CHEESESLAVE

Of all the wonderful gifts I received this Christmas (and there were many), this was my favorite. And it wasn’t even a gift for me. In fact, I helped pay for it.

We bought the Learning Tower for Kate this Christmas. It’s a glorified step-stool we keep in the kitchen.
She can crawl up into it [...]

I’m sitting by a cozy fire in snowy Seattle, sipping a margarita and eating chips and salsa. We’re having Christmas tamales tonight. Tamales I brought up from Los Angeles.
Last night, we had a traditional English Christmas dinner. Actually it was inspired by Southwestern France — so it was really more of a hybrid English/French dinner.
But [...]

We are going to Seattle on Christmas Day to spend the holiday with my sister and her family. My sister is my favorite chef in the whole world. Every Christmas she cooks and we don’t just eat — we dine.
Truffles, oysters on the half shell, foie gras, caviar. She’ll roast a goose or make [...]

It’s Christmastime, the season to give and receive. Of course, what I want more than anything is more gadgets and whosie-whats-its for my kitchen. And once again I’m sure my husband has absolutely no idea what to buy me.
Dear Husband, this post is for you. Just click and add to cart.
I don’t blame Dear Husband [...]

Reverse Osmosis Water Filter
This is my number-one priority, since I am constantly having to lug distilled water back from the market. Needs to remove fluoride. Not sure which one to get yet. If anyone has any suggestions, please comment.
Shower Filter
Needs to remove chlorine — I hate getting out of the shower feeling all itchy. [...]

“Sleigh Ride”
J Mitchell Parish, Leroy Anderson, 1948
Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you,
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling “Yoo hoo,”
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap, let's go, [...]