For the Love of Gilmore

  Oy with the poodles already...

So, if you know me, it's a well-known fact that I absolutely adore Gilmore Girls! It is by far my favorite show of all, with a couple coming in close second. But they are, alas, second. I fell in love with this show a few years ago, well after it had aired on TV for the first time, yet it was a match made in heaven from the first episode I watched. 

The first thing to grab my heart was, without a doubt, the charming, quirky town of Stars Hollow. Oh, how I wish I could live there! Shortly after I got to know the characters, I fell in love with them as well. My heart gravitates towards Sookie, because, well I love to cook and I just get her. One of my goals is to cook as elegantly as she does. Lorelai also has my heart. I dream of having a mouth like hers! Oh to be that witty and sarcastically blunt! One can dream! And when she and Luke finally get together, be still my heart. 

As I was brainstorming for this post, I was originally planning on sharing my top five favorite episodes. That quickly became impossible when I began looking over all the 153 episodes and had a hard enough time narrowing it down to ten. I feel like there needs to be a confetti party since I actually accomplished that! The following episodes are my all-time favorites, the first ones I go to on any given evening of binge-watching. 

These episodes do not have any particular order in my heart, though to keep order to this post, I did order them according to how they appear in the series. I went searching Google for some photographs depicting different scenes from the episodes and will do my best to share why I love each episode. There may be some spoilers, but not to worry. I'm going to assume you already know the outcome of the series, because let's be honest, who hasn't seen Gilmore Girls? 

Let's get started, shall we?

Love & War & Snow || Season One, Episode Eight

This is the episode in which I learned that Lorelai and I are indeed kindred spirits for we share a love for snow. She says two of my favorite TV quotes in this episode, "I smell snow" and "Everything is magical when it snows." Yes, Lorelai, I agree! What's not to love with Stars Hollow all covered in snow?!?!?! 

That Damn Donna Reed || Season One, Episode Fourteen

I love this episode for the sole fact that it is full of comedy. From Rory dressing up like a 50's housewife and surprising shocking Dean (and everyone else, for that matter) with her getup, to Lorelai losing Rory's school assignment, Stella, and calling upon Luke for help, this one is just good for the soul.

The Bracebridge Dinner || Season Two, Episode Ten

This was my very first favorite episode....and it placed a dream within my heart.....to be one of the guests at the Bracebridge Dinner at the Independence Inn. Oh, it looked like such fun! Sookie and Lorelai put on one heck of a party, complete with horse-drawn sleigh rides in the snow.

A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving || Season Three, Episode Nine

Another early love of mine, everything about the episode just makes me smile. From Mrs. Kim's tofurkey, to Sookie cringing over Jackson deep-frying her organic turkey, to Luke secretly wanting the Gilmores to join him and Jess for Thanksgiving dinner. Add in a little Kirk drama and weirdness and you have a winning episode! (Whoever had the idea for the character of Kirk was a genius!)

Ted Koppel's Big Night Out || Season Four, Episode Nine

There isn't any particular reason why I love this episode, other than it is just delightful to watch. It's the Yale vs. Harvard game, and Richard and Emily join Lorelai and Rory to watch the rivalry game. In true Gilmore fashion, no event where Lorelai and her mother are together is without its drama. This is the episode where the relationship between Lorelai and Jason Stiles begins, and all the angels shout "hallelujah!", it is short-lived.

Last Week Fights, This Week Fights || Season Four, Episode Twenty-One

All the Gilmore Girls fans rejoice in this episode because Luke and Lorelai are just one step away from being official. She accompanies him to his sister, Liz's, shall we say unique, Renaissance wedding. It was a magical episode, and when Luke and Lorelai were dancing....so sweet. That's a moment I'd been waiting for since the first episode of season one. I think most, if not all GG fans would heartily agree.

You Jump, I Jump Jack || Season Five, Episode Seven

Again, there really isn't a special reason why I love this episode, other than the fact that it is so crazy. I would never jump off a tower holding an umbrella in a fancy dress. Heck, I wouldn't do it in yoga pants and a t-shirt. But Logan got Rory to do it...I got to live vicariously through her for a minute and realized that I would stick to my guns and keep my sanity by keeping my feet on the ground. But it made for a good episode, nonetheless. And just for the record, who's stupid enough to join a life and death brigade? Well, Logan Huntzberger, apparently.

A Vineyard Valentine || Season Six, Episode Fifteen

Valentine's Day on Martha's Vineyard. What's not to love?!?! Combine a mother and daughter and their significant others and you can bet you're going to get a bit of insanity. Insert Logan and Luke on the basketball court, and you've got it. Not to mention Lorelai and Rory in the gym getting a massage from two random guys. You go to the gym to work out, ladies! And just when I begin to think that I overpack for a trip, I shall think back to Lorelai Gilmore and her number of suitcases and bags for a weekend trip and I shan't feel bad ever again.

Santa's Secret Stuff || Season Seven, Episode Eleven

Christmas + Gilmore Girls + Stars Hollow + snow = perfection

Enough said.

Hay Bale Maze || Season Seven, Episode Eighteen

And we all rejoice once again because....LUKE & LORELAI MADE UP! I guess you kind of have to talk and work things out when you and the person you're having issues with run into each other in a hay bale maze and you can't run and hide. I was so glad that these two finally settled their issues and this began the hoping that they would once again end up together..this time for good.

Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed looking back over my favorite episodes of my favorite show with me. And if you haven't watched Gilmore Girls, or if for some crazy reason you don't know what I'm talking about, crawl out from that rock you're hiding under, and get to know the Gilmore Girls. You'll be laughing the whole time, as you fall in love with some delightful characters who live in the most charming and quirky small town.

Have a lovely day, friends! And do come back soon, as I'll be sharing my favorite episodes of another show. It will be loads of fun!

Farewell, October

Well, friends, it is time to bid October farewell for this year!  

Tomorrow, we say hello to November and begin preparations for Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas. You can be sure that there will be plenty of posts celebrating those seasons, holidays and holy days in the days and weeks to come. But for today, we are still celebrating October...

I must say that I am quite pleased to have completed a full month of blogging, every day for 31 days. I have thoroughly loved sharing some of my family's favorite recipes, seasonal thoughts, and other celebrations. October was a beautiful month full of Autumn bliss.

My book list was quite empty for this month, though I did manage to reach my reading goal for the year earlier this month. My goal was to read 20 books, and 20 books I read. Even though I completed my list and reached my goal for the year, that doesn't mean that I have stopped reading. In fact, I have several books to share about in an upcoming "Book Talk", and am beginning several books very soon.

I have quite a few ideas and lots of inspiration for upcoming posts...both for the coming month, and next year. So, there are lots of fun things to look forward to. Writing is my passion and I love sharing it with others!

Today is Halloween, so for us, that means a special dinner and watching Halloween episodes of our favorite shows. We will also be enjoying some of that yummy bread I talked about yesterday...and yes, the recipes are coming soon. While I do miss the days of dressing up and trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, this is a fun season of spending Halloween at home, with quiet celebrations. But you can bet that I look forward to the future with great excitement, joy, anticipation, and giddiness when I can dress up my own wee ones and see the magic of the night through the eyes of kiddos. What fun that will be!

I do hope that this has been a wonderful month for you, and I wish you all a very Happy Halloween!

There is only one way I can think of to end this post:

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

Anne girl, I agree, wholeheartedly!

Blessings to you this day, dear friends!

The Tradition of Bread Baking

It's the perfect day to share a beautiful post with you all...

Today I'm sharing all about one of my favorite family traditions that we have enjoyed for the past several years. I hope you enjoy and are inspired in some autumn goodness! 

The tradition of bread baking began probably eight years ago or so. Before that, however, my mom would always make mini loaves during this time of year. Eight years ago is when I got involved and now take the reins with this tradition. And it's so much fun!

Every year since we started this tradition, we set aside one or two days, or more if needed, to make a bunch of loaves of bread. We choose to make mini loaves for several reasons, as opposed to regular sized loaves. The reasons for this are simple: we love sharing with friends and baking smaller loaves allows us to do that; we also prefer smaller loaves because they keep fresh longer; they freeze lovely; and we love pulling out a loaf here and there, throughout the year, and a mini loaf is the perfect size for our family. We pull it out, enjoy it for a day or two, and then it's gone. 

Over the years, our variety of bread has grown and changed. It started out with just banana nut bread. Then, I got a hold of some new and fun recipes and the tradition changed forever!

Here are some of the breads that we have made over the past several years...

~Banana Nut Bread

~Pumpkin Bread

~Pumpkin Apple Cider Bread

~Sweet Potato Cranberry Bread

~Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl

~Orange Cranberry Walnut Bread

~Apple Fritter Bread

~Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread (recipe shared yesterday)

Each year, we will choose about three or four to bake. This year our breads were: apple fritter (not pictured), pumpkin, banana nut, and orange cranberry walnut. I will hopefully be sharing recipes for each of these breads next month, so do keep your eyes open for that.

I hope you enjoyed this post and a little peek inside our yearly tradition of bread baking. We also always make Halloween Barmbrack (recipe shared last week), which we will be making today. 

Happy bread baking!

From My Kitchen ♥ Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

This week I'll be sharing all about our annual bread baking day. It's a tradition that we have held onto for many years and one that I hope will continue to stick around for many, many years to come. It's one of those traditions that I can't wait to bring into my own home and family someday.

Each year, we have a standard couple of bread that we make. Always pumpkin. Always banana nut. But I also love to throw a little fun in the mix and choose one or two new recipes to try each year, with hopes to find a new favorite. Today's recipe is one of those sorts...

A long time ago, I made some chocolate chip and pumpkin brownies and then another year they were muffins. Those were our first introductions in just how well those two flavors marry together. The cinnamon and pumpkin flavor really compliments the chocolate chips. 

This recipe is super simple to pull together, and makes a great homemade gift for friends, family, or neighbors, or even as an addition to a bake sale at church. People won't be able to keep their hands off this delectable treat! Just you wait and see...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

3 cups flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 can of pumpkin puree (not the pie filling!)

1 1/2 cups oil

1 package chocolate chips

In a large (!) mixing bowl, combine the ingredients in the order listed. Be sure to mix thoroughly and make sure everything is totally combined together. 

Pour into greased bread pans and bake at 350*F for 50-60 minutes, or until they pass the toothpick test. 

Times may vary depending on the size of your bread pans. I opted for the small pans on this day, but the large pans work fine, too. You just may need to keep the bread in the oven a bit longer.

Cool completely (if you can wait that long), and slice, serve and enjoy. 

These also freeze beautifully. Simply wrap each loaf in a double layer of plastic wrap, and freeze until later use.

Creating a Cozy Tea Corner

Ah, tea! Where do I begin with my affection for this word, as well as the liquid goodness that it represents? I've loved tea ever since I was a teenager, and even before that I loved the idea of tea. Te parties, tea cups, tea pots, tea bags, tea shops. You name it, and I'm there.

Autumn is one of my favorite times to dig out all my boxes of tea from the backs of the cupboards and finally get to enjoy them once again. In my corner of the world, it gets much too hot to drink hot tea during the summer, so I always long for the day when the air turns cool and the breeze is crisp. That means that tea season is back. (I long for the day when I live in a place where I can enjoy tea no matter the season, where the temperatures are more suited for me. That day will come, but until then, tea will be a seasonal joy for me.)

I have quite a collection of mugs and teacups. Perhaps, at some point in the future, I will do a series of posts sharing all about them, and introducing you to some of my favorites. Such joy and happiness come from picking out a beautiful mug to use for the day. I prefer to use mugs on the day-to-day and save teacups for special occasions.

In our kitchen, we have a little tea corner, and today I thought I would share a bit about what we have there, as well as simply use this as an excuse to chat about one of my favorite things...TEA! {{smiles}}

On one of our counters in our kitchen, we have a tea basket full of a variety of teas. Herbal tea is our favorites, as we try to avoid caffeine as much as possible. In the cupboard in this corner of the kitchen, we also have a number of boxes of teas...all kinds of flavors and varieties. We love the seasonal blends, as well as old standbys, such as chamomile or lemon. In the basket, we also keep little packets of Stevia, True Lemon, and True Lime. Honey is also on hand next to the basket of loveliness.

For a bit of variety, and to suit and please all palates, we also keep packets of hot chocolate and apple cider on hand, as well as a big jar of homemade spiced tea mix. (Recipe here.) No matter what anyone in our home is craving for a cozy evening in, it's there in the tea corner. 

Finally, the last two components in this corner. Last year, after visiting Ireland and seeing how everyone has an electric tea kettle in their kitchen, we got one for ourselves. We loved the idea, and it brought a bit of the beloved land to our own home and kitchen. And it gets used multiple times a day! We love it so much! If you don't have one, I highly suggest getting one. They aren't very expensive and are such a nice addition to any kitchen. 

One of my favorite things of all is our variety of mugs. In the cupboard directly above this corner, is a cabinet with shelves full of all kinds of mugs...different shapes, sizes, colors, etc. Many of these have come back with us on different adventures and serve as a sweet reminder of a lovely place we visited. Others we simply fell in love with at the local market. And yet, others, are simply from Walmart. I have my own collection that I keep on a shelf in my room, and it brings a song to my heart to use a new mug each day. I have my personal favorites, and those you can bet get used almost constantly!

There are few things better than curling up on the sofa on a chilly night, watching an episode of my favorite show, and enjoying a nice, hot cup of tea. I go through spurts of loving one tea and then will move on to another. Right now, I'm loving a blend of blueberry and blackcurrant (a blend I brought home with me from Ireland), as well as an apple cider herbal tea, which is perfectly fit for the season.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and maybe feel inspired to create your own little cozy tea corner. Ours is small and sweet, but very loved...and used!

Have a lovely Saturday, friends! May your day be filled with beauty and magic!

(Halloween is just around the corner, after all!)

From My Kitchen ♥ Halloween Barmbrack

Halloween was always such a fun time for my family! My sister and I loved getting to head to the party store to pick out the perfect costume. My most favorite costume was a witch, and I loved it so much, I insisted on wearing it for several years in a row. Most years, my parents took turns taking us trick-or-treating so that the other could stay back and hand out candy to the kids that came around. And then, when we'd get back home, my sister and I would spend a long time going through all of our candy. Such fond, fun memories!!

Now that we are older, and until we have children of our own, Halloween is much more of a low-key event. We typically just stay home and watch movies or Halloween episodes of our favorite shows. I also like to prepare a special "Halloween" meal, usually just something very fall-ish. This year, however, I decided to add a little something special. And that brings me to today's post...

Barmbrack is an Irish bread traditionally eaten at Halloween. It is a yeast bread filled with dried fruits such as raisins and currants. Because I like dried cranberries and we had several bags on hand, I decided that's what I wanted to use.

I hope you'll give this recipe a try! We have made this a yearly tradition for the past three years now and I think it's one that will continue to live on. I can't wait to make this bread with my own kiddos someday! Halloween truly is one of the most magical aspects of childhood, and it would be such a shame to miss out on! Even as an adult {{smiles}}

 It's a unique spin on bread and so much fun to make! 

Barmbrack

4 3/4 cup white bread flour, plus extra for dusting and kneading
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tbsp. sugar
1 1/4 cups lukewarm milk
2/3 cup lukewarm water
vegetable oil, for oiling
4 tbsp. softened butter
1 3/4 cups dried fruit of your choice
milk, for glazing

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, allspice, and salt. Stir in the yeast and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk and water. Mix well to make a sticky dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until no longer sticky. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead lightly for 1 minute. Add the butter and dried fruit. (This takes some time and effort but is well worth it.) Work them in until they are completely incorporated. Return the dough to the bowl, cover, and let rise for another 30 minutes.

Oil a 9-inch round cake pan. Pat the dough to a neat circle and fit in the pan. Cover with the plastic wrap, and let rise for a final time of 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400*F. Brush the top of the bread with milk and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Cover with foil and reduce the temperature to 350*F and bake for another 40-45 minutes, or until a thermometer reads 180-190*F, and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Turn out onto a cooling rack and let cool completely. Slice and serve plain or with butter.

Enjoy!

From My Kitchen ♥ Old-Fashioned White Bread

Baking bread is a newfound love of mine. My late Grandpa loved making bread, and he always made his in a bread machine. Several years before he passed away, when he was no longer able to bake bread due to his old age (91!), he gave us his bread machine. That was a number of years ago, and ever since, I have tried on different occasions to use the machine. 

This particular recipe of our favorite! The crust is soft, which is what we love, and the flavor is gentle and oh-so-yummy! I simply dump all the ingredients into the pan inside the machine, set it on "normal bake", and then wait for the tasty results. 

I love setting it to bake early in the evening, and then we get to enjoy the scents of bread baking all night long. My mom then, happily, takes it out in the morning, after it has cooled all night, slices it, and we use some right away, and then the other half we freeze for another day. 

It's just perfectly delicious!

Old-Fashioned White Bread

2 tbsp. butter, cold

1 1/2 cup hot water

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. yeast

Add all the ingredients to your bread machine pan in the order given. Set the machine to your desired bake time...I use normal bake. And allow the magic to happen. Trust me, it will! {{smiles}}

Enjoy!

From My Kitchen ♥ Autumn Stuffed Acorn Squash

Trying new foods is something that I like to do....on occasion. I am not a picky eater, but I admit that I am also not an adventurous eater. So last Autumn, when I saw acorn squash on sale at the market, I decided to pick up a couple. I had no idea what I was going to do with them, nor how to cook them. But my interest was piqued and I set out to find a recipe that sounded scrumptious!

I had come home from the used bookstore last October with a new cookbook and this recipe was in there. I tweaked it ever so slightly, and my mom, sister and I were blown away by not only how beautiful it was, but also with how delicious it tasted. The slight sweetness of the pineapple, tartness from the cranberries and crunch of the nuts makes for a winning dish! 

Assembling them as the recipe describes, by filling the squash is a beautiful way to present a side dish. These would be such an impressive, yet easy dish for a party. But, if you want to make it a little easier for yourself, or if your family may not eat half a squash on their own, you could simply bake the squash on its own, spoon out the flesh, and pour into a baking dish. Then just put the filling on top, and bake for a bit until warmed through. Each way would be perfectly yummy, it just depends on what you fancy!

Autumn Stuffed Acorn Squash

2 acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeded

12 ounces crushed pineapple, drained

1/3 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)

1/3 cup dried cranberries

6-8 tbsp. honey (depending on your personal taste)

6 tbsp. melted butter (can use olive or coconut oil)

dash of ground nutmeg

Place squash, cut side up, in a prepared baking pan. Bake at 350*F for 40-45 minutes, or until tender. 

Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Once the squash is cooked, divide the filling between the halves. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until heated through. 

Serve and enjoy!

(Note: To make this recipe vegan, simply use agave nectar or maple syrup in place of the honey and coconut or olive oil in place of the melted butter.)

From My Kitchen ♥ Hey Carrots! Cake

The first of October is my mom's birthday (she's one of those lucky ducks born in this glorious season!), and her birthday is always not only a celebration of her, but also of the season and a way of welcoming in the lovely month of October. We are those folks who prefer a homecooked meal on birthdays instead of going out to a restaurant. For us, cooking a meal on someone's birthday is a way of making them feel extra special and of showing our love and thankfulness for them. My mom almost always picks something Mexican for her main course; this year it was super yummy chicken burritos. And then, for her dessert, she always picks something that says "Autumn is here!" Last year, she chose a caramel apple bundt cake, and this year, well, I guess you can tell what she picked...

Carrot Cake!  

I have been wanting to make a carrot cake for close to ten years now, but just haven't gotten around to it. I quietly mentioned it to her as she was picking out her cake, and she jumped at the idea. Carrot cake is a favorite of hers, but she's never had a homemade one before. It was perfect!

As I'm reading Anne of Green Gables for the first time, and seeing how the movies are some of my most favorite, it seemed only fitting to name this recipe after the girl herself, using the nickname that her beloved Gilbert gave to her. I hope you get the chance to try this moist, nutty, sweet cake...and just so you are aware: the frosting on this cake is pure heaven! I could eat it straight out of the bowl with a spoon! (I restrained myself, in case you're wondering!)

Hey Carrots! Cake

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

3 cups shredded carrots

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

8 ounces crushed pineapple, drained

Sift together the dry ingredients. Add the oil and eggs one at a time. Continue to beat until smooth and the eggs are thoroughly incorporated. Add carrots, vanilla, nuts and pineapple. Mix well; the batter will be extremely thick. 

Divide the batter between 3 greased 8-inch cake pans. Bake at 350*F for 30-35 minutes, or until the pass the toothpick test. 

Cool completely, then top with the frosting below.

To make the frosting, combine the following ingredients, in the order listed, and beat until smooth and creamy.

1/2 cup softened butter

2 cups powdered sugar

2 (8 ounces each) blocks cream cheese, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

Frost the entire cake, including the sides, or if you fancy, simply frost in between the layers for a different look. Slice and serve!

Store any leftovers in the fridge.

A Simple Way to Bring Warmth into Your Home

For today's post, I am rearranging my planned schedule of themed posts on Sundays. I have several themed posts that will be coming up toward the end of this series, as well as quite a few that will flow over into November. For today, though....

During the summer, I had some fun experimenting with different essential oils to create a sweet smelling room spray. I love spritzing a bit of something lovely here and there, but most of the products you will find in a grocery store are loaded with chemicals and things that you don't really want to breathe in. I came across a base recipe for natural, healthy room sprays and have since had so much fun creating seasonal scents. 

Here's what I came up with for Autumn, and it could well go into Christmas and wintertime, too. It smells delightfully inviting and full of a warm, cozy feeling. Spritz just a bit, and your whole room will smell delicious!

Warm Autumn Room Spray

Equal parts water and witch hazel (or vodka)

15 drops Clove essential oil

15 drops Orange essential oil

8 drops Cinnamon essential oil 

Combine all together in a spray bottle, shake to mix well, and then enjoy the scent of a warm, cozy atmosphere!

From My Kitchen ♥ Harvest Chowder

And here we have yet another soup recipe! In case you haven't caught on....soup just so happens to be one of my favorite things to eat. Especially in the cooler weather. There's nothing quite as satisfying as a nice, big bowl of steaming soup (or chowder or chili or stew...) at the end of a cold, crisp day. It just hits the spot, and says home to me in all the cozy ways.

Today's recipe is a quick favorite. I love the variety of ingredients and the flavors complement one another beautifully. I love making this in the afternoon and then allowing it to simmer until dinnertime. I hope you get the chance to try this warm, homey dish...

Your family will thank you for it!

Harvest Chowder

1 yellow onion, diced

6 carrots, diced

1 bell pepper, diced

2 cans corn, drained

16 oz. can black beans

1/2 cup butter

2 tbsp. granulated chicken bouillon

1 tsp. coarse black pepper

1/2 - 1 cup flour

2 cups heavy cream

2 qt. milk

Add diced yellow onion to a large stockpot drizzled with a bit of olive oil and cook until tender. Add carrots to the pot, and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the diced peppers, corn and black beans; stir to combine, and cook for a few minutes. 

Remove veggies from the pot and set aside.

Add the butter to the now empty stockpot, and whisk in the bouillon, pepper, and flour. Cook until the butter is absorbed. Slowly pour in the cream and bring to a simmer. Continue to whisk until thickened. Stir in enough milk to reach your desired soup consistency. Then return the veggies to the pot and cook on low for at least 30 minutes. 

Serve and enjoy!

From My Kitchen ♥ Irish Brown Bread

As I wrote a couple days ago, if you have been reading my blog for any time (previous ones or this one), you know two things: I love Ireland and I love cooking. Put those two things together and I'm in my happy place. Well, friends, today I'm inviting you into my happy place.

For two and a half weeks this past summer, my family and I enjoyed exploring the beautiful country of Ireland. We traveled all around the country and touched most of the 32 counties in the tiny, yet gorgeous land. Whilst we were there, we stayed at a Bed and Breakfast tucked into a quaint little village in County Wicklow. We enjoyed a lovely home cooked breakfast each morning in the conservatory where we were surrounded by windows that held scenery fit for postcards for us to enjoy. One thing we ate every single morning was brown bread. We had never tasted that kind of bread before, but it was love at first bite. I am not a bread person, and I even LOVED this bread, so you know it must be something special!! {smiles}}

Immediately after eating one piece, I declared to my family that once we returned home I was going to set about to find the perfect recipe that tasted as close to the bread we were currently enjoying as possible. And, I am happy to announce I have finally done just that!! {{Cue the confetti!!}}

There is a secret to this bread that I learned as I was doing my research. You must use a special flour. In Ireland, there is apparently something known as "whole meal flour". But that doesn't exist here in the States. I read that in order to get the true brown bread flavor and texture you must use that flour. I looked and looked and couldn't find anything even similar to whole meal flour. I read that whole wheat flour will work, but you won't get the same result. I wanted the result!!

So, after doing a bit more searching, I discovered that King Arthur Flour sells something called "Irish-Style flour" and it's basically whole meal flour. We ordered a couple of bags, and I set to work on making our very own loaf of brown bread, and the following recipe is the result....Heaven, not only in flavor but in its scent and simplicity as well! ♥ 

Whilst my family and I were in Ireland earlier this year, on one of our stops at the grocery store there, we picked up a couple bags of their Wholemeal Flour, straight from Ireland. So, for our next so many loaves, it will be as authentic as it can get, even though I am baking it in my American kitchen. As I'm writing this, I am craving a piece slathered with good, Irish butter and some strawberry preserves, just like I had at the B& B! Yes, oh yes! 

Brown Bread

Combine all of the following in a mixing bowl:

2 cups white, all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups Irish-style flour (or wholemeal flour)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

Gently mix with a wooden spoon. Then slowly stir in:

20 ounces buttermilk.

The consistency should resemble heavy, lumpy pancake batter. Pour into a greased bread pan and bake at 350*F for approximately 55 minutes, turning the oven off for the last 5 minutes.

Cool for about 10 minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack and cool completely. 

This bread is especially scrumptious served with good, Irish butter and fruit preserves.

Enjoy!!

♥

From My Kitchen ♥ Herb Roasted Chicken

When I think of cozy, homey meals, there are a few favorites that come to mind. One of those favorites is a roasted chicken. There are so very many ways to cook a whole chicken, and oh so many different recipes to use. I love trying new ones that I find in magazines or cookbooks or even online. But, every once in awhile, I love getting in the kitchen, perusing the pantry and spice cupboards and just make up my own concoction. I cross my fingers and hope it tastes good...this was one of the times the results were scrumptious!

Not only did the roasted chicken taste heavenly, the scents that were filling our home were so warm and very fitting for a cool, crisp day. Here's what I did:

Herb Roasted Chicken

Wash and dry a whole, roasting chicken. Once it is all dried, lay it in your roasting or baking pan. Tuck the wings under and tie the legs together with string. Then, rub it with olive oil all over, including under the skin and inside. 

Next, combine the following ingredients together and sprinkle liberally all over and inside the chicken, including under the skin:

1 tsp. rosemary

1 tsp. basil

3/4 tsp. sage

3/4 tsp. thyme

3/4 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. salt

I used all dried herbs and crushed them in a bowl before sprinkling over the chicken.

Finally, simply pour about 1 + 1/2 cups apple juice or cider in the bottom the pan, all around your chicken. Roast in a moderate oven (around 350*F) until it is done according to a meat thermometer.

As a quick side note, I love using organic whole chickens whenever I make roasted chicken. I always save the bones and bits and make a wonderful, nutritious homemade chicken broth in the crockpot. Just a little idea in being frugal and healthy all at once!

Have a lovely day!

From My Kitchen ♥ Potato Leek Soup

If you know my family and me, you know that we love Ireland. So much so, that we have spent about 5 weeks there over the past year. Our time there was so lovely and full of beautiful, amazing adventure, and we hold many memories from our time in that gorgeous country. It is one place that I wouldn't mind visiting again and again, as there is so much take in, you can never feel like you have done or seen it all. 

Anyways, this recipe comes from seeing many, many different variations in my many Irish cookbooks. This recipe is a bit of a combination of several, just so I could make it exactly how my family likes it. This smooth and creamy soup is bursting with flavor, though it looks simple. And it is best served with Brown Bread, which I will be sharing our favorite recipe for later this week. 

Potato Leek Soup

3 tbsp. butter

2 leeks, cleaned and diced, white parts only

1 quart chicken broth (vegetable broth works fine, too)

1 cup water

8 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed

2 tsp salt

dash of pepper

1 cup heavy cream

In a large stock pot, melt the butter and then add the diced leeks. Saute until the leeks are tender and soft, about 10 minutes. Add the broth, water, potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to a simmer.

Continue to simmer for about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

Remove from heat and stir in the cream.

Using an immersion blender, **gently** (so as to not make a mess), blend the soup until smooth.

Serve with brown bread and enjoy!

From My Kitchen ♥ Snickerdoodle Blondies

One of my family's favorite cookies is the Snickerdoodle. In fact, it was my late Grandpa's absolute favorite. Each year as part of our Christmas baking traditions, we bake up a batch and everyone, friends and family, enjoy them to pieces. 

Blondies are a fun little twist on a brownie. The ones that I am sharing about today are a new favorite which combine the yummy and warm flavor of cinnamon and sweetness of sugar. It is a delightful combination that makes the angels sing, I'm sure!

If you're looking for a new Autumn-ish treat that is a bit different and unique, look no further. Here's the answer to your dilemma....

Snickerdoodle Blondies

1 cup softened butter

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

3 tsp. vanilla

2 2/3 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs in, one at a time. Finally add in the vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients as you beat on low-medium. Combine thoroughly.

Press the batter into a greased 9x13 inch pan and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the following:

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter. 

Bake at 350*F for 35040 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cut, serve, and enjoy!