Beef Barley Soup

Today was finally a cool and breezy, Autumn feeling day. The perfect kind of day for a pot of soup.  This is a recipe I got from a quilt shop years ago.  I have changed it up a wee bit, and I make this hearty, comforting soup often.  The ingredients are all shown above, with the exception of the stew beef that I had already browned and had simmering on the stove in my Dutch Oven.   I began by browning 1.5 pounds of stew meat in a bit of olive oil, and then once brown, toss in a couple bay leaves, and about 2 tsp of Vegit seasoning and let simmer for about an hour with lid on.  In another pan, saute one brown onion, several cloves of minced garlic, and 3-4 carrots til soft, about 3-5 min.  Add this to meat and then add 4 cans of beef broth, 1 large can of diced stewed tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste, and let this simmer on low for a couple of hours.  About 2 hours before serving, add 1 cup pearl barley and replace lid and continue to simmer until barley is done.  Also, add the zest of one whole orange to soup pot. Just before serving, saute a pound of mushrooms in 3/4 stick of butter.  When soft, add about 1/2 cup full bodied red wine, reduce slightly and add to soup pot.  Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!   I meant to get more pics of cooking, but wound up taking this to Gennifer and Jake's and finished cooking it there and then had dinner with them.  
In my hectic week I forgot to post a favorite cooking tool.  For this week, I am featuring a favorite tool called a microplane.  I love to zest oranges and other citrus into dishes with this tool.  It is also useful for grating whole nutmeg, and ginger and many other things.  GREAT tool.  I have a small hand held one too that I love for nutmeg!  I ALWAYS use whole nutmeg, and grate it myself.  The flavor is amazing!
PS  Usually I like to use low sodium beef broth, but Stater's only had their store brand.  But the low sodium is way better, I think.
Bon Appetit! 

Coughs, Stuffy Heads, Fevers and Brussel Sprouts

I have had a very busy week.  Between trying to get over the nasty cold and cough I had, and helping out here and there with my girls who also have sick kiddos, as well as been sick themselves, it has come and gone swiftly.  No creative photos to show, no fun outings, not even cooking too much this week. Oh wait...I did go on a fun outing.  It was over at my friend Maryrose's daughter's house, Kristi, for a Dancing With The Stars night.  We had a great time, and it was blogged on both Kristi's and her Mom, Maryrose's blog.    I did go to Trader Joe's and get some great goodies.  One thing I have always wanted to find was brussel sprouts on the stalk.  Anyway, I love the way this looks.  And I love brussel sprouts!  They had huge boxes of them like this.  I have always wanted to use them this way to set up a fall buffet table.  They said they will sell out of them, and probably won't get them back on the stalk again. 
I have removed them from the stalk and plan to cook them with red cabbage and bacon and onion.  Yum!!!  
So that's it from Boringville.  Maybe I will have more to say tomorrow.  But for now, I have a clog in my blog.  

Happy 3rd Birthday Hannah!!!

"It was the most perfect Birthday EVER"

PS  This last photo of our sweet Hannah with her arms around her Geeps neck, MELTS my heart!!!!!!!!!  We got her this easel and we were all trying out our drawing skills.  Turns out, the only one who had any was Geeps!  This sweet moment caught on camera was sheer joy for me.  Hannah doesn't hand out her hugs and kisses to just anyone, and even those people who are most special in her life, the hugs and kisses have to be on her terms.  She was SO happy on her special day, and she showed all of us, with her hugs and kisses.  It was a "perfect" day Hannah..  Happy Birthday!!  We love you!!!!

Happy Birthday Big Brother!!

Today is my brother David's birthday.  He is the oldest of the siblings.  We are all close in age, and growing up, had lots of fun.  As teenagers, our friends began to blend, and my two older brothers dated a lot of my friends, and I dated some of theirs.  Even marrying one!!!  AS adults we have remained very close.  I love you big brother.  Happy Birthday!!!!!  Cheers!!

Testing...Testing.....1, 2, 3

Okay..so Gennifer has been tweaking her blog posts to include humungousauraus pictures, and I listened to how she did it, but, it was too much for my brain to handle.  Apparently, Kristi has found an easier way.  And upon investigating this....I can now also use the blatant oops I made a mistake and didn't really mean to say that  feature too!!  
So....I am going to post one picture, just to see if I can make it extra large.

Testing.....1, 2, 3....

Move over Halloween, Hello Thanksgiving

I LOVE these chalk writers! They write like a pen, but dry like a chalk. I have several chalkboards that I like to use, and I know I will be having fun with these.

Tassles.....love em. This is my new one, and it is on my living room floor lamp.

The Halloween quilts come down, and the Fall quilts go up.
My table gets a new look.
I keep all of my pumpkins up until Thanksgiving. Not the jacks..just the pumpkins and gourds. I start bringing out turkeys and fall leaves, with candles in rich shades of browns, reds, and yellows.
These candle rings are new. I got them at Michael's. The pumpkin tureen is a Fitz & Floyd piece that I love!
Noah was a sweetie pie and watched 101 Dalmations while Gama mopped all the floors today.
Now...what should I fix for dinner tonight?

Happy Halloween

Miss Hannah was an adorable Minnie Mouse. It took some coaxing to get her into her costume. But she loved the trick or treating part this year. Her little red shoes lit up when she walked. So cute!
Miss Claire was a beautiful fairy!
Tonight we all went to Gennifer and Jake's house for dinner and Trick or Treating. Gennifer made yummy turkey chili, and harvest pumpkin muffins, and my Mom brought a huge tray of macaroni with ham, and Eri brought pizza, and I brought 7 layer bean dip.

This was the only picture we got of Noah. He was a train engineer. But he never would put his hat and the rest of his costume on. He had a cute Thomas candy bucket too, but he was NOT into it this year. Maybe next year.
Christopher next door was Zorro.
And this is Drew and Diana from the masquerade ball that they went to last night. They looked great. We are stuffed and ready for bed. Thank you Gennifer and Jake, for having us all over tonight. It was fun!