Dreams of Spanish Sunshine on a Dreary "Sunday"

I'm not sure how the weather is where you are, but it's been raining here ALL Day! So it got me dreaming and remembering of a warm August day a few years back when I visited Barcelona. A beautiful sunny day with an hour or so spent having patatas bravas, jamon, and drinking some cava. I was thinking about it so much, I started looking at hotel websites to go back! Here's to hoping I get out of the house soon! Until then, I've some chocolate mousse chilling in the fridge!

Have A Hot Cocoa And A Cookie

Happy Holidays to all the readers of this blog! Hope you have a merry and bright holiday season and look forward to more cafe posts and pictures in 2014! I'll be on the road and in the air to places I've never been! I'll be trying new foods in new places and I hope you will be too! Until then, eat some cookies and cake and just say that you'll work out more after January 1st! Cheers!

Create Your Own Cafe At Home When It's Cold Outside

It's that time of year, when the house is warm and cosy and the idea of bundling up to go outside seems like a chore. Some days it just doesn't seem worth the hassle of putting on all those layers if it's not completely necessary. Then again sometimes you want to get out of the house to avoid going stir crazy, so by all means head out to the nearest coffee shop! Today however, I'm focusing on the first situation, staying home and warm and avoiding the outside world, with a pastry in hand or on plate of course! During the holidays there is a tendency for us to make and bake those old family recipes that we forget about until this one time of year. While that is a shame in a way, let's make the most of it!

I tend to get a little over zealous and try to bake three recipes in one day or over a particularly chilly weekend which will leave weeknights free for coming home from work and having a slice of something delicious. Try to find a time that works for you, get out some of those handwritten and stained recipes and pre heat the oven. It will make your home even cozier and warmer during some of those long dark winter nights, or overcrowded shopping mall days. Another plus is you'll be able to go back for seconds!

My "go to" December recipe is one that my mom and I have been making over and over for many years. I have a copy of a xeroxed page from McCalls that is covered in cocoa powder and other miscellaneous kitchen items. I admit that when I make it the first time, it disappears so fast I often have to make it again quickly so I try to buy enough ingredients at the store the first time around. The recipe is for a Holiday Chocolate Log. While it may not be your traditional "Buche de Noel" that's what we like to call it anyway so that we feel fancy and somewhat French. I made one yesterday, along with some gingerbread dough that I need to go roll out, cut, and bake! Here are some pictures from during the process.

Ready to slice into and have a nice coffee with!

So go find one of your favorite family or traditional recipes and get creative! Let me know what you make or share a recipe and maybe I'll feature it in a future post.

Of course, after the creative process, be sure to give yourself some time to sit down and relax and enjoy! Make a little spot for yourself (maybe by a window watching the snow that you'll have to shovel later..) to savor being at home and not out amongst the crowds or cold.

Here's an online link for the not so secret family recipe since it was published in a magazine! P.S. I'm not connected to this link or website below, it just had the most information from the original recipe that I could find online. 

http://www.food.com/recipe/yule-log-buche-de-noel-mccalls-cooking-school-114726

Christmas Time and Coffee in Coronado

Today while visiting the California winter wonderland that is the island of Coronado, I visited one my "regular" San Diego area cafés. It's named Cafe 1134 and it's located on the main drag Orange Avenue in Coronado. They have a vast selection of warm beverages including tea and coffee. The pastry case was tempting and I have samples some items in the past, as well as breakfast from their made in the kitchen menu. Today I simply had a coffee. That is if you call a coffee named a Mexican Mocha simple. It was a coffee similar to a latte with an added cinnamon kick and topped with whipped cream. Since it was chilly outside we passed on the outside table today, which are typically hard to come by, and sat at a small table by the front window. This cafe is often bustling and the staff is always friendly and efficient. You can also get a frequent visitor card. If you bring your dog to Coronado they have a water dish out front for their refreshment as well and they are welcome at the outside tables. I tend to visit this spot each time I visit Coronado. It gives you a bit of a "I'm a local Coronadian" feel which isn't half bad if you (like me) haven't found a way to make and spend a couple million dollars on a home on the island. I'll be back sooner than later next time with what I've been up to on my pastry ventures recently! Until then take some time and eat a pastry or enjoy a warm coffee this winter.