QuiltLady – Page 87 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 25 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week.

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I am loving the weather we’ve been having (mid 50’s over the weekend), but hope to actually have some late spring weather (70’s and 80’s) this week. Weather.com says we will, but they have been saying that the past several weeks without materializing and then things change and we end up cloudy and much cooler than expected. So, I’ll believe it when I see it.

I’m trying to concentrate on finishing some long overdo projects, but things seem to keep popping up that delay the progress!

This is just a sad 🙁 category for me as it NEVER seems to be able to change 🙁 Hot water and cherry yogurt again this morning.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m as up to date as can be since laundry is a never ending thing… 😀
GROCERIES & ERRANDS No appointments per se this week, so will put together a small list and make a run to town one day later in the week.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a stack that I’m bound and determined to get through this week.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are planned through the middle of July and then I’ll do a freezer inventory and plan for the next 6 weeks. Grocery costs have me streamlining many things.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched INTERCEPTOR which was pretty good and RED NOTICE which was super fun with DWAYNE JOHNSON and RYAN REYNOLDS. I can’t wait for sequels 2 & 3 which are already in the works. We also started SPIDERHEAD with CHRIS HEMSWORTH, but it was slow moving and we moved on… POWER OF THE DOG was just weird too so stopped about halfway through.
CABLE MASTERCHEF, ON THE ROAD WITH GUY FIERI, GREAT AMERICAN FOOD TRUCK RACE, BEAT BOBBY FLAY, GIRL MEETS FARM, AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR, THE CHASE, NASCAR

I’m on the 4th in Phillipa Nefri Clark’s River’s End series, The Christmas Key.

The flowers are perking up a bit more with the roses finally making an appearance. We’ve still been having really cool weather – mind you I’m not complaining as I know most of the country would give anything for it – but things are just now blooming that should have bloomed months ago so the veggie garden will be iffier this year. I’m hoping this week is as warm as they say it will be and I think the flowering plants will really take off. Oh, and the color of these Calla Lillies – I’m in love!

And the kittens are still as adorable as can be! They make a Mosh Pit at night in one of the patio chairs – it’s so cute!

I had fun at the flag day class, but will probably do a few more touch ups.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	BBQ MEATBALLS & BACON CHEDDAR BAKED POTATOES	CHICKEN SCAMPI & SALAD	STUFFED SHELLS & TOMATO CUCUMBER SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT/YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	TEX MEX BACON CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE	GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN & SCALLOPED POTATOES	CHICKEN BLT CASSEROLE and SALAD
DESSERT		COBBLER of some sort

CHERRY CRUMBLE BARS

CHERRY CRUMBLE BARS

CHERRY CRUMBLE BARS

BARS
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
5 LARGE eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon PURE almond extract
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cans (21 ounce) COMSTOCK cherry pie filling (see notes)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup honey nut granola, crushed

Preheat oven to 350°.
Line a large (12×17) jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. Spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Cream together butter and sugar, about 1-2 minutes.
Add salt, eggs, and vanilla and almond flavorings and continue stirring until fully incorporated.
Add flour and baking powder and mix until just combined. Reserve 1 3/4 cup of dough.
Spread and gently press half the dough into the prepared baking pan.
Top with cherry pie filling.
To the remaining 1 3/4 cups batter add in the brown sugar and granola pieces.
Drop remaining batter in small pieces over the cherry filling. 
Place pan in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown.Turn pan halfway.
Remove from the oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Cool completely before glazing.

GLAZE
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk

  Whisk together confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth and drizzle over the bars.
Cut into squares and serve.

NOTES:

This recipe works well with apple, lemon and peach also as well as the apple/cherry or apple/blackberry combinations.
This can be made in 2 9×13 pans to stretch farther. When I do that I use a 3rd can of pie filling.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 24 of 2022

I love doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively. It helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week ahead, but it also gives me a sense of accomplishment and hope. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

We had a super rainy weekend so we missed the car show on Saturday that we had been planning on attending. They had already rescheduled it from last weekend and then this weekend was even worse. Only a about a dozen cars even showed up! The temperature has also dropped back down to the high 50’s. Unfortunately, it was also the city wide garage sale weekend. Hopefully, most people will be able to do next weekend instead so all their hard work preparing all year doesn’t go to waste.

I helped out on dinner service at the Eagles Friday night when someone failed to show up. I also spent quite a bit of time reading and working on cleaning out photo files. So for that reason 😀 BIG WARNING – today is a little photo heavy 😀

The rest of the week is supposed to be partly sunny, but still lower temperatures which is fine by me! I’m a BIG believer in the whole “a butterfly flaps its wings” theory which makes me think much of this is a result of the quadruple trip around the globe that the aftermath of the underwater volcano in Tonga took last January.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is up to date after the rainy weekend. I tried to get all the chores done while stuck inside in hopes of a better weather week and working outside a bit.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a painting class on Tuesday evening so will work my errands into the afternoon to avoid using more gas than necessary!!!!
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS As always have a few irons in the fire and waiting on some resolutions, and will end up having to write some letters regarding simple issues that aren’t being resolved internally because of inefficiency on the organizations part.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I just haven’t been feeling really adventurous lately 🙁

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We started watching the series Lincoln Lawyer and it’s pretty good, but I think I really enjoyed the movie more with Matthew McConaughey.
PRIME The Tender Bar was a really cute movie. We also finished watching season 1 of Night Sky with Sissy Spacek and JK Simmons. Hubby had never seen Conspiracy Theory with Julia Roberts and Mel Gibson so we rented that one rainy evening.
CABLE I’m ALMOST finished catching up with season finales from while we were gone. I also have several movies and cooking shows to catch up on.

I finished the StationMasters Cottage which was book 1 in the series. I actually enjoyed the Australian lean to the writing and have moved on to the Jasmine Sea, book 2 in the Rivers End series by Phillipa Nefri Clark.

Those of you who also follow me on Instagram know that I have a thing for #RailArt or #TrainGraffitti and that living in this small #LumberTown in the country where the train tracks actually run right through the middle of town affords me a multitude of those pictures a couple times a day 😀 I finally found one that is not only truly legible, but funny too!

Here are the 3 whole shots I got of the car show. You’ll also notice I got them through the window as we didn’t even get out because it started raining REALLY hard! I can’t believe how late all the flowers are blooming this year. The weather has been so very strange!!!!!!! Fortunately there was an almost sunny day where I was able to snap a few good pictures. The nasturiums are looking pretty good considering they like the warm sunny weather that we are NOT having. And the johnny jump ups as well as the oxalis (purple shamrocks) are loving being combined with the humming bird vine. Even the poppies and clematis are doing well without a ton of sunshine. I’m still most impressed with the calla lillies. I also loved this garden spider with his dinner.

Do you remember the feral cats that adopted us last winter? Well, they have had kittens. Adorable kittens! I’ve named them Callie, Soot, Sonny Jr. and mini Boots. I’m actively trying to find them homes. They are just so dang adorable! Callie was playing Whack-A-Mole with Soot and mini Boots as they hid in the cinder block and kept popping up and down. 😀 They are just so adorable that I cannot stop taking pictures hoping to catch doing something else cute.

	MONDAY 6/13	TUESDAY 6/14	WEDNESDAY 6/15	THURSDAY 6/16	FRIDAY 6/17	SATURDAY 6/18	SUNDAY 6/19
DINNER	LIME CILANTRO SKILLET CHICKEN	Y.O.Y.O. you’re on your own I have a painting class	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	PEANUT BUTTER BURGERS, CORN on the COB & MACARONI SALAD	OVEN BAKED CHICKEN & RICE	PIZZA BOATS & SALAD	SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS
DESSERT			Yummy Lemon Blueberry Lush was REALLY good, but won’t hold up to up to the summer evening dinner for the EAGLES so now it will be cherry bars.		CHERRY BARS

CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA
ARROZ con POLLO con QUESO

CHERRY BARS
CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN
CAJUN RICE & PORK CHOPS

CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA yields 2-3 servings

4 ounces linguine pasta
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast steaks
2+ teaspoons Cajun seasoning (SLAP YO MOMMA) (+/- according to your heat level)
2-4 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 LARGE red bell pepper, half sliced thin and half small chopped
+/- 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
4 fresh mushrooms, sliced
2-3 green onions, minced
1 ½ cups heavy cream
¼ teaspoon dried basil (FRESH is better, but not necessary)
1/3 cup FRESH chopped Italian parsley
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
Juice of a SMALL lemon
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguini pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.   Toss pasta with 1 tablespoon butter. Set aside.
Season chicken with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
Coat chicken with Cajun seasoning.  
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
Saute chicken 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through. Set chicken aside to rest.
Add bell pepper, garlic, sliced mushrooms and green onions; cooking for 2 to 3 minutes.
Slice chicken into bite sized strips.
Add heavy cream, basil, FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper blending well.  
Fold in chicken pieces and lemon juice and adjust seasonings to taste.
In a large bowl, toss linguini with sauce.
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. 
Serve with cornbread.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 23 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Good morning sweet friends. I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend and have a stress free week ahead of you!

It’s going to be another one of those weird weeks of truly uncertain weather. This forecast has changed a half dozen times since I first looked at it last night 😀 As always, Levis and a comfy 3/4 sleeve t shirt are winning the battle along with my most comfy POP’s 😀

Hot water, baby food squeeze and a banana

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Been working on a water leak problem with hubby and it’s leading to a few side projects 😀 The laundry is up to date though!!
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have an ophthalmologist appointment later this week which I know is going to be expensive because I also NEED new sunglasses this year.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I did accomplish 1 large project, but have a few others to finish this week though today is already shot and so is Thursday so I’m hoping Tuesday and Wednesday will be super productive!
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I haven’t made much progress on the end of June, but will try and do that this week.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

AMAZON We started a new series called Night Sky with Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons
NETFLIX The BIG Wheel – an old Mickey Rooney film
PRIME Days of Thunder with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman
CABLE Hatari! an old John Wayne movie, NASCAR, FEAR the Walking Dead, a bunch of cooking shows and I’m still working on catching up with my normal seasonal shows and the season finales as well as a couple Hallmark movies.

I’m still reading The Stationmaster’s Cottage (#1 Rivers End) by Phillipa Nefri Clark – it’s a little deeper than the summer romances I was reading, but I REALLY like it and will seek out other titles by this “new to me” author.

I put it aside to keep working on Hopefully Matched #3 in an Alaska Matchmakers Romance series by Cathryn Brown.

Next up is A Fire Sparkling by Julianne Maclean

My calla lillies are FINALLY blooming even if it’s months late!

	MONDAY 6/6	TUESDAY 6/7	WEDNESDAY 6/8	THURSDAY 6/9	FRIDAY 6/10	SATURDAY 6/11	SUNDAY 6/12
DINNER	SOY MOLASSES SALMON & CHARRED CORN	PIZZA BOATS and SALAD	Y.O.Y.O. C.O.R.N. YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	STEAK CAMPFIRE PACKS & SALAD	GRILLED LEMONADE CHICKEN with RICE PILAF	SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS & SALAD	Y.O.Y.O. C.O.R.N. YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
DESSERT		LEMON BLUEBERRY LUSH	The Lemon Blueberry Lush is a work in progress for the Eagle’s Friday night dinner next week.

LEMON BLUEBERRY LUSH
CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

SLOW COOKER BEEF TIPS & GRAVY

SLOW COOKER BEEF TIPS & GRAVY

This is THE perfect comfort food! Serve it over mashed potatoes, pasta noodles or your favorite roasted potatoes and veggies.

BEEF
1½ pounds beef round roast, cut into small chunks
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 SMALL yellow onion, chopped
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
1 sprig FRESH thyme

Season beef roast with salt and pepper.
Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, then add the beef. Allow it to sear for 4 minutes on each side to give it a nice caramelized coating.
Add the seared beef tips to slow cooker.
Top with onions, minced garlic, and thyme.

GRAVY
½ tablespoon unsalted butter
8 ounces white mushrooms sliced
1 pinch salt
1½ cups water
½ tablespoon beef base I use Better Than Bouillon

Reduce the skillet heat to medium and melt butter.
Add sliced mushrooms with a pinch of salt and stir to coat with the butter., sauteing for 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are soft. Stir occasionally, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
Add water and beef base to the skillet and stir to blend.
Add gravy mixture to the slow cooker with the beef tips.
Cover crockpot and cook on low for 5 hours, or on high for 2½ hours, until the beef is fork-tender. If you have time, cook it slow for 5-6 hours for even greater flavor.

1 tablespoon red wine
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Once the beef tips are done cooking, whisk together red wine and cornstarch until smooth.
Stir into the gravy.
Turn heat up to high and cook for 20 minutes to thicken the gravy.

NOTES:

A nice caramelized searing coat on the beef adds to the depth of flavor.
Beef base will give the gravy a deep rich flavor, however, you can also substitute beef stock (NOT beef broth) in place of the water/beef base combination for maximum flavor results.

ARROZ con POLLO con QUESO

ARROZ con POLLO con QUESO Servings 4-6

A Mexican food lovers dream comes true with this abbreviated short cut version PERFECT for any weeknight meal, but as satisfying as grandma’s Sunday dinner. I serve this with charred corn, but many times everyone just mixes it all together 😀 YUMMY!

4 slices bacon, diced
1 tablespoon avocado oil (if necessary)
4 large boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bit sized pieces
1 tablespoon KINDERS taco seasoning
1 tablespoon KINDERS fajita seasoning
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups INSTANT white rice
1 cup ON THE BORDER queso blanco
1 cup ON THE BORDER salsa
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
1 can HATCH chopped Green Chiles
3 green onions, sliced thin
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 cups Mexican taco blend cheese

In a mixing bowl, toss chicken pieces with taco and fajita seasonings until well coated. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat cook bacon until crisp.
Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on paper toweling.
Add oil to bacon drippings (if necessary) to equal 2 tablespoons.
Add chicken pieces and all loose seasoning to sizzling skillet, sautéing until cooked through and tender.
While chicken is cooking, add heavy cream and rice to a saute pan, stirring to combine. Bring JUST to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and add quest, salsa, green chiles and cilantro, simmering 5 minutes until rice is tender and fluffy.
Stir in most of the bacon pieces, tomatoes and green onions. Saving the remainder for garnish.
Nestle chicken pieces into the rice.
Top with cheese.
Broil 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
Garnish and serve.

CHEESY CHICKEN CAKES

CHEESY CHICKEN CAKES Yields 18 cakes
Flavorful, cheesy and juicy chicken cakes are always a winner with any family for a GREAT weeknight meal.

CHICKEN FRITTERS
1 1/2 pounds rotisserie chicken, SMALL diced
1 stalk celery, FINELY diced
3 green onions, FINELY diced
2 LARGE eggs
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup WONDRA flour
1 1/3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons FRESH chopped tarragon
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Using gloved hands combine all ingredient until well blended.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

ASSEMBLY
2+ tablespoons avocado oil

Divide chicken mixture into 18-20 rounds on a baking tray. Cover with plastic and freeze 20 minutes.
Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium to medium-high heat.
When oil is hot add rounds chicken mixture to skillet and press down slightly to flatten. DO NOT CROWD PAN. Pan sear 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and chicken is fully cooked through.
Keep cooked cakes warm in oven and repeat, adding more oil as necessary.
Serve immediately.

GARLIC AIOLI DIP
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, juiced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste 

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together until smooth.

NOTES: Cornstarch or potato starch can be substituted to make them gluten free.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 22 of 2022

I LOVE doing Happy Homemaker Monday extensively as it really helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Today may be a holiday, but I’m looking forward to getting back to a regular routine with this first week of June. I CANNOT believe this year is almost half over already! I am trying to get around to visit everyone, but GOOGLE keeps signing me out and lets me sign back in, but not stay signed in. On some of your pages it isn’t letting me comment at all, but know I’ve visited and wish you all well and hope you have a fantastic week!

This past weekend brought us a surprise WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY and some much needed rain, a little hail and even a short lived snow flurry! YEP, you read that right – the weather has been SOOOOOOOOOOO weird lately! A local lake campground that is normally full for this holiday weekend had to cancel half their reservations because of the snow we had 6 weeks ago didn’t melt in time for the holiday weekend. Our neighbors who went to a different campground (like they do every year) came home on Sunday morning because they were so miserable from the cold wet weather, and they were’ in a snug and warm trailer. 😀

Despite that, it looks like it will be a bit drab this week with overcast muggy weather, but NOT excessively warm which I do appreciate!

THERE ARE JUST NO WORDS for everything that is going on in our world 🙁 My thoughts and prayers go out to ALL who are suffering and experiencing loss 🙁

Hot water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING We never go anywhere over holiday weekends so have been home and am all caught up.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I went last Thursday before the holiday weekend so need very little his week, but will be making a run to Kohl’s (an hour and a half away) later in the week and take my mom shopping.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a few things that need to be finished up and mailed this week that will hopefully bring some closure to some long term things that were postponed by COVID.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are made through mid June, but I’m hoping to find some light and fun recipes for the end of June and July.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX In the Line of Duty
PRIME Being the Ricardos and The last 2 episodes of Outer Range – it was really strange and I’m sorry I wasted so much time on it.
SIL’S HOUSE We saw quite a few movies while we were at SIL’s house and I can’t begin to tell you what stations – the movie UP which was ADORABLE!, Midnight Run, FRAILTY, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Drinking Buddies which was sooooooooooooo dumb, The Last Time I Saw Paris and a couple other old black and white movies that for the life of me names have escaped me 😀
CABLE I need to get caught up on all the season finales that occurred while we were at the family reunion. We did watch all the NASCAR races and HATARI! over the rainy weekend. I also saw the last several BULL episodes of the series and caught up on children’s MasterChef.

The Stationmaster’s Cottage (#1 Rivers End) by Phillipa Nefri Clark

I’m going to finish editing photos today, but here are a couple of favorites. Castle lake was so pretty and perfectly clear. This tree and it’s knothole called to me 😀 I can’t believe there was still so much snow in late May!

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	PAPRIKA RUBBED CHICKEN & MARINATED BEAN SALAD	BEEF TIPS & GRAVY over MASHED POTATOES	OUT	OVEN BAKED CHICKEN and RICE	CAJUN CHICKEN ALFREDO and SALAD	SKILLET CHICKEN con QUESO and SALAD
DESSERT		BUTTERMILK FUDGE BROWNIE CAKES

SAMOA CHEESECAKE
CRANBERRY APPLE SLAB PIE
MEXICAN STREET CORN CHOWDER
PAN SEARED CHICKEN with WALNUT CREAM SAUCE
RED CABBAGE SALAD with BAKED CHERRIES, APPLES & ALMOND DUKKAH

BUTTERMILK FUDGE BROWNIE CAKES

BUTTERMILK FUDGE BROWNIE CAKES
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 cup butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease 13×9 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.
In a 2 quart saucepan combine water, butter and cocoa powder bring it JUST to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
Add cocoa mixture to flour mixture, beating on medium until thoroughly combined.
Add eggs, buttermilk and vanilla, beating 1 minute more. Your batter will be thin and that’s okay.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 25-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
Pour warm frosting over brownies, spreading evenly.
Cool at least one hour before cutting into bars.

CHOCOLATE BUTTERMILK FROSTING
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons buttermilk
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped roasted walnuts or pecans, optional

Combine the ingredients in a medium saucepan.
Bring JUST to boiling.
Remove from heat.
Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth.
Topped with roasted nut of choice if desired.

CALABRIAN CHILE TOMATO SAUCE

Every now and then we like to spice up a red sauce and just eat plain pasta with it. No veggies. No proteins. Just a good handmade pasta and full bodied spicy sauce! YUMMY! 😀

CALABRIAN CHILE TOMATO SAUCE
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, FINELY diced
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1 1/2 teaspoons Calabrian chile paste
1/4 cup water
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons Marscarpone cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Prepared pasta of choice, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.
Add garlic and shallots, sauteing 2 minutes until softened.
Add tomato paste and chile, stirring to blend well for 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes and water.
Season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper and cook 2-3 minutes until liquid is reduced by half.
Fold in prepared pasta and add as much of the pasta water as necessary to reach your desired consistency.
Turn off heat and add Marscarpone cheese, blending well.
Adjust seasoning to taste.
Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 21 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

This will be super abbreviated today. We’re still traveling through tomorrow and getting an early start at parks, waterfall visits and hikes today. We stopped at a local store and picked up salami, cheese, crackers and fruit for a box lunch on the trail today.

It’s supposed to be gorgeous here today – mid 70’s and a light breeze. We were up at the 7,000 foot mark yesterday though and it was more breezy and quite chilly, so I’m layering in my comfiest Levi’s, a tank, a favorite lightweight flannel and hiking boots.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did most of the laundry from the trip at SIL’s house, but will have a week’s worth from the trip home along with the sheets and towels from before we left.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a pedicure on Thursday and will put together a grocery and errand list before I go.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a few things from before the trip that need to be handled this week.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Your guess is as good as mine 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX ?? We did start the new Lincoln Lawyer series in the hotel last night and think we will like it.
PRIME ??
DISNEY+ ??
DISCOVERY + ??
CABLE Everything from the last 3 weeks on the DVR

I finished the girl from Channel Islands finally and need to move on to something much lighter so I began Mystic Falls, A Coyote Wells Mystery by Vickie McKeehan

Here’s where we were yesterday 😀 after we left Lassen Volcanic National park – More pictures to come later 😀

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	OUT	OUT	??	??	??	??	??
DESSERT		*

Author: QuiltLady