Italian French Toast

I consider myself a connoisseur of French Toast, and having said that I think the only way you can really make a good French Toast is with challah, brioche if you're fancy, egg bread if you're not.

It is very difficult to find a challah in DC that rivals Publix's challah, which is just as good since I have graduated to whole wheat bread, but when it comes to French Toast healthy just doesn't make sense. 

What do I substitute for challah?  Panettone.  Made in Italy, Panettone is a dome of rich egg bread studded with raisins, currants and sometimes bits of orange.  They are a traditional Italian Christmas treat and Panettone french toast has become a bit of a tradition for our family.  Because Panettone stays fresh (and delicious) for a very long time, the shelf life of this recipe last long after Christmas ends.

Panettone French Toast Ingredients

1 medium sized Panettone 

4 eggs

1/3 cup of skim milk

1 tsp of vanilla

1/2 tsp of almond extract

2 tsp of cinnamon

1/4 tbsp of butter for the pan

In a medium sized bowl whisk together the eggs and the milk and then add the extracts and the cinnamon.  Some people like lots of cinnamon, if you're one of those people, add more.

Slice your panettone across the dome and then cut those pieces in half - I do this to make it easier to manage in the pan, but it also helps with the portion control :)

Dip each piece of pannettone into the egg mixture so that each slice is completely covered.

In a non stick pan, or a griddle pan, cook the slices so that they are golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes each.  Tip: use a flat, wide spatula to help maneuver the slices.  Because the bread has a softer texture than a wheat bread they can get  a bit flimsy in the batter.

Serve with your favorite jam, a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, syrup or nothing at all.  Enjoy!  Buon Appetito!

Looks like Christmas

It now officially looks like Christmas in my house.  There is a small tree and mini lights somewhat haphazardly wrapped around and their are small glass ornaments, and sparkly snowflakes and finally a "Giving Peace" and "Giving Hope" from the Pottery Barn collection.  The mantel even has cute, little stockings, sewed with care.

Christmas at the Movies

Growing up it was not uncommon to be at the movie theater on or around Christmas.  It is also not uncommon to find between my birthday (on Thanksgiving) and Christmas a LOT of Christmas themed movies.  Some of my favorites are A Charlie Brown Christmas, the Family Stone, Love, Actually, and A Mom for Christmas.  Adding to the seasonal line up, every TV Show does a Christmas special... last week's Brothers & Sisters was especially over the top.

A few weeks ago I got into the Christmas spirit on Tuesday night with Glee.  I know this is not newsworthy, or even that relevant anymore, but the episode was just... PERFECT.  

Modeled after the Grinch Who Stole Christmas this episode just filled me with GLEE.  Also, anyone think that Artie is perhaps McKinley High School's Tiny Tim?

Watch, enjoy, maybe cry a few tears! 

Merry (Early) Christmas!

Crafty for Christmas

This weekend I am going to endeavor into the world of Christmas crafts.  I have never had a Christmas tree, or hung stockings on a mantle, but as I told a colleague this week, when you have a real house and like decorating, it is hard to not get into the Christmas spirit.

I have spent weeks searching the Internet and have found many sources for pure decorating delight.  I find myself trending towards a vintage aesthetic, and really loving the soft, muted shades of silvers and golds that give the decor a little extra glamour.

Back in September I spotted this ornament in my regular Pottery Barn catalog.  Let me be real here, few companies, in my opinion, do holidays or "just perfect" seasonal decor better than Pottery Barn... Okay, so with that out of the way, I spotted this ornament in my regular Pottery Barn catalog in September, and then I was in love. 

Pottery Barn Ornament

It was a part of the Family Giving tree collection, and I was just captivated.  I love the sparkle, clearly, but more than that, I love the message of giving hope, peace and love, plus it reminded me of one of my all-time favorite books, The Giving Tree.

Pottery Barn Family Giving Collection Tree

 This is Pottery Barn's perfectly designed tree.  That is fake snow, but knowing the magic of Pottery Barn's catalog styling I am sure if they wanted to use real snow when they shot this catalog in May they could have done it -- quick call to Santa, of course.

I am also loving this mantle collection.  While Pottery Barn sells everything you see here, this would be really easy to achieve a) for a lot less, or b) with items you already own.  The aesthetic is simple: glass, candles and shiny... 

Pottery Barn Vintage Silver Mantle Collection

If you want more directional, categorized and yes, last minute decor shopping, check out ZGallerie - they have it perfectly broken down by color groups so you can design with guidance.  For a more modern twist of the shiny, happy holiday decor, Crate and Barrel is filled with pieces that are as perfect in December as they are in June.

I'll be sure to share with you my successes with holiday decorating after the weekend!

How would you decorate for the holidays?

Stuff the Stockings

We have already found the perfect gifts for presumably everyone on your list - seriously, did I forget anyone?  Now it's time to find the little items that fill a stocking and give the recipient glee.

Stocking gifts really should be on the smaller side in both size and price, but that doesn't mean they can't bring a whole lot of happy.

This is a big time favorite in our house.  If you live near a Trader Joe's they also sell it, I am not sure of the price but probably less than the $9.99 at World Market and definitely less than the $26.50 at Williams Sonoma.  Shop smart!

Peppermint Bark Tin at World Market

He might be working on spreadsheets and going 9-5, but let this stocking stuffer of drumstick pencil tease his inner rock and roll star.

Drumstick Pencils at Paper Source

This is a sweet gift for the little girls on your list.  Maybe you have a neice (or four!) who would love a sweet treat.

Naughty Nice Lip Gloss at Paper Source

Treat your holiday host, or the hostess you know with the mostest with a charming gift like these cheese knives, appropriately themed with an "Eat, Drink and Be Merry" engraving.

Eat, Drink and be Merry Cheese Spreaders by Williams & Sonoma

Homemade treats are often the least expensive thing you can make, and certainly filled with the most love.  Great tips, recipes and of course jealousy inducing images are all available with our dear friend, Martha Stewart.

Chewy Molasses Cookies by Martha Stewart

Will you have stocking this year?  It is actually a craft that I am going to try and make this weekend - it seems like the right thing to do now that we have a fireplace!  Good luck shopping - and have fun!

Getting Ready for Christmas Morning

Christmas is probably the one day a year when company is almost always around: they are there to eat dinner on Christmas Eve, there to open presents in the morning, and hello, someone even sneaks in in the middle of the night to steal cookies.  Which means the opportunity for picture taking, and frankly looking cute, if not at least presentable always exists.

After a large meal, and any last minute gift wrapping on Christmas Eve the idea of being cute a few hours later when little kids come running to your room squealing with Christmas glee can be a bit daunting.  However, I think I have solved the problem.

We spend Christmas at my brother and sister in laws' home, with their three kids.  So while I normally come down stairs in a cardigan and leggings, or a Juicy tracksuit (yes, it's true, just like Gabrielle Solis [Desperate Housewives fans, anyone?]), I'd like to add some holiday spirit to my early morning attire.

More Juicy Couture...

Row 1:  I love this set; its playful and even a bit sexy.  This sleepwear collection might be better saved for a Christmas for deux, and happily all of these items are completely wearable and appropriate all year round.  I have loved this robe for a while, as I think it would look just as pretty on a hook as it would on.

Row 2: This set, to me, is like an idyllic Christmas morning.  The long-john inspired p.j.s, the bow detailed socks and the extra ruffly robe are all about having fun and being young, and that is totally Christmas.

Row 3: I love this set, because it feels a little bit extra special to me.  I could totally see these pieces being featured on an episode of Oprah's favorite things (hey, O!).  The sparkle loungewear from Juicy Couture adds a little holiday shine as an alternative to sweats and a t-shirt, and the long robe is divine.

Some people say that there is nothing more luxurious than treating yourself to really nice pajamas, so maybe in all of your Christmas shopping, you pick something up for yourself too.  After all, you deserve it.