Holiday Unwrap

of course there was too much of this

As the holiday season finally draws to a close, and that early Monday Morning curtin call draws near,  I thought I would share my favorite holiday culinary hits and misses. 




 



Pizza works on so many levels, even for a grown up pizza party.  One of these is made from a pita, and the other is made from an experienced pizza dough / maker.... I can't remember which one, (too much sampling from the first photo), but i do remember that both were great.

 

Above: 

Buffalo mozzarella, basil and salami (?)

Right: 

 sauteed mushrooms, with arugula and topped with truffle oil.

Pizza Interogator: WHAT'S ON YOU? ! ? :  Pizza: ah... ah... Buffalo mozzarella, basil, chrizo and basil(?) I think, should have made more notes.

I didn't do much baking this year, but I did make some zippy snappy ginger patties:

crystallized ginger

1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 cups all - purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup unsulfured molasses

1 extra-large egg,

1 1/4 cups chopped crystallized ginger 

The Bounty

I guess I did do some other baking, i made 1 lbs of home made dog treats!  (what a great pet parent), unfortunately Watson doesn't like them now... Fortunately they aren't bad with a little goats cheese and fig jam...

On new year eve, Watson may have dressed up, but before the ball dropped, he was bow tie less and running around the house.   I blame it on these holiday drinks that really made the season extra bright, but don't talk to Watson the next day:

 

Watson before

Watson after, the next day.

2 cups (16 ounces) good vodka (recommended: Stolichnaya or Finlandia)
1 cup (8 ounces) orange liqueur (recommended: Cointreau)
1 cup (8 ounces) pomegranate juice (recommended: Pom Wonderful)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (3 limes)
Lime peel strips, to garnish

Combine the vodka, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, and lime juice in a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to use. Pour the mixture into frozen martini glasses with a twist of lime peel and serve immediately. 

 Hope everyone has a great 2013, and  weeee! the Mayan's were wrong!