Last night was our annual Christmas party at the office. We have a small office staff consisting of 13 women so it is very easy for all of us to do something different then the usually in-house party. Every year we go into the city. This year it was to Buddakan.
Buddakan is a restaurant with Modern Asian Cuisine. Located conveniently next to Chelsea Market, Buddakan is a visual experience that is hard to describe. At first, it seems like you enter a hotel lobby, but once you make it past the bar, that’s when you realize how large and stunning the place really is. Gorgeous chandeliers adorn the dining room that blends a medieval setting with industrial and oriental undertones. The downfall was it very dark. It took a minute or two for my eyes to adjust in the dark & once I could focus I enjoyed the view.
Everyone was extremely professional and attentive. The waiter was on top if his game. Keeping up with 13 women with drink orders and food orders and even changing out plates, utensils and wiping the tables.
The food was artfully presented. Each dish was beautiful. Every dish is perfect for sharing with friends and that is what we did. Five of us on our side of the table decided to try out different and new items.

For appetizers we ordered the: Lobster egg rolls, General Tso’s Dumplings, Peking Duck Salad, Taro Puff Lollipops, and the Frogs Legs.

For dinner we ordered: Szechuan Crusted Ribeye, Charred Filet of Beef, Kung Pao Munkfish, and the Shrimp and Lobster Chow Fun.

I also found out today that Buddakan was in Sex and the City. How awesome is that! So if you are looking for a trendy place in the city to have dinner, try this place out. I’d highly recommend Buddakan. You won’t regret it.

Buddakan
75 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 989-6699

Also from my list of things to eat before I die I knocked out:
# 51. Frogs Legs
# 49. Peking duck

At work one of the doctors has been putting together donations for the troops. We would like to show them that we appreciate what they are doing to protect our country. We are sending them some much needed items and gifts for the upcoming holiday season. Together we can make a difference even if it is small.
We all brought in things that the troops really needed – socks, t-shirts, deodorant, snacks, books and such. I brought in a ton of toothpaste and hot chocolate with marshmallows. One is needed, the other something that they can enjoy and remind them of home. If you can this Holiday season give a little something. Anything. Let them know you care.

** NaBloPoMo for December is mitzvah (to give something, to someone, every day of the month, and then blog about it). The goal is to act with kindness. Even though I lost this month (had no time to post yesterday), I am still going to keep up with the theme. I think that it is amazing and especially this season is much needed.

# 26. Get dinner out only 5 times for 1 month

We blew this one out of the water  in November.  Not only were we able to to eat dinner out only 5 times, but we also were able to go the whole month on only one trip to the market.  That is a pretty amazing feat!

With the schedules that we both have sometimes it is very hard not to just go out or pick something up.  We decided to try it out in November due to the fact that we could  spend the extra money we use on eating out for Christmas presents.   It worked out perfectly.  I made a ton of slow cooker recipes, soups and salads.  I made sure that I planned out dinners that we had the supplies for and each night we were able to pick out what we were in the mood for.  The only times we went out to eat where for special occasions or when we felt we really needed to get out with friends.

What a great idea! K is really into playing the guitar and this would be the most adorable for all of our guests in lieu of the standard guest book. We could showcase it in our apartment!

Creation in Death
by J. D. Robb

It’s 2060, and the serial killer nicknamed The Groom is back in town after an absence of nine years, resuming his horrific run of kidnapping, torturing and killing young women. Dallas, who served as a detective in the first investigation, assumes lead role in this one. This time, not only do the killer’s chosen victims have ties to Dallas’s husband, Roarke, but Dallas herself may be the killer’s ultimate target.

It seems that this book is a part of a series of books that I have yet to read. I picked up the book a couple of months ago when I was at Barnes and Noble in Florida. I had been on a trip to see my grandfather and needed something to help me pass the time at night while he slept (he goes to sleep very early). Unfortunately, I bought so many books that mini vacation that I was never able to get to it. So the other day when I happen to come upon it I decided to go ahead and read it.
I liked the book because it was fun, fast, and just enough sci-fi to be plausible, but the plot painfully predictable (or at least for me it was). I knew where the story was going from the beginning. It seemed that this is a perfect book for vacation or weekend read.

Ten things I am loving right now…

1. Cereal. Who doesn’t love a good bowl of cereal? Consider the ridiculously wide array of choices…Honey Nut? Whole Wheat? Golden? Fruity? I want them all!

2. Peace and quiet. I love when the apartment isn’t buzzing with the computer, telephone ringing or TV blaring. It is good sometimes to just enjoy the quiet.

3. Scarves. Just bought another beautiful one. I am a bit obsessed with my collection of scarves. I really need to stop!

4. Hot chocolate. This is a staple in our house once the weather gets colder.  We never forget the marshmallows. Never forget the marshmallows.

5. Tuesday happy hours at home. Yes you heard that right, K and I made a little tradition. When we get home from work on Tuesday’s we have our own little happy hour. No need to go out. The party is right here in our apartment. Lucky for us we have Wednesday’s off.

6. Planning trips with friends. Just finished planning a trip with friends to go snow tubing. I love helping put together get togethers. I think it is going to be a blast!

7. Walk in a winter wonderland. Long, leisurely walks in the winter have their very own charm. Crunchy, frosted snow covered grass, the cool wind in your hair, the cute clothes. Who can resist?

8. Wear Mittens. They make me feel like a kid again.

9. Dumplings. Ever since I first had them at Dim Sum I have been obsessed with them. Sometimes I wish I could eat them everyday. Alas, I can not.

10. Getting into bed for the night. The comfty pjs + the cool sheets + holding K’s hand as I drift off = complete joy.

Woot! I am finally finished with this years Christmas cards and ready to send them out. It has taken me a bit longer then I thought it would because of our busy schedules. I am so excited and loving the way they look. I sure do hope everyone who is receiving them does too!

{One of the many cards}

I got the idea for these cards from Martha Stewart. She has so many amazing ideas and when I saw this one I just swooned. Her Glittered Wintry Scene Cards idea is easy to put together. She suggested a template, but I decided to do it by hand to make them each original. It only took a couple supplies and my imagination. Each card is different – some I made with birds, some with bunnies, some with both, but all with the tree. I suggest going to Martha’s site to check out her many wonderful ideas!

* And another of my 101 in 1001 bites the dust! Bye bye # 84. Create my own holiday cards in 2009!

{A close up}

A trip to Williams-Sonoma this week led to a new Ebelskiver’s Pan. You see William-Sonoma is always sending me e-mails on what they are having on sale. So of course when I received an e-mail regarding the Ebelskiver’s Pan it was like they knew for the longest time I have wanted this pan.
Ebelskivers are light, puffy pancakes that can be filled with fruit, chocolate, jam or cheese and served for breakfast or as an hors d’oeuvre, dessert or light supper. Ebelskivers are traditional Danish pancakes with a distinctive shape of a sphere. Somewhat similar in texture to American pancakes crossed with a popover, ebelskivers are solid like a pancake but light and fluffy like a popover. And absolutely delicious. To make them all you need is this special pan and to drop some of the batter into each mold, cook for a few minutes, then turn the dough and cook on the other side. Easy peasy!
I decided to make them Sunday morning for brunch and filled them with strawberry jam and some with breakfast sausage. I can’t wait to find new ways to make them and will definitely be making these again soon!

* picture courtesy of William-Sonoma

* Sunday morning I wasn’t really feeling up to taking pictures because I was so hungry. I will definitely be making these again soon so I will post pictures in the future.

The Lost Recipe for Happiness
by Barbara O’Neal

The Lost Recipe for Happiness is about Elena Alvarez, who was the sole survivor of a car accident that left her badly scarred twenty years earlier. Attempting to escape the accident she falls in love with cooking. Elena drifted to culinary school in Europe and eventually ends up at an upscale Vancouver restaurant, where her passion and skills capture the attention of celebrity restaurateur Julian Liswood, who hires her as the executive chef of a new restaurant he is opening in Aspen, Colorado. As she finds her footing in Aspen’s restaurant scene, she, too, begins to find a home.

Of course without noticing it I have yet picked up another book that has recipes in it. I don’t know if it is the new way of writing when you are speaking of a chef, but it was interesting. The book is a very light, fun, mindless read. Nothing to hard here. Girl breaks up with current man, relocates to new city for a fresh start, meets new man, not sure if she should get involved with new man, ends up getting involved with new man and they begin new relationship. Pretty much sums up the story line, but the characters made it much better then it sounds.