Blog Surfing - For Your Special Valentine

From Luna Cafe: Spirited Mocha Crepes with Peanut Butter Caramel, Peanut Cocoa Nib Brittle and White Chocolate Crema

From Meal Planning with Connie: Cherry or Strawberry Cheesecake Pie

From Noble Pig: Cupids Arrow Misses Target 

From Brown Eyed Baker: Valentines Day Desserts

From Mennonite Girls Can Cook: Coeur la Creme

From My Kitchen Cafe: Homemade Chocolate Dessert Cups

From Real Mom Kitchen: Strawberry White Chocolate Mousse Filled Chocolate Cups

From Tasty Kitchen: Heart-Shaped Brownie Cheesecake Truffles, Chocolate Creme Brulee for Two, Valentine's Day Truffles, Chocolate Valentine Cookies,

From Hoosier Homemade: Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate Covered Cherries, Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

From One Perfect Bite: Hot Fudge Sauce

From The Changeable Table: Chocolate Rush

From Sass and Veracity: Sweet Heart Pies

From Baking Bites: Chocolate Truffle Filled Peanut Butter Cups

From Weelicious: Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Tarts

From Taste of Home: Wonton Kisses

From The Cooking Channel: Chocolate Souffle

From The Measuring Cup: Chocolate Be Mine

Brownies in the Raw

As I was paging through a magazine, minding my own business, I came across this page.

We happened to be in the car at the time, my dear hubby was driving, and suddenly, I couldn't wait to get home and make these brownies. I knew that I had the raw sugar sitting in my pantry, and I was very curious to see how brownies would turn out using the larger sugar granules.

This recipe is very easy, with eight ingredients. It is a one bowl recipe, which makes clean-up quick and easy too. The brownies had an interesting texture, a little bit of a crunch to it, especially the pieces from the middle of the pan. I'm not a huge fan of nuts in brownies, but because I had chopped pecans, I added them. Next time I wouldn't add nuts. This recipe turns out very moist and dense and that makes the nuts soggy. It all comes down to personal preference. If you like brownies, you should give this recipe a try.

The best part, my dear hubby has never broke my heart in the 42 years that we have been together!



Enjoy!

Chicken and White Bean Soup

Last week, my LBGF was coming over to spend the day, so I started planning lunch. I wanted to make a soup with some white beans, so I spent a little time looking for a great soup recipe. I am a big fan of the Kitchen Daily recipe site, and I found a recipe from Marcus Samuelsson that sounded really good. The day my friend was coming over, I started the soup in the morning and soon realized that I didn't have a couple of the ingredients that the recipe called for, specifically, bacon, fresh rosemary and Parmesan cheese.  

On most days, that wouldn't be an issue, I would just run to Haggen's, which is about 6 blocks away. Wouldn't you know it, I had set up an appointment with Northwest Natural to come to the house that day to test all of our gas items; furnace, stove, oven and fireplace. When I set up the appointment over the phone, I had to agree that I would be home between 8am to 5pm to let them in the house. Wow, a nine-hour window! I'm glad that doesn't happen very often. I enjoy being home, but when I feel stuck for possibly nine hours, I am always thinking of places I want to go and people I want to see right that very day!! I was happy that my friend was coming over. We totally lose track of time and three hours seems like 30 minutes. When we start talking, the time just flies by.

So the recipe underwent some changes, but the soup turned out really good. The original recipe called for 3 slices of bacon which would have given it a nice smokey flavor. I didn't have bacon, so in it's place, I added about 1/4 tsp. of liquid smoke which added a nice smokey touch. Very hearty and satisfying. Here is the recipe.

Chicken and White Bean Soup

Enjoy!

It's My 1-Year Blog-Aversary

A little confetti...

A few balloons...

A brass band...

And a cake!

 





I can't believe I have written 270 posts since I started this blog. Thanks to all of you that have supported me with your kind words and comments during this past year. I am looking forward to seeing another year of our life, documented in words, pictures and recipes.

Simple Pleasures

Sometimes it is the simplest things that can bring a smile. I would have to confess, every time I walk into my kitchen and see little Miss Cow sitting on my island, I just have to smile.

The view of her best side

The view of her back side 

 

 

(please don't tell her I published this picture of her derriere)

I am so happy to see my one-year old grandson, Ivan, smiling again. He was a very sick little boy for about 10 days. He had a very bad case of the flu and ended up extremely dehydrated. He wouldn't eat or drink. He was sent to the hospital for an IV, but they couldn't get the IV in because his veins were collapsed. They called in a trauma team that tried numerous places and finally found a vein that was viable. He went from that to walking pneumonia. I am so thankful that he is back to his cute little self again, and was able to spend some one-on-one time at gramma's house this week.

As soon as we walked in the door of our house, he said, "Pancakes." So gramma made him pancakes. 

Simple pleasures.

Blog Surfing

From Home Based Mom: Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad

From Two Peas and Their Pod: Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes

From Tasty Kitchen: Red Quinoa and Black Bean Salad, Garlic Chicken with Orzo Pasta, Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Honey Whole Wheat Pizza Dough, Crunchy Homemade Granola, The Freshest 9 Layer Dip,

From A Recipe a Day: Loaded Italian Bread

From Lottie + Doof: Arugula Bacon Gruyere Bread Pudding

From Food Blogga: How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution to Loose Weight: Eat Breakfast Plus: Skinny Mexican Breakfast Scramble.

From Simple Bites: Two Simple Salads for Winter

From Joy of Baking: Lemon Sponge Pudding

From One Ordinary Day: Italian Sausage Soup

From For the Love of Cooking: Tuscan White Bean and Roasted Garlic Soup

From Meet Me in the Kitchen: Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad

From Cooking Light Done Right: Savory Baked Eggs with Spinach Mushrooms and Sun Dried Tomatoes

From Relish Magazine: Stacey's Black Beans

From Taste of Home: Cookie Sticks

From Dinners and Dreams: How to Make Preserved Garlic

From Culinate: How to Make Your Own Dog Food

Peanut Butter Granola

It has been months since I made fresh baked granola, and I have missed it! I have bought a couple different granola's, but they just don't compare to homemade. The store-bought granola is usually quite spendy, and I have not found one that really enjoy. 

When I saw this recipe for Peanut Butter Granola, from Baking with Boys, it sounded good, looked quick and easy and I couldn't resist making it. I used a combination of unsalted dry roasted peanuts and unsalted dry roasted almond slivers for the nuts. I used dried cherries in place of the raisins and omitted the chocolate. The smell in the house was amazing as it baked. I baked my batch for 10 minutes, turned the oven off and set the timer for 12 minutes. I like my oats toasted a little darker and they turned out just the way I like it. This isn't a "crunchy" granola, but it's really good on yogurt!

If you decide to make this granola,

Enjoy!