Best of February

February can be dull dreary month in Wisconsin. As I write the snow we got last weekend is mostly melted allowing the dark greens and browns of the winter grass to come through. Like all winter months I really enjoy reading, cooking and knitting.  This year I haven't been able to cross-country ski, but oh well.  So as I said, I've been participating in my indoor activities.  I am so thankful in February to have a few celebrations to add to this month.  The first of which is our wedding anniversary.  This year marks 22 years together. My husband and I enjoyed a dinner out, without our children. The second is my birthday.  I get the same cake every year from a local bakery.  It's called chocolate symphony. There are layers of chocolate cake, chocolate whipped frosting all hidden under a chocolate ganache.

As always a month is not complete without a going out for coffee at  a local café.  This time it was All-Seasons Café, and I tried a rose cardamon latte.  It was delicious.  There was a slight sweetness to it but not overpowering.  

Of course the best of the month is not complete without what I'm reading.  In a In a Dark Wood Wandering  by Hella Hesse  I'm taken back to the Middle Ages.  I studied Medieval art in college and fell in love with this time period. Its a perfect book for the dead of winter leading into spring.  It is a little longer so it might be read in March as well.

What I've been watching: Cooked on Netflix. It is based on the book by Micheal Pollan, but a lot less wordier.  I really enjoyed this series, and it confirmed my beliefs that my home cooking with the freshest ingredients I can get is the way to go.  I encourage you to either watch the series or read the book.  

I hope your month as been as equally delightful.

As always with love from the Midwest,

Beth 

Wining Away

What is currently in my house in the wine cellar?  Not too much, but a few bottles that will be consumed soon.  Currently there are no reds, but that is because they've all been consumed with our heavy winter food.  With my birthday right around the corner I see know better time to open up a better bottle of wine.  For my birthday dinner I'm serving a smoked salmon pasta with a cream sauce. I think the MacRostie Chardonnay will go quite nicely with it.  It is not as buttery as the Rombauer.  The Rombauer will need to wait for a fish or chicken dish.

I also have a late harvest Sauvingnon Blanc.  I forgot to serve it with the apple tarts I made recently, but I'll find a time to drink it soon.  The Proseco -well it is sweet and light.  There is nothing sweet and light about late winter in Wisconsin.  It will definitely hold.

And my Bota Box,  well this is the house wine.  Any day you can open up a box.  It is a great value with a nice flavor and easy on the budget.  I highly recommend you find a house wine that fits what you need.

I hope this small post prompts you to find a few nice bottles of to keep around for any occaision, be it special or not.  

Santé and as always with love from the Midwest,

Beth 

Veggie Love

Well on the since it is close to Valentine's day I thought it would be ironic to do a post on another food group that I really do love, veggies.  Yes I really do like my vegetables.  Sometimes I just get so carried away at the grocery at this time of year or at the farmer's market and my garden in the summer that I have so many leftovers.  The question is what to do with them.  Recently I ordered a farmer's box from Produce with Purpose.  This was really cool.  I placed the order and picked up my local winter roots from a close by grocery store.  What I ordered included various types of potatoes, squash, turnips, parsnips, brussel sprouts and carrots. There were many other choices I could choose from.

One of my favorite ways to prepare my veggies is to roast them in a 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes.  I like to season them with olive oil, thyme and salt and pepper.  With these I can feed my family, serve them on top of a salad with a homemade viegrette dressing or make puréed soup. Yes both of these are really good. The roasted veggies on the salad just add a nice smokiness.

The soup idea I got from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.  It really has a lot of unique ways to incorporate vegetables into your diet, and I'm not a vegetarian.  One of my favorite ways is to make soups.  I take all my leftover veggies from the week and if possible I mix them together, honestly some flavors I make are better than others. I sautée some onion and garlic in olive oil  and add the veggies.  I simmer the mixture in chicken broth for about 10 muntes and then using my immersion blender I make a smooth and creamy soup.  Sometimes I add chia seeds or flax seeds for a bit more nutrition.  I like to top my soups with a bit of lemon juice and or with some olive oil as I did in this photo.

What ever you do get into the kitchen and play with your food.  Cooking should be fun.

Bon Appétit and as always,

with love from the Midwest,

Beth 

Best of January

Wow January was went by so quickly. Actually I feel as if all of the months do.  One of the things I really enjoy about January is the quiet time I have to relax and renew for spring and summer.  In various philosophies they have the calm and quiet vs the crazy.  Winter is that quiet time.  So what have I done, well there has been  the trip to Milwaukee which I wrote about a few weeks ago. Also I've been trying new recipes, reading books and enjoying a few movies when I treadmill.  Speaking of exercise make sure you are getting outside if you can and if not getting exercise at home or in a class. I'm luck enough to have a treadmill and space for my yoga.  I do like to go to a yoga class on the weekends.  I love the sense of community. 

A new recipe for the month: Crispy Chicken and Pan Sauce.  . Please do make the sauce.  I served it with my house Chardonnay. 

What I'm reading: I'm currently reading The French Chef in America.  This is the story of Julia Child after she finished Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol 1. I think  this book is fascinating. I am a lover of all things Julia related.

What I'm watching:  If you enjoy French film I highly recommend The African Doctor. I chose Under the Tuscan Sun because we all need some fluff, be it in books or film. 

                              

As always enjoy the pleasures of each month. 

with love from the Midwest,

Beth