October 2010

10.31.2010

hello sunday

Ingredients for a perfect sunday...

1 or 2 lazy people

1 sofa

a generous helping of books,

magazines,

football

this soup

What is your favorite sunday recipe?

10.29.2010

So no. 2 son is out of this garage and in a real apartment. alex and meg allowed me to take some pictures of their new place just days after they moved in. I love it all, the chesterfield sofa for $8, the free cabinet to hold their tiny tv, the ladder found in the alley the day they moved in. And if you notice it has a door that opens with a doorknob instead of a clicker and it has indoor plumbing. It reminds me very much of our first place. I love the look.

I think the place has serious style.

10.28.2010

chandeliers, etc.

Just a few random photos of the house after my cleaning blitz.

I clean the chandeliers with vinegar and a soft cloth and just hang the wool blankets on the line to air out.
If anyone has any better methods, I'd love to hear about them.

10.26.2010

fall cleaning checklist

living room scene this morning

I like to do a thorough cleaning of my house in the fall because I love to deep clean with the windows open. Also, if something needs to line dry it can still be done before it gets too cold. Also, the holidays are right around the corner so I like having the big stuff done so I can concentrate on more pleasant things. Not sure what those are, but I'm working on it.

my fall cleaning checklist

wash all slipcovers
dust all baseboards
wash the windows
clean out the pantry
wipe down all open shelves
clean out under the kitchen sink
polish chandeliers
clean out medicine cabinet
get out warm blankets
clean out my clothes closet

You can see they are a little wrinkly but they smooth out after a day or two.

I also like to sort out my clothes closet.

I removed everything and took the hanging poles outside and painted them black. Then I went through each article of clothing and asked myself if I'd want to run into my ex-husband while wearing it, thank you Francine. If the answer was no, then I put it in a bag to be taken to the local charity shop.

So now everything is back in, dust free and tidy for fall and winter. I'll do the same again in the spring.

pantry sorted

So today I accomplished the slipcovers, baseboards, closet, aired out all the warm blankets from the basement and wiped down the open shelving and the pantry. Insane I know. Tomorrow will be cleaning under the kitchen sink, medicine cabinet, windows and chandeliers. Then I will collapse until spring. Does anyone else out there do this? Someone please say yes.

please go visit julie and enter her jewelry giveaway!!!!!!

10.24.2010

cabbage soup with apples and cider cream*

1/2 head cabbage thinly sliced (approx 8 cups)

1 potato peeled and small dice

1 onion chopped

saute the above in a heavy bottomed stock pot in 1 T earth balance and 1 T olive oil until soft and browned, about 15 minutes.

Then add...

6 cups vegetable stock

8 sprigs of fresh thyme

1 T red pepper flakes (optional)

simmer for about 30 minutes, remove thyme sprigs and puree half of the mixture.

~sauteed apples~

3-4 golden delicious apples, peeled small dice

saute apples in 2 T earth balance until soft and browning, season with salt and pepper. set aside.

~cider cream~

1/2 c apple cider

1 6 oz container plain soy yogurt

reduce apple cider to 1/4 cup and stir in plain yogurt

when soup is done, place in individual bowls and top with apples and a dollop of cider cream.

garnish with fresh thyme sprig

Notes: while the soup is simmering, saute the apples and make the cider cream. i like to prepare the soup a day ahead so the flavors fully develop. This is a very economical soup to prepare but yet has amazing flavor and very pretty presentation. enjoy.

*no animals were harmed making this soup

10.22.2010

an apple orchard

Yesterday, in between rain showers, we snuck up to Oak Glen, a local area that is known for it's beautiful apple orchards. The air was chilly and misty and full of the scent of freshly baked apple pies. We bought several varieties of apples for cooking and baking and i'll be sharing these recipes with you in the coming weeks.

10.20.2010

banana muffins*

This morning I made banana nut muffins because they are his favorite and i had past due bananas begging to be used.

banana muffins

1 3/4 c flour

1/3 c sugar

2 t baking powder

1/3 c canola oil

3/4 c soy milk

1 c mashed banana

1/2 c walnuts

ener g egg replacer = to 1 egg

to dry ingredients add... soy milk, oil, egg replacer, banana and walnuts. mix lightly and put into muffin tin.

bake at 400 degrees for 25-35 minutes

makes 12

*no animals were harmed making these muffins

10.17.2010

how i camp

This is a little story of how I like to camp. First of all, I am the first one to admit that I'm not a big camper. I really the love the peace and quiet and sleeping under the stars and all the other wonderful things associated with camping but the older I get the less tolerance I have for the hard ground and nearly non-existent toilet facilities. My husband though is a lover of all things outdoors and because I am an incredibly good wife, I occasionally indulge his fantasy of having an incredibly good and outdoorsy wife. He threw together a very impromptu overnight trip to Joshua Tree, a gorgeous national park not far from our home. You may recognize the place from the album The Joshua Tree by U2, often cited as one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

So this is how I camp...