Simply Scratch

I love a good food blog. Recently I stumbled upon Simply Scratch - and found myself lost... scrolling through pages and pages of the beautiful tasty recipes. I love the diverse selection - lots of creamy comfort foods and some great healthy options.

Image Source - Simply Scratch

This morning Barry awoke to the scent of these delicious pancakes - Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Swirled Pancake Muffins. They were delicious. I made them in muffin form as suggested with the recipe and they did not disappoint.

Image Source - Simply Scratch

For dinner we indulged in Baked Macaroni and Cheese also from Simply Scratch. I served the macaroni and cheese as the main dish with plenty of steamed broccoli and carrots to offset the insane creaminess. I did add some panko bread crumbs to the top along with shredded cheese to up the crunch.  Overall this recipe is a keeper and I will be pulling it out occasionally. I can't recommend it enough - Simply Scratch has oodles of tasty looking recipes. Check it out! 

Days like today are definitely ones to remember. Lots of good food - laziness on the couch and plenty of warm laundry to fold.

Loves!

Must Make

 
Happy Tuesday! Quick post today! I must make this cozy looking recipe.
I adore fruit baked any way - pies, crumbles, tarts... oh I could go on.

Here is the delicious looking recipe - Plum Crumble.

Have a lovely winter week!

Make it Monday

We are having a delightful rainy Monday here. The sun still hasn't come up and the sky is deliciously dark. I've been feeling a little busy lately which is always frustrating. I think I feel most like myself when I'm on top of things. I have the day off which makes this rainy day feel even more special. I'm thinking this morning I'm going to cozy up with some tea and watch the morning news.


In the mean time here are some delightfully cozy things I want to make,

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes from Recipe Girl

Can someone make these for me? Please. Mmmm.

Here are some soaping projects I want to start for Christmas Gifts,

Pumpkin Puree Soap from Soap Queen

 

Christmas Cold Process Soap from Soap Queen

Have a wonderful cozy fall day. Enjoy the falling leaves and changing weather. 

Loves!

Blog Love.

Coca-Cola Cupcakes from A Cozy Kitchen

Happy Tuesday!

Have a little bit of blog love to share today.

I have become completely smitten with the blog so fawned. This lovely blog is a personal journey shared by its author Desiree Fawn. I relate to her on so many levels. She has a mad love for simple living and also raises chickens (how I long for chickens). Her writing style is personal and insightful and her photographs are lovely.

Oh gosh so many people already know about A Cozy Kitchen. Am I the last one to discover this blog? Never have I seen so many recipes that I would want to make. Usually when I leaf through a cooking blog I see a few recipes that I would consider making. Not this blog. Oh my, I want to make everything from Roasted Strawberries on Toast to Avocado Fries. Looking through the many detectable recipes I realized I had already made one of A Cozy Kitchen's recipes - my post on Baked Eggs and Tomato Sauce from Tasty Kitchen was originally a Cozy Kitchen recipe.


Have a wonderful day!

Warm Summer Eve

We are experiencing a very late summer here. I remember this time last year my cucumbers were about the size of zuchini's - this year they are about the size of a snap pea right now. Our season started off slow but has picked up and the days here feel as though they are getting warmer and warmer. Today is the last day of my beloved vacation. Work starts tomorrow and real life begins once more. It feels as though the summer has gone by so quickly.

We went away last week with my parents camping/staying in trailers. It was fun but I was again happy to once more come home. I find when we go away our diets kind of crash and I suffer from it greatly. It's nice to be home to lots of fruits and vegetables and my cooking.

I also came home to my bean plants producing. We had a nice crop this year. I'm going to save some of the seeds from these beans and plant some more next year.

The muffins in the top photograph are delicious Blueberry Banana Muffins. I used this recipe from Tasty Kitchen.  I really liked the recipe and it is somewhat nutritious. I think I ended up over cooking my muffins by about 4-5 minutes. I will be making them again though!

I hope your summer has been/was wonderful. I'm starting to really get excited for fall foods (mmm soup!) and the coming of cooler weather. Before we know it the Christmas season will be upon us and after all, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year <3

Loves!

A Simple Day.

Simple days are often my most favorite.


I spent some time this morning checking on my garden. We had heavy rainfall yesterday and I was a bit worried about some of my more tender plants. Thank goodness everything was alright.



This is my first ever squash plant to survive long enough to get this big. Our climate here in Vancouver seems to disagree with these plants. I'm certain this little guy is a fighter.

I don't have any ripe tomatoes yet, but tons of glorious blooms and about a dozen little tomatoes starting to grow.

A fresh batch of iced tea is accompanying me on this simple day. After I juice the lemons for the iced tea my hands are scented sweetly of lemon for hours later.

I started on a new knitting project. This is my first time using a stockinette stitch.

And lastly, to end this sweet simple day how about a bowl of homemade soup? I made some delicious minestrone yesterday and enjoyed a bowl for lunch.

I tossed all of my ingredients into my crock pot and put on low for the day.

I used,

1 can drained and rinsed kidney beans
3 carrots roughly chopped
1/2 red pepper diced
1 tomato diced
1 can of tomato sauce
several cups of homemade chicken stock
1 cup dry wild rice (I cooked this first until soft then added to the soup)

seasoning
dash or so of seasoning salt
thyme 1-2 tsp
sage 1-2 tsp
handful of fresh basil tossed in the last few minutes of cooking

Top finished soup with yummy cheese of choice. I chose some lovely double cream Gouda.

Have a lovely day!

Little Bit Of Laundry Love

I snapped this picture on my phone earlier today. I had just hung up this load of laundry and the air was filled with the scent of freshness. I make my own laundry soap and it is unscented, but somehow it always produces the sweetest simple scent. My heart sinks at the thought of fall coming as I will be once again forced to use my dryer. This whole summer I've used my dryer twice, and instead dried dozens of loads of laundry outside. I find during the fall months laundry is much more of a chore.

There is something so lovely about gently hanging laundry on the line. Usually the pug and kitty suntan watching me hang it up.

I started with a recipe making my own laundry soap a long time ago, so long I can't remember the source. I've adapted the recipe over the years and the result is this,

1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1/4 c oxy clean (totally optional, but I do love the addition)
1 cup grated bar soap

I use the oxy clean scoop to measure it out. Just one scoop per load is all you need. I think it works out to roughly 1/8 c or 2 rounded tablespoons.

Mix everything together well. I store this in a container by my washing machine. The borax and washing soda is in the laundry soap isle and you can buy specialty soap bars used for laundry soap. I use my own handmade cold process soap. Buying a box of borax, washing soda and tub of oxy clean will last you months and months. I think I buy a box of each twice a year. It works out to be a very inexpensive way to do laundry, and works out wonderful for sensitive skin.

Happy Thursday!

Watermelon Love

Watermelon. One of my favorite fruits of summer.

Watermelon Gin and Tonic via a Cozy Kitchen

Watermelon Salad with Pine Nuts, Feta and Basil via The Traveler's Lunchbox



Watermelon Dippers

Watermelon Cookie Cutter Stars via foodopia

Watermelon Jam via Blondie's Cakes and Things


source

My absolute favorite way to eat watermelon is cubed and chilled in the fridge. Mmmm!

Happy August!

Loves!

Vacationing

I am still on my wonderful summer vacation. There is something very liberating about waking up in the morning and designing your day exactly the way you want it to go. Most of the time it doesn't turn out as perfect as I envision, but it is truly fabulous. I am slowly working my way through a list I created that includes all of the things I want to accomplish with my time off. I blogged a little about that list in my Quilting Inspiration post. My list is a lot longer then the one I described there, but I am happy to report that I can cross one project off.

I have learned a little bit about knitting.


This is just a simple Garter Stitch. So far I have just knitted squares, this is a slightly bigger square. I'm thinking it might be a nice face cloth. Isn't it wonderful making something from simple materials?

I have worked a little on my quilt. All of the squares are cut out and stacked up on my sewing table waiting to be sewn. I need some more motivation to start that project!

I have always dreamed of painting a water color. I love how happy and cheery water colors look. So here are my recently purchased supplies. I'm excited to listen to some soft music and paint something simple and fun.


Accompanying me today while painting is delicious homemade iced tea. I used this recipe from Babble.com. I have to say it tastes pretty fabulous.

Mmmm steamy tea steeping.


I added the juice of two lemons to the pitcher of iced tea.



Are you on vacation?
Do you have any projects that you dream of accomplishing?
What is your idea of the perfect day?
I'd love to hear your thoughts <3

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Baked Eggs and Tomato Sauce

The Tasty Kitchen Blog featured a delicious looking recipe for Baked Eggs and Tomato Sauce. I made it this morning and my goodness was it delicious!

What are your plans for the day? I'm going to work on some sewing and take a trip to the gym with a girlfriend. I haven't been in sometime so I'm expecting to be exhausted after.

Breakfast Porridge

Oh the breakfast porridge thing.
I have been a little smitten with it. I thought I would share the exact process (it's very scientific).

For two servings you need,
1 cup whole rolled oats (not ground up oatmeal oats)
2 tbl ground flaxseed (optional)
1 cup water
1 cup milk

Optional toppings,
Raisins
Maple syrup
Yogurt to stir in
A pat of butter
Chopped nuts and fruit
Cinnamon
Vanilla extract

The night before I take a pot with a fitting lid and pour in the one cup of oats. To that I add 2tbl of ground flaxseed and one cup of water. Leave overnight. The next morning the liquid should be absorbed. Add 1 cup of milk and heat on medium high. I simmer this for about 2-3 minutes as I don't like mine very thick. That's it! Enjoy with oodles of toppings. My favorite is raisins and maple syrup. Simple and delicious.

Why soak the oats?
In the book Nourishing Traditions by Mary G. Enig and Sally Fallon there is quite a bit discussion over gluten intolerance and soaking grains. Most people have a hard time digesting gluten. I still haven't figured out if I have an intolerance, I have been considering getting tested. Many people who are gluten intolerant can digest grains that have been soaked. Soaking grains (like the oats in this recipe) makes them much easier on the gut.

Another reason to soak the oats would be that old fashioned rolled outs that generally take awhile to cook up. Soaking them makes them basically an instant food. When I'm groggy and half awake in the morning I love that I can just pop the oat pot on the stove and have it ready instantly. I have also been soaking oats to add into waffle recipes.. mmmm!

In other news my squash plant bloomed. I have a second little bud on the plant too. I've never successfully grown a squash, I think perhaps this may be my year!


My leaf lettuce is also kicking butt. Thankfully we've had some much needed sunshine lately.


Kitty has been enjoying the sun just as much as my baby plants.


Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Tomato Sauce Love

I love tomato sauce. Most tomato sauces are simple, wholesome and delicious. Tomatoes are one of the few fruits/veggies that retain most of their vitamins and goodness through the canning process. That being said it is still delicious and a treat to occasionally make tomato sauce from scratch. This recipe was inspired by the Chunky Tomato Sauce recipe in Nourishing Traditions.


This recipe makes a double batch which will last two meals in our house. I would say it makes about 6-7 servings.

Ingredients
Tomatoes (I used 7)
Garlic (I used 3 large cloves)
Sea Salt 1 tsp
Pepper 3/4 tsp
4tbl balsamic vinegar
2tsp dried basil
optional, onion or other veggies


Dice.


Mince.


Add.


Throw in everything else and simmer for as long as you like. I went about 30-40 minutes.

The sauce takes a darker color from the balsamic vinegar.


You can serve as is or thin the mixture out a bit. I did this with my immersion blender.


Dinner.


Have a wonderful nourishing start to the week!


P.S. I'm linking up here and here and here.