What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Hope it is sparkly, fun and bright, whatever you do. To start things off on the right foot I leave you with more adorableness than one person can really stand. Zooey Deschanel, (Love her voice! And her cute outfits! And her doll eyes!) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (love his dimples and his sweet smile that makes his eyes crinkle!) singing together. Too charming for words. I adored the two of them in 500 Days of Summer. When will they hook up in real life? May that be a wish come true in 2012!

Lucky Food for the New Year

New Years is just around the corner and while some women may be thinking about what glittery top to wear and how they will manage to totter in their high heels, my thoughts (not surprisingly) have turned to food.

I found a round up of lucky foods to eat for New Years Eve on Martha Stewart. I love learning about what rituals different cultures have for New Years. Eating something ring shaped is supposed to bring good fortune because it symbolizes coming full circle. Hello donuts and bagels! In the American South, eating black eyed peas shows humility and brings good luck. Cornbread represents gold and thus wealth. Bring on some black-eyed peas and cornbread for lunch! Yummy!

I think it will be an auspicious and tasty year!

See the full roundup along with recipes here.

Star Projector

I don't know where I saw this but I was instantly obsessed. I want one. What could be more beautiful and romantic than gazing at a starry sky under some snugly blankets this winter? It is a must have. Obviously.

Getting in the mood for winter

It's snowing like crazy tonight. It's going to make biking a little more difficult tomorrow. Wish I could ski around the streets of Toronto instead. Here's a phenomenal street skiing video to make winter a little more palatable. Found here.

JP Auclair Street Segment (from All.I.Can.) from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo.

It's Time for Soup!

It has been a non-stop month long feeding frenzy! I have enjoyed all the noshing but I think I've hit a wall. Between multiple Christmas dinners with family, visiting with friends, bonbons and baked goods that seem to be appearing from everywhere, I have been in constant eating mode. I know how sharks feel where they are just swimming and eating in constant motion.

Tonight I decided to give my overworked jaw a break. It is snowing like crazy and everything is calling out for a bowl of soup. No sides, no dessert, just something soothing and nourishing that I don't have to chew.

I made this Green Pea and White Bean Soup from Chatelaine magazine and it fit the bill perfectly: a pretty colour, soothing and super easy to make. I will chew again tomorrow. For now I will put my feet up and sip.

I Have Found My Christmas Breakfast Scones

Have I ever mentioned that my sister is the queen of scones? She is. Pretty lucky to have a baking queen as a family member. I have found a new recipe for her highness. Cranberry cream scones with candied ginger. What could be more perfect with a cup of tea on Christmas morning? Her royal bakeness will have to get to work!

Paper Snow!

So Jack Frost has been a little coy this season and is holding back on the snow for Christmas. I can't say that I mind but some people have a hard time feeling like it is Christmas without the white flaky stuff. If Mother Nature is scrimping on the snow you may as well get crafty and make your own! Leave it to Martha Stewart to have snowflake tutorials. My favourites are the simple paper snowflakes and the stiffened doilies. I think I will chill with some Christmas tunes or a Christmas movie, cut out a big pile of snowflakes and string them up wherever I can. Let it snow!

Rainbow Christmas

I am smitten with these colourful Christmas ideas I saw on you are my fave. I can never resist a pompom. I also love the non traditional use of colour. So cheery and fun!

Holiday Recipe Roundup

Want to personalize your lovely apron gift with something from your kitchen? Splendid idea!

Wrap up your baked delights in a pretty package, add a Domistyle apron, make sure to include the recipe and you have a perfect personal present.

To help, here is a round up of some recipes:

• For the Martini Mama: a jar of marinated olives or rum balls
• A Yummy Mummy would appreciate slowing down with a Busy Day Cake or Easy-Does-It granola
• For your men's apron: bacon cookies or bacon jam
• The Baking Beauty would be impressed with some pretty peppermint meringues
• Your young budding chefs would love to bite into gingerbread kids
• The Gourmet Goddess would appreciate balsamic truffles or Meyer lemon and thyme truffles
• A Hot Dish would be the perfect recipient for spicy nuts
• Your favourite Microwave Maven would appreciate crunchy caramel popcorn or chocolate almond popcorn

Happy gifting!

Manly Apron Gift Ideas

So you got a special man in your life a Domistyle apron for Christmas and now you're wondering what to pair it with. Want to personalize it a little more and cater to your man? How about a little add-on?

If your man is a meat fiend, why not make a few spice rubs to take his roasts to new heights? I found some great looking rub recipes here and here. Mix up an assortment, put them in little containers and he will be inspired to don his apron and get creative in no time.

Is he a beer fan? The LCBO has some great seasonal brews available right now. Pack up an assortment so that he can stay hydrated while he gets his grill on.

Are your dad's burgers and steaks getting a smidge tiresome? Does he need to shake things up a little bit? How about a new cookbook to get him salivating?

Men like gadgets and gizmos right? Come on, they live for that stuff. Gather a few fun tools at a kitchen store and he will be eager to start playing with his new toys.

Is your brother a bacon fan? Fred Flare has an entire bacon gift section. Did he cut himself while chopping vegetables? He can slap on a bacon bandaid. Needs to freshen his breath for a night out? Maybe he should pop a bacon mint in his mouth. Perhaps he needs some bacon flavoured toothpicks. Classy.

Feeling a little romantic? Maybe include a bottle of wine with your honey's apron and a promise that you guys can cook a special dinner together.

Get that macho apron under the tree, sit back and get ready to enjoy lots of tasty meals prepared by the guys in your life. Best of all, you won't have to stare at barbeque sauce stains on their shirts while you are trying to eat thanks to their brand new protective apron. Hurray!

The Perfect Holiday Cookie

I know that in the vast world of holiday cookies, there are many that can be considered the perfect specimen: your favourite auntie's shortbread, extra boozy rum balls, painstakingly rolled rugelas, gingerbread men just begging you to bite their heads off...

I know it isn't fair to just say that there is one perfect cookie out there, so I won't. Let me just say that these chewy gingersnaps should be added to the list. The kitchen smells amazing while these are baking, spicy and warm and way better than any holiday scented candle. They are chewy with a bit of crispness around the edges, the candied ginger offers a little kick and the cashews give them a hint of salt. Heaven. Did I mention they freeze well too? These chewy morsels of delight will be a perfect little gift for the holidays.

You can find the genius recipe here.

Look Ma, No Hands!

I saw this video of no hands bike moves and I am inspired to improve my biking skills! I won't be attempting these on downtown Toronto streets any time soon. I have taken a few tumbles already this year and had the dreaded wheel in the streetcar track experience, so for now I will just enjoy the video and dream of when I can wear a floaty dress on a sunny day, ride my bike on a country path and practice my no hands cup of tea moves.

"Golden Tree" by Martin Brooks from Ninian Doff on Vimeo.

Crafty Advent Calendars

I can't believe it is December 1st already and Christmas is less than a month away! Actually, I can believe it since I have been at The One of a Kind Show, surrounded by shoppers and listening to Christmas carols all day. The fact that Christmas is practically around the corner shouldn't really be a news flash. Nevertheless, I am always taken aback when I realize that some of my grandiose plans may have to wait until next year. Take advent calendars for example. I saw a slideshow of advent calendars on babble.com a while ago and had big plans to assemble one, complete with little treats in time for December 1st. I love the idea of counting down to the big day and having a little daily surprise. What a great tradition. Unfortunately for me, it's not happening this year. Next year I will channel the superstars I've met at the show who have already completed their holiday shopping and will spend the lead up to Christmas wrapping, baking and enjoying time with loved ones - and admiring their lovely advent calendars.