by Krista | Nov 9, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
Storm clouds billowed up looking dark, menacing and absolutely beautiful one Fall afternoon in Paris last year. Undaunted by the impending storm, I tossed a red scarf about my neck and walked briskly through the crowded city streets and into the Jardin des Tuileries.
How I love Parisian gardens, be they small, tidy ones tucked away at the back of an old church, or grand, sprawling ones like the Tuileries or Luxembourg. The Tuileries was my favorite that trip. It was a five minute walk from my brother’s apartment, and the perfect escape from honking horns and yelling passersby.
It was a source of never-ending delight for me since I never knew what I’d find there. Fully expecting marble or stone statues in classic poses, I was highly amused by this fellow and his compatriots dotting the landscape for some sort of exhibit.
I strolled past amorous lovers, watched children shrieking with laughter as they played tag in the trees, smiled at finely dressed elderly couples walking slowly along hand in hand.
The massive gates of the gardens always make me feel special, like I’ve been granted access to a place normally reserved for royalty. I smile as I walk through them, suddenly feeling more confident and not caring one bit that I may be the only woman in the park not wearing heels.
It was a beautiful morning, made all the more lovely by a stop at a cafe for luscious Crème caramel and a hot, strong cup of espresso.
My friend Tuula has a great post up today featuring 17 Ideas for An Afternoon in Paris. It’s perfect for a bit of armchair traveling on this cold, Fall day.
What would be your ideal dessert on a wander through Paris?
by Krista | Nov 8, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning! How was your weekend? It’s been a perfectly splendid one for me, and I’m feeling rested and happy. 🙂
Saturday I went to town for the annual Scandinavian Festival and had a jolly time perusing the Nordic wares of the numerous vendors. I love bustling events like this. It’s so fun seeing folks dressed up in their native garb, sporting lavish jewelery and intricately embroidered dresses. I like leafing through books of history and culture, eying the homemade pastries, and choosing the perfect souvenir – this time a hand-painted wooden butter knife.
Then I drove through the rain to my favorite thrift store in search of desperately needed winter clothes. It was so fun!! I found a whole stack of treasures that met my needs and budget perfectly. Woohoo! 🙂
I slept a whopping ten hours that night – yep, I was tired – and woke to sunshine and falling leaves and glorious stillness. Sunday afternoon I lit the beautiful lantern my brother brought me back from Morocco, popped in a Nero Wolfe mystery, and started decorating for Christmas.
I had such a great time hauling out boxes of glittering fruits, shiny berries, and all sorts of fabrics in glistening gold and jewel tones. I still have a ways to go, but I’m so pleased with how warm, cozy and welcoming it all looks. I can’t stop smiling.
In between decorating and cleaning I took breaks for big cups of Vanilla Caramel tea and the last of the Maple Cinnamon Shortbread I made earlier in the week. Mmm. They’re humble looking cookies but absolutely delicious with the nuttiness of whole grain, hint of spice and buttery crispness.
What is your favorite memory from this weekend? When do you start decorating for Christmas?
This is my contribution to Chaya’s Meatless Mondays.
Maple Cinnamon Shortbread
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp maple flavoring
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In medium bowl stir flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
- Melt butter and stir in maple flavoring.
- Pour into flour mixture and stir with wooden spoon until incorporated and mixture sticks together. (Add more butter if necessary)
- Press dough onto ungreased baking sheet about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into squares or desired shape.
- Bake 20 minutes until edges begin to brown.
by Krista | Nov 5, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
Good morning, luvs. 🙂 It’s such a lovely thing to wake up and know that the weekend is just a few short hours away. How marvelous that tonight I get to go grocery shopping, tomorrow I can sleep in, and then I have two whole days to go for walks, visit with dear friends, have a jolly family shindig up in Canada, and maybe even decorate for Christmas!! 🙂
On this chilly Friday morning I have a question to ask you: what do you eat for breakfast? I am in a breakfast rut and want to break out of my scrambled eggs routine. I would love some new ideas that are healthy and delicious. What are some of your favorites or do you do similar things every day too?
Now I just want to rest a while and remember a golden, summer afternoon a while back when my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and I decided to leave the coast behind and drive up into the mountains.
I love going for drives and this day was one of the best. It was deliciously warm and we meandered happily along forested roads, telling stories and listening to music. We stopped for ice cream and they obliged me by occasionally screeching to a halt to let me hop out and take photos of waterfalls, snow-covered peaks, and crystal clear lakes. I thought you might like to join me on a drive up to Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan, one of my favorite drives in Washington State. 🙂
I wish you a beautiful weekend, dear ones. Is there one thing you’re looking forward to most?
PS – Thank you with all my heart for your kind messages, emails and phone calls of support yesterday. You have made this year so beautiful for me with your friendship and kindness. I love learning with you and from you, and whenever I’m having a rough day I just go back to your messages, blogs or Facebook pages and remind myself that there are good people in this world. I feel so lucky to know you. 🙂
by Krista | Nov 4, 2010 | Plucky Thursday
I don’t talk too much about my past here. Mostly, I think, because I want this blog to be a place of peace, beauty, and hope where anyone, including myself, can feel safe and loved. But there’s also some fear. I’m afraid my abusers will read this and smile that I still struggle with what they did to me. I’m afraid people won’t believe me. I’m afraid that in thinking about those things, my nightmares will return.
But I don’t need to be afraid.
I am safe. I am loved. I am free. I’m also strong and brave, and my abusers can’t get to me anymore.
I want to tell you a little bit about my past today because of my friend Andrea. She and I met as teenagers in a religious cult based in the Midwest. It was a traumatic time for both of us as we endured emotional, spiritual and physical abuse, daily brainwashing and neglect. I was in the cult for ten years before I found the courage and strength to escape. Andrea was stronger and got out before me, and I didn’t see her again until just a few years ago when she rang me up out of the blue to see how I was doing.
I was a bit of a mess. I was afraid of everything and everyone. I went from one abusive relationship to the next because that’s where I was comfortable. I kept stuffing down my past because it was too painful to deal with.
Then Andrea rang. She cried with me, relived those years with me, said “I understand” and I believed her, because she did. She gave me hope that this lost, dark, scared feeling wouldn’t last. She helped me to see I was much stronger and braver than I thought. And she showed me that the only way out of pain was straight through the middle of it.
Over the past four years her honesty, compassion and unbelievable bravery have helped me through the darkest time of my life. I’ve never known anyone so real, open, and utterly unashamed to be herself. Coming from a world where every word, expression and behavior is calculated, Andrea’s larger-than-life personality was a glorious breath of fresh air. She helped free me up from years of brainwashing, figure out who I was under all that fear and insecurity, and find that beautiful peace, happiness, and freedom I had only read about but never experienced.
In case I haven’t made myself clear, I love that girl to bits. 🙂
I tell you all this because Andrea needs our help. Since a dear friend of hers lost his battle with drug addiction, Andrea has had a soft spot for those with similar struggles. In July 2010 she realized that several guys from a local Recovery Home were closet musicians. A brilliant musician herself, she invited them to an impromptu Jam Night and they loved it! She had no idea how that one night would spark a tradition that has turned into an amazing place of healing, creativity and inspiration with a marvelously crazy group of recovering addicts she absolutely adores.
Their little group has blossomed and is meeting such a vital need in the community that they are seeking funding from the Aviva Community Fund to provide instruments and music for this great group of guys trying to change their lives. All they need are our votes. If you are interested, could you take one minute today to vote for them? Just click here to vote. You can also see photos, read more about the group, and watch a great short video where you can meet some of the guys.
In the meantime, here are photos of the roast pork pie I made this week. 🙂 I will have to give you the recipe later today because I’m going to be late for work! Yipes!! 🙂
Love you all. 🙂
by Krista | Nov 3, 2010 | Compatriot Wednesday
After a great costume party with my cooking club this weekend, we decided to keep things simple Monday night with appetizers and wine. We had a small group this week, and it was wonderfully cozy and laid back as we puttered about the kitchen, stretching our dining into a 3-hour graze.
We started with mounds of tender French bread dipped in copious amounts of fruity olive oil, balsamic vinegar and an assortment of herbs.
Jon presented us with another of his amazing inventions: Roasted Mozzarella Potato Slices with Pistachio Portabella Cream. It was a truly crazy ensemble of flavors, but boy oh boy was it ever good!! The potatoes were crispy and salty and the cream, oh my, it was fabulous. I don’t even like mushrooms and I ate every last bit!
I made mini Zucchini Tarts with puff pastry, pesto and roasted zucchini topped with toasted Parmesan. Mmm, I love those savory little morsels!
Jenny dazzled us with not one, but THREE kinds of roasted pumpkin seeds: Salted, Worcestershire, and Cinnamon and Sugar. Mercy – they were all scrumptious and toasted to perfection.
In keeping with my newly established tradition, I now present two more of my beloved cooking cohorts: Toby and Cameron. Toby makes the most fabulous soups and is my fellow World War II history addict. (Foyle’s War, anyone?) Cameron is our resident meat master, and with a bit of smoke and his own special rubs and sauces can turn any meat (even SPAM!) into perfection. Cameron just returned from South Africa and very soon I’ll be featuring a fabulous South African dinner he made with his awesome girlfriend, Robin.
I sure am blessed with a lot of wonderful cooks in my life. Who are some of your favorite people to cook with?
Jon’s Roasted Potato Slices with Portabella Pistachio Cream
Ingredients:
3 small Yukon gold potatoes, sliced 1/8″ thick
olive oil
salt and pepper
paprika
mustard powder
Several slices mozzarella cheese, cut to fit potato slice
olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 baby portabella mushroom, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp tomato paste
salt to taste
1/4 cup pistachios
1 cup plain yogurt
1 Tbsp dried basil
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400
- Slice 3 small potatoes 1/8″ thick
- Toss potato slices with oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and mustard powder.
- Spread evenly on cookie sheet and bake until crispy (approximately 20 minutes)
- For Sauce:
- Heat olive oil in saucepan and saute onion and mushroom until onion is transparent.
- Add garlic, 1 Tbsp tomato paste, and salt, and saute 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
- Add pistachios to food processor and chop finely. Add onion/mushroom mixture and yogurt and blend until smooth.
- Just before potatoes are done, place a slice of mozzarella cheese on each potato slice and bake until cheese melts and begins to brown.
- As they come out of the oven spoon some of the yogurt sauce over top and sprinkle with dried basil.
Krista’s Mini Zucchini Pesto Tarts
(Makes 12)
Ingredients:
1/2 package puff pastry sheets, thawed and cut into 12 squares
1/2 jar pesto (sun-dried tomato is my favorite, but olive tapenade works well too)
1 baby zucchini, sliced thinly
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place puff pastry squares on cookie sheet and top with layer of pesto.
- Toss zucchini slices with olive oil, salt and pepper, and arrange on top of pesto, about 4 slices per square.
- Sprinkle each square with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until pastry has puffed and cheese is golden.
- Serve warm.
