Swirling Leaves

I feel the beginning of fall.  I feel the stirring of the fall season creeping around the corner.  I feel the most wonderful time of the year to me.  I love the bustle of the fall.  I love the changing of leaves, the movement of wild life bustling through the greenbelt and the rich jewel tones of the fall.  

I am a fall baby.  I was born in the fall.  The fall is my happy place.  The fall brings peace to my soul.  I love to entertain at all times.  I find myself making warm, comfort food with a healthy twist to the recipes.  I wear my boots, jeans, denim shirts and drink rich robust coffee.  I take more road trips.  

Whew, a lot of "I" in there but after all, it is a time for me to embrace fully.  

The word gather means to take in from "scattered places" ..that is only one of the definitions.  I think to gather is a time for us to relax a little more in the fall.  This is a time where we cast reflections of the year that has passed by us.  We review the seasons with fond memories that have brought smiles to our faces, made our hearts full of love and memories to keep forever.  The season at the end of the year is a time for us to gather together with loved ones and friends.  We are at a more peaceful pace to enjoy the fall fairs, the flea markets, craft fairs, football games, small dinners, and adventures.  

So..when you find yourself at a gathering be sure to look at each one who is surrounding you.  Take a deep breath, look at the glorious evening or day, and remember you are blessed.  Be grateful.  Be thankful.  Be blessed.  The bliss of the gift is so very simple.

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!

Weekend Warrior

I don't know how you welcome your weekends of non-work days, but I welcome the days with a giddy anticipation of the adventures that will unfold for me.

Glorious colors of all the colors of fall on the back roads as I travel to fall festivals, music, wine/vineyards, and  farmers markets.  My sissi and I never meet a stranger.  Nope..you will not remain a stranger for long if you are within a few feet or just inches from our circle.  I love to connect with people.  I love to identify a unique piece of jewelry, hairstyle, clothing or maybe the item they are viewing while shopping.  Why not?  You just never know of you might meet.  You just never know if you might end up having a glass of coffee or adult beverage to round out the by chance meeting.

Last week I visited an estate sale.  I met the owner of this grand historic home in Dripping Springs.  She shared the rich history of the home.  She shared that the house had been her and (now deceased) husband of 40 plus years.  She also told me the story behind the piano sitting in the living room  The piano had belonged to her husbands aunt.  She had taught piano to all the children of the local families.

I knew at that very moment I was exactly where I needed to be on my journey.  I was given a gift of love with a story of rich family history of a house that was home that gave so much love.  I could feel the love.  I could close my eyes to vision the aunt playing the piano as she taught her students.  I could see the love in this woman, who I just happened to meet, for the love of this house..her home.

Oh, how you enrich my journey each day with the abundance of love you have for me.  You are in my life every moment.  You bring me small miracles that touch my heart and soul forever.

I am grateful I have the gift of hospitality.  I am grateful that I was taught to say hello to the person you encounter on your journey.

My life is a beautiful journey.

Weekend Warrior

I don't know how you welcome your weekends of non-work days, but I welcome the days with a giddy anticipation of the adventures that will unfold for me.

Glorious colors of all the colors of fall on the back roads as I travel to fall festivals, music, wine/vineyards, and  farmers markets.  My sissi and I never meet a stranger.  Nope..you will not remain a stranger for long if you are within a few feet or just inches from our circle.  I love to connect with people.  I love to identify a unique piece of jewelry, hairstyle, clothing or maybe the item they are viewing while shopping.  Why not?  You just never know of you might meet.  You just never know if you might end up having a glass of coffee or adult beverage to round out the by chance meeting.

Last week I visited an estate sale.  I met the owner of this grand historic home in Dripping Springs.  She shared the rich history of the home.  She shared that the house had been her and (now deceased) husband of 40 plus years.  She also told me the story behind the piano sitting in the living room  The piano had belonged to her husbands aunt.  She had taught piano to all the children of the local families.

I knew at that very moment I was exactly where I needed to be on my journey.  I was given a gift of love with a story of rich family history of a house that was home that gave so much love.  I could feel the love.  I could close my eyes to vision the aunt playing the piano as she taught her students.  I could see the love in this woman, who I just happened to meet, for the love of this house..her home.

Oh, how you enrich my journey each day with the abundance of love you have for me.  You are in my life every moment.  You bring me small miracles that touch my heart and soul forever.

I am grateful I have the gift of hospitality.  I am grateful that I was taught to say hello to the person you encounter on your journey.

My life is a beautiful journey.

The Art of Gourmandizing

I am a gourmandizer...yes I admit that I am a gourmandizer.  I love to create, to explore different cuisine to expand my palate, to nosh with friends, to nosh while researching, to nosh with family...yes I love to gourmandize!

Do you find yourself seeking a new way to prepare a favorite dish?  Do you seek to improve the dish for a healthier option?  Maybe partake more of a plant based lifestyle?  Enjoy fruits and vegetables?  I am forever seeking new ideals or simply to look at fruit, vegetables, grains, bread, tofu, greens as a wide open canvas of deliciousness.

Summer is here....grilling food will be more readily adapted to our lifestyle of preparing meals.  Let's explore grilling.


Appetizer

Rosemary Bruschetta
Yield 20 servings (possibly more depending on how large you cut the slices)

1 Boule of Rosemary Sourdough  * cut on bread slicer if available to 14
Grill to the side of hot coals.  Brush with light olive oil. Turn till grill marks show
Remove slices of Rosemary
Cut into 4ths
Place on a treated driftwood platter or a favorite platter

Surround the platter with fresh herbed goat's cheese, heirloom tomatoes marinated in sea salt with olive oil and cut in half , caramalized red onions, bowls of lemon hummus, fresh arugula, olive medley,  small slices of sweet red marinated peppers .


Lemon and Cilantro Grilled Chicken
Yield 6 servings

6 free range chicken breasts
You may place your breasts in a plastic bag to roll to 3/4 thickness if you like a thinner chicken breasts.
1 cup  of lemon juice
2 cloves of garlic (mashed)
1 cup of olive oil
sea salt and tri colored peppercorns to taste
Fresh sage to taste.  Be bold with your herbs!  Choose more like thyme, lemon grass..

Let marinate in a glass dish for at least 1 1/2  hours to marry the flavors together. NO METAL to be used when marinating with acidic marinades.

Have your coals ready or gas grill to medium heat.  Cook at 350 degrees to 375 degrees is the key  Oil the grates to prevent sticking of meat always!   Cook your chicken breasts on each side for a few minutes.  Be sure to use a meat thermometer!


Grill until done internally 165 degrees.  Some cooks pull at 150 degrees to keep the moisture and full flavor.

Enjoy!


Zesty Arugula Salad
Yield: 6 servings

1 container arugula salad
6 sliced radishes
2 to 3 roma tomatoes
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Red Peppers
Grilled onions

Crumbled Black Pepper Feta cheese

 Make a bed of arugula on a salad plate, lay the grilled asparagus, red peppers and onions over the salad greens, lay slices of  spicy radishes or radish sprouts then top of with juicy slices of romas with cracked black pepper feta cheese.

Dressing:  Delicious lemon vinaigrette

Summer Breeze

The beginning of summer...the crisp delightful sunny days greet us as we set off on adventures that will take us to places that we love or new explorations.  The summer glimmering across the waters, the cool of the mountains in their majestic views, countries with their rich culture and roadtrips to surrounding towns with treasures to unfold.  You hold the key to the boundless journey of adventures.

Adventures can be as close as your backyard.  The gaiety of parties abound with twinkling lights, friends, family, laughter, great music, farm table of  mouth watering bites to eat, and libations!  A beautiful moon kissed with the stars.....

Imagine a whimsical setting for your summer parties.  Choose a fun string of lights, take mason jars filled with battery operated lights, round pieces of treated driftwood platters to arrange a lovely cheese platter, fresh vegetables, fruits and desserts.  

Create your table with mismatched china, mason jars for drinks or  mix and match bright colored  or one color of non breakable plates to paint a colorful background for the table.  Paint the background with lights to glow all around, a mix of tunes to tap a toe to then step off into the darkness to have a star gazing party.  

Give life to the essence of summer that is waiting for you!