Use your pretty things

This morning I was putzing around the kitchen, putting some things away, getting a few things started for Easter dinner. I opened the doors of the tiny cabinet above the microwave to remind myself what was in it. I had to use a spatula to open the doors, of course, because I can't actually reach the doors themselves. Which is why I store the china up there.

I actually have two sets of china, both of which my Mom gave to me. One is the set I remember from my childhood. It has a pretty rose pattern on just a side of the plate, in a soft silver. I would share a picture of it, but as I mentioned, I can't actually reach it, so...

The other set I have also brings back special memories. Every year at Christmas, my Dad loved shopping for everyone. And every year, he had to make that one last trip to a store to get just one more thing, usually for Mom. One year, it was a new set of china. It is also pretty, in a more modern way than the traditional flower pattern. This set is decorated by a simple silver border. What I remember most about it is not the many holiday meals we used it, but the pure joy my father displayed in buying and giving to Mom.

As I was looking at the cabinet from (far) below, my son asked why we never use the china. (The flowered set is in the cabinet and the other set is in storage in the house). I pointed out that we do, on special occasions. We then decided that our Easter dinner counted as one, even if it was just going to be the three of us tonight. We're having a pork loin with a balsamic reduction glaze, a pineapple casserole and roasted carrots with rosemary, by the way.

I also got this set of Pioneer Woman bowls for Christmas from my mother-in-law (who knows me well). It's not quite the pattern I would usually gravitate toward, but I had previously assured her that I truly loved the patterns and colors in this line. I often joke about being close to losing my 'girl card,' but sometimes I do like to use pretty things. And why not? Why do we have pretty things if not to enjoy them? Dig out the china, use the special glasses, mix lemon bar filling in the pretty bowl likely meant for display only. Enjoy your life and the things in it, and share them and the the things you make with the ones you love. They're worth the effort. And so are you.

Sometimes there needs to be chocolate

There are times we just need chocolate. Not like to have, but have to have chocolate moments.

I had one of those nights last week. And then there were brownies. I used to make a brownie recipe from one of my best go-to cookbooks, the Better Homes and Gardens red and white cookbook that everyone should have (more on that later). For 20 plus years, I have been using that recipe. It calls for melting chocolate in butter, adding sugar, vanilla, eggs and flour. But then I tried a recipe from Hershey's. I didn't have baking chocolate and needed brownies one day, so I used the Hershey recipe since it called for cocoa. Now I am hooked on this recipe. These brownies are just perfect. They have the perfect gooey texture, and I use Special Dark chocolate to make them even more decadent.

I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe for mocha frosting, though I cut it in half. I have used a dark roast recipe in this frosting, but this night we used a mocha flavored coffee and it really pushed it over the top.

These brownies were just what I needed. Gooey chocolate equals a happy Lisa.

Pasta Primavera Contest Entry

I haven't had a whole lot of free time lately. It happens sometimes. But I did manage to carve out just enough to make pasta primavera for the Pioneer Woman contest.

There are a lot of fresh vegetables in this recipe, which means a lot of chopping. But once all the prep work is done, it is really a quick meal to make. Click here for a link to the recipe. I will definitely be making this one again. When I started making it, my biggest help in the kitchen, Jeffrey Stites, wasn't home and the boy had no interest in helping out this time, probably because there are mushrooms and zucchini in the recipe.

But I made pretty quick work of it and in no time, I had this... I think my minced garlic got buried under there somewhere.                                                    
Of course, you need to get the pasta going and then start cooking the veggies. I grated cheese while veggies were cooking and when everything was done, I just threw it all together. I had a really good idea of how I wanted it to look but here's this little problem of my lack of hand-eye coordination. (That's why I like photography-all my hands have to do is hold the camera and push the buttons). So it didn't look quite like I wanted it to. I was happy with the end result though, and I took lots of pictures and posted one to the website as my contest entry. This one isn't the one I entered, but I don't think it's too bad :-) The best part of the experience is that since my mother and father-in-law were down for the week, the primavera was enjoyed for dinner (twice). Which is, after all, the real reason I cook anyway.