Happpppy Holidays

Sweet Cinnamon Brown

I know good food does not necessarily create good mood. But good colors. And smells? Like the warm, sweet smell of cinnamon. Aren’t you glad God gave you a nose.

When this same sensuous warmth transcends to gooey cinnamon rolls, I also thank God that she gave me a mouth to taste and savor the stickiness Cinnamon Rolls bring with them.
Cinnamon is one of the greatest spices the merchants found in the barks of a tree. The Holiday season is just an excuse for me to become a part of a ritual called cinnamon, and give in to this picker upper spice in any form.

Even incarnating my newly-glazed free flowing bowl in the same color!

Because I am a bad baker, I stick to ready-to-bake indulgence. Today was a box of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls.

The easy substantiality of an under-30 minute baked delight with my favorite spice, cascading icing and toasted pecans in each more-ish mouthful, reinstates my faith in Nature’s bounty. Cheers to its colors and flavors.

For pictures of my pottery work, click here.

Nigella’s Party Chicken

Believe me when I say that this post will make a lot of men happy. When my husband bought me Nigella Christmas: Food, Family, Friends, Festivities yesterday, I wasn't sure if he was buying me a present or succumbing to his own needs with this voluptuous collection of recipes to get through the holidays.

Turn to page 96 of the cookbook and you will see an embarrassingly easy recipe of Party Cornish Hens,  I chose it for today’s lunch. But with a plump whole chicken. I have retained Nigella Lawson’s ingredients, except for the Cornish hens, but changed the measurements to suit my chicken.

Ingredients for Nigella’s Party Chicken are:

1 whole chicken (about 1.5 kg)
One-fourth cup olive oil (She also suggests the chile oil option)
One teaspoon ground cinnamon
One teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon sugar
1 head garlic, cloves separated, keep unpeeled
1 lime, halved and cut into wedges
Salt

Preheat oven to 375°F. Make a dry rub with the sugar, cinnamon, paprika and salt. Rub the whole chicken with it, getting the insides coated well.

Sit the chicken snugly in a baking tray. Pour the olive oil over the chicken. Tuck the limes (you can use lemons too) and the cloves of garlic around and in between the bird.

Cook the chicken for one hour and 15 minutes, till the juices run clear. I start with the face down first and turn each side, giving about 15 minutes to all the four sides. I end with the breast-side up.
Serve the carved chicken with the charred pieces of lime and garlic cloves. I did some quick potato wedges too.

Nigella suggests some couscous salad too. Here are a few couscous salads I have done in the past. This one with fresh parsley, or this one with baby arugula, shrimps, etc. Or try this Moroccan-inspired couscous salad, which looks rather festive too.

Thank you, Goddess of Easy Extravagance. I am all set to make my man happy with your time saver recipes this December.

Just for Christmas

Sit back and relax, and let the colors of Christmas give you a warm hug.

I am just back from some holiday shopping at my favorite nursery in our neighborhood – Sheridan Nurseries.  And look what I got for you. Tons of pictures which their Manager, Kevin let me take at my own slow pace.

Do you think you can cut some logs, find some branches and make your own reindeer for the front porch?

While I was surrendering to the cheer around me, someone very friendly and very lovable popped his head to say a Hi!

And I saw Mrs S too, baking gingerbreads in her big gingerbread house.

 
While Mr Claus had his red boots on, Mrs Claus looked dainty in her white skating boots.

Their home looked stunning with ornaments and fruits and flowers and lights.

The trees were lined with soft, fairy lights and the reindeers roamed on the marshmallow-soft snow.

The table was beautifully decorated, the food was warm and the drinks were flowing like nectar. 
They had friends, family and loved ones over. Even Buddha was there!

 

Hope you enjoyed this little trip to the North. For more pictures of Christmas cheer, click here. (That sounds like poetry!)

Oh, and have you participated in the Holiday Giveaway on my Blog? Hurry, the last date is December 12, 2010.