New Year's Eve

I would love to be telling you that I'll be getting all dressed up and going out to a fabulous party.  I have been sick since Christmas (thanks honey) and today is the worst of it.  I hope I can stay awake to watch the ball drop, but it will not be the same without Dick Clark. I did have a wonderful Christmas with my family and I hope y'all did as well.  May 2013 be your best year yet!

I made marshmallows yesterday since I had all the ingredients on hand. I do not recommend making them unless you have a stand mixer.  Here are a few pictures I snapped with my phone.  I ended the night with a mug of spiked peppermint hot chocolate.   I may repeat again tonight.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (I added some peppermint sugar for color)

Directions

1. Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment. Let stand 30 minutes.
   
2. Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small heavy saucepan; place over low heat, and stir until sugar has dissolved. Wash down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.
   
3. Clip on a candy thermometer; raise heat to high. Cook syrup without stirring until it reaches 244 degrees (firm-ball stage) or about 9 minuted. Immediately remove pan from heat.
   
4. With mixer on low speed, slowly and carefully pour syrup into the softened gelatin. Increase speed to high; beat until mixture is very thick and white and has almost tripled in volume, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla; beat to incorporate.
   
5. Generously dust an 8-by-12-inch glass baking pan with confectioners’ sugar. Pour marshmallow mixture into pan. Dust top with confectioners’ sugar; wet your hands, and pat it to smooth. Dust with confectioners’ sugar; let stand overnight, uncovered, to dry out. Turn out onto a board; cut marshmallows with a dry hot knife into 1 1/2-inch squares, and dust with more confectioners' sugar.
   

A quick trip to the White House

Trying to decide what I'm going to wear to tour the White House on Saturday afternoon.  This is an option.  The hubs bought me a fabulous vintage faux fur coat that I think will look fabulous. 

Blue Velvet Cake

My wonderful co-worker and friend got me a Blue Velvet Cake from Carousel Cakes for my birthday on Thursday.  She saw it on Oprah's Favorite Things for 2012 special and surprised me with it.   Let me just tell you, it is amazing.  The cream cheese frosting compliments the cake perfectly.   The cake is moist and full of flavor.   I had the last piece for breakfast yesterday morning and it was still as wonderful as day one.   I think I may have a new favorite cake too, thanks to Oprah.

photo via Oprah

No words

I'm being silent in honor of the victims of the horrible shootings in Newton, CT.  My heart is heavy and my prayers are with their families, friends and first responders. 

Lunch Combo

I meet with a group of ladies for a holiday lunch yesterday.  I had dinner plans last night and decided to have something simple.  The soup and sandwich combo was chicken corn chowder and a BLT.  I asked the server if I could make the T a fried green tomato and he said yes.  I started a trend and 3 others ordered it as well.  No one knows about my blog , so I could not snap a picture.  These look on point. 

via serious eats

via huffington post

I also want to welcome to the world to Jackson Liam .....  born today -12/12/12 to very dear friends.   Mommy was scheduled for a c-section on Friday and Daddy always spoke about wanting him to be born today.  I was pulling for 12/13 since that is my birthday.  Oh well, Daddy wins.

Bloggers budget

I don't know about y'all, but I have no idea how some of the fashion bloggers afford the clothes that they wear in their posts.  They must have amazing jobs!   An expensive handbag is one thing since it can last for years and some designers do have sales.  Shoes can also be worth it since they can be resoled and many styles are classic.  I'm talking just the trends.  I'm not going to spend $300 on a sweater that I will wear a few times, or $400 plus for a pair of skinny jeans in the hottest new color.  I believe in shopping sales or hitting up Old Navy, Target or where ever else I can get the same thing for a fraction of the designer cost. 

I must admit that I am willing to spend money on jewelry.  I consider that an investment.

National Apple Pie Day

Today is National Apple Pie Day and if the hubs was not eating low carb I'd be baking a pie instead of blogging about one.  Here are a few inspirational pictures that are making my mouth water.

Deep dish by Ina Garten

Ultimate Caramel by Tyler Florence

Double Apple via Southern Living

Apple Upside-Down via Southern Living

I did add paper thin slices of apple to my pancakes.  I wonder if that counts?  I hope y'all have some apple pie today.  That should help keep the doctor away in my book.  I'm planning on making the upside one with pecans from my back yard as soon as he adds carbs back into his diet.

photos courtesy of Food Network & Southern Living