Hello November

Hello November, my sweet friend, who brings to me the anticipation of :

rainy day
warm comfort food
small gatherings
shopping
fall vintage markets
super moon viewing

My body clock starts the tempo of yearning to wear boots, flannel shirts with age, jeans, leggings, always my go to turquoise jewelry and road trips.  I can always find an excuse to go on a road trip just about any season of the year.

The crisp cooler air mixed with the aromatics of fall.  Heady earthy scents wrap around me.  I stop for a moment...ahhh...one more glorious fall that I will thoroughly embrace for the treasured gifts that I will receive.

I am planning a trip to go to view the fall leaves that turn here in Texas.  Yes, we have leaves that actually give to us the beauty of the jewel tones of fall.  The southwest region has a beautiful drive peppered with hills that give us the beauty of the maples, rich henna colored rock walls, famous apple town of Texas , and the reminder that life is grand in small towns. I will be remote..no T.V. no computer.

Rejuvenate
Reconnect
Relaxtion

I have already started to anticipate my trip.  I have a plan on paper for my Thanksgiving.  I have  a "no-plan" for my non-work days.  Adventures are waiting.  Find your adventure!

I will cook, sit by a fire, look at the wide open sky that twinkles with stars and be grateful.












Take a moment to find your fall adventure.  A gathering with friends would be a great start to kick off the adventures of  November.  How about a Super Moon Viewing on November 14th?

Sparkling Cranberry Drink

2 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon
1 bottle of Cranberry Sparkling Water
1-2  cans of cranberry or bottles of cranberry drink
ice in star shapes ( if you have a star ice tray) or cranberries frozen in ice

Mix all together.  You can adjust the amount of the cranberry juice to your liking or be creative to add a bottle of pomegrante juice instead of 2 cranberry.  Add the ice cubes just before serving.

This is a lovely drink in a glass drink dispenser.

Cheesey Bread

1 can of crescent rolls in sheet form
1 package of cheddar cheese* only use 4 ounces of cheese
2-4 T  flour
1-2 T butter
pastry brush
paprika
italian seasoning
baking sheet

Preheat oven according to directions on package
roll out sheet on floured board
cut  out shapes with leave cutter or by hand
place on parchment paper on cookie sheet
sprinkle with cheese
dust with paprika and italian seasoning for color

Bake
Remove
Serve hot or cold

Make a beautiful tray of red grapes, walnuts,  cheeses, hummus

Happy Super Moon Gazing!

Fundamental Things

I love the word fundamental.  Fundamental! Fundamental! Fundamental! ...How could you not love the word?  The word has fun and mental which means to me that you need fun for a great mental attitude.  This may be a little primitive in the overall definition or phonetic break down; yet it works for me.

The intrinsic value of a  great mental attitude gives to us the ability to approach any obstacle on our journey.  We should look at our journey being grateful for all the gifts we will receive.  Oh sure, life happens.  Life throws a big ol' curve in your otherwise lovely life plan to stir up you.  Yep..you.

We all become complacent at times on our everyday routine.  Are we giving ourselves the inner encouragement to be positive with a can do attitude towards any obstacle?  Are we embracing our inner self to quietly say "just breathe.. you got this".  Life happens with illnesses, deaths, births, career choices, family issues and then....your own playground of life. Yet no matter what the obstacle might be for the moment or the day; you should choose the stronger positive mentality to endure all that has been placed before you.  

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”Helen Keller

We can choose to make the day a better day.  We can choose to be grateful.  We can choose to look for peace and joy in the smaller things of life instead of always seeking the peace and joy to come from larger events.

Choose today to be the powerful loving person you deserve to be on this journey.

Choose today to be present in the moment.  

Choose to "just breathe"

Choose to be the woman warrior that you are in all areas of your life.

Choose to be brave, thoughtful, kind, compassionate.

Choose to think of others before yourself.


Choose to say hello to a stranger

Choose to be the glorious loving being you are

Choose "it's okay to say no"


Choose to give yourself a "me" day to rejuvenate

Be Here. Be Present.

Wherever you are, be there

Willie Nelson

We are capable of truly being peaceful on our journey.  

Brunch to Celebrate the Women in Your Life

May 8

Not all the women in your life may have children.   However along the way of their journey I am sure they have nurtured a friend during times babbling "mother inspired" sayings, baby sat, had a sibling or even a pet or two.  Yes, motherhood takes on many forms and hats... If you are like me your Mom is now your angel ever present in your journey.

As I listen to one of  my favorite bluegrass artist, Sarah Jaroz, I thought I would be berry inspired for a fun celebration brunch

Celebrate !  Just Celebrate the Life of Your Women Friends, Daughters, Sisters, Cousins, Aunts, Co-workers, Neighbors...just Celebrate!!

Gift Ideals

Small nosegays of picked or purchased flowers
A coupon for a picnic lunch
A coupon for a "Mom's Day" out
Lotions, creams, bath bombs, cleansers made by you with natural products * more on recipes on another blog soon
Movie or movie tickets
Dinner preparations for two or four
Bottle of wine with chocolate
Crafted gifts made by the grandchildren
Live Music Outing
Museum or Wildflower Center visit

The thought in the gift is what truly is measured.  Be as simple as your want or extravagant but make sure that the gift is a reflection of the recipient .

Now about those recipes

Berrylicious Sangria
Yield 8 to 10 6 oz glasses

1  to 2 bottles of Sparkling Fruit Flavored Water or Fruit based bottled Italian Soda*** you may use a ginger infused italian soda or lemon infused to bring more flavor to the sparkling water
1 to 2  Bottles of Savignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
1/2 cup of simple syrup* be sure to taste first then add as needed for sweetness
Berries of your choice * 10 to 12
Fresh Lemon wedges
Ice Cubes with berries and lemons

Serve in an 6 oz wine glass

Decadent French Toast
Yield:  6 to 8 servings

2  loaves of orange/white chocolate bread, orange bread, cherry bread, lemon bread or challah.  Ask if your bakery can slice on 16 or cut into thick slices
Variety of berries, mango  slices or chunks * I use frozen which are very delicious, grilled peaches
 1 - 1 1/2 cups of Chocolate ganache or rich chocolate topping sauce
Powder sugar
Whip Cream or Creme Fraiche
Toasted Almonds

Now let's build!

Brush lightly with butter to pan toast bread.  Mix berries and fruit with sugar to sweeten or agave,  Place a tablespoon on toast to spread to ends, then add fruit mixture on slice of bread, sprinkle with a little powdered sugar,  put 2nd  slice of toasted bread on top.  Add whip cream or creme fraiche with a spoon drizzle of chocolate topped with more powder sugar.  Top with a sprinkle of toasted almonds.

For heartier appetites you can include turkey bacon, apple cured bacon or links to serve along side
Mini quiches

Coffee Bar

Fresh brewed Coffee
Whip Cream
Flavored Cream
Cinnamon
Mocha or chocolate powder
Nutmeg
Caramel

Fresh Juice Bar
Mango
Pineapple
Guava


Now I do not have pictures as I write without cooking the dish at the time.  So..here is the closest picture..

Celebrate!  Celebrate!  Celebrate!

Let's Celebrate Food!!!

We have reasons to celebrate food.  Yes, we can celebrate food with food holidays  or month long celebrations of food everyday of the month. Can you imagine the endless stream of possibilities for each of us to indulge in our favorite foods or even to take the journey of the unknown as we bravely decide to try a food or drink that we might not otherwise experience on our food journey.

One of my favorite sites foodimentary.com list all the food holidays along with listing the national month, daily, and food history .  I love to peruse through the months becoming almost giddy as I know there are days to celebrate chocolate, crafted beer, popcorn, strawberry shortcake, blood mary, and even "I Love Food" national day!  Yes, creating these national food holidays or months certainly gives pure bliss for any foodie.

As we close in on the end of April take a few of these last days to enjoy:

National Florida Tomato Month
National BLT Sandwich Month
National Soft  Pretzel Month
National Soyfoods Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Garlic Month

April's Celebration Sandwich

6 Pretzel Rolls
12 pieces of bacon * real bacon or subsitute Morningstar or Turkey Bacon
Soy based veggie burgers or turkey breast sliced thinly  * 3 oz per sandwich
Gouda cheese or vegan cheese
Garlic Aioli
2 Florida Tomatoes
Arugula

Warm the pretzel rolls on your griddle, cook bacon pieces to crispness that you enjoy.  Cook your veggie burgers as instructed.  The deli turkey breast can be flavored if you want as there are several wonderful infused options.

Garlic Aioli
1 cup mayonnaise
1 T lemon
2 pods of garlic to taste.  You may bake your garlic then mash the pods to mix with your mayonnaise
sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste
*may be made the day before to marry the flavors



Open pretzel roll
spread garlic aioli
2 pieces of bacon
place turkey or veggie burger
gouda or vegan cheese
arugula with slice of Florida tomato

Serve this celebration sandwich with a spicy coleslaw, sweet potato fries or your favorite side dish.

Grab your plate, a glass of crafted beer as you prepare to savor the flavors of the foods celebrated for the month of April!