FINALLY THROUGH SHOPPING !

Finally I am through online shopping! I have spent the last few days deciding on what I want. So to the other items I have already mentioned I added a leather cuff bracelet and a green chefs apron. My poor old black chefs apron is a rag at this this point. That apron has had many good trips to the stove. 
I also ordered some needed sheets for our king bed. King sheets are expensive. I found through Amazon a closeout on a 1500 thread count king set which includes king pillow cases they are in a deep cream color. Now if you can imagine these sheets regularly sold for $300.00. Yes it's true. When you get to that high of thread count that is what you pay. I got them for $25.00 they were the last pair on close out! Happy, happy! They came yesterday and they feel like silky cashmere. They are so incredibly soft and they will wear for years with that high thread count. I cannot wait to wash them and get them on our bed. It will be a luxurious experience.
So I am shopped out for a while.

I made a delish recipe last night. It is called. White wine coq au vin. Now usually coq au vin is made with red wine and it is equally as good but this is lighter version and we loved it.(large print here again cannot figure this out)
Now if any of you want this recipe just message me at the end of the post and I will send it off to you. I hesitate to type it up now as it is quite long.
But let me just say that it consisted of chopped chicken thighs, white wine, carrots, celery, onion, chicken broth fresh italian parsley and tarragon, herbs of provence and a few other little ingredients.  I served it over rice and it was silky, aromatic and so tender and creamy.
I just had the leftovers for lunch and hummed all over again.

All the February birthdays are upon us once more. My children, hubby's mother and three nieces and one nephew.  So the cards started going out today. It is odd how we in this family have the abundance of birthdays in February, May and October. Just those three months. Well I suppose it keeps it simple as far as remembering everyone.

We have a decent day here today as it was yesterday and this past Sunday was amazing. We had 61 degrees on the deck I really did detect a hint of spring in the air. The birds were crazy with happiness and everyone it seemed was outdoors trying to do something. But we all know there is a while yet before spring so not much one can do in the yard etc. I was lighthearted as I walked feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. A special day for February.

I am going to finish this blog now and get on with my chores that I have not finished.Then off for my walk today. I have been walking every other day as I have been plagued with shin splints.
Tomorrow hubby will be home and we are off for a lunch date. He said, lets think of somewhere different to go.....oh dear I always stress over that. I prefer my regular places where I know the food and service are to my liking. But I will try to come up with something.

Have a nice hump day.
Adios. 

MY ITEMS

How cute are these items. These are my shopping online purchases. The purse is a shoulder bag shown like this but you can fold the top down and use the other handle like a handbag. Too cute!!!!!!
I have had fun. I love the leather wraps on the watch and bracelet. I am so into green right now I do not know what has happened to me.
I saw a lady the other day in the grocery store and she had on a knee length kelly green wool coat. I just stared at it as if I were in love!
Navy blue has always been my favorite color to wear and black has always been a staple with a little rusty red,turquoise and purple thrown in. Perhaps change is good.

Well it is a lazy day around this household today. My husband is home after a long run of working. So he is totally a couch spud. We stayed in bed until after eight we have been getting up no later than six so that was a treat this morning.
We ran to get fresh cod late morning and stopped at fast food and grabbed chicken sammies for lunch.I must admit they were tasty and hit the spot. Bad us.
So tonight we dine on crispy codfish. I am making a simple coleslaw and will make some home made fries to go with.

We will not be having guests tomorrow for the Super Bowl game as my sister in law is working. She did not know what her schedule would be until today. I will still make the same fare for the two of us. So I must get my pineapple upside cake made in the morning. I hope it will slip right out of the pan this time. Sometimes there is a little problem when I invert it and I think I may have figured that out. If the cake has not completely cooled it will not release as easy. So hopefully this time all will be perfect. Inside each pineapple I put a roasted pecan. I like that idea better than the old way with a red dyed cherry. 
That brings up another memory I remember well when margarine first came out. My mother would purchase these bags of white margarine and there was red drop in the bag. You had to manipulate the bag with your hands kneading it and squeezing it until the red liquid turned the white margarine yellow. My little brother and I would throw the bag back and forth to one another. It was quite a lot of fun. That was that cancer causing red dye same as in the cherries.

I let my brother Jack know the dates of my trip there toward the end of the month. He is one happy man as his sis is coming for a three day visit. Hopefully the weather will cooperate as we will be spending our time at the lake.
I need to plan what food I will make for us while there. I just take over with the meals when I go and he loves that I do. We will miss the fact that my hubby is not with us but work must go on and he is one busy man.

Hubby just opened a brew and I am thinking I would like a glass of wine now. After all it is Saturday and a day off for him. We signed up for Netflix again. So we will watch a movie after our codfish dinner.

Have a great weekend I am.

SHOPPING ONLINE

Shopping online I love it! I am not a shopper as you know I have certainly mentioned that many times on this blog. But it is lovely for me to sit at this computer and browse through different venues looking for wanted items.
I still have my gift card from Christmas only one purchase on it so today I went to Amazon and ordered a green strap watch....yes green.....go ducks! I also ordered an adorable bracelet in black leather and with green and sparkly beads and leather wrappings. I ordered a hanging cosmetic bag that I have so needed. I had one years ago when we traveled but it went by the waste side several years ago. This one is adorable, black and white zebra print on the outside and bright purple on the inside. My next purchase will be at the Duck Store here in Eugene. I am wanting a black snug fitting hoodie with the Oregon O". So Zo goes shopping but mostly online lol. I am having fun!

I just got the phone after a hour or so chatting with my brother. I was making plans for my trip to visit him. I will spend three days with him at his lake place and then stop at my daughters in Portland to spend a day and night, the next morning coffee with my son and then home before the traffic gets to packed. So I have all my ducks in a row as I do not have much time and want to make every minute count.

I made the steak stew last night with Irish soda bread. My daughter gave me a bag of Bob's Red Mill Irish soda bread mix. I did not know what to expect but we liked it. Talk about hardy. A person could live a week or so off of one loaf if need be! It was the perfect accompaniment to the stew. A very hard crispy crust and very heavy and dense inside. You should try it.
Hubby will have the leftovers tonight but I am making myself a noodle bowl. Asian noodles with sliced scallions and chopped cilantro with a tad of toasted sesame oil and soy sauce. Yummy. I like something simple like that.

Well the Super Bowl is here Sunday already. Seems it was just last year. I do not care about it in the least. But hubby does so I will watch it with him. I believe we are having his sis and brother in law as usual. We make up a score board and each put in ten dollars and win on the quarters. Usually seems a couple of us split the pot. But who knows, I won it all one year. That was fun.
If I had to pick a team that I would want to win it would be San Francisco. There are some Oregon Ducks playing for them which makes it better and they are a west coast team. My husband has always liked the 49'ers.
I am just going to serve a big pizza and make a pineapple upside down cake with whipped cream. Sister in law can bring snacks of her choosing. All easy and simple.

It has been another foggy day after delighful day yesterday. When I looked out an hour ago we had a nice pink and orange sunset. So the sky has cleared so I am going to take a hot tub this evening and gaze at stars.

I am going now to make my noodle dish as I am getting a little hungry I have not had anything today except some left over veggies and rice. Though it was filling and has held my appetite at bay the noodles seem to be calling.
Bon appetite. 

CUPCAKES AND CHAMPAGNE

Cupcakes and champagne what could be more decadent? These were the best cupcakes this gal ever made. A tender white cake, a raspberry center, and butter cream lemon frosting. My daughter went nuts over these cupcakes. I had to send the recipe I devised home with her. 
We two gals had a marvelous three days together. Friday the day Gina got here we stayed home. So we had the above mentioned shortly after she arrived. It was serendipity as she brought champagne and I  bought some also. We chatted non stop, we snacked, we watched video's of my grandchildren, her little ones in younger years. We listened to music, played with her new kindle fire hd and then my hubby was home to visit with Gina while I made the cauliflower soup and bread for dinner. Gina set the table festive and we had a candlelight dinner the three of us savoring deep bowls of creamy soup and munching and dunking crispy bread into our bowls.
The next morning my daughter and I were two very lazy gals. We finally got ourselves around and went downtown Eugene for lunch. We went into the Cornucopia pub for a glass of wine and wound up staying there to eat. We felt like pub grub and their food is very tasty. After a two hour lunch we wandered across the street to the 5th st Market Place and meandered through some charming shops. It was raining torrents, water was running down the streets.  We were trying to stay as dry as possible, laughing and squealing as we ran along the sidewalks side stepping puddles. 
That evening we had a simple dinner of munster and sharp cheddar cheese panini's with tomato slices tucked in. Such a good combination. The remaining days were similar.  We went out to lunch with my hubby one day.  One evening we looked through old memorabilia and photos laughing at ourselves in the old styles and hairdo's. We played games and cards and just had good fun with much love tucked in.
When she drove away I was standing at the window and swallowing the lump in my throat that always forms when she leaves.
The house was so quiet the laughter and chatter no longer echoing through the rooms.
She brings such warmth and happiness when she comes through the door, it is hard to let her go.

We have rain or showers or whatever you want to call it now in Eugene but sadly I heard on the weather cast last night the fog will be returning tomorrow. I have not cared for this winter one bit. To many gloomy days.

Today is a busy one for me. I need to catch up on household duties of which there are many. I am also going to get in a walk between showers.
Now I am going to get a steak stew going in the slow cooker and will make either biscuits or cornbread to go with that this evening.
I will leave you now.......till later.

MY DAUGHTER GINA

My lovely daughter Gina. She will be here by noon tomorrow. We both are so happy to share Mother/daughter time. She emailed not to long ago and said, I feel like I need a Mommy fix. I so love that as I need a Gina fix every now and then. When we are together we seem to recharge each other's batteries. We always feel energized and more powerful when the two of us are together.

I just took my vanilla cupcakes out of the oven. They smell like Christmas. This recipe has twice the vanilla as most recipes and I use a high quality pure vanilla. So the air now is permeated with rich dense vanilla.
When the cupcakes have totally cooled using a very sharp tiny knife I will cut a small deep circle out of the top of each cake. Into that hole I will put a small dollop of seedless raspberry jam.
The frosting is a butter cream but it is moistened with lemon juice instead of milk and also lemon zest for a pop.
I am going to have one of these cupcakes with a glass of champagne. Seems like a perfect fit.

I cannot express how wonderful it is to see the sky even though cloudy there have been breaks where I have glimpsed some blue. It is warmer too a good thing. I woke in the night  kicking covers off as we added an extra quilt and have quite enjoyed it's warmth this past few weeks.

We were up so early again and I was off to the store for needed items. Others must have been still having coffee and in their slippers and jammies as the parking lot was nearly empty.

It has been sixteen years ago today that my dear Mother left this old earth for a better place. The old saying that time heals is correct. Each year that goes by I am able to remember more of our life together with so much happiness in my heart. And another thing that time does it softens all the edges of your memories and you magically remember all the best parts. Of course with my Mother and I all the parts were pretty grand. She was one of a kind in that she always put others first. She did this without a thought I am sure. She was just who she was, giving, always smiling and loving.
My husband always says to me, you do not even know how blessed you are to have had a Mother like that. But oh I do. Maybe I did not when I was young and immature. I can remember times I hurt her heart but I realize now I was just a kid or a teen and trying to gain my own independence. My Mother and shared a wonderful life together and we were always close so that only makes it harder for the one left when someone passes over. 
I am sure we do not all hurt the same when a loved one dies. To be close and feel all that love for all those years is a hard thing to lose. To not have it as a lot of folks do not it seems to me it would be easier when that person is lost to you. But that I do not know as I have not lived that life. And maybe then there would be regrets and guilt other things to make you sad.

On a fun note my dear friend Judy had a birthday today. I hope she is having an amazing day with family. Happy Birthday Judy!!!

My hubby will be home soon so I must get my cupcakes frosted before he wants the kitchen. He is making Gina his special salsa that she loves.

I will not blog for a few days now as I will be to busy having fun with my daughter.

Have a lovely weekend.

FOG FROZEN BACKYARD TREE

Freezing fog making a winter scene. Everything is so pretty when the fog freezes, it has it's own beauty.
Today it will be over we have been encased for almost two weeks now. Everyone is waiting for the change and being happy because of it. By this afternoon we should be getting some light showers. I know I am more than ready for the rain. Sometimes I feel like I am buried alive when the fog presses me down. It is very claustrophobic and certainly effects you emotionally.
So no more, goodbye gray cold old fog you will not be missed.

I am listening to Pandora radio on the computer while I type. Right now The Civil Wars are playing. I enjoy them they are so talented. The music is alluring, soft and tender. Ahhhhh.

I have another agenda today I must accomplish. More general cleaning in the house and finish up the office. That probably seems boring to some folks but for me sometimes it can be quite relaxing in it's own way.
One is with their own thoughts as you go about your chores methodically no concentration required. I usually have some favorite music and let my mind wander to things that please me. Before I know it my to-do's are finished, it is magic!

I am making a stove top steak stew for this evening and cheesy biscuits. I have not made those yummy little darlings for a couple months now and we are craving them.
I think the stew and biscuits will make for a rich hearty winter dinner.
Last night we had a simple but satisfying little meal of a cheesy potato casserole, glazed honey carrots and beer brats with spicy mustard.

I must now start my day. First item on the agenda is to get a couple of proposals typed up and into the mail. 
I cannot wait until it starts to rain this afternoon......silly me.

RECIPE FOR STIR FRY CHICKEN PAPRIKA

This dish was so delish!
Here is the recipe.

STIR FRY CHICKEN PAPRIKA
1 pound boneless chicken breasts sliced across the grain 1/4 inch thick.
2 tablespoons of dry sherry(I used dry white wine)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
salt and pepper to taste
2 1/2 tablespoons canola oil(I used olive oil)
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 onion sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 red bell pepper cut into 1/4 inch wide strips
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1/3 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf italian parsley

In a medium bowl combine the chicken, 1 tablespoon sherry or wine, garlic, 2 teaspoons cornstarch and salt and pepper.
In a smaller bowl combine the chicken broth, remainder of sherry and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch stir until dissolved.
Heat a flat bottomed wok or pan that will generate hot heat and add half of the oil
(Best not use a coated pan as you will need to scrap up the goodies off the pan with a metal spatula.)
Add the chicken mixture in a single layer and cook for a minute or so then using the metal spatula stir fry until the chicken begins to brown then transfer to a plate.
Lower the heat to medium and swirl the remaining oil in (I scrapped the pan here to get what remained off the bottom.) Add the peppers and onions and stir fry till softened. Add the paprika and chicken with any juices back into the pan add the broth mixture and stir scrapping up any tidbits clinging to the pan for about two minutes until all is well blended and the chicken is cooked through. Stir in the sour cream and fresh parsley and serve over noodles.

This recipe sounds kind of complicated I posted it the way it is in the magazine  When I was making it however I added my own short cuts instead of making so many steps out of it. It turned out perfect making it my way.
I sometimes follow a recipe only to a certain point and then just do what I like. I call it creative cooking.

This dish was so flavorful and it had a little heat also though I am not sure where that came from actually. Serving it over noodles that had lots of butter and lemon and also some parsley made the dish even tastier as it was layers of flavor.
We loved it.

My hubby is back to work today after a slow first part of the month. Now he is working non stop for a while and has two more bids this week. January is always our slowest month for our business.It will be nice now to have the house to myself during the day. I do always miss him however when I am used to having him here. Seems lonely at first but then........I say to myself "Ah it is nice to have my space".

I have much to do these next three days before my daughter arrives. I love having a sparkling clean house and will make some appetizers ahead for her arrival.
Friday evening I am making that heavenly cauliflower soup for her as she has always been a soup gal. I will heat up a couple sourdough baguettes to go with. Then of course a delightful cupcake for desert.
Saturday the two of us will go to lunch as hubby will be working. I suggested we go to the Lucky Noodle in downtown Eugene. A very good restaurant specializing in all things noodle. The decor is very contemporary but still it maintains a warmth and coziness.
There are few specialty shops in that area we can visit. There is amazing kitchen store I so love to browse through. It will be a fun little afternoon for us. Then home to talk and talk sip some champagne and perhaps take a hot tub if the weather allows.

We are to have rain coming in this evening and you know I am happy about that. As we have had no sun just fog and cold so a break in the weather is welcomed.

This is a long post.....sorry. Recipes do take time to write out and some like this one are quite long.

So I will now start on my to-do's for the day of which there are several.
It will be a busy week I like that!