WARM AND COZY TOMATO SOUP WITH PARMESAN CHEESE DUMPLINGS.....

B.A. and I have been doing a lot of this lately......

That's right, ordering from menus and also staying in motels, because we've been out of town for the past couple of weekends. Bidness trips and such.

And while I love, love, love adventures out of town, here's a little something I'll bet you don't know know about me:

I LOATHE coming back home.

Wait--that didn't come our right--I don't actually hate coming back to our HOME (I LOVE our home, really I do!), but I hate everything I have to do when I walk in the door---unpacking, cleaning up cat messes, getting depressed when I see the devastation that one of God's most perfect creatures hath wrought upon our front porch, once again.....lemme splain.....

Deer. Gotta love 'em. Drove up our drivway to see a GI - NORMOUS 4 point Buck chomping away on my sweet little plant that was trying so valiantly to get through the winter, hidden in the very side corner of the covered porch.....look at it now...SOB!....

Here's the freaky thing : that darned Buck climbed up our very steep front steps to reach his little feast, and this wasn't the first time......this photo doesn't even come close to capturing how high up our porch really is......

*****************

Here's another thing I hate about coming home after a trip--trying to figure out what to fix for suppah! You know the feeling, right? You're tired, the house is a little cold, you're hungry but you don't want one more thing from a restaurant, you just want a home cooked meal, and there's probably not much in the fridge!

Can you relate? Or, is it just me?

Here's what I whipped up for B.A. and myself, in about half an hour flat....a super delicious Tomato Soup with Parmesan Cheese Dumplings--all from stuff I had on hand........

I tell you what....these dumplings are the ULTIMATE in comfort food....this was such a wonderful and warming meal...just what we were craving! I might have even been a little less grumpy, after eating this all up.

By the way, I didn't even take any photos of the prep for this recipe, because my batteries were dead, so you'll have to live with just this one. So sorry.

Here's the recipe.....

TOMATO SOUP WITH PARMESAN CHEESE DUMPLINGS

Makes 2 - 3 bowls of soup, or 4 - 6 cups

1 tblsp. olive oil

1 / 2 yellow onion, chopped

2 celery ribs, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 cups chicken broth

1 28 oz. can chopped tomatoes

1 tsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. kosher salt

3 / 4 cup Bisquick

1 / 2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

1 / 2 tsp. dried oregano

6 - 8 tblsp. milk

In a large pot, saute onion, celery and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until tender. Stir in broth, tomatoes, brown sugar and salt. Simmer for 15 minutes. Using an immersion blender, puree slightly, leaving a few chunks of tomato. Cover, and return soup to a low simmer. Meanwhile,  in a small bowl combine Bisquick, Parmesan cheese and oregano. Add milk (adding more as needed) and stir until a sticky dough forms. With Bisquick dusted hands, roll dough into 12 balls. Add dumplings to soup--cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until dumplings are cooked through.

TODAY I'M SO THANKFUL FOR....

***Can't believe I'm even saying this, but for MORE snow, which we've received over the past 48 hours. Our economy really suffers here in Snowmobile, U.S.A., without it.

***Sleeping in until 7 a.m. this morning--so fabulous!

***My new cookbook, Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris--can't WAIT to get started learning how to do some easy French cooking!

THE BEST BEST BESTEST SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING, AND I'M A' FLYING MY VALENTINE'S FREAK FLAG MIGHTY HIGH THESE DAYS...!!!

(Wooden heart trio from Etsy.com)

I have a girlfriend (I'll call her "M" here, to protect her identity--you'll soon see why!) in the Midwest who is just about one of the coolest people I know. M works for the Department of Homeland Security, has two kids of her own AND has successfully raised a few foster children with her husband over the years. But that's not why she's my hero--here's why : M seriously has all of her Christmas decorations in and around her home (including the ROOF!) PUT AWAY BY EARLY AFTERNOON ON CHRISTMAS DAY--every single year! She needs to do this for her sanity, I do believe. And while I'm not quite that on top of it, I, too, want all of the holiday stuff GONE by around the 28th of December.

But here's where I get really strange.........

I've always, always loved romance, and I've always adored St. Valentine's Day, even as a small girl. I fondly remember making homemade Valentines out of doilies and crayons and stickers and such, and always eagerly awaited receiving pretty cards and conversation hearts in return from kids in my grade school classes.......

Now I have a wonderful sweetheart of my own who spoils me rotten each and every St. Valentine's Day, and I try to do the same back. Usually by baking something--Mr. Badass has one hell of a sweet tooth! (and then there's my annual trip to Victoria's Secret, but that's just T.M.I. !.........)

Well anyways, after I've boxed up all of our holiday decor, I start putting up my ever-growing collection of Valentine's decorations--and it's usually not even January yet.......see--told you I'm a little whacked!

I mean, doesn't everyone decorate not ONE, but FOUR Valentine trees?........

I like to use vintage Valentine cards as ornaments, tied on the trees with pretty ribbons....

On my kitchen table, I like to have fun with the centerpiece...found these darling faux chocolate dipped strawberries at Pier One recently......

Are you in the mood yet?......

Our foxy snow guy sure is......

Little hearts stuck here, there and everywhere......

Found these little wooden letters at Etsy (Etsy.com)...the BEST source for handcrafted home decor.....

See? I told you I'm a freak! And at my age, who even cares? Bring it on!

****************

In my last post, I promised to share the recipe for this "creation"...well, what's UNDERNEATH all of the crazy cake decorations, anyways.....the cake was a huge hit, by the way, eaten mostly by the teenage girls who were hanging about at Psychic Night. Us middle aged girls just nibbled--always on a diet, we are!...............anyways, remember this fabulosity?......

Underneath it all lies an Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Decadent Sour Cream Chocolate Cake, with the easiest, and BEST Buttercream Frosting, EVAHHHHHH!

Here's what I love about this cake--you can either make the cake itself in a bundt pan OR two 9 inch rounds, and you don't even need to use your mixer! It's one of those great "dump" recipies that come together in just one bowl. And the FROSTING--well!!!!!!.........

 Did you know that frosting is my daughter Abbie's and my favorite food of all time? We could SO live on it--for reals.

This particular frosting is great because it firms up quickly and is fabulous for decorating--amazing for cupcakes, too. So here's both recipies...enjoy!

DECADENT SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 box Devil's Food chocolate cake mix

1 package (small box) instant chocolate pudding mix

1 cup sour cream (not low fat)

1 / 2 cup water

1 / 2 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 12 oz. bag miniature chocolate chips

Lightly spray a bundt pan or 2, 9"round pans. Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl--do not use mixer. Pour into prepared pan(s) and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool, then invert onto a cake plate.

BEST BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1 cup shortening

4 cups powdered sugar

1 / 4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 / 3 cup heavy whipping cream

In a mixing bowl (I used a stand mixer), cream shortening until fluffy. Add sugar and continue creaming until well blended. Add salt, vanilla and whipping cream. Blend on low speed until moistened. Beat at high speed until frosting is fluffy.

TODAY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR.....

***Friends that I can call and always feel better after talking with ....you all are my lifeline, some days!

***That our daughter is loving life in Paris, and is busy checking out fabulous bakeries, creperies, restaurants and museums to share with her Mama and Daddy soon!

***That the site that powers this little blog, Blogger, has gotten its act together this week and fixed their photo uploading issues---whew! I thought I was going to have a stroke yesterday, what with the difficulties I was having....

A BRIGHT AND COLORFUL "TATTOO" CAKE, AND A PSYCHIC NIGHT WITH THE GIRLS (PLUS ONE BOY).....!

So, I made this very "elegant" and "understated" cake this morning, all by myself! See, there's a woman I know that I like to call, "Fun Pam", and well, she turned the dreaded "Five - Oh"  a few days ago--better her than I, right? Anyways, a bunch of us girls (plus one of my alltime BFF's on the planet, Jaime Ortiz.....isn't he HOT?.....and don't you just love his red and white toile wallpaper?.........

The above photo was taken at the Bed and Breakfast that Jaime and his partner Stuart own here in our little neighborhood. Jaime swears that the place is haunted, so we had a little ghost-hunting party there the other night....didn't see a THING but this spooky little ghostie girl.....)

That's Jaime and Stuart's precious little girl, Ginger....I am here to tell you that some day soon they are going to come home and Ginger is going to be mysteriously GONE....because she wants to come and live with ME!! She told me so......)

ANYWAYZZZZ, tonite a bunch of us girls, plus Jaime, are getting together in the hood for our annual Psychic Night, AND to celebrate Fun Pam's birthday. I was put in charge of the cake making, which is pretty funny because, while I might be pretty good at some forms of cooking, I am NOT a world class cake decorator--just ask my fambly!

So, I recently took my butt to the closest Michael's and found this nifty "Cake Tattoo" kit, for which to decorate my otherwise bland devil's food with buttercream frosted creation......the "tattoos" are made from edible sugar!........

And I tell you WHAT....this kit was super fun and easy to use...I will definetely be buying his (Duff's, from the Food Network show, I do believe) products again...so creative, so very colorful! Why, JUST like our friend Fun Pam!! --just check out the wilder than wild colors I chose for the cake......

That's right, baby--hot pink rosettes, aqua blue and zebra stripes---MEOW!!!

Here's one more shot of the fabulosity, for your viewing plesha.....

If this cake comes out as amazing as the recipe said it would, I shall share the recipe, and soon. I also have used the absolute BEST BEST BEST buttercream frosting here--it is a super easy no-fail recipe that I have turned to, again and again....

And in case you are wondering what "Psychic Night" even IS, well, my neighbor Sharon found this woman named Kane in nearby Utica years ago who is a psychic. She does one -  on -  one readings with each of us (tonite there are FOURTEEN of us!), and let me tell you that I, usually the UBER skeptic about this kind of stuff, have had my little mind blown many times over by this woman....she has never, ever been incorrect in her predictions! So if you live in our area, and would like to have YOUR little mind blown too, well, shoot me a comment here or an e-mail (lnwillard@hotmail.com) or Facebook me, and I'll put you in touch......

Heading out of state for a few days once again tomorrow, but when I return I shall potentially have that cake recipe for you, PLUS I want to show you how very high I am flying my Valentine's Day freak flag in our home these days....it's bigger than Christmas for me in so many ways........

Till later darlings, Leslie
XXXOOO

DEBBIE'S CHICKEN RIGGIES AND MY PERSONAL (now clean!) SANCTUARY.....

So, B.A. and I have been getting up at 5:00, AYEM, 3 days a week, in the brutal New York cold, to go to our town's little school and workout in their spiffy Nautilus equipped gym. We do the eliptical for about 45 minutes, then some weights (boosts the metabolism, so I'm told!), and maybe a little bit of time on the treadmills. I think it's really starting to pay off...B.A. is losing weight and building up his muscles (he looks just like Popeye, girls!) and me, well, I've lost so much muscle due to the strange weight loss journey I've been on, so this weight lifting is all good....Hey, I think I'm looking damned swell for almost 50! (please note how far away the photo was taken from my crow's feet and laugh lines)...........

Well, after all of this early morning working out a.k.a. torture, I'm usually pretty wiped out, and sometimes need an afternoon nap. BUT, the other day I decided to take a Jacuzzi soak instead, just to soothe me aching bones....BIG mistake. Why? Because, as I was trying to lie there in that hot, lavender scented water and let the jets do their magic, I started looking around my master bathroom and one thought popped into my head.....OH MY GAWD THIS BATHROOM IS DISGUSTING! Maybe it's because I had my new spectacles on (note to self : blindness is a blessing), but all I saw was grime...you know, bathroom grime. The worst kind (even worse than the dreaded kitchen grease grime, in my book).....created by months and months of hairspray and perfume buildup.  B. A. is quite the metro-sexual these days. Oh, and also created by months and months of sheer, blissful laziness....let's be truthful here! Sure, I clean up the heavily trafficked areas daily and weekly , like the countertop by the sinks and of course the toilet and shower. But I also have a lot of stuff ( a.k.a. "crap") in our bathroom, like an old Victrola cabinet--an antique! And a magazine rack, and pretty dishes that I've collected for years, decorating the walls. All of this stuff gathers dust, and most of the time I just don't see it. Or choose NOT to see it....

So do you want to know what I spent the whole morning doing today, AFTER the gym? Gutting my bathroom--that's what. It had to be done. I took every single thing out of the space, started scouring at the top (stainless light fixtures), and scrubbed, with bleach, all the way to the floors. Then, I washed every single decorative and functional thing, by hand, washed every single towel and rug, by machine, and then put it all back, in its proper place. And the end result? I've got my spa-like garden retreat back, so now I can properly relax, stress free. Here are some "after" photos--note the lack of grime!.....

Lots of towels and oils and lotions and perfumes at the ready, because I believe in pampering my fine self!.......

Oh MY, I've had these plates for 100,000 years.....

My famous antique Victrola cabinet that I've hauled from coast to coast, and always find a spot for , somewhere!...........

I love apothocary jars and terra cotta pots for everyday toiletries like cotton balls and soaps and such....

My old garden rake--the perfect earring rack!....

I know it's all sorta girlie, but B.A. doesn't seem to mind (or, maybe he's just given up?)........

I like to decorate with things that make me smile, and vintage platters and bird's nests make me smile.....

I kid you not when I tell you this random fact : Sammy Hagar's son gave me this framed picture....one of my favorite things!....

                    *******************

Cut and color day tomorrow, and I've e-mailed my stylist this photo and told her I want to leave the salon looking JUST like this, color and all! Boy doesn't she have a lot of work to do, including witchcraft? SICK to death of being a "ginger". Waddya think?......A girl can dream, right?.......

*****************

One of the very best thing about blogging is meeting other bloggers out there in the blogisphere. So inspirational! One blog that I like to follow is called Mountain Breaths, and its creator is a darling woman named Debbie who actually lives in nearby Utica, and owns a camp not far from here.........

I tell you what....if you love GORGEOUS tablescapes, beautiful photography and delicious home cooking, well then do yourself a favor and check out Debbie's blog~HERE~............        

Recently Debbie thought I should have her famous Chicken Riggies recipe, because no self-respecting upstate NY girl can go through life without a good Riggie recipe! Truth be told, I didn't even know what a "Riggie" was when we moved here, but soon figured out that basically Riggies are just Rigatoni, which I've always cooked with, complete with fantastic sauces, like the famous Vodka Riggie, B.A.'s favorite.......

Debbie's recipe instructed me to go out and buy Cora Brand (a Utica company) sweet cherry peppers, and so I did......

Aren't they pretty?.......

Boil water for pasta...cook and set aside. Just so you know, I cheated and used Penne pasta, because we like it better.......

Melt a stick of butter (oh, Debbie!!) in a large pan (I used my jumbo chicken fryer for this recipe)--add 2 cloves of garlic and saute..........then, add a chopped yellow onion, the sliced sweet cherry peppers and one sliced green bell pepper..... saute the whole hot mess for about 30 minutes.......

Add some chunks of chicken breasts to the mixture, then stir in a can of chicken broth and a can of tomato sauce....add a cup of Parmigiano cheese and simmer all for about another 40 minutes.....

Pour the mixture over cooked rigatoni, serve with perhaps some garlic bread, and enjoy!.......

Oh my goodness did we ever enjoy this dinner...thank you so very much, Debbie from Mountain Breaths!

Here's the recipe.....

DEBBIE'S CHICKEN RIGGIES

Serves 6

1 and 1 / 2 lb. box Rigatoni Pasta

1 stick of butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 yellow onion, chopped

About 6 Cora brand sweet cherry peppers, seeded and sliced

1 green bell pepper, sliced

1 and 1 / 2 lb. chicken breast chunks

1 15oz. can chicken broth

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

1 cup Parmigiano cheese

Boil water for pasta. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente. Set aside. Melt butter in large frying pan. Add garlic and saute for one minute. Add yellow onion, sweet cherry peppers and green bell pepper; saute for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Add chicken breast chunks to butter mixture. Saute for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and tomato sauce ; stir and cook for 4 mintues. Add Parmigiano cheese and simmer mixture for 40 minutes. Pour mixture over rigatoni and serve.

TODAY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR......

***My spooky evening tonite with guy friends Marc J., Jimmy O.  and Stuart D. , ghost hunting! I'll be sure to share all if the "boys" and I see or hear any ghostly activities!

***The psychic night coming up this weekend--always fascinating, and always a fun time with friends.

***Thanks to my rheumatologist and a reduction in medications, my horrid nausea has subsided, for now anyways! I am truly learning to appreciate every moment of actually feeling good!

ROASTED PAPRIKA CHICKEN, AND WE SURE CAN PICK 'EM!.......

This is what our thermometer showed at 8a.m. this morning...that's right, ten below. I only have one thing to say.....WORD TO YOUR MUTHA.......!

B.A. and I SURE can pick 'em...places to live, that is! Spent many a long night cowering in our basement in Nebraska, hoping and a prayin' that approaching tornado wouldn't blow our 80 year old dream house down......

Got knocked flat on the floor, more than once mind you, in huge California earthquakes, and almost lost our family home to wildfires there, too.....

Now we're in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, and LAW it gets cold here....we've seen it at 42 below zero before, and still we had to go to work and school! Nothing shuts this town down.......

Here's what I should be doing all day today--snuggling in the flannel sheets and down feather bed / comforters with my red headed son, Pee Wee......

(Pee Wee weighs over 25 lbs..and makes a great foot warmer!)

***************

Just in case you've been wondering.....

.......... our Abbie is doing just fine so far in Paris (here's something funny...a local girl

seriously asked my husband the other day if "they speak French in Paris"?!*#--WHAT?????). Little Miss Thing is settled nicely into her apartment, complete with a roommate from Brazil and an older woman who owns the place and acts like a mom. Who parlez-vous NO Anglais. It's all good! School doesn't really start up for another week, so Abbie gets to spend her time with friends exploring museums, and she says tomorrow they're checking out Versailles. Sigh.

I can't say enough about the wonders of Skype--we can talk, all we WANT, for FREE, AND face to face! Amazing times we live in, to be sure......

************

Have you ever heard of smoked paprika? I never had, until I read a recipe for Roasted Paprika Chicken in, you guessed it, my favorite Southern Living magazine. Smoked paprika looks just like regular old paprika, but has a much smokier scent and taste.....

(In the south, the word "paprika" has 4 syllables instead of our northern 3--can you say, "Pap-A-ri-ka"?)

I'm always on the lookout for new chicken recipies, and I know I'm not alone! Well, this recipe does not disappoint......and it's easy, ta boot. Go out and get yourself some lemons and fresh thyme (if you can't find fresh thyme, you can always use a little bit of dried)..............

Stir together the smoked paprika, chopped thyme leaves, good olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper--this will make a thick paste.....

Spread half of the paprika mixture evenly underneath the skin of the chicken, then place a lemon slice or two under there, also......

(what is it about raw meat photos that always look so nasssty?)

Brush remaining paprika mixture evenly over the skin.....

("it rubs the paprika on the skin"...compliments of Silence of the Lambs--eek.)

Bake for 40 or so minutes, or until done....remember, your smaller dark meat pieces, if you choose to cook these, will be finished before the larger breasts......let chicken rest for about 5 minutes; lightly brush with pan juices just before serving. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh thyme sprigs if desired.

Here's B.A.'s dinner...he's a white meat man....look at the gorgeous golden red crispy skin!

And I'm a dark meat kinda gal these days....let's give it up for chicken thighs!....

All in all, a winning chicken recipe...we've prepared this several times, and can't wait to have it again! Here's the recipe......

SOUTHERN LIVING'S ROASTED PAPRIKA CHICKEN

Serves 4-6

1 / 4 cup smoked paprika

2 tblsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves (or, 1 tsp. dried)

3 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. coarsely ground pepper

5 lbs. assorted chicken pieces

2 lemons, thinly sliced

Garnishes: lemon slices, fresh thyme sprigs

Stir together first 5 ingredients to form a paste. Spread half of paprika mixture evenly underneath skin of chicken pieces. Place 1 to 2 lemon slices underneath skin on top of paprika mixture. Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer on a wire rack in an aluminum foil-lined broiler pan or 17x12 inch jelly roll pan. Rub remaining paprika mixture evenly over skin. Bake at 425 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portions registers 165 degrees. Let chicken stand 5 minutes; lightly brush with pan juices just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

TODAY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR.....

***My nice cozy home--thank goodness for dual pane windows!

***My wonderful husband--don't know what I'd do without him.

***That my father in law, Al, has recovered so quickly and nicely from his recent back surgery....still hoping you're coming to New Orleans with us next month, Dad!