Holiday happiness - infusing science into your holiday baked delights!

Happy holidays everyone -

The year is winding down slowly and there are many great things to look forward to:

1. More time to spend with loved ones. I'm taking a short vacation away from lab to hang out with my family up in Stockton and couldn't be more excited. I'm planning to stalk my mom around the kitchen and learn how to cook more Vietnamese style dishes (my goal: mam va rau - we'll see if it's possible).

2. More winter in southern California - or "fall" for those who actually experience snow and rain frequently during this time of the year. Some great things about December/January: piping hot tea, curling up under a throw, and doing night runs.

3. A new year happening - new resolutions, new beginnings, new goals. This summer, I made a goal for myself to get back into running. MOH decided to up the ante and make me create a concrete mile goal, so I decided to do 300 miles within 6 months. I'm two weeks away from finishing the year and less than 15 miles left, so I'm pretty excited. I think next year, I'm going to aim for 600 miles. Speaking of which, I need new shoes. I've been eying the Brooks Adrenaline GTS - I saw a review on them on Runner's World and drooled a little. I had the GTS11 and loved it for its lightness.

4. Indulgence at its best! This time of the year there are a ton of holiday parties, get-togethers, and that always means good food, good desserts.

And if you're particularly lucky, you have some friends who make great desserts that appeal to both your eyes AND mouth! Case in point - my friend Jaimie Ngo's wonderful gingerbread treats that would brighten up anyone's day. Jaimie loves to infuse playful designs into her baked creations at a bakery in San Diego where she comes up with the cutest designs for any season!

Photo courtesy of J. Ngo

Did I mention she can also make brains look tasty, too?

Photo courtesy of J Ngo

Gingerbread cookies are a common staple during the holidays. This year, brighten your treats by decorating them using a simple royal icing (basically powdered sugar and egg whites, or meringue powder and water). Make sure to decorate once your cookies are fully cooled, or be prepared for a hot mess of melting icing (unless you're trying to get that visual effect).

Not that great of a decorator or not that creative? No worries - inspiration and creativity can stem from anything! Whether it's modeled after a piece of art or a photograph, or a cool show you watch, or something you see in nature, creativity can stem from anything. First time decorator? Don't fret - Jaimie cannot stress the importance of taking your time - decorating is a form of art, and requires patience and time. If you're willing to put in the time to thoughtfully decorate your desserts, everything will fall into place. Having the right baking and decorating tools help, too.

Hope everyone's holidays goes great! May everyone enjoy great memories and happy eating!