A Culinary Hiatus

I have a confession, lately I have been in a cooking rut. This can probably be compared to writer's block or inspiration obstruction. My culinary creativity is pooped out. We have been so busy as of late that I am just wanting a quick healthy meal to feed my ravenous boys. This time of year is when all things tend to increase by the day; from school projects, Spring league sports, after-school activities, fundraisers and on and on. Sometimes when I reflect on the baby years, I realize how less physically draining they really were, (of course you can't tell that to ANY woman who is operating on 5 hrs. sleep in a 48 hr. time frame!). So, maybe what my prescription for my cooking ailment should be is some recipe suggestions from you readers. Who knows, maybe your recipe will inspire some creativity!

I have been satiating my ideas for our new home, for once we get ready to build it. We have no plans to start yet, but we are compiling a collection of pics of things we both like. I can only imagine what our home would look like if my husband was to have no input from me. Maybe something like this:

Um, not happening.

I on the other hand would probably choose something along these lines:

Yep, I can see this house set on some acreage, or maybe this house:


But my all time favorite that I keep coming back too, and M seems to like too is this one:

I would lengthen it and add another dormer; not for the cyclops thing this particular house has going on.


I would replace the doors with these:

Somehow cram this foyer in it:


Then do this on the stairails:


So, since my creativity skills have halted in the chow area, I have had to use them elsewhere. I look forward to your remedy of recipes! Au Revoir!

Love

Today is the day of honor to that one emotion on which we were founded, love. I believe we can avariciously take for granted the gift of love. Most of us are unconditionally given love at birth. We seek it out as young blossoming adults and pray it finds us before to late as we age. The old saying, "In all due time", could never apply more to anything than that of finding true love.
In our technological world, we so easily send love e-cards, flattery e-mails and facebook or tweet our love ones to relate our feelings of deep, heart-warming love. What have we become? This morning I was listening to the Today's Show as I folded laundry and a clip caught my attention. It was an tribute, in short, between George Bush, Sr. and his wife , Barbara; you may have seen it yourself. Their courtship, as my grandmother would say, was during a time when the internet was non-existent, and phone conversations were minimal for those fighting in the war. They communicated by paper. That's right, through the lost art of writing a letter. There story was beautiful, and inspirational. It got me to thinking, I don't print conversations of e-mails between my husband and I, heck, I wouldn't want to, they're never romantic! But, just think how special he might feel if I wrote him a love letter? How special would you feel if you knew your better half took the time to personally pen you a love letter? Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give someone costs you nothing, just your thought and time. I think I will go write that letter, but I leave you with these beautiful words spoken from the mater of love himself, Shakespeare....

"O me! What eyes hath put in my head,
which have no correspondence with true sight,
Or if they have, where is my judgement fled,
That censures falsely what they see aright?
If that be faire whereon my false eyes dote,
What means the world to say it is not so?"

- The Love of Woman, William Shakespeare

Calling All Chocoholics!

"My beloved is mine, and I am his" Song 2:16


Happy early Valentine's Day to you all! Ah, L' Amour, who would we be without it?! Love is what makes the world spin on its axis, (ok, I know, not really!). But, it is what has helped to shape our world and society. Where would we be without all the famous love stories? If you know me, you are probably snickering right now. Seriously, us woman thrive on love stories. Lifetime would have never been able to launch their sister channel, LMN, if it wasn't so.
Just think of all the romance novels gracing the shelves of bookstores and homes alike. I know I have my share of them, hardback, paperback and piling up gradually in my Kindle! The romance literary industry is one of the most profiting industries in the publishing world; (FYI).
Imagine growing up without knowledge of Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, Paris and Helen, Lancelot and Guinevere, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and my personal favorite, Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett.
Whether you are aware of it or not, one of these famous literary couples have to some extinct helped to shape your view of romantic love.
I can one up this! Love applies to so much more than that between a man and a woman. Our hearts love so deeply with our children, family and even special friends. But, the greatest love of all came from our Father in Heaven and that of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Christ loves each and every one of us that he gave his life, enduring unimaginable pain and torture both physically and internally. He did this just so YOU will have the opportunity to know and live for Him. I pray you do, and for those that do not yet, for open eyes, hearts and minds. He is waiting.

I must admit that we don't go all out for Valentine's Day in our house. We do have special treats for the boys and I usually cook a nice meal for us. This year, however, my husband and I must have been thinking on the same page because he got me a facial and I got him a massage! Ironically, the day I got his massage, a gift certificate came for me in the mail about the facial. We were going to surprise one another, but since I got the mail and opened it before he came home, the surprise was spoiled. So we went ahead and exchanged our gifts. I guess now all that's left is the dinner. Not sure what I will be serving, but you can bet that for dessert we will be having this incredible flourless chocolate cake! It is scrumptious! I must warn you, it is super rich but oh so worth it!




Vanilla Bean Flourless Chocolate Cake

1 vanilla bean
4 eggs, seperated
3/4 cup butter, unsalted
1 cup sugar
8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips (I use Giradelli)

* Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter and chocolate at 30 second intervals. Meaning, to stir every 30 seconds so you don't burn the chocolate. In a seperate bowl, scrape the vanilla bean and mix together 1/2 cup of the sugar with the four egg yolks ; add yolk mixture to chocolate and stir well.

Beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then slowly add the remainder of the sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. *Make sure your egg whites are at room temperature, you should have no problems resulting in stiff peaks. Fold chocolate mixture in and pour into a 9 inch round cake pan or into individual souffle ramekins.

Bake 40 minutes , or until a toothpick comes out clean when stuck into the middle of the cake. Cool completely before serving. Great served with strawberries, raspberries, cool whip, ice cream or just a dashing of powdered sugar.