The Shop is popping up in Rochester this Sunday…
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You know when you're at a restaurant, and the server asks if you'd like to see the dessert menu? The answer is always yes, by the way, even if you don't end up ordering anything. But guess what would be my very last choice, every time, no matter what my dessert menu options were? Cookies!...
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We're in Gregorian calendar purgatory, and along with that comes the unwelcome melancholia that always seems to accompany the days following the holidays and the end of the year.
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Tomorrow, I'll be making personalized gift baskets with shoppers at Hart's Local Grocers, a neighborhood fresh and local grocery store in Rochester. It is the perfect time of year for this sort of event because I know I don't stand alone when I say that it feels like there are still so many people left to shop for! Whether it's for the holiday itself, or a host or hostess gift for holiday travel, this is when we start getting down to the wire for gifting...
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In transitioning my capsule wardrobe into winter, there were some serious holes to fill. I realized I wanted a couple more sweaters, among a few other things.
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Since we’ll be moving into our new house justttt before Christmas, we won’t have the time nor the desire to deck it out for the holidays. But, I still love the idea of making our place feel cozy and festive for our guests and us...
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We're all more than familiar with the story of the holiday party. We mark our calendars with events strewn throughout November, December, and early January, whether for work or with friends or with family, with every intention of not waiting until the last minute to a. buy gifts, b. wrap gifts, and c. find something to wear...
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I present to you: cookie induced nostalgia.
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Although deemed "naked" by today's cake-naming guidelines, this cake still has plenty of cream cheese frosting among its layers, enough to make up for all that's been lost. It therefore feels wrong and deceiving to call it naked, hence its new, more fitting name.
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Popovers are some kind of miracle. They’re what you might get if you crossed a pancake with a crescent roll, as strange as that sounds, but a better version of either, with crispy edges and a chewier texture. They’re an unfair version of “bread” with your meal because you won’t want to eat anything else on the table. And because of their otherworldly hybrid characteristics, they work just as well savory as they do sweet. I’ve made a gruyere version and I’ve made them with Parmesan and herbs, but I couldn’t help thinking how delicious these would be at brunch (Easter?!) with strawberry butter for sweeter vibes.
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I couldn’t possibly talk about raspberry linzer torte without using the circumstances to exploit my mom in regards to what was one of the funniest experiences of our lives to date.
Linzer torte has been a specialty of my mom’s for a long, long time. It’s always been her go-to dish for any sort of festivity. I’ve seen her make it countless times, have eaten the leftover raw batter until I felt sick, and have heard people rave about it.
But all that aside, the best thing that linzer torte has given me is this one story.
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Punch is such a communal way to drink a cocktail. I love it! It's the ultimate party drink, and it has been since childhood days.
Looking back at chorus concerts and band concerts in 4th grade, the best part (probably for all involved) was the mini reception afterward that undoubtedly served either lemonade or punch the old school way—with sherbet in it. This remained true for birthday parties throughout childhood, as well as in college for my sorority's events: punch was always a no brainer.
And now in adulthood, the idea of punch has had a bit of a rebirth, especially due to the recent cocktail Renaissance that I've been closely exposed to through Jon. His bar/restaurant, Ox & Stone, serves "Punch with friends" which is quite literally a big punch bowl with customized spirits for the group of friends who orders it. It's my favorite way to imbibe at Ox!
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How cute are bottle brush trees? After seeing so many evergreen colored varieties, I was thrilled to find these retro inspired ones a few months ago. I had to temporarily transport myself into Christmas mode to purchase them out of season for fear I’d never see them again. I also had to remind myself daily that I owned them for fear they’d end up in a random craft drawer or box, never to be seen again.
Alas, it’s Christmas time and my little DIY bottle brush snow globes are constructed and all is right with the world.
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For the person you're friendly with but don't know super well yet, but still want to gift with something thoughtful without spending a ton of money.
Your new boyfriend's parents, your co-worker for Secret Santa, etc. We've all been there and it can sometimes be the toughest gift to shop for.
I've crafted this affordable gift guide of less taste-specific, more palatable items that may feel more thoughtful than your go-to gift certificate.
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December is here! December is far and away the best (read here as the only acceptable) month of the winter. There is a crispness about the freezing cold air, an extra bit of warmth to every light that brightens the dark night sky, a certain magic in the stillness. The smells, sights, and sounds of Christmastime are nostalgic and exciting, whether you're five years old or fifty, and I love that.
I have been looking forward to this month since the beginning of The Pastiche because of all the holiday-oriented content I couldn't wait to talk about.
One of my very favorite things about the first days of December is slowly reintroducing Christmas music into my daily listening when cooking, cleaning, or having people over.
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This is a crowd pleasing cocktail for fall time, and especially for Thanksgiving. It even sounds like something to cozy up on the couch with: the Autumn Sweater. It has very few ingredients and is simple to throw together. In order to serve a group, you could also make a large batch of this in a punch bowl or other vessel (leaving out the hard cider so it stays effervescent), and top each glass with hard cider upon serving. It’s just sweet enough, while still being a fairly stiff drink. For my staunch Maker’s Mark-loving family, this is a way to turn the old standby into something a little more festive. And as the outcast who doesn’t love bourbon, I can still really enjoy this cocktail for its other seasonal and warming flavors.
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How wonderful are good memories? And I don't mean the specific details of your memories, but just how wonderful it is that we're able to feel nostalgic. There's nothing quite as rose-tinted as a good memory. Much like looking forward to things in anticipation, memories are also painted in the best light—an unsullied, unadulterated light. It is easy to be critical in the current moment, or to be distracted, or to wish things were slightly different. But when you look back fondly or you look ahead with excitement, everything seems to be painted in the most flawless light.
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