Friday, October 22, 2010

dance on...

this week has been stressful. my entire family was anxiously awaiting the news that my dad's surgery was over and he is resting comfortably.  we are ending the week on a great note.  everything went really,  he is resting and will be back home in a week.  that fighting irish spirit lives on....  love you dad....

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

change and grow...

a few months ago the company i worked  for was sold.  it was sold to a german company called merck.
there have been many changes, some have been really sad.  saying good bye to friends has been really hard.
but this video is awesome, it shows change, things are always changing and with change there are hard times
but amazing times too. 


blueberry buckle...

i am not sure how this cake got it's name but it's worth every bite... 
add this to your fall buffet dessert table.   the next morning  you can enjoy it with your coffee.

2 c flour
3/4 c sugar
2 1/2 t baking powder
3/4 t salt
1/4 c shortening
3/4 c milk
1 egg
2 cups blueberries

topping
1/2 c sugar
1/3 c flour
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 c soft butter
1/2 c walnuts

heat oven to 375 grease round layer or square pan.  blend all ingredients except topping.  beat vigorously for 2 min.
mix topping together then spread over batter sprinkle with nuts.
Bake 45-50 min.

sooo simple. 

love sent, xo

Monday, October 18, 2010

it was a hot chocolate kind of day....

and i had some with whip cream. pumpkin fest was just that, it was chilly and cloudy and there were so many sights to take in.  we watched leaves tumble from the trees and swirl around in the chilly wind.   the fall foliage was spectacular and in the distance you could see snow on the mountain tops - indicative of what is surely to come, sooner than we will be ready for.  but for today enjoy the colors of fall.  there was hot apple cider, deep fried apples, caramel apples, roasted giant marshmallows, tents everywhere offering up all kinds of autumn goodness....

the buildings look so beautiful draped in autumn love...


it's such a quaint little town -  i just loved this old fashion barber shop.



and the clock in the center of town ...




there were messages on pumpkins for lots of people. then there were subtle messages that almost went
unnoticed. of all the pumpkins i happen to take a shot of this row. moe? surely a sign  - a reminder that it was his birthday this day...


and then if i didn't catch that sign  -   they sent us this one...





and it was the brightest rainbow i have ever seen...




and as night set in the whole town was illuminated in jack o lanterns. it was pretty amazing. and pretty crowded.


happy halloween.
love sent, xo

p.s.     m was busy, really busy :)  i didn't get to snap one picture of her.

Friday, October 15, 2010

happy wet and blustery fall weekend...

i'll be heading to pumpkin fest and will stay as long as m allows.  sounds like a great time and i hope it's not to cold or to blustery.....i'll be back with pictures.


hope you have a great weekend.   and if you have time try to make this.....

simple rustic apple tart
1 disc of store bought pie pastry dough
4-3-2 apples - peeled, cored and chopped (depending on size)
5 TBS sugar
1 TBS cornstarch
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 stick butter cut in small cubes
1 egg mixed with 2 tsp water or milk
3 TBS sugar in the raw (turbinado)

unroll your pie dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet. in a separate bowl, combine apples, sugar, cornstarch and spices. fill the center of the pie shell, pile it up high in the middle. gently fold the outside of the shell into the center to hold the fruit inside. dot apples with the butter cubes. brush the outside of the tart with your egg wash and sprinkle the crust with the turbinado sugar. this will give it a crunchy crust and makes it look spectacular! bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 35-40 minutes
serve with vanilla bean ice cream....
love sent,

one of my favorite songs ever....

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

to have and to hold....

i have attended weddings the last three saturdays. each one was beautiful and unique in their
own way.   i think it is so important  for this day to reflect who you are and your love for
each other.   this past saturday i was lucky enough to be behind the lens.  thank you kerry and kenny
for including me in your special day. i loved every minute of it.

kerry's dress was just beautiful


do all things that lovers do
just me and you
just as free, free as we'll ever be
just as free.....











hope they have a fantastic time in ireland.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

what do you think?

doesn't this look awesome?  well it was thanks to aaron. 

roasted golden baby beet, squash and bacon quinoa spaghetti

makes 2 servings
2 bunches of baby golden beets, peeled
1/2 medium red kuri squash, peeled and sliced
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp salt
2 slices of bacon, sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 Tbs red chili flakes
8 oz quinoa spaghetti (or any kind you like)

beet greens or spinach



toss the beets and red kuri squash with the olive oil and salt. spread them on a baking sheet and bake at 375 for about 20-30 minutes or until tender.

place the bacon in a pan and start browning it. add the garlic when it starts to get some color and the red pepper flakes. set aside.

in the meantime, cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water. reserve a little bit of the cooking liquid and drain. toss the pasta with the bacon, garlic and roasted vegetables. add a little bit of the cooking liquid if needed. serve with some beet leaves or spinach.


recipe from cannelle vanille

Friday, October 8, 2010

hey you.....

...the one who's had a hard week,
or who's dreaming that dream,
or who's somewhere in-between.
i'm praying for you today...
asking god to come into
the middle of your circumstances,
the middle of your road,
the middle of your life,
and do what only he can do.
i'm asking him to wrap
his arms around your heart,
fill you up with love from deep inside,
give you peace that passes understanding,
and set your heart free in new ways.
i'm praying he gives you
everything you ask...
and more than you can imagine
because i believe he's got good plans for you
and i know he's going to see you through.
so know you're loved...
and keep holding on to the one who will never let go of you.

love sent,

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

i love this...

mushroom lasagna...

perfect night to make this....

serves 6 to 8

salt
olive oil
3/4 pound dried lasagna noodles
1 large clove garlic, minced
4 cups whole milk
3/4 cup (12 tablespoons or 1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (i used less, because this seemed like a lot)
1 1/2 pounds cremini or portobello mushrooms
1 cup freshly grated parmesan

preheat your oven to 375°F. bring a large pan of water to boil with salt and a splash of oil, that will help keep your noodles from sticking together as they drain. add the lasagna noodles and cook for 10 minutes. drain and set aside.

make bĂ©chamel: bring the milk and garlic to simmer in a saucepan, or heat it in your microwave, and set it aside. melt 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons or 1 stick) butter in a large saucepan. add the flour and cook for one minute over low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon. pour in the hot milk, a little at a time at first and stirring until combined. once you’ve added half of it, you can add the second half all at once, along with 1 1/2 teaspoons table salt, the pepper, and nutmeg. cook over medium-low heat, stirring or whisking frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until thick. set aside.

prepare mushrooms: discard portobello mushroom stems and/or trim the ends of the cremini stems. slice mushrooms 1/4-inch thick. heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter over medium in the bottom of the large, wide pot you used to cook the noodles earlier, or in a large sauté pan. cook the mushrooms with a couple pinches of salt for about 5 minutes, or until they are tender and release some of their juices, tossing to make sure they cook evenly. repeat with additional oil and butter, and remaining mushrooms.

assemble lasagna: spread some of the sauce in the bottom of an 8 x 12 or 9 x 13 baking dish. arrange a layer of noodles on top, then more sauce (about 1/4 of what remains), 1/3 of the mushrooms and 1/4 cup grated parmesan. repeat two more times then top with a final layer of noodles, your remaning sauce and last 1/4 cup of parmesan.

bake for 45 minutes, or until top is browned and the sauce is bubbly. let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

serve with a green  salad and wine :)

anyone want to suggest a wine?

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

dark and rainy

cold and dreary today

i hate saying good-bye.
i wanted to stay in bed and hide under the covers today. i wish i had a clear wide open schedule. but i didn’t. life has offered so much activity lately. we have been here and there and over there too. the past 2+ weeks have been non stop. there have been rehearsal parties, weddings, lunches with old friends, new houses to visit,
babies to watch take their first steps, anniversaries toasted, birthdays to celebrate, colleges to visit, heck we even drove to vermont for pizza. but you see the pizza was not really what brought us to vermont, it was for the hugs and the laughter, and it was well worth the trip. when the sun was just about to set and the color of the sky was dark with one beautiful stripe of gorgeous pink.

we hugged one last time and headed home. my parents visit has been filled to the brim with goodness. and when i tell you i don’t know how they do it. i mean i don’t know how they do it. at 86 and 89 they amaze me more and more each time that we are lucky enough to be together. so with prayers of gratitude today we send them back home to florida and with a hopeful heart i wish the appointments this week will be positive and the little detour in this road will be brief.
safe travels.

love sent,
today really feels like fall.


Monday, October 4, 2010

autumn. and sausage soup

i had a really nice summer but now i think  it's time to say goodbye to long endless days and welcome the   dark chilly evenings and rich autumn colors and the general coziness of it all.  cuddle up with a warm blanket and enjoy some comfort food. last night elaine made the best sausage soup,  it was the perfect dinner for a cold dark evening after such a long busy fun filled weekend.

 2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds italian sausage (bulk or with casings removed)
2 onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
6 cups chicken broth
8 ounces mafalda or any small pasta
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch of pepper
shredded basil
2 cups shredded mozzarella

in a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. add the sausage and sautĂ©, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until the sausage is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. drain any excess fat from the pot. add the onions and sautĂ© until softened, about 6 minutes. add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and sautĂ© for 1 minute. add the tomato paste and sautĂ© until the paste turns a rusty brown, about 5 minutes. add the tomatoes with their juice, the broth,  and bring the soup to a boil. reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.

in a separate pan cook the pasta until al dente. drain pasta. in bowl add scoop of pasta
some shredded mozzarella  ladle soup to cover, sprinkle with basil. serve with hot bread.

Makes about 13 cups.

kim + jon

look at the two of you dancing that way
lost in the moment and each others face
so much in love your alone in this place
like there's nobody else in the world
                                                                                                   i was enough for her not long ago
                                                                                                   i was her number one
                                                                                                   she told me so
                                                                                                  and she still means the world to me
                                                                                                  just so you know
                                                                                                  so be careful when you hold my girl
                                                                                                  time changes everything
                                                                                                  life must go on
                                                                                                  and i'm not gonna stand in your way
                                                                                                  but i loved her first and i held her first
                                                                                                  and a place in my heart will always be hers

saturday was another picture perfect wedding day.  after the monsoon on friday it was so nice to wake
up to sun.  the day was beautiful and all the love that they feel for eachother was shared by all.
all the best for a long happy life together.  xo

love sent,