Love to snuggle in with the first snow

Our weather in the Midwest can be called nothing less than bizarre at times. It's a wonder why there are so many sniffles and sneezes, when one day the temp is sunny and 68 degrees and the next it is 24 and snowing. And of course a couple inches send's everyone in a frantic run to the grocery store for bread, milk and egg's. Our mail man claim's everyone must be making French toast ha ha. I on the other hand did grab the staple's and some chocolate of course, but opted to make Pioneer Woman's easy snowy day breakfast of egg in the hole, with buttery French bread . It was simply yummy! Along with some bacon, cinnamon crumb cake, and hot chocolate we were warmed through and through and ready for a day of reading under cozy quilt's , making snow angel's ,and sketching. I'd say a good start to winter!

Time for Fall Food!

Well I finally bit the bullet and turned on the furnace tonight. The day's have been bone chilling with the wind beating me to a Popsicle pulp as I have been working outside every day. So it's time for one of my all time perfect food's ...Soup, of course! I made potato soup all thick and bubbly. To accompany, it just made perfect sense to have a grilled sandwich, and oh boyee do I have a fantastic combo I hope you will try: Black Forest ham, Havarti cheese, aaaand here's the kicker.. Fig Jam! I grilled this tasty delight on ciabatta bread and was in heaven as I spooned warm bites of soup, and alternating bite's of figgy sweet ,salty sandwich, then chased it all down with some Birch Beer ( like root beer) I picked up from an awesome Mennonite store. Need I say more folk's? ... Oh yes I do... Welcome to fall!!!

Summer's Beautiful Bounty

It's another roasting hot 98 degree day today in the Midwest, and we have an outdoor Bridal Shower/Picnic to go to.... Yikes....

While the heat may slow us down it doesn't slow down the summer garden's that thrive with a little water and reach for the summer sun and give us gorgeous varieties of fruits and veggie's. 

I will be taking advantage of the splendid heirloom tomato, and taking a pasta salad based on Pioneer Woman's recipe, that will have an abundance of these refreshing babies. 

I think this will be a tasty cool dish on this  scorcher of a day! 

Stay cool and happy !!!

Miso in love with this soup!

I may as well call myself the Soup Guru, since that is the food I love to cook the most! So many varieties, so little time! Today I had time for this Pinterest inspired fragrant and healthy bowl of Miso, with Bok Choy , tiny Beech mushrooms, shallots, edimame, and brown rice noodles. This was very quick to make because I used envelopes of Miso Soup according to directions, then sautéed my Bok, mush, and shallot's in a spoon of sesame oil, and a little water to kinda steam too. Meanwhile I made my noodles, again as package directed, and boiled a handful of edimame (which personally I kinda liked the soup without em better). I put it all together and found it easiest to eat with chopsticks, then drank the broth..Yummy. I could eat different versions of this every week! Happy Thurs! Xo Dawn

The color's are so pretty!

Savoring the last bite!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

I know this sound's silly, but I have always wanted to make Whoopie ...Pies! Maybe it's the name, or maybe it's the look, maybe a little of both, all I know is that I finally had my chance when I saw the boxed mix on the shelf at the grocery. No excuse not to because it was easy peasy, just follow the box. I have mainly seen these with a cream cheese filling , but this one was butter, powdered sugar, a little milk, and I added really good vanilla, and whipped it till it was a light creamy texture. It was delicious. I took them to my inlaws for a get together, and they were a crowd pleaser. I would like to try a dark chocolate and peanut butter version.. Mmm. Happy weekend all!

A pot of veggie soup goodness

Well it's getting to be that time of year, just before spring when I start craving fruits and vegetables. Maybe it's a vitamin deficiency , maybe I'm just tiring of winter blah, and want fresh vibrant thing's and a bundle of kale, and spinach is as close as I can get. I went to Global Food's where the selection has typical, and exotic produce at durn good prices. I wanted a soup pot full of vitamins, colors, and of course flavor, so I loaded my tote with as I mentioned: kale and spinach, also carrot's , shallot's, and some tiny Italian eggplant's. Add a carton of beef broth , a can of white bean's,and diced Italian tomatoes to the list, and you have the making's of a tasty healthy meal. When I came home, I also had leftover boneless pork spare ribs to add to the pot, and a cup of barley. After all was bubbling happily on the stove, I ladled up a bowl and added freshly grated Parmesan , and wonderfully seasoned crouton's. It was grand, and even better today! Perfect for our stormy weather Tuesday! Happy day to you all!

The Polenta, and The Poach

This eve I took on two cooking to-do's that I have been meaning to try for year's. I have always been intrigued by Polenta. I love cornbread, yet I'm not a big fan of grit's, so I was a little hesitant to make polenta.

What tempted me to give it a whirl was the tasty looking recipe by Joy The Baker. That girl has some skill's!
Even better the recipe was very simple. The only thing I did different was to use Thai basil, which has a slight licorice flavor, and I added a poached egg ( my other first!) It was a smidge tricky to poach ,but the biggie I didn't know on the first attempt was to gently drop the egg in just before the boiling point. When I did this, I came out with a real beauty! Hip hip hooray!

And the dish itself was creamy, the tomato sauce was deliciously spicy, and the egg was a divine addition! This was a really fun and yummy dindin , that I hope you will try! Lovely weekend to all!xox Dawn

That's one ugly huevo!

Now this one did mama proud!!

Chocolate Lollies

Well the big disappointment was No snow. You know how exciting the first snow is, particularly for kid's.
We alway's stock the cupboard with hot chocolate, popcorn, and other goodie's to bake or make.
The fridge has the making's for comfort food, and big breakfast.
We go to the library and pick movie's like Flash Gordon, and The Long Long Trailer, and for me some art mag's. Then we make sure we have glove's , snow suits, and of course our sled's ready for that whiter than white glow through the window that your peeper's first see in the morn of a snowy day.....

Big ol' let down was all we saw when the grey light awoke us...meanwhile our neighbor's to the south had fourteen inches of the white fluff! Whoah, I'm not saying we wanted near that, but maybe just two or three for one day of fun. Then we are good for the winter.

Since none was to be had, me and the kiddo's ( we also had an anxious snowflake loving cousin over) decided to make some chocolate lolly pop's that were easy as a wink, and fun for the kid's to decorate . It was simply : melt your chocolate in a glass bowl at 30 second interval's in micro till smooth. Oh and use a rubber spatula to stir. Then simply spoon your chocolate on a cookie sheet with wax paper, lay your sucker stick( with a bit of a roll motion to cover up the stick with chocolate all tidy). Add your topping's and pop in the fridge for 15 or 20 min to firm up , and there you have it!

See the day was not a total bust! Oh and the kid's made mask's and cape's and the house looked like the storm we didnt have! Happy Thurs! Xox Dawn

I used a delish combo of cashew,dried cherries,and white chocolate, and then toasted walnut, sno-cap topped semi-sweet..yum

Skye's giving The Suave Look

Broccoli Cheese Soup

When the weather turn's frosty, I start to feel soupy..( did I just invent a new condition?) Oh don't get me wrong , I can eat soup for breakfast , lunch or dinner. It could very well be the perfect food. It contain's many of your food group's , and has a zillion delicious varieties. Today's crave is an easy Broccoli Cheese, that I served with that beautiful , yes I said beautiful Pain de Compagne Bread from Fevere bakery we just picked up on our trip. It was graciously dipped into this tasty bowl of goodness. Ready for the recipe? Here you go!
-2 large heads or 4 small broccoli
- 1 whole onion chopped
- 1 stick of butter
- 1/3 cup flour
- 2 ish cups of cheese ( I used aged white cheddar, and jack and colby)
- 2 cup's 1/2 n 1/2
- 4 cup's milk 2% or whole milk
- salt( I use kosher, to taste)
- pepper( I used lots)
- nutmeg ( to taste, I used prob a tsp)

*** melt your butter in your pot, and add your onions to sauté .
- then add your flour and stir till mixed, and pour in your milk and 1/2 n 1/2.
- add your broccoli, nutmeg, salt and pepper, stir and put lid on it and cook on low for 30 min or so , and give a stir or two.
- then take off lid to your bubbly concoction, and give your broccoli a bit of a mash to the texture you prefer, and finally add all your cheese! Taste test and adjust your spice and ladle it up!
Happy, yummy Tuesday :) xo Dawn

One happy,cheesy mug!