fête à fête

Talk about a breathtaking collection of Spring gifts from Vosges! Just in time to shower Mom with your adoration, here are some last-minute gift ideas to make her smile:

The Green Collection is a gorgeous celebration of life and is inspired by the spices, teas, fruits and flowers indigenous to Asia. The Ellateria truffle is a beautiful Indian green cardamom, while the Kaffir (Thai kaffir lime) is a nice interpretation of this exotic flavor. The Kayoko (Japanese macha green tea) goes very well with the white chocolate. I just loved the aromatic and earthy Buddha's Leaf (Malaysian pandan leaves).

For more of nature's bounty, the pretty Les Fleurs du Chocolat Collection will send you into a blissful dream of organic fruits and flowers. This limited edition collection includes Siam Citron (jasmine tea , lemongrass, coconut), Mirabelle Orange (mirabelle plums, orange flower water), Rose Vert (tarragon + rose water), and Platanos y Orchidus (orchid vanilla + caramelized bananas + Jamaican rum).

Lastly, the pièce de résistance...go splurge on the Red Velvet Party Cake. The sweet chocolate red velvet cake is layered with cream cheese & white chocolate ganache (oh my!) and organic New Mexican pecans. This Southern darlin' will thrill everyone, and it's encased in a flower embellished white chocolate shell. It's almost too darn cute to eat!

Buy at: www.vosgeschocolate.com

-Tami

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, chocolate truffles, food, gifts, Gourmet and Gourmand, holiday, organic ingredients

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are a few more ideas for all the gorgeous mamas in your life. Whether it's chocolate or perfume, moms everywhere definitely need some TLC!

Lily Lambert has a great new Goddess fragrance collection. Conjuring up ancient powers of femininity, the five scents convey the mystical powers of famed goddesses. From Athena to Damara, let your special mom bring out her inner goddess. I especially like the Coventina (plumeria, birds of paradise, and red berries). www.lilylambert.com

Coco-luxe has a luxurious Bundle of Love -the unique gift for the wonderful women in your life. A limited edition item, it's a 36 piece collection of signature truffles bundled up in a beautiful hand-dyed chocolate brown silk Devore satin scarf (measures 8" x 54"). All fête à fête readers get a 15% discount on all products - just enter the code MAY, and it will be effective for the entire month of May! www.coco-luxe.com

For moms-to-be, Belli pregnancy skin care has all the pampering goods to primp head to toe. A favorite amongst celebrity moms (Courteney Cox, Angelina Jolie, Heidi Klum), Belli products are safe enough for mom and baby. The Elasticity Belly Oil, Eye Brightening Cream, and Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen SPF-25 are perfect choices to protect against stretch marks, dark circles, and sun damage. www.belliskincare.com

Happy Mother's Day,

Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, fragrance, gifts, Holiday, perfume, shopping, skin care product

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the best ways to pamper mommy dearest on Mother's Day is to send her to Miraval, the award-winning retreat. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, AZ, it's the perfect place to show your mom some TLC.

Miraval offers luxurious focus on a balanced body, mind and spirit. Guests are free to create agendas that suit their whims, goals and mood. Amidst mesquite trees, wild flowers and stunning cacti, this paradise features a yoga center, spa, swimming pools, healthy gourmet cuisine, and a Zen garden. There are also tons of meditation, fitness and nutrition classes, as well as adventure challenges, hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Miraval offers special all-inclusive packages, including the favorite "Bring a Friend Special" -perfect for you and mom! Rates begin at $535 per night and the package includes:

* Luxury accommodations & use of complete resort facilities
* Three gourmet meals daily, unlimited snacks, evening hors d'oeuvres and all non-alcoholic beverages
* One spa service, or one round of golf up to a $125 value per room/per night of stay
* Unlimited access to all scheduled programs and activities
* Round-trip transportation from Tucson International Airport

www.miravalresort.com

-Tami

Tagged as: entertainment, health, holiday, Luxury, spa, travel

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Domestic Goddess strikes again! Trust Nigella Lawson to deliver another sassy cookbook for the busy home cook. With time-saving shortcuts, the Food Network celeb's latest title, Nigella Express, will provide inspiring menu ideas for every night of the week. The gorgeous photos will have you drooling as you run to the kitchen to try out all 130 recipes.

Craving Italiano? Just flip to the Hey Presto section and you'll find lightning-fast and yummy recipes for Pollo Alla Cacciatora, Black Pasta with Red Mullet, and Budino Di Cioccolato. Feeling Frazzled? Head to the Instant Calmer chapter for Cheddar Cheese Risotto or Rapid Ragu. Unexpected guests? Not a problem - just make the Curry in a Hurry from the Storecupboard SOS chapter. Check out the Scallops and Chorizo recipe below - it's a pretty crowd pleaser.

Scallops and Chorizo

I’ve long been a fan of scallops and bacon and scallops with chile, and this is my combination of the two, using chorizo — the sausage, not the salami — to ooze its paprika-hot orange oil over the sweet, white scallops. It’s quicker than the speed of light to make and quite as dazzling.

4oz chorizo sausage
1lb small scallops (halve them to make 2 thinner discs if they are very fat)
juice of half a lemon
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Slice the chorizo into rounds no thicker than 1/8 inch.

Put a pan on the stove to get hot and then dry-fry (the chorizo will give out plenty of its own oil) the chorizo rounds until crisped on either side; this should take no more than 2 minutes.

Remove the chorizo to a bowl and fry the scallops in the chorizo oil for about a minute a side.

Return the chorizo to the pan with the scallops, add the lemon juice, and let bubble for a few seconds before arranging on a serving plate and sprinkling with lots of parsley.

Serves 4 as a main course with the chickpeas and arugula that follow; would be fine with just a little leafage for 8 as a starter.

Recipe printed with permission from Hyperion.

www.nigella.com

See you in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, chef, cookbook, cooking, cooking techniques, dessert, dinner, food, food & drink, recipes

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Take advantage of the great Easter sale at Williams-Sonoma! Check out the darling Mini Iced Easter Sugar Cookies - once you munch on one, you can't stop! These tiny buttery cookies are baked in cute Easter shapes (bunny, egg, carrot, flower). They're so adorable that you don't want to eat them, but I still managed to attack a few. Prepared by a small family-owned Canadian bakery, these are made with real butter, fresh eggs, and are hand decorated with royal icing.

For a spectacular Spring centerpiece, the Moss & Strawflower Easter Basket with Chocolate Carrots will spark conversation at the table. The wire and sphagnum moss basket comes filled with six Guittard milk chocolate carrots wrapped in orange-and-green foil. The basket’s rim is also interwoven with marjoram and lavender stems and accented with sunny yellow strawflowers.

If you want to bake your own Easter goodies, the Williams-Sonoma Nonstick Goldtouch™ Insulated Cookie Sheet totally rocks. This baking sheet boasts a durable nonstick Goldtouch™ coating to resist scratches and peeling, while the insulated constriction ensures even browning. The two tin-free steel layers increases heat circulation, so cookies bake evenly throughout and emerge with a light golden crust. It won't rust or warp either. What a wonder baking tool.

www.williams-sonoma.com

Happy Easter!

Tami

Tagged as: baking, baking tools, confection, cookies, dessert, entertaining, food, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You don't need to host an elaborate Easter brunch to enjoy the fine confections from Vosges Haut Chocolat. The adorable Chocolate Easter Bunnies will make you smile - choose from the new Amalfi Bunny (lemon zest & pink peppercorn), or take home the Barcelona Bunny (smoked almonds & sea salt).

I didn't believe that pigs could fly...until now. The new Flying Chocolate Pig will make your taste buds sing. If you love the Mo's Bacon Bar like I do, you will appreciate this cute arrival. The solid chocolate pig combines applewood smoked bacon (yum), Alder wood smoked salt and deep milk chocolate (double yum). That's my definition of heaven.

If that's not decadent enough for ya, then go for Bapchi's Caramel Toffee. One of their top-sellers, the salty-sweet combo is a classic fave. I bet you can inhale the entire box in one sitting. The extremely addictive and oh-so-buttery toffee is sprinkled with pink Himalayan salt, then coated with deep milk chocolate. A coating of roasted organic walnuts and pecans provide the extra satisfying crunch.

The Exotic Caramel collection is becoming another favorite of mine. Not just your average caramel, these come in intriguing blends of Aboriginal anise myrtle, bee pollen, Tupelo honey, and blood orange juice. Your senses will be delighted with the whimsical flavors, all bathed in a luxurious layer of butter, sugar, cream, and chocolate.

www.vosgeschocolate.com

-Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate bar, chocolate truffles, chocolatier, entertaining, food, gifts, seasonal, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Drawing on the great multi-cultural history of American food, the editors of Saveur succeed in creating another gorgeous collection of delicious recipes in Saveur Cooks Authentic American. Filled with great photography and anecdotes of the recipes' origins, you will find traditional faves like meat loaf and apple pie, as well as matzo ball soup and carne picada burritos. From Italian family recipes in San Francisco to finger-lickin' ribs in Memphis, Saveur Cooks Authentic American is a tasty quilt of preserved tradition and culture.

White Beans with Linguiça Sausage

Portuguese fishermen and their families along the Rhode Island and Massachusetts coastline still prepare many traditional dishes from their homeland. This one is flavored with linguiça, a Portuguese-style sausage—but any dried, smoked pork sausage may be used instead.

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and minced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 ½ tsp. paprika
Freshly ground black pepper
½ lb. linguiça, sliced ¼” thick
¼ cup tomato purée
1 lb. navy beans or other dried small white beans
Salt
2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley

1. Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 20 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, then season with red pepper flakes, paprika, and black pepper.

2. Increase heat to medium. Add linguiça to onion mixture and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add tomato purée, beans, and 4 cups water and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until beans are tender, about 1 hour (though some types of beans may take considerably longer, depending on size and age). Season to taste with salt and garnish with parsley.

Serves 4-6

www.chroniclebooks.com

See you in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: Books, chef, cookbook, cooking, cooking techniques, food, food & drink, recipes

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Learn how to make the famous Chocolate Orbit Cake with John Scharffenberger (co-founder of Scharffen Berger) at the free Williams-Sonoma chocolate demo. John will also be signing copies of his cookbook, The Essence of Chocolate during the baking demo. It's a great book - I love the recipes in it, so grab a copy and try it out for yourself!

Wednesday, February 13
4pm
Williams-Sonoma
Union Square
340 Post Street
San Francisco, CA
415-362-9450

-Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate cake, cookbook, food, food demos, San Francisco, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rather than go through the usual motions of flowers and chocolate, here's a far more sexier and adventurous approach to woo your valentine. Jimmyjane has a great line of luxury gifts, from their coveted LITTLE SOMETHING vibrators (in 24K gold, platinum or steel) to their silky and flirty WINK blindfolds. For the ultimate indulgence there are the new gorgeous ETERNITY vibrators adorned with diamonds!

I love the EMBER candles - they do double duty as both scent diffuser and massage oil. Not only does it get you in the mood, the natural cosmetic-grade waxes and plant extracts will make your skin feel like butter. It has a low melting point so you won't burn yourself (well, you might be setting off your own fireworks in the process). The GINGER + DATE is warm and sensual, while the HABANERO + GRAPEFRUIT stimulates your libido.

www.jimmyjane.com

-Tami

Tagged as: fragrance, gifts, holiday, Luxury, scents, seasonal, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're in the NYC area during Valentine's Day weekend, don't miss the special dessert tasting from the new Dessert Studio at Chocolat Michel Cluizel. The daring and 'experimental' menu by Chef Will Goldfarb will consist of a 2-course dessert tasting, including a half bottle of champagne and chocolate bonbons. To give you an idea of the exciting desserts, the chef has featured a White Chocolate Gelato with Ligurian Olive Oil and Smoked Sea Salt.

Reservations: 212-477-7335

www.dessertstudio.com

-Tami

Tagged as: chef, Chefs and Confectioners, chocolate, chocolatier, dessert, holiday, pastry art, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Renowned chocolate artisan Recchiuti Confections has some of the most divine treats in the world, and there's no better way to shower your valentine with such love. The new Valentine Heart Motif Box is a flirty way of enjoying the signature Burnt Caramel flavor, while the Champagne Truffles are an elegant mix of rich, creamy dark chocolate and 2001 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs.

For a more traditional route, there is also the Valentine’s Day Large Box, filled with an exotic assortment of flavors such as Cardamom Nougat, Star Anise & Pink Peppercorn, Lavender Vanilla, Spring Jasmine Tea, Sesame Nougat, Rose Caramel, and Fleur de Sel Caramel.

www.recchiuti.com

-Tami

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, chocolate truffles, chocolatier, dessert, food, food & drink, gifts, Gourmet and Gourmand, holiday

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Local lovebirds in SF can celebrate Valentine's Day with the “Spin the Bottle” event at the XYZ Bar at W San Francisco. Co-hosted by Jimmyjane, the flirty event will let participants play the exclusive W Hotels + Jimmyjane SPIN ME game, which includes many provocative and racy adventure games.

Spin the Bottle Event
XYZ Bar at W San Francisco
181 Third Street
Thursday, February 14, 2008
6pm - 8pm

Guests will also be able to enjoy Valentine cocktails, such as the ones below:

ROSE PETAL

1 ½ oz Finlandia Cranberry vodka
¾ oz Cointreau Liqueur
1 oz fresh lemon juice
Float of Champagne
Method: shaken and served up. Finished with a champagne float
Garnish: sugared rim

RASPBERY TRUFFLE

1½ oz Stolichnaya Razberi Vodka
¾ oz DeKuyper light Crème de Cacao
½ oz Chambord Liqueur
Method: shake Vodka and Crème de Cacao and serve up. Float Chambord
Garnish: a cocoa rim

See you at the XYZ!

Tami

Tagged as: cocktail recipe, cocktails, holiday, recipe, San Francisco, San Francisco event, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If chocolates are not your thing, try making your own Valentine presents with the new Crown Heart Cupcake Pan from Williams-Sonoma. Producing six large cupcakes with big heart-shaped tops, it's a lavish way to say 'I love you'. The pan’s steady carbon-steel construction results in uniform baking, with a fantastic nonstick release.

No time to bake? You can also send some lovely Parisian Macarons. Two delicate and chewy cookies are combined with an airy buttercream (chocolate, vanilla and espresso). Made by pastry chef Jean-Yves Charon, they are guaranteed to be the real thing. Ooh la la...

www.williams-sonoma.com

-Tami

Tagged as: baking, cupcakes, dessert, entertaining, food, gifts, Gourmet and Gourmand, holiday

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Everyone loves a good love story, and Vosges Haut Chocolat interprets one of the greatest romances with their Gatsby Truffle Collection. Perfect for Valentine's Day, this will most definitely set some hearts a-flutter. There are two sublime flavors - one is a white chocolate ganache with rosewater and rosé Champagne (called the Daisy truffle), the other a dark chocolate with brut Champagne (Gatsby truffle). The gift comes with love letters that you can woo your darling with, so you don't even have to compose your own!

For the foodie lover, the Collezione Italiano makes for a very unique gift. The palette of flavors in this collection is Katrina Markoff's most creative one yet. Made with Taleggio cheese, organic walnuts and Tahitian vanilla, the Rooster truffle is simply indescribable. It will make you rethink how truffle flavors are formed as your tongue plays with the savory and sweet. The Olio d'Oliva is another unique combo with white chocolate, Kalamata olives, and extra virgin olive oil.

I could go on and on about this, but all the flavors are winners, such as the Balsamico (12-year-old balsamic vinegar from Modena), the Sale del Mare (Sicilian sea salt caramel-so yummy), and the Polline di Finocchio (wild Tuscan fennel pollen).

There are many other great ideas to stir your lover's heart. The dark chocolate covered Caramel Marshmallows are deliciously decadent with a nice thick layer of French Guerande sea salt caramel. The Amalfi Flaming Chocolate Heart is another cute trinket, a total rock-and-roll passion with lemon zest and pink peppercorns. Alternatively, the Aphrodisiac Mini Bar Box has all the spicy flavors to ignite the flames, with ingredients such as curry, cinnamon, and Pasilla chili peppers.

www.vosgeschocolate.com

-Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate bar, chocolate truffles, chocolatier, confection, gifts, holiday

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Coco-luxe has a playful trio of Valentine's Day truffle flavors to show your undying devotion. With flavors such as Champagne, Pure Devotion, and Roses, you will be scoring major brownie points (and hopefully their affection) with your loved one. I especially like the Roses flavor - a white chocolate ganache with rosewater and honey. Talk about a fragrant delight!

www.coco-luxe.com

-Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate truffles, chocolatier, confection, gifts, holiday

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

San Franciscan chocophiles will be eager to check out the Culinary Muse's informative and fun chocolate tasting at the Scharffen Berger store (SF Ferry Building) during the fifth annual “FOOD FROM THE HEART” Slow Food benefit on Friday, Febrauary 8. From 5:00-8:00 p.m. the public will be able to peruse through many tasty hors d’oeuvres ($2 - $4 per taste) and wine tastings ($6 per glass). This is a great chance to load up on the Valentine's gifts. There will also be music and tango dancing! That will sure get your heart fired up for some amour!

For more info, check out www.culinarymuse.com/2008/01/food-from-the-h.html

-Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, events, food, gifts, Holiday, San Francisco, San Francisco event, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hearts will go a-flutter this Valentine season with Jin Patisserie's thoughtful truffle flavors and artful gift boxes. Award-winning pastry chef Kristy Choo's new delicacies include a chocolate coated caramel infused with Toupet De Legumes (tomato blossom tea), cute chocolate hearts, a special chocolate Valentine’s cake, and a gorgeous square chocolate box (yes, really made of chocolate) filled with truffles.

From the signature truffle collection there are unusual flavors of Mango Kalamansi, Chrysanthemum, Yuzu, and Roasted Black Sesame. Very bold flavors in adorable dainty squares. They are almost too pretty to eat!

For more sweet gift ideas, visit www.jinpatisserie.com

-Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate truffles, gifts, Gourmet and Gourmand, holiday, pastry art, pastry chef

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's not too early to think about what to gift your dear Valentine. Luckily for you, Mademoiselle de Margaux of France has a couple très délicieux ideas. La Guinette is a terrific confection made of slightyly tart morello cherries soaked in Armagnac, then dipped in rich dark chocolate. It's like having the ultimate cherry bombe dancing in your mouth as the Armagnac warms your throat. Ooh la la...

Another beautiful confection, Le Raisin, is a lush combination of whole rum soaked grapes bathed in dark chocolate. Handcrafted from locally grown grapes, these have a slight crunch to the texture. I can't decide which one I like better, but you can't go wrong with either one of these gift boxes for your sweetheart. You might be showered with chocolate kisses, that much I can predict for you if you get them.

Available at www.chefshop.com.

-Tami

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, confection, gifts, holiday

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's a great tiramisu recipe from AllChocolate.com, the online resource for all things chocolate. It has tips on how to do wine-choco pairings, plenty of tips on how to cook with chocolate, and much more. Check it out!

Chocolate Tiramisu

4 ounces DAGOBA 59% Dark Chocolate, chopped*

3 large eggs, separated

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy cream

Pinch of salt

1 cup espresso or very strong brewed coffee, cooled

About 20 store-bought Italian ladyfingers

Directions:

Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of about 1 1/2 inches of nearly simmering water, whisking until smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and let cool.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the egg yolks and sugar in a large deep bowl for about 8 minutes, until thick and pale and the mixture forms a ribbon when the beaters are lifted. Add the mascarpone and vanilla and beat on low speed just until light and fluffy. Add the cream and beat on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, or until the mixture is doubled in volume and still loose. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate.

With the clean beaters of an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the egg whites and salt in a medium bowl just until the egg whites form soft peaks when the beaters are lifted. With a whisk or a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, one-third at a time, just until blended.

Pour the espresso into a shallow bowl. Dip 9 or 10 of the ladyfingers, 2 at a time, into the espresso for about 30 seconds, or just until saturated; if you leave them in too long, they will fall apart. Arrange them in an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish, cutting or breaking them to cover the bottom. Cover the ladyfingers with half of the chocolate mixture. Repeat dipping the remaining 9 or 10 ladyfingers into the remaining espresso in the same way, and arrange on top of the chocolate mixture. Spread with the remaining chocolate mixture. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 8 hours, or up to 2 days.

Spoon into bowls and serve chilled.

Serves 6 to 8

www.allchocolate.com

-Tami

Tagged as: baking, cake, chocolate, dessert, entertaining, holiday, recipes

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Another great stocking stuffer, Lou Seibert Pappas' The Christmas Cookie Deck is a great way to celebrate the winter holidays with friends and family. Handy and convenient, it includes 50 easy-to-follow recipe cards that include many classic holiday favorites (Gingerbread, Frosty Snowmen, Lebkuchen, Florentines). The Persimmon-Date Cookies and Embossed Macadamia Stars are also tempting recipes to use for gift bags and party platters. Try the Springerle recipe below - your warm kitchen will be filled with a festive scent of spices...

Springerle

This centuries-old German cookie is stamped with a carved wooden mold to create an embossed design.

2 eggs
2 cups powdered sugar
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tsp. baking powder
Dash salt
Aniseed for coating
Baking sheet

Using an electric mixer with a whisk beater, beat eggs in a bowl at high speed until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until very thick, about 5 to 10 minutes. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and beat well. Place in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour.

Dust baking sheets lightly with flour and sprinkle with aniseed. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 3/8-inch thick. Dust surface of dough with flour and smooth with fingertips. Press the mold into dough and lift up. Using a knife, cut out cookies and lace on baking sheet. Let dry overnight at room temperature; do not cover.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until white on top. Transfer to racks.

Store in an airtight container up to 2 months.

Makes about 2 ½ dozen.

www.chroniclebooks.com

Photo credit: Frankie Frankeny
Recipe used with permission from Chronicle Books.

Happy Holidays!

Tami

Tagged as: baker, baking, confection, cooking techniques, dessert, entertaining, gifts, holiday, recipe box, recipes, Winter

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Special Beauty Event Alert!!

Come meet Gina Brooke, Artistic Director of shu uemura at this special Atelier Artist event! As a sought-after celebrity makeup artist to the stars (Madonna, Gisele Bundchen, Eva Longoria, Cindy Crawford), Gina will be at the SF boutique for one day only to create a new custom look for you.

This is truly a rare opportunity to learn a few industry makeup tricks from the very best authority in beauty and skin care. You can also check out her great Muse holiday collection for more inspiring holiday looks!

Schedule your appointment today by calling 415-395-0953.

Friday, December 28
11am - 7pm
shu uemura SF boutique
1971 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

www.shuuemura-usa.com

-Tami

Tagged as: blush, cosmetics, events, eyeshadow, false eyelashes, lip color, lip gloss, lipstick, makeup, Northern California, San Francisco, San Francisco event, skin care, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm usually a staunch bake-it-from-scratch kinda gal, but the new Williams-Sonoma holiday baking mixes have convinced me to bend the rules a bit. They are so well blended that no one will really know (unless they're the secret baking police) that you didn't really make it from scratch. Best of all, they are also easy to use. It's like fun baking, minus a few tedious steps!

The buttery Classic Sugar Cookie Mix is a great standard mix. No holiday party would be complete without a plate of these treats, whether they're decorated or simply sprinkled with colored sugar. Created by the award-winning Dancing Deer bakery , this all-natural mix is easy to prep – just add butter and eggs. It yields a lot of cookies (about five dozen), so you can decorate them to your heart's content. They can also be stored in the cute old-fashioned decorative tin.

Inspired by the traditional holiday drink, the Eggnog Poundcake Mix has a nice eggnoggy taste, but it's not too rich at all. In fact, you'll be eating more than one slice. Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, ground cinnamon and nutmeg are added for an extra holiday oomph. Just add water and butter, and voila! Instant elegant dessert. Great by itself, with hot cocoa, or tea. Or, you can slather on a thick layer of fudgy choco sauce for an ultimate indulgence. Go ahead, you've been nice all year, treat yourself...

www.williams-sonoma.com

See you in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: baker, baking, baking mixes, cake, dessert, entertaining, food, holiday, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I love rocky road and was lucky enough to discover the latest local artisan confection Droga from Good Addiction. Founder Michelle Bordin has refined her 25-year-old family recipe so perfectly that these hand-made chocolate treasures are flying off the shelves in gourmet shops.

Definitely not your average rocky road - it has fresh dry-roasted and salted peanuts wrapped in rich milk or dark chocolate. With that lovely salty/sweet flavor combo, you're gonna float on cloud nine with each bite. Yum! They also feature single-serving mini boxes for party/wedding favors or corporate events.

Available at Whole Foods (Northern CA), specialty gourmet shops (see www.goodaddiction.com/instores.html) and online: www.goodaddiction.com

Photo credit: Aya Brackett

-Tami

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, confection, dessert, food, gifts, Gourmet and Gourmand, holiday, Northern California

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seductive and provocative, Kismet is the latest creation by celebrated San Franciscan perfumer Yosh Han. A gorgeous melange of narcissus, Roman chamomile, osmanthus and boronia, it contains layers of cedar and frankincense. Hay, dill, tumer