Making: beef wellington. Dad's birthday was on Thanksgiving this year, and that's what he requested. It was an adventure, and turned out wonderfully!
Cooking: oh, lots. Cranberry sauce, green beans and bacon, the beef wellington, pecan pie, soup, lemon curd...holiday weekend stuff.
Drinking: hot chocolate.
Reading: these Royal Diaries I loved when I was younger. I don't have the whole series, but they all look interesting.
Wanting: to make clove-oranges today.
Looking: forward to decorating.
Playing: Christmas music, because that's legal now.
Wasting: juices. We got some at BB's the other week, but they're a bit too cucumber-y for me. Maybe I'll get around to drinking them, but they were only fifty cents each.
Sewing: ~
Wishing: we could put up the Christmas tree this weekend, but alas! I have to wait till next Saturday.
Enjoying: sleeping in this week.
Waiting: for Daddy to start this year's reading of "Miracles on Maple Hill".
Liking: this yummy bread my sister brought over yesterday. She changed it up with rosemary, garlic, and walnuts.
Wondering: ~
Loving: the freedom I feel to toss my plans of working out to the winds, and hang out with my family, cook good food, and stuff my face instead.
Hoping: I'll be able to get back into the rhythm of school next week.
Marveling: ~
Needing: to find a monologue and sign the contract for my audition that's in a week or so. Yup, I'm so responsible. At least I reserved an audition time all by myself!
Smelling: evergreens.
Wearing: aaaall the sweaters.
Following: Butter Nutrition.
Noticing: what a foodie family we are.
Knowing: ~
Thinking: that I totally should have been a hobbit.
Feeling: thankful that all my siblings and their families could be here for Thanksgiving.
Bookmarking: ~
November 28, 2015
November 27, 2015
Giving thanks for...
It's a day late, but ya know...cooking, family, and pie.
1. the fact that everyone could be here for Thanksgiving
1. the fact that everyone could be here for Thanksgiving
2. my parents
3. my sister
4. all my brothers
5. theatre and singing opportunities through The Academy (spellcheck says "theatre" is incorrect. Spellcheck got no class)
6. learning to appreciate my body and how to take care of it
7. learning to let go of schedules, plans, and what I think should happen
8. devotions in the morning
9. lights in the kitchen
10. Pumpkin Spice Roll ice cream (it is thing)
11. being able to learn through Veritas Press.
12. family
13. traditions
14. movie and game nights
15. a patient Redeemer and Friend
16. the beautiful moon last night
17. my nieces
18. the view out back
19. changing seasons
20. having the knowledge and tools to be healthy
21. Thanksgiving break (and breaks in general)
22. my journal
23. youth choir
24. mercies new every morning
25. old and new friends
26. hikes
27. hot chocolate
28. candles
29. (almost) free reign over the kitchen
30. talks with Mom
31. snow
32. chickens and the vegetable garden
33. Christmas lights
34. the seasonal colors of the kitchen: butternut squash, pomegranates, parsley...
35. family (again)
11. being able to learn through Veritas Press.
12. family
13. traditions
14. movie and game nights
15. a patient Redeemer and Friend
16. the beautiful moon last night
17. my nieces
18. the view out back
19. changing seasons
20. having the knowledge and tools to be healthy
21. Thanksgiving break (and breaks in general)
22. my journal
23. youth choir
24. mercies new every morning
25. old and new friends
26. hikes
27. hot chocolate
28. candles
29. (almost) free reign over the kitchen
30. talks with Mom
31. snow
32. chickens and the vegetable garden
33. Christmas lights
34. the seasonal colors of the kitchen: butternut squash, pomegranates, parsley...
35. family (again)
November 22, 2015
Links: some laughs, some food, and a story
haha (edible miniature yoga mats...).
tee hee.
The Great British Baking Show is so addictive. Pretty food! Unusual flavors! British accents! I should start narrating everything I do in the kitchen and pretend I know what I'm doing: "then we add the butter because...the recipe said so...and because butter".
My uncle's journey with cancer, on my aunt's blog.
tee hee.
The Great British Baking Show is so addictive. Pretty food! Unusual flavors! British accents! I should start narrating everything I do in the kitchen and pretend I know what I'm doing: "then we add the butter because...the recipe said so...and because butter".
My uncle's journey with cancer, on my aunt's blog.
November 15, 2015
Grain-free biscuit...dinner roll...things
I'm not sure what to call these. They're not flaky enough to be biscuits, but they're not soft and mounded enough to be rolls. They make excellent breakfast sandwiches, though, so I guess I'll call them biscuits.
Makes about 6-7 biscuits--adapted from The Preppy Paleo
3/4 c. arrowroot flour (tapioca should work too)
1/4 c. ground flax seed
6 T. coconut flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. olive oil
1 egg
1 t. apple cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together dry ingredients. Stir in wet ingredients. Let the batter sit for a while so the coconut flour can soak up some of the liquid. After a few minutes, scoop out the batter in quarter cup amounts and plop onto parchment paper. Bake for 35 minutes and let cool completely before storing in an air tight container.
November 6, 2015
Links: A whole lot of randomness so I can't think of a title
What food additives look like before they end up in food.
My chemistry class is the best. We start class with music, our teacher (who is also a pastor) preaches us devil sermons, and to celebrate Mole Day Eve we watched Jurassic Cookie in class. (I promise we discuss chemistry as well)
And of course, grain-free (but nonetheless delicious) things I want to make during Thanksgiving break: chocolate pecan pie, pumpkin roll, pumpkin-apple pie, apple pie, pumpkin panna cotta tart, scalloped sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, mashed cauliflower, and who knows what else!
October 30, 2015
Taking Stock, Vol. VI
Making: cute labels for our kombucha bottles.
Cooking: lots of chicken stock. We typically roast two chickens at a time, once a week, and make two batches of stock out of the carcasses.
Drinking: coconut water (BB's score).
Reading: Captain Blood, by Rafael Sabatini.
Wanting: ~
Looking: at Bauman College. I'm very interested in studying holistic nutrition, but not a fan of the new age-y stuff that can come along with it. The Natural Chef and Nutrition Consultant programs look promising, and I haven't found anything suspicious while snooping around their website. Two of their locations are in hippie-central, but they also have a long distance learning option. I've got two years left, but I like to plan. :)
Playing: pop music! I never listen to pop, but I took some of The Art in Life's recommendations (like "Fight Song"), added some of my own ideas (like "Rolling in the Deep" and some Hillsong United), and listened to them while running. Much more fun.
Wasting: time while drooling over recipes. At least I wasn't supposed to be doing anything important (and recipes are important! they inspire, they motivate, they...I'm running out of excuses).
Sewing: ~
Wishing: ~
Enjoying: The Nourishing Buzz podcast. The ladies are fun, the topics are interesting, and they give simple and doable tips.
Waiting: ~
Liking: Forever 21, Gap, and Loft's petites and X(X)S.
Wondering: if our trees will get toilet papered tomorrow night. The local TP-gang hasn't been particularly active in the past couple years. Maybe they're all in college.
Loving: the trees. This year especially, I'm grateful we live in the country, with hills and hills of beautiful color.
Hoping: for snow. I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again. Not immediately, of course, but anytime after December 1st.
Marveling: ~
Needing: to clean out the chicken coop. humph.
Smelling: nothing. I don't think I notice that sort of thing (plus my nose has been kinda stuffy).
Wearing: my pajamas until lunch time. Too comfortable and too lazy.
Following: Downshiftology and Honestly Nourished.
Noticing: how much Spanish I actually know when I try to have a conversation.
Knowing: I was much more relaxed with school this week. I tried not to make too many plans and overload my brain, but just got one thing done and moved on to the next, as cheerfully as I could.
Thinking: about all the things I want to make for Thanksgiving dinner.
Feeling: glad I don't have any actual allergies, so I can have something with grains or dairy if I want, and not need a trip to the ER (pecan tart? Don't mind if I do).
Bookmarking: ~
Cooking: lots of chicken stock. We typically roast two chickens at a time, once a week, and make two batches of stock out of the carcasses.
Drinking: coconut water (BB's score).
Reading: Captain Blood, by Rafael Sabatini.
Wanting: ~
Looking: at Bauman College. I'm very interested in studying holistic nutrition, but not a fan of the new age-y stuff that can come along with it. The Natural Chef and Nutrition Consultant programs look promising, and I haven't found anything suspicious while snooping around their website. Two of their locations are in hippie-central, but they also have a long distance learning option. I've got two years left, but I like to plan. :)
Playing: pop music! I never listen to pop, but I took some of The Art in Life's recommendations (like "Fight Song"), added some of my own ideas (like "Rolling in the Deep" and some Hillsong United), and listened to them while running. Much more fun.
Wasting: time while drooling over recipes. At least I wasn't supposed to be doing anything important (and recipes are important! they inspire, they motivate, they...I'm running out of excuses).
Sewing: ~
Wishing: ~
Enjoying: The Nourishing Buzz podcast. The ladies are fun, the topics are interesting, and they give simple and doable tips.
Waiting: ~
Liking: Forever 21, Gap, and Loft's petites and X(X)S.
Wondering: if our trees will get toilet papered tomorrow night. The local TP-gang hasn't been particularly active in the past couple years. Maybe they're all in college.
Loving: the trees. This year especially, I'm grateful we live in the country, with hills and hills of beautiful color.
Hoping: for snow. I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again. Not immediately, of course, but anytime after December 1st.
Marveling: ~
Needing: to clean out the chicken coop. humph.
Smelling: nothing. I don't think I notice that sort of thing (plus my nose has been kinda stuffy).
Wearing: my pajamas until lunch time. Too comfortable and too lazy.
Following: Downshiftology and Honestly Nourished.
Noticing: how much Spanish I actually know when I try to have a conversation.
Knowing: I was much more relaxed with school this week. I tried not to make too many plans and overload my brain, but just got one thing done and moved on to the next, as cheerfully as I could.
Thinking: about all the things I want to make for Thanksgiving dinner.
Feeling: glad I don't have any actual allergies, so I can have something with grains or dairy if I want, and not need a trip to the ER (pecan tart? Don't mind if I do).
Bookmarking: ~
October 15, 2015
Taking Stock, Vol. V
Making: ~
Cooking: not a whole lot, at least compared to last week!
Drinking: chamomile tea and chocolate milk.
Reading: the Leviathan series, by Scott Westerfeld. I think this is my third time around. :)
Wanting: to run more, especially outside. Unfortunately, no one else in my family wants too, so I wouldn't have a running partner. Maybe I can bribe someone with cookies....
Looking: forward to when all our mini-butternut squashes are ripe. Stuffed, thrown in a soup, pureed....
Playing: my Pride and Prejudice station on Pandora.
Wasting: avocados. When Mom and Dad were in England, I kept wishing we had avocados. Little did I know that there was a bag slowly rotting away in the corner. oops.
Sewing: nothing, but I would love to knit little booties for my youngest niece. I don't think I has da skills though.
Wishing: ~
Enjoying: the sunshine of the past few days. I was able to do school-reading outside, which was a nice change.
Waiting: for my analytical essay to come back, butchered by my older sister. Ah well, that is what rough drafts are all about. :)
Liking: all the souvenirs my parents brought back from England (hey, this doesn't have to apply to the internet all the time, does it?). These include little recipe booklets for traditional Welsh and British food, which I'm quite excited about (there's a LOT of lamb involved).
Wondering: ~
Loving: soup I made up last night. I had it for supper, then breakfast, and then lunch! It was just beef with carrots, golden beets, leftover mashed cauliflower, and peas, but I whipped in some dried sage, white pepper, turmeric, rosemary, fennel seeds, red wine vinegar, garlic, and salt. With some chimmichurri and butter to top it off. Delicious!
Hoping: ~
Marveling: ~
Needing: ~
Smelling: honey. See why below.
Wearing: food on my face. I've been slathering raw honey all over my face in the mornings, leaving it on for a few minutes, and then rinsing it off.
Following: Carrie Vitt, the author of that amazing brownie recipe I linked to last week, and some amazing cinnamon rolls I made on Friday.
Noticing: the leaves changing color. Gold, rust, and red. The chickens like eating all the berries on the bushes and small trees, too. :)
Knowing: we need to harvest most of the veggies this Saturday (except the kale), since it's supposed to get down to 31 that night. Which means we will have piles of lettuce. Which means I will be eating lots of salad next week. Not that I'm complaining. #saladvore
Thinking: that our chickens are heading for the stewpot. Egg production has dropped considerably in the last few days (even though it's been sunny and warm), and I don't want to buy feed for them during the winter. So maybe we'll butcher them this year and get a new batch in the spring.
Feeling: pretty good, considering last week's grumpy post. :) PSATs were yesterday. English sections were good, math sections are wanting in...umm...everything. Oh well, it was only practice! School's not as hectic and I think I've got things in order.
Bookmarking: ~
Cooking: not a whole lot, at least compared to last week!
Drinking: chamomile tea and chocolate milk.
Reading: the Leviathan series, by Scott Westerfeld. I think this is my third time around. :)
Wanting: to run more, especially outside. Unfortunately, no one else in my family wants too, so I wouldn't have a running partner. Maybe I can bribe someone with cookies....
Looking: forward to when all our mini-butternut squashes are ripe. Stuffed, thrown in a soup, pureed....
Playing: my Pride and Prejudice station on Pandora.
Wasting: avocados. When Mom and Dad were in England, I kept wishing we had avocados. Little did I know that there was a bag slowly rotting away in the corner. oops.
Sewing: nothing, but I would love to knit little booties for my youngest niece. I don't think I has da skills though.
Wishing: ~
Enjoying: the sunshine of the past few days. I was able to do school-reading outside, which was a nice change.
Waiting: for my analytical essay to come back, butchered by my older sister. Ah well, that is what rough drafts are all about. :)
Liking: all the souvenirs my parents brought back from England (hey, this doesn't have to apply to the internet all the time, does it?). These include little recipe booklets for traditional Welsh and British food, which I'm quite excited about (there's a LOT of lamb involved).
Wondering: ~
Loving: soup I made up last night. I had it for supper, then breakfast, and then lunch! It was just beef with carrots, golden beets, leftover mashed cauliflower, and peas, but I whipped in some dried sage, white pepper, turmeric, rosemary, fennel seeds, red wine vinegar, garlic, and salt. With some chimmichurri and butter to top it off. Delicious!
Hoping: ~
Marveling: ~
Needing: ~
Smelling: honey. See why below.
Wearing: food on my face. I've been slathering raw honey all over my face in the mornings, leaving it on for a few minutes, and then rinsing it off.
Following: Carrie Vitt, the author of that amazing brownie recipe I linked to last week, and some amazing cinnamon rolls I made on Friday.
Noticing: the leaves changing color. Gold, rust, and red. The chickens like eating all the berries on the bushes and small trees, too. :)
Knowing: we need to harvest most of the veggies this Saturday (except the kale), since it's supposed to get down to 31 that night. Which means we will have piles of lettuce. Which means I will be eating lots of salad next week. Not that I'm complaining. #saladvore
Thinking: that our chickens are heading for the stewpot. Egg production has dropped considerably in the last few days (even though it's been sunny and warm), and I don't want to buy feed for them during the winter. So maybe we'll butcher them this year and get a new batch in the spring.
Feeling: pretty good, considering last week's grumpy post. :) PSATs were yesterday. English sections were good, math sections are wanting in...umm...everything. Oh well, it was only practice! School's not as hectic and I think I've got things in order.
Bookmarking: ~
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