jamie of all trades

see you in 2012...

...happy holidays.  i'm taking next week off.  see you in 2012!

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sugar cookie recipe - half batch

 for christmas dessert this year we are going simple - chocolate sauce with peppermint ice cream and cookies.  my grandma's recipe make a LOT of cookies and i didn't want to make too many so i decided to half the recipe.  here it is if you'd like to make a few sugar cookies!

1.5 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

preheat oven to 375.  in a large bowl fluff the flour, salt, cream of tartar and baking soda with a fork.  set aside.  in a mixer beat butter until light and creamy.  add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  add sugar, vanilla and mix until combined.  add the dry ingredients, mix well.

refrigerate for at least two hours.  overnight works too.  working with half the dough, roll out very thin on a floured board.  cut out with your favorite cookie cutters and place on a baking sheet.  sprinkle with white or color sugars.  bake for 8-10 minutes.  if you prefer frosting, bake first and then frost.

christmas confetti system garland

i am in love with the confetti system's work, they make the cutest banners and instillations.  i was totally inspired and thought one of their pieces would look great in my house, strung from my living room window.  i found these instructions and during our bake-off weekend made my own.

it was a pretty easy project.  the longest part was the folding.  rothie said at bake off every time she looked over at me i was folding!  but in the end i'm so happy with it and can't wait to hang it up again next year.  or maybe make another one for a future party?!  and it's great because i can more tassles if i want.

 

 

joat's top songs of 2011 + playlists

i really love the last few weeks of the year because of the all the 'best of' lists that come out.  i decided to make my own 'top songs for 2011.'  there were so many i divided them into two lists - top songs and top songs pop.  and for easy listening they are on spotify here and here.

album covers from top songs.

album covers from top songs pop.

what are some of your favorite songs and albums of 2011?

 

favorite things :: delane from keeping up with the johnsons

and last but not least in favorite things - delane from keeping up with the johnsons!  delane and i have been friends since college and she is one of the funniest, up-for-anything people i know.  she lives in oregon with her family and i love keeping up with them via her blog.  her daughters are the cutest too!  and here are some of her favorite {gift} things:

favorite thing for him: I LOVE redenvelope.com for gifts ideas.  And this gift takes the cake - personalized Sports New York Times book. Our book has 60—100 pages of headline news articles from the New York Times featuring the most significant moments in your chosen team’s history, reprinted and bound into a hardcover book. AWESOME

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for the bookworm... or really anyone.  I love the idea of journaling and note taking.  I saw this on the Today Show and thought it was an awesome gift idea.  A personalized moleskin notebook.  These are the same notebooks that Picasso and Hemingway used.  VERY affordable. Very classic.

for a girlfriend: Lastly, this gift is for that workout girl friend or family member. Whether they run marathons or do yoga, they are a fun way to to carry water wherever they go.  Each bottle is personalized with their name and have 6 workout girl activities to choose from. FUN!

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favorite organization/charity: i forgot to get one from d so i'm picking one...operation smile since her husband is a dentist!  

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thanks again to all the favorite things contributors!  the list is:

::  lindsay, avery bleu

::  courtney, the good eater

::  colleen, things colleen wants to do

::  courtney, no day but today

::  jaime, la vie...j'aime

thanks, dolls!

favorite things :: lindsay from avery bleu

the next list of favorite things comes lindsay of avery bleu.  avery and i have been friends for years.  she has amazing taste, the best sense of humor and my favorite travel buddy {see our paris, mykonos, santorini and athens trip!}  so without question, she has amazing favorite things...and here they are:

for the card/stationary lover:  I have a fondness for cards and stationary and though it’s not very green of me, I love sending (and receiving) snail mail. It’s so nice to have an unexpected piece waiting in your mailbox from a friend or loved one in the midst of the junk and bills. One of my favorite stationers is Snow & Graham. They make lovely modern and chic letterpress cards (among other goods). They’re so pretty it’s often hard to part with them.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Paper Source. I use their products whenever I am making cards or invites. So many wonderful colors and options.

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for the clothes horse: When I joined my gym a few years ago I saw everyone outfitted in clothes with a little omega-like symbol and wondered what was so special about this more-pricey-than-regular workout gear. Once I tried on a pair of Lululemon pants I was sold. They’re well worth the price. I still wear the first pair I bought and they’re more than 5 years old. Other companies try to mimic the look and feel, but nothing compares. Seriously, they’re that good – super comfortable and flattering, I don’t think I’ll ever purchase another brand. Another plus is they offer free alterations. I won’t even get started on the jackets, headbands and everything else they carry. Cult following for sure.

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favorite beauty product: I’ve become a massive devotee of Moroccan Oil products over the past couple of years. The Original Moroccan Oil helps strengthen and soften hair, reduces drying time and doesn’t leave it feeling or looking greasy. I recently ran out and didn’t use any for a few weeks and totally noticed a difference in my hair. When I replenished my stash I immediately saw the benefits of this yummy smelling product. I just realized they make a light formula for my blonde and/or fine haired friends. The Luminous Hairspray is a great, light aerosol that holds well without making locks look slick, sticky, flaky or weighing it down. Often I don’t like shine sprays or serums because they have a tendency to be too heavy or oily-looking, but Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine Spray adds sheen and helps prevent fly-away strands without any of the yuckiness. Unquestionably I will test out more of their line – I’ll report back.

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My sweet 16-year-old nephew joined our family ten years ago with the help of Precious in HIS Sight. He was a tiny knobby-kneed little boy from Haiti who knew little English. Now he’s a video-game loving, high school football standout with a great sense of humor who’s taller that I and fits right in.

The primary focus of Precious in HIS Sight, LLC is to serve the adoption community through connecting prospective adoptive parents with adoptive agencies and ultimately children that are in need of adoption. 

Their Mission:
Bringing joy and purpose to orphans. 

Their Method:
We seek to mobilize the church, His body, where each member can provide a unique and special service: some to adopt, some to care, some to give.

Their pledge:  

1. No want for food, clothing, medical care, or shelter.
2. Fundamental Christian training and discipleship.
3. A quality education to provide a foundation for the future.
4. Continued love and support as they transition into adult living.   

You can donate here.

 

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thanks, aves!  i too am a huge lululemon fan.  i can't understand how the clothes they make look so good, but they do!  and i love stanley's story.  thank you for sharing the precious organization!

next week we'll have miss delane's favorite things!

and in case you missed it:

:: the second best sauce to top ice cream with.  #1 is here.

:: favorite things from courtney - the good eater

:: i wrote a recipe and made cranberry bliss bars {i've added some photos!}

:: favorite things from collee - things colleen wants to do

bourbon butterscotch sauce from delancey

i made this sauce at my class at the pantry at delancey and it was amazing.  repeat - a.ma.zing!  i haven't had a chance to remake at home since the holidays are so busy but i wanted to share the recipe since it makes a great gift or you might want to serve at a holiday dinner!  i'm thinking of making it for my family.  it would complement grandma amy's chocolate sauce well too!

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 vanilla bean
2 tsp kosher salt
3 tlbs bourbon
1 tbls water
1 tbls lemon juice

split the vanilla bean and scrape the seeds into the brown sugar.  rub together to distribute the seeds evenly and break up and clumps.

melt butter in a saucepan over low heat.  add the brown sugar and stir to moisten completely.  cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar begins to caramelize, about 5-10 minutes.  it should stop looking ganular and start looking more like taffy.

whisk in the cream, vanilla bean pod and salt and cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, unitl the sauce has darkened to a nice caramel color.

add the bourbon and cook for 5-10 seconds, then turn off the heat.  stir in the water and lemon juice.

pour into jars, allow to cool before closing the lid and store in the fridge for up to one to two weeks.  reheat before serving. 

favorite things :: courtney from the good eater

today's favorite things comes from one of my oldest and dearest friends courtney.  court and i have been friends for years.  she has impecable taste, is well-traveled and one of the best eaters i know!  she's such a good eater, my mom dubbed her 'the good eater', hence the name of her blog! 

Kitchen Item: Greek Pepper Mill  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love this pepper mill.  Being Greek I had my eye on this pepper mill for a long time and when our old one broke I decided to splurge and boy am I glad I did.  It's such great quality and grinds the pepper so finely not to mention the brass design makes it good looking...I love it!  Anyone who loves to cook would really appreciate this.

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Beauty Product: Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve  This stuff is a must in our home during the winter.  When your hands are dry and chapped, this hand salve is a savior.  It's nice and thick with the most amazing Eucalyptus smell.  I keep one in my car, by the kitchen sink and by my bedside table.

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For your best girlfriend: I love these Kate Spade silver ring cocktail gloves.  When it's cold outside and you have to hide your jewelry, these gloves help add a little bling to your bundled up outfit.  They come in pink (with a ruby ring) or grey and are the perfect gift for a great friend.

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Charity/organization: International Rescue Committee - Tsunami Relief in Japan Having been there this past March 11th during the 9.0 earthquake, it's hard for me not to give something to this devastated country.  That day will forever be in my mind and seeing what it's done to those people just breaks my heart.  

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thanks, court!  i love those gloves, too cute.  and till december 31st if you donate to the international rescue committee they are matching donations!

cranberry bliss bars

one of my favorite holiday treats is the starbucks cranberry bliss bar.  they are such a pretty treat and would make a great gift but all the recipes i found were only for a small pan and i want a large batch.  so i wrote my own recipe.  i tested it at our bake off weekend and they turned out great!

now when you read this recipe, don't freak out!  espeically when it starts with 4 sticks of butter...this makes a lot...a whole half-sheet pan to be exact!

bar:
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups white chocolate chips
2 cups dried cranberries, chopped and divided

preheat the oven to 350 degrees. grease and flour an 18 x 13 x 1 inch baking pan.

in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on high speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.  with the mixer on low, add the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time, and mix well, scraping down the bowl. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt and with the mixer still on low, slowly add flour mixture to the butter mixture. fold the white chocolate chunks and 1 ½ cups cranberries in with a rubber spatula.

spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. bake for 30-40 minutes. don't overbake! a toothpick may not come out clean. cool completely in the pan.

Frosting:

1 pound (two 8oz. packages) cream cheese, soften and cut into small pieces
6 tbls unsalted butter, soften and cut into small pieces
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
5 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 tbls orange zest 

in a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth.  add the vanilla and beat well.  gradually add the sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating continuously until smooth and creamy.  add the orange zest and beat well.  cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours to thicken before using.

when the frosting has thicken, spread over the pan of bars.  sprinkle ½ cup dried cranberries on top.  cut into triangle pieces.  enjoy!

 

favorite things :: colleen from things colleen wants to do

next up in favorite things, colleen from things colleen wants to do and one half of coco & leroy.  colleen and i have been friends since high school and she has always had fantastic taste!  although i don't get to see her that often since she's in new york, i love keeping up with her via her blogs.  here are colleen's favorite things of 2011:

- for the food lover - morris kitchen ginger syrup is a perfect gift for any food lover. it's beautifully packaged, and has a million and one creative uses: homemade ginger ale, a delicious cocktail ingredient, glaze on vegetables and meats, in salad dressings, etc. added bonus: it's made in small batches by some superfabulous folks right here in brooklyn. ginger syrup's new sister, boiled apple cider syrup, is pretty sweet too. info on where to purchase ginger syrup can be found here.

- for the crafter - hudson colored chalkboard paint is the perfect gift for the crafty lady or gent in your life! there are endless projects to tackle with this wondrous product- chalkboard walls, mirrors, tabletops, picture frames, etc. and hudson paint offers the most amazing array of colors. hot kolor and bakery green are my current faves. 

- for your best girlfriend - i love the kate spade sparkler "gia" pouch because it adds just the right amount of holiday zhuzh without being fussy. it can be used as a wallet, a cocktail party clutch, a makeup case or an extra place to store your smaller bits and bobbles. plus, its' namesake is one of my all-time favorite little ladies. 

favorite charity/organization: I regularly volunteer with an elderly woman through the Stanley Isaacs Senior Center in Manhattan. I meet with her every few weeks, keep her company, take her out to lunch or go for walks with her. I first met her almost 5 years ago when I moved to New York, and I know I get as much out of our little friendship as she does, if not more. I think it's awesome that so many people make efforts to donate to charities and to those in need during the holiday season, but I also feel strongly that this should be a consideration year-round. There are so many ways we can each help in our own way, all year long, whether it involves sharing our skills, clothing, books, money or time with others who may not be able to afford basic privileges otherwise. Volunteer Match is a great place to start researching opportunities in your area. And this is a great article listing specific charities that make particularly good use of your financial donations. 

thanks colleen!  i love that clutch and it is such a fantastic thing that you volunteer on a regular basis.  i know you are making wonderful difference in someone's life.

up next...courtney from the good eater!