back when i went to nyc with the mother and sister of all trades we stopped by the younger designers market and picked up bracelets from designer marc bernstein. i chose the triple wrap bracelet in chocolate and gold. i love my bracelet. i wear it all the time and get so many complements. it was fun to see marc's bracelet in this month's nylon magazine.
aren't they beautiful? perhaps wrap bracelets are a 2010 trend?
{image via m. bernstein newsletter}
a friend of the mother of all trades had a request for some mini cupcakes for her holiday party. i decided on chocolate cakes with chocolate peppermint frosting. topped with crushed candy canes. i used my favorite chocolate frosting recipe but added 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract. for the cakes i tried a new recipe from martha stewart's baking handbook - one-bowl chocolate cupcakes.
after reading over the recipe, i had some doubts. it wasn't written how i like to build a cake but i gave it a whirl and it ended up turning out great. and you make it in one bowl which makes for quick clean up.
{wrapping paper from snow + graham}
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups dutch-process cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 large whole eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
1/14 cups milk
1/2 cup plus 2 tbls vegetable oil
1 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups warm water
preheat the oven to 350. line two standard 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners. {i made mini cupcakes so you'll need more than 2 trays.} into the bowl on an electric mixer, sift together flour cocoa, sugar, baking soda and powder and salt. attach bowl to mixer fitter with the paddle attachment, add the eggs and yolk, the milk, oil, vanilla and warm water. beat on low speed until smooth and combined, about 3 minutes, scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
divide batter evenly among the muffin cups; filling each about two-thirds full. bake for 20-25 minutes, rotate the two tray half way through. {for mini cupcakes bake for 15 minutes.} transfer pans to a wire rack to cool. when completely cool, frost with your favorite frosting.
so, the root canal went very well. {thank you for the well wishes} my tooth didn't give me any guff. and i'm back to eating and drinking cold foods. and just in time for baked alaska next week!
i've got a weekend of parties this weekend. two today/tonight, our annual party tomorrow and our girls party sunday morning. the holidays are a busy time!
in case you missed it this week:
:: last day for the giveaway - and the winner is holly. congratulations!
:: cutie oranges are back in season
:: grandma amy's famous sugar cookie recipe
:: root canal, but if you're looking for a fun gift find it at greatbigstuff.com
i have to get a root canal. ugh. my teeth or tooth has been really sensitive to cold for the last few months. i didn't think anything of it and it's become so unbearable i've even had trouble eating my favorite, sandwiches. i went to the doctor and they have to do a root canal. ouch. please send good thoughts my way. i'm way nervous.
{image via}
and the store behind this photo, it's for my friend alistair. he told me he wanted to get this giant toothbrush for his wife for christmas. lucky for her, i talked him out of it. if you want one, and i wouldn't recommend it. you can buy at greatbigstuff.com
i really wanted to share this recipe up. it's my grandma's famous sugar cookie recipe and it's fantastic. people as for it every year... so here it is. i'm norwegian so we make a lot of cookies during the holidays and out of all the cookies, these are my favorites. i love making them on christmas eve day with my sister, before we go to taco time for lunch. {it's our weird family christmas tradition.}
::warning :: this recipe makes a lot of cookies. try halving it.
{non-frosted cookies}
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
preheat oven to 375. in a large bowl fluff the flour, salt, cream of tartar and baking soda with a fork. set aside. in a mixer beat butter until light and creamy. add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. add sugar, vanilla and mix until combined. add the dry ingredients, mix well.
refrigerate for at least two hours. overnight works too. working with half the dough, roll out very thin on a floured board. cut out with your favorite cookie cutters and place on a baking sheet. sprinkle with white or color sugars. bake for 8-10 minutes. if you prefer frosting, bake first and then frost.
{frosted cookies}
{my girlfriends frosting cookies at the bake off.}
one of my favorite things to eat this time of year are cuties! they are so good and cute. i can usually throw back 3-4/day. gotta get that vitamin c. keep the colds away.
but be careful you may get a canker sore. treat with tea tree oil. i swear by it.
{image via}
don't forget :: today is the last day to enter the giveaway! good luck!
my giveaway ends tomorrow. don't forget to get your entry in!
i am loving this kate spade iphone cover. as much as i want to leave a cover off of my phone, i love this one. it's modern yet classic.
i'm off in l.a. today with a bunch of girlfriends. see you next week and don't forget about the giveaway.
{image via}
in case you missed it this week:
:: a non-pumkin pie french apple tart
:: felt ice skates for your tree + giveaway
:: glassybaby giveaway, you want to enter
npr has released the all things considered listeners best albums of 2009. i was sad to see no empire of the sun or florence + the machines, but i pretty much agree with all of them. one i'm espeically fond of right now - passion pit. check 'em out. {they were in seattle last night and i missed then, too bad}
{image via}
don't forget to enter the giveaway! get these ice skates on your tree!
it's no secret i am a glassybaby fan. if you would like some of these little gems in your house, enter you name into their contest. send your name, age, address and email to customerservice@glassybaby.com and you'll be entered to six glassbabies.
and don't forget about my little giveaway too.
{photo via}
