Oh my goodness, it’s almost Christmas.  I am not as prepared as I’d like to be, because Mother Nature decided this is as good a time as any to send the Mother of All Life Changes and give me the gift of, a somewhat early, menopause!   (As if dealing with a spinal nerve cyst and surgery wasn’t enough in one year!)

I think the Universe gives me more credit than I deserve, by thinking I can handle so many changes at once.  Oh well, it is what it is and life is too precious to whine and complain (not that I haven’t), so now you know why I’ve been absent for so long, and I thank those of you who have missed me and expressed it in email or by phone.

I haven’t been doing a whole lot of cooking or baking.  My husband has been forced to learn to cook, and I must say, he is doing quite well.  As a matter of fact, I’m feeling a bit threatened by his ability to make spaghetti sauce that tastes so much like mine.  It’s a good thing I didn’t tell him how to make the cassata.   That cassata recipe is going with me to my grave. 

Life is a mystery, kind of like the box of chocolate Forrest Gump talked about.   It’s also like trying a new recipe.   Sometimes you get a prize winning dish, sometimes it’s mediocre, and other times it’s an absolute disaster.  That pretty much sums up my year.  The thing to remember, is when you get the disaster,  you must never forget that a prize day is sure to follow.  It always does.  Always.

Speaking of a prize–I found an amazing recipe for biscotti, on Epicurious.com.  I made a few changes, and now I have the best biscotti I’ve ever made in my life!  I want to share the recipe, and the changes I made, with all of you.

Chocolate-Orange Biscotti RECIPE

Click on link above for recipe.

The following are my ingredient changes:

I added 2 Tbsp coarsely grated orange zest, instead of 1 Tbsp

3 Tbsp Orange Contreau- instead of 2 Tbsp Orange Liqueur

1/2 tsp orange extract

6 ounces Chocolate Chunks (60%), instead of bittersweet chocolate

Angelnina’s NOTES:

I do not like my biscotti rock hard. I baked the first baking for 20-25 minutes and the second baking about 15 minutes.  My family prefers them lightly toasted on the outside, but still tender.

Bon Appetit hit the jackpot with this recipe!

Toasted pecans cooling

I love how pretty the dough looks with the orange zest, chocolate, and pecans!

Pre-shaped dough ready for first bake

After first bake

The flavors of this cookie take me back to when I was a child, visiting my Italian grandparents in upstate New York.  Orange and chocolate in a cookie, is like a bit of heaven, or nirvana, or whatever blissful place you wish to visit!

Happy baking and Happy holidays!

Since my last visit to the shop, the owner has parked a retro camping trailer on the grounds–to use as both a children’s play area and to display vintage items for sale.

I used to own a camping trailer very similar to this one.  Apparently, they are now all the rage for lovers of retro. Some people use them as guest houses .  Creative and fun idea.  Too bad I sold mine!

I’m a sucker for this kind of stuff–  See those ultra cool aqua colored cups and bowls on the table?  I have a few of those in pink.  I get all giddy just seeing pink and aqua!

Look at the aqua seats around the table!  Puh-leez!

Check out the clock, the hanging multi-pastel colored melmac cups, that cool milkshake maker…gimme!

The sink, the stove, the oven, the fridge–all aqua!  Could you you just die?  Well, I almost did!

I didn’t want to leave.

As a matter of fact,  I’d love to bake a batch of cookies in that little oven.

If you happen to live in the area–don’t forget to cruise on across the street to Country Village and make sure you go to  Susan’s Sweets! She has been nominated as best bakery in the northwest!  I LOVE her cookies! The cookies are gi-normous.   One cookie is the size of 4 regular cookies.

Seriously, you can shop till you drop and eat the best cookies you’ve ever eaten in your entire life!  I’m serious–don’t miss out on Susan’s cookies.  My favorite are the Ranger Cookies.  Oh my!

If you don’t believe me, ask my mom!  Moms don’t lie.  There she is right here in this picture buying cookies from Susan who happens to be  just as sweet as her cookies!

I thought I might have to arm wrestle Ma for some cookies because after we ordered she started eating them right out of the bag before we had a chance to split them up.

Plus, if you have kids, guess what?  Another kids area to play in!  I know, it just gets better and better.

I have never seen such a cozy child’s area!  Fit for a prince or a princess.

Just look for this cow after you spot that giant chicken (in the background) off the Bothell Everett Hwy in Bothell, WA.

]]> http://angelninascottage.com/2009/09/22/my-love-for-retro-cottage-chic-and-cookies/feed/ 5 Angelnina outsidfe table stove fridge ss1 ss2 ss8 http://angelninascottage.com/2009/01/26/loving-valentines-day/ http://angelninascottage.com/2009/01/26/loving-valentines-day/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:49:37 +0000 angelnina http://angelnina.wordpress.com/?p=968 ]]>

I’m one of those rare birds who actually looks forward to Valentine’s Day.

It saddens me to hear people talking about how they dread the day.

“Easy for you to like it,” they’ll say, “you have a person to share it with.”

To those people, I answer, “You’re missing the point!”

Sure, Valentines Day is the holiday for lovers–so says popular culture in our society.  I used to buy into that idea too.  I made myself  miserable.

Now I’m just too old to delude myself with fantasies of my partner turning into Prince Charming, and I’m too practical to want to spend a large sum of money on going out for an expensive dinner.

For many years of my marriage, I just couldn’t be satisfied on Valentine’s Day.  Mark didn’t have a clue.  Every year I’d whine and complain about how he didn’t do this or he didn’t do that.   No matter how hard I tried, Mark just didn’t seem to get the whole Valentine’s Day thing.   He’d stroll in the door at the end of the day, and ask if I’d like to go out for dinner or “something”?  We’d go from one restaurant to the next, only to be told there were no tables available–for hours, if at all.   By the end of the evening, I was in tears.  Every year I hoped he would make arrangements ahead of time, and every year I was disappointed.  Valentine’s Day was becoming a drag.  I started to dread it.

Mark was always pretty good about bringing candy or flowers, but they seemed like an afterthought, and not a real plan.  I wanted a plan!  I wanted the Grand Daddy Cadillac of all the Damn Fantasy Cinderella Fairy Tales Valentine’s Day ever!   I was lucky to get a mylar balloon.

One Valentine’s Day, Mark finally made reservations at our favorite little Italian restaurant.  Never mind the fact that it was in a little strip mall, and I know the owner had really tried.  Fake grapes and grapevines met us at the door.  I really didn’t want to be in a crowded restaurant, but I didn’t have the heart to reject his plan.   I mean, we weren’t jetting to a tropical island, but the man finally had a plan.  As we sat there, I watched as couples filled each little candle lit table.   We women were dressed in our finest little black dresses, and the men in their dress slacks and best shirts.    Mark is a jeans and t-shirt man, so his appearance always looks a little forced when we go out for a special night.   On closer inspection I noticed he had cut himself shaving and had a blood spot on his shirt collar.   He immediately went to the men’s room where I advised him to try cold water to remove the spot.   We were quite the pair.

So, there we sat, squooshed into a little corner table, barely big enough to hold two appetizer plates and two water goblets.   Obviously, the restaurant owner knew this was going to be a big money night, so they packed us in like sardines.    It was then I started noticing, the gifts each man had brought for his special other.  Some were delivered by the waiter, others were tucked under their seats and others were hanging from their chairs in gift bags covered in roses.  Mark looked a bit uncomfortable.

He leaned in and whispered, “I have your gift in the car, would you like me to go out and get it?”

“Not on your life!” I snapped.

You see, God only knows what Mark had picked out for me.  I imagined myself unwrapping a pair of red panties embroidered with the words “Foxy Lady!” on the back side.  Or worse yet, what if he had decided to go the practical route and he picked up a pair of gardening gloves at Home Depot?  Even if he had picked out an appropriate gift, I have issues with receiving gifts in general.  I get very embarrassed when I receive a gift.  I’ve always been this way.  Oh, I appreciate my gifts, but I’m so embarrassed by the attention of being watched while opening a gift, that I start acting very strange, and I fear I won’t be able to express my appreciation.  I have witnessed some women gasp, or scream, or literally jump up and down when their partner gives them a gift.  I don’t.  I simply say, “Oh, thank you”  or “I really like it”.  Then, I want to put it away and not discuss it any further.   When I’m alone, I take the gift out and then I get really excited.    After I’ve examined said gift, I’m able to express myself further, on my own time, but not in that moment.   I do not embarrass easily.   Receiving gifts is probably the one thing in my life that embarrasses me the most.  I’ve tried to analyze it, but I haven’t quite been able to get over this hurdle.

Now, where was I?

Oh yeah, so we’re sqooshed into the tiny table, and women are gasping and screaming as they receive their roses, they’re jewelry, their chocolates,  or their stuffed animals.  It was like a scene from a comedy movie.  One after the other, women were screaming and gasping over trinkets and flowers.  I started to laugh.  I couldn’t help it.  I laughed right out loud.  In a little tiny restaurant.  It was one of those gasping for air belly laughs.  I felt foolish to be in this environment.   Why had I ever thought I wanted this to begin with?

I leaned into Mark–who was smiling in his confusion, but laughing at my out of control laughter, and I said, “Honey, I need to be really honest here..”

“What?”

“I just don’t feel comfortable, “  I said, “I appreciate you going to the trouble, but I feel really phony here.”

“Me too!”

We then had the food packed up to go, and we ran out to the car and decided we’d never do that to ourselves again.  Mark had movie plans, but we skipped those to go and hang out together at a coffee shop and talk.

I talked about my feelings surrounding the subject of marriage.  Why do we move so quickly into those old traditional roles?  They’re so outdated.

I wondered how this holiday had turned into some adult day filled with expectations of romance and $100 bouquets of roses.

I reminisced on the many Valentine’s Days I’d experienced in elementary school.  I adored all of those cute little cards each classmate gave to me–especially the cards filled with the little heart candies, or a lollipop!   It was such a happy day for me.   It’s all I thought about until the end of the day when the teacher would allow us to pass out our little cards.   After school, I’d run home and comb through each and every card.  It was almost as good as Christmas.   How did being in a relationship change this holiday for me?

I discovered that Valentine’s Day, to me, isn’t about my relationships with men,  it is about my relationship with myself, and to all of the many things I love.  As a matter of fact, sometimes Mark has to step out of the way, and let this crazy woman do her Valentine’s Day thing.  Valentine’s Day is just another day, like all days, when I have to remember to take care of myself.  I love having a special day to remind me to do just that!

Now I know I’m responsible for my own happiness–not Mark, and not anybody else.  If I want a fancy Valentine’s Day celebration, I’ll plan it myself.

I spend more time celebrating Valentine’s Day in the weeks before the actual holiday, than on do on the day itself.  I like to decorate and bake this time of year.   What is more fun than heart shaped cakes?  I like to throw out some red, white, and pink colors into my home decorating scheme.  I like to romance myself!  How?  Crocheting hearts, long bubble baths, having friends over for dinner, making and eating chocolate, drinking red wine, reading a great book.  These things are my loves!   Mark can be a part of my happiness, but he isn’t responsible for it.

I look forward to Valentine’s Day.  It breaks the dead of winter.

You want roses?  Give yourself roses!    I DO!  Better yet, give your best friend roses!  Don’t have any friends?   Go out to a coffee shop and order yourself a special drink with extra whip on top–get it with whole milk this time!  No money?  Curl up in your favorite PJs and watch a great movie.

Please don’t allow not having a partner (or a willing partner) to keep you from enjoying a day of love!

PHOTOS: I emptied out the old farm cupboard and filled it with a few of my collectible goodies: old tablecloths, aprons, cookie cutters, biscuit cutters, rolling pin, etc.   Kitschy?  Yes, maybe, but I like it.   The colors cheer me in the winter.

We’re snowed in here in the great Pacific Northwest.   Since the Oldsmobile didn’t want to leave the house, I decided I’d tuck myself away and bake some Italian “Christmas” Cookies.  i found the recipe at All Recipes, and if you click here on Ravioli Dolci, you will be taken to the recipe.

I used my very own homemade Bing Cherry Almond Preserves.  I like the taste of the cherry and almond flavors together in this very buttery and tender cookie dough.

My vintage Frosty looks right at home on a blanket of snow furnished by, none other than, Mother Nature herself.

Although, I might add, since the photo was taken, she has gifted us with a few inches (and counting) more.

I’ve been worried about the chickens.   The weather has dipped down to 15 degrees here.   The girls just seem to shake it off and look up at the sky with an, “Is that all ya got?” look on their faces.  They are tough old birds!

I took this photo, the other day, while I was out checking for eggs.  Four and five eggs a day and they just keep’em comin’.

Pearl is the Golden Comet here in the front.  I told her that if she and her girlfriends needed to take a break from laying, I’d understand.    She didn’t say anything, but I knew from the look of disgust on her face that I had insulted her.

Two hours later I heard her announcing the eggs.   Sure enough, five eggs were sitting in the nest when I went out to check on them.

As I walked away from the coop,  I could have swore I heard her mumbling, under her breath—  something to do with the size of my backside and just how many breaks one woman needs to take in a day.

Pearl has a good heart, but she has no patience with women who don’t work as hard as she does.

My new table centerpiece because, as usual, it’s all about the chickens.

Goodnight Girls.

I won’t be having  my usual Christmas Eve gathering.  I will make a light dinner, and the kids will join us for the evening.  I want to keep the holidays stress free and affordable.

I have, however, decorated my home.

..and I’ve made the cuccidatis!

I know people have lost their jobs.  Times are more than tough.  Work has slowed down for us too.

Eckhart Tolle’s,  “A New Earth” is the book I most recommend to people who are anxious right now.   “This too shall pass” has become my mantra.

During these difficult times, our ego tends to take hold of the reins and lead us straight into fear.  The ego would like us to make enemies out of our mates, friends, and relatives.

When I catch myself going into fear, I pull a journal or scrap piece of paper, and I start a gratitude list.  A sample of what I’ve written:

-I can breathe.

-I am surrounded by the people I love and the people who love me.

-I laugh.

-I have shelter, food, and all of my basic necessities.

-I am not suffering.

I’ve lived quite an unusual life.  I have survived situations most people assume are impossible to survive.   One of the cool things about growing up poor and having moved all over the country–in true hillbilly style– is that you learn how little people really need in order to survive.  You realize that story telling, music, and laughter are the true necessities of life.  Simple things make you happy.

Speaking of music, this song brings back memories of one of many Decembers in my childhood.

Wishing you a peace in the moment, and a life filled with stories, music, and laughter.

Happy Holidays.

They are not a chef’s “top of the line”–but they are my top of the line.

Cooking is a hobby and a passion for me.  I don’t spend money on designer clothes, concerts, theaters, gyms, etc.  I spend it on kitchen items and food.

ABOVE: Cuisinart $149 at Costco

I bought a KitchenAid Food Processor ($279) a year and a half ago, but the the multipurpose blade separated from the white stem during use.  Replacement blade?  $40. Also, the bowl tends to crack easily from regular use–another $40.  I wrote the company and never heard back.  I guess I should have bought the Cuisinart to begin with.  Lesson learned.

I use my food processor almost everyday.  As a matter of fact, this came with an order slip to pick up another bowl for $16.  I believe I will, as often I’m washing to re-use.  Food processors make my cooking life easier.  If I’m chopping veggies by hand, I can be mixing pastry or pureeing in the processor.  It’s a life saver for people who have vegetable gardens.   Fast marinara and pesto too!

ABOVE: KitchenAid Mixer

I may not care for their food processors, but KitchenAid makes a great mixer!  Again, I bought this at Costco.  I can’t remember the exact cost, but I believe it was around $249.  One of my very favorite Christmas presents.  I use it all of the time!  No more little beaters to deal with.  I always burned those little motors out anyway.  Once I got used to adjusting the settings on a professional mixer (“mix on medium” in a regular recipe–does not equal medium on this appliance), it was a breeze to use.

Oh, and a note on the professional mixer:  My mother bought one too, and she called one day to say she was mixing a gluten free bread mix and beating at high (per the directions).  She said it was super loud and beating the dough to death.   Needless to say, her bread died, and she learned the hard way that “High” on the professional is actually more like Medium (4) on this mixer.

ABOVE: Zyliss Can Opener

I love this gadget!  I paid $14.99 at Macy’s.  I can’t stand electric openers, and I prefer the hand crank because certain brands hurt my hand or don’t cut the lid evenly without repeated tries.  This one does an excellent job and it has a little magnet attachment to help pull up the lid–just like the electric openers.

ABOVE:  Le Creuset Oval 8 qt French Oven

I love my Le Creuset.  I’ve collected used pieces from thrift stores and one time I even raced to the city when I was the first person to email a guy and be added to his list for a set of Le Creuset on Craig’s List.   Yes, I entered a strange man’s home alone to pick up a set of black enamel on cast iron Le Creuset.  I’m sick, I know.

Imagine my surprise (and Mark’s jaw dropping as I screamed in public!) when I saw this at Costco.  I don’t know if they have a  deal with Costco or what, but you cannot find 8 qt Le Creuset at the Le Ceuset shop.  Maybe they make them for Costco.  I paid $199–a steal when you compare the cost to a 7.5 qt for $270 and a 9 qt for $300.  These pans will last my life time, and probably be in good enough condition to pass down to my son.   They are high quality enamel cast iron.

E. Guittard Chocolate – Semisweet Dark Chocolate Wafers for Baking and Eating, 61% Cocoa

These make a great flourless chocolate torte!  I buy them at World Market Cost Plus  or PCC. for around $9-13 a box.  I only use them in the good stuff, and it’s all good

ZEVIA!

I am not a soda pop person.  Pop has always made me feel kind of tired and out of sorts.  I avoided drinking it for years.  When my friend (Thanks Deb!) shared this with us at a party this summer, Mark really loved it, so he gave me a sip.  Mmmm!  I like to have a little of the Natural Twist  flavor with my popcorn.  I tried the cola, but the caffiene is a bit too much for me (I’m a caffiene light weight).   Mark likes every flavor.  I still rarely drink it, but for folks who have a hard time giving up the unhealthy soder pops, I think this is worth a try.  Why is it on my list of favorites?  I nag and whine about soda pop to my loved ones, and I finally found one that doesn’t scare the ba-jeebers out of me when they drink it.

The great thing about Zevia is that it doesn’t mess with my sugar levels.  The company claims it has no effect on blood sugar levels–ranks zero on the glycemic index.  It is also gluten and dairy free.  Approx. $5.99 six-pack (get it on sale!)

PS I use stevia sweetener in my tea!

One more for now:

I love these Mario Batali 5-Piece Measuring Prep Bowl Sets!  I have two sets –the one in Persimmon orange (above) and a set in Pesto green.  The first set was a gift from my friend Liz (Thanks Liz!), and the second was a find at GoodWill.  They are perfect for prepping and measuring foods for cooking and baking.

You can get them here at Amazon.com for about $9.99 set.

I have lots of favorite things, and I’m always hunting around online for other people’s ‘favorite” things lists.  if you have any favorites, please let me know!

I can’t believe how fast summer flew by.

I feel so unprepared.  Everybody is decorating for fall. 

Giovanni will miss the warm summer days the most.

(His dress belonged to one of Olivia’s girls, and somehow it was passed on to Giovanni.  He doesn’t mind.   He’s very metrosexual.)

Fall has arrived.

My sugar pumpkins are bright orange. 

I’ve cleared the last of the red and orange tomatoes.

The hens are fat and pretty.  They grew up, and they’re giving eggs.

They cackle when they hear my back slider open.  They know I’ll be bringing chunks of squash, cooked oatmeal, and whatever other fresh veggies we have leftover.

The air is cool and crisp.

I painted one of the benches pink and white.  I’m not quite ready to let go of pretty summer flower color.

Soon we’ll have to cover the old Italian fountain and protect it from the wet weather.

My Quinalt everbearing strawberries have not stopped producing yet.    The photo was take a few days back and those berries are ripe and red now.

My raspberries are still in a giving mood too.

It’s time to start moving indoors.  

Mark and I have plenty of hot tea on hand. 

I welcome the fall with all of its shadows and mystery.

Ready or not, fall has arrived.

Tonight I am taking a class on southern cookin’.  I’m all about southern cooking.  I’m half Italian and half US southern hillbilly.  Seriously.

I had the option to take this class or another class on Anti-inflammatory cooking. As much as I’d like to know how to cook anti-inflammatory foods, I really can’t say no to southern food. I’m all about the inflammatory foods.

Also, I’ve noticed my energy is taking it’s sweet ass time in picking up. I am taking natural liquid iron for anemia. I hope it works. I really don’t want another series of iron infusions.

Oh, and I found a really neat dishcloth at Tuesday Mornings. Check her out!

Yeah, I know! Dish cloths don’t get much cooler than this. I mean, come on, a scrubby built in? (Yes, I’ll let you know what happens in the washing machine.)

ABOVE:I found this antique farm cabinet in an estate sale basement.  I love to mix old with new.

I moved into my house 4 years ago, and made a lot of promises to myself about changes I wanted to make. So far, Mark and I have managed to make the kitchen more to our liking, we added a pantry, added two windows in the den, painted over the old brick, remmoved popcorn ceilings in den and kitchen,smooth walled and painted the den, installed surround sound, added raised bed vegetable gardens, built a chicken coop, installed stainless appliances, changed the fireplace front, removed unwanted shrubbery, planted raspberries, removed tons of ivy, installed a grape arbor, and re-roofed the always “soon to be” cottage.

I would liked to have completed more work in four years, but it is what it is.

I am ready to move on from the den and kitchen and into the dining room, formal living room, Master bed and bathroom, and the main bath as well. Mark usually does most of the work, because I’m rather small and not too handy in the construction department.

I’ve decided I need to make a few changes myself. I’d like to get the ball rolling, and see just what I’m capable of doing on my own.

I’ll be starting with completing the projects we started that I know I can do:

-Kitchen cabinets and trim need painted and touched up.

-Dining room needs primed and painted.

-Formal Living room, Dining room, hallway, baths, and bedrooms need new trim. Trim must be painted as well. I may not be able to apply trim on my own, but I can choose the trim and possibly paint it.

-Living room needs painting

-Drapes and rod in den–remove drape box

-Shop for supplies needed

I’m posting this list to keep myself honest.

 
ABOVE: More thrift and estate sale finds

ABOVE: View from dining area to formal living area

So, off I go to paint the kitchen!