Potato Gratin

Last 2 days has been really cold in the house, so I decided to make a oven dish, Potato Gratin.



Layers of thinly sliced potatoes, and sauteed onion, bacon, garlic, thyme.


Carefully scalloping the potato for the top layer.


Topped with Parmesan cheese and thyme


those are seasonal pies for Baby Blues BBQ Venice "Sweet Potato Pumpkin Pie"

Holiday Cookies

When the air becomes chilly outside it is the perfect weather for baking, so I started making holiday cookies.


(From the left) Candied orange peel, cranberry and pumpkin seeds. Next one is strawberry jam and walnut layers wrapped with chocolate dough. Vanilla lemon and chocolate dough layers coated with walnut dust. The last one is candied lemon, orange peel and walnut in chocolate dough.



I never used candied orange & lemon peel but it turned out really delicious! Great holiday flavor.

before baked


after baked
It puffs up a little bit.


My roses from garden started blooming like crazy! Yellow one smells like sweet pear... delicious!

Rosted Roots Vegetables

I have been making this roasted roots vegetable(potatoes carrots and parsnips)dish for a while.
It's great for a side dish instead of mash potatoes or boiled veggie.
also great in Salad too.

Seasonings are olive oil,garlic powder, salt pepper rosemary, thyme, and balsamic vinegar.
after coming out of the oven, I sprinkle more balsamic vinegar.

Brad's Pre Birthday Dinner

Brad's birthday was on the 3rd.
Since Brad was a little busy on his birthday I decided to make this meaty pasta "short ribs pasta" for a relaxing night.
The recipe was from Giada De Laurentiis.

I can never follow recipes exactly(except baking, I always do exactly)I have added other stuff here and there....

I've always wanted to try this so it was a great excuse to make this high calorie dish.

Brad got himself this great wine that was introduced to us from my friend Shizu on my birthday 4years ago. We have this wine every now and then since.


Dessert was also his request "flourless Chocolate Cake.
The cake is so dense so I made poached pear with vanilla and wine(for the color).


He was a Happy Boy!