Beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

It really is beginning to look like Christmas over here chez nous… our magnificent tree is up and almost decorated – I say almost because there are still a few choice ornaments to be placed on it – and of course it needs presents below.

As part of our Saturday Adventures we stopped off at The Irish Import Shop on Saturday after lunch at Pizzeria Mozza, bellies full of Nancy Silverton pizza. We stocked up on a large amount of English chocolates, salt and vinegar crisps, a new Brown Betty teapot, some cute Christmas pudding tea cozies for presents, christmas crackers, currants, sultanas and a jar or two of mincemeat. Next stop on our magical mystery tour – K&L for lots of booze – both for culinary uses and also for all the Novel Interiors inspired “make your own cocktail from the trolley” parties I plan to host over the holiday season. Now that I’m old enough to wear pearls and drink gin I’m going all out… my friend Kay Plunkett Hogge at Kaycooks has a wonderful new book Make Mine a Martini: 130 Cocktails and Canapes for Fabulous Parties which is available as an ebook – all you need to make up really great cocktails and get into he holiday spirit.
These cute little old English pots are from Vintageweave – Sainsbury’s Bloater Paste and some Plumtree Potted Meats anyone?  I’m keeping them to grace the Christmas table and give me a little piece of England to get me through not being home for the holidays getting cozy in front of the giant fire down on the farm in Devon.

I came across this video Minty, Rémy and I made a few years ago to celebrate the holidays…

It’s so cute seeing how much they have both grown.

Rémy didn’t really want to play along – here he is hiding in the box dressed as Mario Batali – with sausage, wooden spoon, orange crocs and ponytail.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like christmas… oh yes we have holiday songs playing, the tree is dressed, the table is set with candles, birds, berries and lots of glitteritis symptoms and best of all the house smells like Christmas – time to bake Christmas cake SnowGlobes in a jar, make some mince pies and start wrapping those presents – in addition to CRAVE 10th Anniversary edition at the top of this year’s list my friend Lisa Borgnes’ gorgeous new book is the best present you can give – inspiration and education wrapped up in the pages of this wonderful clever book that uses literature as the jumping off point for decorating your home. I’m definitely in a Jane Austin romantic phase that will include mulled wine to be sipped in white dresses and sashes after dancing holes into satin slippers.

And of course Made in America: Our Best Chefs Reinvent Comfort Food – excuse the shameless plug! I mean the book doesn’t go bad and it really makes a great gift for all those Celebrity Chef loving foodies on your list. Pair it with a wooden spoon, some orange crocs and a string of sausages and create your very own Mario in the kitchen.

In the coming months we will be taking some of these Classic American Recipes and showing you how easy it is to whip up something tasty and delicious from America’s top chefs – so easy even the kids can cook it – I mean did you see Remy cooking up a batch of Tom Collichio’s Chicken Noodle Soup?