Sunday supper on a Thursday

Last Thursday after work Grace and I took the train down to Irvine to meet up with Jon, Adam & Edgar for dinner. If you are ever in the Irvine, CA area and want an unforgettable dining experience that will rock your tatsebuds then you must visit Lucca Cafe. This month their "Sunday Supper" normally held on the second Sunday of the month was held on Thursday which was perfect timing to celebrate J's birthday. Chef Cathy Pavlos didn't disappoint. One of the delicious dishes was Raviolo alla Mascarpone (ravioli with marscapone cheese, potatoes, wild mushrooms and thyme; with butternut squash risotto, radicchio, caramelized onions & nutmeg. Mmmm so good!

One of my favorite things

Blue Skies and puffy white clouds! I love the sky the day after it rains. It is so clear, crisp, blue and beautiful it makes my heart sing.

Psalm 147:7-9
7 "Sing to the LORD with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call."

Spending some time with Mom

Mom has been staying with me since coming back from Italy last week. I have really enjoyed our time together and it is much more fun to cook for two than for one! Saturday morning after sleeping in a little bit we got ready and headed out to Kimmie's for breakfast. I love the little quaint diner feel of that place. Mom had the pancake combo and I had the classic breakfast. It was really good but quite a large breakfast so we decided to go walk around for a while. We picked up my sister on the way and drove to the Fullerton Arboretum. It was a beautiful morning for a walk. The flowers were all blooming, colorful and each so different and beautiful. I had a great time taking lots and lots of pictures (and stalking the bees to try and get the perfect shot). This evening my other sister dropped by after work. So I decided to make chili and cornbread for dinner. I made up my own chili with what I had in the pantry but for the cornbread I used a recipe that has become a favorite. I made The Pioneer Woman's Skillet Cornbread. I have made this recipe quite a few time and it is quick, super easy and yummy, and never disappoints. Here is the recipe:Pioneer Woman's Skillet Cornbread
Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 20 Minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 12
Ingredients
1 cup Yellow Cornmeal
½ cups All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Salt

1 Tablespoon Sugar (I added this to Ree's recipe)
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1 cup Buttermilk (Since I didn't have buttermilk on hand I just used regular milk and added a little vinegar)
½ cups Milk
1 whole Egg
½ teaspoons Baking Soda
¼ cups Shortening
2 Tablespoons Shortening (I used butter because I ran out of Crisco)
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Combine cornmeal, flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Stir together.
Measure the buttermilk and milk in a measuring cup and add the egg. Stir together with a fork. Add the baking soda and stir.
Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir with a fork until combined.
In a small bowl, melt 1/4 shortening. Slowly add melted shortening to the batter, stirring until just combined. In an iron skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons shortening over medium heat. Pour the batter into the hot skillet. Spread to even out the surface. (Batter should sizzle.)
Cook on stove top for 1 minute, then bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Edges should be crispy!

Spanish Hash for Dinner

Sometimes I just like to look through the pantry and refrigerator and make something from whatever I have on hand. This evening I made up a recipe which turned out really tasty and delicious. I'm not sure what to call it but for now I'll call it Spanish Hash.

Here is how I made it... Drizzle some olive oil in skillet and saute the chopped garlic and onion
Cut the kernels off a fresh ear of corn. Chop one peeled, cooked sweet potato into cubes. (I cooked my sweet potato by wrapping it in a wet paper towel and microwaving it for 5 minutes.)

Add the corn to the skillet and cook for a minute or so. Add the cooked brown rice and stir around for another minute or so.
The add the cubed sweet potato.

Next add some leftover cooked, meat chopped in small pieces (I used pork tenderloin leftovers).

Grab a bunch of cilantro and chop it up.

Add the cilantro the skillet and stir. I love the smell of freshly chopped cilantro!Now for some seasoning. Sprinkle in some seasoned salt, cumin and a little garlic powder to taste.Serve and enjoy!

Spanish Hash (Makes 4 servings)

• 1 ear of corn, kernels only


• 1 sweet potato, cooked and cubed


• 1/4 onion, chopped


• 1 garlic clove, chopped


• 1 Tbs Olive oil


• 1/2 cup Brown Rice, cooked


• 1 cup of any kind of leftover cooked meat, chopped


• 1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped


• Lawry's Seasoned Salt to taste


• 1/4 tsp, Cumin


• 1/4 tsp Garlic powder

Welcome Home from Italia!

Picked up Mom & my sister Grace this evening at LAX.

They just spent a wonderful two weeks in Italy.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I get them. Ciao bella Italia!

Time

Time stops for no man... or woman or baby for that matter! Wasn't is just yesterday when I was cuddling little Titus the day he made his debut to the world? Now look at him! Four months later this cutie has grown into a happy, big, 20 lb boy. It feels like I get a good biceps workout every time his mommy brings him over for a visit.Time seem like it is just getting away from me lately. I haven't has enough time in my day to get everything done that I've wanted to. I just realized there are quite a few things in the last month I haven't even had time to blog about. That being said I am trying to make the most of everyday.

Spending time with family and friends has become a big priority in my life

Spending time with friends at work

Spending time with new friends in the park after work

Spending time with church friends

Spending time with family

I feel very blessed to have the time right now to enjoy it as much as possible. So here's a little bit of a recap of the past three weeks or so... The week before Easter if baked and decorated a bunch of cookies for family and friends. I'll try and post the recipe soon! Can I just say I love decorating these type of cookies!

Easter weekend got together with family to celebrate my beautiful niece's 17th birthday. Speaking of time... When did she get to be that grown up?

Then it was a quick trip back home to celebrate Easter Sunday at church and spend some time with some dear friends later that day. We enjoyed a delicious brunch followed by some fun games of croquet and bocce. Shhhhh... don't tell anyone but I came from behind and beat the boys at croquet!

Here's Mom and baby Savannah

Enjoying a game of bocce after brunch.

Then Mom and G were off to Italy for two weeks. Yes, I tried to contain my jealousy and be happy for them! I am so happy Mom got to go and I can't wait to hear all about her adventures when I pick her up at the airport tomorrow.

Don't forget to make the most of your time and every precious hour and minute in each day!

Happy Mother's Day

This year Mom got to spend Mother's Day in Italy with my sister Grace. I can't wait to hear all about her adventures and what she thought about seeing all the places I love when she arrives back home later this week. As I was thinking about her today I can only feel that I have been very blessed with a wonderful and godly mom. No, she is not perfect but she has been a wonderful example of a wife and mother. So here's to you! Fell in love and followed dad to a place that was strange and foreign...Raised a whole handful of kids and still managed to always look stylish... Taught me how to read...Got that nasty bug out of my eye...You always had a heart that was humble, willing to serve, and thinking of others needs before your own. For these things and many, many more...I love you Mom!

Fire on the ridge

Brush fires are just not the thing you want to see when you live up in the hills.

Here is what I saw as I was driving home around 8 PM this evening. It is always a little scary to see this especially when it is so close by. The sky was filled with five or six news helicopters and two water dropping aircraft that were hitting their target right on. Thanks to all the firefighters for doing a great job!