Ugly Sweater Cookies

Every year, Jamie and I have an Ugly Christmas Sweater party. This year, about a week before, a package arrived in the mail from Jamie's aunt Patti - an ugly Christmas sweater cookie kit! It's so adorable. It's really just a sweater-shaped cookie cutter, frosting, and sprinkles, but they were a hit. I had so much fun decorating them and they fit the theme to a t. Everyone gobbled them up.

She got the mix at CVS (I found this expired link googling) so you may be able to still get them! Such a fun alternative to the usual stars, bells, trees, and snowmen - though I do love those, too.

I love Christmastime, and so does Petunia.

Ottolenghi Cookbook

Another wonderful Christmas present cookbook (thank you, Jamie!) was Ottolenghi. Last week I got very excited about it and made several recipes. They were so tasty and unique with a variety of flavors and textures in each dish. Some of them require some obscure ingredients, but well worth it. The recipes would make impressive dinner party dishes. Recipes coming this week!

A special Ottoloenghi dinner for Jamie

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Bacon Caramel Popcorn with cashews, almonds, and chipotle

Yum! This stuff is like crack. I made it the other day and decided it would be a great Christmas present for a few lucky friends. Now that I have given them away, I can post about it! This is such a treat for a movie night, or for putting in a pretty Ball jar and giving as a present. The salt, chipotle, bacon, and caramel go together amazingly well, and you might find yourself mining for the caramelized bacon - it's unreal. If you don't have tea, you can skip that step. (Also, this recipe is from here.) I think this would also be amazing on vanilla ice cream. I may have to test it out with the last jar (I can't bring myself to part with it.)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup popcorn kernels

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

¾ lb thick bacon, chopped

1/4 cup unsalted raw cashews

¼ cup almonds

1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt or coarse sea salt

1/4 teaspoon chipotle pepper

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1 Rooibos tea bag

Nonstick vegetable oil spray

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300°F. Heat popcorn and oil in covered heavy large pot over medium-high heat until kernels begin to pop. Shake pot until popping stops and pour the popcorn into very large bowl. 

Pot Roast with Polenta

Merry belated Christmas! Sorry for the break in posts. On December 23, Jamie and I decided we'd exchange our presents and have a special dinner. (He's quite the wrapping enthusiast as you can see above - aren't I lucky?) 

He is not wont to making dinner requests, but I implored him. His request was pot roast. I've never made pot roast before, but it follows the same formula as short ribs, lamb shanks, etc. (Anything you cook for 2+ hours with wine and lots of veggies is always melt-in-your-mouth delicious, so I obliged.) I followed Ina Garten's recipe, but added a little Balsamic vinegar - a trick I learned to give amazing flavor and a touch of sweetness from another slow braise recipe.

Last minute presents

I'm struggling to get all my presents picked and bought and wrapped in the few days until Christmas. For anyone else needing last minute presents, AI Friedman is having a 50% off sale on all of their frames. They run the gammit from cheapo Plexiglas frames to nice silver plated and enamel frames. The silver plated frames are something like $80 now, so if you have anyone you want to impress with a thoughtful present but only have 3 days, head over there. And you can always run across the street to the Container Store for some creative wrapping...

It's at 44 W18th St, at 6th ave

Even MORE Sample Sales

Maybe I'll finally get around to going and spending all the money I've yet to make on Christmas presents and outfits. Until I do, someone should be buying up these amazing deals.

Opening Ceremony

Today (12/11) and tomorrow 12/12 11am-8pm

Sunday 12pm-7pm

201 Mulberry Street

Catherine Malandrino

December 14-16, Monday-10am-9pm, Tuesday-Wednesday-8am-8pm

Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St

Rachel Comey

December 16, 5-9pm

335 West 35th St

I think I may have to hit up Opening Ceremony after work today. They always have amazing clothes, and getting them on sale makes going there all the more fun. (Also, it's a good place to spot celebrities--Jason Schwartzman anyone?)

Quaaludes and Uppers

Jonathan Adler has great home things. Needlepointed zebra rugs, enamel trays, witty pillows... While pretty much everything in the store would look great in a modern NY apartment, I'm always drawn to the black and white striped cookie jars. I supposed they don't have to be for cookies, but that's what I want one for. These striped ceramic jars have sculpted signs on them reading, "Eyelashes", "Quaaludes", "Uppers", "Downers", "Prozac", "Peroxide", "Glitter", and "Dolls." My personal favorite is the "Eyelashes" which is party of his Jonathan Adler for Barbie collecetion. (Yes, you can also get a Barbie with miniature Jonathan Adler furniture to furnish her dream house.) These can get a little pricey, but are a fun Christmas present for a friend with a new apartment, or a wacky relative. If the druggy cookie jars aren't your thing, they also have great enamel frames and other fun home items. You can check out the website or go to the store on Greenwich Ave, or Greene Street.

More Sample Sales!

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it's acceptable to start listening to Christmas songs and eating cookies in excess. It's also time for some serious shopping. Here are some sample sales to start filling up your present quota, or to fill up your wardrobe for the coming Christmas parties...

Colette Malouf
594 Broadway
Wednesday and Thursday, 9am-7pm

Charlotte Ronson
1071 6th Ave
Wednesday-Friday, 10am-7pm

Tocca
542 West 22nd
Wednesday-Friday, 11:30am-7:30pm

Derek Lam
601 West 26th St, suite 1730
Thursday and Friday, 10am-6pm

Tuleste Market
3 Steps, 322 Second Ave
Thursday and Friday, 1pm-7pm

Botkier
195 Lafayette
Thursday and Friday, 11-7
Saturday, 11-6
Sunday, 12-5

Theory
261 West 36th st
Friday, 11-7
Monday-Wednesday (December 7th-9th) 11-7
Saturday and Sunday, 11-5

Dolce Vita
156 Ludlow
Saturday and Sunday, 12-7

Hayden-Hartnett and The Collective Showroom
16 West 36th st
December 8th-10th, Tuesday-Thursday, 11-7

James Jeans
500 Greenwich St
December 8th-11th, Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30-7:30
Friday, 9:30

So run out and get your sister some shiny accessory from Colette Malouf, get your mom a Theory sweater, and get yourself some awesome statement jewelry at Tuleste Market as a pre-Christmas present to wear to all the parties. Happy shopping!