Buon Compleanno Jim… Happy Birthday Jim…

A Winter Wonderland Birthday Cake for Jim… Coconut cake with a White Chocolate Coconut frosting,  topped with White Chocolate Trees…

Buon Natale…Merry Christmas…

Preparando Per Natale… Preparing For Christmas…

Some more decorating… baking things,  savory and sweet… it's almost here!

Un Piccolo Scambio Di Biscotti… A Little Cookie Exchange…

The Holiday Baking has begun.  Cookies… for Tami's Annual Cookie Exchange Party.  This year I decided on  Orange Scented, Snowflake Stamped Shortbread ,  with a little Edible Glitter ( of course),
 and Coconut Jam Thumbprints.  Two favorites… And as a Hostess Gift,  a few Firelighters… Couldn't take a decent picture today ,  oh well , the cookies are good…

Le Decorazioni… The Decorations…

I've finally finished decorating for Christmas…  Somehow, this year I didn't get inspired very early, and I thought I would never get through it.  I did,  and I'm done.  Now a little shopping,  a lot of baking,  and hopefully,  just time to enjoy the whole thing.

Per Gli Uccelli… For The Birds…

Attracting wild birds to the garden is something that i've done for years.  The pleasure  of simply watching them,  and enjoying their beauty is great,  but,  this past spring and summer,  when pests in the garden are usually at their peak,  we had very few issues.  I have to believe it's because the birds are doing one of the jobs that I attract them to do… eat the pests.  When the bird seed gets low,  i've noticed the birds hopping in and around the garden and on the roses enjoying a meal of some sort of  little pests.  Giu Giu and I made these little pine cone bird treats covered with peanut butter and bird seed.  Giu Giu liked doing it ,  but she really liked eating the peanut butter with an apple …

Pasta Con Cavolfiore... Pasta With Cauliflower...

This dish is something that Mom used to make a lot when we were growing up.  Comfort food at its best.  Pasta, Cauliflower, Olive Oil, Freshly Chopped Garlic,  Homemade Croutons, Fresh Parsley, Salt and Pepper.  I can just see mom preparing this as she did so many years ago when she cooked a lot . A beautiful dish to go with one of several gorgeous sunsets we had this week…

Un Cappello Per Rebecca… A Hat For Rebecca…

I've been working on a hat for Rebecca for a little while and finally finished it.  I hope that when she finally gets it,  it will fit…I made it green like Giu Giu's hat,  because I think green goes with lots of colors.  I decided to give it a little creamy white trim so that it would be different than Giu Giu's.

Happy Thanksgiving…

As tradition goes,  we will be having Thanksgiving at Anna and Nicola's .  Anna will make her spectacular Turkey dinner,  usually consisting of two turkeys… One baked in the wood fired Pizza oven and one in the kitchen oven.  Anna will do all of the sides,  with the exception of the cranberry sauce… i'll make  that because I seem to be the only one who wants it.  So,  I'll make an Orange Cranberry sauce,   and as usual,  I am in charge of pies and table setting,  maybe some rolls.  We'll have Apple,  Pumpkin and Macaroon pies.   We don't really need three pies,  but we do like variety…Everyone has a favorite. Golden hues and some natural elements will set the tone for what will surely be another lovely Thanksgiving at Anna and Nicola's… So thankful to be with loving family,  wishing it could be the entire family…

Accendifuoco…Firelighters…

Been enjoying making some seasonal crafts.  The latest one being these little firelighters.  Made from Natural ingredients that I had on hand , in the kitchen,   in the shed ,  and around the garden… Dried Roses,  Pinecones,  Dried Bay Laurel,  Rosemary, Sea Lavender,  Dried Apple Rings,  and Candied Orange Slices.  I melted Natural Beeswax, poured it into little Paper Muffin Cups, and  added some Essential Oils, and Spices.   Orange Clove,  Lavender Vanilla,  Apple Cinnamon, Orange Vanilla, and Eucalyptus.  A little piece of Twine dipped in wax will make lighting a fire easy,  the Oils and Spices will make it smell heavenly…