Category Archives: Adventures in the Kitchen

Drinks and a Movie

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It may not be cold in December in Texas, but January usually does not disappoint. So whenever we finally get a “cold front”, I crave something warm.   I love this recipe from Sallys Baking Addiction for apple cider.   (http://sallysbakingaddiction.com) I also have it listed under recipes if you want to try it.

Sallys Baking Addiction Apple Cider
Chopping Apples

Since our temps turned below 50, I wanted to curl up with a good book or movie as I drank my warm apple cider.  My daughter, Claire, opted for a movie.   She asked to watch Les Miserables.
I have never turned down the chance to watch this wonderful movie, and watching it with my daughter makes the time even more enjoyable!  Great way to spend time together before she heads back to college!  IMG_1818[1]

Homemade Beef Stew…Yum

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I have a tried and true Beef Stew recipe from a wonderful friend from Louisiana. She gave it to me about 25 years ago and I have used it many times since.

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1st Recipe box 1989

I went to my lovely blue and mauve recipe box (from my wedding in 1989) and could not find it in there!  I will find it one day, many years from now, when I clean out all my cabinets.  But I wanted to make the stew for dinner,  so off to Pinterest and other blogs I went in search of an amazing Beef Stew recipe.

I found this one on Pinterest and put it on my board.  You can also find the recipe here.  I still love my friend’s stew, but this one certainly is one I will make again and it was perfect on this cold winter evening.

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tasty vegetables

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searing the meat

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cry, cry, cry

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making the cornbread

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delicious

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Beef Stew

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

Posted in 2015 Travel Adventures, Adventures in the Kitchen by

Time does fly!   It is hard for me to believe over a year has gone by since I started my blog, PALATABLE ADVENTURES.

I looked over my goals in starting this blog…
This blog is to hold me accountable to teach myself and my girls cooking basics and two new recipes per month.  Inspiration may come from
~places we have been
~recommendations from friends and family
~or from sources of interest like Pinterest or just good old fashioned cookbooks

As I look at my purpose in doing this, I see that it accomplished what I wanted and more.  I learned many new recipes.  I found my children in the kitchen with me, learning as well.  I sampled various types of foods from places I have visited, and tried to recreate them at home.  And my pictures, while still amateur, have improved from last January.  I have actually loved these Palatable Adventures.

~Sweet Adventures

Recipe found on food blog
Love it!

~Movie Inspired Adventures

Sound of Music while eating Austrian Dish
It’s Complicated

~Healthy Adventures.

~(not so) Healthy Adventures.

Delicious!

~Traveling Adventures.

I’m in a New York State of Mind
Roman Colosseum
Austria
Austin
Lady Liberty
Me and Hannah at JFK
Venice
Florence, Italy

I look forward to 2016 and the adventures that await, the people I may meet and discovering what God has in store for me.

 

A few of my favorite things….

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…holiday baking with my girls

Christmas

…Christmas work parties and celebrations with family

…decorating our Christmas tree together while watching White Christmas

…all of us in the kitchen together preparing our Christmas lunch

…reading the Christmas story before opening gifts

…because Jesus is the Reason for the Season…

For Unto Us A Savior Is Born!

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Visions of Sugar Plums

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…or Sugar cookies!  I love looking back on Christmas as a child and the memories that were made during the holidays.  My mom made many different sweets over the years, and all were delicious!   But one of my favorites was her sugar cookies.  My three sisters and I loved when she made these.

I loved to stay up late with her and  help decorate.  The TV would be on in the background, my dad asleep by now in the chair and my mom in the kitchen baking away.

What a privilege it was to be able to pass this recipe on to my three girls and create our own memories of  baking and decorating cookies.   I may not have my three little girls beside me in the kitchen, but I  was blessed to have my 19-year old help me tonight!

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There’s no place like Home for the Holidays

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...cause no matter how far away you roam
when you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
for the holidays you can’t beat Home Sweet Home!

We are celebrating Christmas with both sides of our family this weekend…so the countdown has begun!  I have 2 days to get all gifts purchased, Christmas desserts made and my contribution for dinner ready!

Chocolate covered peanuts are always on my list of baked goods.  First..because they are really tasty, and so hard to stop eating!  Second…because they are so easy to make!  I am all about that when I am trying to bake all day!!

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I also always make Peanut Butter Balls.  My father-in-law loves these, so I
make sure and bring to any family function during the holidays.

If you want your Chocolate to have a pretty shine, you can always temper the chocolate.  I have not tried that yet, so I am not sure how easy it is.  Or you can add paraffin wax, just a small amount.  And it is safe to eat! 🙂  I just put a tiny amount in and it gives the chocolate a nice shine!IMG_1208[1]IMG_1388[1]

I had some errands to run and asked my daughter, Claire to shape the peanut butter mixture into balls for me.  She said she could not make them into perfect round shapes.  I told her to practice, practice, practice as I walked out the door. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Time is here…

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It is always a treat to be able to pick up your sister, do  a little shopping, then grab a bite to eat in Austin.  We ended the evening at Book People on Lamar and had the chance to meet Sally McKenney and purchase her new Candy Addiction Cookbook!  Not a bad way to spend a Friday night!

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My IMG_1293[1]mother-in-law, Phillis Rhine, saw that I made one of Sally’s recipes for White Chocolate Chip Molasses cookies.  She has a great Molasses recipe herself, but has never added the white chocolate chips.  She loved how they looked, so she made a batch for her Cookie Exchange!

Her hubby, (my wonderful father-in-law) told her she better bake some more…so I think they were a hit!

I am not sure her kitchen looks like mine after baking!  But I am thankful my daughter will help me clean up!

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Yummy Peanut Brittle

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One of the things I love making at Christmastime is Peanut Brittle.  I have been using the same recipe for the last 25 years.   I lost it this year and thankfully my dear friend who gave me the recipe so long ago still had it! She just took a quick pic and texted it right to me. Thankful for technology…and Alyssa!   I also love that it is made in the microwave and I don’t have to use my candy thermometer! If you like to give away candy at Christmas, this makes a nice gift.

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Sometimes it takes me a couple of batches to get it just right.  I always forget that my microwave cooks high, so I need to adjust the power before cooking.  It only takes 10 minutes, so if you don’t love your first batch…the second one is usually perfect!  Enjoy!

It’s the Holiday Season…

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The hardest part about a Cookie Exchange is deciding which cookies to bake.  Do I go for the tried and true traditional cookies or venture out and try a new recipe?

This year I tried a new recipe I found on one of my favorite blogger’s website, as well as a couple of my traditional favorites.  I have included her recipe here for you to try. http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/12/15/soft-baked-white-chocolate-chip-molasses-cookies/print/

I really loved this Soft-Baked White Chocolate Chip Molasses Cookie. It has a little crunch on the outside, but moist on the inside.  This was my first time to try this recipe, but it turned out just perfect!  Thanks in part to my helpful daughter in the kitchen.

This cookie pairs well with milk!  🙂

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Fall Favorites

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Fall Favorites…

My Favorite drink…well actually Diet Coke is my favorite drink…but my husband brought this Red Wine home and it hit the spot!  So Cozy!

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LOST DRAW Tempranillo

My Fall Favorite when the air turns chilly  is Apple Cider. However this is Texas. So even though it was still 85 outside,  inside it just felt like Autumn!   This homemade cider is full of flavor and hardly any extra added sugar.  So much better than store bought!   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/211772/homemade-apple-cider/

 

Favorite pie…pecan for sure, but my husband loves pumpkin.  So I opted for both and we each had a slice, or two!

Pumpkin Pie

And of course one of my all time favorites during the fall is Pumpkin Bread. My mother-in-law found this recipe many years ago and my friends and I have been making it every fall season!  I add cream cheese frosting with a few spices, all spice, nutmeg and cloves and it adds just the right amount of sweetness.  IMG_0950[1]

I posted all of these recipes under menu above.  I think you will find something you enjoy making and eating!