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"Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more."
— MOTHER TERESA
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ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS IN THE CABIN
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Happy New Year! When we saw that Friday Favorites would fall on both Christmas and New Year’s Day this year, we decided to forgo the actual holidays and create this special issue filled with lots of inspiring ideas for delicious and festive dishes.
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MY MOM AND PATRICK ON OUR ANNUAL TRIP
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But first, I’ve been thinking about holiday traditions. This year, celebrations have been different for so many of us. My intention is to be in the flow of life and find the joy that’s available in each moment. When I was a child, our tradition was to be at my parents’ house on Christmas. It felt so special and wonderful, and I thought it would never change. But one year, it did. That year we didn’t celebrate Christmas in our traditional way and instead took a family trip…and it was pretty magical. It became our tradition, and even when we lost my mother, that trip continued, including my sisters, their kids, my brothers-in-law, and even the ex-husbands. My dad always said, “They are the fathers of my grandchildren.” There was a beauty to that sentiment. My father gave us that gift, and it’s a tradition we’ve carried forward.
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PATRICK AND LUCY ON OUR CHRISTMAS TRIP
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Those holidays were the best of times, and I was certain that would never change. But after my dad died, I realized that way of celebrating had ended for me. My sisters have continued the lovely tradition, but for me it evolved into heading to the beauty and magic of the Napa Valley, a place where my family could enjoy the holidays at a leisurely pace. I spent many wonderful Christmases there with my children, their father, and a couple of our closest friends. I thought it would never end but, as many of you know, on September 28 that lovely Napa dream burned down.
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IN NAPA, OUR ANNUAL TRADITION WAS A WALK IN THE REDWOOD FOREST
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Life changes, and so do traditions, and we just have to keep rolling along with what it brings, creating new traditions and new ways of being together. This year was my first Christmas with Roy, and we did exactly what we love to do: cooked lovely meals and enjoyed time together. We have welcomed in the New Year together for many years, and I expect to do that for many more years to come.
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The tradition Roy and I have on New Year’s Eve always involves seafood in some form—usually including our Seafood Pasta from the book. There’s a spectacular recipe in the book and another one on the blog. This dish takes some time and love to prepare, but it is hands down worth it.
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Steak Salad is also a wonderful celebration dish. When you cook a steak properly and surround it with beautiful greens, avocado, hearts of palm, cucumbers, and a spectacular dressing like our California Grown Olive Magic Elixir, it’s so fabulously delicious.
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Most kids love nothing more than a pancake or French toast board. It’s easy to put together. Get the kids involved in the production and include something for everyone. It’s beautiful for New Year’s Day morning.
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LOTS OF SINGING AT THE CHRISTMAS TABLE
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When Lucy was growing up, I preferred having all her friends at my house on New Year’s Eve, so I knew everybody would be safe. For that fun group, I would put together a dessert board--and by the way, you can get pretty much all the ingredients at a place like Trader Joe’s.
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A favorite of so many has been our gluten-free Lemon Drop Cloud Cake. If you’re considering making it, go online right now and order your lemon skyr. It is a dream.
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The reality is that things change. I cherish the past traditions we’ve had and hold them dear, but I am also committed to enjoying and being present for the necessary new ways of being. One is silver and the other gold. Wishing you the happiest New Year. I hope you will find inspiration in the collection of festive recipes we have gathered below for you this week.
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It feels like Season 3 has just begun, but can you believe we are already on episode 7? Join me at my table as I discuss various topics including food, cooking, love, family and inspiration with some amazing new guests. Get yourself up to date on all the episodes.
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BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH CHEESE GRITS
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ERIC & SHANNA's BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH CHEESE GRITS
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Gathering around a table and uniting with friends and family is essential this time of year. No matter the size of our celebration, sharing a delicious meal is synonymous with comfort. We laugh, share stories, reminisce, toast, and eat. We celebrate food by enjoying it with others--it's a shared experience. Making these Braised Short Ribs with Cheese Grits is how we celebrate. It's an elegant, delicious, and comforting dish that always steals the show. The aromas that permeate our home are a reminder of how far we have come, and they create excitement for what lies ahead.
Eric & Shanna Jones, Owners, Dude That Cookz
@dudethatcook
dudethatcookz.com
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Whenever I talk to anybody about Chinese food, the most adored option is Char Siu Pork, or Chinese BBQ pork. Everyone loves this dim sum classic: tender meat coated in a sweet, savory, sticky glaze. This recipe was inspired by that dish. The main difference is that we use pork ribs instead of pork loin, and a honey BBQ sauce, which creates a much more festive appearance and uses ingredients that are easy to find. These fall-off-the-bone tender, finger-licking good Chinese BBQ ribs are the way to shake things up for the holidays and other special occasions.
Maggie Zhu, Owner
@omnivorescookbook
omnivorescookbook.com
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Pavlova is a classic holiday staple in New Zealand, where I am from. It is gluten free by nature and can easily be adapted to be dairy free too by using a thick coconut yogurt or coconut whipped cream on top. Every family has their own recipe, but I worked hard this year to develop a version that was a little more forgiving and stable by using Swiss meringue instead of the usual French meringue method. We usually top ours with fruit, but you can get creative and use anything you like. Lemon curd is also so, so good.
Erin Clarkson, Blogger
@cloudykitchen
cloudykitchen.com
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ONE OF ALICE CHOI'S HOLIDAY CHEESE BOARD
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Whether you are spending the holidays with just your immediate family or getting together with a small group of family members, a cheese board is a super festive and delicious, no-stress way to feed your family. There's something on it for everyone to enjoy!
Alice Choi, Blogger
@hipfoodiemom1
hipfoodiemom.com |
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A TOAST TO THE PERFECT PEAR
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When I was growing up, celebrations were always accompanied by decadent food. My parents would cook side by side, my mom experimenting with new recipes and my father sneaking a splash of red wine into any dish as he saw fit. I’ve carried this perfect pairing of cooking and wine into adult life. Whether in honor of a significant accomplishment or simply a celebration of life itself, I never pass up an opportunity to toast the good life. A luxurious indulgence for the ultimate midnight snack, this red wine pear recipe is a perfect way to toast to the New Year. Cheers!
Ashley Thai, Home Cook
@theAshleyThai
ashleythai.com |
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The newest addition to our shop is the Lucy Platter. It’s somewhere between a platter and a bowl, exclusively used for serving, and spectacular when you serve a dish with a sauce, because it has a fantastic edge.
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I had forgotten how much creative fulfillment I get from cooking. But I’m falling in love with an old friend again, thanks to inspiration from nocrumbsleft.
JILLIAN KAMEL, Photographer
@jillianmelissakamel
Rochester Hills, Michigan
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If you want to be featured here with the cookbook, DM Teri and let her know.
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