I'm done with pumpkin, I'm pumpkined out (note: it only took 3 recipes to do that!!) I got on the bandwagon, I drove it for a while and now, I'm done. Did I change my opinion and become a pumpkin loving convert? Um...no. I don't dislike it, but I just don't love it like some people do. Now, once again, this is only the Jack O'Lantern/sugar pie pumpkins, I still enjoy butternut, acorn and other winter squash. But, I'm done with pumpkin; until next fall when I will give it another go. So, onto other delicious things that are available now; chocolate, for example. I find that I make very few chocolate desserts during summer. I think the delight of seeing so many fresh, summer berries and fruit just draws me to them and imagination runs wild. Come winter though, I really begin to crave chocolate. I've already made chocolate cake, brownies and cookies for us over the past few weeks, basically as soon as the weather turned cold and has remained cold, I've been cranking out chocolate confections. There is something instantly warming and comforting about gooey chocolate desserts whether they are served with ice cream or warm custard. This isn't a warm chocolate dessert though but ... continue reading...
Pumpkin Mascarpone Cheesecake Tart
Wow. That was a long week at home with the kids! It wasn't as bad as I make it sound, they were quite self sufficient and didn't bug me too much about anything, which is a relief. I did enjoy sleeping in and not having to make packed lunches and the like. My husband also had a nice stretch of days off so it tuned out to be quite relaxing, albeit quite unproductive, few days. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your own family didn't drive you crazy! Of course, next up is Christmas and I see all the shopping craziness has started. Even though we don't celebrate Christmas in my family, I love this time of year. I don't like shopping during it, but I love the festivities; the colours, the twinkling lights and the food. As a teen, I loved going Christmas shopping for my friends, and very often we would go together and have a fabulous time up and down Oxford Street. Many times, since we didn't have a celebration at home, I'd go to my friend's house at Christmas. So, I have a fond place in my heart for this time of the year. For me, it's filled with great memories of good times with friends and great food. I thought I would share this Pumpkin Mascarpone ... continue reading...
Spinach, Beet and Pear Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Another quick post today, and a bit of a fluff post really because it's a salad. More than a recipe, today's post is a reminder to include a salad on your Thanksgiving table! If y'all are anything like me, I get lost making a huge menu full of oozy, gooey, creamy and indulgent dishes. It seems that a Thanksgiving dish by definition should include a pound of butter and double that of sugar! I remember one year, I tried remaking my husband's family's sweet potato casserole with a bit less butter and sugar. It didn't work; it just didn't taste the same and so the following year, I went back to the original recipe. Back in Texas, for many years I was the sole cook for Thanksgiving dinner and there, I didn't bother with a salad after the first year where everything finished except the salad! I knew it just wasn't worth the effort with my extended family. Now that the children are older and they all love salad, we finish it with no problem. The biggest salad eater is actually Laith, my 8 year old. He absolutely loves salad and he was the recipient of the salad that was photographed. I thought that I would go ahead and post the salad I will be making for our dinner tomorrow evening. You ... continue reading...
Orange Cardamom Madeleines
First of all, I would like to thank all my blogger friends who left such heart warming comments on my last post that I was brought to tears by so many of them. I appreciate your words of wisdom, encouragement and never ending support. It means more to me than I can describe in words. My intention was never to write what I did in my last post because though I was in pain and frustrated and very down, I am not the one to admit such things. But for some reason, sub consciously maybe, it all came pouring out. Maybe it was to hear all the lovely words you had to say to me and to let me know that I am not alone. Whatever it was, I'm glad I did share what I was feeling because I got such great advice from others who do this and go through similar things as I do. Thank you all so much. Of course, with such a great support system that I have in all of you, I'm not giving up this blogging gig anytime soon! So, just a quick post today because it's time for the monthly Improv Cooking Challenge that is hosted by Kristen Baker of Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker. This month's theme is orange and cardamom. I have to say, I had many grand plans for this theme, many, many ideas, but ... continue reading...
Pear Blackberry Cake
It has been a long and dry week on the inspiration front. Creativity is muffled, the juices aren't flowing and the spirit is down. I know we all go through this at times and it's just a phase, but it takes its toll after a while. Many thoughts go through your head, and one recurring one is, I don't want to do this anymore. Then the excuses start; I'm too busy, I don't get paid, it's too much work, it's takes too much of my time and so on. Finally, the decision is made, and you are determined this time that you're done. No sooner have you finished this thought, then the phone chimes to let you know of a new comment from a new blogger friend who is reading through your old posts. Then all hell breaks loose in your head. As tempting as it was to give up and not bother, I couldn't do that. My blog is a part of me now and if I leave it; I neglect myself. I neglect myself already too much, so I'm not adding my creative outlet to that list because not only will I lose a piece of me, I will lose all the lovely people I've come to know because of it. It doesn't help that I have been unwell but that's the reality when you live with a chronic illness. The bad days can be bad to the point ... continue reading...
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