The frig is WAY too full!  HELP!

As the weekend dies down......

the

Wow!  Let it snow!  Two Friday snows in a row and freezing temperatures have kept me in the kitchen for much of the weekend.  I did manage to get off a few shots before it was devoured.  Lots of warm filling soups, chilis, etc.  Love the reason to stay in for a change.  Beautiful to look at through a steamy window in a warm kitchen!  Started it off with a nice nutty quinoa salad with almonds, wild rice, white quinoa, red quinoa, red onion, raisins, spices, etc.  Soooo good for us and healthy tasting!   Followed with roasted red pepper soup (thanks to Kevin who finally got tired of waiting on me to use the red peppers I had bought).  Followed by pinto beans and cornbread which Matthew really wanted me to teach him how to make.  I love it when the boys realize how easy cooking really is; they love to be able to fix themselves good food when I am not around.  Note that one of the next dishes is one Matthew made for us during the week, crunchy chicken parmigiano.  VERY tasty and served with one of Mason's favorites, orzo.  (Thanks, son!).  One flop this week...I made white bean chicken chili again, but put too much liquid in it, so it ended up being soup since we were all hungry and we couldn't wait for it to cook down before eating.  The "soup" was good, but the situation was remedied and the leftovers will be more true to form.  Finally, a new soup recipe from my friend, Yvonne, for beef, barley Italian vegetable soup.  YUM!  The house smelled yummy and it just looked awesome.  The best news of all...many leftovers and we will eat well for the rest of the week.  One note....the refrigerator is WAY too full....come on over....

Busy couple of weeks....

      

 

 Many of the meals that were made these past two weeks got by me.  I have been too busy to capture the moments.  Here are a few highlights....lots of salads, blackened chicken over angel hair pasta with parmesan cheese sauce and tomatoes and avacados (Mason's favorite), chili, chicken with risotto, tomatoes, basil and asiago cheese (yum). (Do you notice a trend here?  Cheese?).  Oh yes, and my favorite, dessert (from a bottle).  I will hope to do better this week, although Monday night will be leftovers so we can finally get those Christmas decorations down before the neighbors kick us out of the neighborhood!

Friday night again????????

Wow!  It's Friday night already and Matt is a bit under the weather.  Looking for something warm and filling....comfort food.  Beef stroganoff to the rescue.  Paired with a nice cranberry, apple salad with a homemade vinaigrette made from my favorite Roanoke foodie place, Oliveto.  This little baby was comprised of their grapefruit infused white balsamic vinegar and their delicious Koroneiki extra virgin olive oil.  Added some garlic, honey, dijon mustard, salt and pepper - YUM!  Happy Friday!

Angry Birds with Ian

I'm home finally!  Liquid refreshment and Angry Birds again....with the boys and Ian.

New Year's Day Dinner

Typically I make corned beef, black eyed peas and cabbage every year.  Since we are a little bit beefed out I opted for lobster tails and Chilean sea bass instead this year.  What a wonderful day!  Angel food cake with fresh raspberry sauce for dessert.  

New Year's Eve

Quiet evening out with good friends and delicious Italian food at Chianti Italian Restaurant.  Gotta love getting out of the kitchen every once in a while.  As expected, whenever I am with others I forget to take pictures.  Oh, my brain.....

Treats

And the treats just keep coming in the door.  Some new ones and some old stand bys.  I must say, this year's bourbon balls were the best!  Thanks to all my friends who evidently think we need to put on a few pounds!  I love you all!

Angry Birds Revisited

OK, most of my inspiration for food comes from eating it.  Simple.  Nothing hard about that.  Earlier during the holiday season Kevin and I stopped for lunch and a beverage at a new pub in Roanoke and sampled something called their Angry Bird.  It is a turkey burger with lettuce, tomato, jalapeno pimento cheese and sriracha lime mayonnaise.   YUM is all I can say.  Here it is duplicated and, I must say, really good.   Matthew has decided he now really likes the spicy mayo.  He is putting it on everything.  Good thing he can afford to put on a few pounds.   Kevin and I enjoyed it with an ice cold beer as it really has a bite!

Mediterranean Limas

My good friend, Marija, who is from Macedonia shared this delicious dish with me about a year ago.  Fresh lima beans with garlic, paprika, onions, tomatoes....  Served with cornbread.  YUM!

Friday night leftovers

Took part of the standing rib roast that was left over from earlier in the week and made soup.  I LOVE soup!  Comfort food.....

Christmas Mornin'

I always make a brioche coffee cake for Christmas morning.  Kona coffee, eggs, bacon, etc.  Nice relaxing morning before heading to Nana's house.

Christmas Eve and the livin' is easy....

Just hanging out with the family and having a fun day wrapping up the details.  Dinner is the traditional leg of lamb and mashed potatoes.  Love to all!