Happy New Year

Christmas and New Year: it's a bittersweet time to be in LA, feeling so far from home.  I threw a little Christmas party last week, taking full advantage of an otherwise empty apartment to tidy the lounge room up a bit and give the kitchen a workout.  I had a glorious time trying out various recipes for the first time; largely successful (well, no outright failures) but a couple I know I'll do better next time.  Bridgette's ginger caramel slice was delicious but my tin was a bit too big so it was spread a little thin.  I think it will be thicker and more sumptuous next time made in a smaller tin.  I pulled a red velvet cupcake recipe off the internet (thanks to the Food network); it's for 24 cupcakes, more than I needed, so I halved it.  I was then so bold as to guestimate replacing vegetable oil with melted butter and blithely dispensed with the dash of vinegar altogether.  The cupcakes turned out just fine, but not as moist and well, velvety, as I had hoped; serves me right for not following the recipe to the letter at least once before fiddling with it.  That being said, they all got eaten (being smothered in cream cheese icing didn't hurt either).  From Donna Hay's delightfully titled No Time to Cook book, I made lamb, feta and mint meatballs in tomato sauce (delish); potato, parsnip and rosemary rosti (can't go wrong with crispy spuds); and chickpea, cumin and coriander patties served with tzatziki (yummy).  I also made a very rich chocolate cake (made with almond meal and sour cream) smothered in chocolate ganache.  Heavenly.  This recipe was torn out of a Sunday Age magazine when I was in Melbourne in November, and it's author (forgive me, I've forgotten his name and I'm tucked into bed at this moment with no intention of jumping up and digging out the recipe just to check) notes that the cake tastes even better the next day.  He's right. The party was very convivial and attended by an assortment of friends from different worlds; acting, non-acting, neighbours.

Christmas Eve I spent with Jamie and Amber who have become good friends over the past year, and are excellent, generous and jovial hosts.  Amber cooks up a storm and we trade foodie stories, tips and recipes with each other, and witticisms with Jamie.  On Christmas Day my new housemate, Hannah, arrived from Australia.  With a shortage of good housemate material in LA, Nicole and I resorted to an imported item.  Hannah is delightful; we had a pretty chilled out day as she braved jetlag to see the day through.  On Boxing Day (although it's not called that here) we hung out with Laura, another actor friend who is from the UK and had the glums.  It's easy to get the glums when you're far from home and the people you love at this time of year, I'm certainly no stranger to them (the glums, not the lovely people).  Anyway, we had a cheery time with wine, pizza, and Christmas party leftovers.

CC and Hannah, NYE

I've been off work this week so I've been writing, sleeping in, and getting to the gym.  I also baked some yummy banana and choc chip muffins, just for the hell of it, and have been able to help Hannah out a bit by driving her around to buy a bed and apply for her social security number.  Back to work next week, for which my bank balance will be grateful.

New Year's Eve rolled around and I spent the evening with Alex and James at two parties.  The first was a house party, an intimate affair with a few people, and several sets of novelty ears.

CC, Alex and novelty ears

We then drove downtown to a loft party hosted by a friend of a friend.  This was way cool; not your typical LA bleach blonde'n'botox crowd.  A live band played the kind of latin-fusion music to which you can't help but wiggle your hips and tap your toes, several couples were salsa dancing with style, and everyone seemed friendly and happy.  It was a predominantly latino crowd, and with my skyscraper Hollywood heels on, I had the unusual experience of being able to see over most people's heads.  Here we saw the clock tick midnight. 

CC, Alex & James at the loft party: low light, phone camera, but captures the mood

It's 1/1/11; a cold but sunny day in Los Angeles.  I'm up, breakfasted and caffeinated, but still in my PJs.  I don't know what you've got in store for me, 2011, but I look forward to finding out and I have some plans for you, too.