In Search of Stairs

This weekend we worked ourselves into a sweat at the new gym, and then wandered the town.  We were looking for a stairway from a movie we had watched the night before, and while the stairs remain elusive, we had a great time on the hunt.

Polenta in a crock pot

I may have a minor obsession with recipes.  (This is just a glimpse of the ones I have tried and kept!)

My most recent favorite is (oh so easy) polenta!  :)
Yum!
For David's last birthday, some friends joined us for dinner at Ponti.  We were in great company, sitting outside right on the canal, I had a melt in your mouth apple wood smoked fish dish, and David ordered the lamb.  He still talks about that lamb almost a year later. 
Now I like lamb, their lamb was fantastic, but what I liked even more than the lamb was the polenta under the lamb.  :)

We recently bought a crock pot, and I ran into several recipes which suggested adding polenta into your crock pot while the meat is cooking.  I haven't tried that because I don't really want my polenta to taste like meat, I wanted to duplicate the delicious Ponti experience!  :)

And somehow google always knows exactly what I am looking for.  :)

Polenta in a Crock Pot
Makes 12+ servings

3 cups polenta (I used Red Mill Organic Polenta Corn Grits)
1 tablespoon salt
12 cups water

I have a 3.5 quart crock pot, so I added my water first to see how much would fit (it all fit!), added my polenta, salt, and stirred. 
Heat on high for 1 - 1.5 hours stirring with a whisk every 15 minutes until polenta becomes thick.  (you will know when it is ready, for the first hour the polenta settles back down at the bottom, but after an hour (or so) the polenta will become thick and stay dispersed in the water)
Switch crock pot to low and cook for 4-5 hours.
Keep on warm for up to 10 hours.

I portioned all of my polenta out into 2-3 serving containers and tossed them in the freezer.  When heating up your polenta from the freezer you may need to add a bit more water, and when ready to eat you may want a bit of butter, milk, cheese, salt - whatever you would like (I like mine plain, it is that good!).

Enjoy!

Bedtime notes

It is my bedtime, but I had a couple quick things I wanted to share.  :)
1.  A bird pooped on me today.  I think that is supposed to bring good luck, but really it was just kind of yucky.  Thankfully nothing gross got in my hair, and it was poring rain, so I wasn't stinky at work.
2.  My fancy earrings were delivered today!

3.  I found another career possibility, two people have hired me to paint on their walls, one I am doing as a gift (baby) and the other is going to pay me!
4.  Do you know how to poach an egg?  It was pretty easy, and tasty!  I had mine over salad.

5.  Remind me to tell you about making polenta in the crock pot, it is DELICIOUS!  :)  

Night all, happy Wednesday!

Weekend expeditions :)

I have found a new love.  Did you know there is a Flower World?  I have been, it was lovely.  :)

Tasty friday night fishes

What are your feelings on salmon?
After recently spending a small fortune on local fishes, David and I made a plea for my parents to send us a care package.  :)

It is nice to have an inside connection, let me tell you!
Mom, if you are reading, we've.... well, we've almost eaten all of our fishes!  They are so tasty!

I like my salmon baked with a spicy rub.  If you time it just right it is juicy, flaky, and delicious!
...but when I say spicy, I do mean spicy!
Combine any spices you may have, but for three fillets, I typically use:
2 Tbsp Olive oil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp chipotle powder
1 tsp blackened seasoning
1 tsp chili seasonings (a mix my Mom made, who knows what's in it!)  :)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt

Rub all over your fishes and bake at 425 for 15 - 20 minutes until no longer translucent, but still juicy!  :)
This is a really simple and easy recipe, but oh so good!  I always flake up any leftovers and make salmon spread (treat just like tuna!) for lunches over the next few days.

Recipe for a delicious Spring

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 Delicious FUN!  :)

(Interpret as you will, the goal here is to find some child like joy!)  :)

Pssst!  You're wondering about this weekend's baking?  It was lovely, I cut the sugar down and added a handful of flax seeds.  I didn't have any maple syrup and may have tossed in the last of my morning espresso in to compensate, but that is between me and my delicious breakfast bread.  

I drool over almost everything from Joy the Baker, do you love her too?

Next weekend may contain Zucchini Sweet Potato Bread.  With nuts and cranberries?  Oh yes!

Baking in bad weather

Hello!  Happy Friday evening!
The weather has taken a nasty turn and we are hunkered in, I baked some oatmeal (with rhubarb!), we have done the grocery shopping, and I have great plans for artwork/cards this weekend.  Oh!  I also have some more baking plans for the weekend, I'll give you a hint:

How will you be spending the weekend?