Cookies!

It would not be Christmas without cookies.. Cookie making has become an annual event at our house..I made a double batch of gingerbread and sugar cookie dough in advance.. The girls were ready to roll and cut as soon as they saw the supplies.

It was fun watching them pick shapes, sprinkles and pipe icing.. Each girl gave both flavors a try and gingerbread seemed to be the biggest hit..

Maya rolls out dough as if she was born in a bakery and loves the feel of flour..

Here's a batch of sprinkle covered sugar cookies ready for the oven.. Friends include Charley, Alexandra, Giselle, Maya and Marika..Wishing everyone a sweet Christmas season..
Alex and the Cookie Elves...

THE BREAD

A few weeks ago Sharon hosted a mom and my playdate.. Sophia, Ariana and Maya enjoyed their picnic and each other's company.. Michele and I watched as Sharon drove her self crazy with lunch preparations.. In between catching up and feeding the girls came this wonderful aroma... We have no clue how she did it but she made bread..This bread!

She made little personal boule breads. They came out crusty and steaming hot.. When it was served the little girls fought for the largest piece, us big girls drooled at the sight..She made a heirloom tomato salad with feta.. I brought some bruschetta and two hours later we had soaked up every drop of olive oil with that amazing bread. We were full on the wonderful food and never made it to the main entree but we didn't care. We had bread..

As soon as I left I started begging for the recipe and she finally caved. This bread is so easy its scary..

I started the recipe during my lunch hour since I knew it need to rise for at least 2 hours.. I wasnt sure it would be ready by dinner.. Maya had a piece fresh out.. she smiled from ear to ear.. I left the rest on the counter for Martin and left to the grocery store.. I knew I couldnt start eating it. I had to wait until I had a good reason and time to work out.. afterall this is white bread. Real bread, no low fat, whole grain anything.. just plain and unadulterated wonderful bread..

When I got home Martin said "Oh that bread".. I worried for a second and then I saw the face.. He said he couldnt believe how good it was and that I now could whip it up so easily.. Yeah.. Its that good..

This morning when I ask Missy what she wanted to breakfast she immediately said "The bread"...

Let me know when you are coming and I will whip up a boule just for you!

Alex

Love is...

a home cooked meal!

Instead of the boring dinner out for Valentine's day, Martin and I opted to spend our money on seafood.. My hubby is known for his love of seafood.. As a matter of fact, I think he may still be banned from the Bally's crableg buffet..

Anyhow.. we saw a Paella throw down on Food Network and decided we had to give that recipe a shot.. Well sort of.. Like most of my cooking I have to modify it for his palate..He doesn't ike chunks of tomatoes, lemon aioli, and some other random ingredients..

We gathered all the neccessary ingredients and I read at least 15 different versions of paella recipes.. We had so much fresh seafood that we decided we needed some seafood stew too..

You'd think we were hosting a dinner for 30 people instead of just us and mom.. Well The seafood stew is in a stock pot that is usually used for tamales and I ended up with not one but 3 casserole dishes worth of paella..

The results were amazing..

We didnt eat until almost 8pm, so we were starving and salivating for at least the last 2 hrs..

The wait was woeth is. As a matter of fact, here is Martin as I asked him how good the dinner was.. Yup that smile says it all.. GOOD!

Happy Valentine's Honey!

Love ya!

Alex

Supper Club

Tonight was the first ever supper club.. We hope ithis time to gather and share food will be an ongoing tradition.. Diana and Andre came to make potatoes au gratin and a hot spinach artichoke dip. Christine has been on a mission to bake and opted for homeade apple pie and some gingerbread cookies. Mom was helpful with everything from chopping onion to peeling apples for the pie.. It was a team effort. The main dish was a standing rib roast. We also made some homemade bruschetta and some tasty mushrooms Berkeley which compimented the beef nicely..The meal was worth the wait but the company really made it "amazing"..

Buzz,

Alex

Baking days...

Yes, as planned we spent several of our days baking.. We made salt dough ornaments for gifts, we baked several varities of oatmeal cookies, a few batches of my version of a Russian tea cakes, gingerbread, sugar cookies for rolling out and decorating.. Yesterday I even treated myself to some scones.

Missy loves to play in the flour almost as much as she likes to eat the cookies.. Her sweet tooth has finally emerged..

The neighbors Victoria and Julio were also in on the salt dough cut outs...

When the Garibays' finally joined us for Christmas they were ready to cut out cookies..

We had a great week!

Buzz,
Alex

Traditions

I don't know what it is about traditions.. I mean besides the obvious link to family or culture.. Some people just don't care..They ignore them or fight them as if that will change them.. Well, not me. I love traditions. I love the comfort of following in the footsteps of our ancestors. For me, its a link to my grandmother and the roots of our family tree..Its great memories.. Where is she going with all this rambling.. Tamales.. Of course!

Just keep up.. my grandmother would make food with so much love.. I can remember her sitting in her kitchen besides her beautiful stove (some day I will also have a vintage stove).. I was a small child but the impression was deep.. After she passed the cooking of traditional foods was up to my aunt Josefina, my mom and other women.. Some of my uncles have a mean hand with food so if they offer up Carnitas, fried fish or tamales you are there front and center eating as if for the first time.. Again, I digress..

After college I found myself cooking and craving some of the traditional foods that I grew up with.. I had seen people cook but had never really seen a recipe or heard anyone discuss ingredients.. Raw food, spices and pots came out and next thing I know there was the smell of food luring me.

At Christmas time, it was always tamales.. Every variety of tamales from savory chicken to sweet corn.. My mom had never really been into the traditional Mexican dishes venturing into Italian cooking and American cooking for every day food.. However, for special occasions she would make Mole or Chiles Rellenos..

Again, I am a bit long of the story... Somewhere along the way I decided that since I no longer wanted to beg my aunts to make tamales and no one else was volunteering, I WOULD. I would grab the torch of Christmas Tamales and bring it back to our family..

I know. I am a glutton for punishment.. I mean tamales are no small feat. If you take it on, you plan to hurt from standing, your back will ache from all the dishes and huge pans.. I don't care... Its been about 8 years and its going strong..Every year I have oraganized and invited othter friends to join the family for what tends to be a gab session over food. Just like quilting, the talking flows as your hands accomplish their task..

This year it was a 3 generation event. It was my mom, Missy and ME! That is it.. People were busy, traveling, caring for others.. We missed the extra hands but at the same time it was neat for me to see mom and missy in mischief mode deep in the throws of Masa..

In the words of one of my favorite Latin artists, Gloria Estefan "Que viva la tradicion!"

which tanslates to "Let the tradition live"..

Blessings!,

Alex

What a week

We had a really full week and boy did it fly by.. It was a good week filled with family, friends, food and memories..What more could we ask for?

The week started with errands, shopping, a trip to the spa, more shopping and then 2 days of cooking and baking.. Missy and I spent many hours in the kitchen and washed a gazillion dishes.. It amazes me how well she knows her way around the kitchen at six..Our final products were 2 apple pies, 1 cheesecake, 4 pumpkin pies, 2 batches of peanut butter cookies, 2 batches of white tea cookies, a veggie strata in cheese sauce and a large casserole of potatoes au gratin..

Mona hosted Thanksgiving dinner at her house. I love that we ate outside on beautiful tables with real dishes.. We didnt have to eat in shifts or throughout the house. In California we have the luxury of 75 degree weather in late November. The weather cooperated long enough for the feast and dipped the next day just in time for the mad dash to the stores for black Friday.

A little collage of the sights of our Thanksgiving..

The girls, Ally and Irma, came down with my Aunt Lidia and her yummy milk jello. Thankfully Adrian came to help keep Maya giggling..My Aunt Chelo came and brought flan and arroz con leche (rice pudding).. Monica made some amazing green beans with seasame seeds and stuffing.. Mona's ham and my mom's turkey were amazing. Abel and Martin roasted corn on the grill.. We ate and talked into the night..

Have a blessed day,
Alex

Homemade pie...

Missy and I woke up on a baking mission. I had been wanting to use my new pie plate ever since I first laid eyes on it.. It was a gift from mom.... This is not just any plate. Its Red! The edges are ruffled.. Love it..I couldn't find my regular recipe so I improvised one based on a few other recipes I found.. Martin only likes crust, so Pate Brise from Martha was a must.. I like a tart apple and not too sweet of a filling so I borrowed from Ina Garten's apple pie recipe and added orange juice and extra lemon juice.. the result..well yummy and pretty...

Missy on the other hand was all about the flour.. at one point I wondered if there would be any left.. she was happy to spread it all over the counter..But baking is always fun with her as my sous chef.. Now that she can vaccum and sweep on her own. its even better, less clean up for me..

Let me know when you want to come over for some pie..
It will be waiting..
Alex

Snickerdoodle cupcakes?...

Who would have thought to combine a cookie and a cupcake?.. Bakerella that's who..

Can you tell me how it is that sweets can look so good on the screen? I mean really? Look at these cute Snickerdoodle Duos. I could just lick the screen.. I am trying to think of 5 reasons not to make these.. Its Halloween, they could be a base for my ghost cookies.. They could be cupcakes.. heck they could just be pretty cookies to have for company...You coming over?

I know Sharon is probably hating me right now.. I like snickerdoodles..there is no word for Sharon and the relationship she has with that cookie.. Every time I see anything related to them I have to immediately contact her and promise her there is help...

I am on my way, with snickerdoodles in hand!

Hee Hee Hee..

Alex

So blessed!

Where do I start? My birthday weekend has been amazing.. Not only was I spoiled with a Spa Day (a now yearly tradition) but I spent time with my family, suffered food/carb overload, too deep of a massage, and that was just Friday!

Really I can't even believe how much happened over these three days. I want to Thank God for blessing me with an amazing family and life.. I have to pinch myself.. I feel so fortunate to have some amazing friends and a family who can make a spa day even more fun!

Friday morning, I was lucky enough to wear my new vintage apron from Katherine.. She mailed it and it arrived just in time for it to be my first gift...
Before I could jump out of bed Missy was in my bed with me wishing me a happy birthday.. How sweet that morning cuddle was.. I am a lucky mom...
My buddy and I headed downstairs to start the scones..I figured my Spa girls would want a treat with their morning coffee.. It was an all girl outing to Glen Ivy.. Mom, Monica, Mona, Miriam, Laura and Jordy came along for the experience..

The massage treatment I had would later prove beyond painful but more on that later.. We all enjoyed the mud, the sauna, the food!

The lunch we had at the spa was nothing compared to the feast my mom had in store for me.. She made Mole (Moh-Leh for non spanish speakers) and Chilles Rellenos for my birthday dinner.. What more could a girl want? Dinner ended up being an impromtu event.. My cousins came to my house, my uncle Pancho and family drive down from Perris.. Andre and Diana even stopped by with some coffee for me..Arthur and Christine were the last ones to join us.. it was a great night.. We ate.. There were lots of funny pictures and oh yeah, CAKE! my mom brought a cake. I honestly thought I was going to have to bake myself a cake.. Well this cake was wonderful and worth every calorie! It was a lovely light sponge with strawberries in a light whipped sweet cream.. YUM! Almost a chinatown cake but better in a French way.. Smooth!

Saturday while Martin was out pretending to be a sniper on the paintball field.. I was writhing in pain.. I couldnt move my arm and an emergency visit to the chiro was in order. Thank goodness grandma, uncle Arthur and Christine were there to save the day and take Maya to soccer.. Her team remains undefeated! It was the only game mom has ever missed.. So I was sad to miss that but the pain in my arm would have surely kept me in bed all day had I not made it to the chiro.. Go Fireflies! Look at our girl turning that ball! Love it!

While Saturday seemed to go in slow motion..it was pleasant to be forced to rest. It was good to have my mom and brother in the same house.. It was like the old days.. We enjoyed the company and maximed the beautiful weather by spending the afternoon chatting with the neighbors and again..eating! Reheated mole is richer and the tomato sauce for the chiles is further developed.. Yum!

No big events. Just several small moments of conversation and coffee with my family made me feel so wonderful.. So blessed to be safe, healthy and loved..

What more could a girl ask for? Nothing.. I have more than I could need or want.. I am so blessed! Thank you mom for the spa day and the food! Thank you Martin for being the type of husband who encourages me to enjoy the spa and will work out with me at the gym all week to recover! Thank you Arthur and Christine for loving to eat with us and making the house feel complete.. To my cousins I thank you so much for spending my day with me.. Thank you for the memories!

P.S. more pictures and story snipets to follow..

Big hugs!
Alex

CAKE!

Ok, tomorrow is my birthday (in case you were wondering or forgot).. Anyhow.. I have cake on the brain.. However, I can't decide..every site and recipe I find looks amazing.. I mean I stumbled across a PINK Lady Cake at SmittenKitchen and was tickled pink.. really.. so darling and strawberries are folded in.. I mentioned the strawberry obsession already..

Then last night I was trying to find cute treats for Missy's birthday since all the real heavy lifting will be for the Pump It Up crew.. I ran across all of Bakerella's cake pops.. How do I decide? The cupcake pops looks so cute and fun.. then there are all of the seasonal ones.. How much time can I spend on treats for 6 yr olds?hmmm... I know.. so maybe we need to host a Halloween Bash just to make some of these amazing treats I keep finding..

Speaking of which..cupcakes are always fun and I have so many cute cupacke displays, its almost mandatory I make some cupcakes..well just as I am thinking of cupcakes I come across these Designer cupcake baking cups.. Polka dots, gingham, and more! Who thinks of all these cute things? Too cute.. I know Julie will love them and put them to good use..She is the cupcake queen..

On a related note.. the queen of the ranch..or PW as we know here is releasing a cookbook!.. I want it.. Seriously.. Have you seen her site, the recipes? did you bother reading yesterdays post about cakes? Both were from her! I can only imagine how FABULOUS this cookbook will be.. Is there a midnight line for it? If so I will see you there..this is bigger than Twilight..

Ok, off to dream of cake, pastries and coffee..

Yum!

Alex

What I want for my birthday...

Well as you know its that time of year.. The most wonderful time of the year.. well my year.. my birthday month kicks off Fall and I just love it!..

Anyhow... you know I LOVE coffee.. I just stumbled across this COFFEE CAKE over at Pioneer woman.. I know. I hate her too.. and now coffee cake.. What I am going to do? how can I justify making coffee cake for myself.. I would eat the whole thing and not share.. So if you love me, you will make this cake for me.. I would share it with you....please..

Ok, so you aren't a coffee fan.. STRAWBERRIES are my favorite.. Always have and always will be all about the strawberries.. Think Strawberries in summer, ice cream..this cake..also by her. I know.. it's not fair.. the man, the kids, the ranch and FOOD..

You know where to find me.. my own ranch.. no one bearing cake has ever been turned away.. ok, no one has ever brought me cake ..

A girl has to try..

Alex