Happy New Year! If you know Kevin and I, then you know that we aren’t fans of spending loads of money to be around lots of drunk, belligerent people with inevitably flailing limbs and flying drinks in tight quarters. To kick off 2011 KJ-and-Al style, we had a great dinner and got dolled up in our best ensembles for a night out… on the living room couch watching episodes of Top Chef until about 15 seconds before midnight. Classy. I’ve never stayed home on New Year’s Eve in my adult life, but I must say it was stress-free and really fun.
I’ve also been a bit sick the last couple of days, so I thought I’d spend the time updating here instead of circulating my germs in a new baking or crafts project. The holidays are an infamous time for reveling in buttery, sugary foods. I admittedly do partake in providing artillery for expanding the waistbands of those around me, as I usually try out a new baking recipe (or three) around the holiday season.
Nine sticks of butter (yes, NINE) and more than an entire brand new carton of sugar later, I think I truly outdid myself this year. I had been itching to make madeleines ever since I got a madeleine pan from my Sho-Yu Secret Santa last year. The little french cakes are so classy, and in my opinion, make a great holiday baking gift. Thanks to Martha, I found some great recipes I was dying to try out. I was really pleased with the colors that all three madeleines had distinct colors, making a nice looking gift bag. And the madeleines would not have come to existence if not for the help of Santa’s Little Helper, Kevin, who took some great photos and helped out a ton with the baking. I’ve never seen madeleine pans buttered so masterfully!
In addition to the madeleines, I also pulled out some White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies from my baking repertoire, as well as a Chicken Apple Sausage Cornbread Stuffing from scratch for a Christmas dinner potluck.
Also, big thanks to Shirley for sending me the recipe for the Japanese Furikake Chex Mix that I’ve been eating my whole life but finally made for the first time.
I’ll keep this post relatively short, but here’s the photo gallery for close-ups of the madeleines in the making.
Cheers to 2011!
AT-AT Everywhere 
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