It's A Good Thing

So I saw Martha yesterday. She says hello. Well, maybe not but she was really friendly and I know if I'd actually spoken to her she would have totally wanted me to say hello. I went into NYC with a group of 11 other women to a taping of The Martha Stewart show and, love her or hate her, this was so much fun.

Where to begin??? Well, how about with the fact that while we were still queuing outside to get into the studio we were told that Martha was taste testing a new brownie mix and a new chocolate chip cookie mix and we would need to sample one and give our opinion. Hey, somebody's gotta do it. When you book tickets to the show you have no idea what will be happening the day you are there but how lucky were we that she just happened to be taste testing brownies and cookies today? FYI-they were good!

Once inside the building we went thru a security check, then a coat check, then we signed the waivers saying they can use our image on television or pretty much anywhere, then we sat and sampled the brownies and looked around at the marketing genius that is Martha Stewart Inc. Wow...is there anything she doesn't do?

Before long we were instructed to turn off our mobile phones and not to shout out during interviews and then they tell us about today's show. The very funny Joey Kola came out for this bit.

He was fun and had us all laughing and then he said all the shows are great and there is always a nice little goody bag for audience members to take home. And then he winked winked and said we happened to have been chosen for a particularly good show because our little goody bag was better than your average day at Martha Stewart.

Our show will be the first one aired in the New Year, on January 4th. There were beautiful Christmas trees and assorted Christmas decorations around the perimeter of the room but they weren't in any of the shots because hello, Happy New Year!

And then Joey tells us the theme of today's show....overall body health. Huh? Didn't you just ask me to taste a brownie and a chocolate chip cookie? But you know what? The show was good. It was fun. Martha is relaxed and she smiles alot and chats with her guests and they didn't retape anything and oh wow did we get us an extra nice goody bag. More on that in a minute.

Before the taping began we were given some instructions regarding clapping...you know the whens and the how longs and the how louds....we practiced a few times so they could be sure we were trustworthy when it came to clapping and then out came Martha. There were seven segments to the program and it moved quickly. There really aren't any bad seats and there are screens mounted overhead in case a camera temporarily blocks your view and believe me when I say there were a whole lot of cameras. There was also a whole lot of staff...we could not get over how many people were working on this show.

The first guest was Dr. Junger who has written a book called Clean and we're not talking housekeeping here. Remember today's theme? Yeah...he talked about a 21 day de-tox which he recommends although four or more days is okay too. He ran thru the sample menu to follow while you're doing the 'cleanse' and it involves two liquid meals each day (breakfast and dinner) and then a sensible lunch (he suggested poached salmon with fennel). Now the sensible lunch bit sounds fine but let me just tell you the color of the breakfast drink was a little bit off putting and even Martha made a face when she tasted it. She much preferred the dinner drink which was made with fruit and veg too but wasn't a funny color. And I'm fairly certain you are not permitted to substitute a nice glass of Merlot for the 'juice' even though it is technically a dinner drink made with fruit. I think the de-tox is kinda like no caffeine, no fat, no alcohol, no sugar, no fun however I'll confirm this after I finish reading his book because that was gift number one in the goody bag.

So, I'm sitting there kind of thinking about the bread and cheese I ate in France and the Christmas cookies I intend to eat in New Jersey and I'm coming around to the idea of the de-tox. We're clapping and laughing and I'm all caught up in the moment and I think I might just try it. Guest number two was Dr. Someone (sorry), head of Prevention Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. For years there have been various diets out there called the Mayo Clinic diet but none of those have ever been connected in any way to the Mayo Clinic until now. He told us this is not so much a diet (don't they always say that???) but more a plan for eliminating bad habits and forming some good habits. What he said made a lot of sense and he also has a book and yes indeed we did get a copy of that too.

Then he and Martha whipped up something that Martha absolutely loved in this fantastic Breville juicer which I will definitely be trying because Merry Christmas...they gave every member of the audience one of the fantastic Breville juicers!

I couldn't believe it...it's a really nice gift and we didn't even have to lug it around NYC because we just go online, plug in our code and wait for it to be delivered to our front door. Hopefully not anytime before Christmas though because I don't think I want to see it in my kitchen when I'm sneaking a buttercream out of the frig.

There was still more fun and next up was an editor from Body and Soul Magazine (yeah, we got that in our goody bag too)

who prepared a couple of healthy dishes and gave some tips on adding flavor without calories. Two women from the audience went up and shared their food challenges and then Martha's personal trainer be-bopped out to talk about exercising during detox. And the whole time she was talking she and Martha were jumping on these little rebounder trampolines for which Martha earns my utmost respect. I most definitely would no way ever be jumping on a trampoline on national television.

Once the actual taping was over we could take some pictures and Martha said she'd answer a few questions from the audience...really she was just so relaxed and casual and actually very funny. And she didn't scold me once for taking a short holiday in the middle of December or spending my first day home having fun in the city instead of checking off at least one of the approximately eleven hundred and ninety two items on my to do list. And y'all...It's a good thing.

Marche de Noel

La France est merveilleuse. I'm not sure I need to say anything more but of course I will. Spending the weekend in Strasbourg was like being placed ever so gently inside a picture postcard....what an absolutely lovely little storybook town. The entire historic city center is a World Heritage Site.

I've been to the Christmas markets in several German cities over the past few years and I absolutely love them, but the market in France was different. It was very... French. I know it sounds like stereotyping but it's true...the French have a way of making things beautiful that seems completely effortless. As in, of course we'll hang Baccarat crystal chandeliers down the cute little side street...

why wouldn't we?

And the tree in the town center? A huge mass of blue and white lights...not too many and not too few...just right don't you think?

And the little wooden village that sits at the base of the tree? So sweet!

Walking thru the market stalls in Strasbourg you see thousands of delicate ornaments arranged ever so carefully by color and shade...

the scent of chocolate and coconut (oh yes indeed there were macaroons) floats thru the air...

the sound of cathedral bells rings out overhead

and this all comes together so gracefully...

you feel inspired...you dream...you are happy

You wander and look and taste and smell and buy. There is champagne that tickles your nose and wonderful cheese and undeniably the world's best bread...there are sweet little Christmas decorations, beautiful table linens,

miniature houses that hide a candle inside, fabulous scarves and jewelry and chocolates and gingerbread. Oh and did I mention the Alsatian pottery?

I know.

We arrived in Strasbourg on Friday afternoon by train from London with an all too brief stop in Paris. We all agreed that it might actually be a crime to travel thru Paris without enough time to stop for a peek or at least to sit for a while at an outdoor cafe. This is the train station Gare du Nord and yes of course that is an amazing little chocolate shop sitting right there in the station.

It sits very nearby to the amazing little sandwich shop. (See paragraph 1 regarding the French).

I cannot talk about France without at least eight hundred references to food and someone please please tell me how these French women stay so thin because the bread y'all...I actually have no words. (And of course in my case that is just an expression).

We ate in the cutest little bistro on Friday evening and their specialty? Why bread and cheese naturellement...I had brie drizzled with warm honey then melted over thick bread and topped with walnuts. Isn't that what you make for dinner most nights?

Saturday we spent the entire day in the markets and also walking thru the magnificent cathedral. The stork is the symbol of Strasbourg and it is everywhere, including carved into the sandstone atop the massive Gothic Cathedral Notre-Dame.

We stopped for lunch at a creperie that sat just outside the cathedral. We shared a savory and a sweet...the banana nutella crepe was tres bon!

Saturday evening we dined on fondue in a restaurant which is known for having the biggest cheese board in the world.

And after all that cheese a walk was definitely in order but that was wonderful too because every shop window and street in this little town was beautifully decorated...

I haven't even begun to talk about my whirlwind two days in England but this post is getting (has gotten?) l-o-n-g so I'll save that for another day. Sorry and you're welcome.

I will wrap it up for now with this-

France is amazing.

The city of Strasbourg is beautiful.

And having these friends to share it all ...

absolutely priceless.

I see London I see France

Remember that rhyme from the playground? I keep saying it because, as they say in the UK, I'm taking a short break for a girls weekend in London and France. I'm technically only in London for two days but they will be jam packed. I hope I can stay awake for all the fun. I arrive in the morning and will go to a Christmas luncheon filled with old friends and then on to Christmas bunco Thursday night. I'm going to try and say hi to my old neighbors and my old house too. I hope my heart can take it.

Friday morning I'll take the train to France with my friend L. We are going to Strasbourg but we have to change trains in Paris. We will have to walk between stations so at least I'll get a glimpse of Paris this trip. Sigh. I've never been to Strasbourg but I've heard it is beautiful. I'm looking forward to shopping at the Christmas market, dining on French food, and most especially catching up with two more friends who are meeting us there. So much talking to do...it will be like a Jr. High sleepover except without the drama and without anyone telling us to go to bed. That's okay... I can sleep in January.

Have a great weekend...Joyeux Noël

Hey Hey Macaroona

Sorry. I've been baking macaroons this afternoon and consequently I have the macarena tune stuck in my head. I'm easily entertained.

First sentence and I'm already off track. An-y-way...as I was saying-macaroons. Oh my. This is the first time I've tried this particular recipe and it is most definitely a keeper. And because it's the Christmas season and I'm all about sharing I'm going to post it here so you can love it too. The recipe calls for almond paste which I found on the baking aisle of my regular supermarket. It is a little bit pricey. I think I paid $5.69 but may I just say that these macaroons are worth every single solitary cent.

The reason for all the baking today is because I'm going to a cookie exchange tomorrow. Actually tomorrow I am the co-host of a cookie exchange. I'm not entirely sure how that happened but one minute I was explaining to a friend how I used to organize my cookie exchanges so as not to make people crazy with the baking and the next thing I knew I was being introduced at a meeting as the organizer. I don't mind though...it's not going to be at my house because did I tell you I AM GOING TO FRANCE this week (Sorry for the shouting but I'm a teensy bit exited) and I didn't feel like I could have 25 people in my house for lunch the day before.

For this exchange you only have to bring three dozen cookies creatively and/or beautifully packaged in three containers of one dozen cookies each. And of course because I'm organizing it there will be a prize to the person who brings the most creatively/beautifully wrapped package. I'm all about the prizes people. I bought these cute containers at The Christmas Tree Shoppe to hold the cookies I'm bringing but I did seal them in a plastic bag before placing them in the houses.

I had an exchange like this one every year before I moved overseas. The container portion became more competitive than the cookie portion because the first year I hosted it a friend who is an artist painted beautiful bird houses to put her cookies in and there may have been a little scuffle when it was time to choose. We drew numbers and it was nice and orderly after that. Oh and btw, that very cute little baker is not part of the deal.

He's actually a smoker that belongs to daughter2...she and I went to the German Christmas markets together for several years and she loves to bake and she loves cotton candy so he was a perfect gift. You put a small piece of incense inside and smoke comes out of his mouth. She'll have a home of her own to decorate one day but for now he is happy in my kitchen.

Back to tomorrow....besides the cookie exchange we're going to have a pot luck lunch and there will be an ornament exchange too. And yes, this will be my third in a little over a week but hey, my trees are happy. And my husband's co-workers will be happy tomorrow too because the extras gotta go somewhere because did I mention I'M GOING TO FRANCE THIS WEEK?

Now for the recipe which was after all, the point of this post....if you love coconut you must try these...your taste buds will thank you. Your hips will not. As it happens I do believe the French are kind of known for their macaroon baking prowess and French women are notoriously thin so perhaps there is nothing to worry about. I'm thinking a little comparison taste testing will be in order once I get to Strasbourg...I'll let you know how they measure up.

Coconut Almond Macaroons

3 TBSP. almond paste

1 tsp. vanilla

4 large egg whites, divided

1 1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

3 1/2 cup flaked sweet coconut

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Combine almond paste, vanilla and 2 egg whites in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until blended. Combine powdered sugar, baking powder and salt and add this to the almond mixture. Beat until well blended. Stir in coconut. Put remaining two egg whites in a bowl and whip until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar 1 TBSP at a time until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg white mixture into coconut.

Drop dough by level TBSP , 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 17 minutes or until firm. Cool in pan on wire rack 2-3 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely. Makes 32 macaroons.

Santa! I know him!

Okay so who doesn't love Elf?

Our little town hosted a German Christmas Market this weekend so yesterday hubs and I spent a couple of hours walking thru the stalls there. Our little town sits on a beautiful lake and the market was set up on the boardwalk. All the key ingredients were present....a few German crafts, lots of German food, frigid temperatures, gluhwein to keep you warm, lots of snowflakes falling, and of course Santa.

There may not have been a World Heritage Site cathedral like you'll see if you visit the market in Cologne...

or the remains of the Wise Men like you'll see if you go inside the cathedral in Cologne....

and the stalls may not have been strategically placed and beautifully lit just outside the magnificent cathedral like the ones you will see if you visit Cologne...

and you won't have a whole gang of good friends who are willing to examine every Nutcracker, smoker, and pyramid like you had when you visited the market in Cologne, but...

there is a fun sign to mark the entrance....

there is Bratwurst which is essential to Christmas Markets everywhere...like the one in our little town...

and the one in Cologne....

and while the markets are really festive in Cologne....

things are pretty festive here too....

There may not be a magnificent cathedral...

but there is a view like this one...

which is also pretty nice.

Par-tay!

So I know you're all dying to find out if I stooped so low as to snag my own gift at the party last night and the simple answer to that is no. I will confess though that it was not because I wasn't willing but more because...here's the best part...I was the last name drawn...whoohoo! If you've never done one of these exchanges before then you need to know that being last is really like being first. Kinda like winning before the game even begins. If you are last then you get your choice of any gift out there. Well almost any gift because there are always those women who latch onto something and give you a sob story about why they must absolutely have that gift and they put it under their chair or in their lap so you kinda forget its out there and they also tend to play the guilt card which makes you feel like you'd be the lowest form of life for even thinking about taking the gift they chose so you don't. You think really really hard about it but you don't.

Anyway, I chose a gift certificate to a little French bistro here in town that everyone raves about but I haven't managed to get to yet. I love me some jewelry but dining out just might be my love language so its all good. Daughter2 is coming home in less than two weeks and since she is coming directly home to her mama and not making any side treks to the boyfriends house she may just get treated to lunch out at the French Bistro. See it pays to come straight home to mama.

Today I'm baking a chocolate pound cake to take to a party. And guess what...there's an ornament exchange which will be done in the same fashion as last night's gift exchange. I really hope I don't embarrass my husband. He really hopes so too.

While I was baking my cake the piano tuner arrived to tune the piano. Duh. We ended up leaving our piano in England and buying a piano from the people who were selling this house. My husband hit one note on the piano shortly after we moved in and declared it way out of tune. Daughter2 who is my pianist said the same. I am not the person to ask since it all sounds like music to me but the piano tuner confirmed their diagnosis. He gave me all the technical mumbo jumbo but let me summarize for you. The number that is not supposed to be above an 8 ranges anywhere from 56-87 on our piano. Even I don't think that's good. He is going to have to make a second trip out because it seems you can only move it 50 whatevers at one time so while it is hugely improved it is still a teensy bit off key. So he says...it's all music to me. He did play a beautiful Silent Night for me before he left and he also solved a little piano mystery we had going here. There is an electrical chord tucked under one edge of the piano and we had no clue as to what it was for. Turns out there is a dehumidifier inside the piano. The things one learns. Anyway, our piano is sitting in our little sunroom and this may very well be my favorite room in the house. Because its sunny...did I need to say that? As it happens all that fluctuating temperature isn't so great for the instrument so what to do? I really don't want to move the piano and I really don't want to put anything on the windows because the windows y'all...they make the room.

It's a conundrum. I love that word and am happy I finally found an excuse to use it on my blog. Here is a photo of said piano.

And here is a close up of the adorable little hand carved wooden Nativity that now sits upon said piano. I bought this at the Christmas Market in Cologne Germany last December and it is so sweet.

Pictures do not turn out very well when taken in the sunroom because did I mention the windows? Can windows make you happy because these definitely make me happy. Unless I glance out and happen to witness a massacre of sorts but other than that yes, I think windows can make you happy. And so can German Christmas markets. And French markets. Which is where I will be exactly one week from today. Et je suis très excitée.

Everything you wanted to know but were too busy to ask

I'm heading out in just a little while to a dinner party with the women in my neighborhood book club. We are having one of those gift exchanges where you can steal from each other and I'm a little bit afraid my inner competitor might come out in front of women I really don't know all that well. I bought a super cute bracelet from J Crew and I need to know if it's considered bad form to pick your own gift because I'm totally thinking about it. Check back tomorrow to see if I took anyone out in all my excitement.

Now how 'bout some fun? Missy at It’s Almost Naptime posted this on her blog today and since I’ve been at the MallPierOneTargetTheChristmasTreeShoppegrocerystore all day it seemed like a bit of fun might be in order. Feel free to copy and paste to your own blog too…with your own answers of course…I’m all about the giving this Christmas season but only to a point. And I know I answered questions on my blog yesterday but I have a party to attend that is going to require strategy so give me a break....

Everything you Always Wanted to Know About How We Celebrate Christmas but were too Busy to Ask

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Egg nog for decorating the tree and then it's pretty much coffee or tea because does anyone else get a stomach ache when they drink egg nog or is that just me?

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Santa wraps. And not only does Santa wrap but Santa wraps in special Santa paper and only a few years did Santa's helper forget and wrap some of the non-Santa gifts in Santas special paper. And my kids might be in college now but Santa still wraps. And I’m ‘ahem’ older than college but Santa wraps something for me most years too. I am one big giant child when it comes to Christmas.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

White on the trees inside and mostly white outside. We’re attempting to put colored lights on one Christmas tree in our yard but so far it has been a fail. And of course by we I mean hubs. I have absolutely nothing to do with lights of any shape size or color, indoors or out. Oh and absolutely definitely positively no flashing.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Completely unneccessary : )

5. When do you put your decorations up

Trees the weekend after Thanksgiving. Mostly. I need another tree topper and had to add beads this week but they are mostly done now. Outdoor lights go up then too. And of course they are a work in progress because what in the world is it about the fuses in those things? We can send a man to the moon (supposedly) so you’d think we could get some outdoor lights that don’t blow every third time you hit the switch.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Must I really answer this question? I’m still reeling from Thanksgiving. Christmas cookies. And don’t make me pick one because I can’t. Okay wait-buttercreams...they are a hand dipped chocolatey sugary buttery confection that will send you into a sugar high the likes of which you’ve not experienced before. I didn’t let my children have them until they were about 9 and even then I’d only give them ¼ of a piece. Except of course for the year daughter2 was 18 months old and strolled into the kitchen covered in chocolate. My sister (who btw did not yet have children) had given her 3. THREE! When I asked my sister why she said my daughter told her she liked them. Yeah. Her day is coming. Seriously my little munchkin did not shut her eyes the entire night. Instead she stood between my hubs and I who were sleeping in a sofa bed and bounced for four solid hours. Good times. Oh and that sister? Well, she has a 3 year old son now and guess who will be at my house for Christmas? And guess what his auntie will be feeding him?

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

Santa used to drive around the neighborhood on a firetruck on Christmas Eve and pass out candy canes. And we maybe still stand outside when we're at my moms and wait for him to come by and get all excited like we’re 7 years old.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

What do you mean ‘the truth about Santa?’

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Of course. It’s always jammies. Only the girls though. The boys get nothin'. That's just how we roll.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

I'm not sure there is a name for my style so let's just go with 'free flowing'. In other words no style. Just pick an ornament and hang it on the tree.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love it but like most things in my life I have rules for snow. I don’t want it before Christmas Eve because my family has to drive to my house up on the mountain. I don’t want it to last too many days past Christmas because that same family has to leave my house on the mountain. And I most definitely don’t want it hanging around until April!

12. Can you ice skate?

Yes. Can I ice skate well? No.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

My budding beauty vanity...don't you love the name? I got it in maybe first or second grade. It came with makeup and had the cutest little stool with a top that lifted up so you could store stuff in it.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

I think you know the answer to this one. I’ll give you a hint….He’s the REASON for the season.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Excluding Christmas cookies I love homemade chocolate pound cake and of course angel pie which I actually blogged about here. Kinda sad to say that I blogged about a pie but tis true.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

We always had to sit on the steps on Christmas morning while my parents got the last minute stuff ready….it was pure torture for us kids and we couldn’t imagine what in the world they could possibly be doing. Now that I’m grown I’m sure they were chugging coffee probably straight out of the pot since they'd most likely gone to bed only an hour before. Of course I completely understand it now but back then…torture. My dad had to light the fire and get the camera ready and take a picture of the four of us on the steps waiting to burst into the living room. And naturally we’ve made our own kids do the same and they also consider it torture but that’s my tradition and you don’t mess with tradition.

17. What tops your tree?

Well, there’s an angel on one tree and I realized this weekend that having two trees means I need another topper. It may be a bow because I might not be able to face another trek to the decorating dept.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?

I’m supposed to say giving right?

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Again with the choices…O Holy Night, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Heirloom by Amy Grant, Ring The Bells by Travis Cottrell, Tender Tennessee Christmas also by Amy Grant….just to name a few.

20. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?

Not for me but my oldest daughter will choose a candy cane over a bag of m & m’s…whose child is she anyway?

21 Favorite Christmas Show?

White Christmas…Sisters, sisters...gotta love it!

22. Saddest Christmas Song?

I don’t know …how about Elvis Presley's ‘I’ll have a blue Christmas without you’…a pastor at our church growing up told the story about how he asked a woman to sing a song one year on Christmas morning and she surprised him by singing this one which, as you might have guessed, wasn’t exactly what he had in mind when he asked her to sing.

I'd love to read your answers so leave me a comment if you play along. Or if you don't. : )