A September To Do List.

September 1, 2023September 2, 2023 ~ emetroka ~ 1 Comment

Ah, bliss, September. The calm before the storm that is one holiday after another. The month of knits flung with abandon, the month of cooling breezes, and the smell of burning leaves, and football all weekend. If you’ve been here for a while – you know the drill. I make a little to do list every month in categories important to me. I pick one thing from each category every week and it helps me actually do things that I enjoy doing rather than letting the month pass me by as if it never happened.

Bake

Treat

Meals

Chili & Cornbread (my husband’s classic recipe that I desperately need him to write down)
Roast Chicken
Beef Bourguignon
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach

Cocktails

I have a few other categories that vary month to month, but they are – House (house projects to work on), Dates (with my husband – at home or out of the house), Adventures (Outings/trips!), Must Do’s (Housekeeping items I hate doing, but must – like making dentist appointment), and Fun (little things to make the month special). They’re a little more personal in nature! I find it helps make my months so much smoother when I eliminate brain fatigue and make all my choices at the beginning of the month. You just might find the same is true for you! Happy planning, friends!

Last year’s September list if you’re in need of more inspiration for the month!

Meal Plan This Week.

May 15, 2023May 15, 2023 ~ emetroka ~ Leave a comment

We had the sweetest weekend with the best Mother’s Day a mama could ask for. On to a wonderful week where it’s all about the food, as usual.

Sunday – Steak, Brussels Sprouts, Scalloped Potatoes, and Bitter Greens & Orange Salad.

Monday – Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus with Rice and Aioli.

Tuesday – Lemon-y Linguine with Garlic Bread. (adding peas and spinach to the pasta for some extra veg)

Wednesday – Warm Grain and Vegetable Bowl.

Thursday – Leftovers (or Meatballs in the likely case of – no leftovers left over) Going to post that meatball recipe here this week so it’s easier to find!

Friday – Pizza!!!

Saturday – Grill Party! Hot dogs, burgers, potato salad and all good grill food.

Bake – Mother’s Day Angel Food Cake with Vanilla Sugar Whipped Cream and Berries.

Treat – Blueberry Hand Pies with Buttermilk Ice Cream.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas.

May 4, 2023 ~ emetroka ~ 1 Comment

Just a friendly psa that Mother’s Day is rapidly approaching if you live stateside. May 14th is the big day, so now is the time to get your plans in order. Sharing a few ideas here! Share your own ideas in the comments!

For your mom who loves her children and grandchildren unconditionally, loves wine, gardening and baking:

For several years when we were poor grad students, I would bake a loaf of English Muffin Bread and homemade jam, wrap it up in a cute tea towel with a sweet letter and mail it off to my mom in Indiana.
As I’m sure you know, gift cards seem lazy, but they might be the most fun for the receiver. My mom always tells my brothers she wants gift cards to Home Depot or the local nursery so she can go fill her garden beds.
Heirloom garden tools: A new storage bucket, snips, trowel, sun hat and garden gloves.
Send her flowers, duh. If you buy them from the grocery store – take them out of the plastic and wrap into some butcher paper with baker’s twine for an elegant upgrade.
Take her to lunch. The thing she really wants is time with you anyhow.
Pretty stationery.
Send her a homemade charcuterie package – go to the store and get fancy crackers, nuts, jams and a bottle of wine. Grab a little cheese board too! Mail it now and it’ll be there in time!
A new nightie and slippers
If she’s a reader, gift her a year of Book of the month club, Audible, or a new Kindle.
New sheets or a quilt are always a good idea

On my own list:

Just a few ideas! What are you asking for or gifting!?

Warm Grain and Vegetable Bowl.

May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 ~ emetroka ~ Leave a comment

If you are in need of a simple and nourishing meal that warms you up from your insides out, you’ve found it here. I found this recipe in Ina Garten’s Go To Dinners (everything in it has been amazing so far), and it’s one that is going to be in heavy rotation at our house. I’m writing the recipe as I made it, which differs from the original. And of course, as always, you can make it your own by using different vegetables and grains, but you really should make the dressing as is. That’s what makes it all so very good. Now, please excuse me while I go add all of this to our shopping cart for next week.

Warm Vegetable and Grain Bowl

1 cup quinoa
Salt and pepper
1/2 red onion, cut into 8 wedges through the stem
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, diced (I used a frozen bag for ease)
1/2 pound carrots, scrubbed and cut into sticks
1 tablespoon olive oil
5 oz greens such as spinach, kale, arugula or a mix
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans
creamy goat cheese, thickly sliced

For the dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Make quinoa according to package instructions, set aside.
Combine the onion, butternut squash, and carrots on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and toss. Spread the vegetables out in one layer and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once halfway through until all the vegetables are tender.
Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl with a whisk, or in a jar with a lid. Set aside.
In a large salad bowl, combine your greens, cranberries, and toasted nuts (I just toast them in a cast iron skillet over medium for a couple minutes until they smell nutty and are golden brown. Watch them closely so they don’t burn.) Pour a little bit on your greens and toss.
Serve the salad into your bowls, add quinoa, the goat cheese to taste and roasted vegetables on top. Drizzle a little more vinaigrette on top and season with salt if needed.
Serve warm and inhale the whole thing.