Winter White Bean & Sausage Soup & Warmed Naan

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Another wild weather day here in the Big Windy Apple 🍎 Starting the morning out in the mid 40’s… bit of rain… passing snow shower… breaks of sun… mid afternoon winds arrive… clouds return bringing a snow squall... temps drop 20 degrees… winds ramp up 35 mph gusts to 50…  everything freezes solid… tonite temps bottoming out near 20°F with wind chills in the single digits 🥶💨 The Lion of March is BACK… so glad my seedlings are in the dining room safe and sound 🌿

Breakfast for three… kibble for Mr Sam with a nap next to the radiator… the hubs enjoying hot java ☕️ with eggs and toast… 🧋iced coffee and a banana 🍌 pour moi… a relaxing afternoon…  drinking tea in the office with the hubs… Mr Sam napping on the window perch 💤 

It’s tax season… ugh 😩 time to dust off the calculator and get those receipts ready… spent some time adding up costs...  pushing a pencil until the drudgery of it wore thin… off to the kitchen for playtime! 

Supper tonite on this cold windy evening… Winter White Bean and Sausage Soup…  family favorite on a chilly night… with warmed naan and hot tea 🫖 for the hubs… capped off with a shared chocolate orange scone 😋

Trying to keep abreast of the crisis in Ukraine without getting overwhelmed… very difficult to walk that fine line… the news 🗞 is grim… our hearts are breaking 💔 feeling helpless… grief stricken and angry at the unnecessary cruelty #Peaceforukraine 🇺🇦 

Meanwhile… covid infections continue their slide giving us all a much needed break from the isolation and loneliness of the pandemic… fingers crossed that this lull lasts #GetYourJabOn  and be part of the solution to eradicate this disease 😷💕

How was your day?   What on your plate?   Thoughts?

Turkey Meatloaf, Pasta and Roasted Tomatoes & Chocolate Orange Scone

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

🎵 Lovely day 🎶 temps in the low 50’s… migrating birds returning to the Big Apple 🍎  robins... starlings… grackles… all making appearances… our sparrows… mockingbirds… cardinals and blue jays now sharing their landscape with returning flocks… mama squirrels 🐿 babies bigger than in the fall… gobbling up every acorn 🌰 they can find… digging little round holes in the garden and lawn as spring fast approaches 🌿 

Breakfast for three… the hubs enjoying his coffee ☕️ with oatmeal, craisins and walnuts… Mr Sam munching kibble… iced coffee🧋all of us busy bees as we each venture forth to the day… Hubs in his shop working on a new project… Mr Sam snoozing on his window perch enjoying the rays… yours truly out for a few errands following the days calls and appointments… a chance to escape into the warm afternoon for a respite ☀️ 

Excitement at 4pm… a knock at the door… package from Butter Moon Bake Co in Colorado… Chocolate Orange Scones from Ava Truckey have arrived… tea time as the box is carefully opened revealing eight perfect scones… one disappearing shared between the hubs and moi…  a true afternoon  delight 😋

Supper tonite… cucumber, red onion and tomato salad with hydroponic basil and balsamic vinaigrette… turkey meatloaf with lemon and olive oil dressed pasta… roasted tomatoes atop… an Orange Lime Blossom preceding the meal 🥘 

As the siege in Ukraine continues we are horrified by the murder of innocents… maternity wards… schools… hospitals… apartment buildings  bombed… citizens forced to flee their homes and country… watching their hopes and dreams dashed 😢  Hoping to see karma for all those who continue to perpetrate this horrific war 😡 #peaceforukraine 🇺🇦 

As inflation heats up raising prices on everything from gas to food we are grateful… living in a safe space here in America… seeing covid infections fall… having life saving vaccines available #GetYourJabOn be part of the solution 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Tunisian Chicken with Yogurt Sauce , Roasted Carrots, Parsnips and Asparagus & Malfada with Lemon Juice, Zest and Olive oil

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Weather to write home about… from a high of  72°F to snow and ice on the ground… March keeping its reputation… apparently we are in the Lion phase at the moment…  waiting impatiently for the lamb phase… arriving soon?? 

On the plus side… snow drops are up nodding their lovely white bells… daffodil stems protruding… trees are showing flower buds… hubs saw the first robin Tuesday ( our annual competition… first one to see a robin gets a chocolate bar 🍫 hubs wins most years) Temps pleasant today… almost 50°F  Light winds and a spectacular sunset 🌅 

Breakfast for three… hot java ☕️ and yogurt with berries for the hubs… kibble for Mr Sam… iced coffee🧋por moi… lunch a turkey and genoa salami mini wrap then off to Mom’s to deliver her weekly groceries and visit.  Chipper and chatty, Mom is doing well… mostly stable… enjoying her weekly bridge games… her visits with friends and her stack of books 📚 

Supper tonite… Tunisian chicken with yogurt sauce… roasted asparagus, carrots and parsnips… malfada (pasta) with lemon zest, lemon juice and olive oil… special thanks to our son Mark and DIL Andrea for introducing us to this wonderful recipe… so delicious… served alongside Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc…  dessert… Vanilla coffee ☕️ and chocolate chip brioche for the hubs 😋

The continued war in Ukraine 🇺🇦 breaking our hearts 💔seeing the country torn apart… citizens fleeing devastation… hoping for resolution soon #peaceforukraine   Covid infections, hospitalizations and deaths all decreasing nationwide… many mask mandates lifted… now is the time to #GetYourJabOn  practice self care and be part of the solution 💕😷

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

New England Clam Chowder, Turkey Cutlets, Sautéed Kale, Fresh Homemade Baguette

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

A brief morning rain…  afternoon weather morphing into bright skies…  few clouds remaining overhead… light breeze… 68°F  a taste of spring… folks out wearing light jackets…  hats and scarves off…  kids playing ball at the playground…  little ones with parents on swings and slides… neighbors out prepping ground for spring gardens… life slowly returning to the Big Apple 🍎 

Breakfast for three… the hubs coffee ☕️ and cottage cheese winning out  over yesterdays omelette… iced coffee🧋and a banana 🍌 Mr Sam enjoying his morning kibble followed by a nap 💤  Afternoon skies begging for outdoor activities… Mr Sam stretching out on the deck… hubs taking a nice long walk… yours truly in the greenhouse watering rosemary and thyme… checking supplies… soon time for spring clean up 🧹🧼🧽 

Post walk lunch… baked beef empañadas… light and delicious… our local market baking them fresh… a walk post lunch… no jacket required 😁

Supper tonite… New England clam chowder… Turkey cutlets with sautéed kale and bacon crumbles… fresh homemade baguette 🥖 served alongside a glass of Sauvignon Blanc 🥂

Trying a new take on breading for the cutlets… salt and pepper… then instead of egg and crumbs… used potato flakes… stuck like glue to the cutlets… no egg needed… so delicious… flavor of french fries… we both enjoyed it immensely 😋

Dessert… dear friends brought us mini eclairs yesterday filled with Bavarian cream and topped with dark chocolate… scrumptious… with tea for the hubs 🫖 

Ukraine continues to suffer needlessly at the hands of a childish dictator only interested in the accumulation of power…  our hearts are broken for the Ukrainian people 🇺🇦 facing immense obstacles as they fight valiantly for their democracy.  We all need to be grateful for our democratic government… it may be messy… and loud… but it allows us the freedoms we enjoy today… never forget…  tyrants who would take it from us continue to exist even today 🇺🇸 

Covid infections, hospitalizations and deaths continue to fall… we are excited to see the cautious lifting of mask mandates in many areas of America 🤞

How was your day?   What on your plate?   Thoughts?

Spicy Shrimp and Cheesy Grits with Hydroponic Arugula

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

Bright ineffective sun…  temps still in the 40’s…  waiting impatiently for a warm up coming to the Big Apple 🍎 in the next few days 😁

Lots of new bird calls this afternoon… couldn’t see the chirper… hearing their calls… spring approaching… bringing new voices to the party 🐦 a hoping for another nest in our bushes or trees… last years robins nest was delightful 🥰

Breakfast for three… Mr Sam meowing loudly as his kibble approached… the hubs enjoying an omelette with his morning brew ☕️ iced coffee🧋on the menu for yours truly along with a turkey mini wrap 🌯 

Scooted out for a bit… cold but sunny… checking in on the greenhouse… waiting for the new planting season to begin… spending the afternoon caring for the houseplants… xmas cactus… aloe… spider plants… Swedish Ivy… pothos…  a giant split leaf philodendron… two short palm trees… Gardenia and lemon tree… both waiting for access to the deck 🍋 

Planting seeds for the greenhouse… broccoli… bush peas… snow peas and turnips… first crops moved into the greenhouse early April… cold loving plants… the first harvest.  Tomatoes… sweet peppers… eggplant… cucumbers and hot peppers all waiting till may when last frosts are passed… heat loving crops for second harvest… getting excited for the work ahead… loving the feel of earth in hand once again 🥰

Supper tonite… a nod to New Orleans… spicy shrimp and cheesy grits… 

Roasted shrimp spiced with Cajun spice blend (from Mountain rose herbs) chili powder…  ground coriander… salt and pepper and olive oil…

Grits cooked in chicken broth with salt & pepper… added in 1 tbsp butter… 1/2 c Parmesan and 3/4 c of grated horseradish cheddar off the heat… stirring until melted and creamy… shrimp atop the bowl of steaming grits 🍤 

The hubs hydroponic arugula (forgot a pic 😢) a delicious side dish of greens… served alongside a glass of Sauvignon Blanc 🥂

In honor of National Pound Cake day… dessert… peach pound cake with vanilla bean ice cream and decaf coffee ☕️ for the hubs 

As Putin bombs Ukraine our hearts break for the people of both countries… Ukrainian people suffering needlessly in an amoral invasion… Russian people unsupportive of Putin’s illegal war losing their few freedoms as well… an horrific situation… let clearer heads prevail… End this conflict NOW 

#peaceforukraine🇺🇦 🇷🇺 

Covid infections below 2% in the NY for the first time in months… mask mandates being lifted across America little by little… hoping that the pandemics grip on our country is lifting 🤞 Excellent time to #GetYourJabOn  be part of the solution… practice self care… mask up where required and wash those germy hands 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Mezze Platter

 Vaccinated supper tonite…  Live from NYC…

Low 40’s… sun playing peek a boo between the clouds ⛅️  Parents snuggled into coats… scarves flailing in the breeze… gloved hands holding backpacks and car keys as kids leave school…  mama squirrels babies out sunning for a bit on tree branches mid afternoon… still so tiny… late season births 🐿 

Breakfast for three… hot coffee ☕️ & cottage cheese for the hubs… 🧋for yours truly… kibble for Mr Sam.  He has been glued to the hubs since his return…  like a pup with his mama… following his feet 👣 around the house 😻

Grateful for the warmth of the sun through the office windows 🪟 keeping Mr Sam snug on his carpeted perch 😽 catching a snooze 💤 Bills and calls the order of the day… the hubs checking in on his hydroponic garden… lots of growth in the past week… harvesting basil 🌿 arugula 🥬 tomatoes getting taller… radishes and cucumber growing bushier 🥒  Lunch for the hubs… leftover pizza, salad and hot tea 🫖 

Supper tonite… mezze platter:  black bean dip… guacamole… roasted tomatoes… avocado… kalamata olives… cucumber spears… sliced tomato… romaine leaves… crackers… marinated beets… garbanzo beans with tomato soup and tortilla chips…  a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside 🥂

Light… filling… fun to eat 🙃

Seeing the devastation in Ukraine…  citizens fighting for their hopes and dreams… bleeding and dying for democracy 🇺🇦  Never forget how fortunate are we all are to be living in a country that allow us the freedoms we too often take for granted 🇺🇸 #peaceforukraine

Practice self care #GetYourJabOn and be part of the solution 😷💕

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Pizza Night & Salad… Planting Fields Arboretum Trip

 Vaccinated supper tonite… Live from NYC…

 50°F  🎶 Blue skies 🎵 Light breeze… a beautiful day to celebrate being alive…  sparrows chirping to one another in the trees… mockingbirds squawking across the yard… a pair of cardinals callin to one another… mama squirrel out munching acorns 🌰 keeping her brood full

Breakfast for three… hot coffee ☕️ and oatmeal for the hubs… iced coffee 🧋and a banana 🍌 for yours truly… kibble for Mr Sam 😽 A chance to relax and catch up over a leisurely meal…. make a couple of mini wraps for lunch… grab an apple… trail mix… a bottle of water… and out the door 🚪 

Off to the planting fields arboretum… a historical state park a half hour drive…  a beautiful park with walking trails…  fabulous plantings…  glorious rose trellis…  best of all two stupendous greenhouses.   Camellias and Clivia in one…  blooms beginning in mid February…  Orchids… Cacti… succulents…  and tropical plants in the main greenhouse…  a local paradise 🌺 

Spending a few hours strolling amongst astonishing beauty…  photographing the flowers…  enjoying the solitude of few visitors midweek…  lunch in the main greenhouse…  sandwiches among the bromeliads and orchids… the cacao tree loaded with pods… a few ripe… many still yellow… aaaaaah… chooocooolate… mmmmm 😋 

Supper tonite… NYTimes cheesy pan pizza and tomato cucumber red onion salad with balsamic vinaigrette… a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside… Mr Sam enjoying his beef and liver pâté

Grateful to be alive… our thoughts and conversation flowing back to the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦 as we walked among the gardens… admiring the flowers…  appreciative of the leadership and democracy of the United States at this time of catastrophe #peaceforukraine

Do your part to end the scourge of covid #GetYourJabOn

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?