Claudine, Oui c'est Francais

Joyeux Noel

A little late in the day letting you know, but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas

 

Hope you all got lots of wonderful Martha treats and spent lots of time with loved ones. I will post tomorrow about my lovely French inspired menu...

Joyeux Noel!

Christmas trees

I keep forgetting to post some pictures of some of my trees around the house. There are 14 trees in the house, with one of them being a real tree.

this is my Eiffel Tower/French tree. I found the giant Bonjour at Macy's this year, I LOVE it.... I will save all these in a special box so they can come out again for the branch in July in honor of my favorite time of year, the "Tour de France"

 

 

 

The "Starbucks" tree, I have about a dozen more Starbucks cups to put on here. When I opened the box, a few of them were broken, don't you hate it when that happens!

 

 

This is one of the Martha trees with the cute little houses from last years Macy's collection and to the right, my little chef tree

 

 

 

and three trees filled with Martha's sugarplum dreams ornaments from Kmart and Macy's from the last few years. I love the garland, it would make a great necklace

I will try to take more pictures and get them posted before Christmas

 

 

 

And a little bit of the weather in the Northwest.... we have about 17 inches of snow on the back deck. Oregon does not get snow like this, ever... the last time we had this much snow was in 1968, I wasn't even born yet. It is lovely to look at, but having it at this time of the year really does not work for me. Too busy getting ready for New Years Eve and it really puts a kink in the plans. And I would be soooo happy if I just got my New York Times delivered, I can't start my day with out it.

   

 Not sure why the pictures are laid out so strange, typepad is actuing up again

Winter Bark

You must try this recipe for a wonderful Winter Barkfrom the December issue of Martha Stewart Living. It is so easy and came together really fast

 

It is so fast and easy to put together, perfect for anybody like me that has no time in December and works night and day. All you need is some Bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate, melt them separately and then stir in some cocktail peanuts into the bittersweet. Pour onto a parchment lined pan and then dollop the white chocolate and then swirl with a skewer... it is a perfect gift and a big hit. I brought some today to work and it is almost gone.

Did you say glitter?

Don't miss Martha on the Today show in the morning around 8:45am EST. Martha will be showing budget friendly crafts that include glitter and the wonderful multi sets of glitter that can be found at Michaels and Walmart.

All I have to hear is "glitter" and I will turn in...

Martha on Top Chef

One of my favorite shows will have one of my favorite people on it this week. Bravo has the best reality shows, since they actually involve a talent and skill and being a foodie, I love Top Chef. The guest chefs are one of the best parts, Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud and don't forget Anthony Bourdain. But this week on Top Chef, our very own Martha Stewart will be making a guest appearance. I can't imagine how freaked out I would be if I had to cook for Martha...

 

Watch this special sneak preview of Martha making her entrance to the Top Chef kitchen... The show airs Wednesday on Bravo, check your local listings

perfect Christmas gifts for the foodie

I don't have a lot of time to post at this time of the year, too much work to do. It is only the 13th and I have already had a breakdown, so cross your fingers I make it through the month. But I did want to take some time to post some of my favorite cookbooks that I have discovered this year and any foodie on your list will love them....

 

Anne Willan's Country Cooking of Franceis one of my favorite books that I have discovered in the last year. It is not only filled with amazing recipes but also beautiful pictures and great info on the regions of France. Something I found very useful to the Tour de French Cuisine this past July

 

Paley's Place Cookbook, from a hometown restaurant here in Portland is filled with recipes featuring the wonderful Northwest ingredients made in a classic French and Italian ways. I made the  Paley's burgers tonight after I ground my own beef sirloin to make some fantastic hamburgers and pommes frites.

 

Baked, new frontiers in baking by Matt Lewis...just for the Chocolate chip cookie recipe you need this book. It is really well put together and filled with these great graphics using a stags head. You can see a little of the graphic on the top of the cover

 I can't suggest cookbooks without throwing in a Martha book.This is a great gift for anybody and any cooking level. There is something for everybody in this massive book and an amazing French Onion soup recipe to boot....

 

Just imagine how long it took me to search and order this book, faster than a speeding bullet! It is by Countess Cristina De Voguefrom the famed French Chateau Vaux Le Vicomte and it is filmed some of the most amazing desserts you have ever seen.... French + desserts+ French Chateau= a must have for me.

What kind of cookie are you?

 

According to Martha: "I am undoubtedly the Candy-stripe cookie sticks, I am a little complicated and possibly high maintenance but well worth it...."

I just took a minute to take the  "what kind of cookie are you" quiz at Martha Stewart.com I am the Candy stripe cookie, well at least it didn't say I was a Nut Ball...

Take the quiz and let me know what kind of cookie you are

Believing in Santa

One of my favorite events to do is the annual Breakfast with Santa, mostly because I have the best Santa to do the job. Every year he spends a few months in "Europe" I think that is code for North Pole, last year when he went I asked him to bring me back the Eiffel Tower. I was just kidding, but I was very excited and surprised when he arrived one day at work with a present wrapped up for me and inside was a few French newspapers and a Eiffel tower he picked up in Paris.

I get very excited when I see him every weekend in December and I sometimes have to remind myself that he really is named "Phil" not Santa...  So this weekend we started our first Breakfast, and I was able to give my favorite little ones a secret little meeting with Santa. It goes a long way when you can say you are "friends" with Santa, I will milk that one for at least a few more years.

 

 

Just look at him, he is the greatest!

Fruit and Veggie garland

One of my favorite things to put up each holiday is my Fruit and Veggie garland that goes in the kitchen arch way. It isn't very easy to get a picture in all it's glory, but I thought I would share it with you all

 

 

 

Good enough to eat, but much prettier

Don't miss Martha Thursday

This Thursday my hometown will be featured on Martha. Not some fancy restaurant in New York but a outstanding chef from right here in little old Portland Oregon. Vitaly Paley will be on Martha making Roasted duck with cherries and I can't wait. Paley's Place is one of my very favorite restaurants in town. I use to live just blocks away and could walk over for a cocktail or a fantastic meal. It is located in a old Victorian house and is small and quaint so you have to get their early or sit at the bar and enjoy one of the "blue champagne" cocktails....

They now have a new cookbook out that features some of the amazing Pacific Northwest Cuisine as well as his Southern France and Northern Italian influences.

Oh and the Pommes Frites served in tall silver mint julep cups.....are to die for!

I just hope Martha says Oregon correctly...it sounds like OR-E-GUN