Brrrr, Winter and Grilled Cheese on Raisin Toast

Brrrr, Winter and Grilled Cheese on Raisin Toast

Good morning!! I’m huddled under a quilt, a red candle burning brightly as I write to you. It’s been wicked cold this weekend, and I’ve been happy to stay home, warm and safe while the snow falls, temperatures drop, and wind howls.

This weekend was one where I needed to slow down, hibernate a little. I felt like I was in my own winter cabin somewhere, tucked up under warm blankets, reading good books, baking cookies, sleeping in, puttering about working on this and that. It was wonderful!

I even braved the oh-so-frigid weather for a walk Sunday afternoon, and within a minute had to wrap my scarf around my face to protect myself from the icy wind gusting through the valley. It was gorgeous but I was SO glad to get back home and wrap my fingers around a hot cup of vanilla caramel tea.

I watched a beautiful documentary called “Hiding and Seeking” about a Jewish American father attempting to help his family work through the pain and fear of the Holocaust by showing them there are good Gentiles in this world. His quest takes them to Poland to track down the family who saved their relatives during WWII by hiding them in a hole under a pile of hay in their barn. It’s a touching story, inspiring and convicting, and I’m so glad I watched it.

It was a weekend of comfort food: pot roast, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, and scrumptious grilled cheese sandwiches on raisin toast. Mmm. Thick slices of buttered raisin bread filled with sharp cheddar cheese grilled until they were toasty and melty. Fantastic. 🙂

What is your favorite memory from this weekend?

This is my contribution to Chaya’s Meatless Mondays.

Grilled Cheese on Raisin Toast
(Serves 1)

Ingredients:

2 slices raisin bread
3 slices sharp cheddar cheese
butter

Directions:

  1. Butter two slices of bread. Place one piece, buttered side down, in frying pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Layer with cheese and top with second slice bread, buttered side facing up.
  3. Cook 1-2 minutes then flip. Repeat until bread is nicely toasted and cheese is soft and melting.
Snow, Winter and An Abandoned Irish Churchyard

Snow, Winter and An Abandoned Irish Churchyard

Good morning, dear ones. For the first time this fall, I woke to ice on my windshield and nearby hillsides coated in snow.  Although I think we had one of the shortest summers in history, I’m actually kind of happy to see winter arrive. The mountains look so beautiful draped in white, and it’s grand to haul out favorite scarves, woolly socks, and my stash of Earl Grey tea. Life feels cozy, like nature itself is giving me permission to slow down and indulge in unheard of luxuries like finishing a book I start, watching an entire movie in one sitting, and uploading pictures that have been waiting, er, well, a long time. 🙂

Some of the pictures I found are from my trip to Ireland a couple summers ago, and today I just have to share a few with you.

These are from a lovely abandoned church I spotted while driving with my friend through the oh-so-green countryside. With the enthusiasm of a girl who’d been dreaming of visiting Ireland her entire life, I begged them to pull over so we could explore. They laughed at me and obliged.

It is a beautiful, solitary place somewhere between Shannon and Killala. Although cars rushed by outside, inside the walls silence reigned. The roof was long gone but the headstones remained, wonderfully weathered, their etchings still readable after all these years.

I wanted to know the stories behind this place. Who built it? Who had worshiped here? Why had it closed down? But there were no signs to explain such things, no little museum or obliging curator to fill in all the details. Instead I wandered, trailing my fingers over the ancient stones, smiling at the perky roses clambering over the rock walls. I read the names: Deirdre, Seamus, Thomas, and felt glad that they had lived. That once this building had welcomed those who worked the land, married and bore children, gossiped in the local pub. It was nice to know there had once been life here.

It was my first stop in Ireland, and the perfect introduction to a gorgeous land steeped in fairy tales and heartache, legend and simplicity.

Thanks for visiting Ireland with me this morning. I hope you have a beautiful weekend and find time to cheer and comfort your heart as you face whatever is going on in your life right now. Big hug and much love. 🙂

Rheinfall and Fondue in Switzerland

Rheinfall and Fondue in Switzerland

It was a misty August day when my sister-in-law Kendra, our friend Amy and I set out on a grand road trip from Kendra’s home in Boblingen, Germany. We had some guide books, a large bag of candy and snacks, and a rather finicky GPS system that liked to randomly send us off into the hills or meandering through strange neighborhoods.

Through much confusion, hilarity and sheer nerve, we managed to find a guest house  just over the border in Switzerland, then decided to take a drive down to Zurich, stopping wherever we liked along the way.

For a while road construction and detours thwarted our initial searches for interesting stops, but finally we spotted a simple brown sign featuring a waterfall and off the highway we went. You really can’t go wrong with a waterfall!

It was raining in earnest now, but that didn’t stop us. Out came Amy’s umbrella – I ALWAYS forget an umbrella! – and we climbed down stone steps to the river’s edge.

We were greeted by the thunderous boom of cascading water and bursts of mist shrouding the nearby hills. Not only had we found a waterfall, we had inadvertently found Europe’s LARGEST waterfall: the Rheinfall in Neuhausen, Switzerland.

I have since heard warnings of large crowds and hordes of tourists shoving and clamoring for a good view, but that was not our experience. Perhaps the rain kept most folks away, because we nearly had the place to ourselves.

Although we were content to amble along the shore, stopping by damp stone walls to take it all in, you can also take boat cruises, and clamber around at Schloss Laufen on the other shore.

It was a gorgeous, awe-inspiring sight, but after a while we were cold, wet and hungry and off we went to Zurich in search of sustenance. We happily wandered the riverfront, then found a marvelous fondue restaurant where we warmed up quickly with good beer and savory fondue.

What is your favorite thing to eat after a rainy day of exploring?

Oranges, Cloves, and A Crispy Roast Duck

Oranges, Cloves, and A Crispy Roast Duck

Monday evening was cold and dark as I drove to town bearing fresh sage, dried cherries and small onions. I was early because Darren and I were doing the main course that night, Roasted Duck with Cherry Madeira Reduction, and we had to get a head start if we wanted dinner before 9 p.m.!

We chopped and stuffed and got that baby in the oven and within 45 minutes the house smelled divine.

Kat arrived with a bag of oranges and a big ol’ bag of whole cloves for us to decorate them with. I’ve always wanted to do that, but never had the chance. Even the guys got into the holiday spirit and we had grand fun clustered around the new dining room table (thanks, Jon!!) visiting happily as we attempted to make recognizable designs on our respective oranges.

Don made the evening truly festive with the best cocktail I’ve had in ages: a divine concoction of Coffee Liqueur, Vodka and cold milk. Delicious!!

At last the duck was ready and everyone gathered in the kitchen to fill their plates with Cameron and Robin’s sprightly Spinach Salad with Mandarins and Almonds…

Jon’s fabulous mashed potatoes infused with cumin, mustard, and pistachio mustard sauce…

Kat’s savory Spanish Rice studded with peppers and herbs…

And the succulent duck that was tender and flavorful with marvelously crispy skin. I’m not usually a huge fan of duck, but this dish rocked my world. 🙂

Hope you have a lovely day! 🙂

Robin and Cameron’s Spinach Salad

Ingredients:

1 bag spinach
1 can mandarin orange segments or 1 mandarin orange, segmented
1/2 cup toasted, slivered almonds
1 part olive oil
1 part balsamic vinegar
herbes de Provence
splash of milk

Directions:

  1. Place spinach, mandarin orange segments and almonds in bowl.
  2. In small bowl wisk together olive oil, vinegar, herbes de Provence and milk until emulsified.
  3. Toss with spinach and serve immediately.

Kat’s Spanish Rice

(From Epicurious)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
2 onions, finely chopped
2 green bell peppers, seeded, ribs removed, and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup long-grain white rice
One 8-ounce can tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin (optional)

Directions:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, then add the onions, green peppers, and celery and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for another minute while stirring.
  3. Add the rice and stir together to mix.
  4. Add the tomato sauce and the water carefully.
  5. Season with the salt and pepper, and add the cumin, if using.
  6. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, until the rice is done, stirring once or twice.

Jon’s Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:
6 potatoes
1 onion, chopped
olive oil
2 Tbsp pistachio yogurt sauce
2 Tbsp creme fraiche
2 tsp cumin
salt to taste
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp dried cilantro
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup milk

Directions:

  1. Place potatoes in saucepan, cover with salted water, bring to boil, reduce heat slightly and cook 15-20 minutes until tender.
  2. Saute onion in olive oil until transparent and soft.
  3. Drain potatoes, add all remaining ingredients and blend together until they reach mashed potato consistency. Serve warm.

Darren and Krista’s Roast Duck with Cherry Madeira Reduction

Ingredients:
1 duck, washed, dried, innards removed
1 small onion or shallot, minced
2 Tbsp butter
2 onions, cut in quarters
handful fresh sage leaves
1.5-2 cups dried cherries
1 cup madeira or port wine
salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Set roasting rack/cooling rack in roasting pan, place duck on top and set aside.
  3. In saucepan melt butter and saute onion until translucent. Add 1/2 cup wine and cook 1-2 minutes until mixture reduces and becomes saucy instead of watery.
  4. Stuff cavity of duck with quartered onions, sage leaves and 1/4 cup cherries. Return to roasting pan.
  5. Brush with onion wine sauce, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast for 3 hours, basting occasionally.
  6. Remove from oven and place duck on serving platter and let rest while you make sauce.
  7. Set roasting pan with juices on burner, add remaining wine and cherries, bring to boil, stirring constantly to scrape bits off pan. Let simmer until liquid reduces and cherries are soft.
  8. Slice duck and drizzle with Cherry Madeira Reduction.
Movie Night and Amsterdam’s Floating Flower Market

Movie Night and Amsterdam’s Floating Flower Market

It was a cold, blustery day in Amsterdam last fall as my friend Amy and I bundled up and happily wandered the streets and canals. We had a map, but rarely used it, a sketchy plan, and didn’t follow it. We’d already explored an old canal house, discovered a fabulous flea market full of all sorts of odd and marvelous treasures, and as we crossed a bustling intersection filled with people, bicycles, cars, and trams, we found the Bloemenmarkt – the world’s only floating flower market.

From the back it is nothing special, but inside the floating barges hold a myriad of delights.

Bright bouquets, handmade wreaths, and seeds by the thousands made even me wish I had inherited my mother’s green thumb.

There’s something so wonderful about a flower market on a cold day, rounding a corner expecting gray stones and drab buildings and instead seeing a rainbow of colors, brilliant and alive, filling the air with the scent of roses and greenery. I loved the tiny cacti housed in protective cases like beautifully decorated confections.

Bloemenmarkt
Located: Singel, 1071 AZ
Tram: Muntplein: tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 24 & 25
Open: Monday – Saturday 9.30 am – 5.00 pm

After our day of wandering we went to my brother’s girlfriends place where we were welcomed with hugs, glasses of wine, and a platter of delectable cheeses and sausage.

After bowls of my brother Ryan’s fabulous chili, we all gathered on the couches under cozy afghans for an old movie night with dear friends, lots of popcorn, and Old Dutch potato chips I brought over from Canada. It felt just like home.

This is my contribution to Wanderfood Wednesday.