H A P P Y N E W Y E A R

image via

I could get all weird and melancholy about Eat Love Bikini coming up on it's 1 year anniversary or how I made it through my "transitional" year pretty much unscathed or  I could just say this.  New Year, new look. Could be.  You'll just have to come back in a little bit and check it.
xxoo,

Windsor

EAT - N O R M A L

I just crammed all of my favorite foods into a three day holiday food fest.  Amazingly yummy and reminiscent of Christmas' past. T. G. I. O (thank god it's over)! Oh wait, I just remembered - I have a fridge full of left overs. I guess the normal will start tomorrow.

xxoo,

Windsor

LOVE - G O L D E N G A T E

Golden Gate Bridge

I took the Golden Gate Bridge for granite.

I drove across it everyday, twice a day for ten years - like it was nothing
I would look at all of the Tourist, taking pictures, acting goofy and waving
to the cars - seriously?  Why are you waving at me?
And then yesterday I walked across the bridge with my friend from
Minnesota (who grew up in the Bay Area) and her kids and my kid 
And guess what?  We posed for pictures, acted goofy
and I told my kid to "wave at the cars" - he declined.  Smart boy.
The Golden Gate Bridge is the jewel of California 
and the show stopper of San Francisco.
I will never take it for granite again.

xxoo,

Windsor

EAT - C O O K I E S

This weekend I must have decorated at least a hundred 

sugar cookies.  No joke.

Christmas = Sugar Cookies

Pots of glitters, sprinkles, and edible beads galore

lots and lots of frosting

There are only  2 rules; leave some for the cookie tree
and take home all the rest - all of them.

Happy Holidays from Eat Love Bikini

XXOO,

Windsor

BIKINI - H E A R T

This post has absolutely nothing to do with bikinis or bikini maintenance.  It has to do with a plethora of wine corks and what you can make out of them.  Being a bartender I have access to many many corks.  If you are not a bartender it may take you a while to complete this project or not - I guess it just depends on how much wine you consume on a daily basis.  Regardless, I am going to show you how to make a heart made out of wine corks.  A great present for the wine lover in your life.

What you will need:

50 - 70 red wine corks

sharpie

cardboard or paper

hot glue gun

glue sticks

Red wine corks

Make a template. Draw a heart on a piece of paper or cardboard.  Cut out and use as a template for your heart shape. Place corks on outside of heart first  and then fill inside of heart.  Arrange by color variation to give it a "ombre" look

Caution!  Hot glue guns are hot!  Be careful when handling glue gun and glue.

Lovely

Now pat yourself on the back, sit down and have a glass of wine.

LOVE - T R A D I T I O N S

We all have them - traditions.  Some we like and some we don't but this year Sammy started a new tradition.  I came home from work and he dragged me over to the Christmas tree to show me his new "tradition".  He had put tiny candy canes all over the tree!  I loved it.  He told me that he saw the candy canes at the store and new they would be perfect for the tree.  This new tradition is a keeper - just like Sammy.

EAT - SHEPHERDS PIE

If I was a Shepherd, which I am not, and I lived in Ireland, which I don't - I would eat this pie.  If I was just a regular California girl, which I am and lived in California, which I do - I would eat this pie.  If I was you, which I am not and lived where you lived - I would eat this pie.  So are you getting it?  EAT this PIE.  The ultimate in "cozy" sit by the fire warm your tummy comfort food.  I can smell it cooking now.

Shepherds Pie Recipe

Recipe

BIKINI - ME MYSELF AND I

I killed 3 birds with one stone on this one.   Best of Show and First Place in the 2011 Mill Valley Click Off photography competition and the image is showcasing one of my favorite bikinis that I designed - I love me (triangle top and string bottom).  I couldn't have asked for more!

LOVE - B A R B I E

I love Barbie, I love the color pink and I love Pantone colors.  I could flip through a Pantone book for days on end....deep sigh. I am dreaming of a Barbie Pantone 219 Christmas!

EAT - C O F F E E D R I N K S

So the weather out here in Northern Cali is not very frightful - with the exception of the high winds it's actually very spring like.  Yesterday was 73 degrees  - on December 2nd.  What?  God damn I just put away my flip flops for good this time. Regardless, the other day I was at my favorite Mexican restaurant and instead of a margarita I ordered a Mexican Coffee.  I was thinking it's December not June I should go for something chest warming with whip cream.  OMGEEEE it was exactly what I was looking for.  If you haven't had a Mexican Coffee I highly recommend you whip one up.  Super delish and remember drink responsibly!

Mexican Coffee Recipe

1 oz Kahula Liqueur

1 oz Tequila

8 oz Coffee

Whip Cream

Add the Kahula and Tequila to whip cream - stir and top with whip cream.  You can adjust the kaula and tequilla to taste.

xxoo,

Windsor

What Windsor Ate

I am starting a new series today called 

"What Windsor Ate"

I decided to photograph the amazingly healthy and delicious food that I've been cooking in order to get rid of my "muffin top".  I have nothing against muffin tops - just not on me!  

Curried Egg Salad Sandwich

Mexican Chicken Pizza

Blueberry Lemon Bread

And if you have a great healthy recipe that you think I need to try let me know!

BIKINI - S N O B D I E T

Picon Blue Cheeses

Okay are you ready for this??? The latest diet craze/fad is called the "Snob Diet".  I am serious.  According to Glamour Magazine why eat low cal or fat free when you can eat quality foods at a smaller portion?  "Real" food has flavor and aroma that goes directly to your brain which signals your stomach and registers fullness.  Rice cakes and fat free dip doesn't have the same sensory effect and leaves you unsatisfied. Makes sense? yes. 

So you ask - How exactly do I eat like a snob?  Check out the tips below.

1.  Choose the highest - quality foods possible. Use the freshest best ingredients, pull out your cook books and actually cook.

2.   Don't deny cravings:  give yourself permission to eat what you really like, keep portions under

      control, eat mindfully.

3.  If it's truly not delicious don't eat it - processed is not delicious.  Greek yogurt with fresh berries is.

I guess when I first saw this article I was offended by the word "snob" but if you actually think about it - it makes perfect sense.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, real ice cream or Gelato, roasted almonds, good Artisan cheese, home made anything is much better for your mind body and spirit than a bunch of "diet" low fat, no fat, fat free, chemical laden processed food. 

 

LOVE - PHOTOGRAPHY

Sammy Sunshine, Rodeo Beach, CA

I was bitten by the photography bug early on.  Literally stacks upon stacks of camera's and photography equipment lived in the hall closet of my childhood home.  From the age of 10 on I lived and breathed photography and all of the chemicals that went along with my converted darkroom.  I would spend hours upon hours in my dark room perfecting my craft.  The only difference between now and then is that I spend hours upon hours on the computer looking at photo's and tweaking them ever so slightly in Photoshop.  I am a believer of shooting my images as near perfect as I can so I won't have to "fix" them in Photoshop. At last count I had like 30,000 images - really?  I think I need to go now and start cleaning up my archives.

EAT - LEFTOVERS

When I was five years old my mom asked me what would I like her to pack in my lunch box for school.  I replied “a roast turkey sandwich and chocolate mousse".  Grand taste for a little girl or did the little girl have a mother who was an amazing cook?  I am going to blame it mom - she is an amazing cook always trying new recipes and broadening our pallets - thanks Mom.  To this day I still love roasted turkey sandwiches especially the day after Thanksgiving.  My version though has a little twist - pesto.  The combination between the pesto and the cranberry sauce is awesome and if you want, add a little mayo to give it a creamier texture.  Try it; I know you'll like it.

Xxoo,
Windsor

Bistro Turkey Sandwich - Left over Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

		French baguette, cut in half
1	teaspoon	pesto
1	teaspoon	cranberry sauce
3	ounces	roasted tukey breast, thinly sliced
2	ounces	fontina cheese
		salt & freshly  ground black pepper

HAPPY - THANKSGIVING

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!  Wishing everyone a day filled with family, friends and love.

Xxoo,

Windsor

BIKINI - HIKE

Mt. Tamalpais

 When hubby and I first started "courting" (as he calls it) we use to hike after work on Mt. Tamalpais.  He would bring his boom box (yes really) a great bottle of wine and our weary work day brains.  We would hike to our "secret spot" perched on a cliff overlooking the valley and watch the sun go down whilst we drank our chardonnay - directly out of the bottle no doubt. Sounds so sophisticated for a couple of 20 year olds, right?  So, go on - take a hike it will do your mind, body and spirit good.

Xxoo,

Windsor