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Friday, April 29, 2016

Friday Ramblings

       Hello All! I hope you have had a great week. Mine has been pretty good so far and I have  nothing to complain about. We have been having wonderful weather and I have been enjoying every minute of it. Sunny and breezy but not hot. How I dread the summer months. I am not ready to feel like I am baking in the oven, but then again who is? I have been very inspired this week in the kitchen and have been creating some new recipes. After I test them a few times with the changes I need to make I will post them. I do love creating new things. I feel like you put a piece of yourself in the recipe. I have shared a recipe I created earlier this week and that was the carne asada recipe and it was good. I was pretty proud of it. It was a shame the dog ate the rest of it I'm sure it would have been good leftovers. My husband was a little upset about this occurrence but he will eventually get over it. I am sure other pet owners have had this happen to them at some point. I really did not have much happen this week so I will sign off now. I need to go make a sweet treat for one my coworkers whose birthday it is today but I will be talking to you soon.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Carne Asada


      I think I have mentioned a few times that my husband loves Mexican food and I could take it or leave it. This recipe for Carne Asada may have the ability to change my mind. Lately I have been finding a lot of inspiration for recipes and as silly as it sounds I sometimes dream about food. Crazy I know, unless you dream about food and then maybe not so crazy. Any hoo. I have been trying to come up with my own marinade recipes for meats so I would not have to buy the ones from the store. They have so many preservatives and sometimes ingredients you cannot pronounce that making my own seems like the way to go. I believe the one I made for Carne Asada is close to perfection. We both loved it. I only marinated the steak for two hours but I think it would be even better if it marinated a little longer. It was savory with a little bit of citrus notes but very delicious. I will definitely be using this marinade from now on when I make Carne Asada. We made tacos out of it this time and will be making burritos in the future. This recipe is so easy and takes little time to whip together.

Carne Asada
 
Ingredients
 
  1. 1 1/2 lb. flank steak
  2. 1/3 c olive oil
  3. 1 jalapeno diced
  4. 1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder
  5. 1/4 c fresh squeezed orange juice
  6. 1/2 c cilantro chopped
  7. 1 lime juiced and zested
  8. 1/2 lemon juiced
  9. 1/2 tsp. salt
  10. 1/2 tsp. pepper
  11. 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Directions
 
  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
  • Using a large Ziploc bag, put the steak into the bag and pour marinade over it.
  • Massage it into the meat and let it marinate for at least 2 hours. Longer would be better.
  • After marinating, remove from bag and discard marinade.
 
  • Cook steak to your preferred temperature. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before cutting.
  • Enjoy.
 
 
 
           This marinade gave the steak a delicious flavor. I am so happy I made this. My husband was excited for left overs but that did not happen. Let's just say we turned our heads for a minute and my Great Dane decided he wanted some. He loved it too! I used a flank steak for the tacos and I can't express how good it was. I hope you give this a try. You won't regret it. I hope you have a great day and I will talk to you soon.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Sauteed Swiss Chard


      Recently I mentioned being a member of my local CSA and what I am loving about it. I have been exposed to a lot of new vegetables and without it I probably would have never tried them. This past week I received Swiss Chard in my basket and at first I had no clue what to do with it but after giving it a little thought I came up with a recipe. I have never had it before so it goes without saying I have never prepared it but I figured you could cook it like other leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale. I decided to go simple and use very minimal ingredients and I was very pleasantly surprised with how it turned out. It was so easy to make and it was a very unfussy dish that you can make any night of the week. Swiss Chard is now on the list for vegetable sides to go with dinner. The recipe I came up with uses very little ingredients but that does not mean the taste is lacking. I hope you give it a try in the future.
 
Sautéed Swiss Chard
 
Ingredients
 
  1. 1 bunch of Swiss chard stalks removed and leaves cut up in ribbons
  2. 2 T olive oil
  3. 1/2 onion diced
  4. 3 cloves of garlic minced
  5. salt and pepper to taste
  6. Splash of balsamic vinegar
  7. sprinkling of Parmesan cheese
Directions
 
  • Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat
  • Add the butter and melt
  • Add the onion and cook until it softens
 
  • Add the garlic and stir until fragrant about 1 minute
  • Add the chard to the onion and butter mixture
 
  • Cook until it wilts down about 5-8 minutes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Add a splash of balsamic vinegar
  • Remove from heat and top with Parmesan cheese if desired
 
      I feel like the splash of balsamic mellowed out the bitterness of the chard. I am not saying it was super bitter but it did have a little bite to it. I am glad I have finally tried this vegetable and will be eating it again in the near future.


Sunday, April 24, 2016

Sausage and Black Bean Soup

    
       I try to make soup at least once a week for days when we are busy and do not have time to think about cooking. The previous soup did not turn out very well so I knew I had to make a better one this time. I believe I succeeded in my endeavor. I made Sausage and Black Bean Soup this week and it was scrumptious. The beans I used came from my CSA basket the previous week and boy can you tell they were fresh. I have made this soup before and I used beans I bought from the grocery store and they never softened like they were supposed to even after hours of soaking and cooking. This made the soup have an almost gritty texture. It made me wonder how old those beans were and how long they had been sitting on the shelf. These beans softened during the soaking process and when I cooked them they were perfect. I always thought beans were beans but these proved me wrong.
     If you do not know what a CSA is it is Community Supported Agriculture. You basically pay a fee and buy "shares" into the farm in exchange you receive fresh vegetables from them weekly. It is a good way to try new vegetables while supporting local farming. I love it but there is one thing I am not loving about it right now and it's the turnips. I guess I am not a turnip fan and they keep coming. I wish I could tell them not to bring me any more but it does not work that way. Oh, well I will have to try and find ways to make them more palatable. Anyway, back to the soup.
      It was velvety and rich and very filling. The sausage added a little bit of spiciness and made it into really hearty meal. I was really happy with how it turned out and will be making it again and again especially in the winter months when it is cold outside. Any leftover soup I freeze for days when I do not have time to make a meal. I used a recipe from The New England Soup Factory Cookbook and tweaked it a little to make it my own. It tasted better the next day when the seasonings had a chance to meld together.
Sausage and Black Bean Soup
 
adapted from New England Soup Factory Cookbook
 
Marjorie Druker & Clara Silverstein
 
Ingredients
 
  1.  1 lb. of black beans dried
  2. 1 lb. of hot Italian sausage
  3. 3 T olive oil
  4. 4 cloves of minced garlic
  5. 1 large onion diced
  6. 4 carrots sliced
  7. 3 celery stalks sliced
  8. 9 c chicken broth
  9. 1 c red wine
  10. 1 can tomato paste
  11. 2 tsp. fennel seeds
  12. 1/4 tsp. crushed red peppers
  13. 1 T balsamic vinegar
  14. salt and pepper to taste
Directions
  • Place beans in a large bowl and cover with water and soak overnight in the fridge.
  • Drain beans before using.
  • Preheat oven to 350F and bake sausage for 25 minutes. Slice them when done and then set aside.
 
  • Heat olive oil in pot over medium high heat and add the onion, carrots, celery, and a pinch of salt and pepper sauté until soften.
 
  • Add black beans and sauté in vegetable mixture for about 5 minutes.
 
  • Add the wine and cook until reduced by half.
 
  • Add the tomato paste and fennel seeds and another pinch of salt and pepper and broth and bring to a boil.
 
  • Reduce heat to medium and simmer about an hour and half or until beans are very tender.
  • Remove from heat and puree soup, working in batches carefully if you do not have an immersion blender.
 
  • Return pot to heat and add the sausage, balsamic, red pepper flakes  and salt and pepper to taste.
 
  • Enjoy with your favorite toppings such as cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and diced onions if desired.
 
 
      

Friday, April 22, 2016

Friday ramblings - Dealing with disappointment

       Hello All!
 I hope you have had a good week. Mine has been decent but I did experience some moments of disappointments. I know this happens to everyone but it still upset me. I am not just talking about recipes that have gone wrong, which by the way happened, but also in life in general. I know life can't always be rainbows and butterflies and things go wrong or people may do things to upset you but it still stinks.
     I know we are all human and sometimes our actions hurt people but I believe you should be cognizant of what you are doing and how this affects others. If you can't tell I had my feelings hurt by a couple of people. I don't think they intentionally meant for it to happen but it still stung my pride more than anything. I try to think the best of people and when they do something unexpected and not in a good way it really pains me. I know I should have a thicker skin but I don't. This is just me being real. Everyone has feelings and everyone experiences disappointments you just have to learn to deal with them on your own way. I have already moped enough and given them enough power over me so I am making a conscious effort to let it go. I hope when you experience negative things you find ways to let it go too. Otherwise it just eats at you like a cancer.
     Let's talk about something more positive. It is Friday and the weekend is upon us. Do you have anything fun planned? I signed up to be a recipe tester again so I will be doing that this weekend. Maybe I will also go see a movie with the hubby while I have the chance. The next couple of weeks are going to be busy at work so I will not get to spend a lot of time with him. I have to enjoy it while I can. The recipe that I failed at this week I am going to give it another try. I think I know what went wrong so it should come out the next time. On another note, I have been brainstorming new recipes and I have developed  a list of things to try and create and am excited to get started. I have been bitten by the inspiration bug and am raring to go.
     I hope you have a good weekend filled with family and friends. I will be spending mine with my hubby and also playing around in the kitchen. I have a lot of recipes to share with you this coming week.  I hope if you have also experienced disappointment this week you have found something positive to focus on. I think these experiences can only make you stronger. Have a good weekend and I will talk to you soon.
    

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Cilantro Tequila Citrus Chicken

     
      Have you ever spent a lot of time on a recipe only for it to fail? Well, I did today so now I am a little upset. Okay, a lot upset. Picture stomping feet and growling and now you can imagine what I am doing right now. Okay, maybe I am being a little melodramatic. I have an idea of what I need to change for next time but that does not help today. I guess that is just a part of cooking. Sometimes you have success and sometimes you have a fail. It is all a part of learning in the kitchen and in life. The key is to dust yourself off and try again. Oh well. I am sure it happens to everyone. I did have a success last night so I guess my kitchen experience in the last couple of days has not been a total loss.
      Yesterday I was in a mood to break the monotonous cycle of week night dinners. We still had Burrito Tuesday but the with chicken instead of steak or pork. I am not a huge chicken fan in fact I would rather eat anything but chicken. I know red meat is not  especially good for you but it is so tasty. I have been experimenting with different flavor combinations lately as well as with alcohol. In this recipe it definitely paid off. The chicken was moist and delicious and it had an undeniably citrus tang. I loved it and I think you will too. I only marinated it for an hour and it was quite tasty as well as moist. I will be making this again in the future but for a salad instead of a burrito. This recipe is easy to make and not a lot of hands on time.
 
Cilantro Tequila Citrus Chicken
 
Ingredients
 
  1. 1 lb. chicken breast
  2. 1/4 c olive oil
  3. 1/3 c chopped cilantro
  4. 1/4 c lemon juice
  5. juice and zest of 1 lime
  6. 1/4 c tequila
  7. 1/4 tsp. salt
  8. 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  9. 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  10. 2 T Dijon mustard
 
Directions
 
  • Mix ingredients 2-10 in a bowl together and then pour over chicken.

  • Marinate for at least and hour
  • Preheat oven to 375F
  • Place chicken in baking dish with about 1/4 of the marinade poured over the top and cover with foil.


  • Remove foil for the last 5 minutes of cooking to brown on top a little.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes until chicken is no longer pink.
  • Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before cutting.
  • Enjoy



       This chicken was moist and delicious. It would be really good on top of a salad with a citrus vinaigrette. I believe next time I make it that is exactly how I am going to enjoy it. I hope you give this recipe a try and I will talk to you soon. 
  •  

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Garlic Oven Roasted Potatoes

      
      Do you ever get tired of making certain foods the same way all of the time? I know I do. When it comes to week night meals I am usually one that goes straight for easy and fast not necessarily the most creative meals especially when it comes to sides. This means I make a lot of mashed potatoes or microwaved baked potatoes. I know, shame on me but hey it's quick and does not take a lot of effort. I would eat French fries with every meal but that is not realistic nor would my husband go for it. I do eat them more than I should especially at work but that is between you and me. Don't tell anybody. Anyway, while thinking of what to make with our steak tonight I knew I did not want to make the same old boring potato. After some serious thought I decided to make oven roasted potatoes.
       I've been wanting to experiment with different preparations of foods we eat often and I am so happy I did tonight. The potatoes were soft and tender on the inside and a little crispy on the outside. The garlic flavor was subtle and not in your face but it was delicious. I certainly will be playing with flavor combinations in the future. This recipe while very easy does take a little time so it is not one you are going to be able to put on the table in 15 minutes. Most of it hands off it just requires a little stir every 15 minutes to ensure even browning. On a night where you have a little extra time give this a try.
 
Oven Roasted Garlic Potatoes
 
Ingredients
 
  1. 1 1b. red potatoes diced
  2. 1/4 c diced onion
  3. 1/4 c red and yellow peppers diced
  4. 1/4 c shaved parmesan
  5. 1/8 c olive oil
  6. 2 cloves of garlic minced
  7. 1/4 tsp. rosemary
  8. 1/2 tsp. salt
  9. 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  10. pinch red pepper flakes
 
Directions
 
  • Preheat oven to 425F
  • Toss all of the ingredients in a bowl together and mix until well coated
  • Spread into 1.25  qt. casserole dish
 
  • Turn potatoes every 15 minutes to ensure even browning
  • After 45 minutes add the parmesan cheese and return to oven for 2 minutes
  • Serve and enjoy
 
 
         The potatoes were tender and delicious but not super crispy. I think if you want a crispier potato try spreading them in an even layer on a baking sheet instead of a casserole dish. I loved how this potatoes turned out and will be making them again in the near future. I hope you are having a good week so far and I will talk to you soon.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Risotto allo Stout

    
         Recently I had the pleasure of being able to test a recipe submitted in a contest for best parmesan recipe. As I love cheese and I love risotto I thought this sounded fascinating. I would have never thought of using a beer in making risotto. Usually I use white wine in this dish but beer intrigued me.  I mentioned a short while ago I wanted to experiment with more recipes that contained alcohol and this dish was a perfect opportunity. Let's just say this dish has opened my eyes to the possibilities of other risotto dishes I will be making in the future. I have already thought up a recipe and will share it at a later date when I test it out. I can't wait to see if it works as well as this one. Anyway, back to the recipe.
      This risotto was creamy, rich, decadent, definitely worth the calories deliciousness. The pancetta in it worked perfectly adding not only a meatiness to it as well as bit of saltiness. If I had a suggestion with this recipe, it would be to cook the pancetta until crispy, removing it, and then adding it back at the end to add another texture to it. This way you have a little bit of crunchiness to go with the creaminess of this dish. Or another way to add another dimension to this dish is to add some fresh, crispy vegetables. With or without these suggestions it was delectable. I definitely will make it again the future but with a twist. The Guinness added intensity to it and I can't decide if it was slightly bitter or if it was a little nutty. Either way it was good. The hubby approved of this dish and said he would definitely eat it again in the future. I hope you give it a try.
 
Risotto allo Stout
 
recipe by Mrs. Larkin
 
Ingredients
 
  1. 2 T butter
  2. 1/2 c diced onions
  3. 1 c Arborio rice
  4. 1/2 c pancetta
  5. 1/2 c Guinness Extra Stout
  6. 2 1/2 c hot chicken stock
  7. 1 c grated parmesan cheese and a little extra for topping
  8. 1 sage leaf
  9. pinch of nutmeg
  10. 1/4 c heavy cream
  11. salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
 
 
Directions
 
  • In medium pot melt butter over medium heat and then add the pancetta and cook until brown
 
 
  • Add the onions and cook until translucent but do not brown
 
  • Add the rice and stir to coat in onion/pancetta mixture
 
  • Add the Guinness and cook until almost absorbed
 
  • In half cup increments add the stock and cook until broth is absorbed. Do this until all broth is absorbed and rice is tender.
 
  • Add the cheese, nutmeg, and sage and then remove from heat and add the cream
 
  • Top with black pepper and more parmesan cheese if desired
  • Enjoy
 
 
      This is a dish you could not eat everyday but definitely would be a good dish to serve at a dinner party or a special occasion. I also think it would make an excellent side dish paired with a lean meat as to not add to the heaviness of the dish. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as my hubby and I did. I will talk to you soon.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Friday Ramblings

Hello All!
       Another week has come and gone and it was a nice one. This week I thought I would do something different and talk about what inspires me in life. This is not limited to how I find the inspiration to create new dishes but in life in general.
      You can find inspiration in many ways. Sometimes I find inspiration from watching a program and seeing a person that has overcome adversity or has never given up and it makes me want to be better. Not just a better person but better in all ways. Sometimes people who inspire you are in your immediate circle. I have a very good friend whose son has some medical issues and he has been nonverbal until just recently. Then one day, it was if he woke up and decided, hey, I want to have conversations and he just did it. He is amazing. If this beautiful boy can overcome one of the obstacles in his life then anything must be possible. The key is to never give up and never think it can't be done. I think the point is to just find something you are passionate about and pursue it. Whatever your passion may be just do it and never let anyone take your dream away from you.
       Finding inspiration happens in many ways. Maybe a person inspires you, maybe nature does, maybe you find it through your faith, but the important thing is never believe something is impossible. When you think it is impossible that is when you will fail. Even in failing we learn. I guess the point I am trying to make is to think about what inspires your passions.
      I find inspiration in many things. People, like my friend's son, something I have seen or experienced, or sometimes nontangible things like my dreams.
      I hope you have a good week and also think about what inspires you.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Pork Carnitas Burritos

          
             Is there a type of food you are not crazy about  but your significant other loves? For me it is Mexican food. Don't get my wrong I like tacos, nachos, and sometimes burritos but usually I can take it or leave it. Now Italian food, I could eat it almost every night and not get tired of it. I love Italian food! My husband feels similarly about Mexican food so to be fair to him I am trying to expand my recipe repertoire. I have bought a couple of cookbooks to try and make some recipes out of as well as stalked pinterest looking for those that appeal to me. I am happy to say I have found one I have already made twice and will continue to make in the future. This dish is Pork Carnitas and it is good. The original recipe is from My Kitchen Escapades written by Carole Jones. I adapted it a little bit to suit our tastes but can I say winner! It is delicious and forgiving and you can make it a little spicy if that is your preference. I used the carnitas as a burrito filling and let me tell you, it might change my mind about Mexican food. I hope you give it a try.

Pork Carnitas Burritos
 
adapted from Carole Jones
 
Ingredients
 
  1. 3 lbs. of pork loin
  2. 1 1/2 tsp. of salt
  3. 1 1/2 tsp. of black pepper
  4. 1 tsp. of cumin
  5. 1 onion sliced
  6. 2 bay leaves
  7. 1 1/2 tsp. of Italian seasoning
  8. 1 lime juiced and spent halves
  9. 2 c of chicken broth
  10. 1 orange juiced and spent halves
  11. 3 cloves of garlic
  12. burrito sized tortillas
  13. 1 can of your favorite beans or homemade if you prefer
  14. 2 c of shredded cheese
 
Directions
 
  • Preheat oven to 300 F
  • Combine ingredients 1 - 11 in a Dutch oven and bring to a boil on the stove.
  •  
  • Once it is brought to a boil, place the lid and put in the oven to bake for 2 hours. Meat will be fall apart tender.
  • Shred meat and spread it out on a baking pan.
  • Pour a little of the cooking broth on top of meat and mix together, and spread it out in a thin layer. 
  •  
  • Turn oven up to broil and cook for 6 minutes on one side.
  • Add a little more cooking broth and flip over and cook for another 6 minutes on the other side until the edges are crispy.
  • Warm tortillas in a damp towel in the microwave until pliable, about 45-60 seconds
  • Fill tortillas with beans, meat, and cheese and roll it into a burrito.

  •  
     
     
  • Bake on sheet at 375 F for 15 minutes until cheese is melted and burrito is a little crisp.
  • Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy.
  •  
       As I said before, I am not a huge fan of Mexican food but this recipe is delicious. I hope you are having a good week and I will talk to you soon.



Sunday, April 10, 2016

Chocolate Chip Cookies


Hello All!
       I hope you are having an awesome Sunday. Here in Arizona it is a bit windy and cool but I love it. I am not looking forward to the summer heat and feeling like I am baking in an oven. You soon realize days like these are not to be taken for granted because before you know it, 110 will be upon you. Days like these are perfect to spend either snuggled up with a loved one or if you like me, playing in the kitchen.
      There is nothing better than the smell of cookies baking in the oven. The aroma permeates the house and even the most jaded person can't help smiling. The scent of vanilla and chocolate together evokes feelings of tranquility. Well, at least in me it does. As you know the kitchen is my happy place, my personal playground if you will. In there, I feel like anything is possible. Feeling down, make a sweet treat, if you are cold, make something spicy to warm you from within. Maybe you are homesick, you can make a favorite childhood dish and transport yourself back in time and place. Let's face it, food is love or it can at least make you feel loved. I know I am always touched when someone thinks enough of me to make a special treat. I also love spoiling people with things I make in the kitchen. Their smiles are thanks enough. Someday I want to have my own little bakery slash bookstore.  I picture it as a place where you can sit and relax with a good book while enjoying a sweet confection. Once again, I digress. Back to the cookies.
      I am always on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. While these are very good, I still think they can be better. Like they say, there is always room for improvement. These cookies are very easy to make and not super time consuming. In the recipe it does not say to chill the dough but I implore you to chill it for at least an hour. This way you minimize the chance of spreading. This dough is also a little on the sticky side so you can find it hard to scoop if you don't chill it.
     I hope I am not alone in loving the smell of fresh baked cookies and you give this recipe a try. On a scale of 1-10, I give it an 8. They were plenty chewy but they were a little thinner than I like. I prefer my cookies to be thick and chewy. I did enjoy the little bit of crunch around the edges and they were still soft the next day after storing them in an air tight container.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Monica Holland
 
Ingredients
  1. 2 1/4 c all purpose flour
  2. 1 tsp. baking soda 
  3. 1 tsp. salt
  4. 1 c unsalted butter at room temp.
  5. 3/4 c granulated sugar
  6. 3/4 c brown sugar
  7. 2 L eggs
  8. 1 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  9. 3 c semisweet chocolate chips
 
Directions
 
  • Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
  •  
  • Cream the butter and the sugars together until light and fluffy.
  •  
  • Add the eggs one at a time and mix until well blended. Add the vanilla and mix in.
  • Add the flour a little at a time and mix until just blended. Add 2 cups of chocolate chips into the dough and reserve the rest to press into the tops of the cookies if you desire.
  •  
  • Chill the dough for about an hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 375
  • Using a scoop, portion out the dough and press additional chips into the top.

  • Bake for 10 -13 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Allow cookies to cool on the pan for 5- 10 minutes before moving them to a baking rack to cool completely.
  • Enjoy.
  •  
 
      I found baking my cookies for 10 minutes caused my cookies to be a little too brown. I baked them for 9 minutes and 30 seconds and they were perfect. I hope when you bake these cookies they bring a smile to the face of your special someone. Have a good day and I will talk to you soon.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Friday Ramblings






Hello All!
      I hope you are all doing well. I had a pretty good week so far. I am super excited about finally having a Saturday off. I have not been off on a weekend day in a long time. A whole day of pajamas and spending time with my hubby sounds perfect to me. Anyway, I thought I would do something different this week with my ramblings and share 15 of my favorite feelings. I figure these posts will be about whatever I am thinking about for the week.
 
15 Favorite Feelings
 
  1. Coming home at night to my wonderful hubby. There is no better feeling than being done for the day and knowing you get to go home and relax with a loved one.
  2. Puppy Kisses.  They can be slobbery but always sweet.
  3. Back rubs from my hubby. I love when he works his magic on my back and shoulders.
  4. Drinking my morning coffee while the sun rises. Its the beginning of a new day with new possibilities.
  5. Being comfortable in my pajamas and fuzzy slippers.
  6. Lazy mornings knowing I have nothing pressing to do.
  7. Trying new things whether it be new dishes, recipes, or activities.
  8. Going new places and exploring the area. There is so much to see and so little time to do it.
  9. Snuggling with a good book. This way you can take a little vacation without leaving the comfort of your home.
  10. Changing seasons. They mark the beginning of a new chapter in your life.
  11. Creating a new recipe especially when they are a win.
  12. Sitting on the porch at night with a glass of wine dreaming of tomorrow and reflecting on the day.
  13. Talking to friends.
  14. Good night kisses from the hubby knowing when I wake up he will be here with me.
  15. Kitty cuddles. I love when my little Angel purrs while he cuddles with me.
 
      These are just a few of my favorite feelings. I hope they inspire you to think about all the things that evoke your thoughts and feelings and maybe put a smile on your face. I hope you have a great weekend and I will talk to you soon.
Beautiful Sky
 
 
 
Hercules - my baby boy.