Holiday Goodies: Gingerbread, Paper Snowflakes and Decorations

I LOVE gingerbread.

Okay… that’s a slight understatement. I’m obsessed with it!

Seriously! Its true!
Hi, I’m Kate and I have a gingerbread addiction! I think about it, want it, and crave it as much as an addict would their drug of choice! It would be ridiculous if I heard anyone else explain to me like I am to you, how much they love gingerbread.

Everyone has their vices, and while I have a few year-round vices, my holiday “drug of choice” is gingerbread. SO, to celebrate my deep love affair with this delicious little cookie I’m throwing a party. I’ve rounded up some of the gang that enjoy gingerbread (or could it be the wine and champagne I also promised would be flowing?) to come celebrate this wonderful blessing to all mankind that is the gingerbread cookie.

So I’ll be using both my tried and true Gingerbread Cookie recipe and my  gluten-free gingerbread cookie . Now, you might turn up your little nose and say.. “ewwww! What’s the point of eating a gluten-free cookie! Is it even a COOKIE still!?” Well, I’ll have you know I snuck a batch into my Gingerbread party last year and no-one had ANY idea! They’re delicious!! So, I’m looking forward to baking up a large batch of gingerbread men, women, dog bones, stars, trees… well you get the picture and decorating for the party!

To help gather some decor inspiration, I started a Gingerbread Party Pinterest Board . So far, I’m thinking about kicking it old school and making paper snowflakes to hang from the ceiling with red ribbon.

I also want to pick up a few of the trimmed Christmas tree branches from my fruit stand boys at Corner Produce down at Pike Place (where we got our tree this year!) and decorating the table with some variation of this lovely idea using pine cones, candles and branches in glass jar! (pictured at left).

When I saw the package of Kikkerland Biodegradable Red and White Striped Paper Straws, I grabbed the package because our little house simply NEEEEEEDED an adorable package of straws! So, I’ll be putting these out in a mason jar…which is a little silly because we’ll be serving one of my favorite “go-to” wineries, Folie A Deux Menage A Trois in both the  Table Red (I call it the gateway red!) and Table White. A party can’t be complete without some bubbly so we’ll also have that! To remember who’s wine glass is who’s, I’ll get some various ribbons and tie them to the stems and also have another scrap that you can tie to your wrist or pin so for a fun party game of remembering which glass is yours!

Now that the party is planned, gingerbread must be baked and decorations gathered and put out! Tune in this weekend for an updated post with pictures from the party! And, YES,  I WILL be eating gingerbread while I type that post…and everyday for the next two weeks!!

Taco Tuesday & Wine Parings

 

Tacos & Wine

Taco Tuesday is a weekly tradition in our house. It’s healthy, easy to make, and delicious! Taco’s might be the ultimate meal, you can drink them with beer/wine/cocktail, are able to accommodate ANY  dietary restrictions!! They can be gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, paleo, vegetarian, the list goes on!

I’m a FIRM believer that there is truly a good wine paring for ANY food! While taco’s might not instinctively have you reaching for the wine glass and adding to the cork graveyard, I wanted to explore some tacos and wine’s that others enjoy! So, I headed out to the blogoshpere and tweeted to enlist some help. Thanks to Menage a Trois Wines for posting on their Facebook page! (in case you missed it… I was last week’s Facebook “superfan” and first ever twitter Superfan! and was quite excited about it! Check out the post here. )

 

Now… ON TO THE TACOS!!!!

Our most recent Taco Tuesday was Black bean & lime taco (recipe here)  with Menage a Trios table red wine. Of course, no taco would be complete in our house with out some grilled cabbage slaw. Simple, crunchy, incredibly flavorful and adds some extra veggie and spice to any taco! So delicious!

John Bell (Fashion Photographer, Seattle) Twitter Response:  @johnleebell “pulled pork with sour cream…. Just got an idea to add cream cheese!”
A few followers asked to remain anonymous but wanted to share their go-to’s
“Grenache and halibut fish tacos and some shredded cabbage”
“I love a nicely chilled Gewürztraminer and some Spicy Chicken Tacos! Flour tortillas please!”
“Pinot Gris is very balanced and drinkable, pairs well with both fish and chicken tacos! You could even drink with a Carne Asada”
“A good full-bodied Merlot is GREAT with steak/beef tacos! Shredded beef, cheese, fresh avocado and tomato… melted cheese… mmm!”
“If you’re doing beef, try a Zinfandel, Rioja or Malbec”
“ANY taco goes with a good Tempranillo! ENJOY!”

Menage a Trois Facebook Responses: 

Sherry Smith “slowed cooked pork with a sauce made of jalepenos garlic lime juice and cumin anchote once it is cooked i drain sauce and pull pork off and serve with warm flour tortillas and red onions and home-made salsa served with red wine”

Brenda Hudson Mcrae “fish tacos, with advacado salsa and sour cream”

Bobbijean Blackinton “I can not take credit for my favorite tacos .. but in the summer I love these taco’s … so easy to triple or double depending on the summer gathering!!!http://www.patiodaddiobbq.com/2010/05/spicy-grilled-fish-tacos.html

Holly Le Du “I sautee finely chopped onions and raisins together for a couple of minutes, then add freshly ground beef with sea salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, and a tiny bit of dried oregano. I put them in handmade tortillas (I prefer flour) with lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and avocados and a homemade salsa. Sooo yummy!”

Tamasin Noyes “Mine is here, on my blog, and I would love to have it featured. Thanks in advance! http://www.veganappetite.com/2010/02/15-minute-chipotle-black-bean-tacos.html”

Spirited Shipper “Tacos are our favorite! We love tiger shrimp tacos with avocado, slaw, lime, and cilantro garlic sauce!”

Kim Smith Saghy “I think the Eagles Nest on Pier 39 in San Francisco has the absolute best fish tacos! And they will share their recipe.”
What’s YOUR favorite Taco and Wine mix!? I’ll be happy to keep updating the post as more recipes come in!  Moral of the story… make tacos every tuesday and enjoy with some type of wine! 🙂 Life is better that way!

 

 

Broiled Salmon & Cod with Asparagus and Rustic Baguette

Seattle is a gorgeous place in the sunshine! From the mountains which frame up the Seattle skyline to the greenery and the magnificent water that glistens and sparkles, I have to say it’s really the most gorgeous place on earth. With one stipulation, it’s only this way on a sunny day. The other 364 days per year it’s grey, cold, wet, and most recently added to the misery cocktail, windy. Okay, I’m exaggerating a LITTLE with the number of days but if you ask ANYONE around here they’ll admit that this past year has really been quite awful.

But, just as the leaves turn and signal fall, the cherry blossoms are pushing their way into spring regardless of how the weather feels about it. Spring truly is in the air! Birds are chirping, those cherry blossoms are blooming and dare I say it, the SUN WAS OUT! Not just peeking out and peacing out, but actually showing it’s glorious face for a Friday through Sunday appearance!

Broiled Salmon & Cod with Asparagus and Rustic Baguette
Broiled Salmon & Cod with Asparagus and Rustic Baguette

In addition to the sun, another WONDERFUL aspect of living in Seattle is the Pike Place Market. That is one Seattle legacy that will NEVER loose it’s appeal for me. Living a few short block away from the market is really just a plan from the cosmos to spoil us rotten. Our weekend walks to the market are nearly a religious experience. The shopping list varies between seasons but never fails to remind what a wonderful place we reside in. Whether it’s picking up a fresh Vegan muffin from one of my FAVORITE bakeries, Cinnamon Works, to grabbing a fresh crumpet and bowl of soup from our favorite little stop The Crumpet Shop or gathering a few $5 bouquets of flowers to brighten up the perch, there are a few staples of the weekend walk to the market.

First on the staples list is a stop into De Laurenti for some fresh salami or prosciutto, picking up a package of Rosemarry La Panzanella Mini Croccantini, or stocking up, if needed, on amazing olive oil and 25 year balsamic. Being in the shop is always a quite an experience and while I have not YET (yet is of course emphasized) been to Italy, I envision the experience of ordering meats and cheeses from a deli counter there to be one-in-the-same with the experience of ordering at De Laurenti. They meticulously hand wrap up all of the meats and cheeses in lovely folded white paper and encourage you to sample the various grilled an marinated veggies, cheese and charcuterie they have displayed behind their expansive glass case . It’s evident by their interactions that customer service is of utmost importance.

The second stop on the weekend market trip is at Corner Produce to pick up the fresh fruits and veggies for the week. They are always ready to help you shop, offer suggestions, and serve samples of their wonderful product while they banter with you about the weather, tourists or any other various topic you could suggest! I’ve been going to that stand for over two years and have gotten to know some of the guys, and they’re just wonderful. I never leave without a big smile on my face and a bag full of fresh handpicked produce.

The most recent addition to the weekend shopping experience is a stop at the world famous Pike Place Fish Market counter. Notorious for their theatrical display of throwing of the fish and yelling out each order, as well as  publicly announcing when they receive a tip, these guys stock and filet the most wonderful assortment of fresh seafood you could ever ask for. Name something in season and they have it fresh, fileted to your desire and wrapped up with a smile to boot!

I’ve have to say, living in or anywhere near downtown Seattle affords you the ability to eat like a King and Queen with fresh, local ingredients! We’re completely spoiled to be able to walk down to the market each weekend and stock up on all the fresh fish, product, fruit, charcuterie and spices we could desire. This afternoon we decided that fresh fish was on the dinner menu so down to the market we walked, returning home with fresh Salmon and Cod, a whole crab, asparagus, and a rustic baguette from Macrena Bakery.

Broiled Salmon & Cod with Asparagus and Rustic Baguette

Pre-Heat Oven to 375
Prepare the asparagus by washing and cutting of the bottom inch
Layout on a baking sheet on non-stick aluminum foil
Spray with olive oil from a misto sprayer and seasoned with fresh cracked pepper, sea salt, cayenne pepper, paprika and minced garlic
Cook for 30 minutes, flipping every 1o minutes
Once complete, remove from oven and turn oven to broil
Place Salmon in one cast iron, and Cod in another
Season with minced garlic, fresh parsley, cracked pepper and sea salt
Broil in pre-heated oven, salmon for 3 minutes and cod for 5

Serve with fresh rustic bread, arugula salad drizzled with 25  year balsamic and olive oil, and of course it was served with a glass of Ménage à Trois red! What meal is complete without it!