My Way, No. 30

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— After all that talk about bread this past week, I thought I would link you to an inexpensive DIY banneton: $2 Banneton for Better Bread Loaves | instructables.com.

Natural Dyes – All Natural Ways To Dye Fabric | diynatural.com.

— Adventures in Food: Ever since I posted the English muffins recipe, I have been thinking about making Benedict. I finally made it, but I decided to go with the Italian Scones recipe (posted here) as a base.

For the scones, I used my sprouted whole wheat pastry flour, subbed homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt for butter, and dried the leftover marinated tomatoes from the Smothered Mediterranean Chicken. Roasted sweet mini peppers and tomato hollandaise. Cocktail from a berry-pom shrub and fizzy water. I used the arils for a garnish like the Tangerine-Pom cocktail posted here.

This was just supposed to be a small snack of ciabatta & olive oil, grapes, and a little vino. I decided to go for a bit more to make it a full meal. A little melted cheese (vs. oil) & red wine-thyme onion jam for the bread, some nuts, olives, Honey-Balsamic Turkish-Spiced Chickpeas, beet-pickled egg, and giardiniera. The egg and giardiniera were quickles, as I hadn’t really planned on having them. I subbed skim milk with just a little bit of olive oil for the whole-y (holy?) ciabatta. It was fab!
The Seafood Lasagna recipe I posted turned into 2 dishes:

Filling was salmon, crab, arugula (I had some to use up), homemade non-fat ricotta, homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt, parm, garlic, onion, s&p. I also added a little beaten egg to the lasagna roll filling. Just a little bit of parm and the creaminess of the yogurt added a richness to the ricotta. The rolls are great for the freezer to pop out for a quick meal. I made the ravioli with my milled hard red wheat berries, vital wheat gluten, egg, egg yolk, and water. White sauce with skim milk, olive oil roux, white wine, parm, and roasted garlic. Finished with pistachios. I whipped up some fresh butter in the food processor (my indulgence) for the bread. It takes 5-10 minutes or so, depending on your processor. I was inspired by the Rosemary Lemonade here for the strawberry-basil lemonade. Sweetened with the Berhi date syrup and stevia.

I had some toasted quinoa & kept craving carrots, so I made this Grilled Carrot & Walnut Salad with Carrot Top Pesto (a few times, once with rice) — yums!:

For a special occasion, I told you that I made the ciabatta, but I also finally made this Turkish-Inspired Pistachio & Cardamom Cake with Pomegranate Cream Filling (posted way back when):


But…it’s a mini version. This was actually only a 1/5 of the recipe, and guess what it was baked in? A parchment-lined soup tin! I made this a couple of weeks ago, sliced it, wrapped it well, and stuck it in the freezer. So, all that was left was the icing. I love these rustic cakes, let me tell ya. During the pastry portion of culinary school (way, way back in the day), cake decorating, pulling sugar, etc., was clearly not my thing. I stuck to cakes from a box, lol. I got up the nerve to try this cake, though, and I’m so glad I did! I sliced a piece from the top before freezing, and it was so moist. I made substitutions of homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt for butter, and a mixture of coconut sugar and the Berhi date syrup for demerara. As I can’t have too much cream or butter, I went with a snow peak frosting: whipped egg whites, Mexican vanilla, honey, and stevia. This was lovely, and it made me confront my cake fears, haha! This is a wheat-free cake, so please check it out if you have an intolerance.

— As there was a weather prediction of possible 50’s-60’s temps  (early morning) this week, I went ahead and made my ruana. The weather was back to the 90’s before you knew it, though. So super simple, so I am probably going to make another one.The ruana featured in that post has several different styles, including a belted option. I wore mine with a brooch, but here’s a DIY belt & brooch combo (if the color is too summery for you, you could easily go with your current fall fave): Easy summer DIY fashion projects – A chic braided and wide corset belt | diy-enthusiasts.com.

Another use for stencils! Stenciled Tote Bag | Nomadic Decorator.

— At one point (before I decided on a decor overhaul), I had a Frida Kahlo picture in my work office. I always feel drawn to her work for some reason. There’s just something in it that grabs hold of me. I spotted this wonderful piece on her, so I thought I would share it: Style Icon – Frida Kahlo | Design Sponge.

Now I have another wine cork project to work on: DIY Garden Decoration Ideas | Interior Design Ideas.

— 10 rules of Etiquette Everyone Should Know (and Follow!) | wisebread.com.

— Tasty Treats:
Confessions of a Cardamom Addict: Guinness onion soup with bleu cheese croutons.

Oh! I got such a craving when I saw this: Mongolian Beef Recipe | userealbutter.com.

DIY Cider Vinegar | whipandclick.com.

I was going to post this a while back, but forgot. I met a very nice gentleman from Peru who told me these cookies were his specialty. The cookies, and a broccoli-tomato soup that he strongly believes has kept his children from ever going to the hospital (lo their 20-some years). He didn’t give me the magic soup recipe, but he told me where to find the luscious dulce de leche delights: HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE ALFAJORES | recipegirl.com.

Here’s a way to keep summer alive: Fancy or Sandy Fruit Salad, Anyone? | gayahousewives.

Stewed Fruit Recipe – Eatwell 101.

Chinese Scallion Pancake—Simplified Version | chinasichuanfood.com.

5 Healthy Soul Food Options | mademan.com.

Soul Food – American Diabetes Association.

Matcha Sushi Balls | Thirsty for Tea.

Fig Bourbon Old-Fashioned | katieatthekitchendoor.com.

‘Til next time!

29 Herb-Tastic Recipes

Newlyweds on a Budget: 29 Herb-Tastic Recipes.

Well, apparently with all the upcoming holidays, I missed one: August 29th was More Herbs Less Salt Day. It’s always a challenge for me to cut back the sodium, but I’m determined. As I finally have some herbs this season that have survived more than a week, lol, I thought it high time to find a few new recipes. I just recently made the cherry tomato & basil sauce (with roasted garlic) from the last My Way post, and it was lovely. I had some really nice varieties of farmer’s market basil plants a couple of years ago, but they succumbed to an unexpected frost. This year, I decided indoor herbage was the way to go. 

Plenty to choose from here including rosemary lemonade, fruit salad w/ herbs (which you could do with a number of fruits), herb-crusted roast, slow cooker pizza sauce, and halibut stew.

These recipes look to be fairly wallet-friendly, too (as they’ve been rounded up by Newlyweds on a Budget). Drying or freezing your fresh herbs is a great money-saving option if you do not have plants. Many times, I am unable to consume the entire quantity of purchased fresh herbs before they go bad. Dried cilantro has become one of my new fave additions to several dishes.

Happy herb-y cooking!

My Way, No. 27

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Hope you’ve had a lovely day! Several Adventures in Food to share with you. Last week, I had a day I wasn’t feeling so hot. All I could manage to eat was a thin slice of a toasted bagel. I was looking over the Healthy Snacks Under 200 Calories post and thought the mango-lime sorbet sounded like something I could handle. I added a wee bit o’ rum (to keep it from freezing too hard), some red chile, and key lime zest. I tried to make it look tropical to cheer myself up. That’s also the reason you may see plates/dishes beyond my plain white on this blog — oftentimes, different serving wares give me a boost in mood. Perhaps this is why I have a hard time not buying every other set of dishes, glasses, silverware, etc., that I see, haha. I do love just the ordinary white plates, though, too — très simple.

What are your go-to meals when you have a ton of veggies (besides just eating them raw and unadorned)? I think pasta or salads come to mind first for me, also stir-fries, soups, stews, sandwiches/toast, and curries. A few weeks ago, I had potatoes that needed to be used, so I made these Mustard Seed-Potato Curry Lettuce Tacos: potatoes, black beans, tomatoes, garlic, quartered shallots, fresh coconut milk, apple, raisins, cilantro, lemon, yellow mustard seeds, and a blend of curry spices. Homemade Greek-style yogurt to top them off. They were very satisfying.

2 more dishes with potatoes: Grilled Summer Salad w/ Queso Fresco & Potato Croutons. My initial craving when composing this salad was raw squash, potatoes and grilled corn. I added to it a bit with spring mix, grilled asparagus & peppers, and roasted tomatoes. I used the queso recipe from this post, but with skim milk. I made a quick cilantro dressing and squeezed the charred limes over the top. Really delicious. I decided to add about a 1/4 cup more corn after I snapped the pic.

Gazing at the Healthy Snacks post, I also decided to make the Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites (simple and tasty!) and Skinny Pizza Potato Skins:

The pizza skins in the post were pepperoni, but I usually prefer veggie pizza. I made these on the spur of the moment, so I had to whip up my short-cut pizza sauce. I took the pic pre-oven as I was starved & knew a post-oven pic would delay my eating (toaster or convection ovens are a great option here). Toppings were sautéed squash & kale, caramelized onion, marinated artichoke, and the queso. Instead of cutting the potato in half, I just cut small rounds. I think I’ll go with the halves (as indicated in the recipe) next time. The small rounds were difficult to get enough of the toppings on. But, I think they would be fab party apps. These really hit the spot, and I will be making them again for sure.

I’m finding so many ways to use the homemade yogurt! I slathered a bit on a piece of fish for a pistachio crust:

I enjoyed this particular meal so much, I made it 2 days in a row. I had a flashback to culinary school (way back in the day) the first preparation. During one class, the chef instructor decided that I should be the ‘chosen one’ to filet a sturgeon. I just recall that it was HUGE — almost as big as I am, haha! Plums (raw) are a fruit that I have to be in the mood to have. Grilled, though, I could eat them every day. I served the fish with a berry-shallot relish, and a baby chard, spin, kale salad w/ berries, sunflower seeds, and a berry vin. For the most part, when I mention I made a vin on this blog, it doesn’t have as much oil as many recipes call for. I usually find some other flavor-packed liquid to sub & punch it up with other herbs, spices, etc. Oil, of course, has a certain mouth-feel and balancing quality, so I try to find things comparable. Also pic’d is a petite rosemary baguette (used this technique w/ my food processor) and rosemary tea. Just hot water & fresh rosemary. One of my fave comforting teas. Yes, it’s hot outside! But, there’s A/C inside, and I always prefer hot tea to cold when I can have it.

Last item for today: I finally had a bit of chicken, so I was able to make the grilled chicken with the Turkish spices. I used the same honey & balsamic mixture as the chickpeas. Yums! The Turkish spices were also great on home fries. I was inspired by the Grilled Chicken Caesar Skewers with Kale Pesto, as well. I used the same lemony-buttermilk Caesar dressing as in this post, and a baby chard, spin, kale, sunflower seed pesto. As with vinaigrettes, I usually lighten up my pestos by using less cheese & nuts and replacing some of the oil with stock. I might also add in some other wacky ingredients. Other skewers pic’d here are pomegranate molasses-mint, and homemade Italian dressing.

— Went to my friend’s fashion conference last week and all was grand. There was an Arabian horse show, as well as jewelry, accessories, and clothing galore. There are 3 class “break-out” sessions, so I chose to attend the Latin dance class the first session. It was SO fun, but I really should have come prepared with a workout outfit (instead of my vintage frock). There were also hula dancers for entertainment:

If someone can turn Latin dance into a fitness trend, I think the next one should be hula. It looks like it would be a blast.

This year, there was an award given for ‘Best Dressed,’ and one dress that had many of us “oohing and ahhhing” was this:
Sakura | Henkaa.com.

It’s a convertible dress by Henkaa. This style is called Sakura, but they have several other styles available. You choose your length and color, and they also have additional accessories to coordinate. I think the young lady demo-ing the dress said there were as many as 60 style possibilities. Now, that’s what I call a SQUEAL DEAL! Make sure to check out the website! *Edit: Here is a direct link to the young lady’s personal page for the Henkaa dresses. FYI, you can also host a style shoppe and earn 1/2 OFF items, as well as rewards dollars to spend on items from Henkaa. Awesome!*

I barely snapped ANY conference pics this year, but here are a couple of things I found interesting:

Rolling bag & the black fringe bag next to it

Handmade jewelry

I like these flowy prints (will Hello Kitty ever stop being so popular? I think not, lol).

— 67 Homemade, All-Natural Cleaning Recipes.

— And, I thought a cutting board is a cutting board is a cutting board. After seeing some of these beauties, I might have developed a new culinary product love. Why do people have to tempt you? Fabulous cutting boards and other kitchen goodies here (several items on sale & have a peek at the accompanying food blog while you’re there):
Products – Bowl & Pitcher

— Upcycled Furniture / awesome ideas! | Decorating Ideas | Pinterest.

— Today’s good eats: 
Impressive Date Night Desserts: Raspberry Souffle With Framboise Liqueur | cravelocal.com. 

52 Herbal Tea Recipes | adelightfulhome.com. Enjoy them hot or cold!

Seafood Lasagna Recipe For The Seafood Lovers | Taste the Food and Fruit.

Fermented Food for Kids: A Guide with Kid-Friendly Recipes | fearlesseating.net.

 Baked Mediterranean Fish | texies.co.za Easy Peasy

Salted Chocolate + Caramel Ice Cream Cake | Coley Cooks.

Cherry Tomato Sauce | frogsinmykitchen.com.

Ginger Sweet Potato Juice | Natural Thrifty.

Blackberry Gin Fizz Float | browneyedbaker.com.

‘Til next time!

My Way, No. 26

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— How to Create a Work Wardrobe on a Budget. Did you enjoy the Stitch Fix clothing site? The young lady who started the trend among the cohorts recently told me she feels most comfortable in a skirt at work. I replied that (in an office setting), I feel most comfortable in a skirt suit. She said she thought people would laugh at her if she wore a suit. Professional dress for the office has always been important to me, and this blog post gives a few tips on working it on a budget. A while back, I managed a non-profit women’s business clothing boutique (one of many roles in a large organization). Those looking for professional interview and work wear were able to receive several outfits, accessories, a handbag, shoes, and toiletries to jumpstart their careers. It was really one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. Many women in the community donated clothing for this venture, as well as several large mall clothing stores (Big THANKS to those who give back!). You might look for similar organizations within your community (for men or women). Donations of this kind are so appreciated by those who receive them. I would always tell the clients my ‘first job’ story (a short-lived job, as the business closed a month after I started): I was informed by the assistant manager that the general manager chose me (over those with experience, resumes, etc.) because I “looked better” than the other applicants. That statement has never left my thinking in professional environments. Maybe I’m stretching, but I really believe I have received several positions and promotions based on professional appearance. For many positions, I had neither experience nor education. There was the time, though, I think I was hired because I told the interviewer I liked her hair. I wasn’t qualified at all. Her face just lit up, and I got the job, haha!

— As I mentioned in my post World Mental Health Day, 2014 & NAMI Multi-Cultural Action Center, July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Look for another edition of my Mental Health Series soon. Previous installments can be found under the category of Health on my blog menu (click on the 3 lines at the top right-hand corner of the screen to view the menu).

— Today’s Adventures in Food (I may get back to WhirlwinDISH posts sometime soon): Encouraged by my Healthy Appetizers Post, I gave a few more lighter bites a try this past week. Nothing fancy, just some standard-type apps. I don’t know that I would deem my nibbles health-y, but perhaps health-ier or light-er than what I could have had (in sat fat, trans fat, calories, salt, sugar, whatever the new latest thing we are not supposed to have is, etc, lol). I saw a recipe listed from that roundup for Teriyaki Turkey Bites, and that sounded smashing. I whipped up a quick kitchen sink-teriyaki with orange zest. I used very finely ground turkey (which you can do with a food processor), garlic, onion, s&p, brown rice flour, and my homemade non-fat yogurt. I baked them off, then gave them a good roll around in the sauce reduction. Finished with a bit more orange zest. These were absolutely fabulous — melt in your mouth tender. And, I used wonton wrappers for an eggroll type filling — shredded Brussels, carrots, leeks, salmon, fresh ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Wonton wrappers are a quick, easy portion control vehicle for any number of fillings. You can do breakfast burrito-type filings, ravioli, fruit, all kinds of meats or veggies, potatoes (like pierogies)…so many possibilities. They are usually only 15-20 calories per wrapper. I just gave them a Misto of oil and baked until golden. Along with a pot of goji berry green tea, I was in petite food heaven.

I also made these Honey-Balsamic Turkish Chickpea Mini Pitas:

My mom had a Turkish spice blend from Penzeys’ Spices that I wanted to try on grilled chicken. Lacking chicken again, lol, I came up with these mini-pitas instead. (I also saw a Grilled Chicken Caesar Skewers with Kale Pesto recipe on the Apps post I would like to try. Yums!) Penzeys’ has several U.S. locations, so you might try locating one in your area. If you are unable to find one, you might try online or mail orders. I know many of you make your own blends, but some of you may not. I make many of my own, but I also use blends that others have put together. I know folks in remote and rural areas appreciate the handiness of mail deliveries! Penzeys’ has some wonderful blends, as well as single spices and herbs available. I love receiving their catalouge every month. They feature wonderful down-home recipes, and the business owner always writes such nice letters. He seems a socially conscious/responsible sort. I relayed that to one of the store employees, and she said, “Everyone says he’s really like that. Very kind, transparent…what you see is what you get.” That makes me feel good about shopping there. The employees are there to build relationships, not just sell merchandise. I think if you care about people, the rewards will eventually come. Anyway……..about these pitas: I made the bread the same way I did in my Making Yeast Bread Doughs with a Food Processor post, subbing non-fat yogurt for oil. They were about 3 inches across. I stuffed them with a bit of homemade yogurt cheese, carrots, lettuce, tomato, and cukes. I’ve found I do not have to simmer the chickpeas for an hour or so if I soak them overnight. Once soaked, I just season them (this time with balsamic vin, honey, spritz of oil, and the Turkish spices) and roast. Major time-saver!

There was also a spinach-artichoke dip in the Healthy Apps post that could be made low fat or fat-free. I made mine with yogurt cheese, light mayo, s&p, romano, marinated artichokes, beet greens from the freezer, garlic chives, scallions, and capers. I thought the beet greens would turn the dip pink, but miraculously, they did not bleed all that much. I had them frozen for smoothies, but I figured they would suffice for this recipe. I cut up some of the mini-pitas for chips and sprinkled them with my own smoked salt za’atar blend. My dip portion control tip: spoon a bit of dip onto your plate vs. dunking it into a huge bowl (or, use a shot glass like I did in this post). I have an all-in-one measuring spoon to carry to restaurants, etc. You’d be surprised how much less you use if you consciously portion it beforehand. Or, better yet…skip the dip if it’s not absolutely necessary for you to enjoy the app. Some people (my mother!) and restaurants ladle in vast amounts of oil, cream, or butter for dips and sauces, so just be aware.

To end today’s adventures, something sweet: Chunky Dark Chocolate-Covered Granola Bites. I absolutely love that low cal granola recipe I posted several months back, and I often keep that in mind when preparing granola/protein bars. I love to carry snack bars with me when I’m out. Sometimes, I forget, though, and have to grab a Clif Bar. I made these as more of a small bite for when the sweet tooth strikes. Even though they have some healthier ingredients, I don’t try to fool myself — they are really just a small chocolate candy bar, lol. I made a base batch, then divided them into several flavors: oats, oat flour, flax meal, wheat germ, a vegan meal replacement protein powder, non-fat yogurt, pepita seed butter (made with a food processor), toasted teff, quinoa, black sesame, and amaranth (nice crunch from this combo!), vanilla, pinch of salt, and honey. I wanted to use dates or date syrup for this, but I ran out. So, I subbed honey, and they were fab. The chunky add-ins were: goji berries, almonds, cacao nibs, and toasted sesame. I planned on a chile version, as well, but forgot. My fave was the sesame. I really savor the flavors of sesame and chocolate. Even without the chocolate, this was one of my favorite granolas I’ve made over the years. I’m glad I have this blog to keep my memories!

— While taking yoga instructor classes, I met a terrific young lady DIYer. She made all sorts of things like flip flops from recycled tires and homemade sunblock. As the heat goes on (and on), I thought I would share this natural sunscreen (no parabens or undesirables) post: 3 Natural Sunscreen Recipes to Make at Home for Cheap | treehugger.com.

— Gatsby Inspired Hair Accessories | fashionlady.in.

— What you can do with rocks and stones!

Chanticleer Part 2: Garden Seating | CAROLYN’S SHADE GARDENS

Creative Stacked Stone Wall Ideas | goodhomedesign.com. Love the re-purposed wine bottles one.

— Featured Recipes:
Salt Cod Croquettes | finedininglovers.com.

Mango Raspberry Jelly with Pomegranate and Chia Seeds | noGuilt Nutrition.

10 Ricette Vegane con la Papaya | ecco.it.

Muhammara and Cucumber Bites | phamfatale.com.

Grilled Carrot & Walnut Salad with Carrot Top Pesto | Dishing Up the Dirt. This is a farmer’s blog. Read their posts on the trials (like deer consuming some of their crops 😦 ), tribs, and triumphs of working the land. It’s really interesting. Then, make this salad.

Mushroom, Onion, and Stout Grilled Cheese Sandwiches | floatingkitchen.net.

Earl Grey Caramels | Patisserie Makes Perfect.

Pineapple, Raspberry, and Peach Sangria Blanca | cookswithcocktails.com.

Take care! ‘Til next time!

Recipes: Memorial Day: Hamburger & Hot Dog Buns, & Chocolate Chip Cookies

Homemade Whole Wheat Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns | My Humble Kitchen.

Memorial Day is on the way here in the States. I would like to post a ton of recipe ideas for you to consider, but I have a rather busy week planned. I may find time to post a few last-minute ones, but we’ll see. For now, I wanted to share links for homemade hamburger and/or hotdog buns, as well as some ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies.

My plan was to just post the buns recipe in anticipation of the Holiday, but I couldn’t quite wait that long to make them. Home-milled flour attracted me to this recipe: a blend of hard red winter wheat berries (whole wheat flour) and soft white wheat berries (whole wheat pastry flour). Alternatively, you can just use store-bought white flour. I had soft white wheat berries, but I had consumed all my hard red (I love using them for cold salads). The recipe cautions against using store-bought whole wheat flour vs. home-milled, as your buns will be too dense (and not at all pleasant). What to do? Burgers were calling out to me, & I didn’t want to wait to run to the market. *Sidenote: for my Tucson friends, Food Conspiracy Co-op has both the hard & soft berries in the bulk section.* I decided to mill my soft berries and use store-bought whole wheat flour with some vital wheat gluten added (ratio for vital wheat gluten to flour is 1 TBSP:1 Cup). The full recipe yields 16 hamburger or hotdog buns (or a mixture of both). I only made a quarter of the recipe and formed 8 ‘slider’ burger buns. They were fabulous! I did sub oil for the butter in the recipe, as I can only have so much dairy with fat (and I wanted at least one burger with my homemade cheese…so, I was pushing it).

I made this recipe with a food processor, using the method I just posted. Easy peasy! I did not have to adjust the water or flour at all. I will be making the recipe with the home-milled hard wheat berries soon. Great project to get kids interested in cooking (especially, if you grind the wheat yourself). Please check it out! Slider bun pic (homemade pickled jalapeños = yum!):

On to the sweet treats!

The Best Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pinch of Yum.

I had to force myself to not whip up a batch of these as soon as I saw them. I knew I would eat them all. No, be rational, I thought…wait until the Holiday so you can give some to others. I love all types of cookies, but especially soft chocolate chip and Girl Scout Cookies. They are really dangerous for me to be around. All knowledge of portion control goes out the window, so I have to take safety precautions, lol. Anyway, these will surely be a crowd-pleaser for your Holiday, but they would also be fab for potlucks, gifts for friends, family, etc., or taking to the office as a treat for your co-workers.

Happy cooking, & I’ll be back soon!

Recipes: Resurrection Sunday (Easter)

Food Wishes Video Recipes: Some Happy Easter Lamb Recipes | foodwishes.blogspot.com.

Happy Good Friday if you’re celebrating! I am celebrating several Holidays this next week or so: Passover, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday (Easter). Hopefully, some of you are having a long weekend away from work. I’ve been thinking a lot about life symbolism this week. My brain started churning after watching a 1940’s movie (full of symbolic meaning for me). Then, I started thinking about Holiday food symbolism…for instance: the unleavened Passover bread, and what that means in my life. I then began to think about lamb for the coming weekend. Many have ham to celebrate this weekend, but lamb has more significant meaning for me. I often read British recipe sites, and they always have an abundance of lamb. I want to yell, “Stop it! Just stop torturing me with the lamb recipes!” lol. Lamb is not as common in the U.S., from what I can tell. Aisles and aisles of beef and pork, with a lonely section for lamb (if there is one at all). So, I decided for those of you in favor of lamb, I would share this link. There are several tasty-looking options to choose from: Grilled Lamb Steaks with Minted Honey Sherry Vinaigrette (pic), Pistachio Crusted Lamb Chops, Toasted Sesame and Root Beer Glazed Lamb, Grilled Lamb Chops with Orange and Fresh Mint Sauce, and Jinx-Proof Braised Lamb Shanks.

Savory Herb Cheese Bread | fivehearthome.com.

A bread wreath is also common for many. This monkey bread recipe immediately reminded me of the ‘crown of thorns,’ but also of the fact that this dough is ‘risen.’ The recipe is quite simple and uses fridge biscuits. But, you could easily make your own.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing weekend (whether you are partaking in Holidays this week or not). I will be back sometime next week!

Recipe: St. Patrick’s Day

Meat Pasties with Guinness for St. Patrick’s Day | handbag.com.

One more recipe for St. Patrick’s Day! I love pasties, and these look particularly mouth-watering. Back in the day, I worked as a recipe tester for a couple of cookbooks. One of the books was for an Irish Pub, and I recall making an Irish Stew with Guinness. This is a very similar type of recipe, but with a nice bit of crust. I think you could very easily put this in a slow cooker, then go on about the rest of your day. You can also roll out your own crust, if you’re up to it. Just FYI, this recipe calls for Ballymaloe Country Relish. As I had never heard of it, I had to look it up. It’s a tomato-based relish and sounds delish! Here’s a homemade recipe version if you do not have access to the actual product: Ballymaloe Country Relish.

These pasties look to be a very economical, hearty, and satisfying meal. Don’t just limit these to St. Patrick’s Day, though. I think they would be delightful at any time of the year.

Enjoy!

My Way, No. 3

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— This DIY Fork Photo Display is so cute. I think it would be a great idea for dinner party, etc., place card holders. And, if you’re having a gathering, I absolutely adore this easy DIY Marble Cheese or Cake Stand.

— So, I said in a recent post that our jacket and scarf weather is very brief here in Tucson. But, I saw this post about 11 Ways to Wear Statement Collar Coats and had to share it. I don’t know if I could pull a few of these styles off, but they are fun to look at. I love looking at different styles regardless of whether or not they are ‘me.’ If I had one person I wish I could emulate fashion-wise, it would be Jackie O. She had such a simple, elegant style. I think of her style as I prepare for different occasions, but I still try to be ‘me’ (read my post on how to not be a total copycat, lol 😉 ).

— You know I have to post a few recipes that are tempting, so here goes: Homemade Vegan Tamales, Old Fashioned Panna Cotta with Bourbon, Bitters, and Tangerines, Loin of Venison in Sloe Gin and Blackberry Glaze. I love venison! The first time I had it, it was prepared by my friend’s mom. She wouldn’t tell us what it was until we finished eating it, haha. Having lived in Texas for a bit, I became obsessed with tamales. We have a fab tamale co. here in Tucson. Tucson Tamale Co. has several locations with many vegan and vegetarian options. If you are not in Tucson, you can order them online: Tucson Tamale Company. Here’s a few pics from one of my visits (tamale is blue corn with calabacitas):

 

— Last ‘My Way‘ post I was stuck on fries, and now I’m on breakfast burritos. That love also comes from my stay in Texas. If there was one meal everyone could agree on, it was breakfast burritos. When our friends were together, they were usually made pretty simply with scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese, and chorizo. I only buy chorizo every once in a blue moon, and I’m fasting from cheese right now…so, I am making them with just homemade tortillas, eggs, veggies, & my lacto-ferm salsa. I especially love the combo of mushrooms and asparagus. I didn’t take any pics because I was so hungry when I made them. Usually my meal pics are not as cute then, as I’ve said in previous posts, haha!

— Yes, I’ve been craving burritos, but I feel a salad wave coming on…a big, big, BIG salad…and I need this bowl to put it in: Siberian Elm Bowl. You could swim in this bowl!

— OK, as I am not the best at craft projects, I thought I would throw this idea out there for some of you who are. There is probably someone out there doing this already, but I haven’t researched it. A few years ago, I picked up a couple of ‘Healthy Salad Dressing’ bottles at a yard sale. They are pretty cool and easy to use. The bottles are labeled with exact ingredient amounts, and you just fill the bottles accordingly. Here’s what they look like:

They give instructions to “add miscellaneous ingredients first, then add liquids to the indicated levels.” My thinking is that you could easily make one of these with perhaps a canning or decorative jar, paint pen (or sticky letters or something similar), and your own recipe(s). Perhaps a clear coat would be wise if you need to protect your writing. I think this would be a great gift idea, even better if you had a batch of dressing already made in the jar.

That’s it for now. See you next time!