Wishing You A Merry Christmas!

Wishing YOU well and much JOY!

Happy New Year, too!

Keep Calm Santa Is Watching

Come walk with me around the block.

The holidays would not be complete without these two on the swing.
They've been in the neighborhood as long as I have.

A new neighbor.
Can't have too many teddy bears!

He worked his magic when the fairies dusted with snow!

Santa and his guard cat!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Amaze Me Monday

Mosaic Monday

Their Version Of Powdered Sugar

It's not winter yet,

but we got a surprise.

Once every eight years

(or after a particularly bad hurricane)

we get this:

Yes, that is snow!

It didn't last very long,
but it was pretty while it lasted.

I'd like to thank the fairies for dusting us with their version of powdered sugar!

Now it  "feels" like the holidays!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Mosaic Monday

Happy Thanksgiving!

We Give Thanks...

For each new morning with its light

For rest and shelter of the night

For health and good, for love and friends

For everything thy goodness sends.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wishing You well and much joy on this Thanksgiving day.

Soups On!

We are finally getting a few coolish days here and there.
That means Soup's On!

This is a recipe a friend of mine posted on FaceBook.
She posted it several different times
and each time said she loved it.
Mouth-watering good and habit forming!
Not to mention easy.
Sounded perfect to me.
Nice and light before the heavy eating on Thanksgiving day! 

Simple ingredients

I finished a bowl full before I knew what hit me!

I think the coconut milk gives it a rich taste.

*

Golden Cauliflower Soup

(This is the original recipe as posted by Mel Joulwan's at Well Fed.)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large head cauliflower (about 3 pounds)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
• 2 large carrots, diced (about 2 cups)
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup canned coconut milk
  
  

OPTIONAL GARNISHES:

• extra-virgin olive oil + ground nutmeg
• minced parsley + chopped walnuts
• toasted, slivered almonds + ghee
• minced dried dates + chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

        1   Wash and core the cauliflower, then coarsely chop. Set aside.

2

Heat a large, deep pot over medium-high heat, then add the coconut oil. When the oil is melted, add onions, carrots, and garlic. Stir with a wooden spoon and cook until they’re soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped cauliflower and cook until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.

3

Add the broth and water, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook, covered, until the vegetables are very tender, about 45 minutes.

4

Working in batches, carefully transfer the cauliflower and some of the broth to a blender or food processor. Cover the top with a dish towel to protect yourself from splatters, and purée the cauliflower until smooth, adding more broth as necessary.

5

Pour the purée back into the soup pot, then add the salt, pepper, and coconut milk. Stir to combine and cook over medium until heated through. Serve immediately with garnishes, or store covered in the refrigerator. To reheat, warm the soup gently over medium-low heat until bubbly.

NOTE: (From Mel)
I tried adding herbs and spices during cooking, but got the best results when I kept the soup plain and added seasonings at the end as garnishes as recommended above. I also experimented with chicken broth, beef broth, water, and different combos of all three for the base of this soup; the hands-down winner was beef broth. The versions made with chicken broth (and celery) ended up tasting too much like gravy. (If you’re looking for a healthy gravy you can ladle over chicken or turkey, cut this recipe in half, add a stalk of celery with the carrot/onion and use all chicken broth for the liquid.)

*

My notes: 

I'm thinking about adding a little green chile

(my New Mexico background)!
It needs a little "kick" to go with the "rich". 

Adding bacon would make it more like a chowder. 

I used my "motor boat" (immersion blender).

Easy enough to make this vegan by using vegetable broth.



Wishing YOU well, much joy and some yummy soup!

What I Found On My Morning Walk!

I thought I'd take you along with me on my morning walk.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The world good certainly use a little more Hope and Love.

Wishing YOU well and much joy! 

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

SaveSave

It's The Month To Give Thanks

November is the month we give thanks.

Today I'm going to give thanks for the new restaurant just across the street!

Once, a restaurant named FRED'S was located in the space.

FRED'S was in this location long before we moved into our house.
It was a neighborhood hang out.

They served Italian food.

Then Fred died, his family took over for awhile,
but ended up selling to folks who

 didn't pay their rent and the space went empty.

It's now ECLAIR PARIS, FRENCH BISTRO AND PATISSERE.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The interior is very different from the past.

Light and Bright.

So far, I've only been there for breakfast and 

the Eggs Benedict are yummy!

I met a friend for breakfast and she tried the Avocado Toast.
Another vote for YUMMY!

Then there are the pastries!
Oh, my! 

I have tried the Chocolate Croissant and the apricot tart.
YUM!

I'm going to have to watch how many times I visit ECLAIR.
Too many times and I might not be able to fit through the door!

I've also noticed that the employees are recognizing me.
They are telling me what their favorite menu items are.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Share Your Cup Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

SaveSave

11th Annual Tea Cup and Mug Exchange

Today is the big reveal for the 

11th Annual Tea Cup and Mug Exchange.

Over 200 participated from all around the world.

Many thanks, love and hugs,
 to the wonderful, lovely Stephanie
at the Enchanting Rose for her hard work putting this exchange together.

I participated in the Mug and Tea Cup Exchange.
It's so much fun shopping for someone else.
Let's face it --- shopping is fun!!!!
"Meeting" new tea lovers, making new friends.

My teacup box of goodies is from Sherry Vlcek.

Sherry lives in New York and is a quilter.

She doesn't have a blog.

I love my quilted scissor holder.

Around my neck it goes -- I'll always be able to find the scissor!

Pin cushion, too!

The strip to hold the iron cord is very clever.

The teacup has a lovely, delicate flower pattern.

Two of my favorite Bigelow teas: Green Tea Jasmine and Pomegranate.

Sherry is allergic to cats, but her husband is a cat lover.

He went out and found the mouse cat nip toys.

My kitties love them!

The Good Humor Kids Say the Funniest Things is delightful.

She also sent Elizabeth George's One Minute Inspirations for Women.

Cute tea stationery!

My Mug box of goodies is from Ida Krause.

Ida has a blog: Wishes, Dreams and Other Things.

I love Owls and Ida went Owl shopping!

She also filled my box with cherries.

I don't know how she knew I love cherries, too!

ESP?!

The owl mug is perfect for fall.

The Berry Sangria candle was wonderful -- all gone!

When I was just starting my tea drinking experience as a very young woman,

I started with Constant Comment and Celestial Seasonings tea.

Black Cherry Berry is one I hadn't tried and it is great!

All the Owls together.

My thanks to Sherry and Ida for my boxes of goodies.
What fun it was to open them.
I giggled, ooooed and awed all the way!

Thanks again to Stephanie.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Have a Boo-tiful day!