Snow Day!

 Up until now we have been experiencing a relatively mild winter.  The passing days have been filled with lots of chilly rain, but the temperatures have rarely dipped below freezing.  That has all changed with a late winter snow that has been falling throughout the lowlands for the past couple of days.  It snowed much of yesterday, so we stayed inside snuggled up by the fire. We are fortunate as we only had a few inches compared to the possible 6-8 inches that was predicted. Today however, I put on my hiking shoes and wandered outside to snap a few photos.  I had hoped to walk down to the lake, but the hill was very slippery so I decided to stay up by the house.  

It was still snowing as I walked up to the side gate that takes us out into the neighborhood just north of us.  Surprisingly, while the snow has accumulated on the lawn, only small amounts have been sticking to the bushes and trees.  It must be warming up.

 

 

 There is something about walking on fresh virgin snow.  Any  imperfections are just covered under a blanket of white.  I love to listen to the sound of it crunching under my feet as the swirling flakes land on my face and hair. 

This photo reminds me of a quote I read once by Lowri Williams

"The future lies before you like a field of fallen snow

Be careful how you tread it for every step will show."

 ~~

 
Time to go inside!  As long as we are staying indoors, it has been a good opportunity to try out a new recipe, garlic and butter steak bites with assorted fingerling potatoes...Yumm!

It turned out very tasty and now that I have two in the family who are gluten free, this will make a nice addition to my list of dinner ideas.

There is not much else going on around here.  I know there are many places around the country that are much colder than we are.  May everyone be staying safe and warm on this frosty winter night!   

Adieu!

 

 

A Recipe, In Honor of Tim

It was just a little over a week ago when I got the call that a wonderful member of our church passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack.  Tim was a kind and gentle man and a good friend whom I had known for more than 20 years. In fact, his wife was in the process of calling me when he collapsed.  I was so grateful that I was able to be there for my friend as her husband was rushed to the hospital and during the days that followed.

Tim was an amazing chef who loved to cook wonderful meals for his family and friends.  He was always creating something new and delicious to share for a church gathering.  So when, I was asked to bring something to share for the reception after his memorial service, in his honor I chose to make this pasta salad that Tim shared with us many years ago.  It was one of his famiy's favorites and mine too, so simple yet elegant on any buffet table, I have no doubt that if you were to make it, your family would love it too.

  

Tim's Bow Tie Feta Pasta Salad

Start with one box of Farfalle Pasta, cooked to packaged directions. Cool and pour into a large bowl.

Mix together Mayonnaise, Olive oil,and granulated garlic until well blended and pour over the pasta.  Mix well.

Saute sliced almonds in butter until nicely toasted.  Pour the almonds along with the butter into the pasta and mix well.

Next, pour in the cheeses one at a time, mixing well in between.

Finally, add chopped green onions and mix into the salad..  Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

 I poured the salad into a beautiful crystal bowl the next morning to take to the service, but I forgot to take a picture.  I am sure you understand.  I am grateful to be able to say it turned out lovely and helped in the sharing of memories of happy times around the table with Tim.

Bow Tie Feta Pasta Salad

1 Box Farfalle Bow Tie Pasta                                1 c  Mayonnaise

1 (6 oz) box Feta Cheese, crumbled                      1/2 c  Olive Oil

1 (8oz) bag Parmesan Cheese                               1/4-1/2 tsp Granulated Garlic

3 stalks Green Onions, chopped                            2-3 TBSP Butter 

1 (6-oz) bag, sliced almonds, browned                  

 

 ~~~~

 

As it turned out, the visiting pastor who gave the sermon that first day after Tim's passing shared the story of the ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom after falling asleep.  Five were not prepared to greet the bridegroom with enough oil to light their lamps and had to go back to purchase more.  Meanwhile the five who were prepared went into the banquet hall with the bridegroom and the door closed behind them.  There they were able to join in the feasting and celebration while the other five were left behind.

All of us who knew Tim knew his lamp was full to overflowing.  I rarely met a more wise man who loved the Lord more.  He is rejoicing with the bridegroom now.  And even as we grieve we have hope.  May we learn from his legacy to keep our own lamps filled and ready for the great celebration that is coming. 

On a brighter note.  I hope you give this salad recipe a try.  It truly is delicious, but as you can see from all those rich ingredients a little goes a long way.  So invite over a few friends and create some wonderful memories of your own.  All blessings to you, and be sure to let me know if you decide to give it a try.

Skillet Chicken with Creamy Lime Cilantro Sauce

I don't really make official New Year resolutions but I have challenged myself to go beyond just looking at recipes this year and to actually start trying some of them out.  I don't know about you but I have found that I tend to make the same few things over and over because they are tried and true, and when the kids come over to visit they are sure to please.

Now that I have a little more time, I would like to branch out and expand my repertoire of menu ideas, at least a couple of times a month.  This Skillet Chicken recipe I found on Pinterest here , seemed like a good one to start with. 

I didn't have any fresh chicken breast so I defrosted some frozen ones from the freezer. 

First, I browned the chicken until golden on both sides, then I put it on a plate and covered it with foil.  

  To make the sauce I chopped up some onion and cilantro and squeezed the juice from a fresh lime.  All this was added to the skillet with chicken broth. (I am really a messy cook!)  I also added just a dash of red pepper flakes not the 1/2 tsp it called for as I don't like things too spicy hot.

After the broth reduced to about half, I added butter and cream.

Then I added the chicken back into the skillet and placed it in the oven to bake about 5-10 minutes.

While the chicken finished in the oven I cooked up some broccoli seasoned with a little butter and salt free seasonings.  When everything was ready I just dished it up and... Voila! Dinner!

 The lighting in the kitchen was a little off, but you get the idea.  The best part was the guys really liked it.  And with a few oven roasted potatoes or rice pilaf I think it would make a great company meal.  Not too bad for a first try.   This one is a keeper.  The only thing I would change would be to double the amount sauce.

I am feeling pretty proud of myself at the moment but I am guessing that tomorrow night dinner will probably end up being something like tater tot casserole.  Happy Cooking!

 

Paradise Pear Jam

Over the years anyone who has known my mom well knows how much she loves to cook.  My childhood is filled with memories of either watching or helping her put together delicious meals and treats in her kitchen.  Every year at harvest time she especially enjoyed making jam from whatever fruit that would come her way.  Living in Southern California it was usually strawberry, peach and apricot.

When my dad was stationed in the desert, close friends from our church would give her bags and bags of pomegranates from their orchard. She would squeeze out the juice and make beautiful ruby red jars of pomegranate jelly.   Oh to have those pomegranates today, (sigh of wistfulness and delight).

There was even a time when we were camping in New England and we came across a farm where we could pick raspberries.  When we had gathered enough berries Mom stopped at a store and got supplies to make raspberry jam right there at our campsite.  When the park ranger stopped by, to his amazement she sent him on his way with a freshly made jar of raspberry jam.

So it should come as no surprise that when my mom moved near to us and had access to our pear tree that she had a special jam recipe all ready to go.  This year when she picked up her pears I asked if I could come over to help and watch just as I used to years ago.  Come along and watch with me and if you like what you see you can find the recipe Here.

If you like marmalade most likely you would enjoy this jam as it has seven ingredients including orange and lemon peels along with pineapple and cherries added to pears.

When I arrived Mom had already done much of the prep work, including chopping up the fruit and slicing up the orange and lemon rind.

All that was left to prepare was peeling and mashing up the pears.

 Soon everything was ready to place in the pot.  Mom poured in the pectin and began cooking down the fruit.

Once it came to a boil it was time to add the sugar. She cooked and stirred it until it reached a full rolling boil.  Then, she boiled it for one minute.

 

Once the fruit was cooked and ready it was time to pour it into the jars and place in the canner.

We used a steam canner rather than a water bath but you could use whichever you prefer and process accordingly.

There is her finished product.  Isn't it beautiful?  Look at all the rich beautiful color and texture.  These will go into the cupboard until Christmas time.  Then, when Mom has her friends over for lunch or tea each guest will get to take a jar home to savor over the holidays.  I hope you have enjoyed spending an afternoon watching my mom make jam as much as I did.  Perhaps if you drop in to her house for tea she will send you home with your own special jar of  Pear jam.

Thankful Thursday

Here we are back to Friday already and time for the favorite five.  Except I think that after spending yesterday in thanksgiving I prefer the thought of a Thankful Thursday. It suits my personality.  So that's when I am going to start sharing my thankful, grateful, joyful thoughts.  This week it's just going to be a day late.   

1. Receiving these beautiful flowers at the beginning of the week which had opened to perfection by yesterday.  I don't know who left them for me at work.  I only know that I was feeling a little down that day and these were a wonderful gift from God given through the kindness of a friend.  They have filled me with joy every time I have looked at them all week.

2.  I had fun hanging some new drapes in the living room this week.  I have had the same silly floral window toppers that didn't match anything in the room for YEARS.  And they were PINK flowers at that! What was I thinking?  Just too lazy to take that last step needed for completely changing this room from the cottage look I had 20 years ago.  They are nothing fancy but I do like the more traditional and calming feel they give to the room  It really is morning in this picture but there is a big storm outside at the moment and the skies are very dark.

3.  I am so proud of my mom.  She has been having a hard time with the news of my brother and has also been very depressed and weepy.  But she pulled herself together and put on her best face to come and share Thanksgiving with us.  Here she is with my daughter-in-law who brought all the wonderful snacks for the day.

 4.. Thanksgiving Day

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day filled with good food including this delicious turkey roasted to perfection.

 And wonder of wonders my son actually ate some of that said turkey.  He usually passes on the turkey.  He prefers the other foods on the table like the mashed potatos and gravy, the broccoli and rice in cheese sauce I make for him every year and the corn pudding better known as scalloped corn in some parts of the country.

But best of all was just spending the day together.  We indeed have so much to be thankful for not just on Thanksgiving Day but every day.  Blessings to all.