Butter & Buttermilk

I guess this may seem a little silly. I mean really, who gets excited over making something like butter (other than me?) Come on … raise your hands! Nobody will know. I guess the word is out about me though. I admit it. I get excited about making butter. 

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Strawberry Gelee

I've been interested in making Panna Cotta for a long time.  An egg less custard? Let's see how that works.  I thought mixing cream, sugar and vanilla with unflavored gelatin sounded like fun.  Yeah I don't get out much.  Traveling Husband has been to South American, California, Nashville and somewhere else I can't remember and in the same time frame I haven't even been on the freeway.  But I have been in the kitchen having fun with gelatin.

Quinoa Edamame and Corn Salad

 I don't know if this happens to you too, but everywhere I look I see similar recipes for Quinoa.  Lately they all seem to have some sort of lime dressing.  Quinoa and fresh, tart lime juice sounds pretty good to me so I cobbled a few recipes together and mixed up a big bowl.  You'll want to make this one - for sure!  This dish served warm, cold, or room temperature, can be served as a side dish, a main dish, a filler for a burrito or piled on top of a flaky piece of baked fish.  This is probably one of the most varsatile recipes I've ever made and I love it.  I took it to work for lunch several days and even made an afternoon snack out of baby Romaine lettuce boats filled with Quinoa. 

Spring Break

Since it is the very first day of spring (according to the calendar) I decided to take a little "spring" break and invite my favorite person in the whole world to guest post on SRFD.  Traveling Husband (a/k/a Ed) is a wonderful photographer, teacher, media relations expert, mentor, father, and husband and not necessarily in that order.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookie balls

 For many years my husband has had an occasional late night snack made of peanut butter and oatmeal, and sometimes a little Truvia mixed in.  Then this last December my blog daughter Sarah from The Smart Kitchen introduced us to a wonderful Peanut Butter that comes in many delicious flavors.  You know where we're going with this.  I've been working on blending my husbands snack idea with this terrific peanut butter.  Then one day, there it was.
I opened Tasty Kitchen and found a recipe for No-bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Balls.  Gina had figured out a great blend of ingredients plus a few more I had not thought of.  Since I can't leave well enough alone, I put my own spin on it and came up with two versions (so far.) 

Chicken Marsala

 This yummy dish has been stuck in my head for a long time.  I don't know if I saw it in a commercial or cooking magazine but I wasn't going to be happy until I made it, and ate it.  I've only made Chicken Marsala once before.  It was an unsuccessful attempt to recreate the same dish from Carrabba's Restaurant.  I wasn't very happy with the final flavors so I didn't make that again.  This recipe however, is a keeper. 

Bailey's Irish Cream Chocolate Truffles

St. Patrick's Day is a very popular day of celebration.  It's often associated with the beginning of spring, flowers blooming, warm breezes in the afternoon, and all things green.  Green beer is a traditional celebration tool but not for me.  I've never had green beer and don't plan to start now.  I do however, enjoy baking and creating tasty desserts that start with Bailey's Irish Cream Liquor. 

Problem solved!

Before we solve the 'what to make for St. Patrick's Day' dilemma, I want to tell you about another problem I think I've solved that should help everyone.  I was thinking about the Daylight Saving Time - spring forward event happening this weekend in most of the United States.  I don't know about you but I love the extra light at the end of the day but really don't like losing a whole hour of sleep!  It just disappears as if it was never there in the first place. 

Curried Winter Squash Soup

I feel like I'm late to a party.  That's not the norm for me, as I'm always early everywhere I go.  But with only a few days left before the beginning of spring, here I am making Winter Squash Soup!   

But it snowed here in Virginia yesterday with a high of 40 and they're forecasting a high of 72 on Thursday.   The weather is all over the place this time of year.  And so am I!!!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake - Gluten Free

There's nothing like a little break to help you feel better.  I'm finally over my blogger blues and ready to move on with a small change to my posting style.  My friend Mary at Barefeet in the Kitchen helped me realize I don't need to do step-by-step photos for each recipe I post.  This one 'thing' will save me the time I need to get some other projects done.