and for the crazy nights …

And then there are the nights of photoshoots, music rehearsals, meetings, and just utter craziness. We all have it.  Bring on the the soup and grilled cheese. It can still look pretty …

just because …

Inspiration and some afternoon fun …

                                     

burgers please …

 

Sometimes you just crave a good burger. So that’s exactly what we had. A REALLY good burger! A bacon, blue cheese burger on ciabatta bread with avocado and grilled onions. Um … yum! Roasted carrots and cauliflower  on the side, along with grilled potatoes.  

And there are nights that my kiddos get in on the action when it comes to cooking. They both seem to really enjoy it. So, my daughter decided we needed chocolate covered strawberries for dessert … she made them and we all ate them. Quite happily, I might add!

 

Norwegian Stew …

Or better known as beef and stout stew. Yum! At first it sounded intimidating but truly it was super easy. Marinated beef in stout beer (I used Guiness), plus fresh garlic, herbs and spices. Once browned I added onion, carrots, broth, bay leaf and of the marinade, and simmered it most the day. More homemade bread and a glass of cab … perfect for a cold evening.

stir fry …

Doesn’t get much better than this … fresh veggie stir fry and homemade dutch oven bread. Yum!

Taco Tuesday …

No, not every Tuesday but certainly a regular in our house. Fresh chopped onions, tomatoes, avocados, jalepenos, olives and cilantro. And of course, lots of cheese and homemade guacamole! Perfect bean tacos … or beef tacos for the meat lovers.

a definite fav …

A charcuterie plate. So simple yet so good. We ate many meals like this while traveling last summer and have since adopted it as a norm for us here at home. Homemade dutch oven bread, meats, variety of cheeses, apples and pears, and perhaps tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

 

pasta, pasta, pasta

Now … my favorite, Italian. It started with a whole roasted organic chicken. There’s something so nice about the smell of roasting chicken … the olive oil and balsamic, garlic and a variety of herbs. Truly makes three meals for our family. So, roasted chicken, homemade pasta, uncured bacon and beans, served with pesto and freshly grated parmesan. Add grilled asparagus and garlic bread … it’s a good night!

 

eggs anytime …

There’s nothing like eggs! Any kind really. But my new favorite is the poached egg. A more recent cooking method for me … it was a quick learning curve. It did take a few tries to get the timing right but turns out that its super easy. A four minute poached egg, with sautéed spinach, basil, mozzarella and avocado. A few pieces of grilled asparagus and fresh fruit on the side and voila … a lovely, healthy breakfast.  Or add some grilled potatoes and  uncured bacon,  and call it dinner!

 

Bring on the soup!

I believe in balance.  And with cooking so many rich meals, as awesome as it is, I feel like we need that balance. I found this vegetable soup recipe on Pinterest, embellished it a bit and thought we’d give it a try. Nothing but fresh vegetables, broth and spices, including cinnamon and ginger. It had a great flavor and a definite kick. With a warm homemade dutch oven bread … a great meal for a cold evening.