A Hodge Podge

I have been busy the past few weeks getting ready for some R&R in the Rocky Mountains.  I have some projects that I am going to finish while relaxing.

Some of the fun recipes that I have made lately were definitely keepers.

Brown Butter Rosemary Orange Cornbread

All I can say is amazing!!  Being from Texas I had to use my iron skillet to make cornbread and it is a winner.  I will make it over and over.  Thanks Joy the Baker for a great recipe.

Red Velvet Pancakes

These were over the top!!!!!!  I made them for a dessert one evening and they were sooo good.  The cream on them is cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar.  The pancakes called for a 1/2 cup of cocoa and I did not add the red dye.  It was like eating a brownie pancake.

On the griddle

Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

This recipe came from Barefoot Contessa's How Easy is That? cookbook.  Her books are the best investment that I make when buying a cookbook.  They are my go to books when menu planning and are always reliable.

This next week I will be working on projects and enjoying the scenery of Rocky Mountain National Park.  I also will be driving Miss Lucy to stay with her best friend Griffin.

Lucy turns 2 = Lab Love!!

Lucy turned 2 today.  We have had an interesting journey learning how to raise a Lab puppy, but it all equals to love for her.
Here are some fun pictures of her that we all have enjoyed.

Love at First Sight

After a quick trip to the emergency room the first night she felt better.

She has always been very serious!!

First trip to Austin for a sleep over

Growing

No I will not swim!!  She has never gotten into the pool.  Who ever heard of a lab that doesn't swim?

First Hiking Trip to Colorado.

Caught on the furniture inside and outside!!!

Playing fetch!!

Above all else watching Downton Abbey.

I never knew how much fun a lab would, be until we got Lucy!!

The Sorrows of the Season Finale of Downton Abbey

OH DEAR!!!!  That was my reaction about last night's episode of Downton Abbey.  I had accidentally learned that Dan Stevens(Matthew Crawley) had not renewed his contract.  I was on the internet reading about the Academy Award nominees and was trying to figure out what movies  Jessica Chastain(The Help) had been in over the years; when the future of Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens was revealed.

All I can say about last night is that I was more angry than sad!  The consensus on blogs today is how dare PBS try to raise funds after this ending.  But I will say after all is said and done we will all return to watching it loyally.

We can not give up following the following characters:

1. Mr. Carson...he loves the rules!
2. Mrs. Hughes' compassion for Tom and her co-workers.
3. Mrs. Patmore and her wardrobe after last night!!
4. Alfred's love for cooking...who knows where that is going.
5. Thomas' new leaf...can it last?
6. Miss O'Brien....what a web she weaves!!

Above all else of the downstairs characters
ANNA AND MR. BATES what a precious part of the plot line last night.

Then of course there is the family.
1. We would not have great one liners to discuss on Mondays.  Thank you Maggie Smith!!!
2.  Lady Edith and her scandal
3. Maybe long suffering Lady Mary....and her future.
4.  Will the next few years still give us a jolly time?

I had a meal last night that reminded me of some wonderful meals that we have had on a cold day in the UK.

I will had the recipe soon, but for know here is a picture of the Chicken Pot Pie that we ate during the last episode.

Herb Crusted Chicken Pot Pie

Amazing!!

Downton Abbey Season Finale..

Everyone is anxious about Downton Abbey ending for the season.  We will all miss it not coming on but will look forward to the new season this coming year.
I started looking at my photos on this computer that I had taken on some of our trips to the UK.  I am just sharing a few today.  It makes me long to return.

Salisbury 

Big Ben at Dusk

Anne Hathaway's Home in Stratford

The Maze at Hampton Court

Bath

(My Favorite City in the UK)

These are just a few of my favorites from several trips to the UK.  I love each trip.

All While Wearing Pearls

Happy Valentines Day

  This is a blast from the past.  I came across some Valentines from my First Valentine's Day.  I did say a blast from the past.  

I love these cards!  I was so glad that my mom kept them.  Also the innocents of the 50's is apparent in the cards.

Have a wonderful day.

All While Wearing Pearls

Shrove Tuesday & Watching Way too Much Downton Abbey

  The first time that I heard of Shrove Tuesday was when we were in London on Shrove Tuesday.  There were signs advertising serving shrove pancakes.  Upon return home I started reading about the meaning of this day and really liked the idea of this kind of celebrating of the Lenten season.  One of my daughters said that I may be watching too much Downton Abbey!
  So in celebration of Shrove Tuesday, I decided to make pancakes (the Mr.'s favorite food group)!

Bacon and Corn Griddle Cakes

 They are wonderful!!  In fact I will make them again.  It is one of the first recipes that I pinned on Pinterest and had not made them.  They are the best combination of flavors and really are easy to make.  I found them on Recipe Girl's blog.  You can find the recipe here.

I know that after last night we decided that we will celebrate the Lenten Season by eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.  The Mr. started the day off correctly by having a breakfast meeting and eating his favorite blueberry pancakes.  There are so many creative ways to make pancakes these days! Yes finding a baby in a King cake is fun but I liked this much more.

A recently bad picture of serving King cake at a luncheon.

All While Wearing Pearls!

Strawberry Sweet Biscuits

Sweet Biscuits

We enjoy this recipe so much that I use it year round with different fresh berries.

I found this recipe in The Peach Tree Tea Room Cookbook  many years ago.  It is really worth buying in fact all of their cookbooks are wonderful.
I have made the recipe easier for me to make because the Mr. eats these like cookies and I call them sweet biscuits.

Sweet Biscuits

2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick of butter, very cold (I stick it in the freezer for a few minutes) then cut into small pieces
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup half and half
melted butter
sugar for sprinkling

 Combine all the dry ingredients in your food processor and pulse just to combine.  Add the butter and pulse until  the mix is coarse and you can see small pieces of butter.  Then add the egg and half and half and pulse until just moist.  I put a piece of wax paper on my counter with flour dusted on the wax paper.  I add a little flour to the dough if the dough is too sticky.  I pat the dough out until it is about a 1/2 thick.  Cut the dough with a cookie cutter to make in the desired shape and size you want.  I used a fluted biscuit cutter in the picture above.  I have made them heart shaped for Valentines.  Bake for 10-12 minutes in a 425 degree oven on an ungreased cookie sheet.  While they are stil warm brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.  This last step makes this a wonderful dessert!!
  For presentation I split the biscuits in half and spoon berries (what ever is in seasons).  Then I top the berries with whipped topping.  They are delicious!!!

I hope you all enjoy this recipe.

All While Wearing Pearls

Preparing for Downton Abbey on Super Bowl Sunday

Now that all are over the trauma of last weeks episode of Downton Abbey, we can move on to this week.  I'm getting the tea service ready for a proper time while watching this week.  Years ago this day became a nonevent for us, so we enjoyed the day.

It was a beautiful day in central Texas!!!  The Mr. stood on the diving board and was smiling while holding my quilt that I finished this past week.  It is beautiful and I'm not sure that my photography skills does it justices.

I used the wonderful fabric by Moda called Vintage Modern.  I used the pattern from Moda Bakeshop called Starry-Eyed Quilt.  I added a border because I like the framed look of a quilt. 

We took Lucy on a walk.  It was just a perfect day!

I worked on a quilt project called a Block of the Month.  I finished January and almost finished February.  Picture will follow soon.

I enjoyed pictures my girls sent from their Super Bowl events and they wanted me to share them.  I think that blogs and pinterest are getting a younger generation interested in cooking and creating.

These are the Cauliflower Buffalo wings 

These are pulled pork sliders made with Root Beer.

Jalapeno Poppers.

We then enjoyed Downton Abbey!!!  Again Maggie Smith was the best.

All While Wearing Pearls