Mini Quiche

I am a firm believer in finger food. 

For the record, I am also a big believer of bite sized things that look and taste awesome but are super easy to make, and also the tooth fairy.

And when this coincides with a use for my newly acquired, carted-across-the-atlantic mini cupcake pan, more the merrier am I.

Chanukah Goodies

I wish I had time right now to share with you all the recipes for the treats I made for our chanukah party. And I really should be cleaning up from all the mess of twenty gazillion kids in my house, but there is just too much else to do.

So for now I'm just going to be mean and keep you in suspense a few more days. In the mean time, here are some tasty pictures to tide you over......

Crazy Tiramisu

Warning: If you are opposed to seeing copious amounts of chocolate, eggs, cream, and alcohol, stop reading now.

For those of you who have been craving a four-thousand-calorie-a-serving snack, this is the recipe for you.

Ok, so it takes forever. Melting chocolate, making custard, whipping egg whites and cream and dirtying absolutely every single bowl you own.

Beer Butt Chicken

I know, I know. Chicken. What is it doing on this blog? Not nearly as tasty as chocolate, as my four-year-old likes to say (which, by the way, applies to everything). I have a confession to make. I'm usually not very adventurous when it comes to meat products. I was a vegetarian in my formative cooking years, and I squirm when I have to cook anything but boneless skinless chicken breast.

Candy Cane Crinkles

 We've been back for a few weeks, and already my supplies are dwindling. Not sleeping = coffee ALL the time = my bag of dunkin dark roast is looking pretty near empty.

I have one bag of candy melts to make cake pops, and I'm hoarding them jealously. And the two boxes of candy canes that miraculously got here in-tact despite being carried to the tower of london and back? Well, after today's cooking venture I might not even have enough to make a peppermint version of the magic ice cream.

Homemade Ravioli

This is a good time of year to work on self-improvement. Oh, I don't know about you, but I can certainly vouch for myself. Being in the holiday-frenzied country of the grand old U. S. of A, it's easy to get caught up in things. And you know what things I mean- shopping, shopping, and shopping!

Twisty Candlemaking

My family is strange. Sorry, family, but you are. You see, it's perfectly normal for them to decide on a whim  to make rather complicated stuff that most people just buy. Like... a sauna, play doh, a porch, or felted wool balls. I have vague childhood memories of making soap on the back porch and trying to keep the cats from committing suicide in the lye bucket. 

Yes, yes, this could explain a lot. Let's not even go there.

Instead, round up some clothespins, because today my mom and sister are going to show you how to make a twisted havdalah candle. 

3 Lessons

Oh boy, here we go. I spent a month in the consumer wonderland of America, and would you forgive me if I said I didn't get any cake decorating supplies? I know, I know, pathetic. Lesson # 1: Go to Michael's before you fill up your luggage with a sewing machine, a chess set, and clothes for your kids.

I was a bit caught up in seeing family, old friends, and dealing with the emotional shock of being in places that once seemed like home and now just fill me with a sad familiarity. America, I don't even know you anymore.

Like, did you know that leaves change color in the fall? That's one of those things I didn't even remember that I missed.