Year in Review ~

I'll be out of town this week. For my posts, I'll be running my favorite ones from the past year. I hope you like them!

Thank you to all my readers and blog friends for their support this past year. It means the world to me!

BTW ~ my Christmas menu was a hit! The salmon was delicious (the first time I have ever made that dish). I know, I know, you're not suppose to try a new recipe for a party. I have never followed that rule. I always inform the guests that they are 'guinea pigs.' No one ever seems to mind :)

See you next year! Enjoy!

Don't Forget ~

1984


1989


2006


2009
You and I
It's easy ~ The Hunger Site

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my home to yours!

Breathtaking!

Then and Now

I am still in the reminiscing mode. I have been looking through pictures of Lauren over the Christmases which has made me smile uncontrollably. I wanted to share a few Christmas photos with you. Some on of 12/25 and others are Christmas card photos (or attempts).....

2003 ~ Lauren's first Christmas. My sister in law bought paper with Lauren's name on it. Very thoughtful!

2004 ~ Lauren learns to open her presents with her hands! And she finally grows some hair :)

2005 ~ Christmas card photo. I love the smile in this shot!

2006 ~ Lauren gets her first American Girl doll ~ a Bitty Baby. And matching outfits! She's a happy girl!

2007 ~ Lauren hams it up for the Christmas card photo. What a cutie!

2008 ~ Lauren has on the same 'dress' as her 2005 picture! She loves it. It is a shirt in 2008.

2009 ~ Lauren poses with the newest member of the family ~ Millie. Note Millie's dress. You guessed it ~ it is the same one from 2005 and 2008. It fits Millie perfectly so now it is her Christmas attire.

What are you reminiscing about this Holiday Season?

What am I going to make?

As you may know I am hosting Christmas for the first time. My dining room is ready!

I have hosted many gatherings at my home and made plenty of splendid meals but this time, it seems larger than that. So what am I going to make??!! I sat down and planned my menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners. It had to be pretty simple as I did not want to be spending the day in the kitchen.

Jim wanted the traditional fish for Christmas Eve so I went in search of and found a wonderful recipe for salmon (love The Food Network).

Christmas Eve Menu:
Spicy Grilled Salmon with Mango, Radish, and Lime Salsa
Smoked Gouda and Roasted Garlic Potatoes
Roasted Medley of Vegetables
Tossed Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Warm French Baguette and Butter


Spicy Grilled Salmon with Mango, Radish, and Lime Salsa
Ingredients
Salsa:
2 mangoes, peeled, pitted and cut into chunks
1 red onion, chopped
6 red radishes, chopped, plus 1 sliced for garnish
2 limes, peeled and cut into segments
1 handful fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Southwest Spice Mix, recipe follows
1 (2 to 3 pound) salmon fillet
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
For the Salsa, put all the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped; set aside.
Heat the grill to medium high.
Drizzle some olive oil over the salmon and season it with salt and pepper. Gently rub 2 tablespoons of the Spice Mix into the salmon. Pour some olive oil onto a paper towel and rub the grill with it - this will help to prevent the fish from sticking. Grill the salmon flesh side down for about 12 to 15 minutes.

To serve, spread most of the Salsa onto a platter and place the salmon, skin side down, on top. Garnish with more Salsa, radish slices, cilantro, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Southwest Spice Mix:
2 ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
2 tablespoons whole cumin
2 tablespoons whole coriander
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon sweet paprika

Put the ancho chiles, cumin, coriander, cinnamon stick, and paprika into a small dry skillet over medium-high heat, and toast the spices just until they begin to smell, about 1 minute. Empty into a spice mill and grind to a powder. (Caveat ~ I read a review where the person did not do all this but simply put the already ground spices in a skillet and it worked just fine ~ that's what I'll do too!).

I'm going to pair this recipe with ones I've created and have been doing for years.


Smoked Gouda and Roasted Garlic Potatoes
6 to 8 russet baking potatoes
~ 3/4 pound smoked Gouda cheese
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 head roasted garlic
1 cup light whipping cream
1/4 cup butter
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon paprika

Directions
Shred Gouda and set aside. Coarsely chop red and green peppers and set aside. Scrub potatoes ~ do not peel. Cut potatoes into slices or cubes. Boil until tender. In small sauce pan place cream, butter, and garlic. Simmer over heat until butter is completely melted, stirring frequently. Place cooked potatoes and cream mixture into large bowl. Mash together until potatoes are fairly smooth. Fold in 2/3 of the Gouda cheese, red and green pepper. Add salt and pepper to taste. Please in oven safe baking dish with lid. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove from oven. Remove cover. Sprinkle remaining Gouda cheese and paprika on top and return to oven uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Let it stand for ~5 minutes before serving. (May be made ahead of time and reheated in oven).

Roasted Medley of Vegetables
1 large green zucchini
1 large yellow squash
2 sweet onions
several large carrots
salt
pepper
2 tablespoons (or more) garlic infused extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon died basil

Directions
Cube all vegetables. Mixed in a large bowl all ingredients. Place all ingredients on one or two baking sheets. Bake in 350 degrees oven for 30 to 40 minutes (until vegetables are tender). Remove from oven. Let stand 5 minutes then transfer to serving bowl. Serve immediately.(I make my own garlic olive oil but you may purchase this at any grocery store).

Enjoy with family and friends!

Photos are not of actual recipes and are courtesy of The Food Network.

For every season

You may recall my interview with Byron Jorjorian, the wonderful nature photographer. I featured some of his work too. He sent out this lovely holiday photo to wish season's greetings. Isn't it beautiful?! I also noticed that he now has his very own blog. It was in the making when I interviewed him. How wonderful! Now I can keep up to date with Byron. I so enjoy his photography. I am imagining a wall of his work depicting all the seasons.....

Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.

One of his photographs would be an excellent gift for the nature lover or artist on your list! Take a look at his work; I'd love to hear what your favorites shots are!

Winter Wonderland Reminisce

Wow! What a snow storm we had here in the DC area. We were one of the lucky ones to receive two feet! This is the scene out of my conservatory window in the middle of the storm. Here is is the next day with the bright sunshine!


Jim, Lauren and Millie were out often while it was snowing.....







Millie hung out for short amounts of time and then..... "Please let me in!" So I did. I would dry her off and swaddle her in her blanket. Honestly, it is like have two kids!

Each time Lauren came in, her cheeks were bright red. I held my hands on them to warm her up.
On Sunday they decided to go back out to dig out the neighbors. So Lauren got all bundled up again.....

And.....

off they went to lend a helping hand.

Here are some general shots so you get the lay of the land.....

Where are the steps?

Now in Rochester, NY where I am from, this is not all that unusual but here in Northern Virginia, it's a big deal. On Saturday during the storm, the schools were closed for Monday and Tuesday! We don't have the infrastructure here to deal with this amount of snow. So the kids have a longer vacation than planned. They are bummed.... NOT!

Why is this a winter wonderland reminisce though? The last time it snowed like this was in February of 2003. Why do I remember it so clearly? We lived in a walk-up apartment then waiting for our house to be be built. Jim kept digging out the Jeep.... because I was in labor. The last time he dug out the car, he brought me down with him so he could watch me. There I sat on a bright orange bucket in the parking lot while Jim dug out the car. I didn't have a blog then so it didn't occur to me to take a photo of that... and after all I was timing the contractions.

That is one snow storm I will never forget.....


That's the storm during which time Miss Lauren came into the world. I love snow storms!