Striped Full Skirt

When plans get cancelled and my time suddenly becomes free, I practically race to my sewing machine. I've been dreaming of so many summer dresses and skirts and shorts lately, but just haven't had much time to start any thing new.
Well today was the day I've been waiting for and this striped cotton fabric I dyed (very poorly I might add) months ago was calling my name.

Red Lentil Soup with Bacon

This soup is a wonderful reminder that simple is best. It also doesn't hurt when simple is surprisingly delicious.

Pear Pie

There's really nothing like polishing off a big meal with a slice of freshly baked pie. This pear pie was easily my favourite part of our huge thanksgiving dinner this year.
It's now officially spring and there are still pears at the farmers market, so I couldn't help but make this one more time before they're gone.

I couldn't decide if I wanted to make a booze infused whipped cream or a salted dark caramel to top this pie, but then our dinner guests showed up with a container of banana cardamom ice cream. Problem solved! And it was a match made in heaven. Cardamom + Pear = Fantastic!

Unfortunately I was too distracted with said dinner guests that there were no photos of the finished pie, so just use your imagination ok?

One Button Cardigan - take 2

Phew. Finally made a sweater I like enough to wear.
I sure am learning a lot about knitting patterns and construction. This time around I tried to make the sleeves and arm holes smaller, but the entire sweater still feels a little too loose for my tastes. I should have taken out more stitches throughout the back. Oh well, onto the next sweater....

Pesto Chicken Pizza

I'm normally not one to get excited about a pizza that has pieces of chicken on it. Truthfully I'm not usually that excited about chicken in general. I love my husbands BBQ chicken, or a great whole roast chicken, and even spicy chicken wings but that's about it.
But my husband has been making this pizza for me for years and trust me, it's delicious.
Strangely enough the chicken is really only a minor detail in this pizza. It plays an important role, but the pesto is really the star of the show.

Baked Oatmeal with Apples & Pecans

As I type this all I can think of is sleep. It's 10:13am, I've been awake for just under 2 hours and yet I'm still tired. I think I'm getting sick.

This is oatmeal is hearty, filling, delicious and easy to throw together. 

I wish I had the energy to write more about this but the couch is calling me...

Quick Drop Biscuits

I think one of my most cherished gifts from my mother might have to be the copy of "Joy of Cooking" she gave me years ago.
I have such warm memories not only of my mothers very stained and tattered copy of that classic cookbook, but also of the many childhood favourite foods that came from within its pages.

There's something else about this book that just has such a special place in my heart. I guess the fact that it was written by an American homemaker in the 1930's could explain that. I feel like its pages just ooze with a sense of history and I can't help but think of all the generations of homemakers who depended on this book to guide them into the kitchen.

As a homemaker myself I must confess I don't refer to the "Joy of Cooking" quite as much as my mother may have. But there are a few recipes (like the one used to make these biscuits) that I wouldn't think of looking anywhere else for.