Do They Know It's Christmas Time

Thanksgiving has passed and I can now safely move onto my Christmas music!

I've already listened to this song over two dozen times since...please enjoy! It's a favorite!

...note Bono's rolling shoulders ;)

Homemade Hot Chocolate

I'm a hot chocolate fan. It's perfect for the holiday season! My favorite brand is Stephen's Gourmet. And saying that I love to make it in my Coco Motion is an understatement.

However, I've always wanted to make my own. So I tried. The result: I liked.

But, and this is a big but! I felt like I might as well eat 4 oz. of chocolate and inject whole milk and half and half into my veins. And while I'm injecting things into my body, I might as well add on a couple pounds to my thighs because heavens knows there is a lot of fat and calories in this.

BUT...it was good. I used Guittard Bittersweet Chocolate and Valrhona Milk Chocolate. Next time I think I'd even toy with adding some white chocolate. I could only drink about a 1/4 cup. But I enjoyed it and my husband loved it.

We paired the hot chocolate with Dorie Greenspan's Cafe Volcano Cookies, which you'll see pictures of on December 15 for my Tuesdays with Dorie post.


Do you have a favorite hot chocolate recipe? I'd love for you to share. I'm most interested in a Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe or a recipe that is a bit lighter. But hey, I'm interested in every type of hot chocolate, really!



Hot Chocolate
by Ina Garten

Ingredients
* 2 1/2 cups whole milk
* 2 cups half-and-half
* 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
* 4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I used vanilla paste)
* 1 teaspoon instant espresso or coffee powder
* 4 to 5 vanilla beans or cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Directions:
Heat the milk and half-and-half in a saucepan on medium heat to just below the simmering point. Remove the pan from the heat and add both chocolates. When the chocolates are melted, add the sugar, vanilla extract, and espresso and whisk vigorously. Reheat gently and serve immediately. Use a vanilla bean or cinnamon stick to garnish each serving.


p.s. did you notice and do you love my monogrammed mugs from anthropologie?

Tuesdays with Dorie - Chocolate Caramel Chestnut Cake

If there were ever a cake to make me say, "that is so not worth the time." It would be this one. After hours and hours of mixing, baking, chilling and more crud...I finally had a finished cake. And after I had a chance to wait a good 12-24 hours, I was actually able to enjoy it.

...and now I'm thinking. Maybe it was worth the time?

Behold, the Chocolate Caramel Chestnut Cake:


This cake has the elements and design of a show-stopping celebration cake. It's layered, chock full of chocolate ganache and has a unique ingredient: chestnuts. To be honest, I had never really tasted a chestnut until making this cake. And? Yes, I liked it. {I will be incorporating chestnuts into my fall and holiday baking from now on.}

So in reality, I don't think I'd make this cake in its entirety if I had a craving for chocolate, chestnut or caramel. BUT, I do think I would make elements of it. Don't get me wrong, it is delicious. But a) it is super-rich b)it's expensive to make { Over a pound of butter, a pint of cream, and nearly a pound and a half of various chocolates, not to mention the chestnut paste and chopped chestnuts.} and c) it takes a lot of time {two days worth}.

Here's the adjustments I would make. I'd make the chestnut cake, as is. Then I'd make the caramel ganache and just not add the butter to it. Then I'd drizzle the ganache glaze and some caramel on top. And, I'd probably do this all in cupcake form to save on baking time! OR I'd just make the chestnut cake and call it good. It really is a winner all on its own!

But with all my whining, I'm so glad I had the chance to try my hand at making {and tasting} this beautiful cake. It was festive. It was a challenge. It was delicious. Make sure you head on over to the Tuesdays with Dorie blogroll to see how the other bakers like the recipe. And to find the recipe click on over to Katya's blog: Second Dinner.


Next week: Rosy Poached Pear and Pistachio Tart
Last week: All-in-One Holiday Bundt Cake

Spread the Love {product review}

I've got this thing with pepper jellies. It all started when I visited this awesome and gigantic fruit stand just outside Kennewick, Washington. I was a brand-spankin' new newlywed and on my way to The Gorge to see Dave Matthews with my hubs and a huge group of ultra-fun friends.

My husband had done this trip a few times before (as he's a DMB freak) and he and the others who had gone before raved about this fruit stand. And it was amazing. Anytime I see pepper jelly, I think of that trip and probably make a purchase off of this emotion.

With that said, I've had my fair share of pepper jellies in the past few years. And I have to say I've ran across my new favorite brand: Spread the Love. And it's local, so I'm an even bigger fan. I discovered Spread the Love at the Bijou Market. {they were a welcomed change from all the vinyl, big bows and jewelry that is often found at these boutiques}



They had a dozen or so of some great flavors. I could have easily purchased six of them, but decided to hold back and just get one: apricot habanero. I'm telling ya friends. It's killer! I love the sweetness of the apricot and the heat of the habanero is a great combination. I like it plain with pita crisps or with plain cream cheese on crackers. Look at the other flavors they carry:

sweet & sweet...

apple pie
carrot cake
pineapple pear~berry
italian strawberry
orange & herb
lavender berry

sweet, savory & a little bit spicy...

spicy apple
spicy roasted garlic
spicy triple berry
mango jalapeno
kiwi~pineapple jalapeno
cranberry habanero
apricot habanero
balsamic strawberry & pepper

I don't know much about the owner/creator except I heard her say she used to work for either a caterering company or a company that made a similar product and then she started playing with flavor combination. Anyway...she succeeded at creating a nice product.

Check out their blog. And um...I totally recommend these! I'm a fan.

***note: i realize not everyone may call these products pepper jellies...but i am for the sake of simplicity***

Tuesdays with Dorie: All-in-One Holiday Bundt Cake

I swear on my life I baked these on time...just been utterly and completely swamped at work these days. Here are the photos...I'll get text up soon! (update: text below!)



Never has something so beautiful and delicious been so easy! I plan to make every recipe this month, but have been trying to make the more simple recipes first since life has been so crazy. Just as Dorie says in the text, this cake has all the flavors of the holidays that you could imagine: pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, apple, cranberries and pecan. I also opted to make the maple glaze to go on top, and I'm so glad that I did. Heck, I even doubled it!




I hope you'll give this recipe a try. It was one of those one-bowl cakes that I love to make. And it is perfect for the holidays.

This recipe was chosen for November 24 by Britin of The Nitty Britty check out her blog for the recipe (after Nov 24) or look for it's title, All in One Holiday Bundt Cake on pages 186 and 187 of Baking from my Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan.

...and check out the Tuesdays with Dorie blogroll to see what the other bakers made this week!

Next up: Chocolate Caramel Chestnut Cake (it's going to be crazy)

Tuesdays with Dorie: Cran-Apple Crisps

Cards for Dad - Card Drive

Family is the most important thing in this life to me. They are the center of my world and the joy in my life. I'd like to dedicate this post to a family that has inspired me over the last couple years--a family that could use our help. The Hill family is from Orem and their father, Rich, is currently battling cancer. I don't know them personally, though I have taken photography classes from Nicole and I adore her sister Natalie's wit and courage. My local community and faith has benefited from the efforts of these sisters and their parents. 

My friend Lyndsey of The Stationary Place is hosting a card drive for them--just a simple way to send love and happiness their way in time for Thanksgiving. 

If you desire, head over to Lyndsey's blog to learn how you can help the Hill Family.

Tuesdays with Dorie - Sugar-topped Molasses Cookies

The day I read the November recipes post I knew I had to make these molasses cookies immediately. And I did!

Thankfully I had all the ingredients in my pantry and kitchen. (Which if you ask me, is a great sign of a go-to cookie recipe!) I adore molasses, for some reason it reminds me of memories where I would watch my mom make various dishes--I can just see her pouring the molasses in her yellow measuring cups. The second memory is that of a elementary school teach who always said to doddling students "{insert name} are you slower than molasses in January?" Good times.

A few things about the specific batch I made:
* I opted for a higher amount of pepper and was so happy!
* I refrigerated these overnight and they were very easy to roll into balls
* Used regular granulated sugar, but I bought raw sugar for the next time I make it!
* My family and coworkers gobbled them up.

Since we are now at the beginning of the Holiday season, Tuesday with Dorie bakers are allowed to post the recipes out of order. The Sugar-Topped Molasses recipe is technically supposed to be posted on October 27, so on that date, make sure to visit Pamela's blog, Cookies with Boys for the recipe.

This week's recipe is Chocolate Caramel Chestnut Cake. Which I will make! I've already purchased all the ingredients. I'm just waiting for the right moment. It's a very involved cake...and I'm still recovering from Adam's bday cake, the Cherry-Fudge Brownie Torte and Halloween! :) I'm hoping to post it next Tuesday!

Anyway, be sure to check out the Tuesdays with Dorie blogroll to see which recipes my fellow bakers tried! Here are the options: Chocolate Caramel Chestnut Cake, Cran-Apple Crisps, Sugar-Topped Molasses Cookies and All-in-One Holiday Bundt Cake! It's going to be a fabulous month!

Like sand through the hourglass...

nope...
this isn't a reference to days of our lives.

but
i will tell you
that i was obsessed with that show for one summer
before or after seventh grade.

anyway...
i bought an hourglass from target today.

it resembles the large size, but has white sand.

I love it.
it's sitting on my desk!

and yes...
it really goes for an hour!