New Year. New Adventures.

Are you the type of person who always makes New Year's resolutions?
Do you keep them?
Have you taken on the half-marathon?
Do you last three weeks then turn to potato chips?
Maybe you are the type to set a theme for the year.

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Personally, I have tried many things.  I have failed, forgotten and been disappointed.  Last year I started out with an end goal.  A goal that I wanted to end 2014 having accomplished certain things.  Career growth, a great friend group and personal health.  In general, I am extremely happy with how everything turned out.

For 2015 I will continue to focus on personal growth.  I have decided that each month I need to do, try, learn or experience something new.  This could mean travel, taking on a new language, trying a cooking technique or physical activity.  It just needs to be one genuine attempt by the end of every month.  Not only will this teach me things but it will also push out of my comfort zone.

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So far I have a few things on my list.

Take a kettle bell class.

Go indoor rock climbing.

Take a photography class.

Go to a bar by myself for a drink or two.  Without looking at my phone.  For at least 90 minutes.

Learn to make Parker House Rolls.

Visit some place in Oregon I have never been.

Will you be making a resolution?  If so, how do you plan to keep it?  I would love to hear!

As always, thank you so much for reading along!  You have been one of the best parts of 2014.  Here is to a happy and healthy holiday.  

Cheers to 2015!

Thanksgiving in San Jose

While New Years Eve is just a few days away I wanted to share my Thanksgiving visit to San Jose with you.  I headed down to the Bay Area to visit my sister and her husband.  While the trip was quick we managed to pack in plenty of eating and a really great hike!

For the first night, we headed to Opa! a Greek restaurant in downtown Willow Glen.  

Flaming Cheese

Because, duh!

A giant and interactive Sangria!

Gyros and Fries!!!

The next night, we checked out Stumpy's, a delicious burger joint

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Fantastic tots and sweet potato fries.  The picture is a bit blurry because I was in a hurry to consume!

I had a burger with tomato jam and pork belly.  YUM!

Local beer!

The next day, my sister and I drove to the Pichetti Winery for a lovely hike.

 

Burning off burgers.

It is NOT raining!

There were a few roosters running around the property.  Of course, I tried to take pictures to them.  They weren't quite ready for their Instagram debut!

After the hike my sister and I headed to Kansui, a lunchtime ramen pop-up spot.

We started off with edamame tossed in sansho oil.  It was amazing and I have been looking all over for sansho oil

I think went with Tonkatsu ramen with extra pork belly.  Again, the reasoning is obvious.

The 72-Hour broth was rich and perfect for a slightly chilly day.  

For their wedding topper they had bobble heads made.  #amazing  

Last year, my S+C purchased a house.  One of the coolest features is the bar.

I had to drink scotch with my brother-in-law.  #twistmyarm #orthelime

Yummy pizza!

As former New Yorker's they were pleased.

{Not pictured, a Thanksgivng feast in Sacramento with Mike & Cath!}

For my last morning we headed to The Table to get our brunch on.

Beinets with perfectly tart lemon curd.

Fried Chicken with an egg, gravy and home fries.

Thanks so much to my sister and brother-in-law for having me down to San Jose for the holiday!  It is always nice to visit family and get out of town.

Fourteen Favorite Posts of 2014

Hello All!  I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this holiday season!  I am currently in Montana celebrating Christmas with friends and family.  There will be plenty of delicious meals, a few parties and hopefully a little relaxation.  I plan on sharing a full-recap and several recipe posts upon my return to the City of Roses.  

{After I catch up with Athena, of course!  She is holding down the fort while I am away.}

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Until then, I hope you will keep up with me on Instagram {@merecdavison}!  And, in case you are spending time in the airport or need some light reading check out my fourteen favorite posts from 2014!!!

How will you be celebrating? Do you have travel plans or favorite traditions?

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday!!

Guest Blog {Makin' Marshmallows}

Loved having my sister share her talents!

Beauty Brunch PDX + Savory Breakfast Croissant Casserole 

It was at this event where I started to get to know some of my favorite people!

My Go-To Meal {Thomas Keller's Roasted Chicken}

I make this 2-3 times a month.

Dreamgirls at Portland Center Stage {All of my Love Languages}

Such a fun night on the town!

When a Craving Strikes {Chocolate Chip Cookies}

This has become another go-to recipe.

Crafts {Canvas Painting}

The most commented piece of art in my apartment.

As Seen On Instagram {Take Tre}

A partial recap of my summer trip to Montana.

Supper Club PDX {From Russia, With Love}

The kick off for my beloved #supperclubpdx at a truly unique restaurant. 

Why??  Why Not?!?! {Kiwi Guacamole}

Such a fun and tasty spin on guac.

Simmer Pot {Easy Breezy Air Freshener}

A resourceful way to keep the house smelling great!

Paris in Portland with Peachbuzzed

A review of the beautiful and delicious Maurice.

The Mere 27

A signature cocktail.  And, one of my first posts.

Life Lessons {BluehourPDX}

Fried celery leaves!

10 Must Have Items

I had the honor of guest posting over at Bakery Bingo!

Guest Blog {Makin' Marshmallows}

Hey All!  This is Mere's sister, writing from the other coast. With the holiday season upon us, Mere asked me to share the recipe for one of our favorite holiday treats--marshmallows. Yes, marshmallows!  I know sounds crazy, but homemade marshmallows are the best. Light and fluffy. Bright and white. With the right preparation they are super easy to make.  And your friends and family will be super impressed!  

My recipe started with this one from David Lebovitz, but I have made a few modifications. When I'm in super humid Washington, DC I find a few tricks can make a huge difference in the quality of the marshmallows. In super dry Montana, it is a bit easier to make the perfect marshmallow.

Here are my tricks to ensuring your marshmallows are perfect, no matter your climate.

First things first, read the ENTIRE recipe. Making marshmallows requires that you complete a few steps, sometimes simultaneously. You can do! I believe in you!

Second, accept this fact. You will make a mess. You may have marshmallow fluff all over your face or powdered sugar all over your pants. Accept the mess. Lick the beaters and worry about it later.

Next, measure your ingredients and take out any tools you may need. Again, you will be completing multiple steps all at once. Nobody wants to dump powdered sugar or corn syrup all over the floor because they were in a rush.

Finally, start making marshmallows.

Bloom some gelatin. That is just a fancy way of saying "sprinkle some powdered gelatin over water and wait." Use terms like "bloom" and people think you are super kitchen savvy.

Sugar and its friends start heating up in a pot. Make sure your thermometer works. Otherwise you have to drop hot liquid in ice water to see what "stage" the sugar is at. That is just stressful.

Egg whites are beaten in increments.  You want to achieve stiff peaks just as the sugar mixture is heated to 245 degrees F.  Look at you multitasking.  This marshmallow-making bit is a breeze.

While the egg whites are beating and the sugar is heating, dust your pan with a mixture of powdered sugar and corn starch. Again, accept the mess.

Now, gently stream the sugar mixture into your egg whites. BTW, streaming hot sugar into egg whites while taking a photo is super hard. A thinner stream of sugar is really better. (Note to future self: Procure a photographer, aka a friend that can be easily bribed with food, the next time you help your sister out and write a recipe blog.) Melted gelatin is added.

Now, the magic happens. Beat the mixture until cool. Some recipes say this takes five minutes. I usually beat my mixture for 10-15 minutes. If there is any heat left in the mixture it will create steam in your marshmallows and they will be gooey on the outside. And not in a good way gooey.

Once the mixture is cool, pour into a your prepared pan and wait. The more humid it is the longer you wait. In Montana, a quick 4-6 hour wait is fine. In wet Washington, DC, I wait overnight. Then cut up the marshmallows. Toss your marshmallows in a the powdered sugar mixture and let them dry out on a baking rack. Again, humidity matters. I would wait at least an hour if guests are eating the marshmallows. If they are just for you start playing chubby bunny asap.

Now, eat. Most people pair their marshmallows with hot chocolate or graham crackers and chocolate. Both are solid choices, but I like to serve my marshmallows with chocolate salami. Chocolate salami is a bit of tomfoolery-- a chocolate fudge-like log dressed to look like salami. Trust me, it is delicious.

Marshmallows, adapted from David Lebovitz

Ingredients:

2 envelopes powdered gelatin 

1/2 cup water for gelatin + 1/3 cup cold water for sugar mix

1 cup white granulated sugar

1/3 cup light corn syrup

4 large egg whites, at room temperature

pinch of salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

1 cup corn starch mixed with 1 cup powdered sugar

1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the 1/2 cup of cold water.  Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer, mix the sugar and corn syrup with 1/3 cup of water. Place over medium heat.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, pour in the egg whites and beat on low speed until frothy. Add the pinch of salt.
4. When the syrup reaches about 210ºF, increase the speed of the mixer to high and beat the whites until they are thick and fluffy.
5. Dust a pan with the mixture of powdered sugar and corn starch.  I use a wire strainer to evenly distribute the powder.
6. When the syrup reaches 245ºF, slowly drizzle the hot syrup into the beating egg whites.  Avoid hitting the beater or the side of the bowl.
7. Scrape the gelatin and water into the hot and now empty syrup pan. Swirl and melt the gelatin.
8. Pour the melted gelatin into the whites as they are whipping. Add the vanilla extract and whip until completely cool when you touch the outside of the bowl.  This typically takes 10-15 minutes.  
9. Use a spatula to spread the marshmallows in a layer on the pan. Allow to dry for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, uncovered.
10. Sprinkle more of the powdered sugar/ corn starch mixture over the marshmallows using the wire strainer.
11. Using a scraper cut the marshmallows into desirable sized pieces.
12. Toss the marshmallows in the powdered sugar/ corn starch mixer.
13. Place the marshmallows on a wire rack to dry out.

Best Holiday Songs {And A Giveaway}

FaLaLaLovelies!  How are you today?  Are you enjoying the month of December and all of the celebrations it brings to the table?  Things have been busy over here.  Lots of parties and get-together's.  I am trying to wrap up work, finish my shopping and prepare for my trip home to Montana!  All good things.  A busyness I am tremendously grateful for.

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One of the best parts of the holidays is the music!  I love Christmas music.  I always have.  I always will.  Though I have made many playlists over the years, there are tunes that can be found on just about every list.  My 10 Favorite Christmas Songs!

Twist Your Dickens {Portland Center Stage}

Another performance, another glowing review!!  Portland Center Stage is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots.  The Armory Theater in the super-chic Pearl District is within blocks of some of my favorite restaurants and houses a team of passionate artists who deliver amazing productions throughout the year.  For Twist Your Dickens, my friend Mary Ellen and I had dinner at Oven and Shaker before the show.  It was the perfect way to catch up, enjoy a night on the town and get into the holiday spirit.  The humorous holiday spirit, I should say.

Twist Your Dickens is a spin on the Charles Dickens' classic with multiple pop-culture references and a mash up of holiday staples.  The part-scripted, part-improv production involves plenty of audience participation, a few songs and plenty of jokes.

I would recommend checking this out for a girl's night out or a date with your special someone.  I would not advise bringing kids to this.  The language is punchy and some of the references are very mature.

Twist Your Dickens will be performed at The Armory Theater through December 24th 2014!  

Gift Guide {PDX Favorites}

Can you believe it is the first day of December?!?!  I most certainly cannot.  With Hanukkah and Christmas just a few weeks away I wanted to share my Portland Gift Guide in hopes of helping you with your shopping this year.

Every product in this guide has been made by Portland business owners and artisans.  All of which I personally support on a regular basis.  Not only are these products high quality, but, they are made by passionate individuals who believe in creating products that make life so special.