Author: MS

Holiday Series: Giving Back

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A few films I’ve watched recently which were in line with exactly how I’ve been feeling this holiday season – helpless in so many ways, and wishing there was more I could do. I am even considering working with a worthy cause in 2020, to help save endangered species or something environmental.  I just need to determine which path to choose. In the meantime, I’ve stumbled upon some suggestion on giving back this holiday season and beyond, and wanted to share in case you’re wondering which new year resolution to consider? Volunteering abroad programs – just in case you are considering doing so The Films That Got Me Thinking This holiday season {featured image source and safari destination}

Holiday Series: Gathering Up The Week Long Celebration Menu

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I’m hosting many guests over the holiday week, and finding just the right recipe is probably the funnest task I embark on, because you see, I love a good dinner party, and a conversations, and even followed by a board game. So, here are some of the dishes I intend to make this week: What are your favorite recipes? Here’s a fun article about how to feed your hungriest house guests 

Holiday Series: Gift Wrap – It’s All In The Trimmings

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Don’t get me wrong – I adore a beautifully designed gift wrap paper and sometimes buy a roll just to add to my collection of uniquely crafted wraps. But lately, in light of all things to save our planet, I cannot help but appreciate the simplest of gift wrapping ideas. Which by the way, I’ve adapted for years – finding the most unusual ways to wrap presents with grocery paper bags, tissue paper, newspaper, old magazine pages, and even book pages – because at the end of the day, it is all about the trimming… {source here, and here}

Food: For The Love of Cake

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Cakes are the simplest of all baking you can possibly do, if you are pressed for time when asked to bring something to a holiday get-together. This recipe is literally an easy one to follow – measuring the ingredients and either whisking by hand or using a fancy mixer to blend together, pour into a baking pan and bake. A sprinkle of powdered sugar is the quickest of all decoration, and a good option for the holidays and first time bakers.. so follow along: Ingredients  9 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 3 large eggs 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 pinch salt 1 cup fresh ricotta Zest of 1 lemon   **** I use Meyer’s lemon 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 apple, peeled and grated (should yield about 1 cup) Confectioners’ sugar for serving  {more}  

Holiday Series: Best of Christmas List

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Over the weekend, I played a private tour guide to friends visiting from out-of-town, driving them around past Union Square to get a glimpse of the city as I know it. Which got me thinking, I don’t mind doing this as a side job – touring folks and getting to know them on a different level and actually having fun. So it got me thinking about today’s post, sharing some of the best of Christmas lists – such as… {featured image source} What are your plans for the holidays?What is your favorite destination during the holidays?Do you host a holiday party or attend one? Are you done with your holiday shopping? Have you seen the movie Klaus on Netflix? If not, do so  What are you reading currently?

Holiday Cookies – For A Little Pick Me Up

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It’s been raining continuous in the bay area, with a heavy fog to boot and unusually warm weather. I don’t recall this ever happening in all the years I’ve lived in San Francisco.  So, not feeling inspired to leave the house, I decided to bake – again, this time these tasty vanilla cookies, but I am using a snowflake cutter instead. INGREDIENTS 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup granulated sugar ¼ cup light brown sugar 2 teaspoons lemon zest 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom VANILLA GLAZE 2 cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract sugared rosemary, for decorating (more) On Another note – if you happen to be a movie buff like myself, then you’d want to see this list of the best 2019 films – have you seen any of them and which do you recommend?

It Is The Holiday Season – Right?

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I think the fact, Thanksgiving was the fourth Thursday in November instead of the third as normal, I feel thrown off – meaning – that last week of November was usually a buffer to get in the Christmas holiday mode. But this year, all of a sudden it is only 16 more days to Christmas and 23 more days to year end. What? I mean, I am not freaking out, are you? Even if I haven’t sent out my Christmas cards, nor considered shopping for gifts for the immediate family, or even have a clue as to what the dinner menu would entail for Christmas eve because I’ve been too busy rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic for the past year, perhaps like most of us and well, here we are…near the last hours (if you will) in getting it all done. So, here’s what’s on the agenda today. Gifts, fun ones, practical ones and hopefully one the receiver will not re-gift. Qualifier – everyone I know is either a chef, loves to travel …