Autumn food and blooms

Hello Friends,

Can someone tell me where September went??? What happened?? Was I in a deep sleep and miss it?!

It was one of the busiest "Back to School" seasons I can remember... every night there was something...Soccer..school meetings...Karate. I was also involved in a bunch of "Swaps" which I will get to on my next post. In the meantime there was this going on as well...as usual recipes below.

Lots of food a blooms...first up my Zucchini Chocolate Chip cake. If you follow me on Instagram I posted the recipe there as well but here it is.
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cake

• 2 1/2 cups shredded zuchinni 
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup sugar 
• 3/4 cup safflower oil ....Mix these together in a bowl 

Next bowl

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg 

Sift together and add to the Zucchini mix then stir in

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup semi sweet chips

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes in a 9x13 baking pan.
This is not a super sweet or spice version just something light to go with tea or coffee. You could up the sugar and the spices. The crumb was very nice and moisture was good.

Next up... Baked Acorn Squash with Sage and Maple Syrup

•  2 Acorn squash sliced
• handful of sage
• Irish butter...I used Kerrygold  
• Good quality Maple syrup ...mine is form my in- laws property in Upstate NY <3
• S&P

Bake at 450 till tender about 35 min.

The Blooms ...Echinacea,Chamomile and Straw Flower have become fast favorites...YES...we got a new puppy named Oakley and Australian Shepard...I adore him,sweetest thing ever...the crocheted shawl is for a swap...I'm going to be very sad to part with it but the pattern is made up by me and I will be sharing it with all of you as soon as it gets to its owner... who I might add is completely adorable and I cant wait to see her wear it!
Ohh...the biscuits...I used this recipe here..cut the cooking time a bit...they were great!

And how is your Autumn coming along?
Be Well,
Ming

Fall, Fog & Food

Deep oranges, burnt browns and golden yellows...Fall your hues are passing by so quickly quickly. 

I have been doing a lot of cooking to savor every minute of your splendors. Butternut soup with roasted sage leaves and Mascrapone cheese...A  Cauliflower  Mac and Cheese and Sockeye Salmon with a stone ground mustard and maple glaze and Super greens wilted with caramelized onions and a sprinkle of Blue cheese and cranberries. Take a look... I promise you will be inspired!

  

 

We have a few foggy mornings too that have been very cozy and great for cuddling up with my morning cappuccino and holiday projects. There are quite a few in the works ...and this is a rarity for me to have such a head start but, I am determined to stay the course this year. I am as well keeping up on my sock knitting too.  As a result I am blogging few and far between because I really want to have finished projects to show you. The picture above is an original pattern I am working on for a crocheted gingerbread doll. He is now stuffed and waiting to be adorned. Once the pattern is solid i will share it with you. 

Now back to the food...Thanksgiving...my favorite holiday...no gifts...no crazy decorating...just food and family... This dish below will be on our table this year...

 Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

• a medium head of cauliflower
• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 4 tbls. butter
• 1/4  cup flour 
• 2 cups milk...more if needed...start with one cup at a time
• 2 cups Italian fontina cheese grated
• 1 cup white cheddar grated
• 1 cup Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese grated 
• salt
• white pepper
• 1 container of baby super greens

Cook pasta ahead of time set aside...cut cauliflower into florets and set aside. In a sauce pan melt the butter and add flower to make a roux...slowly whisk in milk and let it thicken ...then add your cheeses and seasonings. Just like making a basic mac and cheese. Add pasta and cauliflower to the cheese sauce and lastly fold in the abby greens. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish,sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake at 350 for 25-30 min. You can cut down the amount of pasta as you like to make it more carb friendly.

About the baby super greens ... I am not a fan greens as I find them hard to master...which is why I am loving the tender baby greens . They are so easy to add to any dish. I am getting mine at WholeFoods...the Organic Girl brand.

Are you adding any new dishes to your table this year? I would love for you to share them. 

Enjoy your Thanksgiving may it be safe and filled with good times and loved ones.

Be well,

Ming

Sping, Sprang, Sprung...

Oh May what happened??? I had such high hopes! April was going so smooth I was ahead of schedule with the spring cleaning and the garden....than  BAM!! We got hit with Strep throat (the week I was helping to coordinate Teacher Appreciation week!) Mothers Day in bed, not necessarily a negative... though first I made an great fritatta (recipe below) then caught up on some stitching. Then the little big man's 7th birthday...a massive Pokemon party. Then a visit with family...Sebastian was back in town YAY! What a sweetheart he is. Memorial day was three days of catch up with the yard and garden. We are almost caught up. I know.. I know...  I  promised that crochet pattern ...it's coming...our computer isn't being very nice to me lately.

So here is what its all looked like lately...

So Spring Sprang and now its Sprung...88 and humid today with thunderstorms ...the spring blossoms are gone Lilies of the Valley, Dogwood and Cherry trees all gone...  summer lilies and roses are pushing through. I'm ready for it now ...I think ! We definitely needed this rain as the tree pollen as been so thick.

 I made this Pumpkin bread for Teachers Appreciation... It gets an A+!  I added a Lemon kissed cream cheese glaze that I made up which certainly didn't hurt !

15 first graders, yeah that got out of control real fast! Thank god for my older kids who saved the day with a scavenger hunt and Pokemon bingo.Thanks to Pinterest too with all the great Pokemon party ideas. We had an ice cream sunday bar, pizza and tie dyed t-shirts. The party got an A+ as well.

Another A+ to my dear blogger friend Andi, who sent me the wonderful teas and a delicious yarn. How did she know that was my most favorite color and that I love Kombucha tea!? Now that's just good Karma!

 A beautiful sock is just waiting to be cast on with this.

I am behind but I just love the Once Upon a Time Sampler.It is turning out to be just adorable and a lot of fun but I must be more diligent in working on it!

Hermione sock is just about done. I have been true to my word and have not started on any other socks until this was finished...for I know myself and would just end up with numerous half finished socks on needles!

The Mother's Day Fritatta

• 6 eggs and 1/4 cup milk S&P mix together set aside
• In a skillet add 1 tsp olive oil and 1 tsp butter melt on medium heat
• slice 4-5 baby bella mushrooms chop, 1/4 cup sweet onion chopped , 4-5 cherry tomatoes sliced & a heavy handful of Arugula or any other green you favor dd to pan and saute still they soften..add egg mixture
• 1/3 cup Italian Fontina cheese sprinkle on top 
• cook on stove top for a few minutes and then transfer skillet ( make sure it is oven safe) to oven at 350 till it fluffs up and sets about 20 minutes. Enjoy.
• a note about Italian Fontina...Swiss or Italian ...Its a bit mild and nutty and creamy and oh so delicious! If you cant find it regular Fontina wont disappoint.:-).

And how cute are these kids!!!! Ahh so sweet they make my heart sing<3

Oh and Hello Mr. Tree Frog thank you for the little night time visit.

I think on my last post I left you saying that I was talking the hubby into going to NYC for the day ... We did and it was wonderful ! You can see the pictures on  Instagram  now . 

Have a wonderful week and I will get working on that pattern now as it is a cosy day here with a nice soft rain falling. A perfect covered porch day...or a perfect making strawberry jam day too as they are in season here. All in all things are pretty good if these are my decisions to make today.

Be well,

Ming

Hits & Misses!

This has been a week of  Hits and Misses...here we go, take a peek...

Hit...SOCK KNITTING!!! my newest addiction!

 Misses....trying to find the right needles to work on...the Addi turbo sock Double Pointed were a bit  to slippery. As much as I love Rowan yarns...their Fine Art sock yarn wasn't my favorite to work with. I found it split easily.

Hit...all the new pretty sock yarn  Misses... all the pretty new sock yarn $$$

 Hit...this picture of Buddha in the snow...Miss more snow!!!

Hit...homemade Madeline's

 Miss...beet cupcakes..looked great but...

Even the deer wouldn't eat them...

Hit..these random pictures...

Miss...these pic and this blog post was delayed about a week due to our annual February respiratory viral infection! My little guy has been sick for almost a month on and off with this and momma has been horribly sleep deprived!

My Madeline recipe is Martha's here...I feel it is tried and true. On my last post I had a picture of my baked oatmeal recipe, some have asked for the recipe it is here.I use blueberries and omit the almonds.I also don't caramelize the bananas and just through the spices right in. The bread above is a quick and really easy  pan bread that whips up quick and easy and great with soups! I use King Arthur's flour recipe but I cant find the link...here is Pillsbury and its pretty much the same except I use olive oil and not Crisco.

OK we have another snow day here today and I have sock knitting to get too! I'm on my second pair YAY! My first pair have already been given away as a gift.

Have a great week,
Ming

PS Matthew McConaughey & Jared Leto...NUFF' SAID