Happy Valentine’s Day!
Tonight we are making heart-shaped individual pizzas at home with the boys. I just bought some already-baked pizza crusts and use scissors to cut them into hearts. Then I put out bowls with toppings so the boys can make their own, and sip pink bubbly while they bake!
Here’s are a few more Valentine favorites from previous years….
A holiday favorite in my family, this recipe from The Forest Feast cookbook has loads of garlic and goes quickly! Any herbs work, and brush it with egg for extra shine.
Hanukkah has just passed and Christmas is next week! Here are a few things that either I have (and love) or want, plus a fun gift wrapping idea. Most of these items can arrive before Christmas if you act fast!
Happy holidays!
x
Erin
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SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT by Samin Nosrat
DINING IN by Alison Roman
THE ESSENTIAL INSTANT POT COOKBOOK by Coco Morante
and of course….
THE FOREST FEAST (below) / THE FOREST FEAST GATHERINGS /
THE FOREST FEAST FOR KIDS — all links on Amazon Prime and can arrive in 2 days
plus a fun wrapping idea! a tea towel, a carnation & a polaroid ——>
The thinnest, most delicate rose gold ring from Ariel Gordon. I now wear mine daily and sleep in it too.
I recently got one of Great Honour Goods’ Flower Farm prints and LOVE it. It’s an aerial drone photo of a flower fields in bloom. Stunning! And they come in all sizes. (see below)
CANON SELPHY PRINTER: I use mine to print 4x6s from my phone in an instant. I put them on the fridge and mail them to the grandparents so easily!
CANDLES: I light a candle at dinner every night and try to use natural toxin-free beeswax candles. I can never have enough!
BEES WRAP: I was recently gifted some of this sustainable plastic wrap alternative and I love it!
SWISS-STYLE WOOL BLANKET. This has been on our couch for a couple years now, love it.
UMAMI MART: All my favorite barware and cocktail glasses are from Umami Mart. Especially these gold-rimmed tumblers (see below) and gold cocktail shaker. Treat-yo-self (or someone else… Dec. 19th is the last day to order for Christmas delivery.)
INSTAX POLAROID camera. SO fun! I like taking pics of people at parties and giving them the pic as a favor. Also makes a fun gift tag (see the video above!)
one of my go-to gifts for kids is a pizza garden kit and the book Pizza! An Interactive Recipe Book (or The Forest Feast for Kids :)
a membership to a meditation app like Calm. I like to listen before bed.
My favorite crimson-red holiday party dress I find it pretty flattering & forgiving. And warm. My mom borrowed mine to wear to a party last week and she looked great!
Moroccan Slippers - a friend brought me some from Morocco recently and I live in them around the house.
I want these leopard yoga pants!
Instead of “stuff” how about making a donation in someone’s name? Here are a few suggestions:
CSA, a California-based organization that fights poverty
Mazon, a national anti-hunger organization
North Valley Community Foundation- to help the recent California fire victims
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Wishing you and yours a warm and happy holiday!
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Disclosure: The Forest Feast participates in the Amazon Affiliates program and will receive a small percentage if items are purchased through the Amazon links above.
The Jewish high holidays begin this weekend and go on throughout the month of September. People often celebrate the Jewish new year (this Sunday), Rosh Hashana, with festive fall dinners 2 nights in a row. It's traditional to have apples slices dipped in honey as an appetizer or dessert (to sweeten the new year) and to enjoy fall produce such as pomegranates and figs. And we always serve a round challah which symbolizes the cycle of the year. We have been invited to a dinner on Sunday and are hosting one on Monday. In case you are planning a menu like I am, here are a few ideas. But this menu also works well for any fall gathering!
A pomegranate Aperol Spritz could also be fun and festive. For that, mix equal parts Prosecco and Aperol over ice, add a splash of club soda and garnish with pomegranate seeds.
Serve a platter with yellow and/or purple endive leaves for people to fill themselves. I set out small bowls of fig jam, crumbled blue or feta cheese, ricotta or cream cheese, caramelized onions (easy to make ahead), pomegranate seeds, sautéed butternut squash cutes, sunflower seeds or pine nuts and fresh thyme or cilantro leaves.
Happy New Year (Shana tovah!)...and happy fall cooking!
Because I work from home, I love to have some prepped salads on hand for lunch, so I can grab a healthy bowl and keep working. I made this yesterday and it was super filling and tasty! The added bonus was the sweet cherry tomatoes which came from a friend's garden.
LENTIL + SWEET POTATO SALAD
1 (15 oz) can lentils, drained & rinsed in a strainer
1 small sweet potato, baked for 1 hour at 375˚F (or until soft), then cooled & cubed
1/4 c diced red onion
1 c cherry tomatoes, halved
For the dressing: 1 t rice vinegar, 1 T olive oil, 1 t Braggs amino acid (or soy sauce), 1 t sesame oil. Add a grind of black pepper before serving.
Toss all ingredients in a bowl and enjoy immediately! It also keeps well for a day or 2 in the fridge. Use this as a base and add in what you have on hand! I made a second batch and added chopped radishes which was a tasty, crunchy addition. Other add-in ideas include feta, tofu, pumpkin seeds or fresh cilantro.
