The Winter Issue
Hello friends,
The most wonderful time of the year is here. Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the Holiday season, and I couldn't be more excited. If you feel the same way, then you gonna enjoy this issue.
We wanted to provide you with inspiration that would carry through the Holiday season, and keep you warm through the long, winter months ahead.
One of the greatest joys this time of the year is decorating our homes We all decorate our homes with our own touches that bring us comfort and joy This year we ' ve partnered up with incredible contributors who are going to share the joy and their beautiful home inspo with us, so make sure to check out the next few pages. And of course, there wouldn't be a holiday season without delicious food. We've got the best Christmary recipes from this incredible English contributor/ turned New Englander, who was so generous to share her best secrets with us.
Did I say New England? Yes, of course, and this season is packed with New England (because it's the most wonderful place for the holidays), and with California (because it's always beautiful here).
Stay tuned for the full issue coming out on December 1st And subscribe to our newsletter to be the first receiver of this upcoming issue I hope this little teaser will excite you enough to make you hit the Subscribe button. Help us spread the joy from coast to coast.
Thank you all for your continuing love and support of Bicoastal Digest Magazine.
Happiest Holidays, Anca
A
quick note from Annie
DesignedbySJJohnson @cozyvintagelife
New England is one of the prettiest, most idyllic regions in the whole country, all year round, but even more during Christmastime. From the southernmost parts of Connecticut to the deep North of Maine and Vermont, New England is the most wonderful place to spend the most wonderful time of the year. There is absolutely nothing more magical than winter in New England, with a full roster of Christmas activities to boost your spirit and spread joy.
Every little town in this region is out of a Hallmark movie during December, but here are the 6 most magical New England towns to visit this Christmas.
1. Boston, MA
Let’s start with Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, and the largest city in the whole New England region Boston is a cultural hub and home to top-notch universities, making Massachusetts the state with the highest number of most educated people in the country. Massachusetts was home to many previous presidents, (including John F. Kennedy and George HW Bush). It was also home to the first railroad in the United States (1826) and the first subway (1897). It was also the first state to legalize gay marriage. The list of firsts goes on and on.
Its Colonial past makes Boston the birthplace of America, being the battleground of the American Revolution Incredibly rich in history & culture, home to some of the best universities and museums in the country, amazing urban & rural life, idyllic villages, romantic lighthouses, covered bridges and scenic drives, Boston has something for everyone.
2. Stockbridge, MA
The town inspired Norman Rockwell to paint the famous “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas,” and the community has been paying tribute for generations, recreating that image live, year after year with Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas, which includes activities like a weekend celebration of caroling, holiday house tours, horse-drawn carriage rides, a visit with Santa, and a Sunday afternoon re-creation of Rockwell’s painting Winter wonderland on steroids
SouthLakeTahoe
With a background in interior design, Antoinette is a gifted night baker, who generously shared incredible recipes with us. Born in Scotland, and growing up in England, Antoinette has been living for more than 30 years now in beautiful New England together with her family and their adorable frenchie named Frankie.
Coming from a large family with traditions, Christmas was always special for Antoinette and her family. Her husband has Norwegian origins, so they
celebrate Christmas Eve with Swedish Meatballs, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. They open gifts around the tree that evening. Christmas morning is for opening the Christmas stockings and enjoying breakfast casserole dishes and mimosas.
Further, we'll share 2 delicious recipes of Antoinette that you need to try this holiday season.
Follow Antoinette on Instagram at @cozycottageandgarden
Combine cranberries and 1/4 of a cup of sugar in a food processor Pulse until the cranberries are broken down into smaller pieces. Set aside.
Using a large mixing bowl combine flour and remaining sugar and add cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or fork I usually use my fingers to break the butter into the flour until it resembles small crumbs
Stir in almond extract and cranberry sugar mixture along with orange zest and 1 tablespoon of orange juice. Use your hands to knead until it comes together and forms a ball.
If the dough is still crumbly add a little more orange juice Shape dough into a log about 2 inches in diameter and wrap and cling film and refrigerate for two hours or up to 72 hours When you’re ready to make your cookies preheat the oven to 325°F Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside
Cut slices of cookie dough about 1/4 of an inch thick. Place about half a cup of sugar in a bowl and coat each cookie slice with sugar. Place on cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or just until the cookie sets Do not overbake I remove my cookies at 12 minutes
Let the cookies cool for several minutes on the baking sheet before removing the cooling rack Store in an airtight container for up to three days or you can freeze the cookies for up to three months.
What you need to make them soft in the center, crisp on the edges, and perfectly spiced: it’s important that you chill this recipe for at least 3 hrs I usually do mine overnight and can be chilled for up to 3 days
10 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter at room temperature
3/4 cup of light brown sugar or dark
2/3 of unsulphured molasses
1 large egg at room temperature
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
1 teaspoon of Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon of ginger
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of allspice
1/2 teaspoon of cloves
Royal icing:
3 3/4 cups of powdered icing sugar
3 large egg whites
1/2 Teaspoon of cream of tartar
1 pinch of salt
I also like to add a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.
In a bowl combine all the ingredients and whisk until stiff white and glossy which usually takes about five minutes or so.
It’s important that you cover this and refrigerate it. Otherwise, it will harden quickly.
If you want to color your icing, you will need some food coloring. Honestly, these cookies are delicious even without the icing.
In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment beat butter for one minute on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy.
Add brown sugar and molasses on medium speed until combined and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract on high for two minutes.
Note: The butter may separate and that’s OK. In a separate bowl whisk the flour, Baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves together until combined.
On low speed add to wet ingredients until combined. The cookie dough will be quite thick and slightly sticky. Divide into half and place each onto a plastic wrap and wrap each one tightly and pat down the center to create a disc.
Chill discs for a minimum of three hours and up to three days. I generally do mine overnight
Preheat oven to 350°F line 2 to 3 large baking trays with parchment paper. I usually use one large baking tray to do my cookies and I let the tray cool in between making them. Set aside.
Remove one disc of chilled cookie dough Generously flour a work surface as well as your hands and rolling pin. Roll out the disc until 1/4 inch thick. The dough may crack; use your fingers to meld the cracking edges. The first few rolls are the hardest Since the dough is so stiff.
Cut into the shape I usually use snowflakes and stars Place them 1 inch apart as they will spread a little. And bake for 9 to 10 minutes.
If the cookies are less than 4 inches bake for 8 minutes. And if are larger than 4 inches bake for 11 minutes. The longer you cook your cookies, the crunchier they will get.
Allow cookies to cool for five minutes before transferring them to the cooling rack.
Keep them covered at room temperature, and they’ll stay fresh for up to a week.
@enjoyceramicart
Los Angeles is the synonim of sunshine, palm trees, gorgeous beaches and Hollywood stars. But what many people from outside don't know is how much LA loves Christmas. We love to decorate, and the weather allows us to go all the way in with our decorations
The nice weather is also why The Grove is such a popular destination during winter, setting the scene as the marriest place in the city of angels through the holiday season. Year round, The Grove offers plenty, from great shopping and dinning experience, to live entertainment in the park and limited-time pop-ups & in-store styling. In addition, in December offers extra magic.
Bring your family and your pets for pictures with Santa (Of course our cat Editor-in-Chief Bubu The Cat, had to meet Santa Of course he did )
Happy Holidays, From our family to yours
