by Krista | Sep 13, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning, dear ones! 🙂 I wrote my post for you today from my friends’ beautiful apartment in downtown Vancouver, Canada where I was happily trapped most of Sunday. There was a humdinger of a power outage in the night which woke us with resounding alarms and emergency vehicles rushing past. Although the alarms had ceased by morning, the power was still out and the electric gates on the parking garage weren’t working so no one could get their cars out. Thankfully my friend’s boyfriend could pick her up for their appointment, but I was blissfully stuck in a lovely apartment with nothing to do but eat cereal, watch the rain fall, and listen to the swish of cars driving past the cobbled streets of Gas Town below. I loved it!
After a delicious nap I entertained myself watching brightly colored umbrellas bob past and taking pictures out the window and around the apartment.
Modern life is so different when the power goes off. I washed my hair in freezing cold water and smiled thinking how similar it was to bathing in cold mountain streams whilst camping. Mighty invigorating!! I couldn’t get to the store for milk, so I added a bit of water to pure whipping cream and had the most decadent bowl of cereal I’ve had in ages. Yum. I packed my suitcase by candlelight and then basked in glorious silence: no music, no television, no humming of appliances. It was so peaceful.
Mid-afternoon the power finally came back and I was able to head home, listening to Sherlock Holmes while driving through heavy mist and drizzling rain. I had an equally peaceful evening tucked up in bed with a big mug of Vanilla Caramel tea and a stack of books. Bliss. 🙂
Now it’s time for a new week and I’m excited. I feel rested and rejuvenated and in the next day or two I’ll announce the winners of the Artisan Salt Giveaway!
Are you looking forward to anything this week? I’d love to hear about it. 🙂
by Krista | Aug 30, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning, dear ones! I’m writing to you tucked up under a quilt with a heating pad to keep me warm. Autumn has truly arrived in Washington and it’s sunshiny, beautiful and cold!!
Saturday morning I awoke to my green grass carpeted with crunchy russet leaves and today a cold wind tossed them about in a mad, whirling dance across the lawn. I loved it!
It was so gorgeous out this weekend that even spending hours in my parent’s garage sorting through boxes was a pleasure. I opened the garage door and let the breezes and sunshine in and I got HEAPS done!! I sorted through absolutely everything and it feels so good. 🙂
Such weather always puts me in the mood for cozy, comforting things like steaming Darjeeling tea, homemade cookies (I’ll share those with you later this week!) and hot breakfasts. My favorite breakfast this weekend resulted from opening my fridge and seeing a carton of eggs and a bowl of leftover kale sauteed with tomatoes and garlic. I thought the two together would make a delicious and healthy breakfast and much to my delight, they paired beautifully. I’d also like to try this with spinach and maybe Swiss chard as well.
What is your favorite thing to pair with eggs?
This is my contribution to Chaya’s Meatless Mondays. Click here to see more delicious meatless dishes.
Fried Eggs on a Nest of Kale
(serves two)
Ingredients:
1 bunch kale, ribs removed, leaves chopped
1/2 can fire roasted, diced tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, sliced
olive oil
salt and pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
Directions:
- Bring pot of salted water to boil, add kale and cook 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain.
- In saucepan heat olive oil and saute tomatoes and garlic 3-5 minutes.
- Add kale and saute another 3-5 minutes.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Divide kale between two plates and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- In saucepan fry two eggs and place on top of kale. Serve warm.
by Krista | Aug 23, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Sometimes it’s the simplest things that make for a truly wonderful weekend. 🙂
Things like a brother who gives great hugs, teases the dickens out of me, and goes to watch Eat, Pray, Love with his wife and sister then makes us go watch The Expendables to make up for it.
And a sister-in-law who is more like a blood sister and best friend and spoils me rotten and makes me laugh until tears are streaming down my face.
And dear friends who bring peanut butter cup ice cream when they come to visit and love me just for me.
And heavenly cheeseburgers eaten on a red-checked tablecloth with shrieking gulls overhead and salty sea breezes sending flags flapping.
It’s weekends like this that make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
What is one thing that made your weekend wonderful?
by Krista | Aug 16, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning, dear ones! I’m still basking in the glow of two marvy days spent with my folks, brother and sis-in-law. It was SO good to be with them.
I started my Saturday morning with comfort food: fried potatoes with sausage, caramelized onions and ripe cherry tomatoes.
Saturday night my ever-present pain decided to give me a reprieve – hooray! – so I was able to go out for dinner where Dad treated us all to fabulous German food: Schnitzel, red cabbage, fried potatoes, steaks, spaetzel. Mmm, everything was marvelous.
Then we went back to Mum and Dad’s place and Mum built a fire outside and we all huddled close telling stories and roasting marshmallows and laughing ourselves sick. We had such a great time and parted that night with squeezy hugs and resolutions to get campfires in all our backyards. They really are the most wonderful things.
by Krista | Aug 9, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning, dear ones! It’s a dark, rainy day in Washington and I’m writing to you as I recover from a rather rough week. Turns out the mold situation was more serious than originally thought and I’m not doing so well. Thankfully I’ve found someone who should be able to help me, so hopefully things will get better from here on out.
In the mean time, much to my horror, I have to give up all dairy, cheese (yes, apparently they are different) and alcohol for a good while. Woe is me. 🙂
So as a last hurrah I made a deliciously decadent Irish Cream Milkshake using almond milk and healthy serving of Irish Cream. What a scrumptious way to go!
Irish Cream Milkshake
(serves 1)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup Irish Cream (Bailey’s)
6-8 ice cubes
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into a pretty glass and enjoy.
by Krista | Aug 2, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning, dear ones! Have you had a nice weekend? All rested up and ready for a new week? I do hope so!
Mine was a beautifully cozy weekend, spent mostly indoors thanks to a cold front that brought rain, dark clouds and blustery winds. I loved it!!
Friday night I had a dinner/movie night with friends. We watched The Last Samurai and devoured plates piled with grilled kielbasa, sauerkraut, and Deb’s amazing mashed potatoes.
Saturday I was deliciously lazy and gave myself the whole day off to rest and veg. It was marvelous! I read two books whilst tucked under a blanket with hot cups of tea at the ready, then went over to Mum and Dad’s for coffee and a visit around the campfire. I love a campfire any time, but there’s something especially nice about having one on a cold evening with chilly winds whipping the trees overhead and a cup of coffee with Baileys to warm the bones.
This weekend I was asked by the founder of Maple Syrup World if they could feature my Cherry Maple Tart on their website. I was honored and delighted!! You can view it here if you like: Rainier Cherry Tart with Maple Cream and Maple Crust.
Sunday afternoon I was overcome by a compulsion to cook like mad, and before I knew it my once clean kitchen was a delectable disaster! Mmm, sure smells good though! Green Chili Cilantro Chicken, Lemon Pecan Crusted Tilapia, and this sinfully cheesy dish: Baked Brussels Sprouts with Swiss Cheese Sauce. Boiled Brussels Sprouts are coated with a nutmeg-spiced cheese sauce and baked until beautifully browned. Such a decadently delicious way to eat this not always popular but oh so healthy vegetable.
What is your favorite memory from your weekend?
This is my contribution to Chaya’s Meatless Mondays.
Baked Brussels Sprouts with Swiss Cheese Sauce
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup milk
1/8 tsp grated nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup grated Swiss Cheese
1/2 cup grated Swiss Cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bring pot of salted water to boil and cook Brussels Sprouts 6-8 minutes until tender. Remove to colander and drain.
- In saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and keep stirring until mixture browns. Add milk and stir until mixture thickens. Add nutmeg, pepper, salt and first measure of cheese.
- Quarter Brussels Sprouts and lay in buttered baking dish.
- Pour cheese sauce over Brussels Sprouts, place in oven and bake 20 minutes.
- Top with remaining measure of cheese. Place under broiler for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Serve immediately.
