Things That Make Me Smile

 

Mary's Amish White Bread Recipe

In Sunday's post I mentioned the amazing sandwich I picked up from this cute Farm Market a few weeks ago. I told the owner, that this was the most delicious white sandwich bread I had ever tasted.  So we started talking about breads, dough, etc.  I told her I made all of our breads and I was very happy with them all except the sandwich bread recipes I had tried which were good but not amazing.  We finished our conversation and right before I left she handed me a piece of paper with her recipe for the bread.  How sweet was that? 

It's funny how food can bring people together isn't it?  

I tried her recipe two days later and it tasted exactly like the one she made and TBG loved it.  I've made it twice now and it's safe to say this is our new go to sandwich bread.  

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water

1/3 cup sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons or one packet of yeast

3 cups of all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons of oil 

1 1/2 Tablespoon melted butter to brush on as soon as it comes out of the oven

Directions:

Stir together the water, sugar and yeast and set aside for 5-10 minutes until it bubbles

In a large bowl add the flour, salt and oil, then pour in the yeast mixture.  Mix together until the dough no longer sticks to the side of the bowl, about 10 minutes. I used my Kitchen Aide with the dough hook but she said it easily comes together by hand as well.

Roll into a tight ball and place in a greased bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to double in size.  About 60-90 minutes.

Deflate the dough and shape into a log to fit a 9x5 loaf pan.  Cover with plastic wrap again and set aside for another 60 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350F and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.

Brush the crust with melted butter and let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes then remove and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Slice to your desired thickness and enjoy.

 

Happy 3rd Gotcha Day Binx

Three years ago today we brought Binx into our lives.  You can read about that here.

https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2022/06/things-that-make-me-smile.html

He's all grown up now but still the same strong willed, curious, smart, full of energy creature we have loved since day one.

What happened to May?

It's June 1st!  May was a busy month with projects, my birthday (chapter 58), two graduations, Memorial Day weekend and 9 glorious days off of work. 😉 This post is my brain and camera dump of it all.  

A few weeks ago, we had a bunny have babies in our yard behind the shed.  It was the cutest thing seeing these two tiny little creatures running around our yard.  They have gone off on their own now, I think, but the mom is staying put.  All of the houses around us have dogs so she is a pretty smart bunny. We can be outside, and she isn't afraid of us at all. This is her enjoying free time laying out under the old red bud.  She stays under there for hours.  I think it is a good shelter away from hawks.

This bush is one of my favorites and I don't even know what it is.  It always blooms in the middle of May. The blossoms smell so divine, and the bees just love it.  Bonus points if you know what kind of a bush this is.

The farmers market opened up, so we've been enjoying springs snap peas, radishes and lettuce.  It was so good to see my favorite farmer.  We talked about the cold, wet winter and spring. He was also selling flower baskets, and they were all so gorgeous, so one had to come home with me.

In my last post I told you about the Commons that opened up in our downtown area.  They had a grand opening, and this was a photo taken of the area from a drone.  It's really a great addition to our town.

I've spent quite a bit of time sitting outside reading. I've read Love, Loss and What We Ate by Padma Laksmi.  The Little Giant of Aberdeen County and The Gilly Salt Sisters both by Tiffany Baker. All three were really good books that I enjoyed.  Yesterday I started Keeper and Kid by Edward Hardy and I'm enjoying it too.

When I have to go to our sister hospital which is about 25 minutes away, I've passed this place called Farm Market. It's a building by the roadside of the owner's property.  I decided to stop and see what they had and I'm SO glad I did. It's a cute little building with fresh veggies, baked goods, and tons of other goods. I was starving so I ordered a bite to get me through the rest of the day.  They served me the best turkey sandwich I think I've ever had on the best Amish bread I've ever eaten.  When I told her the bread was amazing, she gave me the recipe and now it is my go-to sandwich bread. (I've already made it twice) TBG loves it as much as I do. The inside is just so soft.

Carrot Cake made by TBG for my Birthday.

A delicious chicken fajita nacho plate at Los Azteca in Louisville Kentucky.  One of my favorite places to go to.  Talk about an amazing downtown area!

I hope everyone is well and has been enjoying Spring. 

My Weekly W's

What's top of my mind: I have loved the downtown areas in every city I have ever lived in and have so many memories from them all. Where we live now has really evolved over the last few years.  We have a number of good restaurants and shops.  The library is there. TBG's Tae kwon do school is there. A number of weekly, monthly and yearly festivals go on there also. Now the city took a large vacant area in the middle and made a gorgeous green space with lots of seating, swings and picnic tables.  It is a great place to hang out during some of the festivals or to just relax and enjoy.  They had an Easter egg hunt there this year and it was so cute to see so many children running around.  I think it is a great addition to our town.

Where I've been:  Wednesday I had a dentist appointment for a cleaning.  All is good except the two back bottom molars that need to come out soon that I've known about.  We went to a grand opening of a furniture restoration business that a couple we know opened.  They do beautiful work, and the store front is very pretty.  Saturday there was a recycling event, so got rid of a few old electronics, went and picked up soil for the gardens and then had a nice lunch at the local BBQ place. The rest of the day and most of Sunday was spent outside working in the yard and on the gardens.  I have a couple of more things to plant (and pick up) and then we're done.  It all looks so nice.  I'll get pictures soon.

Where I'm going:  We have a high school graduation to go to Saturday.  I also want to stop by the orchard to pick up a flowering basket of some kind and a few more things.  They beat the box store prices and products by a mile.

What I'm watching:  We watched Nonna's on Netflix and really enjoyed it.  His lifetime experiences with food are the same as mine so I really felt his story and what he wanted to do. The 'real' guy that started Nonna's has a cameo in the movie so I'm glad I had seen a previous story on the movie to recognize him.  

What I'm reading:  Little French Bistro by Nina George and I LOVED it. From the NY Times, "this is an extraordinary novel about self-discovery and new beginnings."  Her writing really puts a picture in your mind of the places and characters.  For me to make time to read a book in a few days tells you just how good it is. It was an unpredictable, heartwarming story.

What I'm eating:

Beef, veggie and cheese quesadillas with rice

Blackened chicken, mashed potatoes and asparagus

BIG salad

Indian chili with cornbread  Culinary Adventures with Lori: 52 Recipes in 52 Weeks #5 Indian Spiced Chili  It was a rainy, slightly chilly day and this hit the spot.

Roasted chicken legs, mac and cheese, coleslaw

Salmon, rice and salad 

I tried a new salmon recipe from the latest cookbook I picked up that I can't wait to post about this week.  It was amazing.

Who needs a good slap: People that never have anything good to say and spread their toxicity to everyone around them.  I just don't understand it. The constant complaining, and grumbling is just exhausting.

What's making me smile: This may sound funny to some but checking things off my to do list really makes me smile.  It's good to be able to look back and see what you've accomplished.  Even the little things feel so good to get checked off the list.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!! 

Things That Make Me Smile

 

This picture popped up in my FB memories today from probably 12 years ago.  Some of you know my Mom has had severe dementia for the past 5-6 years.  Like many mothers and daughters, our relationship was 'complicated'.  But through it all, I can still see pictures like this and smile.

My Weekly W's

What's top of my mind:  Am I the only one that can't believe it's May already?  I seriously feel like we just finished the holiday season but that was almost 5 months ago.  I'm doing everything I can think of to be in the moment and slow down, but time just keeps ticking by too quickly.  

April was a very wet month here and so far, May has continued with that trend.  In between the rains I've been trying to work on the yard and the garden.  

Asparagus season has arrived here, and we've been enjoying it so many ways.  We do love it roasted but if you haven't tried it fried, you really should.  It takes it to a different level. Culinary Adventures with Lori: My Week and the April A-Z Challenge

Where I've been:  I had lunch with a friend group at our favorite Mexican restaurant which is always fun.  TBG and I have been on daily walks (in between the rain). It really is beautiful here this time of year. Friday nights Downtown was last night and while we were there walking around, I finally stopped in one of the new kitchen/food item stores.  TBG wanted to try their popcorn seasoning (which is very tasty) and I found a spice blend that sounded delicious.  (We haven't tried it yet.)

Where I'm going:  Wednesday I have a dentist appointment for a cleaning.  It's at 8am so I took the day off to reward myself.  I am also taking off the last week of May so we can get away for a few days.  I'm excited about that.

What I'm watching:  We started watching the new series on Netflix Four Seasons. I'm a big fan of Tina Fey and she stars in it and produced it. We watched one episode and really enjoyed it. I think between tomorrow and Wednesday we'll binge watch the rest. I also watched The Chef's Table-Legends on Jamie Oliver. I love his outlook on food.  I have a couple of his cookbooks that I refer to often.

What I'm reading:  I did sit outside a few times when the sun was shining and continued reading Care and Feeding.  I'm close to being finished and am enjoying it.  I am trying very hard not to buy any new cookbooks, but I had to have Nagi's second one.  There are SO many recipes I can't wait to try so I'm glad it jumped in my cart.

What I'm eating: 

Blackened cod, basmati rice and coleslaw

Chicken sausage with onions and peppers, pasta alfredo and asparagus

BIG salad x2

Add some cheese, chicken and/or hardboiled eggs and all of these veggies made 6 really good size salads. We both also eat a lot of various salads for our lunches.

Skillet chicken Shawarma, rice and naan 

Last night when we were leaving the downtown area, TBG wanted to stop at the Elk's for their Friday chicken bucket special.  It was delicious as always and so much food so we're having the leftovers tonight.

Who needs a good slap:  I can't think of anyone off the top of my head.

What is making me smile:  The last two Sunday's have been awesome.  It really is nice making sure there is nothing that has to be done and just let the day unfold as it comes.  Unscheduled time to do whatever we want in the moment has been amazing.

My Weekly W's

What's top of my mind:  We decided to go back to 'old fashioned' Sundays starting tomorrow, and we figured Easter was a perfect day to start.  Tomorrow morning we're going to an Easter program and then come home to just relax and spend time together.  No phones or computers allowed.  Only fun or relaxing activities that rejuvenate us individually and as family and friends followed by a delicious meal.  I've tweaked my routine over the last few months to make sure everything needing done gets done during the week, so I think this is going to be awesome.

I also came across this list that I've been thinking about.  

 

Where I've been:  Other than work and regular errands I didn't go anywhere this week.  

Where I'm going:  Outside of work, I don't have any appointments or commitments which you all know is my favorite kind of week.

What I'm watching:  Yesterday we had our yard all cleaned up and reset after the winter.  It always amazes me how green everything is this time of year.  It's gorgeous.  Our old red bud is hanging in there.

What I'm reading:  I only read a bit this week.

What I'm watching:  North of North is a new series on Netflix.  I've watched the first three episodes and I'm enjoying it.  I also saw they put the 2002 movie Life or Something Like It on.  I remember seeing it when it came out and decided to watch it to see if it has stood the test of time.  I think it has.  I really enjoyed watching it again.

What I'm eating:

Lamb burgers and fries-SO good.

Coho Salmon, rice and spicy slaw Culinary Adventures with Lori: Coleslaw with a bit of a kick

BIG salad x2

Blackened chicken, baked potato, slaw

Spaghetti and meatballs, salad

Tonight, I'm making lamb and potato hand pies with a salad

Who needs a good slap:  Clear Wave.  I am all for companies advertising their product and getting new customers but sometimes it's a bit too much.  In the last four months we have gotten two or three fliers every week in the mail along with someone ringing the doorbell once a week.  Three different times we've told them we aren't interested yet they continue.  Yesterday TBG told them to please STOP coming to our house. We'll see if that helps but somehow, I doubt it.  I give three slaps just for all of the paper they are wasting every week with all of the fliers. 

What is making me smile:  I have so many reasons to smile, and I appreciate every single one, all day, every day.

I hope everyone that celebrates has a beautiful Easter and a wonderful week ahead.  Be sure and take time to have some fun and make some memories.

My Weekly W's

What's top of my mind:  So far, April has been a busy month.  Our 35th wedding anniversary was last Sunday.  Sadly, our road trip was postponed. Over the three-day weekend we ended up with over 9 inches of rain which isn't my idea of road trip weather. We still had a great weekend and did go to our favorite Italian place for a celebratory dinner.  Beside normal errands, and a fundraiser, we have been working on a few projects around the house along with getting the gardens ready.  In our new raised beds, we've layered about 3 inches of cardboard with two inches of leaves and sticks so now all we have to do is add all of the eggshells and dirt next weekend and start planting.

Where I've been:  We went to Market Days downtown yesterday after breakfast.  The weather was gorgeous, and it was so nice to sit on one of the park swings and just relax a bit after walking around all of the shops and vendors.  I'll take pictures next time because this new Commons area is really cool.  I picked up a few things from Kingdom Seasonings and did find a cute mat for the front door from a vendor.  It looks just like Binx.

Where I'm going:  Other than an appointment for a haircut, the week is pretty open.  I have a three-day weekend to celebrate Easter at home with the family so I'm looking forward to that. I'm hoping for a nice Spring weekend with no rain, but we'll make the best of it either way.

What I'm watching:  Con Mom was a documentary that was very sad and a bit infuriating. I just don't understand how some people can do such shitty things to people.  Prada to Nada was cute and The Life List was a feel-good movie with a nice ending.  All three are on Netflix.

What I'm reading:  Yesterday I spent an hour or so outside reading on the patio which is one of my favorite places to read and I finally made a good dent in Care and Feeding.  

What I'm eating:  

Thai chicken with rice and asparagus

BIG salad

Steak, baked potato and salad

Atlantice salmon, rice and slaw

Fried chicken sandwich and potato wedges

Pizza and salad

LO beef chili and garlic cheese biscuits

All of the soups, stews and chili are out of the freezer just in time for spring and summer.  I may make a batch of soul soothing chicken soup the next time I roast a chicken just because it is so good to have on hand.

Last week I made chocolate chip cookies and this week I made black bottom cupcakes and took some to work for a birthday lunch.  Everyone loves these.  They're a combination of a delicious chocolate cake with a cheesecake filling. Culinary Adventures with Lori: Search results for black bottom cupcakes

Who needs a good slap:  No one comes to mind.

What is making me smile:  Ann Ann's Snap Edit Scrap has been sending me happy mail each month for a while now.  Her cards are SO cute and always put a huge smile on my face.  I took one of my favorites to work to put on my desk.  It makes me smile every time I look that way.  Thank you, Ann for always sending me smiles!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

My Weekly W's and a Crock Pot chicken taco recipe

What's top of my mind:  The moon phases. I have three steno notebooks that were my maternal Grandmothers.  90% are filled with recipes but there is the odd list or notes that she wrote.  I found two pages that talk about the moon.  "The moons gravitational pull causes predictable rises and falls in sea levels.  Our bodies, being primarily water, also benefit from the phases of the moon.  To feel more inspired and productive we need to align our energies with the phases of the moon" She taught me to garden by the moon phases and I always do.  But I don't remember much about the effects on us when the moon is waxing, waning and full.  I will say that I've been extremely productive this week and that is the stage the moon is now, so I've decided to keep notes in my journal to see if there really is a connection.

Where I've been:  Stopped at Kroger one afternoon for fresh veggies and a couple other items.  I dropped off a few recently released books that I have finished to the library.  And we had a game night with friends.  Everyone brought delicious appetizer types of food, and we had a great time.

Where I'm going:  We have a benefit to attend on Friday here in town.  Sunday is our 35th wedding anniversary and we are planning a short road trip to Evansville on Saturday if the weather cooperates.  

What I'm watching:  Spring has really sprung over the last two weeks.  The forsythia is now starting to green a bit but still has a lot of yellow.  Our tulip tree is in full bloom.  When we bought this house, it was maybe 4 feet tall.  It has grown a LOT since then. It is one of my favorites.

What I'm reading:  Sadly, I haven't read much the last two weeks.  Summer is coming though so my to be read stack is waiting for days on the patio in the sun.

What I'm eating: 

Maine red fish, blackened, with a baked potato and cucumber salad (recipe from Judee)

LO pasta sauce and meatballs with bucatini pasta and a salad

Lamb burgers and 'fries'

BIG salad with a cheese rollup

Steak, blackened shrimp with mashed potatoes and asparagus

Crock pot chicken tacos over rice

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can of diced fire roasted tomatoes

1 onion, diced

1 jalapeno or poblano (or both) diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

Taco seasonings and mexican oregano (or regular)

Put the chicken breasts in the crock pot and season

Add the rest of the ingredients

Do not stir

Cook for 4 to 5 hours on high or 7 to 8 hours on low

When it is finished use to forks to shred the chicken and then stir together

This was delicious over rice with a cheese and cilantro rollup

It made a lot more than you would think with just two chicken breasts so I used the rest and made 15 individual rollups with cheese for lunches or dinner.  This would also be delicious in taco shells, or even nachos.  

Who needs a good slap:  Me.  We turned all of our tax paperwork into the accountant two weeks ago.  Yesterday I was cleaning up a small pile of papers on my desk and found the yearly print out for our cell phone that should have been included since half of the bill is for TBG's phone that he uses for his business.  The taxes haven't been filed so TBG will take them to him tomorrow.  I'll just give myself one slap.

What is making me smile:  Bijoux from Bytes from the 'Burbs posted last week on things from her kitchen including her refrigerator.  So I decided to take a picture of mine too to show her.

I didn't expect Binx to photobomb it and then to turn and look at me with a face that said 'what are you doing?'  

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday!!  With all of the crazy weather going around, stay safe.

A new salad idea

Anyone that's read my blog before knows we eat a LOT of salads, whether it's for lunch, a BIG salad for dinner or a side salad with our dinner, so I am always excited to find a new one to try.

This one from Judee did not disappoint at all.  https://www.realfoodblogger.com/2025/03/15-minute-marinated-cucumber-salad.html  I followed the recipe exactly except I used honey instead of Stevia and we both really enjoyed it.  This will be a new addition to our salad rotations.  Thanks for posting your recipe Judee!!

Enjoy your Tuesday!!

My Weekly W's

What's top of my mind: How quickly things change in nature.  Thursday afternoon we walked out to the back of our yard to check on the gardens.  While we were out there, I noticed that the Forsythia had maybe a dozen yellow leaves already.  Just 24 hours later and that huge bush was in full bloom.  How does that happen so quicky?  The tulip tree has a lot of buds as well, so I expect to see them blooming in a day or too.  Nature is amazing.

Where I've been: I went to Macy's in search of a new pair of shoes and found a pair that I love and are comfortable which isn't always easy to find.  Filling up the Jeep and picking up a few things from Kroger were the extent of my outings this week other than work.

Where I'm going: Other than work I have no idea where we may end up. Luckily, I have no appointments or commitments which usually makes for a great week.

What I'm watching: We watched I Thought My Husbands Wife was Dead on Lifetime.  It was a comedy/drama that we really enjoyed.  It had twists and turns that neither of us saw coming.  

What I'm reading: I just started Care and Feeding, A memoir by Laurie Woolever. She spent four years working for Mario Batal and nine years with Anthony Bourdain which should be interesting.

,

What I'm eating:

Thai inspired chicken, veg, rice bowl

Beef tips, portabella mushroom over egg noodles

Fried chicken sandwich with ranch, lettuce and red onions, 'fries'

LO Beef chili with garlic, gouda biscuits

BIG salad x2

Coho salmon, rice, asparagus

Who needs a good slap:  Our local'ish' news channel.  They have let go of all of their local meteorologists and are now using recorded reporting from The Weather Channel in Atlanta which leaves our area in a dangerous spot.  I know back in 2004 when hurricane Charlie was approaching, they had all said for days that it was going to Tampa. Two hours before landfall our local weather man was reporting that our local weather doppler was beginning to pick up the bands and it was turning towards us which gave us a little time to me prepared for a direct hit instead of one going well north of us.

 

What is making me smile: TBG makes me smile and laugh every single day.  For that I am thankful.

I hope everyone is well and safe from the crazy weather lately.  Enjoy your Sunday!!

My Weekly W's

 

What's top of my mind:  I started practicing Gumdo again and I am enjoying it so much.  Gumdo is a sword based Korean martial art.  I used to practice three or four times a week but let life get in the way.  My sword has been sitting in a corner of our bedroom looking sad and I realized I need to get back into it.  Not only is it a wonderful total upper body workout but when you are practicing, it is almost like meditation which makes it a double benefit.  I've only just started back this week so I'm rusty, but I am definitely going to keep at it.  I asked TBG if he thought I could be ready for a tournament when I turn 60 and he said of course and seemed pretty excited about it. Not sure I want to but it is something to really think about.

Where I've been:  We made it to the Herb and Garden show Friday and had a good time.  The lecture from Mike at Mari-Manns was really informative.  I picked up a few of their spice mixes (they are still 1.29 like they've been for probably 35 years) that I love and of course some cheese from the Mennonite booth.  They make amazing cheese.

Where I'm going:  I'm off tomorrow and I really need to get the Jeep washed.  I just washed it Wednesday, but we had 'dirty rain' on Friday, and it is a horrible mess.  I've actually never seen it this bad before.  Here is the local news.  Apparently, it happened in a lot of states. 'Dirty rain' fell across St. Louis, here's why  

What I'm watching:  With Love Meghan on Netflix.  I'm not really a fan of hers but I did enjoy the 3 or 4 episodes I watched.  Her one pot pasta did look really good.  I also watched the latest series of Southern Charm.

What I'm reading:  A lot of articles on alternative medicine and a few of my herb books to start planning my new herb garden. I think this hard winter killed my rosemary bush but luckily, I rooted some and have had it growing since November to replace it.

What I'm listening to:  Spring is obviously on its way because the birds and the frogs that I hear every morning are back.  Walking into work is like a nature symphony every morning.

What I'm eating: 

BIG salad

Taco bowl over rice with a cheese roll up

LO soul southing chicken soup and garlic biscuits

Chicken and Fettuccini Alfredo with a salad

Pizza (beef, mushrooms, green peppers, onion) and salad

Northwest Petrole Sole with a baked potato and asparagus This was my first time making or eating this type of fish and it was delicious.  I'll post how I cooked it one day this week.

I have beef stew cooking in the crockpot for dinner tonight.

Who needs a good slap: Our health care system.  It really frustrates me that Internal Medicine physicians are taught little to nothing about nutrition and zero about alternative medicine.  I can't help but think since the US government became so involved with the health care system and big pharma that there isn't a connection. 

What is making me smile:  Planning a few road trips for the Summer.  I don't like to travel anymore like I used to but I'm still a big fan of weekend road trips.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday and a great week ahead! 

My Weekly W's

What's top of my mind: I really love the new side by side refrigerator that we bought in November.  It has so much more space.  I spent the morning doing an inventory and straightening it up a bit.  I want to focus on using up last summer's veggies and fruit to make room.  I still have quite a few bags of local blueberries, so I pulled out a bag and put a few in a separate jar to use with yogurt for couple of days and then made a batch of Jordan Marsh muffins.  So good. Culinary Adventures with Lori: Search results for jordan marsh blueberry muffins

Where I've been: Breakfast with TBG yesterday and a few errands was pretty much it for the week.

Where I'm going: Next week is the yearly Herb and Garden show that I always look forward to.  We're planning on going Friday afternoon to hear a speaker from Mari-Mann which was started by a friend of my grandmothers.  Mari-Mann always brings back great memories for me. No appointments or commitments for the week, which you know I always love.

What I'm watching: American Murder-Gabbie Petito which is such a sad story.  My heart goes out to her parents everytime I hear what they went through.  The Search for Instagrams Worst Con Artist.  This was a documentary on the young woman from the movie I watched a few weeks ago Apple Cider Vinegar.  I actually felt sad for her also because she obviously has some serious issues.

What I'm reading: Nothing to speak of.

What I'm eating:

Shephard's pie and salad

Roasted chicken legs, baked potato and salad

Spaghetti and meatballs and salad

Chicken sausage, veggie rice bowl with a cheese rollup.  

Meatball subs with oven fries

Beef chili with garlic cheddar biscuit.  These are the easiest, delicious biscuits. Culinary Adventures with Lori: Savory Drop Biscuits

Tonight, we're having gulf shrimp with sides TBD.

Who needs a good slap: No one comes to mind, actually.

What's making me smile: My Ninja 14 in 1 made me smile yesterday.  I found a bag of gorgeous poblano peppers and needed to roast them to get the skins off.  After a week of temperatures in the 60's and 70's I didn't know that I was going to wake up to a weekend of highs in the low 30's.  I wasn't in the mood to grill the poblano's in the cold so I decided to try the Air Roasting setting to see if that would work and it worked wonderfully.  After 25 minutes of cook time with 15 minutes in a sealed bowl the skins came right off.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead!!

 

Things That Make Me Smile

 

     I looked across the room and saw this sweet little creature staring at me.  How can you not smile?

My Weekly W's

 

What's top of my mind:  We're heading into the last week of February, and it was a pretty decent month.  It was a lot colder, icier and snowy than our February's usually are but not unheard of and it looks like we're going into March with highs in the 40's and 50's so all of this snow should melt before we start the new month.  

Where I've been:  I did brave the super low temps and stopped by Kroger and Aldi to pick up a few items.  We had lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings one afternoon with some friends.  We hadn't been there in quite a few years, and it was a pretty good lunch. The place still looks good and was really clean. Food was pretty good too. Eating out is a big gamble these days which is why we don't do it often.  After lunch the two of us went to Lowes to pick up a couple of things. 

Where I'm going:  No appointments or commitments which I love.  It leaves the week wide open.

What I'm watching:  Nothing noteworthy.

What I'm reading:  I spent some time looking through 3 of my cookbooks, Jaimie Olivers Food Revolution, Dinner and Indian Flavor Every Day.  We're going back to eating fish once or twice a week so I'm looking for new ideas.  We went back to a subscription to Sea To Table and we're loving it.  We ate a lot of seafood in Florida but moving here, our options were little to none.  I love knowing exactly where our fish is coming from.  It is so fresh and delicious. (No connection to the company, they just do have excellent seafood all from the US.)

What I'm listening to: My body.  I don't know if I was coming down with something or just tired, but I slept a LOT.  I feel great today, so it was obviously needed.

What I'm eating:

We had chicken and waffles this morning for brunch.  I love that you make the waffle batter the night before then just add two eggs and 1/2 tsp baking soda in the morning before cooking.  Here's the recipe.Culinary Adventures with Lori: Amazing Waffles 

Dinners this week were...

Chicken and white northern bean spicy chicken soup

BIG salad

Chicken sausage and veg stir fry, pesto parmesan pasta with salad

Beef taco, veggie and rice bowl with cheese rollups. (BEST dish of the week)

BBQ chicken, baked potato and asparagus

Lamb burgers with potato "fries"

Beer battered cod, rice and spicy cabbage slaw

Tonight, we're having Alaskan Coho salmon with a poblano puree rice dish and a small salad

Who needs a good slap:  I have a Macy's, Target, Amazon and our Florida credit union credit cards.  All with a zero balance.  When I go shopping and they ask me if I want to open one of their store credit cards, I decline like I did Friday when we went to Lowes.  The guy actually looked at me like there must be something wrong with my credit for me not to want to open one.  Why is looking down on paying cash the norm now?  Does it really make you look wealthier to use a credit card instead of cash?  I give 2 slaps for thinking credit is better than cash.

What is making me smile: I saw this for April Fool's Day treats and had to laugh.  I don't think I'd have the heart to do that to anyone, but it did make me smile.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoys this last bit of February!

My Weekly W's

What's on top of my mind:  I'm focusing on enjoying the last few days of February.  In March I will crawl out of hibernation and begin my spring cleaning.  It should be pretty easy since we've done a good job of keeping up with things around the house.  Then I will start to get my gardens ready. We do still have one more raised bed to put together that didn't get done in the Fall.

Where I've been:  No appointments or commitments outside of work so it was a good week.  I had to drive over to our sister hospital to drop off something and decided to pick up TBG on the way and have him go with me so we could stop at Yellin Helen for a chicken salad sandwich and milkshake.  Coldest day of the week but the milkshake hit the spot. I did venture into Walmart for the first time in a very long time. (Not a fan and probably won't go back anytime soon.) I just needed to stock up on a few household items. It's probably been a few years since I've had to buy batteries and got a bit of sticker shock.  This morning, I ran to Kroger for a few veggies and fruit and gassed up the Jeep.  We got a few inches of snow overnight, but the big snow is predicted for Tuesday into Wednesday with single digit temps so I'm glad it's done.  

Where I'm going:  I probably won't be going anywhere but work if the predicted weather hits like it is supposed to.  Next weekend is the yearly Home and Garden show that we enjoy going to.  I hope the weather is better by then.

What I'm watching:  I watched Our Little Secret on Netfix.  It was a cute movie. Then I watched 2 or 3 episodes of Apple Cider Vinegar.  It's a brutal reminder not to believe everything you see on the Internet.  I hope to finish the series today.  It's like watching a train wreck and you can't turn away.

What I'm reading:  Again, not much.  But that's what sunny days on the patio are for.   

What I'm eating:  For lunch yesterday I was craving a good grilled cheese.  I had bought a block of Murray's Quesadilla cheese for Super Bowl dishes and decided to try it on a grilled cheese along with a slice of Colby pepper jack.  OMG it was perfect!

Dinners this week:

Chicken sausage and veggie pasta sauce over penne pasta with a salad

Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans

LO pasta reheated in the Ninja with a topping of parm and motz. salad and garlic bread

LO roasted chicken turned into honey mustard hot sandwiches on brioche buns with a salad

Steak for me, shrimp for TBG with salad and baked potatoes

Not very well plated but delicious.

LO chili with jalapeno poppers  (Quesadilla cheese for the win again.) 

Tonight, we're having pacific cod over rice and side dish to be determined.

Who needs a good slap: I spent 10 minutes thinking about this and couldn't come up with anyone so either I blocked it out or didn't come across anyone this week.

What is making me smile: Every single day that I wake up I smile.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday.  For a majority of those in the US, stay warm, it's going to be a cold week.

Homemade Soy Sauce Update

 

A few weeks ago I shared this recipe for homemade soy sauce on one of my posts.  A number of you wanted to know how it turned out when I made it. 

Last week I made a batch and followed the recipe.  Obviously it is a very simple and straightforward recipe.  I did a blind taste test on TBG who has a pretty good pallet and he had a hard time picking which one was the 'real' soy sauce.  Then he did a blind taste test on me.  I could tell the difference but it was very faint and not bad at all.  In the future for me, I prefer a little bit less molasses. 

I used the soy sauce on our salmon that night and after cooking I couldn't tell the difference at all.

The ingredients of regular soy sauce are...Soy sauce (sometimes called soya sauce in British English^[1]) is a liquid condiment of Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds

For us, the taste difference was so minimal I think once my supply of soy sauce is gone I'll make this as a replacement.  

My Weekly W's

What's top of my mind:  February was always my favorite month when we lived in Florida. It was always the best weather of the year with low humidity and tons of sunshine. The Thomas Edison Celebration was a month of fun events like the block party downtown, the amazing art/craft show and then the night parade was always such a great time. I think we need to take a two-week vacation next February to visit our old stomping grounds and see if it's still as great as it used to be.Edison Festival of Light

Where I've been:  I had my haircut this week and that always feels so relaxing to have done.  I've been going to my hairdresser for a number of years and just love him to death.  It's always good to catch up.  We went for a number of walks this week now that all of the snow and ice is gone, and it was nice to be able to walk outside without getting wet or slipping around.  

Where I'm going:  I have a three-day weekend coming up next week, so I've been narrowing down plans for a day or overnight get away for us.  A lot depends on the unpredictable weather.

What I'm watching:  We watched The Color Purple yesterday.  I actually had forgotten what a good movie it is that touches on every single human emotion. I also caught up on Southern Charm.  Craig is the only one of the guys on that show that has really grown up.

What I'm reading:  I had a lot of things going on and really didn't read much.  My to be read pile is growing and I need to get busy even if just 30 minutes a day.

What I'm eating:

Beef tips, mashed potatoes and spicy coleslaw

BIG salad with garlic, cheese biscuits

Chicken sausage with peppers and onions, coleslaw and cheesy potato cakes

LO Beef tips with peppers and onions, rice and cheese rollup

Lamb burgers and 'fries'

BIG salad

Lamb and potato pies with a salad.  -These are a favorite for us both. Just half a pound of ground meat with potatoes and spices and you get four pies.  Very economical and delicious.

Who needs a good slap: People lacking in common sense and critical thinking skills. Our local Sheriff is an amazing leader and works tirelessly on improving our community.  He spent months of his personal time forming a Citizen Action Plan in the event of a weather disaster or other events that might impact our community, specifically those in very rural, remote areas.  There were two or three people at the meeting that just could not grasp this concept.  There have been so many devastating events in the last few years how can anyone be against being prepared and ready in the event that it happens here?  I just can't wrap my head around the lack of common sense. I myself feel relief to be living in an area where our local elected officials are planning and preparing to help our community. 

What's making me smile:  I had a few apples that needed to be used so made a pie.  Apple pie and ice cream is a favorite of TBG's so seeing him enjoying it brought a smile.  That is a small saucer so not as big of a piece as it looks. 😀

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday.  I'm looking forward to the super bowl food later today.  I don't really watch the game much, but TBG would be thrilled if the Eagles won so...  Go Eagles!!