Guess Whoo I am for Halloween!

I love owls! I’ve actually wanted to be an owl for Halloween since I was a Chi Omega in college and finally got around to sewing a costume, so nicely modeled by Haute Papier‘s very own Kate here!  Since it’s Make-It Monday, click below for the how to!

Happy Fourth!

Make-It Monday goes to the kitchen this week for a Fourth of July tart! It’s just perfect (go figure, it’s from Martha)!  Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

For the crust:
5 cups all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons sugar
2 cup (4 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup ice water

For the creme fraiche filling:
2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each), room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 ounces creme fraiche
1 cup confectioner’s sugar

For the tart:
4 ounces semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup apricot jam, for glazing blueberries
1/2 cup raspberry jam, for glazing raspberries
2 tablespoons water
2 pints red raspberries
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
1 pint blueberries, picked over

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Now that’s a novel idea! Thank you Martha Stewart!

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the perfect dessert… An Ice Cream Float. Make it just like your mom used to, just substitute a bottle of Guinness for that root beer. Fill a large glass with 2 scoops of your favorite vanilla ice cream, then slowly pour the stout over the ice cream. Enjoy!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!



Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the perfect dessert… An Ice Cream Float. Make it just like your mom used to, just substitute a bottle of Guinness for that root beer. Fill a large glass with 2 scoops of your favorite vanilla ice cream, then slowly pour the stout over the ice cream. Enjoy!

You can also get some ideas for Irish food bites from FoodieView’s Recipe Roundup.

bye bye to 2009

Hockley’s Eggnog

Deliciously thick and creamy homemade eggnog becomes a food group for my darling husband during the holiday season. This recipe is the one that he makes over and over in double-batches just to make sure we always have enough.

Homemade Eggnog
makes one gallon

5 egg yolks
5 egg whites
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups bourbon
3/4 cups cognac
3/4 cups dark rum
1 quart milk
1/4 tsp salt
1 pint heavy cream
pinch of nutmeg
splash of vanilla extract

Wrap to your heart’s content

In Print: Clips from Food Sections

5. – The Chicago Tribune Kettle One Offers Free Rides, Food by Bayless “Anyone toddlin’ around town late at night knows nothing beats the munchies like Mexican food. But Rick Bayless’ Mexican food?You’ll have three nights starting Thursday to find out.The superstar restaurateur, author and television personality has teamed up with Ketel One vodka to drive home a point about drinking responsibly during the holiday season.”

4. – The Boston Globe Potato Latkes for a New Generation “or years, grandmothers everywhere grated potatoes on box graters that could easily skin your knuckles. But even made with care, the pancakes were often heavy and greasy. The next generation is upgrading latkes with great success, changing the way they’re made and what goes into them.”

3. – The LA Times For Hanukkah Parties, Fried Foods are a Must “And on a holiday that revolves around a one-day supply of oil that miraculously lasted for eight days, part of the celebrating — with or without the feathers and sparkles — still means frying.”

2. – The NY Times Sous Vide Moves From Avant-Garde to the Countertop “Sous vide combines the gentle, steady heat of poaching and an airtight seal, as in traditional methods of cooking in clay. The food literally stews in its own juices: no air, no water, no evaporation”

1. – The Washington Post Holiday Cookies “This year, we offer 25 delicate, fruity, saucer-size, tart, savory, colorful, crisp, gingerrific, salty-sweet, dairy-free, vegan, melting, buttery, giftable and easy-to-freeze treats to brighten the holidays.”

photo from The LA Times

How to: Tie Bows

To adorn your boxes with beautiful bows simply grab a couple of rolls of ribbon and follow the directions below from Better Homes & Gardens.

click here for the dior bow

click here for the florist bow

click here for the tiered bow

click here for the two-toned bow

click here for the classic bow

A Green Thumb Gift

If you’re like me and sad to have the winter really upon us, here’s a great gardening gift that you can make inside for the green-thumb in your life.

Begonias are one of the easiest plants to propagate; most varieties only need a little water to start new roots. They come in infinite varieties (I love the leaves as much as the flowers) and stand up incredibly well as city house plants (requiring relatively low light, rather infrequent waterings (a once-a-week soaking will suffice in a pot with good drainage), and they are undeniably gorgeous.  Click below for the how-to.