Dear friends & loyal readers,

I’ve spent today painting, and while I am painting my mind has a tendency to wander.  I think about all sorts of things.  What I can make for dinner that will not lead my children to complain.  Whether the *YOU KNOW WHAT* I am getting *YOU KNOW WHO* for Christmas will arrive in time.  Whether that one freak hair on my upper lip has grown so long it needs plucking.  Not my very deepest thoughts, but the tedium does inspire in its own way.  And so this morning it occurred to me, that although you know about my moving from Philly to Portland, and about my buying a house a couple months ago, I have disclosed very little – if anything – about the house I now call home.  This thought was so striking to me I actually stopped what I was doing and sat there pondering for a moment.  How ironic, I thought to myself.  Especially in light of the fact that this house is so all-consuming I do very little else other than tend to it.  Especially in light of the fact that I was PAINTING THE WOODWORK of said house at that exact moment.  Something I have been doing for the past – oh, six weeks.

I have therefore decided to do a few things.  First, I am going to start talking about my house and the work my husband & I are doing to restore it.  I am going to start documenting projects, in hope of assisting other people interested in the same things.  And I am going to re-energize myself, my writing and this blog by trying to post something every day.  This is The Daily Dish, after all.  Whether I can accomplish all this in an entertaining manner remains to be seen.  But I vow to try my best.

HOLIDAY BAKE-OFF WINNERS!

It’s been five days of HARD WORK PEOPLE.  Cranking out batch after batch of scrumptious goodies.  Almond Butter Crunch at 9 am, elfin shortbread bites at noon. My yoga pants have never had such a workout in all their life.

BUT AS PROMISED, I am here to announce the three winners of my FIRST Annual Low Sodium Holiday Bake-Off. TA-DAHHHH!!!

THE PRIZES!!

Natalie (aka, CURLYWURLYGURLY) makes her debut today w/ Bratty Natty’s Berry Bars. We all know Nat brags about her lack of culinary prowess, but these little babies are FABULOUS.  Many thanks NAT (and NAT-IN-LAW!)

Tracie has wowed me with one heirloom recipe after another. Look for her Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge tomorrow.  Big on taste and short on work, this one promises to please even your pickiest PB lover.

And last BUT NOT LEAST, the lovely Lucille G. sent a stupendous recipe from her own grandmother as well.  Lucille’s Lemony Sprinkles will shine on Wednesday.  Light and ethereal, these simple sugar cookies are simply DELISH!

MANY THANKS to Nat, Tracie and Lucille for sharing such delicious treasures w/ the rest of us. You’ve all earned a treat — look for Lindt Chocolate arriving in the mail soon!

And for EVERYONE: Now through Christmas Eve, check back daily for another new holiday favorite on THE DAILY DISH!

It’s beginning to SMELL a lot like CHRISTMAS!

It’s the HOLIDAYS!  And for me that means COOKIES!!!!!

As many of you know, I run a low-sodium recipe site – also called THE DAILY DISH.  From now until Christmas, I will be highlighting holiday baking & gift-giving ideas.  AND I AM LOOKING FOR SOME MAGICAL ELVES TO HELP ME.

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe you would like to share with the world??  Do you LONG for FAME AND/OR GLORY?? or simply want to WIN A PRIZE?!

WELL, YOU and YOUR RECIPE could be featured on The Daily Dish.

I am holding a contest now through the end of this week, looking for delicious Christmas cookie and/or candy recipes.  If you have a tried-and-true personal favorite you would like to share, then please LET ME KNOW!  Although my recipe site is devoted to low sodium cooking, Your recipe does NOT need to be salt free.  I will be adapting entries to meet sodium restrictions.  All you need to do is THINK DELICIOUS and let me handle the rest.

To make a submission, please email me: CHRISTY at THEDAILYDISH dot US.  Put “Recipe Contest” in the subject line and be sure to include not only the recipe title, but list of ingredients and step-by-step directions.  If you have a photo you would like to include as well, by all means do so.

I will be accepting submissions now through the end of this week – Friday, December 12th – and YES. You may enter more than once.

ALL of the winning recipes will be announced here, Monday, December 15th, and will be featured on The Daily Dish website – one per day – beginning Monday, December 15th. All winners will be contacted via email, and will receive not only the honor of appearing live on The Daily Dish, but ALSO A FABBBBBULOUS PRIZE!!

So what are you waiting for?? ENTER NOW!