Oct
03
2011
We’re starting a heat wave!
Well, compared to last week and this past weekend, anyway. Over the weekend, I had to turn my heat on a few times, to take the chill out of the air. Yesterday when I got up, it was a whopping 29F/-2C. Brr!
Sure, in a couple of months, that will feel warm, but when you’re suddenly plunged into low temperatures, it’s kind of cold. And I had to go out grocery shopping in that weather. For the first time this fall, I had to let my car run a couple minutes to help warm it up. Okay, that was because I refused to get out a winter coat. Or wear gloves.
But, for the rest of the week now, it’s highs in the 70’s, and even the low 80’s! (That’s 21-27C, for anyone outside of the States.) So, bring on the summery beverage for likely the last time this year. I have a garden full of mint that’s still going strong, and I’m going to use it while I can.
Continue reading “Iced Mint Green Tea”
Tags: green tea, mint
Oct
01
2011
A couple of weeks ago, I started thinking about cookies.
Very specific cookies.
Continue reading “Reese’s Pieces Chocolate Cookies”
Tags: candy, chocolate, cookies, peanut butter
Sep
22
2011
With tomorrow marking the beginning of fall, it seems appropriate to post something, well, fall-ish. (I’m even drinking caramel apple coffee and burning a cinnamon-scented candle in the spirit of the season.)
I’ve been craving pumpkin bread for awhile now, and even had a can of pumpkin puree stashed away in the pantry from last year. Hey, I learned my lesson last year when I wanted to make pumpkin bars, only to find no grocery store around had any canned pumpkin! There was a pumpkin shortage, which I’ve heard is continuing this year.
Continue reading “Pumpkin Bread”
Tags: cinnamon, pumpkin, quick bread
Sep
20
2011
Where I live, there aren’t many more opportunities to grill outdoors yet this year. Days are shorter and cooler, and though we like to pretend that snow isn’t just around the corner, it tends to sneak up on us all too quickly.
So we grill while we can. Grilling a whole chicken is a nice transition to roasting a whole bird in the oven when the weather cools. And because this chicken is butterflied, it cooks rather quickly on the grill. The addition of wood chips in a smoker box lends a nice smoky flavor, even on a gas grill. It’s also an extremely simple preparation, which always speeds up getting dinner on the table.
Continue reading “Smoked Chicken”
Tags: chicken