Snow at Daybreak – Mars, PA – January 2018
Snow at Daybreak.
I stumble through
the early morning darkness
heading to the kitchen
for that first cup of coffee
to help prop open
my bleary eyes.
On my way,
I flip the switch
that turns on
the flood light
shining out
into the backyard.
What could be
more beautiful
than bright white
fluffy snowflakes
fluttering down
on a cold January morning?
Snow at Daybreak.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Snowy Stroll at Sunset – January, 2018 – Mars PA
What We Would Miss.
If we didn’t go out
to explore
or saunter
or simply to
unwind,
think of
all the
things we
would
miss.
Walking
isn’t always
just about
the exercise
for our body.
It can
also be
a break
for our
mind.
An opportunity
to commune
spiritually
with oneself
and nature.
If I didn’t allow
myself
the gift
to get out
and walk,
this
one
beautiful
moment
in
time…
Look
what
I would
have
missed.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Icicle – Dealing with Change – Mars PA January 2018
Dealing with Change.
If you
think
you can’t
deal
with
change,
think of
the drop
of water
who froze
in
midair
when the
brutally
cold wind
met
it.
It became
an
intricate flake
that
landed
on the rooftop
and joined
the
others
to form
a
soft
white,
fluffy
blanket.
Then
the sun
came out
and
warmed
it
just
enough
to create
a crystal
clear,
hard,
solid
icicle.
The sun
grew
warmer yet,
and
the icicle
melted.
The
drop of
water
fell
to the
earth
and
watered
the ground
where
the tree
grew
that
provided
shade
when
the sun
grew
even
warmer
yet.
It went
through
all that,
and
remained
beautiful
in
every
stage.
If a
drop of
water
can manage
through
all that,
You, too,
can
deal
with
change.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Winter Sunset, Mars, PA – January 2018 – “Happy Endings”
Happy Endings.
The magical beauty
of a sunset
at the end of the day…
no matter how hard
or cold or uncomfortable
the day…
renews my faith
in the possibility
of happy endings.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It was all such a Blur.
It was cottony,
it was fluffy,
it was soft,
it was flaky.
It was powdery.
it was picturesque,
it was drifting,
it was blowing.
It was cold,
it was wet,
it was icy,
it was blinding.
It
was
all
such
a
blur!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Backyard Sunrise – Mars, PA – January, 2018
Let Each New Sunrise…
Give you hope.
Fill you with gratitude.
Provide a clean slate.
Invent new explorations.
Start with a hug.
Include an “I love you.”
Not be overlooked.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Frozen Stream – Backyard – Mars, PA – January 2018
In Time – Seasons of Change.
Isn’t it so comforting?
Doesn’t it fill you with hope?
To know…
that the brittle frozen stream
will once again flow
with soft warm life…
in time.
Seasons of Change.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Wisdom from a Snowman.
It’s okay to be a little bottom heavy.
Don’t get too much sun.
Everyone nose carrots are good for you.
Be a jolly happy soul.
It takes a few extra rolls to make a good midsection.
It’s fun to hang out in the front yard.
Remember, we are all a little bit flaky.
White is always appropriate.
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!
(author unknown)
The Christmas decorations are down, but my snowies stay out until Spring. It has been so cold here lately, I thought it would be fun to share this wisdom from a snowman/person (aka snowies).
If you are somewhere cold, may you find warmth.
Wishing you comfort and contentment.
Happy Sunday!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Hearty Beef Barley Stoup and Homemade Beef Broth.
Stoup… Yep… That is not a typo.
This “soup” recipe is so hearty, you might almost consider it a stew, so my clever blogging friend Kathryn at Another Foodie Blogger, aptly named this recipe Stoup.
I was dying to try this recipe, as I am a huge fan of soups, and a huge fan of barley. (Grandma used to make a Beef Barley Soup, and I haven’t had it in years!)
Hubby is not much of a soup lover, but when I read Kathryn’s recipe and saw how hearty it was, I thought I might be able to get away with this one.
And did I ever! Hubby actually ate it with a fork and happily ate leftovers the following night.
This is one of the best new recipes I have tried in a long time! If all of Kathryn’s recipes are this amazing, I will be excited to try more.
This stoup literally tantalizes your taste buds with it’s bounty of complex textures and flavors, and I think what really took it over the top was the fact that I made homemade beef broth for it (not canned beef broth or water and bouillon cubes). I made the broth from scratch with beef bones ROASTED in the oven first with vegetables and then simmered for hours until it became a rich, dark brown pot of goodness. I found the recipe at Taste of Home and will share below.
This recipe is not hard, but it takes time. It is great for the type of weather we are experiencing in our part of the world right now… very cold and snowy. It’s a recipe for when you have time to roast and simmer all day while you are home. A recipe for when you are in the mood for chopping and dicing and then just totally curling up under a blanket by a fire with a crusty piece of bread to dunk in it and sop it up with.
I tweaked up Kathryn’s recipe just a bit. She added mushrooms. For those that like, please do add. Mushrooms are one thing I just can’t eat. Hubby on the other hand would have loved, but I just can’t put them in my mouth. I added a bit more beef and veggies to make it even thicker. And Barley is such a wonderful healthy grain.
I do hope you try this when you have time, and I hope you will visit Kathryn’s blog (or her Austin Street Taco Food Truck if you are anywhere near Bend, Oregon in the summertime) to check out some of her recipes. She has become a great blogging friend.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb. high-quality beef roast, cut into 1 inch pieces
Salt and pepper, for seasoning meat
Flour, for dusting meat
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped sweet onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 14.5-ounce can diced or stewed tomatoes
4 cups homemade beef broth (recipe follows)
1 bay leaf
3 small sprigs thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1/2 cup uncooked pearl barley
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Season cubed meat with salt and pepper, then toss with some flour to dust it. In a large soup pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add beef to pot, and sear cubes on all sides until browned. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
Add onion, carrots, and celery to pot that you seared meat in, and cook 8-10 minutes to allow veggies to wilt and brown slightly. Add garlic and tomato paste in the last minute of cooking.
Pour in the red wine, and deglaze the pot by scraping up the browned bits. Add tomatoes, beef broth, bay leaf and thyme. Stir well to combine. Add the meat, including any accumulated juices in the bowl.
Bring to a boil, then stir in the barley. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 45-60 minutes or until the barley is cooked. Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs and taste for additional salt and pepper.
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
4 lbs meaty beef bones (beef shanks or short ribs)
3-4 large carrots, cut into chunks
3-4 ribs of celery with green leafy tops, cut into chunks
2 large onions, quartered
1/2 cup warm water
3 bay leaves
3-4 large garlic cloves
1 tsp coarse black pepper or peppercorns
3-4 sprigs fresh parsley or 1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano
1 beef bouillon cube
1 tsp salt
12 cups cold water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a large dutch oven, roast soup bones, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Add carrots, celery, and onions, and roast an additional 30 minutes.
Remove from oven, and add warm water, stirring to loosen browned bits. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, and slowly boil for 30 minutes. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered 4-5 hours. Skim any foam that forms.
Remove bones (and send for Charlie!). Strain broth through a colander, discarding solids. If time allows, refrigerate to allow removing fat that forms on top. Otherwise skim as best possible from top.
Broth can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 4-6 months.
If you want a super easy, homemade crusty rustic bread to go with it, try this recipe.
Stay warm, and enjoy this hearty and healthy meal.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Red Male Cardinal – Backyard, Mars, PA – taken through glass window – January, 2018
A Bright Spot in the Storm.
Need we really look
any further
than out the window
amidst a storm
when searching
for a bright spot?
Nature’s examples
teach us
there is always a bright spot
amidst a storm.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Bright red male cardinals fill my backyard in the winter and seem even more vibrant when the snow is swirling and blowing and the tree branches are bare. Such a bright spot in my day.
the creative life in between 