Cooking thru Bread and Wine - dark chocolate sea salted toffee

This has been a very crazy week. I love when a night with friends in the middle of a crazy week can calm and center you. That is just what I needed!

For this month's monthly dinner party I whipped up an extremely sweet dessert.
So sweet that your tastebuds just might run away from you.

This dessert is perfect for the holidays when calories are thrown out the window.
It's easy, simple and can be made within an hour.

Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Toffee 
Shauna Niequist, Bread and Wine

Ingredients
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
2 cups sugar
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Instructions
In a saucepan, combine butter and sugar, and bring to a boil. Over medium-heat, keep stirring until it turns a deep amber color.

Remove from heat and pour onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until cool and solid to the touch.

Melt chocolate chips in a glass bowl over a pot of gently boiling water (I just headed in the microwave). When the chocolate is smooth, pour it over the toffee and spread with a spatula. Sprinkle sea salt, and then refrigerate until cooled and solid. Break into irregular pieces.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, Spain.

I've been dying to go to Barcelona since watching Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I'm a little obsessed with Scarlett Johansson. A little. Thanks to Richard, I got to see her on Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Oh happy day.

Favorite Memory
On our last night in Barcelona, we walked to the Gothic Quarter and bought a variety of cheeses, meats and wine from a local grocery store. We then followed the La Rambles down to the water and sat on a bench, watching the moon glisten over the water as both tourists and locals strolled down the walk way. We sat there, on that bench, for several hours sipping wine while talking about our last 5 years of marriage. It was a memory I will never forget.

Sights 

El Cap de Barcelona - Roy Lichtenstein
Mt. Tibidabo
Las Rambles
Bus Turistic
Picasso Museum
Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
Gothic Quarter
Tour old city (Barri Gòtic)
Walk up Mt. Tibidabo
Park Guell
The Magic Fountain at Montjuic
Poble Espanyol / Pueblo Español (Spanish Village)
Go to the beach
Apartamentos Gaudi
Latin Quarter

Lodging 

Raco del Pi

C/ del Pi, 7; E-08002
- Nice and modern hotel with a cute balcony over an active walkway! - 

Flights 

AA Flight 66 JFK New York (Aug 28 @ 5:20PM) to BCN Barcelona (Aug 29 @ 7:15AM)

Vueling Flight VY6108 BCN Barcelona (Aug 31 @ 10AM) to FCO Roma (Aug 31 @ 11:45AM)

About 30 seconds before realizing we were on a topless beach… taking pictures. ;)

View of the city from Mt. Tibidabo 

First street we walked down after arriving in the city… 

The first of many scoops of gelato while walking down Las Rambles 

Enjoying a late lunch outdoors… filled with cappuccino and yummy desserts

Our most memorable night of the trip...

Love and Snow.

Snow. 

                                         

                                                            

and Love.

                     We have certainly had our fair share of snow in New York City this winter.                  

                                                          The Texan in me still loves it.

                                 Can you believe this is our 9th Valentine's Day together? 

Richard is still full of surprises.

A few years ago we came to NYC in hopes that an interview was the 

ticket to our move to this amazing city.

God's timing is always perfect. And that was not the perfect time.
But it was a fun trip, full of adventure and excitement. 

We walked to this charming little French restaurant on the Upper West Side, La Mirabelle. 

Dinner was amazing. We still talk about that dinner to this day. 

Richard took me back to the same restaurant on this snowy Valentine's in New York City. 

I know. He's a keeper isn't he? 

For dessert, we went to Edgar's Cafe. 

A little flashback in time Edgar Allan Poe style. 

We were the last ones there.

               A perfect end to a snowy Valentine's night in New York City.                                       

And snow.

We have had so much snow. 

Isn't our street pretty?                                     

The freezing temperatures haven't stopped us girls from getting together.

We sipped on tea and wine at Le Pain Quotidien and got crafty. 

Because what girl doesn't love a fun Valentine's Day craft?

Our community group munched on sweets during our Tuesday night gathering.

Because there are never too many sweets in the month of February. 

We enjoyed homemade (heart shaped!) pizza with some dear friends. 

           A much needed night of friendship.                       

On another snowy night, our Community Group cozied up on a couch.

A movie and popcorn was just what the weather ordered.

Lots and lots and lots of reading happens when it snows.

Our nephew was born in Texas! 

Isn't Luke sweet? 

The family of five.

I hear that Jude is warming up to his new baby brother. 

We can't wait to meet this little guy in March. 

Snow also causes you to do crazy things with your friends. 

Like 3D puzzles. Of New York City. 

                                       

And how could I forget?

The Super Bowl was in New York City this year. 

The snow held off just for the game.

                                                                        

                                    

I'm a sucker for a Super Bowl party.

Snow and Love. Love and Snow. 

Paris, France

Paris, France

Paris reminded us a ton of New York City… except we couldn't communicate with anyone! It is a very large city and we were proud of ourselves for quickly learning the subway system. We loved taking in the sights… and almost melted in the heat during the day. The Eiffel Tower really makes the city magical and the gardens are a must see. 

Favorite Memory 

I have two. One night, we went to a local grocery store (we love to do as the locals do) and bought wine, meats, cheeses and dessert to create our own sunset picnic at the Eiffel Tower. We watched for hours as afternoon turned into evening and the Eiffel lit the night sky. Every hour it sparkles for 5 minutes… and it is so magical to watch. Everyone gasps each time. On our last night, we popped a bottle of champagne in our hotel room as the Eiffel began to sparkle at 10PM… it was a great way to end our time in such a romantic city. 

Lodging

Hotel LaDemeure

51 bd saint marcel

- While this hotel had the tiniest rooms known to man, what I loved the most was that you could see the Eiffel Tower from our room. - 

Sights

Eiffel Tower

Musee du Louvre

Musée d’Orsay

Jardin Du Luxembourg / Gardens

Notre Dame Cathedral

Champs Elysees & Arc de Triomphe

Sainte Chapelle Church

Les Invalides (Napoleon's Tomb)

Montmarte and Sacre Coeur Basilica

Batobus is a good way to get around the city

Flight

AA (Operated by British Airways) Flight 6557 (Sept 7 @ 7:40AM) to LHR London (Sept 7 @ 7:55AM)

Soup Swap and a Story

We tried something new at Community Group this week.

A soup swap and a story. Here's how it works. 

1. Everyone cooks a pot of soup. You have enough for yourself for dinner that night or the next. You place the remaining soup in two labeled jars (we used spaghetti jars and they were a great size and free!). Bring these with you. 

2. Put numbers in a hat to determine the order you pick. Before you pick two soups from the pile (can be two different soups), you must share a story about yourself. We asked the following: who is your hero, most difficult time in your life and best time in your life? 

3. Then you pick your two soups. One soup will be for you to enjoy and the other is for you to give away to a neighbor - could be someone you are just getting to know, someone that you know is having a hard time or someone you would like to meet. The point is to brighten their day! 

That's it! We loved our soup swap and a story. It was a great way to try a new soup recipe, get to know each other better and brighten a neighbor's day. 

Tired of the freezing winter? Eat soup.