holiday cheer

Christmas is just days away and I'm pretty excited to be spending our first real Christmas as a family (last year didn't really count as Maxwell was just days old). Even though we don't buy presents (we only do stockings), it'll be nice to have Christmas dinner with Maxwell and spend the day relaxing together. This year though, Joe and I decided that we wouldn't be able to have a real tree. With Maxwell being mobile and getting into literally everything, it just wouldn't be safe. I was seriously bummed. I love the smell and look of a real tree. So, instead we got a small, four-foot tall fake tree and displayed it on top of our desk. I couldn't hang most of our regular ornaments on it as Maxwell would pull those off, so I kept it simple with some lights, candy canes, a popcorn garland and baby-safe ornaments.

I made this ombré garland from pompoms I found at Dollarama. Sadly, it was too short to wrap around the entire length of the tree. Oh well.

Joe's sister even crafted Maxwell a few felt ornaments. My favourite is her rendition of his first (and most cherished) stuffed toy, Boris (originally named Albert).

And it wouldn't be the holidays without some sweets. I haven't been able to do much baking, but did manage to crank out some shortbread and these salted brown butter cookies.

Now, time to cozy-up on the couch and stare at my tree.

nak won

My first dinner out in 2012 was at Nak Won's downtown location on Dundas St. We've been eating a lot of Korean food lately (I'll have a post on another Korean restaurant later this week) because it's the perfect type of food when the weather's cold and dreary.

I love getting a large assortment of banchan (little complimentary side dishes). Clockwise from top left: seaweed, seasoned soybean sprouts, candied potatoes, pickled radish, soybeans, jap chae (potato starch noodles), fish cakes, and kimchi.

Broiled mackerel and kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew).

Tang Soo Yuk, the Korean version of sweet and sour pork.

Pretty much every table at the restaurant had at least one bowl of this pork bone soup. Messy (you got to get your hands dirty to get at the good stuff), but so worth it.

Nak Won

473 Dundas St.W

books, books, books

Here’s a pile of books that my bro gave me for Christmas this year. It’s a mix of novels, manga and, of course, cookbooks. I’ve been on a self-imposed cookbook-buying ban since mid-October so it felt good to get some new food porn.

a christmas feast

This year for Christmas dinner I decided to forgo a whole turkey (mainly because nobody in my fam likes the white meat) and instead roasted the best parts of a turkey—thighs, drumsticks and wings that I scored from Rowe Farms. On the side: sausage-cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes mixed with mashed sweet potatoes, roasted asparagus, sautéed corn, gravy and cranberry sauce.

happy holidays

This past week has been spent cooking, baking and eating. We will have a traditional turkey feast tomorrow, but tonight for our Christmas Eve dinner, it was all about Asian eats. Happy holidays indeed! 

Stir-fried noodles with chicken, broccoli and mushrooms.

Korean extra-crispy chicken wings.

The entire menu: rice, noodles, chicken wings and lechon kawali (deep-fried pork belly).

a victorian christmas

Over the weekend, Seema and I went to Dundurn Castle to see it all decked out for a traditional Victorian Christmas.

The entire castle was decorated just as it would have been when the MacNabs lived there. My favourite part was seeing the tables set and ready for a feast.

Even the servants had a special meal (obviously not as fancy though)during Christmas. That's a pigeon pie on the corner with little talons poking out.

Next, a late lunch at Bread Bar where the focus is on local and seasonal ingredients.

We shared a potato bianca pizza (fontina cheese, fingerling potatoes, bechamel sauce and rosemary)...

...and the toasted tomato, ricotta and basil sandwich along with the loaded fries of the day (poutine-style with curds and mushroom gravy).

We ignored our full stomachs and ordered the mixed berry pie (warm!) and ice cream for dessert. Such a satisfying meal.

*Bread Bar

258 Locke St. S

Hamilton, ON.

o christmas tree

After spending a rainy afternoon scouring the Fiesta Farms garden centre for the perfect tree (who knew there were so many types!), we finally settled on a Fraser Fir (they aren't supposed to shed their needles as much and have a really nice smell). The one we chose ended up being, uh, quite rotund (it's hard knowing how a tree will look once it's unwrapped). Here she is in all her fat glory:

 

And all dressed up:

xmas crafting

This year I am actually going to decorate my apartment for the holidays—tree and all. Problem is that I have absolutely nothing. My mom is kindly giving me a bunch of lights and ornaments, but I also want to add a bit of a personal touch, so Adam and I spent an afternoon crafting.  

I love this pom pom garland! So much so that it'll be hanging in our hallway until we get our Christmas tree.

I rushed through making these pine cone elves (I am not a patient hand-sewer), but I still think they're cute. I'll probably turn these into ornaments and make nicer ones to sit on my shelf.

Adam on the other hand, is a perfectionist. His put mine to shame.

Of course, I made snacks: a retro cheeseball, pigs in a blanket, crispy wontons and onion/herb dip.