The Food Chronicles - Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Icing

Easter’s On Its Way…

Ever a glutton for punishment, I headed back into the kitchen for some more baking chicanery.  I will not give up the ideal of the perfectly iced sugar cookie.  Each and every time I have high hopes that this is the time that I will end up with MSL photo worthy results.  And every time my hopes are dashed to the kitchen floor along with most of the powdered sugar…

As I have said before, it is not the sugar cookie.  It is the dad blern icing.  I have decided that royal icing is a royal pain in my ass.  I am sticking with my wind-up buttercream icing.  Sets up beautifully like royal icing and tastes much better.  mr. V actually said these looked good when he got home.  I’ll take it as his typical response to my baking resembles a loud guffaw.

I envisioned some beautiful pastels for these.  Of course my first bowl of tinted icing closely resembled baby poo, again. You can see it in the back there.  Not good.  I kept at it and I suppose this faded pink will do.  I was going to try for a pale yellow but I feared that it would only look like vomit.  So white and pale pink it is.  And a few sprinkles for the Monster…

my dogwood is blooming!  Easter is on its way

Good Friday, everyone!

All photos by me

kisses,  mrs. V

Thumbs Up or Down - Form and Function

My Uniform…

Triple drat.  Mother Nature is not cooperating with my intent to take pictures this morning of the Easter goodies I had lined up for you today.  So I am going to slide my usual Friday style post in today. I am fickle like that…

Today’s TU/D is really about my daily attire.  I tend to be a creature of habit and when I find something that works I put it on repeat.  Since many of my days are spent doing things typical of most stay-at-home folks, my daily uniform tends to be casual.

stripes

Although I want to make it clear that I miss the days of dressing up to the nines to go to the office sporting 4 inch heels.  While some relish the prospect of wearing casual/comfy attire everyday, I do not.  I love to get dressed up.  In fact, I will occasionally show up to preschool pick-up in a dress with some animal print cinched at the waist and a colorful heel.  It should also be noted that I never go to the store without lipstick either.

bright color

What can I say?!  As I have mentioned before, I come from a long line of vain women.  My yia yia always said, ‘you never know who you might run into running errands.’  I think Coco Chanel is quoted with something along the same lines.  Vain or not, I simply feel better when I am properly put together.  Even when picking out brussels sprouts.

pattern

Although my uniform now tends to fall toward the functional side of the spectrum, my inner tendency to zhush usually comes through in the form of color, pattern, or a really great shoe.  I am an incurable believer of form before function.  So no matter the task, my shoes will always look good even if my feet are killing me.  I was once spotted walking from SoMa to Nob Hill to North Beach in high heels - those tech heads shook their smug heads in disbelief but at least I looked good.

shoes sans heels (and sans socks!)

However, there are times when function prevails and for those times my uniform is some variation of pant/top/ballet flats or driving mocs.  Please note that the driving moc is as far as I will go for actual function.  I suppose the uniform is both form (bright colors, patterns, and accessories)  and  function (a shoe without a heel).

ridiculous that I don't have a full length mirror -
and again with the crazy faces!!  bah!

What is your uniform?  Are you Thumbs Up for form or for function?

All photos by me

kisses,  mrs. V

Easter Cookies

Hippity Hoppity…

This is happening right now along with a trip to the museum.  Back later today tomorrow with more Easter details.

Ciao for now…

All photos by me

kisses,  mrs. V

Tales from the Projects - 'V' Basket Sneak Peak

Some New V’s in Town…

Here is a little sneak peak at some jaunty new fellas at Chez V.  Sadly, after 3 years, some of my outdoor baskets had to be replaced.  Apparently wood rots out in the elements.  As I mentioned here, I am still enamored with plantings in baskets, so I have been on the down low (still technically on economic lockdowngate) lookout for some replacements.  I could not pass these up at 55% off.  You will never guess where I found them!

Oh, the possibilities!  I am currently considering upright ferns, hydrangea, or boxwoods.  These fellas are probably destined for the covered front porch where they will hold up a bit longer.

In other news, when the prospect of the same-old same-old grilled cheese sandwich won’t cut it with a 3 year old, check out your cookie cutter collection.  Leveraging the power of holiday goodies works every time.  She ate it like it was the last sandwich on earth.

Go on, take a guess about the baskets…

All photos by me

kisses,  mrs. V

Life at Chez V - Scenes From the Weekend

Rich With Simple Pleasures…

Well, we weren’t one of the lucky three to win the Mega Bajillion lottery but life’s little luxuries have a way of popping up at unexpected moments here at Chez V.

 

Scenes from our weekend included getting back to food basics, futzing around the pond, re-watching Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, and some spontaneous fun - each one a simple pleasure in our often frenetic life.  The sight of two heads together, one instructing the other on the mechanics of proper marshmellow toasting, made me feel rich indeed…

What are some of your simple pleasures?

All photos by me

kisses,  mrs. V

Life at Chez V - Quick and Delicious - Sauted Chicken

Sauted Chicken with Balsamic Citrus Sauce

This week has sort of been a whirlwind, both literally and figuratively.  For weeks like this I love having a stash of quick and easy recipes on hand to make weeknight meals less chaotic.

This sauted chicken is just such a recipe.  It comes together quickly with little prep and calls for ingredients that I always have on hand.  More importantly, it is really delicious.  Chicken is on heavy rotation at Chez V and can get quite boring.  So when I land on a delicious one it goes into the ‘Staples’ file of my recipe folder.

This recipe comes from The Joy of Cooking – which is such a great cooking tome.  I tend to forget what a great resource this cookbook is.  Whenever I am in a cooking rut, I pick it up and discover so many new ways to prepare stuff.   I love that it gives variations on the same recipe.  Helps to prevent burnout on our 'Staples' recipes.

I paired this with fresh peas and rice pilaf for a quick and delicious meal.  Enjoy and Happy Weekend!

kisses,  mrs. V