Growing up there were a few dishes that my grandma would make only for holiday meals or special family dinners. My sister and I looked forward to them and made sure to double check that they would be on the menu a week or so in advance of the meal. One of these recipes is … Continue reading »
Waking to this winter’s first snowfall on Wednesday morning was such a treat. The reflection of cool morning light off smooth untouched snow turned our street bright and cheerful. In our temperate climate snow is always a novelty. In a second out-of-the-ordinary turn of events, The Little Helping was still sound asleep when I woke. … Continue reading »
Winter in the Pacific Northwest is notoriously grey. I’m pretty sure the weather this time of year is the reason for our soggy reputation. It would be awfully handy to be able to manifest sunshine whenever the dreary clouds become overwhelming. I can’t give the sun to those I love but I have found a … Continue reading »
Strictly speaking I’m not one for following recipes. I can’t think of many times in the last few years that I have reproduced something as written. There are two primary reasons I go rogue. I either want to reduce the amount of calories and fat or I would like to use items already in my … Continue reading »
Reblogged from Our Lady of Second Helpings: Emotional eating during the Holidays is not ALL bad. When I allow myself one (or two) indulgences at a time, I enjoy the experience of the food and better remember it later. Most of the time I try to mindfully eat only what my body needs for nourishment. … Continue reading »
The holiday season is a time for giving. It’s hard to beat the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from sharing a smile with a stranger, baking a gingerbread loaf for a neighbor, or presenting family and friends with presents wrapped to ‘pinable’ perfection. Giving a gift is a wonderful way to express an emotion that … Continue reading »
The shortest day of the year is less than a month away. On days when the sun makes an appearance it will turn brassy by mid-afternoon. Children scamper home from school trailing long shadows the sidewalk. Our house is still adorned for fall. I can’t bring myself to shove all the lovely rusty colored decorations into … Continue reading »
The recipe for Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal originally appeared in my very first blog post. The post was a long list of wonderful ways to elevate oats from plain to party. Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal is one of my favorites and I have been wanting to give its very own little spot for some time. This … Continue reading »
This week there are thousands of people planning menus with sleek modern foods for Thanksgiving. I am not one of them. I like the cozy comfort of traditional favorites. However, honoring tradition doesn’t have to be done to the letter. Take these biscuits, for example. Mr. Second Helpings asked to have some form of bread … Continue reading »
I have all sorts of warm fuzzy holiday memories of sitting around my grandparents creaky dinning room table. The good china plates beautiful in their own right sat ready to be buried under our feast. Grandma’s good flatware, not silver but gold, twinkled in the light of taper candles. Before we all squeezed in around the table … Continue reading »