Two words. Comfort food.  I know I can not find true solace in food, but I must admit when times are tough a little bowl of something warm and creamy makes things just a tad better, even if it is only momentary. To be honest I had never made risotto before. When I found this recipe I was pleasantly surprised at the ingredients. I've always associated risotto with heavy cream, butter and cheese and this recipe is cream free with just a few tablespoons of butter. I have nothing against butter, in fact butter is better especially if it from pastured, grass fed cows or goats. Hmm....Im starting down a rabbit trial...

Anyway, this dish is very simple and pairs beautifully with a roasted chicken. Bad day or not this risotto will fill your tummy and make your insides all warm and cozy. I know winter is still lurking around for most of you so why don't you do yourself a favor and make this dish, pour a glass of prosecco, snuggle up with your loved ones, tell them you love them, and take your mind off of all your cares and worries. Even if it is just for a moment.

If you can find fresh morels, great! If not your store should have dried ones and they will work perfectly. Place them in a bowl of warm water until they are spongy and plumped.

Click below for recipe...

Everything about my father's cancer has broken me down and forced me to consider the life I have and all its chaos and curiosities is nothing but a mere gift; invaluable, treasured and fragile. So why do we constantly live our lives carrying the yoke of stress and apprehension? Why are we bound by discontent? 

My prayer for myself and all of you is that we can take a step back and eliminate the anxiety, worry, and uncertainty in our lives only to reveal a peace, calm, and understanding that time is volatile. I want to embrace my relationships and embark on new ones. I want to eliminate the superficial and bestow the sincere. I want to let go of my fear and grasp onto faith. I want to abandon my plans for my life and allow God to lead me. Most of all I want to keep life simple; de-clutter my home, my heart, and my mind and hold tight to what is most valuable.

“Simplicity is indeed often the sign of truth and a criterion of beauty.” -Anonymous

"My flesh and my heart my fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever:" -Psalm 73:26

Now that spring is upon us I find my days being busy and full. After months of hibernating in the cozy of our home I feel energized and ready to garden, spring clean, catch up with old friends, and take in the budding beauty around me. I've been wanting to be ouside more than in my kitchen so when I am cooking I look for quick and simple recipes with little fuss. This quickbread recipe fits the bill. Taken from one of my favorite cookbooks, Savory Baking, I find this loaf a refreshing take on the modern day sweet quick bread. Whips up in minutes and is perfect for dipping in soups or with a pat of fresh butter for a healthy afternoon snack.

What are you doing to prepare for spring? Has anyone started working in their garden? We are completely overwhelmed with all of the work we have ahead of us but look forward to the tasks :)

ps. Daylight savings is in two weeks!

Click below for recipe...

 Just the other day as I peered into my mailbox my heart lept as I spotted a small package. I quickly opened it to find a delectable treat and thoughtful note written from my new blogging friend Sara of Sprouted Kitchen. Most of you probably remember her post on Chocolate & Puffed Grain Morsels, a simple yet clever dessert that is easy to whip up and a more healthy alternative to some of the sweets currently residing in my pantry :)

Let me tell you, if you haven't made these, you should. And if you haven't met the lovely Sara, you must! I would have to say that her blog is in my top three....okay her blog may be my favorite. Her recipes are so easy yet so creative at the same time. And I don't think I can adequately explain how much I love the photography. Such unique angles, perfect composition and vibrant colors. I'm not a big fan of tofu but every time she posts about it I want to stuff my face with it!

Sara, THANK YOU for your thoughtful gift, your lovely comments and emails, and most of all thank you for sharing your wonderful talents as a cook and artist. I can't wait to meet you when you come visit Seattle :)

Confession: I may or may not have eaten these in one sitting.

Well, since Im on the subject of blogs I love I thought I would share a few more food lovin' gals whom I admire. There are so many to list so I will break it up into multiple posts, but I encourage all of you to visit these blogs and really take the time to read and enjoy the gifts that all of these women possess. If you have any suggestions for blogs or websites to check out please let me know, I am always looking for new recipes and inspiration!

I must admit that kale is not my favorite vegetable. It is a bit too chewy for me. Give me something with a nice crunch, and Im a happy camper. I found this recipe last week while feeling rather bloated and queasy after eating too many sweets so I thought I would subject my body to something a little more healthy. Anything bathed in olive oil and sprinkled with salt must be good right? RIGHT! These kale chips were anything BUT chewy and had such an amazing crunch just like any ol' potato chip. The taste was rather surprising as well. Raw kale typically has a bitter, peppery bite to it but once baked it has a unique sweetness, and mixed with the sea salt....yum. 

I warn you that these are addicting. Before you know it you will have eaten a whole bushel of kale so make sure you show some restraint and share. Another warning: these are BEST eaten right when they come out of the oven. If you put them in a bag and keep them overnight then the kale will return to its chewy ways. 

In conclusion, are these as healthy as eating raw kale? No. Are these a better alternative to pork rinds and potato chips? Yes. Are these a delicious, addictive snack that will give you a whole new appreciation for a rather boring veggie that you otherwise would refuse to eat? Hell yeah!

Enjoy.

Tuscan Kale Chips 

(Adapted from Bon Appétit)

• A bunch of Tuscan kale leaves (also referred to as lacinato kale), rinsed, dried and thick part of stems cut off
• olive oil
• salt

Preheat oven to 250°F. Toss kale with oil in large bowl. Sprinkle with salt. Arrange leaves in single layer on 2 large baking sheets. Bake until crisp, about 30 minutes for flat leaves and up to 33 minutes for wrinkled leaves. Transfer leaves to rack to cool slightly then dig in!

Do you ever have one of those days where you feel so utterly overwhelmed you would rather sit on the couch and be completely unproductive? Well today was that day for me. After being out of town for a week I came home to a bazillion unanswered emails, neglected dirty dishes, heaps of laundry, and more dust bunnies than you can imagine....but hey...I have my health don't I? I shouldn't complain, I shouldn't gripe, I shouldn't get overwhelmed. But I do. And in my weak moments of frustration I like to drop everything, venture into the kitchen and make something comforting. Anything to get my mind off of my never ending to do list. So, this recipe is a product of my "un"productivity. I didn't get much done today but at least I had a nice lunch!

Fromage Blanc or "white cheese" is like a cross between mascarpone and cream cheese. Its sweetness is subtle, and its creaminess is amazingly satisfying. Unlike most cheeses this fromage can be whipped up in as little as 30 minutes. You can add honey, berries or fresh vanilla for a sweet snack or add a pinch of salt and fresh herbs for a more savory dish. Either way you will not be disappointed!

Click below for the recipe...

Before I delve into some new recipes I stumbled upon I wanted to post the remaining pictures from our time in the south and also give an update on dad. His chemo went really well but the day after his final treatment he collapsed right in front of me in the kitchen. I am certain it is the most frightening thing I have ever witnessed and pray to God that the memory I have of the whole event will fade more and more as the days pass. After a rush to the ER and several tests the results came back more positive than negative and nothing too major had gone wrong. He spent the night at the hospital and as I lay in the fold out chair by his side I couldnt help but praise the Lord that the scenerio played out the way it did. What if he had been driving? What if no one was home when he fell? What if he never recovered. So many what if's but only one definite.....he is alive. Thank you to all of my friends and family for your amazing outpour of love, encouragement and prayers during my time down south an for my dad's treatment. Your intercession on his behalf has been amazing and I am so thankful. 

 Walking around and seeing new life budding all around was such a precious reminder of how new life is growing in our family. I feel that despite this difficult trial we face we are constantly bring reminded how important it is to never take our family for granted. We must do all we can to love, encourage, affirm and be available to one another. There is nothing more precious on this earth than family...

I see this season that we are in as an invitation from the Lord to grow in intimacy, humility and trust that he is sovereign and faithful!

"I have opened a door for you that no one can close..." Rev 3:8

Contrary to what most people think about the south and it's red clay mud, kudzu laden hills, and piney woods I often find the most beautiful treasures right in my parent's backyard. Even in the dead of winter (with an impending snow front on the way) I was able to capture a few glimpses of nature's finest. As I walked around the yard with my camera I didn't see much to photograph.....at first, but about my third lap around the house I started noticing a small bud here, dried flowers there, and so on. I spent an hour in awe of the subtle beauty before me. Rustic, tattered and honest. It was as if these plants knew how vulnerable they were even to the slightest gust of wind, yet they hung proudly saying to us petty onlookers "winter has not stripped us of our beauty..." 

Being here with my dad as he goes through his chemotherapy has been such a blessing. He handled the treatment beautifully and even as a hairless wonder he is handsome as ever, strong, and his positive attitude is an inspiration to us all.

 Aren't these the littlest pine cones you've ever seen? I plucked about fifty of them to take back to Seattle so I hope they make it back in one piece :)  Thank you to everyone who is praying for dad! He is doing great and just as we hope for spring, we continue to hope for healing! 

So .....proceed at your own will :) 

Okay, so I'm a little dramatic (I recieved this character trait from my mother and it is irreversable, sorry) So of course this brownie is not as deadly as I make it out to be. In fact it is your basic fudge brownie. However, the problem (at least for me) is to stop eating them after one.....two....three....Lord, help me! Ugh, I have no will power! 

Anything made up of butter and dark chocolate just has to be good, right? I could slather a coutnry ham with butter and dark chocolate and probably end up in the emergency room for eatin' the whole thing!

 So, my point is, if you make these irresistible squares of gooeyness keep in mind that you are only allowed to eat ONE every few hours...just kidding....maybe eat one and give the rest to friends or your neighbors :)

These are not your average "cake" like brownies. As soon as they have cooled put them in the FRIDGE! Do not cut them and eat them just yet. These are best after they have chiled in the fridge for at least an hour! Don't cheat now and eat one straight out of the oven...you'll be sorry and I will find out and pop you with my wooden spoon!

Decadent Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownes

(adapted from Gourmet)

• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 8 ounces of fine quality dark chocolate (I recommend using 60% or more cocoa content)
• 2 cups of sugar (I used a little less, maybe 1 2/3)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 5 large eggs
• 2/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder ( I like Green & Black)
• 1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 13- by 9-inch baking pan.

Melt butter and chocolate in a 3-qt heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring, until smooth. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Whisk in sugar and vanilla. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time until mixture is glossy and smooth.

Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt, then whisk into chocolate mixture until combined.

Spread in pan and bake until a pick inserted in center comes out with crumbs, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool completely. If you can not control yourself you may have a taste, but I promise you these are so good cold....its like a dense flourless, deep, dark chocolate cake almost! Enjoy!