A Grilled Cheese Martha Would Like

My little son "Scout" loves to have grilled cheese and apple slices for lunch. I usually eat his crust and other tidbits he leaves on his plate (I know you moms get it). Today I decided to make my own grilled cheese for a few reasons.

1. Martha Stewart was on Oprah recently teaching her to use good bread, butter, and assorted cheeses, fruits, veggies, and herbs. Her grilled cheese bar looked so delicious!

2. I just happened to have a rosemary artisan loaf of bread that needed attention.

3. I have tart Granny Smith apples and one ripe yellow pepper.

On the hot griddle I threw on butter to sizzle, placed two slices of rosemary bread on the butter, added yellow pepper slices on one piece of bread and toppped it with a slice of creamy cheddar cheese. On the other slice of bread I topped it with a slice of swiss cheese and thin apple slices. After letting the bread brown, I folded the sandwich together. It was perfectly crisp with gooey melted cheese.

Martha would be proud of this one. Now I need a good tomato soup recipe.

Autumn Beauty, Pictures and Poems

I never want to leave the ranch during this season. Here are some photos I snapped on a walk in the crisp autumn air.

 "In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as
from August to November."
- Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden


 
"Just before the death of flowers,
And before they are buried in snow,
There comes a festival season
When nature is all aglow."

 

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

"The sweet calm sunshine of October, now Warms the low spot; upon its grassy mold The purple oak-leaf falls; the birchen bough
drops its bright spoil like arrow-heads of gold."
- William Cullen Bryant
 

"The leaves fall patiently

Nothing remembers or grieves
The river takes to the sea
The yellow drift of leaves."
- Sara Teasdale

EMBRACE THE MOMENT

DREAM BIG

Sweet Treat - Grandma's Butterscotch Blondies

I have had a few requests for a sweet recipe. This is a winner! My oldest son "Blaze" is my pickiest eater all around. He came home and was telling me how good Mrs. L's bars with powdered sugar were after a soccer game. She gave me the recipe and I have made them twice last week and am pulling butter out of the fridge as I write to make some more. There is nothing like the aroma of whisking butter, vanilla, eggs, and brown sugar together! Enjoy!

Grandma's Butterscotch Blondies
1 stick butter, softened
2 C. light brown sugar, packed
1 1/4 C. flour
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
powdered sugar

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Add flour, baking powder, salt and mix well. The batter is irresistible! Bake at 350 in a greased and floured 9x13 pan for 20-25 minutes. Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Warning: they disappear fast!

Perfect Pot Roast - Great for a Fall Gathering or Family Dinner

 

I have made this twice in the last month for my family, and gave the recipe to my friend Tiffany to make for a  birthday party.  We both agreed that our husbands love this one - as well as the plain eaters in the family. It's comfort food that's simple and delicious! Fire up your crock pot or make it in a covered pan in the oven. You choose. Just make sure to serve it with a big fresh loaf of crusty bread and butter and a glass of deep red Zinfandel.

Ingredients

Perfect Pot Roast

4 lb. Chuck Roast

1 bag frozen pearl onions

2 bags fresh baby carrots

4-6 lg Yukon Gold potatoes cubed

1 32 oz box Emeril's Beef Stock

1 Sprig fresh Rosemary

Salt & pepper

Generously salt and pepper roast on both sides. Heat 2 T. olive oil in a large skillet. Brown roast on each side for 5 minutes until it is sizzling and very brown. While roast is browning, add stock to warming crock pot. I like to add a splash of red wine to the pot too. Place browned roast in pot and place onions and carrots on skillet to brown with a pinch more salt for 5 minutes. Place carrots, onions, and cubed potatoes on and around roast. Salt and pepper once more and add sprig of rosemary. Cover and roast of high for 4 hours or until meat is very tender. If roasting in oven, roast on 325 for 3 hours covered in foil.

When done, remove rosemary and serve in stew bowls with crusty bread and butter. Enjoy!

A "Thing" for Festivals

 My mom and I have this "thing" for festivals. Ever since I can remember she was always taking my sister and me to art fairs, cultural festivals, and the good ole State Fair. My favorite purple tie-dyed t-shirt came from

an art fair in State College, Pennsylvania when I was seven.

This weekend my sons had two travel soccer games in nearby towns and my sister and her husband were on a birthday weekend getaway. My mom was watching her three kids. We discovered there was a festival in one of the soccer game towns so we coordinated meeting with all the kids and taking them. This is no small feat. She met me at one game and had six of the kids, I drove to pick up my other son at another field. Of course he scores before I get there, which always seems to happen. I bring him back to the original field and we caravan to the town's festival.

The weather was perfect and we parked and hopped on a hayride to tour the pretty park, making sure we had a "buddy system" in place.  After hopping off the wagon we entered and searched for the food ( mom and my favorite part!). I spent $29 on corn dogs and drinks for all seven kids and found a shaded picnic table to dine. My turn came to choose and I went for the "Bob & Carol's Philly Cheese Steak" Stand - a true mom and pop stand with juicy steak drenched in cheese, onions, and peppers. I doused mine with hot sauce too. My mom opted for a walking taco and lemon shake up.

After finishing lunch, my mom popped for dessert- a bag of cinnamon sugar mini donuts hot off the press (or fryer). The kind man even threw in a few extra for our motley bunch (the kids were getting dirty by now). The hot donuts disappeared in an instant and we were off to the bounce houses and booths. With seven kids, not much shopping was accomplished, just lots of smiles and squeals. Finally, the kids started to have blank stares and we were all running out of steam. We hopped back on the hayride to the parking lot and called it a day.
I really do think we are passing on the love of festivals and fairs to the kids as they always say, "Can we do this again?" I smile and hope we will, too.
 K

Super Harvest Moon

The Super Harvest Moon Is Upon Us

Tonight is the night of the autumnal equinox 2010. It will mark the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and the the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

In addition to this, Jupiter and the moon will appear next to each other in the night sky. This amazing phenomenon is known as the “super harvest moon“. 

Super Harvest Moon Dance

 Good Thoughts from Circle of Light.com below:
This celebration is observed with a harvest feast to celebrate and share the abundance of the past season.

Traditionally, this celebration was observed with a harvest feast to celebrate and share the abundance of the past season. And a time when the plants are setting their seeds; making themselves ready for their new cycle. This ritual is all about harvesting ALL the Universe has waiting for you. And for assisting you to use this time to balance yourself and your life; setting yourself and your life to be ready for your new cycle of being. Remember everything that is placed on one side of the scale has to have something else placed on the other side. Thus, this ritual assists in creating and maintaining that balance; using this time to look closely at the balance in your life and shifting what needs to be shifted or changing what needs to be changed.
 
How do you balance your personal needs with your commitments to the outside world? How do you receive? How do you give? How do you hold on to that which is no longer beneficial in your life? You might want to reflect on this in a journal or make it concrete by putting objects on a scale. For everything which represents one side of the scale to you (for instance, a book representing quiet time alone), place something on the other side which represents its opposite (a letter or phone for reaching out to friends). If your scale is out of balance then this ritual can assist you to bring yourself and your life back into balance; thus harvesting more peace of mind, joy, prosperity, happiness; and less loneliness, chaos, confusion and frustration. A time to plant the seeds making yourself ready for your new cycle.

Happy Harvest Moon,
Kathy

Sandwich Art - Toasted Chicken & Tomato with Creamy Basil Spread

I think a good sandwich is a work of art.

Before becoming a stay at home mom I owned a gourmet sandwich

cafe with my sister and dad. We created all of our recipes from scratch using only fresh and natural ingredients. I am still creating new recipes in my own kitchen at the ranch.

Here is what I just made for lunch using leftover grilled chicken and fresh tomatoes and basil.

Toasted Chicken & Tomato Sandwich with Creamy Basil Spread

Toast good bread

Spread both pieces with creamy basil spread (recipe below)

Add pulled chicken (can be turkey and or bacon)

Sprinkle with salt and pepper

Add slices of tomato

Top with basil leaves

Cut and enjoy!

Serve the sandwich with tortilla chips and the extra basil spread as dip.

Creamy Basil Spread

8 oz. cream cheese

1/2 c. sour cream (or mayo)

Bunch of fresh basil leaves up to 1 c. (1T. dried basil can work)

1 t. dried Italian herbs

1 t. salt

ground pepper. Blend until creamy (I used my Magic BulletMixer)

Juice Journey Update

Hi Friends,

Thanks for all the questions and interest on the juicing. You should know, I am not a dieter. I've never been on a diet. I love to eat. I love to cook. That's the problem.

Until recently and even after having four kids,  I have been lucky to naturally stay around a certain weight with regular exercise and eating mostly what I want. The day I turned 40 it all seemed to change. It hit me over the head like a frying pan last week when the air got cooler and I reached for my favorite Lucky jeans. They would not zip from extra bulge in the gut.

That's when I called my friend Shannon in Iowa and asked her about her juice diet. She told me it works. I trusted her and started the minute we hung up. 

Fast forward five days of just juicing. It works. I have dropped six pounds and the jeans have zipped. I feel cleansed and refreshed and back to a starting point. Kathy 2.0.

I just made my first meal  - a veggie quesadilla (recipe will be posted soon). It tasted delicious and I enjoyed every bite slowly. I plan to get back on the juice for a three more days to drop a few more because crock pot season is about to begin.

Here is what I did for five days:

I did not give up my morning cup of coffee. I need my coffee.

Fresh juice prepared as much as I want followed by drinking lots of water.

In my blender (Magic Bullet) I filled it with ice, chopped fruit and a little water or Boathouse Farms carrot juice.

Fruit I used  - all whole and organic and skins on:

Bananas, green apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, pineapple, strawberries, peaches, purple grapes, and avocado.

If I was out and on the go I bought fresh juice in the produce department of the grocery like Odwalla, Naked, and Boathouse Farms fresh juice blends.

Drank lots of water. Remember, cleanse!

The end of day two was the most difficult time for me. I was tired and sweating out toxins and my body wanted food. I pushed through that time with another smoothie and felt so much better. By day three and four I felt fantastic! Another benefit was that my kids loved drinking my juice blends too!

I had really planned on doing a seven day cleanse but on day five after four soccer games, teaching two yoga classes, and a Cub Scout BBQ, I came home and made the precious veggie quesadilla.

That's the story. It worked. I encourage you to try it to drop a few pounds, cleanse your body, and feel great! Crock pot season here I come! I will re-post my Indian Summer Beef Stew with Crusty Buttered Bread soon.

Happy Juicing,

K

Juice Time!

After a summer of indulgent eating with my kids, I just realized I can't zip up my jeans. I called my friend Shannon in Iowa to get her wellness advice. She's into the healthy/ fitness/vegetarian lifestyle. She told me she was in the same too tight jeans boat a few months ago and started juicing and got quick and healthy results. She suggested going on a juice fast for a week to cleanse my body and drop a few pounds. I'm going to try it.

This morning I dusted off my Magic Bullet Mixer and tossed in a banana, sliced green apple, strawberries, and Boathouse Farms carrot juice. I poured it in a pretty glass on ice and am sipping it now as I write. It is utterly delicious and filling. Below is a paragraph I found on a juicing website about its health benefits.

Fresh juice provides us with minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins and much more. All of these factors are vital to maintaining good health. You will find that when you make fresh juice a daily part of your diet, you will have increased energy, a glowing complexion, strengthened immune system, stronger bones and a reduced risk of disease. It is recommended that you drink at least 16 ounces of freshly squeezed juice each day.
Let the juicing begin.
I'll update soon.

Busy August - Starting School and Turning Ten!

“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you posses. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.”
Kent Nerburn

It's really hard to believe that August is almost over. It's been busy busy busy and hot hot hot!
School started weeks ago and my oldest three began playing fall soccer. Little Scout starts preschool for 3 year olds next week and for the first time in ten years I will be by myself two mornings a week for two hours. I think I will sit in my house and listen to the silence. Oh, and maybe do a few loads of piled up laundry etc. Maybe I should just get out those paints again. Who knows...

Speaking of "ten", my oldest son turned 10 years
old this weekend. I thought my life was great before kids, but the day he was born I went from living in black and white to full technicolor. I did not know my heart was capable of so much love. I feel so blessed.
To celebrate, he wanted to have some friends over for a party. My husband and I sent them on a wild scavenger hunt through the woods in search of sparkling rocks from the creek, and snakes and lizards (purchased at the dollar store).

The party ended after hours of creek stomping with cupcakes and a smoke bomb. Seeing the boys frolic in the great outdoors made me want to bottle up those sweet, joyful and innocent moments. I was nearby taking pictures and smiling for sure.

<><>

<>

<><>

For the Love of Yoga

Thanks for the way you make me feel like I just swallowed sunlight. I hope we're together for as long as that sun shines.

It's been 20 years since taking a Hatha Yoga class my junior year of college. Since then it has always been a part of my life. For over a year I have been fortunate to teach a mixed level Vinyasa Flow class 1-3 times per week. Each week there are usually new students who join the class. I tell them yoga means to join the mind, body, and breath, and to enjoy the hour as a gift to themselves.
The bottom line: It Feels Good!
As we move our bodies in a dimly lit room, we quite the mind. We check in and release any tension or strain. There is no competition or judgement. We breathe and feel ourselves in the present moment. We stretch. Inhale. Exhale.
It Feels Good.
Below is a letter I found written by a women who loves yoga too.
Dear Yoga,
I know, I know, we were just on the mat together, but there's something I'd like to say before we meet again tomorrow.
We live in a world that loves to tell me what to do with my body. From parents to teachers to government to doctors and dentists and personal trainers to television to the backs of cereal boxes, for Pete's sake.
Every day, someone tells me what and what not to eat (yes to quinoa, no to ice cream - thanks for that, when and when not to eat (every two hours, only when I'm hungry), what numbers I have to know (cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI), what behavior is acceptable (don't sing on the subway), what I must buy to be attractive (that is so last year), what hours I must work to prove my worth (lots and lots), what performance I've got to give every day to be worthwhile to someone else (always on, always 100%).
None of this feels like me.
So, yoga, thanks for encouraging me to show up when it feels right, to do what feels wonderful and within my chosen limits (my choice!), to challenge myself when I care to, and to rest in Child's Pose whenever I want. Thanks for encouraging and not demanding. Thanks for the joy you give back, whether I'm with you for five minutes or an hour and a half.
I love the way you make me laugh more easily, like myself more with every pose, and remind me with every practice of the beautiful, glowing-faced wonder I am.
Thanks for the way you make me feel like I just swallowed sunlight. I hope we're together for as long as that sun shines,
Kristin
Kristin Shepherd is a chiropractor, actor, and speaker (about All Things Wonderful) from North Bay, Ontario.
The photo above was taken with my friend Susan as we attended David Romanelli's
Yoga + Chocolate Everything is Sweeter in the Moment workshop. That was a treat!

You are meant to have an amazing life!

You are meant to have an amazing life!

This is the first sentence in the introduction of Rhonda Byrne's new book the Power.
I am a huge fan of her first book The Secret in which she writes about the Law of Attraction; whatever you give, is exactly what you attract back to yourself. Byrne's new book almost jumped off the shelf to me as I was searching for mechanical pencils and cheap gym shoes for the kids.

the Power is all about the positive force of love. I am only 21 pages into the book but I wanted to share a section I circled in red pen.
People who have great lives talk more about what they love. By doing so, they gain unlimited access to all the good in life, and they are free as the birds that soar in the sky. To have a great life, break the bars of the cage that is jailing you; give love, talk only about what you love, and love will set you free!
Nothing is impossible for the force of love. No matter who you are, no matter what situation you may be facing, the force of love can set you free. -the Power
What do you love?

The Sweet Escape of Books

Reading will set you free. - quote from my 10th grade English teacher

It has been swirling craziness around here. The kids started school this week, our house had been under construction for months with a few major setbacks and delays and is a tornado inside and out, three of my kids are in soccer on different teams and leagues, I have been teaching and training for more fitness classes, and I am still in the midst of potty training with lots of success yet frequent setbacks.

Everyone one of you reading could write a similar paragraph above with your busy lives. How do you cope amidst the chaos? What do you turn to for comfort and refuge?

I turn to books. The bigger and more intense the stress, the bigger the books I put my nose into. As this crazy time started a couple weeks ago, I chose to dive into a 1236 page small print historical fiction novel, World Without End by Ken Follett. This is the sequel to his epic bestselling dramatic Medieval novel, Pillars of the Earth. I read Pillars more than ten years ago.

One word comes to mind: ESCAPE. How thrilling it is to quickly slip back into year 1327 to experience the hard life in ancient England where life revolved around a great cathedral and and the town of Kingsbridge filled with good, strong, and villainous characters. Desire, Black Death plague, war, passion, and family conflict fill these pages that I willingly get lost in.
Maybe this makes my life seem like cake compared to those hard times of peasants and serfs. As I sift through assignment notebooks and  my overloaded calendar, the Medieval world of Kingsbridge lingers in the back of my mind. Sweet escape. What's yours?

Italian Sausage Burgers

My husband brought home some Italian sausages, sweet onions, and garden fresh peppers and asked me to create something yummy. I always love that challenge! Only having burger buns, I created Italian sausage burgers. They were so easy and delicious!
First, I chopped all the veggies and tossed them with olive oil, salt, & pepper. I placed them in my vegetable grill basket and BK put them on the grill for 15 minutes turning occasionally while the sausages boiled.

We took the veggies off the grill and added the sausages on for 10 minutes. While they were grilling, I warmed some burger buns in the oven to lightly crisp, opened and warmed a jar of marinara sauce, and a package of sliced provolone cheese. I sliced the sausages, placed them on the crisp buns, added a slice of cheese, sauce, & peppers. Yummy Italian sausage burgers! These would be good without meat too.

Top with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Enjoy!

Tomato Mozzarella Basil Salad

My favorite summer salad is simple, fresh, delicious!

Tomato, Mozzarella, & Basil Salad
Slice up fresh tomatoes
Slice a fresh ball of Buffalo Mozzarella cheese
Tear fresh basil leaves
Arrange on platter
Drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top
Add sea salt and ground pepper

Fearless Friday

"To me, Fearless is not the absence of fear. It's not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death."
— Taylor Swift

My six year old daughter conquered a fear and jumped off the high dive. She was so exhilarated and proud. I was too. I love that feeling. I love pushing myself through fear and fulfilling a challenge. That does not happen as often as I'd like. That's why I decided today was Fearless Friday.

Run or walk a little farther, call a friend for lunch or a movie, make that interesting recipe, sign up for a new class, paint that picture. I promise you will not regret it. Be fearless today.

Listening to the Whispers

Whispers. We all have them. They're the little voices in our conscious minds that tug at our hearts and want our attention. These whispers, these seeds of dreams, encourage us, even when we're not entirely willing to listen, to simply begin.
Kelly Rae Roberts, Taking Flight

On April 7th, my 40th birthday, I spontaneously bought a set of oil paints, a little easel, and some canvas. The bag of supplies were not opened until yesterday. Yesterday I cleared out a space under a window in our messy and chaotic "no-no room", unfolded a long card table and took out the art supplies. Of course my kids wanted to join in on the fun so we had a little art party.

I picked a fragrant marigold from my garden and started to paint. This is what I ended up with. Mystic Marigold.

Listen to your whispers.....

Potatoes O'Brien Casserole

My friend Dana asked me for a good side dish recipe for her family gathering. I feel so bad because I remembered just one hour before her party. I will share this with her and you for future gatherings. It is always popular at my parties.



Potatoes O'Brien Casserole
1 bag frozen hash browns O'Brien
1 stick butter (cut into small pieces)
2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1 c. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup

Thaw potatoes. Mix all ingredients together except 1 cup cheese in a large bowl. Pour into a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, covered.
Enjoy!