4th of July

The Fourth of July is by far my favorite holiday! The weather is warm, cook-outs are on, we get to celebrate our amazing country, and our neighborhood puts on quite the party! We began the day by putting the finishing touches on our water balloon supply... 

Every year, Cape Story puts on a fun parade based around a central theme. This year the theme was "Candy Land"! Once the final float passes by our street, a MASSIVE water fight begins- our side of the street verse the other side! We spent the previous night filling hundreds of water balloons so they were loaded and ready for battle. 

Every family on the street creates their own stock pile and gathers on the corner to combine ammo before the parade begins.

The parade began with a marching troop of soldiers, the perfect way to remind us what this day is all about. Cape Story is the first neighborhood bordering Fort Story- most days we can hear training drills from the Fort and our kiddos love spotting the S.E.A.L. boats & black hawk helicopters flying over the bay. Growing up in this military town constantly reminds me of my neighbors sacrifice. 

^^ Poor Ikey was startled by the necklace that was perfectly tossed from a float! 

^^ The Beach Cart Brigade!

^^Our neighborhood President & all her spirit! We love Empsy!

^^ Poor W received a water balloon straight to the chest! He quickly retreated to the safety of our front yard for the rest of the fight! 

^^ The final float was secretly a water attack from the opposing side of the street! And the battle begins! 

^^ Matt being the kid-at-heart that he is, was in the middle of it all. He was the commander leading an army of 8 year olds, launching balloons and pouring 5 galloon buckets on anyone who shot against us! 

^^ After the parade, there is a party in the park- complete with live music, breakfast sandwiches, donuts, and an ice-cream truck! 

^^ Nutty-buddy cheers! 

^^ My Dad & the King of the Chesapeake. These two have been watching the parade since their kids were in diapers...

^^ And here we are now!!.... with our own little guys. H&W<3 

This is a GREAT photo we re-created from the party in the park last year! Matt and I had recently moved in to the neighborhood, and The Bibee Family were our newest friends. Since then, Anne and I have grown to be besties and our boys have done the same. These two have learned to crawl, walk, talk, and explore together- as we have learned to become Mommy's along side them. 

^^ Our beloved Schaefer family girls, dancing the day away! 

^^ Headed home for nap before the next party! 

^^ Later on in the day, we hosted a cookout in our backyard. 

^^ The grill master himself!

Our cousin Sara & her boyfriend Nate spent the weekend with us... LOVE having family in town!

We ended the cookout with mini-pies & s'mores... fuel for staying up for the fireworks. 

^^ This little guy played hard all day & crashed wayyyy before the fireworks began... maybe next year! 

This was by far our best Independence Day yet. We had a blast with our friends and family & spent the day celebrating the greatness of our freedom. I am so, so thankful to be a part of the U.S.A.!

xo,

Monica

Guilt-Free Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

In the midst of all this Summer heat & humidity, I got the urge to bake with Fall flavors... most importantly, PUMPKIN. Unfortunately, pumpkin is only "acceptable" during the months of September-November. During these months, pumpkin flavored everything (beer, yogurt, coffee, cereal, etc.) stocks the grocery shelves. After that, we are left with a lonely corner shelf in the baking aisle with canned pumpkin. Being a pumpkin lover, I always puree & freeze pumpkin during the Fall months, and stock up on good canned options when I see them. Most healthy pumpkin muffins are made with apple sauce and bananas- of these, I am not a fan. I've found the banana to totally mask the flavor of pumpkin, so I cultivated this healthy recipe for my family to enjoy all year!

INGREDIENTS:

• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil 
• ½ cup maple syrup 
• 2 eggs at room temperature
• 1 cup pumpkin purée
• ¼ cup almond milk
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling on top
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon allspice or cloves
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 cup almond meal (almond flour)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 24 cups of your mini-muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray (I use coconut oil spray).
• In a large bowl, beat the oil and maple syrup together with a whisk. Add eggs, and beat well. Mix in the pumpkin purée and milk, followed by the baking soda, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice or cloves.
• Add the flour and almond meal directly to the bowl and mix with a large spoon, until just combined. Fill each muffin tin to the top! 
• Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean. Place the muffin tin on a cooling rack for 5 minutes, then remove the muffins and let sit on the rack until completely cooled.

*** Feel free to add chopped nuts, raisins, or even choc chips / cocoa nibs to these muffins!! 

I know it's a recipe-win when Walter asked for muffin after muffin at breakfast until I cut him off! I hope you & your babies enjoy these Guilt-Free Muffins... even if it is the middle of the Summer ;-) 

xo-

Monica

Father's Day Flight

Today, was a day I'll never forget.

 My dad, W's "Pa", recently took us to the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach. This airport is home to a huge collection of privately owned vintage planes. Each hanger (airplane garage) on sight holds different categories of planes: WWII fighter planes, original wood and canvas models, Nazi Germany planes, and a vast collection of biplanes from the 30s-50s. Each hanger is built to mimic the facility that would have housed these planes at their circa date; some have wood floors and ceilings! This collection is really impressive- even if you have zero airplane knowledge like I did. Not only are these planes on display, but each one of them is also fully operable!

My Dad's motivation in visiting this museum was to see all the planes that his father flew during his career as a pilot. We saw the Stearman Biplane that he learned to first learned to fly in, and an array of fighter planes he test-piloted in WWII. My grandfather, Walter Hensleigh, is who my Walter is named after. And he of course, has a love for airplanes just like his great-grandfather. 

Upon visiting the museum, we learned that you're able to book airplane rides in the Stearman Biplane! My dad was enamored with the idea, but dismissed it and said he'll have to keep the idea for the future. My mom and I saw my Dad become a kid again, rattling off every fact and story he remembered from watching his own Dad fly for so many years. We HAD to book this flight for Father's Day. Luckily, we were able to do so and he had a BLAST, we all did. 

^ My guys <3

Grandpa Walter's flight suit from the 1940's.

                     

^^ This photo of my grandpa Walter hangs in my son's nursery. Here, he is getting into the original Stearman he learned to fly in... so, today we were able to recreate the image! Maybe one day, baby W can do the same... 

My grandpa, Walter, passed away when I was young. I unfortunately didn't know him well other than he was a man of few words, but when he spoke, people listened. He operated in excellence and expected the same from his family. He lived humbly and gave his family a world of experiences.

I'm grateful that he passed all of the qualities onto my own Dad.  

There is one quality that I have learned from the most, and that's my Dad's intentionality with words. This some what seemingly simple quality is better known as "soft-spokenness" or just being a "quiet-person". I think these terms are often overlooked- he is quiet: he takes time to think on his words before they're spoken because words impact who they're spoken to. I don't have a memory of being yelled at, but I remember being spoken to with a steady eye and a calm voice. I don't have a memory of my Dad telling me what action was right or wrong, he simply modeled the behavior I should follow. I don't have a memory of him telling me what decision I should make, but through knowing his content heart I knew how to follow the direction of God. 

                       

 Through you, Dad, I know at a young age the impact my actions will always have over my words. I've learned quickly that my son won't always listen to what I have to say, but he will always model my behavior. Like my grandpa and like you, I am quiet. I am grateful for the example you have silently set for me. No words could have prepared me for the adventure of parenthood, but I have always felt perfectly equipped because of my ability to think back at how you showed me. 

1 John 3:18

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

 You are our definition of wisdom, contentment, integrity, commitment, and love. 

He couldn't believe Pa was flying!

Watching Pa land!

He made it!

This Father's Day is one that I will never, ever forget. Walking back to the hanger after your flight, you shed tears. You told us you felt closer to your Dad during this flight, and in tern, we felt closer to you.

Thank you, Dad, for showing me again today, that my experience and my actions will live on for generations.

We love you with all that we are. Happy Father's Day. 

Bedtime Prayer

So despite what most seasoned mothers have advised me, I have rocked my baby to sleep every night. When he was a newborn, this consisted of a some-what crazy looking bobbing move that doubled as a serious leg work out. As he got older, the dancing-bob manuever transitioned to a standing-bounce, then finally to a seated-sway in the oh-so-comfy glider! Thinking back on those early nights make me laugh (and cry), but I'm so glad that I've maintained this quiet time with him.

I stay home with Walter on most days and I've observed the standard "stay-at-home-mom" to be either full of exhaustion or complaints. I was well aware of this stigma while I was pregnant with him, knowing that I would be home with him I always aimed to view it as the privilege that it is. Don't get me wrong, I believe it to be the hardest job I've ever taken on, and it is trying and tiring. By the end of the day, bath time has arrived, and I find myself so looking forward to my quiet time, better known as W's bed time. After bath, he sprints to his room, I slowly follow him and am always welcomed by a naked smiling baby sitting on his rug, waiting for his PJ's and milk. This is the one activity of my day that I would choose to rush; he doesn't need 10 books and he surely doesn't need to be rocked and hummed 10 songs. I caught myself early on rushing through this routine... robbing both myself and Walter of this time. I felt convicted about this specific time during my day so I decided to press into it. 

After we finish our books, I turn of the light, he hooks bunny with his right arm, and he curls into a little ball on my chest. Walter starts humming & that's my cue... I hum my favorite hymns and a Spanish lullaby my mom use to sing to me. I pray and I listen. Some nights are short, simply thanking God for his little life, asking for patience and wisdom as his mother, and hoping for his future. Other nights I sit with him for what seems all night. I ask for BIG blessings in his life, because God gives us what we ask and believe for. I pray for Matt and I to never lose sight of the miracle that he is. That we speak to him in all circumstances with respect and understanding. That we show him how to love unconditionally through our marriage to each other. That we walk with faith so that he will come to know God through our actions. And that we follow the dreams that God has placed in our own hearts so he can do the same. More importantly, I take this time to listen. 

Through the hustle and bustle of my day, it can be hard for me to be still and hear from God. I've found that taking this time aside gives me moments that I hear the plans that God has for Walter's life and mine as his mother- plans that I would never hear if I rushed through that last lullaby. Here, he teaches me that giving when I am most tired, I will be the most refreshed. These prayers are the biggest investments I can sew into my son. 

Take this time, each day for you your babies; I hope it refreshes and blesses you!

The Descent from the Cross

This post is a bit different from my norm... Aside from my family, this is a glimpse into my passion. Three years ago, I walked away from my final year in nursing school, knowing that it wasn't what I was called to be doing. I left the security of knowing I would always have the ability to be employed and secure. There are few times in my life where I've heard directly from God, and this was one of them.

I've always had a knack for Art, and was always encouraged that it could just be my "hobby". While that is true, I felt called to pursue an education in Drawing & Design. With each new class I take, I feel more at home. My mind feels free here and my hands learn new skills each day. Art history and criticism has surprisingly caught my interest maybe because of it's underlying messages- perhaps because I'm so introverted myself, I enjoy searching for things that aren't immediately translated. 

Below is a short introductory paper for a later ten page thesis I will write for my Baroque History class this Summer. I hope this makes you stop and read Art like you would a book... there is always something more the artist may be trying to translate.

Peter Paul Rubens was a prominent Baroque painter during the seventeenth century. Rubens was raised in Antwerp where he received a humanistic education studying language, literature, and the arts. He studied under two leading painters, Adam van Noort and Otto van Veen. Rubens began his painting career by essentially copying other artist’s works such as Caravaggio and Michelangelo. He spent time traveling and studying in Italy where he received a series of his first commissions. Rubens returned to Antwerp when his mother fell sick. Here, he planted his studio, new home, and began building his family. Albert and Isabella, governors of Antwerp, appointed him court painter. It was through this position that he created the altarpiece the Descent from the Cross. 

The Descent from the Cross is the central panel of a triptych (three hinged panels). This triptych was created as an altarpiece for The Cathedral of our Lady in Antwerp. This central panel, the Descent from the Cross, is an image of a dead Christ being removed and lowered from the cross from which he was crucified. The left panel of the triptych is an image of a pregnant Mary. Here she is shown meeting with her cousin Elizabeth to share the news of the coming of Christ. The right panel shows the infant Christ being carried in the Temple by Saint Christopher (literal meaning, bearer of Christ). I read two articles that discuss this specific work by Rubens. In the first article, the Descent from the Cross in Works by Peter Paul Rubens and His Studio, by Jen Blalostocki, she discusses the commissions’ timeline, composition, underlying meaning, and inspiration.  The second article, Passeri, Rubens, and Reynolds- A Neglected Source for the Antwerp Descent from the Cross, written by Berthold Dress, discusses the paintings’ originality and how Rubens illustration differs from the traditional composition of Christ’s descent from the cross.  

In the second article I read, Kress addresses an important aspect that I want to research further. Although this exact scene has been previously painted by other artists, this work by Ruben is distinctively different from the rest. The most unique aspect of this composition is that Christ is placed in front of white shroud. Since this scene had been illustrated since the fifteenth century, a traditional or normal composition had been established. Ruben followed the general composition: Christs body being lowered diagonally, one arm pulled upward and the other hanging down, two men on ladders above the horizontal beam, and another person supporting Christ’s body from the ground. Kress goes on to explain that it makes “no narrative sense” for a shroud to be placed behind Christ at this moment. Each corner of the fabric is held up by a helper; three corners are held by hands, and the upper right is held up by teeth. This helper is bracing himself onto the cross with his left hand and straining to gradually lower Christ using his right hand, which leaves him to grasp onto the shroud with his teeth. Instead of simply allowing the shroud to fall or drape over the horizontal beam of the cross, he ensures it’s elevation by using his mouth… but why? This struggle to lower Christ along side of the seemingly equally important shroud leads me to believe that this white fabric is more important than first glance may lead me to believe. 

Kress goes on to explain that it makes no sense to use this type of fabric for the descent of a battered and bloody Christ. This is a fabric generally used for a proper burial. A shroud is a functional piece, meant to cover, conceal from view, and wrap a dead person for burial. This cloth would not be part of his narrative until he was properly cleaned and visually acceptable. This visual of this extremely significant fragment of fabric changes the “normal” and “accepted” composition of Christ being lowered from the cross. This shroud is not covering or concealing what should be unseen, instead it is revealing it. The pure whiteness frames his body while illuminating his blood red scars even brighter. Christ did not need to be “cleaned” to be received by this shroud; Rubens painting reveals that he was made clean and perfect through the wounds themselves. Bloody, injured, mangled, and tortured, released directly from the nails hammered through his body into the oak cross: Christ’s blood does not dirty this sacred clean garment, it renews it and brings it to life. Rubens deliberate use of framing Christ’s body with this shroud delivers a sense of foreshadowing for what’s to come: the resurrection. He specifically paints blood onto the white fabric and places is into the helpers mouth instead of his hand to further illustrate that this sacred and holy moment is not only one that we can touch, but taste perhaps. Directly below the helper with the shroud in his mouth is a vessel of wine and loaf of bread. Is this some how an allegory for how tangible this love can be? Through the bread we are reminded of the brokenness of his body. Through the wine we are forgiven and made whole again through the blood that was spilled for sinners.  This traditionally pure and pristine fabric used for the burial and transition to heaven has been transformed by Ruben and Christ himself. 

After observing sketch after sketch that Ruben practiced before finally deciding on this composition, I am lead to believe that the implementation of this white linen made this depiction of the Descent from the Cross more memorable than any other. Ruben used this seemingly simple shroud to communicate and foreshadow the hope of what is to come through the resurrection of Christ himself. 

Wine & Food Pairing

My closest friend, Brittany, landed her dream job in her dream location last summer. Her and her husband Patrick packed up their lives and ventured out West to Seattle, Washington! I've missed them terribly and anxiously awaited their planned visit this Spring... and what better way to celebrate than with some girl time, good food, and an array of wine?! We invited three more of her closest friends for an intimate evening where we could catch up and have fun!

To make this both relaxing and fun I decided to create an interactive evening of wine and food pairing. I prepared the food menu and assigned each girl with a certain wine to bring: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. 

For a larger event with more people, you can add bottles of wine, but I wouldn't exceed six different kinds of wine, as that can get overwhelming for your taste buds!

^^ While everyone was arriving, we began with ice water and a cheese plate. I kept this simple with one kind of cheese, my favorite, red-wine infused asiago. I paired this salty cheese with unsalted crackers and sweet green grapes. Mixed olives, mild pickled peppers, and unsalted roasted almonds were the perfect balancing act. (All found at TJ's) 

I think this course is vital for prepping your palate and stomach to be introduced to a few wines and different foods.

^^ I prepared the food for the evening and the girls were each assigned a type of wine to bring. Prior to the party, the girls visited a local wine shop called Tinto's to find their wine. They explained the event, the food the wine would be paired with, their price point, and the sommelier helped them pick the perfect bottle! 

** I often (ok, always) grab my go to bottle of Malbec while at the grocery store because it's easy, and I know I like it. At the grocery store, there is no one advising me about what wine would pair best with what I'll be making for dinner, or sharing their knowledge about certain wines from different regions. After visiting a few wine shops, I highly encourage you to take advantage of the insight from these specialty shops, especially if it is for a special occasion. This extra stop during my grocery run does make a difference and makes me appreciate and enjoy the wine even more! 

On the bar, I set up tasting plates, cocktail napkins, wine glasses, and a pitcher of ice water with glasses for in between tastings. 

^^ Once the ladies picked their bottles, I printed a tasting sheet with the name of the wine, vineyard, and year it was bottled. This is a vital part of a tasting event because it ensures that you record  certain things you liked about each wine. You can then use this sheet to find a certain wine you enjoyed. I used and edited a downloadable PDF. Link here.

^^ I did some research prior to the party and then prepared a fact sheet to keep at the table. As we tasted each wine and paired it with a specific dish, I read off facts so we could learn about the pairing. Here are some facts about the wines and food we tasted:

Reisling: 

• This is a white grape originating in Germany and is one of the oldest grape varieties dating back to the early 1400's. 
• This grape is suited for cooler climates because it buds late and avoids the early Spring frost. It also has thicker bark than most vines, avoiding damage of winter. 
• It is considered to be the most versatile food-pairing wine because of its balance of sugar and acidity.
• It is known for it's ability to show a sense of place. The same grapevine may be planted in Italy and California and taste vastly different because of the climate, soil, and altitude at which the grape was grown! 
• This wine is seldom oaked and more commonly cultivated in stainless-steel tanks. 
• This wine is crisp, reminiscent of peaches, apples, and it's sweet quality compliments strong cheeses and spicy cuisine such as Indian, Mexican, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Cajun spices. 
• Riesling has a universally low alcohol content. 

Sauvignon Blanc:

• This is a white grape that is believed to have originated in the Loire Valley in France. 
• This wine is known for it's herbaceous nature including characters of asparagus, grass, capsicum, and dried herbs. 
• Sauvignon Blanc is more commonly made in stainless steel tanks, but more recent wine makers are oaking this wine, looking for more depth and complexity. 
• Today, this wine is most notably cultivated in New Zealand. 2000 acres were purchased to plant this grape in the 1970's for $200 an acre. Today, this land is work $85,000 an acre! Wine can be an investment.. right?
• Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with green herbs: parsley, rosemary, basil, cilantro, and mint. Goat cheese and seafood (especially fish, clams, and shrimp) as well. 

Cabernet Sauvignon: 

• This wine is a newer variety: a product of the crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc during the 17th century in France. This was a mystery until recent DNA testing!
• This was the most widely planted red wine grape in the 20th century. 
• France and California are most popular for planting this grape. 
• The young grape produces notes of black cherries and plums while a mature grape produces flavors of cedar and tobacco. 
• This wine pairs best with lamb, ribs, cheeseburgers, and other rich meats. 

Malbec:

• This is a full-bodied red wine that grows mostly in Argentina. 
• It is known for it's plump dark fruit flavors and smoky finish. 
• When cultivated in a cooler climate such as France and Washington, it produces notes of black cherry and raspberries. When cultivated in warmer climates like Argentina, it produces notes of plums, blackberries, coffee, and chocolate. 
• Oak aging this wine for long periods of time produces vanilla, tobacco, and coconut flavors. 
• This is my faaaaavorite wine !!
• Malbec pairs well with deep colored fruit, mushrooms, beans, lean red meat, vanilla, and chocolate. 

^^ I kept the table scape simple with a runner and votive candles. This chalkboard runner was perfect for this party because I could set the table accordingly and give the girls a visual of our evening. I bought this chalkboard-fabric a couple years ago from JoAnns fabric store and had it cut to size as a runner for my table. I've used it for many different events, and each time it wipes perfectly clean with a damp cloth. It easily stores rolled in a drawer. Click here for a similar one. 

I often make dips served with an entire bag of chips for parties, however, for this tasting, I made single guacamole servings in small glasses with a few blue corn chips. This method of serving was great for grabbing and socializing without having to hover over the chip and dip bowls at the table. This spicy guacamole paired perfectly with Riesling. 

Spicy Guacamole

Ingredients:

• 4 avocados
• 1/2 cup quartered grape tomatoes
• 1 diced jalapeno (seeds removed)
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro (stems removed)
• 1 lime (juice & zest) 
• 1 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Dice avocado into 1 inch pieces, quarter tomatoes, and dice jalapeños (remove seeds)- add to a large bowl.
• Next, remove the cilantro leaves from the stem, chop fine, and add to the avocado mixture. 
• Zest an entire lime into the bowl, then add the lime juice and salt. 
• Mash together lightly until just combined using a potato masher or a fork. I prefer my guacamole to be chunky with all ingredients visible rather that smooth and creamy. If you prefer a smooth guac, keep mashing! 
• Scoop the guacamole into individual serving cups and top with tortilla/corn chips!  

Since I know these girls well, I knew we would all like this dish because of our mutual love for salmon. Lox is a popular spread for bagels: a mixture of smoked salmon and cream cheese. It is usually accompanied by fresh dill, cucumbers, and capers. This bite sized dish is a little deconstructed version of this infamous bagel; cucumber slices topped with cream cheese, Alaskan smoked salmon, a sprig of fresh dill, and cracked black pepper. I know, this dish sounds "fancy" but it was the easiest to prepare and it was delish!

Cucumber Lox Bites

Ingredients:

• 1-2 slices of smoked salmon (found packaged in the seafood refrigerator case)
• 2 cucumbers
• 8 ounces of cream cheese
• fresh dill
• fresh cracked black pepper

Instructions:

• Peel 2 cucumbers with a vegetable peeler and slice 1/4 inch thin.
• Spread about 2 teaspoons (small spoonful) of cream cheese on each slice.
• Top the cream cheese with a small slice of smoked salmon
• Garnish with a small sprig of dill and cracked black pepper. 
• Keep refrigerated until ready to eat!

To keep with the theme of easy-to-grab and bite-sized dishes, I made 80/20 beef burger siders topped with sharp cheddar held in mini pitas! It is vital to use the 80% (lean) and 20% (fat) for these small slider style burgers. Leaner meat will become dry and tough when grilled! Lastly- no one likes to be on the grill in the middle of a party, so these can be made before the party, grilled to medium, and then kept warm in the oven. These bite-sized burgers are perfect for tastings without the standard mess of a full-sized burger. 

Pita Sliders

Ingredients:

• 1 pound 80/20 beef
• 2 teaspoons of seasoning (even mix of garlic powder, salt, and pepper)
• Block of sharp cheddar cheese
• 8-10 small pitas (found at Trader Joe's)
• Kosher pickles and spicy brown mustard to garnish

Instructions:

• Mix the meat and seasoning in a bowl. Then make small palm sized patties, they will shrink a bit when grilled.
• Grill on medium heat until cooked to medium (pink in the middle).
• Add cheese slices on top of each slider.
• Transfer sliders to a baking dish and keep warm in the oven (200 degrees) until ready to serve in pita pockets. 
• Plate & serve with spicy mustard and pickles! 

For the final dish, I plated strawberries, and Natalie brought an array of homemade truffles! This was a sweet finale for our tasting adventure... and luckily she shared the recipes with me!

Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup hazelnuts
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut 
• 3 1/2 ounces good bittersweet chocolate
• 3 1/2 ounces good semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur (recommended: Frangelico)
• 1 tablespoon prepared coffee
• 1/2 teaspoon good vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Chop the hazelnuts and place them on a sheet pan. Roast them in the oven for 10 minutes. (If the hazelnuts have skin on them, roast them for 25 minutes.) Set aside to cool. 
• Do the same, and toast the shredded coconut for 5-10 minutes until golden.
• Chop the chocolates finely and place in a bowl.
• Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it boils. Immediately pour the hot cream through a fine-meshed sieve into the bowl with the chocolates. With a wire whisk, slowly stir the cream and chocolates together until the chocolate is completely melted. (If the chocolate doesn't melt completely, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir for a few minutes just until it melts.) Whisk in the hazelnut liqueur, coffee, and vanilla. Cover and chill for 45 minutes to 1 hour until pliable but firm enough to scoop.
• With 2 teaspoons or a 1 1/4-inch ice cream scoop, make dollops of the chocolate mixture and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes, until firm enough to roll into rough spheres. 
• Roll the chocolate in the chopped hazelnuts or coconut and chill again. Truffles are best when they're allowed to set overnight in the refrigerator.

This was such a fun evening and I can't wait to host another one, based around different wines! Gather your girlfriends, assign some wines, and create a fun interactive night of wine tasting and food pairing! Enjoy!

XO- 

Monica