Games people play...

Game night, and another rousing round of Yahtzee, complete with custom score cards plus upgraded cup and dice. We're not messing around here... game night means serious competition and flowing conversation {in addition to the flowing wine}. I recommend finding a few good sports, selecting a game of chance {mixed with a bit of skill}, and modifying it to your liking... just make sure that all of the players know the new and improved rules!

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tastes: Milk Candy

My new favorite treat can be acquired, thank goodness, not far from where I live. It's a perfect combination of milk and toasted almond and reminds me of one of my favorite ice cream recipes. Such wholesome flavors, I fool myself that they are actually nutritious! The sweet little individual wrappers are decorated with cow spots and cartoon cows in muted colors. I get mine by the bag ($2.50 for 10 pieces) at the 101 Bakery in Boston's Chinatown. In addition to my favorite candies, they also have a wide array of sweet and savory treats, charmingly efficient displays, and irresistible individual cakes.

murray

otto
irving
leon
fred
morris
norman
irwin
murray
harold
walter
oscar


After a tough parting with our beloved {nearly 10-year-old} french bulldog, Ivan, we decided that we missed the pitter-patter of little paws around the house. Imagining that it would take quite awhile to find the perfect pup, we set out right away. And then we found the perfect pup right away... just our {good} luck! So, here he is, around 5 months old and growing like a weed. He is endlessly amusing and keeps us laughing every day.

An adventure film...

...tender & cruel

A love it or hate it sort of film from the French New Wave. I love many of its moments, adore its style, and especially love {always} Belmondo & Karina.

Frosted Chocolate-Almond Cookies

A hearty little dessert that is more like a mini-cake, these cookies can be made even easier by substituting a jarred spread for the frosting. I used Le Pain Quotidien's white chocolate Blondie, but a hazelnut spread or Nutella (with chopped hazelnuts instead of almonds in the cookie) would be delicious, as well. Any flavors that pair nicely with chocolate would work as a lovely variation on a theme.*

COOKIES
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
3 oz semi-sweet chocolate
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 raw almonds, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix butter and sugar in the bowl of a mixer at high speed until fluffy.
Mix in egg and extracts mixture.
Combine melted chocolate and mix well.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
Cover and chill for about 2 hours or until firm.

WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING
5 oz good quality white chocolate, chopped and melted
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
A pinch of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream

Mix together thoroughly.
Allow cookies to cool to room temperature before frosting.
Garnish with finely chopped raw almonds.

*Orange instead of almond...
Substitute 1 T orange zest and 2 T orange juice for almonds in the cookie dough. Garnish with finely chopped orange zest.

the dinner party

"Life is too short to drink bad wine or have

meals with people you don't like."

Mireille Guiliano


The return of the dinner party has been one of the surprisingly wonderful social shifts of late.
It's the perfect testing ground for experimenting with recipes that I otherwise would never get around to. And time with friends, eating and drinking around the home dining table, has quickly become one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. I now prefer it to going out for dinner. Unless, of course, it is someplace truly amazing...