What month is it again? Oh right, Happy New Year!

It is January 1, 2012.

This was our Christmas card, which I sent out by email at 10:00 p.m. on Christmas Day. Epic fail. 

What?!

I am going to start this post by apologizing for missing December. I am not even sure December happened at normal speed.

I am not going to try and explain the crazy. I will make a list. I like lists.

1. I worked. A lot. Let's see I think I was only in Tennessee and Georgia this month. But, oh the deadlines.

2. I made Christmas happen. I believe the holidays should be special and this was our first real, grown-up, "at home" Christmas. I got a tree, made stockings and cookies, wrapped presents, wrote cards (well, some cards), played music, and sort of nested. It was wonderful. I also watched the entire "Fireplace for Your Home" episode at least four times (it is on Netflix, check it out).

I made these stockings. Including the embroidery. It was intense. But they sure do look good with Fireplace for Your Home. 

The best baby Christmas Tree. 

Potica. A Croatian Christmas bread. 

3. I started and (almost) finished my first quilt. It will not be my only quilt. This was a magical experience and I am totally hooked. I am going to write a real post about this, for now I just need to say this process appealed to me creatively and aesthetically.

My quilt top. Clearly, I really like flowers.

4. I have spent a great deal of time with my friends who have become my family here in North Carolina. Then Derek's mom and step dad came to visit for New Years and we got to see them too!

Hi Julie!

5. My true love came home for two weeks (which are actually not quite over yet). There have been many meals, laughs, couch cuddles, episodes of Parks and Recreation, and long cups of coffee. I will miss him a great deal when he returns to Germany to work on his research.

My true love with the skin of a salmon we cured. Doesn't he look so manly?

Cured Salmon.

For now, I will just say Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012. It is going to be a great year. I know it.

I am going to come back soon (I know, show it, don't just say it) to share some of my treasured moments from the past couple of weeks and talk about the food. Oh the food! I have a brussels sprouts recipe that will blow your mind, without ruining any newly created resolutions.

Much love to all.

Pecan Pie for the Holidays

I am not the cool kid.

I mean I had friends and everything, I do not deserve your pity.

I was in band, I had really good grades, my backpacking buddy was my dad, and I worked for the science department (for three years!). No one hated me (they really liked me when they needed help with their science homework).

I am trying to say, I was not mocked. I just did not get invited to the cool kid parties (you know the ones with the booze).

That did not matter at all, because I had a great group of girlfriends and did not need to be cool to have fun. I did not miss it at all. I did not even really know we were not cool.

I am saying this because my bestest high school friend came to spend Thanksgiving with me. She is amazing and beautiful. Spending the weekend with her was good for my soul.

I made this tart for her. It has bourbon in it (for the win). You should make it for your loved ones for this holiday season.

Bourbon Pecan Tart
from Bon Appetit

1 12-inch round tart crust (I am going to just link to this amazing tart crust recipe that you should use for every sweet tart, this women is amazing)
3 large eggs
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups pecan halves or pieces (I prefer halves)


1. Follow the directions on the tart crust recipe to completely bake the tart recipe. The crust should be golden brown. 

2. Place pan with crust on rimmed baking sheet. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat in the corn syrup. Add butter, bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Beat until these ingredients are blended. Stir in the pecans (do not use the blender for this).

4. Pour the pecan filling into the crust. Bake about 25 minutes or until the filling is set (I find this takes a bit longer for me). Cool tart on a wire rack for one hour, then remove pan sides. 

5. Eat warm or at room temperature. This gets stale (soggy) if you make it too far ahead. I would not let it sit for more than 8 hours.

Christmas Vacation

This is my last day of Christmas vacation. This year, Derek and I went to Colorado Springs to visit Derek's family. It was pretty fun to see the family. It was also a very nostalgic trip.

Approximately a year and a half ago, I packed all of my earthly possessions into a moving truck in Denver, Colorado. We drove this vehicle across the country to North Carolina. I can say without reservations, that this was one of the best things I have ever done. I have no regrets. Still, Denver and Colorado were home for six years. I grew up in Denver. My first apartment was in Denver and the first time I lived alone was in Denver. Derek and I met and were engaged in Denver. My first fall down drunk moments were in Denver. I fell in love with food in Denver.

When we landed in the Denver I had a little pang. For a second, I felt like I was about to drive home. Home to an apartment that I loved, on Josephine Street just south of downtown. Then I remembered home is actually here, North Carolina.

Our Christmas present to ourselves was a new camera. This means, hopefully, the pictures will start getting better on this blog. It is super fancy, see the pretty pictures...

Is is just me or do colors look brighter with a fancy digital slr camera?

He looks good with more pixels.

Rosemary Blue Cheese Potato Tart