in love with hyphens today; it's my everything-hyphenated-day). Just got done now, around 11:30 pm. Oi. But I'm so happy!

Oh yeah, we're frozen. Everything around us is frozen. We're in for a very white Christmas.

Happy weekend everyone!