"Jungle Rescue" ~ Burbank Tournament of Roses Float 2015

"Jungle Rescue" is my third Burbank Tournament of Roses float that I've helped to decorate.  I was looking back on my blog and realized I hadn't ever added these photos, so I'm posting them much after the fact to have them in my archive.  I wish I'd written down the details as they happened, but the pictures tell the story.

Deco Week Day One - Dec. 26th

It's so much fun to see the float start from the ground up and come to completion by the end of the week.

Day Three - Dec 28th

Much of decorating is Statice, statice, statice.  Trimming the flower petals from their stalks takes hours upon hours of tedious volunteer work that is only lightened by cameraderie.  

The decorating process is focused on the animals being finished off the float.

Day Four - Dec 29th

By day four of decorating, the animals are taking shape and the process of attaching them to the float is being discussed and begun.

New Years Eve - Judging - Dec 31st

Judging takes place over several stages, but the climax is the day before the parade.  The float is started up and moved to the parking lot next door to the float barn.  All the animatronics are operated, and the original soundtrack is live.  Volunteers are working on small details up to the moment.

 

I was lucky to be involved in the float once again.  This year's jolly animals were raucus fun!

Mocha Cakes and Cookie Exchanges 2014

Mocha Cakes

I love to make several traditional favorite cookies at the holidays, and always try one new one.  This year I combined the two by making a cookie that had been served every year by my mom.  Since I haven't gotten to be with family for the last several years at the holidays, I am stepping up and doing our traditions myself, so for the first time I made my mom's mocha cakes this December.  

I have no idea how my mom's mocha cakes got the name, as there's nothing chocolate about them.  They are a lovely made-from-scratch vanilla cake, cubed and slightly dried, then dipped in royal icing and rolled in peanuts.  They make a lovely tea cake and always spell holiday to me.  

A big part of my California Christmas is participating in cookie exchanges.  This year my annual events were shaken up a bit, as some were suspended and a new one added.   My Food Bloggers Los Angeles group holds a lovely event where the party is as much anticipated as the cookies we bring home.  Their spread is the first photo above this paragraph.  The food bloggers are extremely inventive with ingredients as well as an eye towards presentation that always inspires me.  This year's highlights were chai tea shortbread, homemade apple strudel, and some hazelnut sandwich cookies that looked like french macaroons.  A few bloggers were kind enough to make appetizers or entrees for the party as well.  I so enjoy socializing with my FBLA friends. 

 

I had a new invitation this year to a neighborhood cookie exchange with a work colleage.  My friend Luc lives on the most convivial street I know, in a tiny enclave of Culver City.  Their summer bbqs are legendary, shutting down the entire street for a block party.  I'm so excited to be included in their holiday exchange!  I got to know several of the ladies as we enjoyed a lovely pumpkin coffee cake after our trade, and stayed a bit longer to craft afterwards.   I now know Luc and I have cross stitching in common as well!

Here's my mom's mocha cake recipe, posted as a jpg file.  Click on the picture above to enlarge to a readable size.  I'm happy to forward a pdf file as well.  Leave me a note in the comments below or contact me on facebook for the email verson.

Gourmet Gone Easy: Eggs Baked in Avocado

Okay, my friend got me interested with a photo posted on social media, and I had to try it:  eggs baked in avocado.  To show how easy this is, I'm posting a picture of how I did it, baked in my toaster oven.  Besides the beautiful presentation, this is a great portion-controlled serving.  I added a bit of shaved Parmesean in the avocado bowl before pouring in my egg, and a bit on top, with a dusting of Smoked Paprika to top. 

A tip:  choose the biggest avocado you can find.  Mine was a bit small (or perhaps my egg was really large).  So I rounded out the opening with a spoon to make it a bit deeper before filling, but still the egg spilled over the side.  That part was then so thin that it burnt on the bottom of the dish.  Baking time will vary, depending on how you prefer your eggs.  I like my yolks cooked hard, so baked at 225 degrees, my egg took about thirty minutes to set.  And it smelled so good, I forgot to take a picture of the finished product! 

What's your favorite omelette or scramble filling?  Please leave a comment to the blog post below.

#FBLA's October Meeting and Cacao-Pumpkin Energy Bars

Food Bloggers Los Angeles had an inspired October meeting focused on fall entertaining.  I have learned so much about blogging and social networking from fellow members, and this month was no different, with a discussion about hashtags and how to rise holiday blog content above the norm. 

In the coming weeks, look for posts from me about holiday tablescapes, what to do with all those leftovers, and what to serve for holiday entertaining outside of the "big meal" such as breakfast casseroles and movie snacks.  Thanks, FBLA, for the brainstorming session!

 

I love to keep old traditions, but like to try out something new each year as well.  What new traditions will you be trying out during the coming holidays?  Please leave a comment on this blog post.

Vegan Cacao-Pumpkin Energy Bars

 (makes 4 large bars)

1/2 cup unsalted raw Cashews

2 Tbsp raw Pumpkin Seeds (pepitas)

2 Tbsp Chia Seeds

2 Tbsp Hemp Seeds

2 rounded Tbsp unsweetened Coconut Flakes

1/4 cup Rolled Oats

Pulse above in food processor till ground fine.   To mixture, add

1 tsp ground Cinnamon

1 rounded Tbsp ground Cacao Nibs

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1 cup pitted dates (about 15-20 dates)

Pulse again until dates are well chopped.  Lastly, add

1/4 cup canned pumpkin

Blend in food processor until a ball forms.  Use mini tart pans, well-greased with coconut oil.  Dip a tablespoon in coconut oil and use it to shape the dough into the tart pans.  Wrap in waxed paper or saran wrap and freeze until solid.  These are best eaten straight out of the freezer to maintain their shape.  If thawed they will be "nougat"-like and soft.

P.S.

I admit to being a bit generous in my measurements of the ingredients I really love, like coconut and cacao, so the measurements aren't precise, which is why i've listed them as mounded.  This is one of those recipes I often improvise and revise slightly based on what's at hand.  In the past I've added dried citrus peel, candied orange peel, dried dates, dried cherries, pistachios - whatever you can come up with.  Just keep the ratio of dried fruit (including the dates) to nuts and seeds to liquid (in the pumpkin) roughly the same and it will work out fine. 

Homemade Pumpkin Hummus with Red Walnuts

I made this pumpkin hummus to take to a game night party at a friend's house.  It's easy, seasonal, and delicious.  As a guest, I never like to come empty handed.  I love having recipes in my back pocket that I know I can prepare quickly on the fly with pantry ingredients.  The red walnuts I used as a garnish are so different.  They taste wonderfully but are eye catching in or on any dish.

Homemade Pumpkin Hummus

1 can Chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 tub (8oz) Trader Joe's Tahini Dressing
1/2 cup canned Pumpkin

Blend all in food processor.  Garnish with red walnuts and shredded Parmesan cheese, or favorite dried fruit and nuts. 

Tole Painted Apples

I live in a small guesthouse that is hidden on the property.  Mail carriers often have trouble finding my front door and end up around the back.  My mom taught tole painting professionally in group classes when I was small.  So when I needed a sign to point the way to my front door, I asked my mom to tole paint anything she liked for me.  She would often do camping trips with her sisters or friends and paint when I was small.  She taught us kids to paint apples, and used apples in a family tree that she painted for my grandma.  I was so excited and pleased when I received this sign in the mail!  I think it looks great on the corner of my structure.  It complements the new siding just put up by the property owner.