it's beginning to look a lot like. . .

hello hello!

well, believe it or not, i am STILL nursing this cold, and starting to forget what it feels like to have a nose that isn't runny, and a head that isn't almost too heavy for its neck. one of my readers, lauren, pointed out that i shouldn't nap in the afternoon, and i think she's right - unfortunately i've become stuck in this awful cycle of wake up super early & tired, work for 8 or 9 hours, become exhausted, go home, nap, wake up for dinner and find myself unable to fall asleep at a reasonable hour, and repeat. i've also been watching a lot of law and order: special victims unit, which is doing some pretty weird things to my dreams.

regardless of all of this, i've been working like a maniac and honestly loving just about every minute of it. (except the first thirty or so. try as i might, i am just not a morning person.) with the holidays coming i'm trying to get some ideas together for the bakery (which, i should mention, is called the annex, in fort greene. if you are in new york please stop by!! it's a small place, you'll see me.) what holiday cookies and treats do you like? as a pastry chef with an admittedly saltier tooth than sweet, this time of year can be hard for me - so i've been focusing my time on macarons, always my favorite.








from the top: raspberry lemonade, blueberry white chocolate, caramel apple cider, chocolate espresso, pear ginger, and peppermint dark chocolate.

thank you all for the sweet and encouraging comments. it's a job that hardly feels like work, but i have to say i'm anxious to get my energy back and my sleep back on schedule so i can get back to normal again - i feel like i've been on some kind of strange baking vacation where all i do is work, eat and sleep.

if you have any holiday recipe ideas you'd like to share, please let me know! i'll let you know if i'm serving your cookies in the bakery.

xo audrey

holiday cheer

aloha! i spent a good part of this weekend laid up with a nasty cold (thank heavens for sudafed,) which gave me ample time (and sudafed-fueled energy) to whip up some holiday treats.







chocolate brigadeiros (i put whiskey in mine,) vanilla bean pralines, peanut butter rice krispie bars (the recipe is actually from the bakery where i work!), gingerbread spice cupcakes with cinnamon buttercream, toasted almond and raspberry jam macarons, and eggnog snickerdoodles.


now i have a lovely assortment to bring to sam's family for christmas this weekend.

happy holidays, everyone!

xo audrey

homerunballerina's gift guide, part III

and, after much ado, part 3 of my gift guide - the girl who loves to accessorize. this time of year, with all the bundling up that's necessary to stay warm, a good pair of tights, gloves, or some cute jewels can punch up an otherwise purely utilitarian outfit. some of my favorites:



any tights from hansel from basel. ($18-$42)



i've mentioned bebaroque before - they make the most astonishingly beautiful tights on the planet. each one is a work of art. i only own one pair - at the moment - but after this photo research, i may have to acquire a few more. ($38-$211)



a "fur" stole: this or that. ($75 or $232)



super adorable clothesline necklace. $98



i've loved erica weiner's necklaces since i spotted them at the renegade craft fair in chicago, years ago. this one is my favorite (for now.) $50



with all those necklaces, you'll need a place to hang them. i currently use a crappy row of hooks that were left, nailed to a board, in an old apartment; damn, i'd prefer this.



i just ordered a pair of these and i'm desperate for them to arrive. $35

okay. a couple more left, and i'll have to hurry - christmas is a-comin'!

xo audrey