Soft Funfetti Cookies

Life has gotten super busy lately and I have neglected my little space on this vast space we call the internet.  I have thought it about many times over the last month, I need to post something and then life continues to happen.  We are now in the middle of remodeling our kitchen.  Not a full remodel but a face lift of sorts. 

Favorite Recipes of 2015

As they say, out with the old and in with the new!  It is time to say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016. (Okay I can't seem to get the Adele "Hello" song out of my head - you too?)   I am ready for 2016. May it be a year filled with much happiness, fabulous health, much time with family and friends, divine food and wine and lots of laughs.

Orange Pecan Cookies | Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap

One of my favorite holiday traditions is to make festive cookies and share them with friends and family.  I love the reactions and looks I get when I know that I am sharing a bit of myself and putting a smile on the person’s face.  It is a priceless gift.

Almond Shortbread Cookies (Mantecaditos) | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

Tis the season to celebrate!  We wait all year long for this time of year and then it is over in a blink of the eye.  I try to relish every moment and not rush any day.  When I think of the holidays many things come to mind – sparkling lights, holiday decorations, parties, festive cocktails, spending time with family and friends and cookies.  Yes, the last one I mentioned is cookies.

Cast Iron Apple Pie | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

Fall is in the air. One day it was almost 80 degrees and then practically overnight, the weather turned to be very chilly for San Francisco Bay Area standards.  The evening temps were in the low 30’s.  Along with the chill, we have been getting rain over the last couple weeks on a Sunday and Monday.  The weather man predicts it will be that way for this coming Sunday.  With a four year drought, this is a welcome site.  I am actually pretty excited to have a real winter.

Dude Bars

Hubby and I got back a week ago today from Arkansas.  You might be asking, what in the heck are you two doing there.  Glad you asked.  We went to spend a long weekend with our long time dear friends Dean and Mark who shared their love for each other by exchanging vows and getting married. It had to be one of the BEST weddings, besides ours, that I have attended. 

Pumpkin Palmiers | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

The autumn season has arrived on the calendar.  In the Bay Area, we don’t have any indication that it is really here from a weather standpoint.  We are experiencing a warm October although the weather folks keep telling us that El Nino is around the corner and to brace for a very stormy season.  With our unprecedented four year drought here in California we are welcoming the deluge of water.  We keep praying it will arrive soon.

Crinkle Sugar Cookies | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

Summer is in full force!  Tis the season for grilling, BBQ’s, vacations, flip flops, longer days and warm summer evenings. I love this time of year with all of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are full of flavor, especially the corn, tomatoes and stone fruits are among my favorites.  It is hard to believe that we over halfway done with 2015 and before you know it, the holiday season will be around the corner.

Before we start celebrating the holiday season, I want to fully embrace the summer season and all that it has to offer.  My grill has been busy with chicken and vegetables lately along with fresh salads.  Speaking of grilling, it is time for Blogger C.L.U.E. Society and our theme this month was “Summer Barbecue/Grilling – grilled vegetables or meats, main courses or side dishes or desserts or drinks that would be great at a barbecue”.  What a fun theme and the possibilities were endless.

Spicy and Salty Peanut Brittle | Secret Recipe Club

I know I say this all the time …… time just flies way too fast.  The weekends go by way too fast and then the work week, depending on my schedule seems to whisk on by.  I just said to my hubby the other day, we are going to be pulling out the Christmas decorations before you know it.  At the end of the day, I have learned to savor each and everyday and appreciate each day for what it is.  I have learned that life is a gift and you need to make the most of it.

Almond Crescent Cookies | Secret Recipe Club

My weekend was filled with both hard labor and relaxation.  The hard labor part came first in the way of repairing our backyard fence to prevent our little fur babies, Marty and Stewart from escaping.  After 14 years, the fence has taken a beating with the sun, rain and sprinklers.  The bottom portion on some of the sections of fence had sustained damage which made the boards easy to move.  Our little havanese, as smart as they are figured out how to move them and explore in the neighbors backyards.

Raspberry Oat Bars | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

I am excited about three things at this exact moment.  First that it time again for Blogger C.L.U.E. Society.  Second is that the theme for May is berries. Third but the most exciting is that I was paired with Kim from Liv Life.  I belong to this secret society of sorts where each month we are paired with another food blogger, given a theme and set off to explore our assigned bloggers blog and hunt down a recipe that matches the theme and we are excited about making.

Chocolate, Coconut, Butterscotch and Oatmeal Cake Cookies | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

Are you still sleepy from turning the clocks forward an hour?  Flipping the time forward is a love/hate thing for me.  I love that it stays lighter in the evenings but hate that it is dark in the morning – so much harder to giddy up in the AM.  After a few days, I am completely use to the change and when summer approaches, I absolutely love staying outside sipping wine with my husband in the warm evenings with the sounds of the fountain running in the background.

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Orange Scented Valentine Sugar Cookies

Love is in the air.  The images of heart shaped objects abound during this time of year.  Whether you walk into a department store or your local drug store, you can’t help but be bombarded with the iconic symbol of love – the heart.  My hubby always calls Valentines Day, the hallmark holiday.  It got me thinking, what is the actual origin of this multimillion dollar holiday for retailers. Okay after reading here, I learned that it is beyond an obsessive retail holiday but a real holiday.  I knew that deep down, but had to check myself.

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Sparkly Shortbread Cookies | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

Hubby and I took down the last vestige of holiday decorations on Sunday.  Not sure about you, but I get to a point where I have enjoyed the holidays so much that when the New Year rolls around, it is time to pack these treasures away in anticipation of the day after Thanksgiving when the whole decorating process begins again.  The house looks sparse but that is how it is actually year round, just seems that way – a bit of holiday deception I guess. 

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Cranberry and Orange Shortbread Cookies | Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2014

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that I absolutely LOVE making appetizers, hence the weekly series – Friday Night Bites was born.  Next to appetizers, is making cookies.  They are a one to three bite delight that simply makes your mouth sing and puts a smile on anyone’s face.  With my love of cookies, I was elated to learn that the 4^th annual “Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap2014” was taking place.  I immediately got signed up and anxiously waited for my three matches to arrive in my email.  The next question was – what type of cookie would I send this year. Here is what I sent in 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

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Ginger Snap Cookies | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

Happy Holidays everyone!  Can you even believe that the holidays are actually here?  I am still in a bit of shock that time just zips by so quickly.  Hubby and I love this time of year.  Our house is all decorated and we simply enjoy sitting by the tree with a glass of wine.  One thing about us is that I like the white lights and hubby enjoys the colored lights.  If you have the same situation in your house, I have the perfect solution for you.  We have a tree that has dual colored lights – at the simple click of a switch can be white lights and then touch it again and we have colored lights.

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies | Secret Recipe Club

Typically I am not fanatical about peanut butter.  Don’t get me wrong, I do like it, I just don’t go bonkers over it.  You know when you come across that special recipe that just knocks your sock off – come on you know.  Well…….this month’s Secret Recipe Club match had the perfect peanut butter recipe that I will be making over and over again.

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Salted Caramel and Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Oh how I love salted caramel!  My ears perk up with joy when I hear those glorious words – salted caramel.  It is the sweet and salty thing along with the richness of the caramel that just makes me swoon.  I pinned these cookies several weeks ago and know I had to make them soon.  I altered them a bit, but they were quite tasty as the orginal recipe.

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Lavender Lemon Bars | Secret Recipe Club

I know I say this each time, but boy time flies.  It is time again for the big reveal for Secret Recipe Club.  This month I had the privilege of being paired with Chelsy from Mangia.  When I received the email about my match for September, something sounded familiar – it was because back in June 2012 I was assigned to her blog for the first time.  What a treat, a second time.  Since that time, I noticed that she has updated her website and put a ton of new food treasures on her site.

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Almond, Toffee, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Cookies | Secret Recipe Club

Hubby and I have been busy with two new additions to our house – Marty and Stewart!  They are 10 week old Havanese puppies who are extremely sweet, loving and incredibly soft.  With the loss of our beloved Max a little over a month ago, we were ready to welcome new doggies to our house. As we like to say - “Dogs are like children with fur coats”.  Originally I wanted a girl and boy puppy so I could name them Martha and Stewart. However we found two irresistible Havanese brothers and decided to stay with the theme and name them Marty and Stewart.

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