BLEUBIRD BLOG

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"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

julian: a big mug of hot cocoa.
milla plum: shaking presents under the tree. i loved to do that when i was a girl, too.
birdie: her hair has gotten so long.
sailor: the sweetest blue eyed baby boy.

only one more week to go! so crazy. many of you have asked if i am going to do something special with the photos that i have taken of the kids over the past year. i plan to, yes. i am thinking of making them into a book of sorts. our very own little family coffee table book perhaps. i will be sure to share with you once it is complete. many of you have also asked if i plan on carrying on with this photo project into the new year. i think that i will. i was looking through the photos from week one until now earlier and it was so beautiful to see the slight changes week to week and the memories that come along with each photo. i may do a different spin on it, but i will definitely be taking weekly photos again.

in other news, we are all feeling better, just in time for christmas! thank you for all of the well wishes. we are seriously behind with christmas wrapping and cookie baking though, so i better run and get to work. 

BITS + PIECES

1. he gives kisses now. all day long.
2. aubrey and i have been very sick with what has been going around town over the past few days. we are doing our best to keep the kids well.
3. beetlejuice pants and a fox tail.
4. cinnamon pine cones.
5. birdie's christmas tree art.
6. a dreamy baby.
7. a little green on our plum colored door.
8. in love with the new issue of kinfolk.
9. this morning birdie woke up with a cough and a low-grade fever. keeping her hydrated and resting today.
10. always trying to grab the camera.
11. lots of hot tea with lemon oil these days.

it's been awhile since i have shared some bits + pieces. it's a post that i truly love and will try to share more often. this week has been a rough one. aubrey and i have been very sick. in and out of the doctors office, on antibiotics and supplements, all while trying to keep the kids healthy. i thought we had managed to keep them clear or this terrible bug until this morning when birdie woke up warm to the touch and coughing. i suppose it needs to make it's rounds. i foresee a few more trips to the doctor in our near future. crossing my fingers that we are well by christmas.

hope you are all staying healthy during this cold and flu season. xx

SUNDAY'S CAKE

we were trying to think of the perfect winter cake for sunday's baking session and all that came to mind was gingerbread. i love gingerbread cookies but have never made and possibly never tasted, at least that i can remember, actual ginger bread or gingerbread cake. a quick search on pinterest and we were searching the pantry for ingredients and making a short list for the market.

this gingerbread cake is delicious. it smells like christmas and is full of wonderful dark and spicy flavors. not too sweet, but definitely sweet enough to call dessert. serve warm with a little orange butter and you'll be in winter heaven.

gingerbread

you will need: 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup dark molasses
2 large eggs, at room temperature

preheat oven to 350 degrees. using butter, grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan. tap out excess flour. In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and salt. whisk to break up lumps and set bowl aside. in a separate small bowl, stir together buttermilk and vanilla and set aside. 

next, combine butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. beat on medium speed until fluffy and light in color, about 3-4 minutes. beat in molasses until combined and then one at a time, add in the eggs, beating in until well incorporated. once everything is mixed in, scrape down bowl and paddle. add one third of the flour mixture and beat on low speed until incorporated. add half of the buttermilk mixture and beat until the batter looks smooth, add in another third of the flour mixture. add remaining buttermilk and then the remaining flour mixture. the batter should be nice and smooth. 

pour batter into prepared pan and place on the center rack of your oven. bake for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. the cake should pull away from pan once finished. cool and turn out onto a rack. finish with a dusting of powdered sugar.

recipe adapted from here.

see more sunday's cake recipes here.

DRINK / 01

we partnered up with simon pearce, a heritage brand of glass-blown barware for this new drink series and i'm pretty excited about it. our buddy brice, who is a fantastic craft bartender from the spirit run and one of my very favorite restaurants here in nashville, rolf and daughters is making us one of their holiday drinks. it's called "clear eyes, full hearts" and it's ridiculously good. brice is going to break it down for us so you can try one at home.

you will need:

1.5 oz ford's gin
.5 oz cocchi americano rosa
.5 oz cranberry shrub
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
2 dashes peychaud's bitters
1 oz french sparkling cider.

build all the above into cocktail shaker except the cider. shake vigorously. strain into glass with fresh ice. top with sparkling cider and garnish with a lemon peel.

here is a little explanation of a shrub: "shrubs, which are generally one part juice or fruit macerated with sugar and boiled with vinegar, were mixed with water in 18th century america for refreshment. vinegar was also used as a preservative and for its supposed medicinal benefits." you can find good premade shrubs here.

about the barware: simon pearce is one of america's only remaining heritage glass brands. they are constantly developing new techniques by enhancing centuries-old practices and are training a new generation of master glassblowers in their workshops in vermont and maryland. simon pearce barware makes one-of-a-kind, versatile glasses that make the cocktail experience more special. for great holiday gifts, visit their barware collection and stay tuned for a maker series in the near future and see them in action.