Pumpkin Sunrise

I've spent too much time in the kitchen this past week.  You see, my son arrived on Wednesday afternoon and is staying a few weeks before he goes back to Boston to finish off the last weeks of his school work.  Then he'll be starting school at Penn State University mid August, we will be helping in the "big move".  His new apartment is on the third floor with no elevator... eep. As much as I love my boring life where every day could look exactly the same, I enjoy the busyness of having him home.  Making dinners that he loves and doesn't cook for himself.  Yesterday we had a winter meal of baked chicken thighs, mashed potatoes and gravy.  It felt weird to be eating with summer in full swing.  He was quite happy though.  I come from a long line of family members that show love through food.  Lots and lots of food.  I like that kind of tradition. Today my sister and her husband arrive for the holiday weekend and later tonight my nephew and his wife will arr

Potato Leek Kale Soup 1-2 tbs olive oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 leeks, chopped 4 cups of broth 6 small potatoes, peeled and cubed 3-4 cups of chopped kale 1 tsp thyme 1/2 tsp pepper 1 tsp nutritional yeast lightly saute the onion and the leeks until slightly translucent, add the broth and the potatoes, bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes, add the kale and the seasonings and boil another five minutes. enjoy! I had this soup yesterday and my oh my did it taste good!  My husband is battling a sinus infection and an asthma cough, I thought some soup would make him feel better and the vitamins from all the greens would be an extra boost.  Also, I am trying not to catch this little bug. The house is decorated and daily I sit in the evening knitting and enjoying the view. I've been busy with knitting and reading, somewhat recovering from all the busy that happened last week.  Before you know it, Christmas will be here so I'm slowing down and savoring the m

I snapped this photo in May at a local greenhouse and waited for the Fourth of July to share it.  How was your holiday?  We had a quiet celebration with friends.  Yesterday morning found me in the kitchen slicing up vegetables, preparing a rice salad and peeling corn on the cob.  By lunchtime, the bulk of my work was done.  Even though dark clouds threatened a rain shower, the sun made its appearance and we had fun sitting outside at the patio catching up, sharing stories.  We've known each other for ten years.  Our gatherings are sporadic but each time we gather the distance, time dissolves and we laugh, joke, reconnect. Yesterday felt like Saturday and today feels like Sunday, because of a holiday in the middle of the week.  I find myself giddy from thinking "oh, I have the weekend yet to come!".  Almost like discovering paper money forgotten in a pant's pocket.  Don't you love when that happens?  My studio room is complete for now.  Using what I h

After my joyous return to home and bathing in its lovely comfort, I wrote up a few things that needed to be done.  I tend to put off menu planning because it's a challenge for me.  Now that I'm doing the 30 Day Vegan workshop offered by Heather at Beauty that Moves , I'm motivated to meet what I consider stumbling blocks. First and foremost I am the only one doing the vegan challenge.  My husband loves new dishes but also love to eat meat a few times a week.  For quite some time I've cooked separate dishes for that reason.  The other reason is because of my lactose intolerance.  Our son is home only one more week and he has many meals that are his favorites that I want to cook for him and alas, many are not vegan either.  So you see my dilemma! Yesterday I sat down and wrote out some meals that I know could be flexible for everyone.  Here's what I came up with: -burgers and fries -chili with cornbread or bread -curry -lentil soup (yum!!) -Black beans an

During the week I created the bestest soup recipe and thought you might like to try it.  Honestly, it is pretty good.  Now the problem is that my measurements are guesses and there is wiggle room for creativity. Chicken Rice Cabbage Soup: Chop one onion and three stalks of celery and saute in olive oil (guessing 1/8 cup??) once soft add 8 cups of chicken broth and one cup of frozen green beans.  Simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Add 1 cup of cooked rice, 1 cup of chopped cooked chicken, and 1/2 a head of chopped napa cabbage.  Stir and return to a simmer (you want to wilt the cabbage and not boil it to death). Serves 4 very hungry people. Then eat it all up!  My daughter coined it "Charlie Bucket Cabbage Soup" since cabbage soup was a staple in his household ( Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl).  My husband loved it only because the carrots were absent, he hates carrots in soup. The house is quiet now that it's just the two of us again, well there is F

I think I am way better and taking photos of yarn than food, but I wanted to share my go to recipe for risotto.  It is something that I make at least once every two weeks.    Before I start telling you my secret recipe, do you see those peppers in the green  bowl?  I stir fried all of them for my husband and everyone was coughing and sneezing from the fumes.  We all had to leave the first floor to get fresh air!  So the peppers will only be grilled outside from now on.  Funny, Frodo did not cough once, he has super powers (or he is low to the ground). Mushroom Risotto 1 box of sliced mushrooms your choice 1 1/2 cups of risotto (rice) 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 cups of vegetable broth 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese saute the mushrooms in a frying pan with the oil until nearly soft.  Add all the rice then half of the broth  (2 cups)  bring to a boil over medium heat stirring every time you walk by, do not cover with a lid!  Once the two cups are absorbed by the rice add

Yesterday I finally got around to making the millet patties from the Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook .  I took some liberty and changed some of the ingredients.  Instead of green onions I used celery and I used lots of spices because it was a little bland for me.  I must say that they were tasty!  I also really like that I did not have to worry about an egg being completely cooked through because there was not an egg in the recipe.  Do check out their website- They has some delicious items listed on their recipe page. I also made a peanut sauce (from the same book) that my husband loved.  The sauce was supposed to be served with the steamed kale.  Well.......I over steamed it!  So that did not go over well.  Also my husband informed me that he does not like kale.....I did not know that and I am amazed that I missed the information at some point during other meals when I served it.  I think I need to put on my listening ears. Anyways back to the peanut sauce...he loved it!  I

I was so lucky yesterday to wake up and see such a pretty sky when I took Frodo outside.  So once we were back in our house, I quickly grabbed my camera and headed out to capture the moment.  My first new day of the new year was spent going to Mass and then putting away the Christmas decorations.  I know they are supposed to stay up until the Epiphany but I just cannot last that long. I'm I little tired from the work.  However, I had many helpers carrying the full boxes back to where they are stored until next Christmas.  My living room looks so tidy and a bit empty.  I still have the mess on the coffee table.  That will be there until the kids go back to their campuses. Today I am going grocery shopping and picking up some new ingredients to start the yummy meal plans that I have created from my new cookbooks.  I am going to try one new recipe a week---at least!  Steering towards whole foods and way less sugar. I don't cook from prepackaged because they (food ma