We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We had family and friends (Tiffani and Deke) over to our house and we made a crazy array of barbecued meat that took several days to prepare (ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage), along with "ultimate" mac n cheese, sautéed haricots verts and mini cornbread muffins. For dessert we made maple bacon bourbon ice cream with tiny squares of sweet cornbread and a garnish of candied bacon (and a super delicious Chinese Five Spice Apple Cake…so good! — thanks Tiffani!)
I found this incredible recipe for macaroni and cheese and decided to try it. Usually if I make macaroni and cheese I use taleggio cheese (and a few others) and sometimes some prosciutto, but this recipe sounded like it might be even better. It is. Highly recommended. (Beware though…I think we spent over thirty bucks on cheese!)
Kevin is the best husband ever and he gave me the camera I've been coveting for a while now — the Fuji X100. You may have noticed that I take most of my photos with my iPhone (because it's always with me), and very few with my many-lensed, heavy (but fabulous) Nikon D700. When I saw the Fuji X100 I fell in love with its retro looks, its solid construction, and its basic no-nonsense controls, and figured that if there's a camera that I LOVE that's small enough to have with me most of the time, it might be just to thing to bridge the gap between the quality (good as it is) of my iPhone camera and my D700 (usually left back at the Airstream while we're out exploring or hiking).
After experimenting and playing with the X100 for two solid days now, I think it's going to work because so far, I don't want to leave its side. Look how pretty:
Christmas (and Christmas Eve) was awesome. Thank you so much for inviting us! Besides being hilarious and welcoming, I’m impressed with the array of talented cooks in your group. You’re all on my desert island list!
That meal sounds fabulous! The mac n’ cheese recipe looks good, but I would need a special occasion to make it- probably couldn’t justify that much cheese for just the two of us. Wishing you a very happy new year 🙂
This is definitely “once a year Mac n cheese.” Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas Laura & Kevin 🙂 Got caught up tonight on your travels…what an adventure you’ve had.
Laura, I’ve had the Fuji for a year now and it’s my very favorite, take everywhere camera…yes it’s pretty and it’s FUN to play with! Enjoy!
Kim
Nice gift Kevin ; ) I’ve been looking at this camera too . . . I’ll be anxious to hear more of your thoughts and see the results.
Happy New Year!
Aww, Laura! Your hubby so loves you! Awesome gift! That Mac n’ Cheese is in my “to make list!” By the way, I love that long, long dinner table! Stunning. Always enjoying your photos and your blog posts! Here’s sending you and Kevin a very Happy New Year!
Thanks everyone! The long long dinner table was designed by an art school friend of mine (with a little help from me). It’s all reclaimed wood (complete with lead paint and graffiti!) and has no hardware at all in it…just mortise and tenon and lap joints, with a big slab of glass on top. It’s served us very well!
Happy New Year!
-Laura
o my I am going to have to try that mac n cheese recipe! sure to keep me fueled all day;) Happy New Year!
xo,
gloria