Los Angeles

Saturday we headed into Los Angeles for the day--what a crazy city. One of the few that you spend most of the time in the car! We did plenty of eating and walking around though despite...brunch at Campanile, followed by some cannele from La Brea Bakery.

I love visiting the antique shops on La Brea. In particular, Little Paris, which has everything from European period pieces to mid-century accessories. We also stumbled upon a few other shops: Novecento, Plantation, Maison Midi, Vioski and most notably, a new tea shoppe, Algabar--a very beautiful store with an extremely kind owner, Gail, who made us tea and visited with us about our favorite tea shop, Nina's in Paris, and about Jamie's epic search for the perfect glass tea pot.

Later in the day, we also hit Reform School and the Brentwood Country Mart before heading to The Foundry on Melrose for dinner. The best surprise was finding a City Bakery in Los Angeles--I have been craving a pretzel croissant ever since leaving NYC in November after visiting the original City Bakery with Doug and Hsing--now I know where to get my fix!

Check out our photo album of the day here.

It was a very merry christmas

Jamie, myself and The Boys spent Christmas at Mom and Dad's along with Aamie and Papa (Morris).

We opted for a book exchange for gifts and made it festive by mandating a color theme for wrapping--red and teal. Mom came up with the most creative wrapping, which was craft paper and red and teal pens tied with ribbon to "design your own wrapping paper." It was really fun to see all the different variations on the theme...

We continued a long-standing tradition this year--foregoing a Christmas dinner and cooking up several hors d'oeuvers to snack on throughout the day instead. We've done this for about 15 years now--a great way to spread the chore of cooking around. This year I made something new, which I found out of the Highland's Bar and Grill cookbook (a great "South of France meets the American South" restaurant if you're ever in Birmingham.) It's pictured on the left here:


Cured Pork Crostini with Sweet Potato Brandade:

For the Brine:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup kosher salt
4 garlic cloves, crushed
8 peppercorns, crushed
4 allspice berries, crushed
1 star anise, crushed
1 dried hot chile pepper
4 cups water
1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed and silverskin removed

In a medium saucepan, combine all brine ingredients (except pork) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Pour into a narrow nonreactive container that is deep enough for the tenderloin to be submerged. Let brine cool completely in refrigerator and then add the pork, cover and let cure overnight (or for up to 2 days) in the refrigerator.

For the Brandade:
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 head garlic (about 8 cloves), peeled
kosher salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup cubes slab bacon
3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Put sweet potatoes and garlic in a medium saucepan and cover with water by 2 inches. Add a good pinch of salt and bring to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are very tender, about 30 minutes.

While sweet potatoes are cooking, cook bacon in a saute pan over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Set pan aside.

Drain sweet potatoes and puree them through a food mill/ricer/mesh strainer. Add bacon and its rendered fat along with olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir vigorously to combine and keep warm.

For the Pork:
Remove the pork from the brine and pat dry. In a heavy, ovenproof saute pan, heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil over high heat. Sear the pork, turning as necessary, until browned on all sides. Place the pan in the oven at 425 F and cook until the pork is medium (an internal temp of 145 F), 10-15 minutes. Transfer the pork to a rack to rest for a few minutes.

For the Crostini:
1 baguette
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
cilantro sprigs for garnish

Slice baguette into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place on baking sheet, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toast in oven at 425 F for about 5 minutes.

To Assemble:
Spoon a little brandade on top of each crostini and spread evenly. Thinly slice the pork and arrange a few slices on top of each crostini. Garnish each with a few sprigs of cilantro and a grind or two of black pepper. Serve warm.

Panettone on Christmas Eve Morning

I love the legend about panettone--Toni, a poor Italian baker who lived long ago developed a special bread to sell during the holiday season in order to earn the dowry needed to marry off his daughter. The word got out about his special pane di Toni and the baker soon became wealthy from the profits. This is a wonderful story; you could, however, decide to believe something else...

Citrus Season

Today we put to good use the oranges that the Weaver family brought us from their tree...


I love citrus season! Can't wait for fresh grapefruit...but since we're on the subject of oranges, check out this new food blog I stumbled upon recently: Orangette

"Wintery" Decor

Holiday decor is kept to a (near) minimum around here. I did make the paper chain, but it minorly freaked The Boy out, which I try not to do often, so I vowed to tone it down a bit after that. For the table, I thought a pine cone and candle looked festive with these new little shakers that Jamie gave me for my "bird-day."


I also set out this bowl of pine cones that our friend Auntie Bea collected on a recent walk. I love chocolate + vanilla together (both figuratively and literally!)

I've been enjoying some of other people's wintery pictures lately too: Rain at Simply Photo, Balthazar Stollen at Hoping for Happy Accidents, Vintage-Inspired Stockings at Wee Wonderfuls, Crocheted Garland at Anna Maria Horner, Dining Room at Yvestown,Gingerbread Tower from Fine Little Day and Fingerless Gloves from Purl Bee.

Also, this a capella video.

Care Packages = The Best

Finally getting around to sending the care package. So much fun! Fabric, baker's twine, baking chocolate and to maintain some element of surprise, something else that's not pictured. :) This chocolate from Scharffen Berger makes very comforting and delicious hot chocolate...especially when you follow this recipe...yum!

What to do with all those catalogs...

You know--the ones that are pretty, that you've looked at once or twice (or for the 20th time) and still don't throw into the recycle bin?

Make a paper chain! This one is from the recent Anthropologie catalog. I recommend it because they print on a paper that is more porous than other catalogs and it looks especially nice as a chain. This is my type of craft because it only takes a few minutes and you're done. I've been enjoying all the hits of color and the little vignettes that are captured in each of the links...

As for the catalogs that are not so nice, as in the plethora of junk mail that you get each week--it's all about Catalog Choice. I love this website for taking me and my address off the many lists I'm involuntarily added to, and for saving trees along the way. Just let a stack of junk catalogs stack up for a few days and sit down at your computer to create an account and unsubscribe!

Happy Birthday, Sister Bear!

Wow--25, I can't believe it. I remember (kind of) when you wuz only this big. I love you--happy day!

Hable's Design Your Own Mantel

I thought you may enjoy checking out Hable Construction's interactive Design Your Own Mantel--I found it quite adorable. Afterall,who doesn't love a stocking?

Jamie's (affordable) Gifting Guide

I'm continually amazed when flipping through magazines during this time of year at how expensive their holiday gift ideas are. To remedy, I've decided to compile a more bricolage style and reasonable list of ideas for giving holiday cheer (while hopefully providing some handmade inspiration along the way)!

For the domestic goddess:
An apron from Funktion Home--seriously, there is one perfect for everyone! And don't miss their matching dish towels...

Personalized spatulas from Williams Sonoma:

An oven mitt from Hable Construction:

For the crafter extraordinaire:

Assorted colors of Blue Sky Alpalcas' Organic Cotton:

Ornamentea.com's Wool Roving Spectrum Bundle for needle felting:

Ribbon Organizer from Martha Stewart Crafts:

For the Other Half:

Titanium Camp Mug from MSR:

Rolla-Roasters for perfect marshmellow roasting:

Cuff Link Travel Case from Banana Republic:

Winter Warmth

I always get excited during this time of year--the time of year when Starbucks breaks out their festive red cups! I always enjoy trying the holiday drinks like a peppermint mocha or gingerbread latte but this season brought something new: the chai-nog latte. In fact, I've gotten so addicted to this warm beverage, I've started making it at home with equal parts Oregon Chai, Eggnog and Vanilla Soy Milk... I highly recommend it for a dinner party treat or for just a cozy evening.

And, of course the hot holiday drinks must be served in something equally as festive! I recently found this adorable vintage french enamel coffee pot but also love this Juliska pitcher and one-cup glass teapot to serve warm drinks! If you aren't into chai-nogs, maybe try this or this for some winter warmth. And for a pitcher, can you beat any of these? And if you are adding whipped cream, don't forget to add these or these!