(The Ultimate) Mother’s Day Gift Guide

April 25, 2013 by

Channeling Contessa Mother's Day

Envelope locket / natural nail polish / Crumbs cupcakes / Chambray shirt (always a classic!) / 3-month flower subscription / Farrah Sit planter / Aesop soap (I didn’t think it was possible for anything to smell so good. Seriously.) / Rose + Vanilla lip balm / Bellocq tea / French lavender / brush set / hand-dyed pillows

Does anyone else feel like April is just flying by? It’s pure craziness. In any event, it’s almost May, which means Mother’s Day is just around the corner. I think I enjoy Mother’s Day almost as much as my mom does. I get to spend the day with my very favorite person, and it includes all the things I love. Brunch, flowers, and chocolate? I’m there.

I’m definitely one of those people who prides themselves on being able to give the perfect gift. I tend to go for things that are useful, but still have an air of luxury. All moms are different, so we’ve come up with ideas ranging from beauty, to food and decor. Although my mom would insist presents aren’t necessary, it’s nice to be able to acknowledge everything she’s done for me over the years.

What’s your favorite gift you’ve ever given? Last year I gifted a baby Meyer lemon tree – it’s made 3 whole lemons since then.

5 Comments

Valentine’s Day: Decadent Desserts

February 7, 2013 by

channeling contessa Valentine's desserts

Handwritten Chocolate Glazed Cupcakes

Chocolate Coconut Pudding (vegan!)

Raspberry Linzer Cookies

Iced Lavender Lemon Shortbread

Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with Pomegranate Syrup

We couldn’t let you face Valentine’s Day without a dessert round-up, so here are a few recipes that I think would be perfect.  I think it’s such a nice gesture to cook for someone else, and it’s generally even more appreciated when you serve dessert. I’ve actually heard that serving a great dessert after a mediocre dinner improves the outlook of the whole meal!

My ideal Valentine’s desserts are either chocolate (naturally), or have festive touches (they’re heart-shaped, red/ pink, etc). Some of these recipes are very indulgent- Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Tart- and some just appear to be – Coconut Chocolate Pudding and Greek Yogurt Cheesecake. I’d love to know who will you be baking for this holiday?

8 Comments

Valentines Day: Dinner In

January 31, 2013 by

channeling contessa valentine's

  Citrus Cod en Papillote

Rosemary Chicken Lasagna

Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Alfredo

Spaghetti with Chili and Artichokes

Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes and Feta

Valentine’s Day is the one holiday that causes the biggest divide in people, as they clearly either love it or hate it. I probably would hate it… except I love making valentines with glitter and baking heart-shaped cakes way too much! I must admit, I’ve never met a holiday I didn’t like.

No matter which category you fall into, I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend the evening than cooking for your favorite person (or people). A cozy Valentine’s dinner at home seems like a much more romantic option than fighting hundreds of other couples for overpriced dinner reservations, no?

I’ve rounded up a few recipe options, and hope you’ll find something no matter what you hope to get out of your meal. The Cod en Papillote creates a serving for two (and there’s something so adorable about individual portions), while the Rosemary Chicken Lasagna would be perfectly comforting for a group of friends. If you want something that’s guaranteed not to weigh you down, the Lentil, Tomato, & Feta Salad would be just the ticket.

How will you be spending Valentine’s Day? (And more importantly, what will you be eating?)

5 Comments

CC Holiday Gift Guide Part 3: Cookbooks!

December 12, 2012 by

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

There’s something about holiday gift giving that makes me yearn for cookbooks. I love receiving new ones from my family around Christmas. Here are eight I’ve got my eye on this year. I’m specifically excited about Deb’s cookbook to finally see how that all came together, and Seoultown Kitchen, since Korean pub food is something I absolutely love but have no idea how to make at home.  What about you guys? Any cookbooks I must add to my list? I’d so love your recommendations!

Also, yesterday I started putted together a little CC Holiday playlist. You can subscribe to the list via Spotify. The list is a mix of old and new. Some of those songs (like the Frank Sinatra and Willie Nelson) have been holiday music staples in my house since I was a little girl, and are what truly put me in the holiday spirit. I’ll add to the list over the next few weeks. Also speaking of playlists, monthly playlists with a collection of music I’m currently loving are something I’m thinking doing on CC in 2013- would you guys be interested in that? Let me know!

5 Comments

Christmas Cookies: Pretty Packaging

December 6, 2012 by

One of my favorite things of the holiday season- and actually the year- is baking cookies. It’s especially fun in December, because you can make literally every cookie recipe that catches your eye, and then pass them off by the plateful to eagerly awaiting neighbors and friends. I received a box in the mail the other day that had the most gorgeous packaging, and it made me so much more excited than I already was. I love the way that such small details can change your whole perception of a gift. These are my favorite cookie packaging ideas of late, and I’d love to hear your suggestions!

 

one, two, three

Inspiration: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Cookies: 

Chocolate Pecan Cookies with Sea Salt

Orange and Dark Chocolate Biscotti

Chocolate Coconut Caramel Cookies

 

2 Comments

A Holiday Kale Salad

December 3, 2012 by

The holidays- they are here. Oh wait, did you already know that? Because everyone is saying it? Yeah, I figured. I do love this time of year. I’m a sucker for sparkly lights, tinsel, and buttery cookies. And I look forward to all the warm traditions with my family. But it’s not all easy. The month of December always proves to be the busiest month of the year, even though it’s the time we’re supposed to be slowing down, sipping hot cocoa, and decorating our homes. And the expectations are always so high and can make one feel like if their living room doesn’t look like a winter wonderland that they’ve in some way failed. Maybe that last part is just me… but it’s something I go through every year.

But this year I’ve got a different plan in mind. I may not have time to decorate my home from top to bottom, but I will make it to see the tree in the city and the windows in Macy’s (and maybe pick up a potted baby tree for the apartment). I’ll be baking up a storm. I’ve got some killer holiday parties on the calendar. I’ll light candles during the week to make our home feel glittery. We’ll eat lots of soup with crusty bread alongside this salad. And this salad- it couldn’t feel more holiday. The deep evergreen kale paired with the bright cranberries and stark white goat cheese- this will be my winter wonderland. That, and lots of cookies.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Kale Salad with Cranberries, Goat Cheese, and Pecans
Makes 3-4 appetizer servings

  • one large bunch kale, rinsed, torn (stalks removed), and then roughly chopped into bite size pieces
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
  • 2 T grated parm
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • juice of half a lemon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • fresh pepper to taste

Place the kale in a large bowl. Pour the olive oil and lemon juice over the leaves. Using your hands, working the dressing into the leaves, massaging and squeezing the kale so it softens and the ribbing breaks down. This step is really important!

Add in the salt, pepper, and parm and toss to combine. Taste for seasonings- add more olive oil if the salad feels dry, and lemon juice if it needs more flavor. Add in the goat cheese, pecans, and cranberries and toss gently to combine. Serve immediately.

7 Comments

A Cookie Swap with the Barefoot Contessa

November 27, 2012 by

Well… something (clearly!) amazing happened this summer! Two things in fact- I met the Barefoot Contessa, and participated in a cookie swap in her home!! Let’s back up, shall we?

Back in June, the lovely ladies at Ladies Home Journal asked me to participate in a cookie swap with a “famous chef” in the NYC area. I immediately said yes and began pondering what restaurant chefs or bakers they’d have participate in a blogger cookie swap. Minutes after saying yes, I received an email back saying that the cookie swap would be with INA GARTEN at her house in Hamptons! First I about fell out of my chair, then I screamed, and then I called my mom and we screamed together. I couldn’t believe it! The rest of that day is just a blur.

The shoot took place in July. One Thursday morning I left my apartment at the crack of dawn and headed to midtown to meet Deb, Joy, Zoe, Lisa, and Julie and hop on a motor home to East Hampton (let’s be clear- I was just as excited to meet these amazing ladies, too!). The day of schedule was as follows: first breakfast with Ina at the 1770 House, and then a cookie swap at her house. The swap took place in her recently built “barn,” the incredible kitchen space where she now does all her recipe testing and films all her television segments. After getting all dolled up we spent the afternoon chatting, sipping sparkling wine, and nibbling on cookies around her gorgeous rustic dining table.

For the swap, each blogger had to provide an original cookie recipe. I came up with a super chewy ginger cookie flavored with apple butter and rolled in red sugar – a twist on your traditional holiday ginger cookie. Other cookies included Ina’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Globs, Joy’s Black & White Red Velvet Cookies, and Zoe’s Chocolate Caramel Matzo. You can get all the recipes in this month’s issue of LHJ.

All of us were pretty intimidated to meet Ina, but she immediately put everyone at ease. She’s truly one of the most genuine and down to earth people that I’ve ever met- and I assure you, I’m not just saying that. Really. Yes, I love her recipes, but the source of my admiration really comes back to her poise and business sense. She also has an incredible sense of humor and can be pretty witty and sassy! That was cool to experience.

At the end of the day she kept thanking us all for coming. I wanted to be like “Are you kidding? I would have walked here!” Sadly my solo photo with her will probably go down as the most awkward picture of me in history, but oh well! It was such an incredible day and I’m still reeling from the experience.

A HUGE thank you to Ladies Home Journal for making the whole experience possible, and including me. Be sure to check out all the other ladies’ sites this week to see their pics, recaps, and recipes. I’ll share my cookie recipe with you guys tomorrow along with some behind the scenes pics and other little tid bits about the day. I have been dying to tell you all about this for the last four months- I’m so thrilled the day is finally here!

All photos by Quentin Bacon

35 Comments

Thanksgiving Leftovers

November 23, 2012 by

One: Mashed Potato Puffs (my favorite!)

Two: Turkey Sage Croquettes

Three: Turkey Swiss Panini

Four: Quesadillas with Chutney and Brie

Five: Turkey Stuffing Turnovers

Six: Turkey Enchiladas

Seven: Turkey Soup

Hi there! Hope you had the best Thanksgiving ever, and are getting some serious shopping in today (or just relaxing, if shopping with massive crowds isn’t your thing). If you have a little too much turkey on your hands, lucky for you, I made a handy Thanksgiving leftover flow chart. These recipes are for when you get tired of sandwiches, and want to reinvent your leftovers a bit. Hope you enjoy!

2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 22, 2012 by

Happy Thanksgiving, guys! May you fill yourselves to the brim today! And for those of you not based in the States, rest assured I’ll eat extra pie for you. I’ve got about a million and one things to be thankful for- far too many to list here- but do know how thankful I am for each and every one of you who visit this site every day. Your support means everything!

Happy eating!  xx

Ps: Follow along with my feast on instagram :)

Image Credit

4 Comments

CC Holiday Gift Guide Part I

November 21, 2012 by

1 /2 /3 /4 /5 /6 /7 /8 /9 /10 /11 /12 /13 / 14

Happy Thanksgiving eve! I’m currently parked in my mom’s kitchen, chopping ingredients and prepping dishes in between answering emails and wrapping up work before the holiday. With the post turkey shopping extravaganza right around the corner, I wanted to squeeze in the first edition of the CC Holiday gift guide! I had so much fun putting this together for you guys. When it comes to gifts for friends and family that love to spend time in the kitchen, I gravitate towards classic items that are multi-functional, with a few eclectic pieces thrown in. There’s a mix of investment pieces perfect for close family and friends (hello dreamy Le Creuset…), and other items that would make great hostess and secret santa gifts (don’t miss that birch branch votive!). I’ve got my eye on that snow globe salt shaker (100% necessary), and the gold rimmed glasses from West Elm. What about you guys?

Any must have kitchen items I need to know about? Do tell!

5 Comments
«Older Posts