Clearwater

Karin, Elisabeth and I arrived in Clearwater, FL Monday night.  Tues was a mixture of sun and clouds, enough so that we all burnt on the beach.

We have had cloudy days, but warm.  Walks on the beaches, laden with pretty shells of all sorts.

In heaven I am going to request a house on the ocean somewhere warm :-)

Hopeful.....

Here's hoping for an early (and lasting) springtime this year!  I am off to Florida for a bit with a friend, hoping to find a bit of warmth and sunshine to ease my soul.  Short of that, however, I will find joy in the presence of friends :-)

Verde Enchilladas con Pollo

This delicious sight greeted me one day this past weekend when I came home from work!  I am so glad that mi espouso enjoys cooking as much as I do :-)

Pumpkin Scones

My sugar pumpkins from last summer's garden (and I say that with a smirk since one can hardly call cool, wet weather a summer), finally ripened in a back bedroom this January!  At the same time that I cooked them up for a few of my favorite pies, my daughter in Guatemala happened to mention that she was making Pumpkin Scones for a neighbor, using the Starbucks recipe.  Totally forgotten by me, my daughter-in-law Nancy blogged these tempting treats a couple of years ago.

I meant to photograph the entire process of making them, but got caught up in the moment and only snapped this first picture of mixing the dry ingredients together.....

.....as well as the finished product.  Though pumpkin foods are generally autumn delicacies, I thoroughly enjoyed these as well as pies and pancakes during the cold winter month of January.  Try it!  You'll be glad you did :-)

http://www.food.com/recipe/starbucks-pumpkin-scones-214051

Pudding Cup Delights

One of my comfort foods is chocolate pudding.  My mother used to make the cook and stir on the stove-top kind, the best kind there is.  She always had one of us kids do the interminable stirring, waiting for it to thicken.  On and on it went........  finally, it was thick and bubbly, and Mom would pour it into a bowl, then drop a handful of big marshmallows in it!  They would get soft and gooey in the warmth of the pudding.  Into the ice box it went until it was set.  Later, it was soooo delicious!

This is a different take on it.  Use Puff Pastry shells, in the frozen section of your grocery store.  Let them raise, then bake as per instructions.  Meanwhile, make up a box of either instant pudding, or the cooked variety.  When the cups are baked, fill each one with pudding, replace the top and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

When ready to serve, remover the tops, cover with miniature marshmallows and set under the broiler until the mallows are golden brown and gooey.  Serve and enjoy :o}

Irrational Thoughts

Darrell bought me four beautiful poppy plates.......  takes me to thoughts of warm, sunny summer days.  Surely they exist somewhere, right?

Retro New Year's Eve!

New Year's Eve this year was spent with the family at Scott and Bethany's around a Fondue dinner, reminiscent of the 1970's!  Interestingly enough, we have encountered a generation of folks in their 30's and 40's who had no idea what a Fondue was. Although it has made a hesitant comeback in recent years, apparently it was completely out of fashion in the 80's and 90's!

A variety of meats to fondue in different oils, and vegetables to dip in two kinds of cheeses.....

A chocolate fountain for desserts of fruits, baked goodies, marshmallows, pretzels or ice cream balls.........

.....and a roomful of fun with a Wii and a Kinect! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!