by Krista | Jul 9, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
It is blisteringly, gloriously hot in Washington at long last. As I swelter oh-so-happily I am most definitely in the mood for cold foods and colder drinks.
Last night I mixed up 1 part chilled Riesling with 1 part seltzer water and the juice of one lime for a marvelously refreshing drink that cooled me off beautifully while the sun set over the trees.
How has your week been, dear ones? Have you been working on any projects that are delighting or baffling you?
I had a rather serious relapse from my car accident, and it’s been a painful few weeks for me. Thankfully things are getting better now and it makes me smile that the sunshine arrived just as I started getting back to my old self. Such a splendid gift!
While recovering I spent many an hour in the grass on the creek bank, reading, thinking, napping, writing. I love that dear spot.
This weekend I hope to put my house back in order. Dishes, vacuuming and such are NOT a priority when I feel wretched, and it will be marvelous to see things gleaming and tidy again.
Last night I had no idea what to make for dinner, especially as I perused the contents of my fridge and pantry: mint leaves, English peas, apricots, red leaf lettuce, goat cheese, coconut-almond pancake sauce, etc.
On a whim I decided to throw it all together in a rather random salad. I’m so glad I did. Mmm, mmm – delicious!! I heated the coconut-almond sauce to make it the consistency of dressing, and drizzled it over everything else. It gave a lovely tropical twist to the salad and the sweetness was marvelous with the creamy goat cheese.
I’ve caught myself reading a lot more travel blogs lately, sighing happily over gorgeous pictures, dreaming about jetting off to the beaches of Greece or a tropical isle in the South Pacific or a beach house on the Gold Coast of Australia. I’m sensing a theme here.
In the meantime I’ve been looking at places I might visit within a couple of hours of home.
I’d love/hate to walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge in British Columbia. Yipes! I’m such a scaredy cat of heights, and wobbly heights are practically the devil! Sure looks beautiful though.
A sunny day ferry-hopping to the San Juan Islands sounds jolly.
And a picnic lunch and a bit of hiking around Mt. Baker would be wonderful.
What is your favorite inexpensive thing to do during the summer? I hope you have a gorgeous weekend and I will see you bright and early Monday morning! 🙂
This post is my contribution to Happy Hour Friday.
Coconut Almond Sauce
Ingredients:
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup ground almonds
Directions:
- Combine honey, agave, butter and coconut milk in small saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Stir in ground almonds.
- serve warm or let cool and use as a spread.
Lime Wine Cooler
(serves 1)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup chilled Riesling
1/2 cup chilled seltzer water
Juice of one lime and a few strips of zest
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients, pour into glasses and serve immediately.
by Krista | Jul 2, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
Good morning, dear ones!
Well, I’m supposed to be sound asleep but I can’t because I’m too excited!! I just had my first guest post at Travel Belles and am tickled pink! It’s all about a lovely villa some friends and I discovered in the mountains of southern Italy. If you’re interested in such things, I’d love it if you’d pop over and leave a comment. You can find it here. If not, no worries! Here’s a sample photo of what you’ll see there.
Do you have special plans for this weekend? Somehow it crept up on me and I clean forgot that I have Monday off! HOORAY! What a glorious thing to have a whole extra day off. My mind is whirling with marvy things to do, mostly of the utterly lazy, beautifully cozy variety since it is oh so dark and rainy.
I’ll pop over to my folks for a cheery visit and stroll through my Mum’s wonderfully peaceful garden.
Perhaps I’ll actually finish one of the five books I have going all at once! They’re all so good I can’t stick with just one. 🙂 I’m rather excited at the prospect of sleeping in and have the John Adams DVD’s to watch and dear friends to meet for coffee and lovely toasted beef sandwiches with chevre. Mmmm.
Sunday evening my cooking group is getting together for a jolly time of good eating and hunting down the best fireworks in Bellingham. I can’t wait!
Today is Myscha is hosting Happy Hour Friday over at WEBESHARIN and since it’s oh so cold and dreary today, I’m contributing Irish Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon Cream. It’s so warm and creamy and delectable, it chases dreariness right out the window!
I wish you a beautiful weekend, dear folks! I will see you next week.
Krista’s Irish Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
1 packet hot chocolate mix
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 cup coconut milk
2 Tbsp Irish Cream
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp agave syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Directions:
- Combine hot chocolate mix, hot water, coconut milk and Irish Cream.
- Whip heavy cream with agave syrup and cinnamon until soft peaks form.
- Spoon cream on top of hot chocolate and sprinkle with cinnamon.
by Krista | Jun 25, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
The sun has set but it’s still light enough to see trees, meadow, and the white blossoms dappling the blackberry bushes. Summer has arrived at last bearing hot sunshine, cooling breezes and nights warm enough to leave the windows open. I love evening at my place, love how the darker it gets the quieter it gets until at last I go to bed with only the sound of the creek and the wind in the trees lulling me to sleep.
I don’t have any food to share with you today because in a moment of lunacy I made waaaay too many scones for my Narnian High Tea yesterday, and will be happily noshing on them for the next day or two. Admittedly, I am not fretting over the situation. Almond scones with whiskey cream, lime curd and blueberries?? Yes, please!!
Instead I will share a few pictures of things that delighted me today.
Unexpected roses from a kindly neighbor.
A sunny spot for napping.
My Grandmother’s old watering can.
A pretty little turquoise bowl that makes my heart flutter when the sun shines through it.
And dusk at my home sweet home.
What things are delighting you today?
I hope you have a smashingly fabulous weekend, dear ones. I’ll see you soon!
by Krista | Jun 18, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
Good morning, dear ones! Another week has passed and I’m a happy girl today. It was a rough week being wretchedly sick, but the worst is done and each day finds me stronger and quite amazed at the ability of life to bring so much pain and happiness all mixed up together.
I loved my weekend up in Canada with my rellies seeing so much beauty, having grand adventures, making more good memories. On our way home, Mums and I stopped by this river, entranced by the sun glistening on the water while a humdinger of a storm brewed in the background.
I arrived back at my beloved little apartment to find this sight welcoming me home.
The next three days were dreadful, with much pain and a few tears, but there were bright spots even there. I got to work from home with my windows open, listening to the birds and the creek. I had lots of homemade soup and various teas to warm me up. I watched a wonderful movie, The Visitor. I started reading a novel that was an unexpected reflection of my dark years as a teenager trapped in a religious cult. The story was gutting and healing for me. As I cried through the memories that gushed to the surface, it helped me see how far I’ve come, how much I’ve grown, and later I smiled so big.
I am not afraid like I used to be.
I am secure in my faith and lifestyle.
I can forgive my abusers.
I hardly ever have nightmares now.
I know what real love is.
So this morning I’m celebrating those precious gifts with a delicious breakfast. 🙂 I’m not even sure what it will be yet because I’m staying at a bed and breakfast on a business trip, but I know it will be something marvelous like French Toast with peanut butter and syrup, or…
…scrambled eggs with salmon and goat cheese.
Wherever you are today, I want you to know how grateful I am you are part of my life. Your comments and support and friendship are such a treasure to me, and I wish you a truly beautiful weekend knowing you matter, you are loved, and you are worth fighting for.
by Krista | Jun 11, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
Hello, dear ones! Heavens, what a week! I’ve burned cake and spilled water and made my rent check out to the wrong people and nearly run out of gas and torn my skirt and if I do one more silly thing I’ll, well, hmm, probably just laugh, or cry, or, if I’m really feeling loopy, both.
I’ve also been dreaming. Dreaming of hot summer days, foreign climes, visits with new and old friends. This weekend I’m realizing two of those dreams with a quick jaunt up to Canada to visit rellies. Since Canada is my homeland I don’t know if it really counts as foreign, but I’m counting it!
Bright and early Saturday morning I’m picking Mums up and heading for the Canadian border where, after they let us in, we will stock up on our favoritest Canadian junk food: Orange Crush, Popcorn Twists and Hawkins Cheezies. If we’re feeling particularly wild, we may even eat Poutine for breakfast.
Then we’ll be off, chatting amiably, listening to books on cd, or singing along to favorite tunes as we drive along this crystal clear river…
…through this mountain pass…
…and this one…
…until we reach this gorgeous spot where we will unload our bags and hug oh-so-tightly my aunt, uncle and Grandpa.
For two whole days we will visit like mad, take long walks in the country, eat my aunt’s amazingly delicious food, and laugh until we’re weeping. I can’t wait.
In the spirit of all things Canadian, I’m bringing a container of Whole Grain Maple Shortbread Cookies. I would be bringing TWO containers, but they’re so darn delicious that I’ve been eating those buttery, maple-y morsels morning, noon and night and, well, there’s only one container left.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend, dear friends! I will see you Monday. 🙂
Krista’s Whole Grain Maple Shortbread
Ingredients:
2 cups whole grain pastry flour
3/4 butter, softened
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp maple extract
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add maple syrup to melted butter and stir.
- Combine all ingredients and press into a square 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut into squares and bake for 20 minutes.
by Krista | Jun 4, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
Hello, dear ones! After nearly two weeks of rain I am oh-so-happily writing to you as glorious sunshine streams in my room. Windows have been flung open and all I can hear is the wind in the trees, the stream gurgling, and birds singing like mad. Amazing.
It’s been a good week in spite of all the dark, grey days. I stocked up on all sorts of fabulous books and movies at the library, planned a trip to the Scottish Highland Games this weekend, and every day I got to come home to these cheery daisies blooming merrily outside my door.
My spearmint plant is growing tall and strong, and I’ve loved brewing fresh, minty tea with the leaves.
Sunshine glowing through the bushes on the creek bank delighted me no end this evening!
After a a lovely sunset amble down my road, I had a little picnic with tuna and fresh dill sandwiches on dark rye bread from the Russian deli…
…and wonderfully chewy Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies. I got the recipe from Tia–an amazing baker at Buttercream Barbie–and I’ve made them twice in the last month because they’re just so yummy! This time around I halved the sugar and they’re still marvelous.
What is one thing you’re looking forward to doing this weekend? I’m so excited about the Scottish festival on Saturday. Nothing like bangers and onions, Celtic music, and beefy lads in skirts throwing logs around to brighten my day. 🙂
Happy weekending!!
Krista’s Tuna On Rye
Ingredients:
1 can albacore tuna, drained
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 slices dark rye bread
2 tsp grainy Dijon mustard
Directions:
- In small bowl mix tuna, dill and mayonnaise until well blended.
- Spread bread with Dijon mustard and top with tuna mixture. Sprinkle with fresh dill and serve.
Tia’s Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Makes 24 | adapted from Bon Appétit Sept 1999
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup golden brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix all ingredients in medium bowl.
- Using moistened hands, form generous 1 tablespoon dough for each cookie into ball. Arrange on 2 ungreased baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
- Bake cookies until puffed, golden on bottom and still soft to touch in center, about 12 minutes.
- Cool on sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool completely.
