This year...

It has been a tough valentine's day this year... but great friends really helped me keep it together.


Handmade Frame (and below) from Kate

Hand Decorated Candles.

Cute photo cube!

Tulips - my favorite flower - from Josh

Yummy Cheesecake squares from Ila

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

I am not adept at working with chocolate... and so I planned to have someone else dip strawberries for me, but then after buying the strawberries, I decided - what the hell, I'll do it myself. With my stockpile of valentine themed sprinkles/sugars, I wanted to make some extra special treats!

The starting line...

... mini chocolate chips... pink sanding sugar (which is really pretty since it has an iridescence to it)

Tip: Use "baby plates" since they have compartments for several different toppings.

Red sugar and nonpareils shown here.

Freshly dipped and decorated:

Sanding sugar does not show up well on these.
Mini Chocolate Chips look really nice, adds a different visual texture that is more than just sprinkles or nonpareils.


This poor soldier lost its hat.


Ready to eat!

I planned to melt white chocolate and drizzle over the plain chocolate ones, but technical difficulties occurred - and I gave up.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I hope all those who have someone special in their lives have a good one... and to those of us who don't, thank god it's almost over.

Also... Kate will be one of the recipients of these yummies... sweets for a sweetie! :)

She awarded me the "Love Ya" award. So cute.

dinner without the digicam

Spaghetti Squash with Mushroom, Shallot, Meat Tomato Sauce

Microwave the spaghetti squash, 1 min.
Cut in half lengthwise. Place cut sides down in dish with 1/2C water. Microwave for 12 minutes, until fork tender.
Careful when removing! HOT!! Carefully run fork through the "meat" to get your spaghetti. EASY!

For sauce, I cheated and used store bought. But made it my own by adding my favorite stuff: mushrooms.
I sauteed 1 diced shallot with 4 sliced button mushrooms, then added to the sauce, and let simmer until the squash was ready.

always celebrate with delishness food

Anniversaries, of any kind, are relatively rare for me... so of course, I try to celebrate them when they come around. And so... out to eat we go!

Catal Restaurant @ Downtown Disney

[Forgot to take a picture]
Starter: Butcher Plate - Shaved Serrano, Coppa Ham, Spanish Chorizo, Olives, Caper Berries, and Grilled Bread


Entree for moi: Boneless Braised Short Ribs with Fontina Mac and Cheese and Mushroom-Black Truffle Escabeche


Entree for him: Slow Rendered Duck Breast with Sweet Potato, Parsnip Fondue, Licorice, and Toasted Almonds


Dessert: Caramel Chocolate Mousse Torte (with some ice cream and crunchies I can't recall from the menu)

Overall, yummy! I wasn't blown away by the Butcher Plate, but it caught our eye, so we gave it a try. Our entrees were delish. Dessert was not as phenomenal I would have hope. But that's ok! Still good!

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Recipe taken from the Williams Sonoma Baking Book...

Flourless Chocolate Cake


Easy to follow with simple ingredients recipe.
There is a bittersweet chocolate glaze that is poured and spread over the cooled cake, but I didn't make it this time.
My only caution is to wrap your springform pan in aluminum foil, just in case it leaks (like mine).


I did like the crust that formed on top - the crunch and the visual - but the recipe calls for the cake to be inverted so I went with that.

penguins!!

i love the winter time b/c that is when all the penguin goodies come out to play in masses. and i am gifted some of them!

Sunshine Lemon Cake with Lemon Glaze

Easy New Years baking... from a box! (again.)

Lemon Glaze
1/3 C Lemon Juice
1/2 C Granulated Sugar
Heat in small sauce pan over medium heat (5 min.) until sugar is melted. Let cool for glaze to thicken slightly. Brush or drizzle over cooled cake.
Lemon juice can also be substituted with orange juice or lime juice.