Pears with Caramel Glaze

This is an excellent non bake dessert that looks really fancy, but is actually super easy!

Serves 2
1 pear, sliced in half, core removed
3 tbsp sugar
2 pats of butter
1/4 cup water

Press each pear slice in sugar.










Heat pan over medium heat. Place each pear half on top of a slightly melted pat of butter. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the halves are deliciously golden brown.

Add about half the water, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Add more of the water half way if it becomes too dry. Cook longer if the glaze has not thickened.

If done correctly, the glaze will taste just like caramel...I guess because essentially it is caramel.




I got a little Jackson Pollocky with our plates!

Mushroom and Potato Soup with Rosemary

This soup is so delicious! I came across the recipe in one of my newer cookbooks, "The Quilter's Kitchen", a short novel with recipes interwoven into the story. The rosemary and potato are what I really love about this soup.

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 lb sliced mushrooms

2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped

1 tbsp sherry

1 box chicken broth (or beef)

2 yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/2 cup cream

salt and pepper

Heat oil and butter in soup pot. Add onion, cook 8 minutes over medium. Add mushrooms and rosemary, cook 15 minutes. Raise heat to high and add sherry, broth, and potatoes. Bring to boil and then simmer 20 minutes. Transfer solids to a blender and puree. Return to broth and stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper.

Delicious with crusty bread!

Couple of Love Birds

I love the colors we chose to paint our apartment!

It feels like living in one of John's paintings...which would be a really nice place to live :)

Tuscan Bread Salad

I LOVE Tuscan Bread Salad, but it's been a really long time since I've made it for some reason. After last night, I'll be making it a lot more often. It's a really delicious way to use up an extra baguette.
1 day old baguette, sliced, grilled, and cut into chunks
1 large tomato, chopped
1 cup mozzarella, cubed
1/2 purple onion, sliced thin
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
1 cup arugula
1 1/2 cup basil, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely diced
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 olive oil
salt and pepper
Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together garlic, vinegar, and oil. Drizzle over salad, stir, and season with salt and pepper. This is best eaten right away because the bread will eventually get too soggy.

Grilling the bread:

Slice the baguette in thick slices. Rub garlic all over each slice and brush with olive oil. Grill or toast (I like to use my grill pan shown here).

I served this with sliced grilled chicken on the side, but the chicken would probably be good mixed in as well.

Georgie, the sweetest beagle in the world...

I'm pretty sure that Georgie is the sweetest beagle in the entire world. Why else would I allow her to curl up for a nap on my crocheted blanket?

Happiness is fresh roses from the one you love...

Night Out in Little Korea

We went to Little Korea last night for dinner with some very good friends.

Dana, Jenn, and Cassie



John, Jenn, and Kadar

John with his squid beard and Jenn

John and Kadar