Something Sweet - Chocolate-Peanut Butter Acorns

These are super-cute & easy to make for tonight (or tomorrow). More no-bake desserts, here.

More anon. xo/gg

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Independence Icebox Cake

Littering the internetz are many beautiful cakes & pies for the Fourth of July holiday. But it's already early evening & the thought of baking cakes & pies tonight - forget it. Make this cake instead. It requires one box of vanilla wafers, heavy cream, & berries. That's it. (You can decorate it a bit differently for Bastille Day in 10 short days.)

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Meatless Monday - Easy Gratin

Today GG's editor is making this easy & highly-rated dish from Martha Stewart's site. Basically, three turnips, two sweet potatoes, a bit of broth, cheese (only 4 ounces) & a few pantry items = 8 servings. (It looks easy enough to make a half recipe.) Paired with a quick green salad or sautéed spinach, a lovely Meatless Monday.

ciao-meow/GG's Chef

PS: Sweet potatoes & turnips are fresh in farmer's markets now. There will be some over-wintered ones, too, of course. Either is just fine as long as they are firm. And yes, Giulia eats sweet potatoes...she just doesn't know it. Her editor has come to embrace the sweet potato later in life, understanding finally that one can dispense with the marshmallow & brown sugar element entirely. Simple but a revelation nonetheless (to us).

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Hanukkah Prep

Hanukkah begins in just (slightly) over six days. Even if you do not celebrate the Festival of Lights, you probably know those who do. Wouldn't it be nice if you made something for their holiday? Imagine their surprise (& delight) when you offer them something you made, whether it's a quick card, a dreidel, a yummy edible, or a something slightly more elaborate. That could be your holiday gift to them. If you know they don't have a menorah that they really like, why not look here & see if one of these less-conventional designs might be something they'd like.

ciao-shalom-meow/GG Holiday Central

(marshmallow dreidels via Martha Stewart)

Floral Murals

Giulia would look fabulous lying on the hall table (top photo), just underneath the orange flower. Visit Martha Stewart for floral decorating ideas. MS recommends visiting muralsyourway for removable adhesive decals. Very cool. You can virtually decorate in a little program before ordering. Also, you can design a mural with one of your photographs. This is a definite do.

ciao-flowery-meow/GG

(photograph via Martha Stewart; second image GG office wish)

Make a Card for a Mother

It doesn't have to be yours...it could be for anyone. Also, please remember that not all little ones (& even some semi-big ones) have someone to help them out with this holiday. Think of children who don't live with their mom, those who are being raised by a single mom & there aren't family or friends to help - it happens a lot; & let's remember the children in military families. (Visit Joining Forces on Whitehouse.gov to find out how to help.)

Martha Stewart has some wonderful DIY card projects (like the one above, a pop-up card. There's also a video on the site in the lower-right hand corner). Here's a cute kid's project guide (a pdf) from the current print magazine. You can help the children in your life by downloading it & printing it for them. (What are we thinking? They knew how to do it before you did:) If vintage illustrations are more your style, visit Vintage Holiday Crafts & Clip Art. There are lovely images you can put together to make a pretty card.

ciao-meow/GG

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Meatless Monday - We Do Declare

We mentioned Meatless Monday briefly in December & January. So we should declare ourselves: GG Central is officially meat-free on Mondays (& truthfully, most days). It's easier than ever to find terrific & easy recipes for veggie meals. Here's a link to the website's history lesson (Meatless Monday began during World War I & returned during World War II).

If you're a blogger, visit the Meatless Monday website & take the pledge & ask for a link. You don't have to be in the States, just to be clear. Everyone is very, very welcome.

Today, we're making the quick pasta dish shown above. As stated last year, Giulia is excused from MM as she is an obligate carnivore. Please do not talk to us about making her a vegetarian. It makes GG's editor really very cranky. You don't want that, right?

ciao-meow/GG Central

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Meatless Monday Comfort Food

Think ahead to a weekend market visit + prep for Meatless Monday. It's so cold at GG Central - no one wants to have a cold, "refreshing" salad. Here are some excellent comfort food recipes via Martha Stewart - all of them are meatless. (Giulia does not observe Meatless Monday. Nope.) Big-batch vegetable soup via Martha Stewart website.

ciao-meow/GG's editor

Sweet & Spicy Almonds

So you're stuck in the house because of the blizzards? You might have ingredients on hand for this super fast, easy snack. If you don't usually make this sort of thing, reconsider. Bulk nuts are best so that they're fresh & you don't have to spend a fortune. (This works well with less expensive raw peanuts, too. The whole point is the sweet/spice.) We made these by the bucket last year on a whim. Big hit & they make a good gift--you haven't seen everyone on your list yet, right? Especially in this weather. Oof. (Photograph of Hannah Berman's kitchen via Design*Sponge. We may paint ours similarly in the spring.)

Sweet & Spicy Almonds (via Martha Stewart)

2 1/2 cups unblanched almonds (or raw peanuts)
1/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds on a rimmed baking sheet; toast until fragrant, about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper.

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook honey and water with olive oil, stirring, until combined, 1 minute. Add almonds; toss to coat.

3. Transfer nuts to sugar mixture (do not scrape extra glaze into bowl); toss to coat. Cool in a single layer.

Bon appétit!

Make A Snow Globe (Yes, Really)

We have everything we need but the glycerin. It's $US3-4 at the within-walking distance hardware store. When the howling winds abate (oh please), Giulia's editor will pick some up along with important items (GG's cat food). What else do you need? A jar, glitter, distilled water (don't you iron?! No we don't either, so it's on the list), glue. You can even make teeny ones from baby food jars. How difficult can this be anyway? We'll let you know soon. (photographs & instructions via Martha Stewart)

ciao-glittery-meow/GG's toy maker

Sufganiyot Swoon

To our Jewish friends around the world: enjoy the latkes & sufganiyot tomorrow & the rest of Hanukkah. Any of you lagging behind in preparations, it's not too late. (You don't have to have every recipe every night--no matter what your bubbe says. But don't tell her we said so. You think we need the tsuris?) Here are some easy peasy recipes from Martha Stewart. Also a good group of recipes & a yummy slideshow from the New York Times. (images via Martha Stewart)

ciao-shalom-meow/GG Holiday Central

An Apple a Day

GG's editor is massively busy cleaning up the aftermath of Giulia's Sunday Wild Rumpus. (As opposed to her Daily rumpi) Everyone is so busy these days...but here are two easy-peasy apple recipes from Jamie Oliver & Martha Stewart. Here's another gorgeous apple recipe--not as easy, no, but worth a bit more time. It's Hollandse appeltaart from super-Pille's nami-nami food blog. (photograph via Martha Stewart(dot)com)

ciao-meow/GG's cook

Pepita Treats

We just made these--so easy. All you need are pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds), sugar, honey, & a little butter. Click here for the recipe from Martha Stewart's Halloween Central. More What To Do with Pumpkin Seeds. We're making the spicy pumpkin seeds next. (image via Martha Stewart) PS: Each treat is 2 Weight Watchers pts. Enjoy!

ciao-crunch-meow/GG Central

Hallowe'en Costumes - Butterflies & Bees

Some fun costume ideas & how-to for adults & for grown-up + child via Martha Stewart. Only a few more days. We are working on the GG template & also on GG's editor's blog, so we're letting Martha & her amazing staff do the heavy lifting. (above: Madame Butterfly, Cat & Kitten, & Beekeeper)

ciao-meow/GG Hallowe'en Central

Fierce Feline Pumpkin

GG's pumpkin design choice this year. Lots of good ideas & templates to download/print at Martha Stewart Halloween Central. How difficult can this be? We'll let you know. (We are still trying to sort out the website template & colors. Meanwhile, thanks for not making fun of us!)

ciao-rowr-meow/GG Central

Latke Love

Are you busy grating potatoes? Neither are we because we're invited to a Hanukkah party. If you want to give it a go, here's a good recipe. Now get to work!

[photo via Martha Stewart Living]

Hanukkah Dreidel - DIY

We know it's late as Hanukkah begins Friday, 11 December at sundown. There's still time to make some inexpensive & cute dreidels. These are made out of construction paper. Go here for all sorts of Hanukkah projects, decorating ideas, & recipes. If you don't celebrate Hanukkah, we bet you know someone who does. Surprise them with something special. (They'll invite you over for latkes & you'll be so very happy!)

ciao-shalom-meow/GG & her editor

[photograph via Martha Stewart Living]

Happy Hanukkah!

We hope it's been a wonderful holiday. Have fun tonight! (Photographs via Martha Stewart). See here for Hanukkah section; bookmark & clip ideas for next year!

shalom!
GG & her editor

Snowflake Marshmallows & Hot Chocolate

Our dear friend Alison Highberger's article, The Perfect Winter Drink in Bend, Oregon's Bulletin food section. Ali & son (sous-chef Nick) are pre-testing some Martha Stewart's Holiday projects. Of course, these marshmallows can be for Hanukkah, as well. You'd probably want to use a kosher recipe & here is one. (We can't vouch for it, though.) For the time-pressed, Whole Foods carries kosher marshmallows that are perfectly fine. For vegetarian/vegan marshies, try this recipe. (Again, no vouching.)

We've no time before Christmas to make these, but we might give them a try for an Inaugural party.

merry ciao-meow!
GG's editor

photo collage [made from Martha Stewart site] from Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn