[recipe] Duchess Potatoes

For Sunday Dinner we had a Pot Roast and I thought I would try out a new potato recipe.  I am thinking that these will be the potatoes that we have for Christmas Eve dinner.  I think I will make a "few" changes but that is just being true to myself.

These are called Duchess Potatoes and I got the recipe from Martha Stewart.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds Potatoes (Yukon or Russet)
Salt and Pepper
3 T cold butter
3 egg yolks, divided
1/4 cup plus 2 tsp cream, divided
pinch of ground nutmeg

Directions:

1. In a large pot, cover potatoes with cold salted water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil; reduce to a rapid simmer and cook until tender, 15 minutes. Drain in a colander, let sit 5 minutes, then return to pot. Add butter and, with a potato masher, mash until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add 2 egg yolks, 1/4 cup cream, and pinch of nutmeg; stir until combined.

2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment and lightly butter paper. Dollop mixture in 8 equal portions on sheet, 2 inches apart. Using the back of a spoon, create a small well in the center of each. Freeze until firm, 15 minutes. Whisk together remaining egg yolk and 2 teaspoons cream. Brush on potatoes and bake until golden, 15 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Linked to: Tasty Tuesdays and What I Whipped Up Wednesday

♥ Ashley

Paper Whites and Chalkboards

 I mentioned that I started some paper whites here are some of them in a shallow crystal dish that we received as a wedding present. I also made my first attempt at a chalkboard "drawing" or whatever this style is called  I know there is still a lot of work and practice needed but I am pretty pleased with how it turned out.




♥ Ashley

[recipe] Pumpkin Loaf

For the sake of my time I am linking to a recipe I love.  I have made this several times since I cam across it last year.  I did make a couple of changes this time.  Instead of all white sugar in the bread batter I put in 1 cup of white and 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar.  I also divided the batter among 12 cupcake tins (to make muffins) then the rest into a loaf pan.  I did this because each time I made it in the past it always overflowed my loaf pan so I wanted to make sure I didn't waste any of this yummy goodness!!

Recipe HERE

Linked to: Tasty Tuesdays

♥ Ashley

What I have been up to

Well I had a somewhat busy weekend so far.  On Friday after work I attended "The Funky Junk Sisters 'Junk Salvation' " with my MIL Deanna.  We had a fabulous time checking out althe good junk to be had. We have found that we are more selective each time we attend one of these shows. I was on the look out for some baskets or bins to put in our Office room but could not find any I liked or a price I was willing to pay.

On Saturday I went to Check out that BIG Macy's sale and got some pants. Then back to the junk show where I did find a nativity set (I was looking for one last year) so I picked that up along with

another antler.  Then I went to "The Washington Bloggers - Meetup"   We had a great time meeting each other in person and just good old hanging out.  On my way home I stopped by a favorite nursery to pick up some paper white bulbs to get planted in various containers around my house.

♥ Ashley

Campfire Sitting [Friday Fancies]

 Sitting by the campfire seems like it would be pretty cold this time of year but if you bundle up and look cute it is well worth it...especially if you get some s'mores!!

Campfire Sitting by lifeonthefarm featuring h&m

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Linked to:  Friday Fancies

♥ Ashley

[recipe] Cranberry Crumble Bars

I am sorta getting back in the saddle.  Here is today's post for Tasty Tuesdays!!!  Like I mentioned in my last post it was getting the ingredients for this and missed all of our trick or treaters.  This was a delicious recipe and I am definitely making these again.  They were soft and moist and had just the right amount of cranberry - thinking I might try these with a pumpkin filling.

Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart

Ingredients:

Filling -
1 can (14 oz) whole-berry cranberry sauce

Dough -
2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)
2 cups All Purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp course salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 large egg (beaten slightly)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

Directions

1. Filling: If making your own, pulse dried cranberries and granulated sugar in a food processor until a coarse paste forms. Transfer to a saucepan. Whisk cornstarch into cold water, then add to cranberry mixture, whisking to combine. Stir in juice. Simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and sugar dissolves, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool completely.
   
2. Dough: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, and line with parchment, letting 2 long sides overhang edges. Butter parchment, then flour parchment and sides of pan.
   
3. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add brown sugar and butter, and stir until well combined. Mix in egg and vanilla, then oats and walnuts.
   
4. Press half the dough into pan. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, then crumble remaining dough on top of filling. Bake until golden and cooked through, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack, about 1 hour, then lift out using parchment. Cut into 2-inch squares.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   I didn't take pictures because I forgot so this picture is also from MSL.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   I hope you enjoy - we sure did!!!
   
   
   Linked to: Tasty Tuesdays
   
   
   
   
   ♥ Ashley

November ♥

Happy Belated Halloween!!! or as I like to spell it Howloween.  Per the usual, I had all sorts of plans for a post for yesterday but as life goes that just didn't happen.  I am totally noticing myself being super busy so far this year.  I hardly get to email with my MIL anymore - when last year we practically wrote novels each day!! and I was posting a lot more.  But I kinda like it busier - keeps my mind on things or rather off things if you catch my drift.

Lets talk about yesterday real quick and then we will get into the meat of the post.  I had all sorts of intentions of handing out candy to all our little "trick or treaters" but on my way home I remembered that I needed to make "Test Treats" for my class - after each test or quiz I bring in baked goods for them.  I was planning on making some cranberry bars - so I needed to stop by the store to get some cranberry sauce.  I missed our record breaking 6! "trick or treaters" by about 10 minutes. (sad face). So I spent my evening making the bars and watching a Roseanne marathon. (I was denied the lovely Rosanne growing up so I am making up for it now....good thing there are marathons and re-runs).

I LOVE November almost as much as I love December (and of course March because that is my birthday month).  Thanksgiving is coming up and while a couple years ago this was a very sad time...I am able to see the other blessings in my life that God has given me and they totally trump the sad times.  I can imagine that this year might be difficult as it is our first holiday season without my mom but God is good.

Fun things about November:
    Thanksgiving
    the beginning of the Holiday Season
    Starbucks has their Holiday cups out
    Black Friday
    Fall coloured leaves
    Sweaters
    Boots
    Scarves
    Christmas in the stores
    Fires in the fireplace
    Hot tea
    Spicy Italians at Subway are only $5 this month!!!

What do you love about November??

♥ Ashley