Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato

The perfect recipe to try out my new ice cream maker! Is it wrong that I'm totally willing to suffer (as I am a bit lactose intolerant) for this gelato? 

Moments

via K. Budig

Happy New Year 2012!

Happy New Year! Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful day. My resolution this year is to travel more. I would love to journey out of the country at least once (Mexico not included) before 2013.


In the new year, I would also like to ____


read for pleasure each day.
take more nature walks.
keep an herb garden.
take less and give more.
have patience.
open to grace.
ride my bike.
be a better friend.
try something new.






image via welcome back, oldtimer

Holiday Cookies

"White Christmas Dream Drops" via Sunset

(my first attempt at meringues!)

White Christmas

image via welcome back, oldtimer 

The sun is shining, the grass is green/The orange and palm trees sway/There's never been such a day/In Beverly Hills, LA/But it's December the 24th/And I'm longing to be up north/I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

Immersion Blender

Finally used this to make an asparagus soup (it was a birthday present from September). It's kind of amazing. My new favorite kitchen toy!

Red Quinoa Salad

1 C red quinoa
2 C chicken or vegetable broth
1 can black beans
1 can corn kernels
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 C red onion, finely chopped
3/4 C Cilantro salad dressing
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
avocado
zest of 1 lime

Recipe via Trader Joe's (on the back of their red quinoa box). Thanks for the heads up, LM! It's kind of amazing...even if you can't pronounce "quinoa" hah!