I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Monday, February 14, 2022

Food is Love ~ Happy Valentines Day

 


Good morning! Happy Valentines Day. This sweet vintage tea towel reminds me of the cute Valentines we shared as children. How I loved that big "mailbox'' set up in Mrs Hull's second grade classroom.




Blog friend Kit was making snickerdoodles the other day from her vintage Betty Crocker cookbook. It is very similar to this children's version my mom gave me when I was about 7. 


Very ''mid-century'', 1950s design, one of her flea market cookbook finds, I think. 


I loved the heart cake! We made it every year for Valentines Day.








I learned to cook from this funny little book. It is all about using Betty Crocker mixes, something I still do. 


I made her every year for my birthday! Though I used a canned pear. It didn't ''go'' with my dinner choice of my mom's lasagna but she was okay with my choices always.


Some other favorites, still in use, if simplified [no sails on our baked potatoes these days, lol].


aka "Toad in the Hole"









My friend brought me these fun Valentines from Trader Joe's!








Heart shaped cheese! So creative of TJ's.





We had more snow! Mo is all dressed up in his stylish grey Valentine sweater!





We both send Happy Valentine wishes to you all!


love

lizzy

gone to the beach...



winter hydrangeas

















Friday, February 11, 2022

Making Soup

 


Hi everyone! I am still in a post surgical limbo or fog, but I thought I better show my face. I did a lot of food prep before the big snowstorm and my procedure, but this week I was inspired by a couple of lovely soups being made on Instagram. I am not a huge fan of soup but it's been so very cold lately that the idea of hot soup really appealed to me.

My soup is one on my make-do recipes, not chicken soup from scratch, I admit. My mother in law was the reigning queen of perfect homemade chicken soup. When I was married I often made her soup for my husband who expected soup every night before his salad and main course, except on the hottest days of summer. [Of course my soup wasn't as good as MIL's, only to be expected! But I tried.]

One of the IG soups added fresh kale to the classic chicken soup, which was the attraction for me. 

I sautéed  half a Vidalia white onion, half a diced XL carrot in butter. Then the scallions added for just a quick stir and wilt, two minutes max.


Added 6+ Cups of premade chicken broth. Brought to a boil, then a low simmer. Added big handfuls of roughly  chopped kale, well rinsed and de-stemmed. Kale was about 2" squares. Lots of black pepper, a bit of salt.


The other IG recipe had---wow!---homemade noodles! I can't wait to try making them, have not made noodles in years. I had half a package of fine egg noodles in my pantry, used them instead, pre-cooked the noodle al dente. But I did then put them in the soup as it simmered. My MIL would put the noodles or rice straight in to the bowls, not in the soup, as they soak up and ''waste'' the broth. [you decide!]


Served very hot with minced fresh scallions on top. Very fresh and delightful with cold roast beef salad and another odd baguette included in my groceries last week.



.................


Mo came home Sunday evening. He was not thrilled. And let me know by peeing in the house on Monday morning while we waited for the dogwalker.


Later, after the sleet and ice storm cleared, we went out to hunt for signs of spring. A few daffs are barely peeping out, so late---as the snow melts.


We also saw Mr Mockingbird, who seemed interested in Mo's treats! But then realised he likes the bayberries in the shrubbery. We were standing next to the bayberry hedge, in the way of his dinner. The fairy garden bowls are flooded with melting snow, but the reflections of the trees above are interesting.



Have you seen any signs of spring? Too early, really, isn't it.



have a good weekend!



love

lizzy

gone to the beach..

another winter/ beach walk....

















Friday, February 4, 2022

Checking In!


Good evening friends! I am just checking in, letting you all know my surgery---stage one?---went well on Monday. Many thanks for all your supportive comments and emails. Knowing you all were out there rooting for me means a lot.

Mo is enjoying himself with my friends. I  am so blessed to have them to care for Mo.  I miss him so much but know he is happy and loved.







The bulbs, week one, are doing nicely!





Still a lot of snow, but now I have rain turning to sleet---an ice storm. So again the worries of no power, hence my checking in with not much to share.


lots of love to you all!

lizzy