Unpacked!

Beam me up, Scotty, I'm ready to rejoin the ranks of the civilized.

After much purging and packing, we have finally moved into our new home. And thus began the entirely separate process of unpacking, of figuring out what goes where and with what else, logically, ergonomically and within spatially feasible parameters, in an unfamiliar space you endeavour to make familiar through the process itself, clustering a few favourite objects here, tucking out of sight the occasionally used there.

189 boxes later, I feel like I've become the fastest Stanley knife draw in the East; a deft flick of the wrist and I can collapse and flatten a duct tape bound carton faster than you can say Doc Holliday. We're finally able to enjoy the sheer luxury of kicking back, settling into our new digs, and getting back to living a normal life. Which, for me, at this time of the year, means getting totally pysched about new recipes and new classes for the holiday season.

I'm very late to the party; the schedule went up some time ago, and Holiday Treats I, the demo class I'll be teaching at Shermay's Cooking School is right round the corner on 13 November 2010 (Saturday) and 14 November 2010 (Sunday). For all inquiries, please call the school at +65 6479 8442 or 6479 8414, or email shermaycs@yahoo.com.sg

The menu:

Spiced Pear Bundt Cake Homemade pear sauce lies at the heart of this wonderfully moist and moreish cake. Perfect on its own, but may also be dressed up with a Poire Williams Glaze and Pear Chips.

Pumpkin Patch Cookies Gently kissed with spice and pleasingly pumpkin-y, these cookies boast a tender, cake-like texture and are simply scrumptious. Try serving with Spiced Pumpkin Ice Cream for a special treat.

When replete with a Zesty Orange Glaze, stems, leaves and vines,

these cookies look just-plucked from the pumpkin patch!

Or sandwich the cookies with a billowy Cream Cheese Filling for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.

Little Maple Cakes Pure, premium maple lends its distinctive, earthy sweetness to these little cakes that may be mini in stature but are mighty on taste. True blue maple lover? Pair with Maple Pecan Ice Cream for the ultimate in mapley desserts.

The batter may also be baked up as Maple Cupcakes, frosted with Maple Buttercream, and embellished with Fall Foliage Decorations.

Nutella Panna Cotta Call it a milk chocolate and hazelnut panna cotta if you prefer, but Nutella – essentially a chocolate hazelnut spread – is the everyday secret to this extraordinary pudding; only you need know it!

Lovely accompanied by something crisp, such as the Classic Gingersnaps.

As for the Bonus Section with Extra Recipes, Ideas & Serving Suggestions:

Spiced Pumpkin Ice Cream All the savour of an awesome pumpkin pie churned into a sumptuous ice cream

which can be used to sandwich the Pumpkin Patch Cookies.

Maple Pecan Ice Cream The deeply nutty, toasty flavour of great maple syrup really enhances that of pecans. This potently flavoured ice cream is just as great with Little Maple Cakes or Maple Pecan & Date Cookies.

Maple Pecan & Date Cookies The contrast of succulent dates against crunchy cookie, combined with an unique intensity of flavour, guarantees this number will become a cookie jar favourite.

Classic Gingersnaps Fragrant with the heady warmth of ginger, these delightfully crisp cookies have a habit of being snapped up as quickly as they are baked.