Tuesday, wet with sunshine peeking through

*see adaptations below

Today felt like I was spinning my wheels a bit,

trying to get something accomplished but unsure if I really did.

Well, I did take a walk, I did laundry, talked to my quilting-friend,

did some reading, prayers, lit lampadas and candles,

I began a book order and ordered more candles for this coming year...

I looked at my new cookbook and chose a meal to make from it

and ordered the food for it*

We were planning on having pizza tonight... come 5 PM 

I went to make it (pre-made crust and all) ... and I realized that

I had  never taken the crust out of our freezer in the garage!

Knowing that my Husband was coming home already and

that it would take too long to try to quickly thaw the crust,

I switched gears and got out organic applegate chicken strips instead!

I never had finished the cheese pasta from the other day,

so we finished that, with left over rice, chicken and salad.

And that was that. 

It was funny that I plum forgot to get the crust out of

the freezer; never gave it a thought!

***

Well, we had a nice dinner and I am listening to calming music...

***

Here's Thursday's meal info:

*Adaptions will include using chicken broth for water, cooked Turkey, and milk + 

some heavy cream as I don't have light cream. 

Also using St Andre cheese instead of the Saint-Marcellin. 

(As per what my grocery delivery service carries!) ... 

I am thinking of using my oval Dutch oven stove top for this... 

(since I am not using raw turkey I think the using chicken broth for water 

will be better as I won't have any meat-juices otherwise)...
***
updated to add music I was listening to earlier... :)

Yesterday I made a beef stew (and received an unexpected gift!)

I am trying to do more in the kitchen...

have been wanting to eat out less and cook more... 

so yesterday I read various cookbooks and consulted friends on 

a beef stew recipe (first one shown in this post). 

I used marjoram and thyme. 

I just added some, did not measure it out.

About 1/4 cup of flour...

Kept meat out after browning while sauteing the onions and carrots... 

Beef stock + red wine is the liquid.... garlic, onion, carrots, potatoes are the vegetables! 

I am pretty sure I cooked this too long on the stove; 

it was quite reduced and thick, not really any broth by itself left.

The meat had thickened a bit too much... 

The stew was still tasty though! 

Next time I will not do it on the stove quite so long 

(ended up being 3 hours, 2 would of been enough)...

I had baked up frozen baguette as well,

went really well with the stew!

I enjoyed having the food all ready for when 

Mr Husband came home for dinner! 

We had gotten an unexpected package earlier in the day,

it was this hand-painted from Romania icon!

It's of our Lord Jesus Christ,

in case you didn't know.

***

We've had some hard things in terms of just being 

swamped with things to do, life, you know? if not one thing,

it's another. 

So I am trying to hold on to these moments as they come,

these unexpected gifts

reminding us that 

Christ is with us

in all things,

and is full of mercy...