This Perfectly Imperfect Life

To those celebrating today, and a Happy Chanukah as well!  Many blessings to appreciate today and you all are included!  I started baking on Tuesday because we were getting a nor'easter through last evening and with an electric stove/oven, I wanted to be sure I had pumpkin pie for today. (Priorities!) Thankfully all went well and the storm passed without incident. Botched up the top crust for my apple cranberry pie yesterday so I made a messy lattice top instead. T'ain't pretty and that's okay - from what I sampled it's delicious! This morning I awoke later than I expected (been so tired lately, fatigue crash - bah!) and despite seasoning the turkey yesterday, in trying to get it in the oven this morning I managed I miss the beginning of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and therefore missed my *favorite* part of the parade: Tom Turkey! Ack! (But a sweet friend sent me a photo of him as it aired where she lives and the parade will re-air at 2p s...

There's a method to this madness - I start w/books that stick out more than others from left to right! As the snow began to fall at sunset, blanketing us in sparkling white, my first loaf of banana bread from scratch went into the oven, bringing warmth and comforting scents to our home. For nearly a week now, we've been in a deep freeze, with frigid temps from the single digits to the teens and 20s without the wind chill. Our first normal Winter temps in at least a couple of years! When the wind hasn't been gusting, I've enjoyed the crisp, brilliantly clear weather. Today though, I haven't been able to shake the chill and desperately did not want to go out into the cold, snowy night with Hubbs for dinner at the VFW. It's a mostly weekly ritual that I sometimes need a break from. He had to go regardless, needing to take care of some American Legion business. (For those who don't know, he's Commander of a local AL Post). I normally love...

For my Cranberry Almond Rounds, you'll need: 1 cup melted butter (which is equal to 15 tblspns) I use unsalted butter 1/3 cup sugar *or* 1/2 that amount in regular sugar & 4 sweetener packets 2/3 cup ground sliced almonds *or* 1/3 cup of the almonds & 1/3 cup of dried cranberries 1 & 2/3 cup flour 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup confectioners sugar 2 tsp cinnamon My step by step appears below in the slideshow. If it moves too quickly for you, just click on it to be taken directly to the web album where you can view each photo individually. You're wondering about the " Happy Accidents In The Kitchen " part?  Well, it all started when I made myself a Bloody Mary (or two!) *before* making these from scratch! Before today, they were just Almond Rounds.  In fact, I posted my bff's recipe for them here for last year's cookie party, but, without photos, which is why I wanted to do them again this year! Well, I messed up today's first batch somethi...

Happy Saturday all! How true the ole saying, 'Necessity is the mother of invention' can be. Today I'm going to share with you a yummy recipe I've tried with both peaches and apples in the last month using what I had on hand. Preheat your oven to 350*. Take a sheet of frozen pastry dough out of the freezer for 40 minutes or so before you begin. As soon as your're able, lay it flat. Peal & core 3 apples (Honey Crisp pictured) or peaches (I used white peaches). Chop your apples/peaches & place slices in a Large bowl. Add cinnamon to your liking. Add dark brown or light brown sugar to your liking. I used 3 packets of Sweet & Low but you could use 2 tablespoons regular sugar. No Salt!!! Add pre-chopped walnuts to your liking. Mix well until all pieces are thoroughly coated; if using apples, you may need to add a 1/4 cup  of water to help get things coated. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick spray then line t...

Finally! Accumulating snow arrived here on the coast in the wee hours of yesterday morning, but (isn't there always a but?!) unfortunately it turned to sleet the rest of the day and we've iced up something awful! (Temps are headed back up into the 50s early this week so we won't be frozen for long). Turned into a cozy day at home with the Hubbs filled with cooking & baking thanks to our well stocked pantry & freezer, writing my latest gardenchat column, reading for this week's evening bookclub, knitting with new yarn picked up this week, taking photos (of course) during a garden walk etc., dreaming of my garden in Spring thanks to stacks of gardening catalogs & dreaming of France again (because that just happens from time to time). One of those good days that helps you through the bad! Hope you've been enjoying your weekend too, no matter the weather, and enjoy the slideshow! (If the slideshow goes too quickly for you, you can click on it and this ...