Earlier in the week I received a very special package from my dad.  We were talking earlier about how my garden produced very little zucchini and how his produced well, too much.  He was talking about how he had just picked everything in the garden because of the potential frost that would soon be on it’s way.  I told him how much I wish I could be there to share his garden with him as he and I live in different states So, would you believe that he mailed me the treats I wished I could be there to have! How stinken cool is that!!

He also sent tomatillos, which I love!  My brother has made tomatillo sauce which I save  for special occasions, like tempeh burritos.  I plan to make some sauce and get it canned, hopefully today.

THANKS DAD!!

Yesterday, I had a great visit with my dear friend Brie.  Just look at the package she brought for us!

Sugar cookies, oh my! They were even lightly flavored with pumpkin pie spice! Sugar cookies are a blessing to receive.  I feel like there is a lot of work that goes into making them and so I appreciate that and savor the taste of these little treats.  Especially, because I personally don’t have the patience to make them myself.

HAVE YOU ENTERED THE GIVEAWAY?

For me , it easier to take fun photos than it is to write a half way entertaining post to go with them.  What happens is, I end up with way more photos than I ever post.  Then when I sit down to actually write a post, I feel overwhelmed with where to start, or find that some of the photos seem outdated.  Today, I deleted quite a few that “didn’t make the cut.”  The ones that did are going to make this post a bit lengthy.  This is my way to catch up.  My goal, is to then post more regularly.

I will start with some scones I made about 3 weeks ago. I had some figs that were ripening faster that I could eat them.  Jason was out of town and so I was the only one eating around here.  I searched for a fun recipe and came across these figgy buckwheat scones. I subbed Earth Balance for butter and almond milk for heavy cream.  My filling consisted of fresh fig, Earth Balance, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ground clove and a bit of stevia. I didn’t have red wine or port and I was using fresh, rather than dried figs.

Last Sunday, after my trip to an Asian supermarket to get hijiki, I made my first recipe from The Kind Diet.

Hijiki-Tofu Croquettes

I will be making this recipe again for sure! Do pick up this book.

Miso soup with soba noodles, collard greens, broccoli, edamame and cutie mushrooms. I used unpasteurized-brown miso and diluted about 1 tablespoon to 1 cup water. Bring water to a boil then add the vegetables and let them steep maybe 5 minutes and then stir in the miso. Miso paste should be thinned out in a few tablespoons of water first.  You can reheat if you prefer, cautious not to overcook the veggies and miso.  Enjoy!

With Fall swirling by me faster than I appreciate, I made sure to make pumpkin cookies earlier this week.  Pumpkin-Molasses cookies to be exact.

Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

If you like pumpkin AND molasses, Do make these cookies! You will not regret it!

HAPPY SUNDAY!

So, as good as I may try to be with tempting snacks, this little box makes it difficult.

This special, little box holds the best baked good you could ever hope for!

Those sugar cookie put Lofthouse to shame.  I have been known to hide these from Jason….shhh.

Tucked in that upper, right corner are my favorites; coconut creme puffs.  I’m not sure if that’s what they’re really called.  Trust me though, they are day-yam good!

Huh!  I stepped on something in the hall this morning….

Having grabbed the camera restored his interest in the helpless little bear again!

Just wanted to share what has been my favorite breakfast lately.

Fried egg with toast and Sunbutter. That is my sad looking bread machine bread.  The top of my loaves keep falling down!  I wonder if the temperature of the water I add is too hot for the yeast.  Crazy machine! Anyways, I think Sunbutter might just be my favorite nut butter. Plus, this breakfast will keep you full for hours. Sweet!

Let me just start off by saying, ” I am not a baker.”  I wanted to be festive and bake a few treats for loved ones and what not.  Besides there are so many amazing recipes out there.  It all looks so good lately.

I started with cake balls.  Wow! That needs to be called something else.

I used cherry chip.

Then stirred in a package of cream cheese.

Melted dark chocolate for dipping. OK.  Why didn’t I think about this part a little longer before I started out on this trek!! That was way HARD!  They looked all globby and chocolate was getting all over the place…EEEK!

I think they turned out ok.  It took me way to long and required more patience than I have.  Oops

I had also made the cookie dough balls.

The dough looked awesome.  Here is where I went wrong.  I wanted to dip these little guys in milk chocolate.  Well first off, I think I let the temp. get to high.  The chocolate was nice and creamy for a second.  Then it got all clumpy and thick!!!! I trashed it and went to the store to get more chocolate.  Like I said, baking requires more patience than I have! Second go round I made sure to melt the chocolate on a low, low temp.  It worked ok No where near as pretty.  The more chocolate I used the more clumpy it got.  I barely had enough to finish.  There wasn’t enough to make the pretty, drippy lines or whatever the heck it’s called when you drizzle some over the top.

Look at these sad little things.  Oh well.  Good thing I took pictures.  Probably won’t be doing this one again.  I will leave the baking to the baker’s.

Changing the subject.  Check out what my little brother text me while I was baking.

He made shrimp ceviche for dinner. NICE! I must learn to make this.

shrimp, tomato, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, avocado, lime juice, chili pepper, salt, pepper, olive oil and season salt. I can’t wait to try this one!!

I need to pack my gym bag for tomorrow.  Baking took my whole damn day!  I did manage to squeeze in a 30 minute yoga on demand. Good night

I think I am just getting back into the swing of things.  Being sick takes a lot out of you, dangit!  Not only did I not get my workouts in but the house is a disaster.  I hate when the house gets all cluttered.  Sometimes it seems so much harder to get it all cleaned up than when you can just maintain it on a daily basis.  Jason is off tomorrow.  I’m thinking of a honey-do list as I write this.

I had leftover cabbage salad Friday night.  I also made stuffed acorn squash.  Nothing to exciting. What was exciting was the blueberry bounty buns that I made Sunday morning.  I snagged the recipe from Vive le Vegan!  I am so in love with these little things.  They are kinda like a cross between a muffin and a scone.  You must try for yourself!

So, back into the swing of things was my typical Monday.  Sometimes that alarm time comes all to soon. I am still trying not to drink to much coffee.  I was having a hard time staying hydrated while I was sick.  The lack of my Monday morning coffee may be to blame for the sha-bang headache I had all afternoon.  Grrr… I wanted to do something for a little workout, even though my headache hadn’t gone away yet.  It had been over a week since my travels and then being sick.  I settled for yoga on demand.  I love fit tv.  Sometimes it is just what I needed.  Plus, it always has several Jillian Michaels workouts.

Dinner was also quick.  Tuna salad wrap with mustard(s), celery, pickles, fire roasted peppers, avocado and spinach.

It was just enough and not too much.

Following dinner, I had a Dove Promise… Not the one my Gracy stole from the bowl of leftover Halloween candy though.  I first discovered this little habit when we got home from our trip.  No worries, I thought.  Possibly just a little acting out from the being left alone for four days.  Tonight, I came home to find three different pieces throughout the house! Kitties!

Gracy

Looks can be deceiving…