These are a few of my favorite "happy" things...

Etsy is one of those sites I just can't get enough. I think is underrated and not many people are aware how highly successful it is.

The website has allowed local artisans connect with customers around the world to offer their products in online market place. Etsy processed nearly $400 million in transactions this year, and now has 7 million registered users — both numbers are about double what Etsy saw in 2009.

More than 400,000 people sell items through Etsy, and currently 7.3 million items are listed, according to the company website. Pretty impressive...

Last night I found some interesting items all with one thing in common. You guess it... "Happiness".

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do :)

 Happy 2011 Blue COTTON Canvas 18x18 Pillow Cover

http://www.etsy.com/people/decology

 

http://www.etsy.com/people/annechovie

 http://www.etsy.com/people/ParadaCreations

 http://www.etsy.com/people/Signs

http://www.etsy.com/people/dazeychic 

 http://www.etsy.com/people/ellensgreenart

Original ACEO - Sometimes Even The Bluebird Of Happiness Felt A Little Bit Blue

http://www.etsy.com/people/buttonempire 

 http://www.etsy.com/people/JustDandyCreations

 

 http://www.etsy.com/people/frommawithlove

 http://www.etsy.com/people/helendardik

http://www.etsy.com/people/WalrusStudio 

http://www.etsy.com/people/StephieMc 

http://www.etsy.com/people/LaVieIllustree 

 

http://www.etsy.com/people/pocketcarnival 

http://www.etsy.com/people/frommawithlove 

http://www.etsy.com/people/twoforjoypaper 

http://www.etsy.com/people/uppercases 

http://www.etsy.com/people/itswrittenonthewall 

 Txt Happy iPhone Cozy

http://www.etsy.com/people/yummypocket 

 Now If I could only get at least one of the wonderful artisans to send us a sample so we can actually review it and give one away to out readers it would make our "happiness barometer" skyrocket :)

Meet the Real "Happy" Feet

OMG! How cute is this. By watching this little fella dance I say the movie producers of "Happy Feet" did a great research. Who would have thought this can actually happen in real life. Simple adorable.

Ultimate Dutch Baby Pancake

 

A Dutch Baby Pancake is an impressive, yet easy to make, way to start your morning. A Dutch Baby is basically a cross between a pancake and a popover and is tremendously popular in Seattle; according to local lore, it originated at a restaurant there called Manca's. Serve it with fresh berries or nothing more than jam or a lavish sprinkling of lemon sugar. 

Dry Ingredients

1 cup of flour

¼ Cornstarch (secret ingredient)

2 tablespoons of lemon zest

1 Tablespoon salt

3 Tablespoons of sugar

A pinch of cinnamon

Wet ingredients

3 eggs

11/4 Skim milk (use regular milk and pancake will be too dense)

2 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 Tablespoon of melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

You know the drill. Wet ingredients in one bowl, dry ingredients in another. Add dry ingredients to the wet ones and whisk to incorporate until lumps disappear.

Grease (generously)  a 12 inch stainless steel skillet with vegetable oil. (Butter will burn!! is not the best option folks).

Place the greased skillet in the oven for 10 minutes.

Pour batter in the skillet without removing it from the oven (we don't want the temperature of the skillet to drop)

Bake at 450 for 15 mins then reduce heat to 350, and bake 8 mins., or possibly till puffed and browned (Keep an eye on it). Remove skillet from oven. Sprinkle with lemon juice and dust with confectioner’s sugar.

Topping Ideas:

Fresh applesauce with a dash of cinnamon

Fresh fruit like raspberries and blueberries (my favorite combination)

Crushed pineapple, drained

Homemade whipped cream and sliced fresh strawberries

Apple topping: Caramelize Granny Smith apples with a bit of butter, then add honey and cardamom. Pour the mixture after the pancake is done.

Slice bananas with honey.

Want to make it savory? Skip the sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, and add parmesan cheese, rosemary and top with your choice of veggie combination (mushrooms, zucchini, etc). You can also add ham and gruyere cheese. The possibilities are endless…

Note: Do not open the door. Opening the door will cause the pancake to fall like a soufflé.

Yield 4 servings

Happiness is Celebrating New Years with Family & Friends. Fado Atlanta Giveaway

Celebrate the New Year with like-minded friends of the heart at Fadó Atlanta Irish Pub & Restaurant. This wonderful venue was voted "Best Day Drinking" in Atlanta by AOL's 2010 City Best.

 

Leave a comment below about what food or drink are you most looking forward to have at Fado and you could win 4 tickets to Fado's New Years Bash. You can view Fado's menu here: 

http://www.fadoirishpub.com/atlanta/main-menu

The New Years Eve party starts at 9 pm. The cost of the Atlanta New Year’s Eve bash is $10 a ticket and includes a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and party favors to help you ring in the new year the proper way!

The DJ will start playing at 10 pm and will take you into the New Year listening to all of your favorite songs!

And remember folks, at Fadó you’re Irish, everywhere else you’re just drunk. Come out and celebrate New Years Eve the Irish way!

For an extra entry follow @bloggingatlanta on twitter and retweet the following message:

RT if you want to win 4 tickets from @bloggingatlanta to @fadoatanta New Years Bash

Winner will be chosen on Monday.

Good luck!

http://www.fadoirishpub.com/atlanta/

Happiness is.... SNOW!!!!

 

If you live in metro Atlanta then you can recall the "snowmagedon", "big blizzard", or "snowpocalypse" that occurred at the beginning of the year.   The 'Snowmageddon' storm as referred to by President Obama was the biggest snowstorm in nearly 90 years and was the 2nd, 3rd and even 4th significant winter storm for some parts of the Mid Atlantic states this winter season.

  Satellite Photo of the 2010 Snowmageddon

During the storm people rushed to the stores to load up on bread and milk.

   

  

Schools closings, flight cancellations, and power outages were everywhere. Hundreds of vehicle accidents were reported and many people got stranded on the highways.

It was total chaos, yet the whole world made fun of us. Many people don't seem to understand how and why southerners in the US act as they do when it snows.

I'll tell you, you see is just that when it snows in the south it means ice roads the next day and this is extremely dangerous.

 Last night with just a simple rain 1,000 accidents were reported in metro Atlanta. That is a HUGE number!!

 

Yet, the southerners always dream of having a snow day. We look forward with eager anticipation. There is something magical about waking up to a winter wonderland.

 

 I love peaking trough my window just to discover theres a lovely 

blanket of crystal white snow covering the landscape. It just looks

 so whimsical and pretty. 

Although snow can sometimes bring lots of headaches. It can also be the source of great joy and happiness.

I am praying for a white Christmas this year. One day is all I need. Is just that when I see pictures like these and watch videos like the ones below I am overwhelmed with nostalgia. What do you think should Atlanta have a white Christmas? I say YES!!!

From our family to yours we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life! May joy and happiness snow on you, may the bells jingle for you and may Santa be extra good to you! Merry Christmas! 

Happiness is a Nice Rustic Winter Meal - Braised Oxtails with Thai Sweet Sticky Rice

Oh the joys winter! Snow flurries, ice clinging on tree branches, watching movies under lots of blankets, drinking hot cocoa with peppermint schnapps in the morning, and eating a rustic meal in front of the crackling fire are one of my favorite winter memories.

Last night I decided to make one of my daughter's favorite winter meals, braised oxtails. She has been begging me cook this for a long time and I was waiting for a day like this to cook this delicious dish. Oxtails are one of the most flavorful beef cuts. Long braising of oxtails makes the meat fall off the bones. Oxtails are the perfect winter meal.

The cooking method is quite simple.

1. Dust and season the cut oxtails all around with flour, oxtail seasoning, salt and pepper.

2. Heat oil over medium-high heat in an enameled braising pot and brown the oxtails on all sides. Remove the oxtails from the dutch pan and add onions, shallots, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, and cook until tender.

3. Deglaze with 1 cup of red wine, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar,  and 2 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce and reduce by 1/2.

4. Add the oxtails and the diced tomatoes and incorporate the beef stock.

5. Bring to a boil and then cover and cook in a 300 degree oven until falling of the bone.

6. Strain off the sauce and reduce by half or until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.


There are some variations to this recipe. You can add ginger and sliced oranges or if you like spicy food you might want to add hot sauce and cayenne pepper.

For a Mediterranean feel add "Pimenton" and stuffed green olives (yum!!).

For a Jamaican twist substitute worcestershire sauce for browning sauce, add green peppers, paprika, butter beans, and 6 Pimento Berries (Allspice). Jamaican oxtails recipes rarely use wine but instead water and browning sauce.

You can serve the oxtails with polenta, mashed potates, or in my case with Thai sweet sticky rice and sun dried tomato spoonbread.

 

Buen provecho! If you decide to make oxtails let us know how it went.  Trust me this is a meal are going to want to master. Is that good!!

Happiness is Caroling & Cupcakes at the Fernbank Museum

   Cupcakes are like happiness in a bite.

This past Saturday we joined the Fernbank Museum for the "Caroling and Cupcakes" celebration. We wanted to have a day of family fun and enjoy the sounds of the season. As part of the event, children were able to eat cupcakes,  make crafts, have  photo opportunities with “Santa-saurus”, listen to music by  Pope High School Chamber Music Society, hear stories by the KSU tellers, and being caroled by the Georgia Boy Choir. It was truly a magical event so if you missed it no worries since the Winter Wonderland Celebration continues next weekend (Dec 11-12).

Always consider buying a Fernbank Museum membership. This can be a wonderful Christmas gift and a great way to build memories that last a lifetime. Being a Fernbank Museum member can provide a full year of valuable experiences to share with the entire family. With 12 months of free Museum admission, the savings quickly add up as you enjoy unlimited access to all the Museum has to offer. From special exhibition opening celebrations, to the one-of-kind Fernbank Family Fun Days series, a Fernbank Museum membership is one of the hottest deals in town! You can also save up to 40% off IMAX® tickets and 10% off all purchases in the Museum Store and The Fernbank Café. Members also enjoy free or discounted admission to educational offerings including hands-on children’s programs, family activity days, summer camp, lectures, excursions and more.

 Ornament Making

 

Snowman Hat Craft

 Snowflake rubbings

 Santa-Saurus!!!

Christmas tree representing Central America.

Winter Wonderland: Celebrations and Traditions Around the World Christmas tree display.

 

 Nothing says Christmas like being caroled by the Georgia Boy Choir

http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/
http://www.georgiaboychoir.org/