Thursday, November 13, 2008

Best things about WINTER

Bedsocks! Nice warm, fluffy, cosy bedsocks...

Christmas and all its festivities, although this is a whole seperate list!

Snuggling up with Michelle in front of a video all cosily while the snow lashes down outside

Snow! Whoohoo! Doesnt happen often, but there's something magical about a good proper snowfall (slushy messes need not apply)

Crisp air and breathing out 'dragon breath' because its so cold.

The first flowers of the year, snowdrops etc. Nice.

Comforting soups and stews- winter warmer comfort food.

Coming in from the cold to a toasty warm house

Nice long, warm baths, into pyjamas and straight underneath a thick, fluffy duvet... ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Getting snowed in and not being able to make it into work

Hot chocolate infront of the fire place all warm and toastie after hot baths.

Being able to disguise flabby body parts in snuggly long jumpers and thick clothes !
no mosquitos
no humidity
great time to start the gym
Sex is much better

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

hermes and new touch to the cowgirls




"Classy Cowgirl" may sound like an oxymoron, but Hermes managed to make use of the term legit in the Spring 2009 ready-to-wear fashion show.
Listen up Jessica not every cowgirl lines are good...

searching for worst song is finally over... yaaaaay

after too many years of deep thinking finally i made my desicion and came up with a solid result...
"Jump in my car" is THE worst song ever for all time...
only question remaining is WHY ?


Thursday, November 6, 2008

Wisdom is finally open @ Capitol Hill

very nice martini bar ... not snoby not trashy very well balanced...

location 14th and Penn ave SE right on POTOMAC AVE metro station.
a must visit...

www.dcwisdom.com

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

chocolate strudel with orange kick

1/3 cup walnut crumb
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup sugar

1 tbs orange extract
6 sheets filo dough (about 12 by 18 in.)
1/4 cup (1/8 lb.) butter melted
Powdered sugar (optional)
Preparation

1. In a bowl, gently mix chocolate chips, sugar,orange extract

2. Lay 1 filo sheet flat (cover remaining filo with plastic wrap to prevent drying) and brush lightly with butter. Cover with another filo sheet and brush lightly with more butter. Repeat to stack remaining filo.

3. Spread chocolate filling in a 3-inch-wide band along 1 long edge of the dough, 2 inches in from edge and the ends. Fold long edge, then the ends of dough over filling. Gently roll the filled side of dough forward to form a compact cylinder, ending seam side down.

4. Gently transfer the strudel roll, seam down, to a buttered 12- by 15-inch baking sheet. Brush top of roll with remaining melted butter.

5. Bake on the center rack in a 375° regular or convection oven until golden brown, 15 to 25 minutes. Using 2 wide spatulas, transfer strudel to a platter. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar, if desired. Cut into 1 1/2-inch-wide slices and serve warm.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Chili/cayenne infused chocolate truffels

Ingredients:
2/3 cup heavy cream
12 ounces best-quality dark chocolate, finely chopped or grated
Zest from one orange
One cinnamon stick
1/3 cup best-quality cocoa powder
1 tsp chili pepper
Preparation:
1. Place the chopped chocolate in a large bowl and set aside.

2. Place the orange rind and the cinnamon stick with the cream in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, simmer until the cream just starts to boil. Remove from heat.

3. At this point you need to strain the zest and cinnamon from the cream and pour it over the chocolate. You can either hold a strainer at the lip of the saucepan and pour the cream directly over the chocolate, or if you don’t have a handheld strainer, you can place a colander in a bowl, pour the cream in the colander, and then remove the colander and pour the cream from the bowl into the chocolate.

4. Allow the hot cream and chocolate to stand for a minute, then whisk the mixture steadily but not too vigorously--you want it to be well-combined but without air bubbles. Whisk until the mixture is entirely smooth. This is your ganache.

5. Cover the ganache with cling wrap, placing the cling wrap directly on top of the ganache so that it is not exposed to air. Allow the ganache to set at room temperature for at least 4 hours, and preferably overnight. The ganache should not be refrigerated, because it might harden too rapidly and the texture will be spoiled. An overnight rest is preferable, because it allows the flavors of the orange and cinnamon cream and the chocolate to mingle and fully ripen.

6. When your ganache is firm enough to shape, scoop teaspoonfuls of ganache and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Repeat until you have formed as many truffles as you desire. Place the truffles in the refrigerator to harden for at least an hour.

7. Combine the cocoa powder and the cayenne in a shallow bowl or pie tin. Once the truffles are firm, coat your hand in cocoa powder and roll a truffle between your hands to get it round. Roll the truffle in the cocoa-chili mixture and place back on the baking sheet.

8. Once all the truffles are done, they can be stored in a single layer in an airtight container for up to a week. They are best served at room temperature when their flavor and texture is the best. Don’t let them get too warm.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

happy words

jelly beans
sunny d
grocery
snow
fire
michelle
duh
ding dong
napy nap
beer
tooth pick