43/52: Pumpkin Patch

Autumn leaves were falling and the rain came crashing down...but not before we found some pumpkins up in Snohomish on Saturday with our good friends, the Seymours.

Sunday was filled with a quick walk between showers through Lincoln Park, some yummy Shepard's Pie and a quiet train ride back to Portland.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Menu Plan Monday: Halloween Week 2018

Happy Monday!

Halloween week is here so embrace the start of the Holiday Season!  Watch a scary movie, listen to some scary music and get the candy ready for the Trick-Or-Treaters!

Enjoy with some great home cooked meals too!  Laura has a great website with more links to great organizing tips and menus!

Enjoy!
Stacy

MONDAY: Chicken Thighs with Salad and Roasted Brussels Sprouts
TUESDAY: Smoked Salmon Chowder
HALLOWEEN: Homemade Pizza
THURSDAY: Off to Seattle

Old Photo Friday: Happy Halloween

WHO: Stacy
WHAT: Halloween
WHERE: E Street
WHEN:1978-1979

Happy Halloween!  This was one of my most favorite constumes created by my Pop.  He made the hobo pack out of an old broom handle and packed the red hankerchief with newspaper.  He smoked half the cigar and gave me the end.  He had Grandma Cavey sew a patch on an old sweatshirt for me to wear, cut the fingers off an old pair of gloves and put soot from the fireplace on my face as stubble.  What a Dad!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Recipe of the Week: Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Bars

First of all, I have never heard of leftover Halloween candy, but if you should find yourself with some extra candy, here is a great idea!

How was your Halloween?

Enjoy!
Stacy

Leftover Halloween Candy Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup candy-coated milk chocolate and/or peanut butter pieces

2 cups assorted Halloween candies, chopped if large

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Line a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan with foil, leaving about 1 inch foil extending over the ends of the pan.  Coat foil with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, vanilla and almond extract.  Stir in dry ingredients and candy coated pieces until combined.

Pat dough into the bottom of foil lined pan.  Lightly press remaining candy on top of the dough.

Bake about 30 minutes or until the edges are browned and center is set.  Cool completely in pan and use foil to lift uncut bars from pan.  Remove foil and cut into bars.

42/52: Delaware

What a time we had back east!

It flew by super fast because we were going non-stop for 3 full days, including visits with family & friends, a trip to the beach, a visit to the cemetery, a hike on the Mason-Dixon Trail, a family crab feed and Brian's 40th High School Reunion.

Enjoy!
Stacy

@ the Stone Balloon, Main Street Newark, DE

This girl loves her Wawa Coffee

Class of 1978

Rehobath Beach, DE

Lunch at Matt's Fish Camp, South Bethany Beach, DE

Smith Bridge, Chadds Ford, PA

The Smith Bridge was built in 1839 as a covered bridge over the Brandywine River just south of the Pennsylvania state line.  It was destroyed in 1961 on Halloween with it was set on fire and rebuilt a time later.

Hiking the Mason Dixon Trail with Cousin Randi outside their back door in Chadds Ford, PA

Eating Maryland Blue Crabs

Brian's Aunt Faye will be 80 in April

Menu Plan Monday: October 22-25, 2018

Happy Monday and welcome to another beautiful Fall week!

I'm back after taking a break last week to visit with Brian's family on the east coast.

Seriously hard to imagine that we are coming up on the last two weeks of October already.

For more organizing tips, remember to check out Laura's website.

Enjoy!
Stacy

MONDAY: Garden Burgers with Fries
TUESDAY: Salmon with Herb Salad
WEDNESDAY: Crock Pot Chili
THURSDAY: Teriyaki Chicken Bowls

East Coast Swing

Reunions, Family and Friends!

Off to the east coast.

See you on Instagram and next week with a re-cap of our trip.

Enjoy!
Stacy and Brian

41/52: Getting Ready for Halloween

We decorated the house last weekend for Halloween. Next to Christmas, I think we have almost as much stuff to put outside.  This year, Brian added a graveyard out front where he built the planter for the summer geraniums and lighthouse.  At night, it's spooky!

We took a wonderful chilly walk through Lincoln Park, before heading into the city to find a place to watch the Ducks/Huskies and eat an amazing fish burger. The Ducks won so I was happy.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Zaid Abdul Aziz (formerly known as Don Smith) a former Iowa State University and NBA basketball player.  Amazing man with an incredible gift not only in basketball, but a much greater gift with words (he is a talented author).  He was quite taken with Brian's love of sports and incredible knowledge of sports history.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Old Photo Friday: Are there guts inside

WHO: Baby Stacy and Pop
WHAT: Carving Pumpkins
WHERE: E Street kitchen table
WHEN: October 1971 (I look to be about 2 1/2)

Happy Halloweenie, Everyone!

Love,
Stacy

Recipe of the Week: Yorkshire Pudding

If you didn't know this about me, I absolutely love all things British.  From the music and movies I discovered in my teens to the sights that I discovered during my trip to England in 1994, I consider myself (Brian too) to be a true Anglophile.

Saturday is National Yorkshire Pudding Day.  It's not a dish that is traditionally served in the U.S., although with popular cooks like Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, it's easy to see why this easy side dish might be catching on.

Yorkshire Pudding is actually not a Pudding at all.  You'd be surprised to learn that it is actually more of a roll or bread made from a batter consisting of eggs, flour and milk.  Typically it is served along side a Sunday roast with a gravy.

When wheat flour began to come into common use for making cakes, cooks in the north of England devised a means of making use of the fat that dropped into the drippings pan to cook a batter pudding while the meat roasted.  In 1737,  a recipe for "drippings pudding" was published.

National Yorkshire Pudding Day has been celebrated on the first Sunday in February in England since 2007.

Here is simple recipe.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Yorkshire Pudding

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1 cup AP flour

2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs with milk then stir in flour.  Set aside.

Divide butter evenly into the 12 cups of a muffin tin, about 1/2 teaspoon of butter per cup.  Place the tin in oven to melt the butter, 2-5 minutes.  You want the tins to be very hot.

Remove the tin from the oven, and distribute the batter evenly into the buttered cups.

Bake in oven 5 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 and bake 25 more minutes or until puffed and golden.

40/52: Still I Rise

A quiet, peaceful dawn followed by grayness and abundant rains brought in bad vibes, general anger and our countries discord.

Fall skies, chilly air and brisk walks were needed in abundance this weekend.

Friends and food began internal healing and the light of a more powerful day.

We must never give up hope.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Still I Rise

BY MAYA ANGELOU

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

Maya Angelou, "Still I Rise" from And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems.  Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou. 

Menu Plan Monday: October 8-11, 2018

Welcome back, Monday!

How is everyone this week?  Leave me a comment below and tell me what you are looking forward to cooking this week?

Something sweet...pumpkin bread?  A savory root vegetable gratin?  Who is ready for a pot roast?

Enjoy your time in the kitchen and go to Laura's site to get access to the link up and more menus for you to review.

Enjoy!
Stacy

MONDAY: Flat Iron Steak with 1/2 baked potato and Green Beans
TUESDAY: Movie Night!  Let's eat here
WEDNESDAY: Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Acorn Squash/Artichokes
THURSDAY: Off to Seattle

Old Photo Friday: Happy Halloween, Stacy

WHO: Stacy Dare Brady
WHAT: Halloween Party
WHERE: E Street in Springfield, OR
WHEN: October 1981 (I look to be about 12)

Happy Halloween to all you ghost, goblins or geishas!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Recipe of the Week: Pumpkin Fettuccine Alfredo

When did October arrive?  In the dark of night, I suppose.  I mean...was it not just 4th of July like last week?

But...don't I say this every year with a bit of a twinkle in my eye and a smile on my face because I sure do love the month of October.

In addition to comfort foods, fires, pumpkins, falling leaves and chilly mornings it's also.....

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Financial Planning Month
Italian Heritage Month
LGBT History Month
National Apple Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Pasta Month
National Roller Skating Month
National Stamp Collecting Month
Vegetarian Month
AND
Positive Attitude Month

Just to name a few!

So in honor of Italian Heritage, pasta (pumpkins) and vegetarian month, here is today's recipe of the week!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Pumpkin Fettuccine Alfredo

Ingredients:

12 oz whole wheat fettuccine

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon flour

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary, plus some for garnish

2 cups milk

3 ounces goat cheese

1 cup plain pumpkin puree

a pinch of red pepper flakes

1/8 teaspoon all spice

salt and pepper

shaved Parmesan cheese, for topping

Directions:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta al dente.  Reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid, drain pasta and set aside.

Heat a 12 inch sauce pan over medium heat and add butter.  Once butter melts, whisk in flour and stir to create a roux.  Cook until bubbly and golden, about 3 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Slowly add milk, rosemary and red pepper flakes.  Stir constantly and increase the heat a bit until the mixture is bubbling and thickens, about 6 minutes.

Add goat cheese, pumpkin, all spice and salt and pepper whisking until smooth. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.  Add cooked pasta and toss to combine.  You may want to thin down sauce with reserved pasta water.

Remove from heat and serve immediately; top with sprinkle of fresh rosemary and Parmesan cheese.

39/52: Girl's Weekend featuring Keith Urban

We had a long Girl's Weekend this year that started off with a road trip to Eugene to see Keith Urban and Kelsea Ballerini at Matt Knight Arena.

The show was amazing and we had a fun evening catching up with friends at the Wild Duck in Eugene before the show.

After a quick trip to see my Mom and Kenny's new home in West Eugene, we had a relaxing Friday night back in Beaverton with plenty of time to cuddle with cats in pajamas (us not the cats) while eating a classic wedge salad along side a steak dinner.

Saturday was our annual trek down NW 23rd for shopping and lunch.  We each bought a few trinkets and our lunch, including a rich and creamy wild mushroom papardelle was fantastic.

Sunday was spent relaxing while watching everything from the 1976 version of "A Star is Born" to a couple of really good football games followed by 4 episodes of General Hospital.

It was a wonderful way to say goodbye to September and welcome October.

Enjoy!
Stacy