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.

One stitch at a time.

 

 I've started yet another Bargello needlepoint. Exciting stuff, I know. Try not to freak out.

Progress is slow-ish for this one, but it's coming together quite nicely.

Witch's brew

Witch's brew, for when everyone around you seems to be getting a nasty SICKNESS.

Instead of chewing on raw garlic cloves, try this concoction. MUCH tastier.

It's zingy, spicy, lemony, warming. 

It's kinda weird, actually. And some people don't like it *ahem* my husband. But that's cool.

 Like my mug? Thought it was perfect for the occasion.

This is an estimate/reference recipe. You can tweak it however you like.

 Heat up: (about 5 mins on stove top)

6 C water

juice of 1 lemon

3-5 garlic cloves, smashed

5 peppercorns

2-4 T cayenne

4 T honey

a chunk of fresh ginger (or 3 T of powered)

1-2 T turmeric

  

Cat in a box.

Cat in a bag.

Good day.

Bargello Needlepoint

Another Bargello needlepoint in the making. More than half way done. I'm so glad I found this hobby :)

Raspberry tiramisu

 SO good. And simple. I wasn't sure I could do it. But I did. And it was a big hit!

I got the recipe here and I wouldn't change a thing. 

Though, I would suggest to watch your lemon juice--

I used less than called for and I still think I used a tad too much.

I made beef jerky in the dehydrator and so can you.

If I can do it, you can do it.

Trust me.

It's easy.

Marinate the flank steak overnight or at least a few hours. The longer, the better.

But don't use fresh garlic like I did here. Use garlic powder instead- it's WAY better.

Throw it on the dehydrator.

This took 4 hours. Depending on how thin you slice it. I didn't want it super crunchy.

Beef Jerky in the dehydrator

2 lbs Flank steak, sliced thin

1/4 C soy sauce

1 T Worcestershire

2 T Brown sugar

2 t salt

1 t black pepper

1 t garlic powder

1 t paprika

You could add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, cloves etc

Let marinate overnight.

Dehydrate 4-6 hours.

Stocking up on Sriracha, the obvious thing to do

 Since the recent Sriracha dilemma that has been going on as of lately, I decided to stock up on the delicious, red stuff. I initially was going to go for 20 bottles of it, but I didn't have enough room in the cart. I know there are other brands and people even make their own but IT IS NOT THE SAME!!! I figured if the plant does shut down for whatever length of time, I will be covered. My love for the fiery juice is very strong. So no, I won't share ;)

Baked balsamic butternut squash

Phew-Lots of Bs in that title!

-Cut the squash in half and use a vegetable peeler to get the skin off.

-Cut into cubes, then toss with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, (fresh) rosemary, S&P.

-Bake at 350º for 30-40 minutes, depending on size. Make sure to check it every 10 minutes-ish so that it doesn't start to burn. If it does, just add more balsamic or olive oil.

Yum. Tastes like fall!

I bought this book and I am totally excited about it

I've been meaning to learn how to sew forever now. I know I like to sew because I took Home Ec in 7th grade (a million years ago when they still offered it.) I sewed a purple polka-dot shark stuffed animal which is probably in a box somewhere in my parents' house. Oh, Sharky. With all these needlepoint projects done, just sitting in the closet, I figured it was time to make a move. And for $8 whole dollars, I thought this was the book for me. Now I need to dust off the machine and get to work! Any tips are appreciated :)

 "Make it work!" -Tim Gunn 

 

More Barello work.

Another needlepoint is finally finished. This one took only 14 weeks. (Haha "only") That sounds long but in that time I moved, had 5 house guests, my father-in-law moved in, life was being lived... So really, it's not a fair judgement of time. Now I just need to learn how to sew to make it into something. Maybe a pillow? Or a bag? What else? Any suggestions?

I made a (mostly) homemade pizza

I used a Betty Crocker pizza crust - the instructions are to add warm water, stir, wait 5 minutes and press out the dough. It's easy! And super convenient. (Cheap too. I often see them 3 for $1. Can't beat that price.) I always have some in my pantry. You can pick your own toppings, whatever you have laying around.

 This time I made a Margherita: 

  -olive oil

-mozzarella (both block cheese and fresh buffalo)

-home grown heirloom tomatoes

-random hot peppers from the garden

-LOTS of fresh basil

-dried oregano, garlic powder, basil, s&p

I looove a caprese salad!

This is my version anyway...

-mixed greens
-tomatoes
-red onion
-fresh mozzarella
-pine nuts
-basil
-balsamic vinaigrette (with tons of pepper)

I went to the Wisconsin State Fair and all I got was poop on my shoe

Okay, I didn't really get poop on my shoe, but if I saw that t-shirt for sale somewhere, I would totally buy it! For one fun-filled afternoon we ate fried food on a stick, drank cheap beer and people watched. And let me tell you- there were some fat pigs there! (See pictures below.) We looked for the fried beer stand but there was no such thing. Must have been a dud from last year that didn't go over too well. Also, we missed the midway completely (not sure how we managed that one!) There's always next year, I guess. But at least we didn't go home with a hot tub. Or a $500 Vitamix. Or a billy goat.

Who is taller?

Tater tots wrapped in bacon- on a stick!

I cannot-for the life of me- figure out how to flip this darn picture!