I was hungry so I made this: Brussels & kale salad with sauteed sweet potato, asparagus & raw pepitas

This is what I eat when it's a snow day and I'm out of cheese. But if you have a hard Parmesan or an asiago or any hard white cheese- I recommend adding it because it is cheese after all. This is just what I had on hand and I was hungry for a salad. So I ate it. And it worked. And I just had to share it with you. The dressing is a shallot, Dijon mustard and red wine vinaigrette that I always have on hand because I love it so much. In the past I have made a salad of kale, Brussels, sauteed mushroom, pecans & asiago. Sauteed butternut squash (or any type of squash) would go well. Or beets. Any winter vegetable really since it's a winter salad. You can mix it up. Whatever you have in your fridge or pantry.

Super duper easy beef broth from scratch

 When I say "super duper easy" I mean it.

I have never made beef broth from bones before and let me tell ya, there's nothing to it. Really.

Especially if you're using a crock pot. Throw the stuff in, walk away. Done. Here's how I did it:

   

 Rough chop the veg

 Look at that meat!

  Fill with cold water

Boil, boil, boil...

Drain the junk.

Voila!

Yummy, warming Beef Broth

bunch of beef bones

1 onion with skin, roughly chopped

2 carrots, roughly chopped

3 celery stalks with tops, chopped

10 peppercorns

3 bay leaves

8 garlic cloves, smashed

 pinch of salt

herbs of any kind (I used a rosemary sprig, thyme & parsley)

cold water

Put all the ingredients in your crock pot and set on high for (approx) 10 hours. Make sure there is enough water in it at all times. All crock pots are different, so keep an eye on it.

Note: For an extra step you could brown the bones in the oven first- it'll brown the beef and give a richer flavor.