Holiday at Home 2010

For me, Christmas was spent at home in Santa Clarita. It's always a bittersweet experience as spending time with family usually is, but this year was quite nice. Just a few of my favorite photos my relaxing Holiday weekend. 

Balsalmic Bruchetta

When I cook, it is often because I have found an excessive amount of some thing in my fridge and feel the need to use it before it goes bad. This time, it was tomatoes. At first I thought about making pico de gallo salsa, but then opted for something a little different, but still easy to make and that guests could enjoy. Bruchetta is something bite-size and the perfect way to use the seven tomatoes I found in the fridge this time! 

Here's how:

Prep Time: 1 hour

What you'll need:
1 loaf of french bread 
5-6 tomatoes sliced/cubed (roma is best)
1/2 cup fresh basil 
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbspn olive oil
2 tbspn balsalmic vinegar
1/2 lemon (you'll just need the juice)
1/2 cup cheese (I used Parmesan & mozzarella)
salt & pepper


To begin:
In a bowl, combine cubed tomatoes, olive oil, cheese, balsalmic vinegar, garlic and lemon juice. Mix well. Fresh basil is best to use because it's just so delicious! You will need to cut up the basil leaves and then add them in before refrigerating. Add dash of salt and pepper and let sit in the fridge for 45 minutes to let the flavors blend. 


While waiting, pre-heat the oven to broil. Slice up French bread, no thicker than 1 inch and spread out on pan. Scoop spoonfuls of bruchetta onto each slice of bread and place it in the oven for 8 minutes. 


Bruchetta can be served cold or warm, I choose to serve it warm because the cheese was melty and the bread was toasty--perfect for a rainy December night!


Enjoy! 

What goes around comes around?

2009 has changed the way I think about a lot of things. This year has really only led me to believe that hardly anyone in this world is nice....

We're all just naughty SOBs.

I suppose Christmas is not always going to bring everyone holiday cheer, realistically--Christmas as we know it is a time of year that the human world is divided into two categories: naughty and nice. But we all know that there are PLENTY of naughty people who get a shit ton of gifts and those who have been good their entire lives who never really get anything.

I have come to the conclusion that Christmas is nothing but a consumer driven, capitalistic and semi-religiously affiliated hoax that has the ability to convince people that "giving is getting" but really--"buying is giving".

As for me, I am always on the naughty list--I am the QUEEN BITCH!

Initial Step 2006-Santa's Naughty List

Julie and I before our performance

Week.end.

Just a recap of Friday and Saturday's events
Mel's Grad Party in Long Beach

CLEO

Melanie's Ball Python that I might be babysitting while she is in Singapore!

Night in LB for Mel's Graduation Party

♥

Baby Peyton @ work for the

Holiday Party

It's good to be home.

Peyton's first Vet visit

VSC Holiday Party

Thai FOOD with Aakriti and Paola

Gotta love Christmas Time!

Meet Peyton Juno Janes!

Christmas comes but once a year and this year it came early! Andrew and I picked Peyton up on Thursday night at the Burbank Airport. The only Midwesterner I formally know came all the way from Missouri :)

Yesterday--Friday--Andrew and I took Peyton in for her first Vet visit! She did well, but got a little scared and had an accident on the receptionist counter. Vet said she is in good shape and is well behaved for a 4 month old! She came to the Valley Syn com Circuits Christmas Party and was a huge hit, she got so much attention from everyone. Who wouldn't love that face?