Category Archives: From the Archives…

Spring Has (Almost) Sprung!!

Happy Holidays and Blessings in 2022!

It’s hard to believe that another year has flown by.

It’s been such a difficult one for so many people, around the world. We are living in such strange times right now. It’s hard to hold onto hope that things WILL get better but when there is no hope, all is lost.

I’ve been trying to stay as upbeat and hopeful as possible and has been the case during so many difficult times through the years, writing and the creative process have made a big difference for the better.

After a long hiatus from writing for a variety of reasons, I am finally back to the “work” that I enjoy most of all.

I have a new Kindle eBook being released in January:

A book project that I had “percolating” in my mind for many years.

After that, I hope to complete two more Kindle eBooks before the end of 2022.

Got to make up for that long hiatus, right?? 🙂

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I hope that my readers/followers here at Veggies (past and present) are staying well, and that the New Year is a much better one for all of us.

I’m trying not to dwell on all the doom and gloom news, it can be SO depressing and serves little purpose. Especially watching some of the misguided and life-changing decisions that so many of the “leaders” continue to make, in response to this pandemic.

We can’t give up now and there is light at the end of this tunnel if we hold on to what really matters, even now. Family, friends, real values, integrity, kindness, health and wellbeing….those things that never change, even when we are stressed to our personal limits.

I will leave you with a couple of holiday “goodies” that I hope will bring a smile to your day.

One of my favorite Christmas CDs continues to be:

Christmas With Boney M.

Christmas with Boney M

I noted that it is once again at the top of the charts over at Amazon Canada again this year. Talk about staying power! Guaranteed to lift your spirits, especially when you sing along. I’m guessing a lot of you already have this one in your collection.

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CRANBERRY MANDARIN CHRISTMAS LOAF

Enjoy the recipe and perhaps learn a thing or two about cranberries in my post:

Crazy About Cranberries.

IF I can find some organic fresh cranberries here in BC (supplies have been rather limited with the flooding, weather…) I hope to make a couple of these “beauties” this holiday season.

They make a wonderful hostess guest too. Great for fruitcake haters too!

Have some other news pending but I’ll wait til it’s a “done deal” before I share it here and at my other sites. I read a quote recently that I thought was very wise: “tell me what you have done, not what you are going to do“. That I thought was very good advice. Suffice to say for now, it is a BIG move in the works already and hopefully will be a “done deal” and a “have done” before my birthday in April. It won’t be easy with all the restrictions in place right now, but where there is a will, there IS a way.

Wishing you peace, love, prosperity and all the good things in 2022.

Hugs and All the Best!

PS: My apologies for the less than stellar formatting, I didn’t have time to “fight” with WP any longer today. Blogger is SO much easier to navigate, at least it is for me.

🎄Happy Holidays!🎄

 

Mr. Cheddar and I Wish You the Best Christmas Ever!

We are skating away for a little break, to enjoy some holiday cheer.

🎀 See you in January! 🎀

On the Menu: Mushroom Stroganoff with Herbed Pasta

I made this simple but elegant main dish again, last night. It was SO delish!😊

For a bit of a change, I used orzo in the herbed pasta. It worked out great.

Joe and I hadn’t eaten much during the day and ended up polishing off all of it. Suffice to say, snacks were cancelled in the evening !!😁 

If you ❤ mushrooms, you will ❤ this recipe.

Happy Cooking!

VEGGIES, YARNS & TAILS

If you are looking for an easy and elegant supper entree that everyone (meat-eaters too!) will love, you may want to give this veggie version of classic stroganoff a try. Quick, delicious and added bonus: NO oven time…..great during these hot and hazy days of summer.

This recipe has been a real favorite from my cookbook, Not Just for Vegetarians. Hope you will enjoy it too.     🙂

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On the Menu: Beet and Fresh Dill Layered Salad

I  ♥ BEETS! 😉

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And the simple marinated beet salad (see recipe below) featured in my cookbook:

The Groovy Green Kitchen I: Weeknight Veggie Slow Cooker,

and is one of my fav ways to prepare and enjoy them. 🙂

Beet and Fresh Dill Layered Salad

A flavorful marinated salad, especially good to make when garden dill and beets are at their peak. Keeps for several days, covered in the refrigerator. A perfect side dish with all kinds of main dishes. Adds a brilliant color contrast on your plate too. Serves 6.

12 medium fresh (preferred) beets: precooked, peeled and cut into thin circles (or use equivalent amount of whole canned beets with no salt added, thoroughly rinsed and drained, then sliced)

1 medium red Bermuda onion, thinly sliced in rings

3 -4 T. chopped fresh dill-weed

Red Wine Marinade:

1/3 C. extra-virgin olive oil

5 T. red wine vinegar

1 teas. Mrs. Dash Original Blend Seasoning

1/2- 1 teas. sea salt

½ teas. freshly-ground black pepper

In a large bowl (that has a secure cover) layer 1/3 of the sliced beets, topped by ½ of the onion rings, then ½ of the dill-weed. Repeat layers, ending with the last 1/3 of the beets on top.

Combine marinade ingredients in a jar and shake thoroughly. Pour over vegetables, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Shake container gently to re-distribute marinade evenly before serving, especially if storing for a longer period of time.

*****

Last night, I made this beet salad, along with an orzo salad for supper. It was soooo good. 🙂

I also like to serve this with my: German Sauerkraut Feast (click to enjoy that slow cooker recipe).

If you ♥  beets too, you might want to give this one a try! 😉

Happy Cooking!

BEET PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR

How Do I ♥ Chocolate?

….let me count the ways! 😉

I know there are people who don’t like chocolate but I’m NOT one of them.

I L-O-V-E all things chocolate!!!

How about you? Are you a chocoholic or can you give it a pass?

These days, if at all possible, it’s organic cocoa and chocolate, as my first choice.

You can read more about why choosing organic  chocolate/cocoa is the best way to go here and here.

♥♥

And here are some of my fav chocolate treats, with recipe/review links where applicable:

naked cake haiku

My Fav Zucchini Chocolate Cake aka “Naked” Cake

And a foodie haiku as a bonus!

Quick and Delicious Chocolate Cupcakes

You can make these in no time at all and again, great with or without frosting! 

Easy Chocolate Hazelnut Clusters

SUPER EASY to Make and Oh So Good!

Perfect for Valentine’s or any day of the year. 😉

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate Bars

For instant chocolate gratification, just unwrap and savor!!!

What’s your fav chocolate treat?

Have a Great Day and Happy Baking (if you are) 😉

Heart photo courtesy of Flickr

Beached Ched! ;<)

This summer “Cheddie post” from the archives came to mind this morning.

Hope it brings a smile to your day. 😉

Happy Wednesday!

VEGGIES, YARNS & TAILS

mr cheddar in the sand

HELP………

now where did those kids go with that plastic shovel?

Oh Ched!!!

You do get yourself into some tight spots, don’t ya! 😉

 

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Simply, Super, Summer Salads!

“Salad Season” is definitely here again! 😉

Thought this would be a good time to share this recipe post again from the Veggies…archives, featuring 4 of my all-time fav salads.

What is your favorite salad?

Happy Cooking and Weekend! G

VEGGIES, YARNS & TAILS

For me when it comes to food, nothing says SUMMER like a beautiful, fresh SALAD! 🙂

Here are some of my fav salads from the Veggie archives.

Hope you enjoy one or all of them soon.

spinach and mushroom salad

Spinach and Mushroom Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

(this post includes some handy tips for salad do’s and don’ts)

coconut rice salad

Coconut Cashew Rice Salad

(a winner in one of my recipe contests! so delish)

dilly-potato

Dilly Potato Salad

(if you like fresh dill, try this one for sure) 

Kasha and Beet Saladwith Celery and Feta (page 92)

Kasha and Beet Salad with Celery and Feta

(from a recent post, in case you missed it. I  this salad!)

What is your favorite summer salad/food/recipe?

If you can, do share a link.

Happy Summer, it’s almost here! 🙂

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A Long List of Oh So Cute Baby Hats to Make

This is one of the most popular posts recently at Veggies….and on a consistent basis, with 1000’s of hits to date.

In case you’ve been looking for that perfect baby hat to make , hopefully this list will give you some inspiration!

I still think they are all “oh so cute”. 😉

Have a great day and happy crafting! G

VEGGIES, YARNS & TAILS

              

I want to make a couple of baby hats for friends who are recent grans, for the first time.

Of course, the hats are actually for the babies, not my friends. LOL

I’ve been looking at some knitting blogs in search of those oh, so fun baby hat patterns that are “transformed” into things like strawberries, pumpkins…and found this post.

I thought it was very helpful and so nice that this blogger atChemKnits took the time to assemble all these patterns in just one post.                

In case you’ve never seen one of these hats, here’s a photo of one fromFlickr

                                                      

                               

So adorable I think!

And the only time in life any of us would actually look cute wearing a fruit or veggie hat. 🙂

I guess the guys who wear real hollowed-out watermelons at football games would tend to disagree. LOL 😉

Hope you…

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How Do I ♥ My Slow Cooker…

slow cooker

….let me count the ways! 😉

-I ♥ how many types of recipes I can make in it.

-I ♥ how I can “set it and forget it” and free up time to do something else.

-I ♥ the oh-so-tasty and consistently good results.

-I ♥ that it’s energy efficient.

-I ♥ that foods cooked in a slow cooker are often healthier than when using other types of cooking methods.

– I love cooking once and enjoy twice. There’s usually plenty of yummy leftovers. 

the list goes on and on! 

Here’s my review of the Hamilton Beach 6 QT. slow cooker that I use all the time, pictured above. 🙂

And some of my fav slow cooker recipes for you to enjoy too!

-Moroccan Vegetable Stew with Fragrant Orange Basmati Rice  (from the Groovy Green Kitchen Volume I)

-Southern Nights Slow Cooker Veggie-Sausage Gumbo(sample recipe from the Groovy Green Kitchen II)

PS: I’m on the home stretch for the Groovy Green Kitchen II! Will be available at Amazon by the end of February. 🙂

-Slow Cooker Party Mix

-Sweet Potato Lasagna

-Slow Cooker Granola

Do you have a slow cooker? Do you ♥ yours too? Any fav recipes to share?

Happy SLOW Cooking! 😉