The only upside to this chilly weather is that it puts me more in the mood to use the kitchen for more than just piling up stacks of paper.
Which means I have cooked 5 out of the last 7 nights (6 if you count leftover's night), and that is something of a record lately. It also means that my plans to lose 20 pounds by Christmas have hit a bit of a snag. (I'm down 14 lbs so far, but the smells of cinnamon and pumpkin are TORTURE and Heaven at the same time).
I made this pumpkin bread from Toni's Dutch Oven Madness site to share with my grandma.
I substituted -
the pumpkin for a homemade acorn squash/pumpkin puree
unsweetened applesauce for half the butter
1 cup of whole wheat (finely ground) flour for one of the cups of white flour
and honey for about 1/3 of the sugar
and I baked it in 3 loaf pans rather than a dutch oven.
And it was fabulous. I know because I sneaked a taste. And now that taste is residing on my hips, time to serve that fat an Eviction Notice.
Menu this week:
Homemade chicken BBQ pizza, and homemade crazy bread (cinnamon rolls for an after dinner)
Breakfast Burritos and a side of peaches from our tree
Chicken enchilada soup with cornbread
Baked potatoes and chili
Caramelized chicken salad with pomegranate and citrus
Tri-tip roast with garlic roasted veggies
****
In other news, the kids found a lost dog on Sunday and have been keeping her in the yard with our dog (on the right) while they pass out "Found: Lost Dog" flyers. Our dog tolerates the newcomer and the kids, well they are in love and secretly (or not so secretly) hoping the owners meant to lose her.
I overheard Ellie laying down the law with the dog:
These are the rules of the backyard:
Number One: No sniffing butts!
Number Two: Be quiet (no barking)!
Number Three: Share!
And there you have it - The Keys to a Long and Happy Life, courtesy of a 5 year old.
