"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.