Category Archives: Food

Homemade Granola

07 Sunday May 2017

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Hi all! Thought I’d share a quick post of one of my favorite and easy-to-make snacks – granola. The basic recipe is below but you can change it up with different additions, such as dried fruit or even chocolate chips.

In future posts I’ll include more healthy recipes and tips for refining not so healthy ones. Enjoy! Until next time . . . just love, Collette

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Ingredients:

  • 4 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1-2 cups nuts (I used pecans in the pic above but walnuts are great, too.)
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1-2 drops vanilla extract
  • dash of salt

Recipe:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the oats and nuts in a bowl. In a small pot heat the syrup, molasses, honey, vanilla and salt over a low-medium heat. Once it starts to bubble, remove from heat and pour over the oat mixture. Stir together until mixed well.

Spread evenly in a foil-lined pan and bake for 10 minutes. Stir and bake for another 8-10 minutes.

Remove from oven and immediately transfer contents to a container. Let cool and enjoy!

*Granola should be kept in a covered container at room temperature. It will last for a week.*

Gardening in a Raised Bed

19 Wednesday Apr 2017

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Hi guys! I don’t know about you, but with Spring in the air and all these little things coming to life, I was inspired to try something new. It’s something I’ve wanted to try for a while and finally decided to go for it – a veggie and herb garden. I imagine a lot of you have done this kind of thing before, but for someone like me with a pretty bad track record with any and all plants, it was a risk!

I planted a variety of peppers, tomatoes and basil in late February and they’re blooming beautifully. The tomatoes are now in separate pots since they started to overtake the bed. Romaine lettuce is something I also tried, but after a couple of attempts and no luck I let it go.

I’ve used the basil in a few pasta and pizza dishes and it’s delicious! It’s even nicer to be able to step out into your back yard and pick it fresh from the garden.

Here are a couple of shots:

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Since I’m not known to have a green thumb I’m quite excited for this success. It also ties in well with my writing. You plant a few seeds, water and feed them, nurture them and love them, use what works and let go of what doesn’t, and most importantly, learn how to grow better, healthier, fruitful plants.

I tend to work on multiple projects at once. My main WIP always gets the most attention, but other works are brewing and coming to life. If not on the page, definitely in my mind. For example, right now I’m drafting a YA Fantasy while also working on a screenplay. As thoughts come to me about other ideas, I jot them down in my notebook for future stories.

How are you inspired for new stories or projects? I’d love to hear what spurs your creativity.

Until next time . . . just love, Collette

Chocolate Chip Cookies

22 Wednesday Mar 2017

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Chocolate Chip cookies

Happy Wednesday everyone! Anyone need a pick-me-up to get you through the rest of the week? I do, so I think today calls for something sweet, easy and delicious. Of course, it will include chocolate because chocolate makes everything better.

There’s nothing fancy here – just a basic chunk of happiness in the form of a chocolate chip cookie. Recipe follows below.

Enjoy! Until next time . . . just love, Collette

Recipe:

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter or margarine softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional – I usually prefer pecans but walnuts are good, too)
  • 1 package semisweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)

Preheat oven to 375. Mix sugars, butter, vanilla and egg in a large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in nuts and chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Cool slightly and remove from cookie sheet.

Austin Getaway

07 Tuesday Mar 2017

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Austin-Mural

Happy March everyone! Dare I say it? Spring is just around the corner, which means blue skies, warmer weather and time to start thinking of fun places to go for a quick weekend getaway.

One of my absolute favorite places is Austin – an oasis in Central Texas. I used to live there and loved every second of it. I wouldn’t have left if it hadn’t been for a job transfer. Now, I find myself trying to figure out a way to move back, or at least have a second home in this cool city.

If you’ve never been, it’s this bustling, ever-growing town surrounded by beautiful Texas Hill Country and home to Lake Travis, Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake (formerly known as Town Lake). Lush greenery, dazzling scenery and all kinds of eateries abound! Food, shopping, festivals, museums, hiking and water activities are endless. It makes a great weekend getaway, or longer if you have the time.

I’ve included a little guide on all things Austin, should you decide to visit. I highly recommend you do!

Food:

Chuy's sign

Chuy’s – yummy Tex Mex

The Oasis

The Oasis – This one comes with an amazing view and spectacular sunsets over Lake Travis.

franklin-barbecue-sign

Franklin Barbecue – Be prepared to wait in line, but it’s worth the wait!

 

Things To Do and See:

Congress Street bats

Congress Street Bats

Alamo Drafthouse sign

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

barton-springs-pool

Barton Springs Pool

LakeTravisMarshallFordLake

Lake Travis

Peter Pan Mini Golf 2

Peter Pan Mini Golf

 

Harry Ransom Center

Blanton Museum of Art

NLand Surf Park

Book People

SXSW

Austin Film Festival

 

Places to Stay:

Driskill Hotel

The Driskill

Lake Austin Spa Resort

Lake Austin Spa Resort

Omni Barton Creek Resort

Omni Barton Creek Resort 

Until next time . . . just love, Collette

 

Mystery Blogger Award February 2017

26 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by in Books, Food, Life, Writing

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Hi everyone! Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. I have a few new posts coming soon, but first some news: I was nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award by Pat at All Day I Eat.  Thank you so much, Pat!

Here’s a link to the original post.

A little background on what the Mystery Blogger Award is: It is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion. Okota Enigma 

The Rules:

Display Award Logo
List The Rules
Mention Creator Of Award & Provide A Link
Thank The Blogger(s) Who Nominated You & Provide A Link
Say 3 Things About Yourself
Nominate From 10 to 20 Bloggers
Notify Nominated Bloggers By Leaving A Comment On Their Blog
Answer 5 Questions From Nominee
Write 5 Questions For Your Nominees
Share Your Best Post

3 Things About Me:

  1. I love writing and it’s a path I’m passionately pursuing. My blog will take readers along my journey to publication. Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide some tips and humor along the way.
  2. Another passion of mine is food. Who doesn’t love to eat delicious things? From appetizers to meals to dessert – yummy, yummy dessert – I love finding new recipes to try.
  3. One day I want to travel all of Europe for an indefinite amount of time, exploring the scenery, history and culture.

5 Questions for me:

  1. What if anything, intimidates you when it comes to cooking/baking and why? I’m always nervous to try complicated or lengthy recipes. I usually gravitate toward quick and easy ones.
  2. What challenges do you have when it comes to writing? Time! Having a day job and a family can create challenges in carving out quiet time for my writing.
  3. Where do you get your inspiration? Early morning when no one else in my house is awake is when I can let my imagination and thoughts soar. The characters are usually in my mind for a while before I’m able to understand their story and write it down.
  4. Where do you see your website going one year from now? I hope to have a well-rounded and interesting blog with regular posts that readers enjoy.
  5. What is your day job? Banking

I’m supposed to include my best post, but being so new to blogging I can’t say that I have a best one yet. However, I’ll share one of my recent ones with a delicious and healthy recipe. Shrimp and Avocado Salad.

5 Questions for the Nominees:

  1. What prompted you to start blogging?
  2. What are your favorite books?
  3. Share one of your favorite quotes
  4. Are you pursuing writing/blogging on a full time basis?
  5. If you could travel to one place in the world, where would it be?

Nominees (in no particular order):

The Purple Almond

The Happiest Pixel

Kate M. Colby

Work Mum Balance

4am Writer

Nature Photography by Urmo Parts

Recipe in a Bottle

Cooking Without Limits

My Dear Kitchen in Helsinki

Mrs. Twinkle My Wonderful Little World

Millie Schmidt Writes

Duri Rolvsson – Stories of Adventure & Friendship

L. A. Lancaster

Jane’s Patisserie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potato Soup

14 Tuesday Feb 2017

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This is a perfect dish for cold winter nights. Soothing and flavorful, pair it with your favorite book in front of a cozy fireplace and you’re in for a delightful evening.

As with all my recipes, feel free to play with it and make it your own. Details and pic below. Enjoy!

Until next time . . . just love, Collette

potato-soup

Ingredients:

  • 5-6 medium red potatoes
  • 1 medium sweet yellow onion
  • extra virgin olive oil (approximately 2 tablespoons)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s or salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion salt
  • 13 ounces chicken broth
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried sweet basil
  • 1/3 cup instant potato flakes (baby reds) – you can add more to create the consistency you desire
  • 1 pint 1/2 & 1/2
  • toppings: chopped green onions, grated Cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon

Recipe:

Peel and dice potatoes into small cubes. Slice onion and sauté in olive oil until soft. Add the diced potatoes and cook until potatoes are almost tender (about 5-7 minutes). Season with onion salt, Tony’s (or salt and pepper). Add chicken broth and sweet basil. Simmer covered until potatoes are tender. Mash the potatoes as you like and add the instant flakes. Stir well until blended. Add the 1/2 & 1/2 and heat over low heat until hot. Do not boil.

Garnish each bowl with toppings and serve. Enjoy!

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

05 Sunday Feb 2017

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Sunday Fun Day!

Today I thought I’d share one of my favorite quick and light recipes that just happens to contain one of my favorite ingredients – avocado. Healthy, versatile and good for you. I use sliced avocado in my wraps daily that I bring to work for lunch. And please, don’t get me started on guacamole!

The salad itself consists of three ingredients: shrimp, avocado and red onion. Add the delicious and simple dressing I include below and you’ve got a tasty and healthful salad.

Light doesn’t have to mean bland. I promise you’ll love this one. Give it a try.

Enjoy! Until next time . . . just love, Collette

shrimp-avocado-salad

Recipe:

  • 1 pound cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined (I saute mine in a pan with a little extra virgin olive oil and Tony Chachere’s seasoning. Boiled or steamed shrimp can be used, if you prefer.)
  • 1 avocado, cut into bite-size chunks
  • 1 tablespoon diced red onion
  • Dressing:
    • 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 1/8 cup red wine vinegar
    • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon parsley, chopped
    • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • Tony Chachere’s seasoning or salt and pepper to taste
  • Once you’ve cooked the shrimp, toss with the avocado and red onion in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the dressing then add to the shrimp mixture. Toss together and enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Bark

27 Friday Jan 2017

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Happy Friday everyone!

Today I thought I’d satisfy my chocolate craving with a super easy dark chocolate bark recipe.

As with most recipes, I encourage you to play with it and make it your own. Add dried fruit, peppermint candy pieces, sprinkle with cinnamon – whatever!

I prefer the basic bark with nuts. In this batch I used almonds, but I’ve also made it with pecans.

Recipe and pic follow.

Enjoy! Until next time . . . just love, Collette

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Recipe:

  • 1 pound dark chocolate (60-70% cacao)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups roasted whole almonds
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a knife, finely chop the chocolate. In a bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water, heat the chopped chocolate, stirring occasionally, until it is almost melted. Do not let the bowl touch the water. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and stir the chocolate until it is completely melted and the temperature registers 90 degrees on a candy thermometer. If the chocolate has not melted completely and is still too cool, set it over the saucepan for 1-2 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Do not overheat.
  2. Stir the almonds into the chocolate and spread onto the prepared baking sheet in a 1/2 inch thick layer, making sure the nuts are completely covered in chocolate. Refrigerate the bark for about 10 minutes, until hardened. It can refrigerate longer if necessary. Invert the bark onto a work surface. Remove the parchment paper, break into pieces and store or serve. *The broken bark can be stored in an airtight bag or container at cool room temperature for up to 10 days.*

 

Foodie Friday

06 Friday Jan 2017

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TGIF – am I right?

For my first Foodie Friday installment I thought I’d make one of my favorite pizza dishes, which is my homemade version of the pear & gorgonzola pizza served at California Pizza Kitchen. It’s easy and delicious!

For this pie I used a Bartlett pear to give it an extra sweetness, but Bosc pears are usually best for baking due to their firmness. Feel free to experiment with it. Add and subtract things as you like to make it your own.

I also used a sweet Vidalia onion and my favorite part – spring mix with Ranch dressing and crumbled gorgonzola. Yum! This topping is the best part, in my opinion.

Recipe and pic below. Until next time . . . just love, Collette.

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Recipe:

  • Frozen pizza dough (or if you’re feeling more adventurous, make your own)
  • 1/2 large Vidalia onion sliced
  • 1 Bartlett pear sliced thin
  • Spring mix lettuce
  • Ranch dressing (enough to toss with greens)
  • Crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (approximately 6 ounces)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Dried oregano

Lightly brush oil across dough and sprinkle oregano around the edges. Top with pear and onion slices and sprinkle with Gorgonzola. Bake according to package instructions.

Toss Spring mix in a bowl with Ranch dressing and remaining cheese. Place the Spring mix on top of the cooked pizza and enjoy!