I have been feeling a bit under the weather the past few days. My mom thinks it has to do with my non-stop schedule…hmmm Anyways, I took 2 days off work to “relax” and it was really difficult!! It harder than it sounds..at least for me.. when I have a 100 things I want/need to do.
I managed to snuggle up with Freddy and my Kindle to finish reading Me before you! We’re having a book club meeting next Wednesday so I better catch up quick.
Back to the topic… SOUP!! We had 3 days of soup: chicken noodle, tomato basil and, yesterday I made Cauliflower and Cheddar Soup…with parsnips for added flavor.
I made a separate batch for Freddy w/o the onions or added spices – he got parsley though- really good for dogs! (nerd fact: Parsley freshens your pooches breath and provides phytochemicals. It also has Vitamin C, Vitamin K, carotenoids, B vitamins, iron and limonene)
Here is the recipe. Serve with some crusty bread- I made Guy Fieri’sVegan garlic bread to go with.
Trader Joe’s has gone wild with pumpkin! I walked in there the other day to get some more cookie butter (I’m addicted) and walked out with about 9 different pumpkin type items – I actually forgot to get the cookie butter! shocker! Does that ever happen to anyone else? You go to a store with one thing in mind and come out with everything else EXCEPT that 1 thing – something tells me I’m not alone with that 😉
I sampled some Honey Roasted Pumpkin raviolis – so naturally I had to get a pack to take home. I also tried the pumpkin coffee, which is the only coffee I drink in the Fall. I got pumpkin butter, pumpkin seed and cranberry pita chips, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin dog treats, pumpkin bread mix, pumpkin rolls (can’t wait to make these!!) and pumpkin macaroons!
I’m really not pumpkin-ed-out… yet…although, I didn’t buy the pumpkin pie because Nico makes one every year from a pumpkin we get at the farm and its SO good, I cant get myself to ever buy one at the store.
So, everyone head to your nearest Trader Joe’s because these items are limited and actually run out quickly – especially the pumpkin butter and raviolis!
Oh I made the pumpkin bar (in cupcake tins) last night and improvised to make it healthier (also Vegan)
Instead of 2 eggs – I used 1 tbsp of homemade apple sauce and 1 tbsp flax/chia seed with 3 tbsp water.
Instead of 2 sticks butter – I used 8 tbsp of Earth Balance organic “butter”
This Pumpkin Bar is different than the Pumpkin Bread they also carry. It has chocolate chips in it 🙂 wooo
I realllllly don’t like the smell of tuna fish, nor do I have a desire to ever try it! My mother never really bought food in a can when we were growing up so I guess I am just not accustomed to canned tuna… Recently, I got a Spice Tuna sushi roll and liked it but I’m sure that tastes a lot different than canned tuna fish? I guess if I’m ever stuck on a deserted island and the only thing available is canned tuna fish – I would eat it- but until that happens – don’t pack this girl a tuna fish sandwich! The perfect alternative, however, is Isa Does it, Chicky “Tuna” Salad sandwich. It is vegan and made from chickpeas which some people suggest they have a tuna fish taste? I wouldn’t know…
It would make a cool centerpiece, if only it stayed like this forever! So all my Eastern European readers will understand this activity: Mushroom picking . When my sister and I were younger, instead of going to an amusement park on the weekends, we would grab some plastic bags, a knife and head out to a forest to go mushroom picking. Might sound kinda lame, but in Eastern Europe – specifically the Ukraine and Poland – this is something the kids get excited to do! It was kind of fun to “hunt” around for different mushrooms with my Dad and Dziadzia (grandfather) and learn about what features to look for to make sure it was safe.
Bringing them home and prepping them to eat was the BEST. We would clean them, saute them with some butter and onion and eat with some Polish Rye bread. The taste is so unique – you cannot get that from your local supermarkets!!
My neighbor went mushroom hunting (his grandfather was Polish) in the woods in our neighborhood and brought back some enormous Hen-of-the-Woods (Grifola frondosa) these can usually be found at the base of oak trees – which is exactly where he found them!He sold one to the chef at the hotel he works for for $100 , grilled one for his dinner and gave one to me to take home to my dad! We had some last night with some pierogi and it was amazing!! Check it out ( weighed 1.6 lbs)
There is the Hen of the Wood restaurant in Vermont – wonder if they serve this!!? I’ll have to check it out next time I’m in that area.
Can you guess what’s for dinner tonight? Pierogi, of course. Okay, if you didn’t realize it by my blog name, I really like pierogi – but what are they? I just assume everyone knows! In case you have no idea what the heck pierogiare, today is the day to get acquainted!
Quick history: The pierogi, a descendent of Eastern Europe culinary traditions, arrived in the U.S. in the early 1900s. During the 1940s, these crescent-shaped pockets became a staple of fundraisers held by churches in the northeast and throughout the upper Midwest. By the early 1950s, pierogi appeal began broadening among Americans of all ethnicities….
I found some interesting facts about Pierogi that should also get you up to speed on this yummy food!
Pierogi or pierogis?
The word pierogis is popular in U.S. and Canada because it underlines a ‘plurality’. However, the word ‘pierogi’ is already plural in the Polish language! Its grammatical singular equivalent ‘pieróg’ is never used. It has a completely different meaning. Pierog, translated into English language: pyrih, is actually an Ukrainian pie. So, use Pierogi when taking about one or many! My site is in the plural English form clearly J
The Pierogi Race
Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team organizes the so-called ‘pierogi race’ during their games. Four types of pierogi called Sauerkraut Saul, Cheese Chester, Jalapeno Hannah and Oliver Onion take part in the race. Pittsburgh, by the way, consumes 11 times more pierogi than any other city in the U.S.
Types:
Ruskie pierogi, with a potato & cheese filling, are the most well known. During the holidays, my family also makes sauerkraut (pierogi z kapustą kwaszoną) and mushroom pierogi, as well as dried plum pierogi. Then there’s meat-filled ones – my grandparents usually make these after thanksgiving or Christmas, if we have left-over turkey meat – one of my favorites actually!! Topped with gravy… yummy! Then there are some that could pass for dessert and embrace the seasonal fruits – such as apples and cinnamon (pierogi z jabłkami i cynamonem) or blueberries (pierogi z jagodami). You want to top the sweet ones with a sour cream and sugar mixture.
Pierogi and Polish pierożki
An interesting fact about the Polish language is that most of Polish nouns have a diminutive form and an appropriate hypocorism. Most of Polish diminutives mean a thing smaller than the base word. For example, the simple Polish word dom (house and home) has both a diminutive form domek (small house) and a hypocorism domeczek (emotional). Most often, the diminutive and hypocorism have a positive, emotional inclination. My grandparents always used the diminutive forms when I was a little girl!! I hear it mostly used when talking to young children. The diminutive form of pierogi is pierożki. You can use it in order to express your admiration for the taste of this Polish dish.
Guinness record in making pierogi
The Guinness record in making pierogi belongs to ten students from a Catering School in Wroclaw, Poland. In 100 minutes they managed to make as many as 1663 pierogi.. After cooking and packing, the pierogi were sent to Wroclaw children’s homes. Sweet!
The “Pierogy Pocket” is an area spanning the Northeast and Midwest United States where pierogi consumption is the highest, due to the large concentrations of Eastern European immigrants in these areas. The “Pierogy Pocket” makes up 68 percent of pierogi consumption in the U.S.
You know, the Chinese have potstickers and the Italian’s have ravioli. The Polish have Pierogi. Hope you try some tonight! My grandfather’s “famous” family recipe: coming soon! Keep a look out!
Friday after work, I went to my boyfriend’s-brother’s fiance’s house for a Mary Kay dinner party. I went into this with no expectations (okay, except I wanted to learn contouring) Anyways, It was a great night filled with lasagna, sangria, a bunch of laughs and of course makeup! I’ll post my review on how I think the whole process went and what I ended up buying slash If I will go through with hosting my own – is it worth it? Look out for that post in the next few days!
Suzi takes the wheelRubble
Saturday morning, I woke up at 7am!! (ahh what happened to sleeping in?) Well, Freddy was stretching his little arms out and hit me in the face with his puppy paws!! I mean – I wouldn’t call it obsessed. but seriously!? Holy cuteness. Nico made Freddy and I scrambled eggs and a coffee-to-go for me! I met one of my friends, Kristen for a mani/pedi appointment -After going through all the colors, I settled on OPI’s Suzi Takes the Wheel- a pretty light olive-gray color for my toes and CND shellac Rubble a darker beige for my hands. Great Fall transition colors.
Notice the rubber men’s shoe/chew toy!
I swear Freddy is already such a spoiled little puppy… Kris got him an ADORABLE green knit sweater from Tuesday Morning – sidenote I went in that store the other day and they have some NICE stuff!… At this rate,can you imagine what’s going to happen once we all have kids? For sure, they will have the BEST outfits and toys around. With my amazing girlfriends who are spoiling Freddy every chance they get – I can’t wait to return the favor! Dogs, Kids… lets go!
So, the appointment took an hour longer than I anticipated and the wedding started an hour earlier than I thought so I rushed home to take Freddy for another walk before getting ready. It was chilly and rainy, so I decided to go with a Philosophy Black long sleeve dress with a gorgeous slit up the right leg, paired with my Sam Edelman “Orly”black/white heels and pearls I got as a bridesmaid gift last summer- a classic, simple look with some Jungle Red Lipstickto tie it all together. After organizing Freddy’s essentials for my big sis to have when she came to watch him…we were off—- Finally, alone time with my boyfriend!! – 1 hour and 45 min drive to Peterborough, NH for a wedding. I was so excited to admire the foliage-best times to be in New England, for sure and to spend the little QT with Nico… so excited…that I may or may not have fallen asleep on the ride! I mean.. when do I get to sleep? whoops. but after downing a Red Bull, I was good to go to be my bubbly self and reconnect with Nico’s coworkers…..overall , a great night filled with some great people! + I got to take 2 center pieces.. obvi.
Sunday Funday- yes! Got home at 2AM, got up at 6AM (thank you Fredster) Luckily, we all managed to fall back asleep from 7-11.. Amen! After a walk to Dunkin Donuts for a pumpkin spice Iced coffee, I was going to get out of the house so Nico could work on his paper for grad school. I decided to take Freddy for his first fancy walk on Newbury Street in Boston. Hair brushed, Pats jersey on- per request of Nico (guys football superstition thing?), essentials packed and we took off.
Best part: Freddy totally photo-bombed a dog photo-shoot! I mean I can’t keep him from wanting to say hi to other puppies – and maybe- just maybe, a part of me wanted him to get behind that lens and take after his momma! I was given the business card of the photographer and he later sent me that photo-bombed pic! ADORE. Freddy will wait for an opportunity to do a photo shoot.. sorry I’m not paying for him to get his photo taken – shouldn’t we get paid instead? I got bills to pay and puppy bow ties to buy!! Anyways. Love the picture!! Thanks Fred Levy Photography. Dont forget to keep us in mind 🙂
After an adventurous day filled with constant stopping to let folks take a picture of Freddy, to pet him, to explain his breed type and age (I need him to wear a name tag with this info?) and learning that “bow ties are the new fashion for dogs” Shout out to Fish & Bones! gorgeous Bow Ties – I’ll have to be back for one for Freddy, and tons and tons of treats… I was ready to head back home to make chicken pot pie and watch the football game…Sidenote#2: I am in 2 Fantasy Football leagues . To all the ladies out there dating a guy who LOVES sports: Would it kill ya to put a small effort in? a) it will help YOU on Thursday, Sunday and Monday when your man is watching football and you want to go crazy b) It’s a game! and you have the potential to win- really not rocket science – actually there are guys that do his for a living (picking what teams to use for your line up- GOOGLE, bleacher report, yahoo sports, ESPN- they’ll basically tell you who to play! and c) Imagine if you beat the guys, that’s just amazing/brownie points for you!
My Homemade Chicken Pot Pie:
Normally I would make my own crust, but I cheated this time due to the lack of time in my life lately- make your own crust recipe post coming soon.
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How do my 1st official food photos look? I need some work- but not bad with an I-Phone? If you want to see some amazing food pictures, check out Halfbakedharvest.com …. great work, girl!
Can you guess what’s for dinner tonight? 
