Working on the Weekend

I spent most of the weekend at the university researching and writing for my thesis.  Surprisingly it wasn't too painful.  Last night I was able to get out for a friend's bridal shower and a bit of dancing!  

Went to the in-laws for dinner this evening and they had made a turkey dinner :-)  Great way to end off a weekend of hard work and productivity.  I will be doing more thesis work this week, but I also have something fun coming up this weekend that I must plan for ...

I usually do my school work at home, but I have recently realized that I dread it less when I leave the house to work.  It allows me to think of time at home as my time to do whatever I want, and time away from home as "work time."  

Do you do work, or school work at home?

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Mine was definitely the dancing and catching up with friends!

 

Neeeeeeed Sleeeeeeeep!

I haven't slept well all week.  Brutal.  

Luckily my eats have been pretty yummy ...

Cranberry Coconut Oats

Veggie Pita Pizza

Chicken Cordon Bleu with Basmati rice and a mixture of cilantro, tomato, lime and jalapeno

I had some chamomile tea and am now going to read a chapter of fiction hoping it takes my mind into dreamland and helps me to fall asleep. 

What kinds of things do you do to get yourself to sleep when you are having trouble?

What are your plans for the weekend?

Love Notes

My husband wakes up earlier than me (not like that's difficult), and often leaves me notes, such as "Don't forget the treats for your students", or "Please start the dishwasher."  

These are always left in the kitchen, where I am sure to see them. 
On the coffee pot usually.  

Today my note was left on another well-loved appliance.  

(Funny, he never seems to leave me notes on the iron ...)

 

In case you can't read the hubby's chicken scratch, or cannot believe your eyes, the note does in fact say:

"It's really cold out today.  -27 and -39 with the wind.  Love ya."  

This temperature means the same thing in Celsius or Fahrenheit = BLOODY FRIGID.  The only saving grace was that we had this soup cooking in the slow cooker to make for a comforting evening meal.

Please tell me it is warmer where you are!

Dinner with Friends

Yesterday I spent the day baking and prepping food for dinner, which included chopping up a variety of citrus fruits that I would be using in a salad.

Some good friends came over for dinner and a visit. 

We started with prosciutto wrapped bread sticks (some with a fig dip and others with cranberry Boursin cheese) and jalapeno poppers because I was totally craving them :-)

Next was a citrus salad with feta and mint.

The 3rd course was fire-pot soup. This was spicy, but not too spicy, with a delicious curry coconut milk broth.

The main course was citrus crusted tilapia, lemon risotto, beets with carrots, and asparagus.

Dessert included lemon crinkle cookies, and a dense, very moist, red wine chocolate cake.

 

How was your weekend?

When was the last time you had dinner with friends?

Beer Mac and Cheese

I have been loving fruit and toast for breakfast lately, especially if the toast is made with homemade bread (as in the second picture).

I had leftover healing chicken soup for lunch today, and beer mac and cheese for dinner!

The mac and cheese was made with rice pasta, and I couldn't tell the difference - gluten free is just as good!

I love cooking (and baking) with beer.

Time to grab a grapefruit or some snap peas for an easy evening snack.

Tomorrow's FRIDAY!!! 

What do you have planned with the weekend?

Do you ever cook with beer?

Healing Chicken Soup & A New Stew

Healing Chicken Soup

Chicken stock:

1 small organic chicken (rinse)

enough water to cover chicken in a stock pot

3-4 carrots, roughly chopped

2 onions, roughly chopped

3-4 stalks celery, roughly chopped

4-5 cloves

5-6 peppercorns

Bring to a boil and then simmer for a looooooong time.  I simmered mine for about 8 hours.  The chicken will fall off of the bones and be extremely juicy and flavourful.  Pick off the meat to use in the soup.  Strain the broth and discard bones, skin, etc..

Chicken soup:

1 T olive oil

2 onions, chopped

Half of the chicken stock (I froze the other half for a later use)

3 carrots, chopped small

1 head kale, rinsed and roughly torn (no ribs)

Chicken pieces left from making stock

1 cup of fresh parsley

1.5 tsp dried basil

Pinch of nutmeg

Pinch of salt

Pepper to taste

In a dutch oven, heat the oil.  Add onions and cook until they start to brown.  Add the stock and bring it to a boil.  Add the carrots.  Once the carrots are soft, add the kale and let wilt.  Add the chicken herbs and spices last, just to warm.  

This was a perfect dinner for tonight as it is starting to get quite cold and windy on the Saskatchewan prairies. 

Last night I made a chicken, butternut squash and quinoa stew.  Mmmmmmm!   

The recipe was found here.

Do you make your own soup stocks?

I have a ham bone in the freezer that I must tackle next!

Dream Home Day Dreams

We got up pretty early (for us) this morning and I started prepping dinner for tomorrow night while the hubby made vegan pancakes for breakfast.

For lunch I made whole wheat pizza crust which I topped with caramelized onions, bacon, fontina, romano and a balsamic glaze.  This was my first time making pizza crust, and I think it turned out rather well.  

 

 

I basically followed this recipe, although I didn't use the red peppers.

While the pizza was baking I threw a small organic chicken and some veggies in a pot to make a stock for soup that I will finish tomorrow.

The hubby and I spent the afternoon looking at show homes, and fantasizing about our dream home.  Basically, I would want a BIG kitchen with a ridiculous island and a lot of counter space.  I am not a fan of islands with sinks in them, and that seems to be all that builders are doing these days.  I am convinced that we will have to design our next house ourselves, as none of the new houses in our city are practical.  Who needs 3 living rooms!?  Not us! 

We love the house we are in now, but it is just a starter home.  Sometime in the next 5 years I would expect we will move into our next home.  Other things on my house wish list: laundry room on the same floor as the bedrooms, a lot of storage/closets/built in shelving, walk in closet (NOT off of the master bathroom), no wasted space, floor plan perfect for entertaining.

How about you - Are you in your "forever" home, or your "for now" home? What would you want in your dream home?

How was your weekend?  Did you do any cooking this weekend?