day twelve

tomorrow will be the first time in 22 years that i will not eat thanksgiving dinner with the family that is my mother, father, sister, dog and grandmother ... sometimes we have friends come, too.  some diners will only eat with their true love, others with extended family, sitting around a large table.  either way, i look at my restaurant as my home...a home with 58 tables. 

we are in the hospitality business for a reason. we like to provide and serve others.  when you come in to dine, i hope that we can share a laugh or two, because for that night, you will be my family.  i hope that if you are dining out tomorrow, you will extend thanks and warm wishes to the people serving around you.

family isn't just your brother, sister, mom, dad, uncle, or even dog. i will celebrate this thanksgiving with my tables and my family at the restaurant, a clan that is so tight knit you would think we could accomplish anything together.  like a family, we are a team ... we might not help with the laundry but we sure do help in other ways to help make service more efficient and effective.  i am so thankful and blessed to work with an amazing staff, i wouldn't want anyone else as my second family to spend holidays, laughter, good & bad tips, and yes, sometimes tears with.

i am thankful for the gifts that God has blessed me in my daily life -- health, happiness, friendships, a job, and safety.  chances are, if you are reading this, you are an integral part of my life, and i thank you for sharing it with me.

i love love love these thanksgiving give thanks cards.  you can even make some homemade and get the conversation rolling.

i also wanted to share a pecan recipe from Garden & Gun magazine.  this version uses bourbon, and i used blanton's. i did use a little more than the recipe called for because it might as well be a nightcap, too.

i made it before thanksgiving, just to test drive, and i made it again last night, to share with my restaurant family.  I used my own crust recipe but the filling is to-die, (and so easy) so i'll share that with you.

pre-heat oven to 350.

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups dark corn syrup (i used an entire bottle)

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp. all purpose flour

3 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp. bourbon

1 1/2 tbsp. melted butter

1 3/4 cup pecans

using hand mixer, combine sugar, syrup, salt, flour and eggs, mixing well. stir in bourbon, melted butter, pecans. bake in preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes (a toothpick should come out clean when inserted in center).  allow pie to rest for 2-3 hours to set. 

enjoy your thanksgiving holiday i hope you and your family make it an extra special occasion, this year.

the very best, always,

alexandra

day eleven

with thanksgiving a few days away, you're probably going through your closet thinking you have nothing to wear.  its important to know the environment you are going into.  is it traditional or are jeans acceptable? 

if you're like me, thanksgiving deals with a lot of standing in the kitchen and walking around setting the table so heels aren't always the best option.  a great pair of flats can go a long way. you can pair them with a dress or even jeans.  if you are a guest, however, choose a simple pump.

if you are wearing jeans, find a great sweater you can accessorize.  or, a top that doesn't require much. 

dresses are the easiest thing to wear.  they only require the proper shoe and an accessory or two.  dresses can be casual because of the material they are made of, or a bit more dressy.

also, check out posh's black book for more thanksgiving-wear ideas.

i'm sure you'll look fabulous in whatever you wear.

the very best, always,

alexandra

day ten

i cant totally grasp the fact that thanksgiving is next week (and also the fact that i'm working) with christmas not far behind.  i love the holiday season if you can't tell already.  hopefully you all have begun to pull out your best china, thought about the dish you're going to bring if you aren't hosting, and of course, what you're going to wear.


i'd like to share a recipe with you all, something i expect to be serving a lot of on Thanksgiving day while working.

Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

Crust:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
3/4 chopped nuts (pecans preferred but i do a mixture of pecans and walnuts)
1/4 cup melted butter

Sweet potato mixture:
3/4 cup sugar
dash of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup butter

You can make this a day ahead of time, refrigerate and bake it for the few minutes left and then finish it off in the broiler with the crust.

350 degree oven

Combine crust mixture, set aside.  I usually put it in a ziploc baggie. 

Combine sweet potato mixture in order of ingredients.  Remember to make sure your sweet potatoes are nice and soft before you try to mash.  A few minutes poked in the skin in the microwave and then boiled works well.  Pour mixture into buttered dish. Bake for 30 minutes (less if its the day before) on 350.  I always check the center with a toothpick.  Allow to set before the topping.  Add crust mixture and broil.  Be very careful with the timing of crust and ensure that your "SPC" is evenly browned and caramelized.

Next time, I might add marshmallows, but what would Ms. Ruth think?

*recipe adapted from www.ruthschris.com/recipes

the very best, always,

alexandra

day nine

“Remember, it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”


Thanks Veterans, God Bless you all!

-----
Veterans surround us in our everyday lives, we are free because of them.  While we should celebrate them everyday, this day is especially for them. I make it a point, whenever I see someone who i know has served, to thank them -- and you should too, regardless of your political affliation.
While we can't always be at a memorial you can look at any information on memorials online and read stories. 
 
Celebrate with an Americanized dinner, and give thanks before you enjoy it, to our soldiers, both past and present.  Veterans day is, after all, an occasion.

the very best, always,

alexandra

day eight

dressing your home to take on the holidays is important.  look for different accessories to specialize each room.  what better way to accessorize your kitchen than to provide your weary travelers with welcome cookies? these cookie cutters are on my list, and there are multiple uses for them year round. remember to use a cooling rack whenever you make cookies. 

a charger, is the simplest way to add style to your table. it requires no thinking, planning or positioning to make it "just right."  find the perfect table runner to complement your dinnerware and color choices.  if your serving space is limited, a tier stand is both visually appealing and space saving!  always do a chair count days before your guests arrive to assure you have enough seating  to accommodate to alleviate any last minute scrambling.  you have more important things to deal with -- like what you're going to wear.

lighting is critical in every room in your house. it sets the mood. decide on candles, replacing harsh bulbs, or even installing a dimmer switch, chances are, you'll have a party again soon where it will come in handy.

make your living room extra inviting with seating already arranged to encourage conversation. after you get them talking, keep them talking! noone likes a silent party. cocktail napkins and coasters protect your furniture and also add a little holiday sparkle.  the easiest way to make your living room more holiday is to add a few throw pillows.  fresh flower arrangements are always a must.  incorporate pine cones and gold covered eucalyptus to add height to your arrangement. send pictures and updates of your home! i'll be waiting for my invitation...by mail or phone, of course.

the very best, always,

alexandra

day seven

with fall finally here, and hopefully to stay, its time to dress appropriately -- dress yourself, your table, your house, maybe even your workspace.  today, ill tackle dressing yourself.

if you're like me your wardrobe has been a bit, well, shaky. recently in the NoVa area, we will have50 degree days followed by 70 degree days with your wardrobe wanting to scream "you already put all your summer clothes away?!"  the transition in to fall can be a difficult one. it is very important to learn how to layer. that way, if you get too warm, take a layer off. get too cold, put a layer on.  

side note:

for those of you in school, there have been studies showing that students who layer during tests are more likely to focus, because they control how their body reacts and feels, and isn't worried with being too hot or too cold.

while you can't wear gloves and a beanie cap indoors, a cardigan, is the perfect place to start.  the one pictured here has covered buttons that are so chic they can dress up jeans.  another great option is a scarf.  scarves aren't just made for outdoors anymore!  while i am a sucker for burberry as well as anything cashmere (see previous post), i must show you options! because there isn't anything more important.  this scarf, is the cowl-neck style, which takes the guessing out of: "do i wrap the scarf multiple times around my neck?" and "do i loop it and swoop it?"  it is so soft.  it also makes a great gift.  in the most conservative of offices, you can't wear a puffer vest with fur.  save it for your weekend trip.  now, with thinking just like the cardigan, the sweater vest offers alternatives because you can also layer it.  you can wear this with your favorite work pant.  this particular example has a chunkier feel to it, so keep your fabrics underneath simple.  whenever i have a piece that uses a tie -- like this vest -- i look for different ways to tie the tie.  sometimes i'll drape it behind me, have it in the front, have it on the side or even keep it open.  if you opt for a lighter sweater vest, with a "grandpa" feel to it, pair it with a turtleneck but again, keep the fabric simple. the gray is certainly my favorite of the three colors...don't "grandpa it up," pick a color underneath.  i am definitely loving the melon spice color of this tee.

always remember to accessorize!  a simple belt, pair of sparkle earrings or cool ring will do just the trick!

stay warm!

the very best, always,

alexandra

day six

 i think i will send christmas cards this year. there has always been a soft spot in my heart for stationery.  there is something spectacular about giving, and receiving a handwritten note.

in this day and age it is all too easy to send a quick email, ecard, facebook wall post and text message checking in with someone to say hello, send apologies, gratitude and even inviting someone to a party or - gasp - wedding. there is no other word that comes to mind than inpersonal. at what point do you think that using technology to send information or the like to someone is unacceptable? 

am i going to delete my facebook tomorrow? no. i won't. do i think that social media is positive? yes, i think that it can certainly help society, i wouldnt be here writing a blog if i believed differently.

as i sat at the kitchen table last night, my father urged my grandmother to get rid of her landline. "whats the need?" he said. she replied, "i hate that cell phone. i use it for emergecies only. all of my friends know my landline." fair enough.  i wasn't quick to point out that if i ever call her, its usually on her cell phone from my cell phone, and if she ever wants to get in touch with me, she should call my cell.

here is my point: call me old fashioned but even at 22, it is disheartening when i call someone, get voicemail, and receive a text message back. "hey! how are you?" i may not always respond to text messages in a very timely manner, as i have been known to forget to hit the send button, wondering if my message got lost in cyber space, feeling like an idiot when it is still in the text queue box. but, if your phone rang, you obviously saw that i called, clearly wanting to hear a voice i miss dearly or to follow up on the pictures you posted online.  if you can't call me back and text me saying, "in a meeting," " in class," "etc." remember... tag, youre it.

relationships, whether they are family, friendships or romances, are a two-way street. it is so important to keep these relationships alive and strong, where would we be without them? if someone is important enough to have your phone number, likewise be saved in your phone, call. who haven't you talked to in days, months, years? clean your phone to the ones who are no longer involved in your life. your phone will feel lighter, i promise.

ask for addresses; send a card. i think if we get the ball rolling on what used to be, our friendships can grow stronger, last longer and everyone will feel more fulfilled. if somone is in your life on a daily basis, leave a note for a friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, familyl member in a spot that will surprise them. next time youre in a store and see a card that makes you think of them, pick it up! that $3 will bring a smile to their face. personalized stationery will never go out of style, and typically, purchasing a box of stationery, for example, an assortment of birthday cards, can sometimes be more cost effective than purchasing card by card, and with a much higher quality. you can often find sales online at websites such as gilt and rue la la. if you'd like an invitation (sorry, the only kind they have is via web, but i'd be happy to send you a thank you card when you make your first purchase) let me know.

the very best, always,

alexandra