Curing the Blues While Baking with Booze...

Seriously...I can't express the sheer joy I get out of cooking with alcohol...

Be it ginger cake with stout, cookies with chocolate and stout...drinking the stout while baking (I mean, the recipe only called for a little bit so it would be wasteful not to drink the rest of the bottle...and I hate waste :)

Tequila cookies, whisky balls (woohoo!)...and today...wait for it...

Apricot Brandy cookies!!!

At last, a use for the huge bottle of peach-tree schnapps I had on hand (it's not just for brunch anymore!) Though the apricot brandy is the true star in my liquorific test kitchen right now...

That's right...two of my favorite things combined to my absolute delight! Those of you who know me know my love affair with apricots...it's almost wrong how much I love them. The aroma in my kitchen right now is pure bliss...and Kim would adore how warm my oven has made my entire apartment... :)

I have experimented with the recipe all evening (while watching the emmys) and I think the third time was the charm...I'll let my taste-buds be the judge...



Mmmmm....pretty darn good...

Today is Where I Am...

Bear with me while I navigate these new blogging waters...I trust it will find its own shape and life just like I'm doing right now!

I came back to New York from my recent trip to Scotland with a new purpose (besides returning to Scotland) ...it has been simmering inside me for a while just waiting for the spark to bring it into my awareness...this being "The Lion's Share." That spark came while I was staying in Forres at Newbold House, having a retreat week. I relaxed, read and drank tea in the conservatory, walked through the woods, visited Findhorn Village...and the most beautiful beach I have ever been on...it was truly awesome. I'll share more about my 30th birthday-Scotland adventure in future posts...complete with photos, I promise!



I am currently trying to get my apartment into working order...so I don't get swallowed up by it and so I can invite some lovely souls to share the space, creativity and my culinary creations! Very exciting...and overwhelming when I get too far ahead of myself...

So right now, I'll stop and be right where I am...

Today I woke up, made coffee, listened to The Waterboy's "Fisherman's Blues," (Mike Scott and Steve Wickham's violin [NoCrows!] being another new finding since going to Scotland...Thanks Christina!!)

Then I made a big dish of potatoes with fennel seeds and rainbow chard...

Now, it's off to prepare my space and make some apricot brandy cookies...and maybe listen to some more Waterboys music while I do it...I will also be enjoying some 12 year old Glenlivet while watching Mad Men later... ;)