I can’t believe I’m writing this post outside and it’s 76 degrees out. I am a little bent out of shape that I am not in New England or Chicago playing in the snow, taking a winter stroll, drinking hot chocolate or even in a hat for that matter! I’ve worn my Uggs three times since Thanksgiving, but otherwise it’s flip-flops everyday to and from the studio. But who am I kidding? I guess I don’t miss it that much but it’s VERY hard to get into the holiday spirit when there’s no snow falling outside your window and you can wear jeans and a tank top while picking out your Christmas tree! We even ate our Christmas feast outside last year! At least there’s still The Nutcracker play that we’re going to see on Sunday and A Christmas Story, the play we’ll be seeing next weekend and… holiday parties!!! I love a reason to get all dressed up… even if I don’t need a coat!
I adore this sign!
First holiday party of the season! Love my girls!
Most of you know I’m pretty much dairy-free when it comes to cow’s milk. I have a wicked hard time digesting it and since I can still eat goat’s and sheep cheese without gassing it up (hehe) I choose that route instead. So last year when I found this dairy-free “egg”nog that was actually really, really, really good, I told all my friends and the market sold out in like a week! This time around, I made sure to buy myself plenty and then tell the rest of you about it… I’m selfish like that! Check out this “Holiday Nog” from Silk that is low in calories and sugar but big on taste. I have to admit, I am not a fan of soy milk at all. I ate way to much tofu while living in Chicago and now I’m over it. But I can’t even tell it’s in there with this brand, maybe because the taste is so good… did I mention that already?!
Also, another dairy-free treat I love eating and making are Pizelle. My auntie Addie would make them every year for Christmas and it was always something I looked forward to. These Italian wafer cookies can be made with gluten-free flour, or whole wheat or regular white. I made them for the party I went to on Saturday night and they were a big hit. Sprinkled with powered sugar and looking like mini snowflakes, these cookies are sure to help you get into the holiday spirit! I like to package them in small bags with cute Christmas ribbons and give them to friends and family as little gifts. You can get the recipe here and they’re easy peesy to make. If you don’t have a Pizelle grill or iron, you can totally borrow mine!
So fun!
Another little Italian dish I love making that is also dairy-free are littleneck clams in white wine broth, mixed with lots of spices and a touch of lemon. I make a meal out of these with a yummy kale salad on the side. It’s easy to make and takes all of 10 minutes to cook. A nice wedge of sourdough bread can also accompany this “stew”…husband’s usually need this to “feel full” I’ve been told!
_____________________
Littleneck Clam Stew- serves one or more
Ingredients:
-1 and 1/2 lb. littleneck clams (make sure they are NOT open when you buy them!)
-1/2 red onion, chopped finely
-3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
-1/3 cup white wine
-handful herbs (I used thyme and basil)
-juice from 1/2 lemon
-salt and pepper
Directions:
1. In a large saucepan, place all the ingredients in together.
2. Cover the pot and set on a medium setting, allowing the mixture to come to a slow boil.
3. After about 8 minutes check out the clams. If they are open, they are ready.
4. Serve in a big bowl and enjoy!!
It smells just as amazing as it tastes!
__________________
So before I go, I must tell you about the new book by Marlon James that I’ve been reading called A Brief History of Seven Killings about the 1976 attempted assassination of Bob Marley. The story is poetic, gripping, jaw-dropping and chilling all at once. I’ve read many books about Jamaica and Jamaican politics but this one takes the cake. It’s not so brief though at 686 pages! The author develops the characters at an extremely slow and riveting pace so you feel as though you really know them by the end… I’m on page 444 so I’ll let you know how it goes!
