Today is sunny and bright but I’m home nursing one miserable cold.  This particular strain has been spreading through the office for the past month and I’ve been fighting it all week.   Yesterday I spent the day in bed with a headache, watery eyes, stuffy nose, feeling like I’ve been run over by a truck.

Today I feel well enough to make a big pot of Chickpea Chicken soup.  Hopefully the home-made stock, the spices and an extra dose of vitamin C from sitting in the sun will cure what ails me.

Catching the rays is definitely the cure all for Porsche.

Despite the snow storm the 36 km drive back to the apartment was rather peaceful.  With one clear lane on the highway and very few vehicles, and a few prayers, the trip was uneventful.

There’s only one thing that’s better than being home during a snow storm………and that is a good dinner cooking slowing in the oven.

On Sunday I popped a Seven Layer dinner in a 300 degree oven before DH and I took a walk through the wetlands in front of our home.   Two hours later the house was filled with delicious smells and dinner was ready.  So next storm day give this recipe a try.

We spent the better part of an hour watching two adult bald-headed eagles and one yearling catching the wind to soar above the wetlands.   Our two pairs of binoculars  are in constant use.   The eagles live in the hills high above our home.  Earlier in the week DH noticed this guy sitting in the trees behind the house, which is the closet we have seen one yet.

The temperature was a balmy 5 degrees so we walked down through the wetlands, across the ice and counted 15 muskrats houses.   DH pointed out deer tracks, squirrel tracks and cat tracks.

For supper I used the leftover roast chicken in Chicken lettuce roll ups salad.  This I served on a bed of lettuce, topped with green onions, grated carrots and chopped almond.  A serving of frozen kung pao chicken and basmati rice completed the dinner.   It tasted better than any take out Chinese, plus we didn’t have to drive 30 kms to pick it up.

Later we sat in total darkness so we could count the stars.   Another crazy fun-filled day in the country.

In anticipation of the storm, the schools in Saint John are closed and the radio announcers are suggesting drivers don’t take to the roads, unless they absolutely have to.

Today I’m hunkering down and cooking up a storm.   On the menu for supper is roast chicken à la Jamie Oliver.  With a side of Eco Spuds from Timber River Echo farm.   Purchased at our local Sobeys, these potatoes have an incredible taste, with no trace of fertilizer.

A loaf of Oatmeal and Fruit bread is in the bread machine.  I start most of my breads in the machine using the dough cycle.    Later today I’ll put on a batch of whole wheat bread.

A batch of “what the heck soup” is bubbling on the stove.   DH is puttering down stairs in his work shop, kitty is asleep in the middle of the kitchen…………all is well in my world………..and that’s not a bad way to spend a storm day.

In the crock pot the beans were bubbling.   The flax side bread was waiting for its turn to pop into the oven.  And in the refrigerator was a seven layer salad.  Not a bad way to spend a cold (minus 14 degrees) day in January.

Keeping a blog is much like keeping a diary.  It reminds you of all the little things in life that start to blend together into one big event the older you get.   I was thinking of this yesterday while preparing lunch for Fred and Kathleen who were visiting.   Pondering on how much I like preparing meals for others, it took me a moment or two to remember that I’ve prepared six sit down meals for  friends and family visits since the 21st of December.

I use to snicker at the “Marthas” who keep a running diary of dinner guests and what was served.  Now it sounds like a great idea. So between this blog and my dinner “journal” I’ll be able to remember what I served to who and when.  It will also help  me to find the recipes I followed.  I’m a great one for trying a successful recipe, then not having a clue where I found it to begin with.

Two of my current go-to recipes have been baked onion dip and  potato pancakes using leftover mashed potatoes.   These dishes get gobbled so quickly I have not had a chance to take pictures despite the numerous times I’ve made these lately.  I apologize to the original owners of the  pictures I borrowed to tempt you into trying the recipes.  These are quick and easy, using ingredients you usually have on hand.  The type of comfort food you serve to family and good friends.  They may not remember the date nor the occasion, but they will certainly remember the love.

Potato Pancakes

2 c. leftover mashed potatoes
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. milk
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp. onion, minced
1 tbsp. green pepper, minced
Bacon drippings or cooking oil
Salt & pepper to taste (optional)

Combine mashed potatoes, flour, milk, egg, onions and green peppers. Salt and pepper as desired. Form into 3 inch round patties and fry in bacon drippings or cooking oil. Brown on both sides. Drain and serve.

Baked Onion dip
2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup shredded cheese
2 cups chopped sweet onion
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease a 1 quart baking dish.

In a medium bowl, mix Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and sweet onion. Transfer to the baking dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in the preheated oven 40 to 45 minutes, or until onions are tender and the mixture is bubbly and lightly browned.

DH arrives home tonight after a week of dealing with sub contractors, who work on a calendar known only to themselves.  When an electrican says “yes, I will be there tomorrow” you should ask him if he means  the day after today, or a day sometime in the future.  Carpenters, painters and plumbers all work on this mystery time.

I can’t complain though, my life is full of good things.   My son is working at a job he loves, my daughter and her family are on vacation in Montreal,  DH’s daughter will be coming home in less than a month………….and we have the prettiest great grand daughter in the world.

And if that isn’t enough to be thankful for, blueberries are in season.   For dessert, this evening I’ve made blue berry cake with brown sugar sauce.   Life doesn’t get much better!

Thanks to twitter I can follow Andrea and my grand-daughter Sarah’s day while they attend a word press conference and take in the sites of Montreal.

Not only is Marie an incredible busy cook often posting two recipes a day, she also manages to write 2 other blogs and an Esty shop. She is also an artist with her prints available here .  I’m lucky to find the time to squeeze in one blog.

From Traditional Victorian Sandwich Cakes to Taco Tarts, each recipe is well written and beautifully photographed.

When Marie sponsored a give away a while back, I entered, never thinking for a moment I might win.   But I did.   I am now the proud owner of a proper scale, a delicious cup cake cook book,  cup cake liners, sprinkles and decorations.

With Easter just around the corner, and a visit to the grand-children’s, the timing is perfect.

Even if we don`t have company over, there is always a little bit of something left over from supper.   A cup full of cooked veggies, a half cup of cooked meat,  a bit of pasta sauce.   I save it all for the weekend soup pot.

There is no set recipe for `what the heck` soup, it is a combination of what ever you have in the frig that needs to be used, along with any thing which might be in the freezer.   Sometime I called it `kitchen sink` soup.   When my niece and nephew (hi Becky & Bradley) were young, they would not eat veggies at home.  Bring them to my house and they would chow down kitchen sink soup.   We would make it a game trying to guess what I had made for supper that week, that ended in the soup.

1) Start with a good (preferably home-made) broth.  I make batches of chicken broth and freeze it in 2 cup containers.  Perfect size for this soup.   Pour the broth into a larger size pot.

2) In a frying pan saute onions and celery until the onions are translucent.   Add to the broth.

3) Now open your refrigerator.    Open that container of vegetables left over from last night`s dinner.   Look at it, mutter `what the heck` and add it to the soup pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes adding more broth or water if required.

This week soup was a combination of the following:

left over carrot and turnips

1 cup of black bean and rice casserole

1 cup of left over canned navy beans

1 package of chicken meatballs

A perfect soup on a cold`s winter day and a great way to use up left overs.

I`ve been reading Good in Bed,  Sea Glass Comfort me with Apples and The Whole World Over

It is amazing how much I read (4 books in one week) when I am not sitting mindlessly in front of a television.    Since we did not install cable in the apartment we have only 3 channels.  We don`t miss the other 57 channels we had before.  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas night at a hotel and the only channel we did watch was the one with marathon of `The Big Bang Theory

I’ve been sewing -  Since moving into the apartment I lost my sewing mojo.   DH suggested I use the kitchen as my work area.  What a great suggestion.  My mojo is grooving and I am cutting the fabric for a Christmas quilt.  This time I plan to completely cut all the fabric before starting the quilt……….another first.

I’ve been cooking -  The pot luck gang joined us on the 23rd for a pre-Christmas dinner.   For a gluten treat I made Chocolate Peanut Butter Ribbon dessert.  Another big hit over the holidays was Baked Onion Dip.

Like I said, `living the dream`.