That’s Amore : Holiday Fashion & Gift Inspiration for the Pizza Lovers in Your Life

That’s Amore 

“In Napoli where love is king

 When boy meets girl here’s what they say

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie

That’s amore

When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine

That’s amore 

Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling

And you’ll sing “Vita Bella”…”

Dean Martin 

This may not be a holiday song, but to me a true family classic, and isn’t that what holidays are all about? Remembering special traditions and most importantly, special people, who add meaning to my life each and every day is what inspires me to want to savor each moment and put a little creativity into my wardrobe, meal planning and also into my gift giving. 

This is one of my favorite dresses. It is Laundry by Shelli Segal from http://www.thredup.com. I love the cheerfulness of the bright red color and it’s so easy to dress up or down. I’ve worn it with sandals in the summer, a tweed blazer in the fall, and my new favorite way to wear it ( now that it is so cold) is with a blanket scarf from http://www.target.com. 

My hat is from Target and I recently found the boots at http://www.burlingtonstyle.com. 

Now back to the song… and that pizza pie! You must have a pizza lover in your life, right?  What’s a better way to show them you care than to take the time to put together these fabulous and also extremely useful ( and stylish) items for them to create their own pizza ? 

 If the pizza lover you know is a child you can even prepare this gift and spend a few hours teaching him or her how to make their own pizza! 

I was inspired by this gift basket found at http://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com to try to put together my own pizza lover’s gift, so I could design and cater it to the needs of the person or family I would present it to. 

I do think it is a fabulous basket and a bargain at under $100.00 for so many great quality items. 

If you want to make your own, start with a reasonably priced basket set such as this one from http://www.worldmarket.com.

Look for special kitchen towels to match the style of the recipient for lining the basket such as this one from http://www.crateandbarrel.com.

You can have a personalized mixing bowl made at http://porch.com/gigglesgalore/personalized-mixing-bowls-gift-idea-bakers/

Find a special pizza cutter for just about any personality type-

I know my son would love the Darth Vader Light Saber version from thinkgeek.com. 

Add a pizza peel , which can also be personalized at lillianvernon.com and current.com.

Include a bottle of your favorite extra virgin olive oil. 

And of course , pizza spices, which can be easily found at your grocery store or you can order specialty versions. 

There are lots to choose from online and also some organic versions on etsy.

Add your own homemade pizza sauce and dry dough mix . They are really easy to make and you will feel so good being able to present these homemade products! 

Homemade Pizza Sauce 

You will need: 

1/4 cup olive oil 

1/2 medium yellow onion, diced 

2 tablespoons minced garlic 

3 cans chopped tomatoes 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon pepper 

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 

1 teaspoon sugar 

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme 

1. In a large saucepan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes; summer over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

2. Season sauce with salt, pepper and sugar, if desired. Continue cooking. Stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened, about 45 minutes.

3. Spoon off any clear liquid and discard; stir in thyme and cook about 10 minutes longer. Let sauce cool.

4. Using a funnel, pour cooled sauce into a decorative jar;refrigerate until ready to place in the basket. 

Dry Dough Mix for No-Knead Deep Dish Pizza 

Mix together in small bag or small container:

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup semolina flour 

2 teaspoons yeast 

1 1/2 teaspoons salt 

Write down on an index card the following instructions:

Add 1 1/4 cup warm water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the mix. Combine all ingredients until they form a slightly sticky soft dough. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes, then place in greased pizza pan and let it rest for 20 minutes. Pat it and stretch it to cover the bottom of the pan. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, add sauce and desired toppings. Bake for 15 minutes.

Enjoy ! Wait… the song says something about wine, right ? 

Here are some great choices that are perfect for pairing with homemade Italian pizza : 

Barbera d’Asti

Ceresuoio di Vittoria DOCG

Chianti DOCG 

There you have it. Fashion, Food, Wine. I couldn’t have said it better than the one and only Dean Martin. “That’s Amore.” 

Thank you so much, for taking the time to read my little blog today. I hope you found it worthwhile and hope it made you smile. 

Whatever you do, put your imagination and heart into it, and you will never go wrong. You will create your own special moments, memories, and traditions. 

May this season bring you only the most delightful moments.

Yours truly, 

Jennifer 

Xoxo 

Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Warm&Cozy Ideas For You and Your Loved Ones

“I really can’t stay

Baby it’s cold outside 

I’ve got to go away

Baby it’s cold outside”

Louis Armstrong | Baby, It’s Cold Outside 

This is such a classic song and what better way to stay cozy and also stylish this time of the year than with a classic cocktail dress and cozy accessories at very affordable prices. 

I found this WHBM ( White House Black Market) cocktail dress, the hat, and boots all at http://www.thredup.com. The jacket, scarf, and faux fur lined tights are from http://www.target.com.

At this time of the year, I like to give presents that really show people I love how much I care about them. I try to put time and effort into presents that are meaningful as well as useful. 

Here is an idea that you can make and give to someone or enjoy with your family after a fun day at a tree farm or while you are out sledding or ice-skating. 

Hot Cocoa Gift Box

I found these adorable mugs and provided a link- 

http://www.retroplanet.com/PROD/43818.html

The hot mugs can be great hand warmers. 

Enjoy creating this box and when giving or using don’t forget to include a thermos of milk and homemade cookies for dunking ! 
These marshmallows make a nice addition- 

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/m/products/9424545/?catalogId=27&sku=9424545&cm_ven=Google_PLA&cm_cat=Shopping&cm_pla=default&cm_ite=default&kwid=productads-adid%5E49385482183-device%5Em-plaid%5E94125425143-sku%5E9424545-adType%5EPLA&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4JnCBRDQ5be3nKCPhpwBEiQAjwN1brb84xPjpZIAWr3Acq0Ik1ZjkcUQywhSIOi1ElqA4-oaAt2B8P8HAQ

For more sophisticated drinkers, spice hot chocolate with a teaspoon of raspberry or preferred liqueur.

If you want a different option, include instant coffee to make Hot Mocha Cocoa.

Fresh cinnamon makes a nice festive touch as do trimmings from nature-

Make your own hot cocoa mix- 

You will need: 

3/4 cup sugar, divided

1 vanilla bean

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 package ( 3.2 ounces) dry milk

1. Put 2 tablespoons sugar and vanilla bean into a coffee grinder or blender. Process to a fine powder.

2. Combine remaining sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and dry milk in a plastic bag; add ground sugar mixture. Shake well. Transfer powdered mix to an airtight container. 

3. To make a cup of hot cocoa, stir 1/4 cup of the cinnamon -flavored dry cocoa mix into 8 ounces of hot water. 

You might want to gift it in a special container such as this one- 

Tala cocoa shaker and other retro inspired cookware can be found at amazon.com . 

Make your own Chocolate Orange Syrup

You will need:

1/2 cup heavy cream 

6 ounces semisweet chocolate 

1 cup light corn syrup

3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate 

1 tablespoon orange extract 

1. In a medium saucepan, set over medium heat, bring cream to a boil. Add chocolate; whisk constantly until blended and smooth.

2. Add corn syrup, orange juice concentrate and orange extract to the sauce pan. 

3. Remove from heat. Cool completely. Pour syrup into jar with a tight fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator. To make a cup of cocoa stir 3 tablespoons of the syrup into 8 ounces of hot milk. 

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies 

You will need: 

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour 

1/3 cup cocoa 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 cup butter 

3/4 cup sugar 

3/4 cup brown sugar 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

2 eggs 

2 cups chocolate chips 

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Stir flour, cocoa, soda, and salt. Beat butter, sugar , brown sugar, and vanilla in large bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. 

3. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. 

Makes 5 dozen cookies 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today. I truly hope you found it worthwhile and inspiring. 

Wherever you are, whoever you are with, stay cozy and happy all year long. 

Yours truly,

Jennifer 

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Facebook: Jennifer Lee Quattrucci 

Xoxoxo