Easter Dinner

Looking at these pictures from our Easter dinner is making me hungry! It was a flawless meal.

turkey with cranberry sauce

ham with mustard+relish

roasted asparagus

raw rainbow carrots

citrus ginger salad

bunny rolls (our only food tradition for Easter)

scalloped potatoes (not pictured)

Friendsgiving dishes

I hosted our 4th annual Friendsgiving last Thursday and it was a success. We split up the food assignments which makes it easy on all of us. We each pick something we enjoy making or bringing and it turned into a great spread. There is so much magic when food, friends, warm lighting, and flowers come together. Makes me want to host a few more dinners this fall-winter.

Two Friendsgiving sides:

1. I made the salad and I just followed Green Kitchen Stories directions for their Millet & Pumpkin Winter Salad. It's a beautiful looking salad and would be a perfect side dish if you're in need of one this holiday. I substituted sweet potatoes for the pumpkin and spinach for the greens. I love how colorful and fall-looking it is.

2. Maggie made a stuffing that had me singing praises. I loved the cranberry punch in it. It's a 101 Cookbooks recipe, but is no longer on the site. Here is what Maggie did:

I used dates instead of figs and 2 cups of cranberries instead of one. For the walnuts, I just mixed them with an egg white and some sugar and toasted them in the toaster oven.

1 large loaf/slab of herb bread
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup dried figs, finely chopped
1 cup sugared walnuts (see recipe below)
1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup vegetable stock
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut the bread into 1/2-inch cubes. Shoot for 6 to 7 cups of cubed bread. Set aside in a large bowl.

Put the cranberries in a small saucepan with 1/4 cup of the apple juice and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until cranberries start to pop and split. Cook a minute beyond that and drain the cranberries, discarding the cooked apple juice. Add the cranberries to the bread, along with the onion, figs, sugared walnuts, and sage.

In that same small saucepan over medium heat whisk together the remaining (1/4 cup) apple juice, butter, and stock. Toss the bread (don't over mix or it could go to mush) and stuff whatever it is you are going to stuff. Alternatively, bake, covered, in a casserole dish at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.

Makes about 6 cups of stuffing.

Father's Day//Gift Guide

 

Nova Granola is what my dad wants for Father's Day, but it'd be kinda cool to get him other fun stuff too.

 Here's some gifts for the man that deserves a lot of celebrating.

herschel weekend duffle

braun alarm clock

jeni's ice cream

man can candle

forage tie

book

dart board

my dad and me circa 1986 

 mother's day gift guide

Mother's Day//Gift Guide

Don't forget, it's May 13th.

My mom likes cooking, baking, gardening, studying+teaching church classes, visiting grandchildren, playing tennis, going to college basketball games with my dad, being by water and in the sun, being self-sufficient, working hard, reading, wondering if I'll ever get married and being an all around champ.
These are things I'd like to give my mom (and myself, let's be honest).
>><<

flatweave bracelet
ivory epoch pot
string bag
cherry tomatoes print
salt dish and spoon
citron basil candle
beaded bracelet

Easter

4/8/12

The Easter bunny in the form of my sister treated me to perfect bundle of treats.
The girl knows.

Hope you had a wonderful Easter!

Holiday: Be Mine

Mast Brothers Chocolates++++++++++++++++++++++Steven Alan J Necklace

Baggu++++++++++++++++++++++++Me & You Pencils





Mango Wood Bread Board++++++++++++++++++++Pink Tumbler






Hive Honey +++++++++++++++++++++A Bouquet of Painted Spoons

Gifting

cutting board

candle
cloth napkins
mixing bowls
utensils
ipad app (i'll need the ipad to go with this one)

This is what kitchen dreams are made of.

Halloween Treats, that won't kill you

Happy Halloween!
Here are a list of treats that I've been wanting to try.
I especially like that they have some healthy advantages

Elana's Pantry: Healthier Halloween Candy
My New Roots: Raw Salted Caramel Apple Dip
Oh Happy Day: DIY Caramel Apple Kit
Whole Living: Healthy Snacks
Edible Perspective: Sweet and Salty Coconut Cinnamon Popcorn
Delightful Delicacies: Honey Nut Pretzel-wiches

A
B
C
D
E
F
G

Holiday: Cold Licks

It's July 1st and that means...
+Last day of school. (2nd year of teaching 1st grade-check)
+Summer can begin.
+and I'm headed to California in 5 hours.

In preparation for summer and the month and a half break ahead, I have been saving ice cream and popsicle recipes in my google reader. Last year for Christmas I got a Zoku and last summer I bought myself a Cuisinart Ice Cream maker. And it's hot outside. Let the festivities begin!!!!

Do you make your own ice cream or popsicles? I'm new at it, but these recipes are dripping with goodness.

Ice cream:
Mint Chip Ice Cream-So Good and Tasty
Melon Sorbet
Banana, Date, and Coconut Raw Ice Cream-Alkaline Sisters
Raspberry Ice Cream-Delightful Delicacies

Popsicle:
Double Rainbow Quick Pops-Zoku Blog
Fresh Fruit Popsicles-The Little Red House
Green Smoothie Popsicles

Happy Fourth of July Weekend! It's my favorite holiday. And I'm having a serious passionate love with every thing American.

Holiday: Grill for me weekend

image: terry richardson's diary

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

If I was staying home this weekend, then I'd surely be grilling.
Maybe it's a good thing I'm headed to Vegas, cause now I don't have to decide...drooling:

Lentil Burgers: Foods for Long Life

Teriyaki Turkey Burgers: Good Life Eats

Pinto Bean Burgers: Kate's Plate

Grilled Eggplant Sandwich: Simply Recipes

Burgers, 5 Healthy Ways: Healthy Eats

Let me know if you try any of these. I'd love to know what you think!



in other news...i'm currently on a fascination with all things american flag.