Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Final Snow Day

Today we celebrated the last school Snow Day of this snowstorm.  We took advantage of the sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures, and again played in the snow.   We rode in the Mississippi Luge and had another snowball fight, only today was more painful as the ice crystals in the snow were much larger!  I must say I think that I am ready for our routine to be back to normal again, and my washer and dryer can take a small break!

We also ventured out and went to our farm to check the cows and put out hay.  They were making it just fine, and to my surprise, the one cow that is due any day has waited to have her calf!  It never happens like this...we usually find we have new babies on the worst weather days of the year.  I was so unprepared for our farming adventure, and like a city slicker, wore tennis shoes. Let's just say a few hours later, my feet are still cold!  However cold, the snow at the farm was much deeper and so beautiful.  The white blanket was undisturbed with the exception of deer and cow tracts.  On our way home, Scott announced that tonight was a great steak night since tomorrow we will see extremely cold temperatures.  He also volunteered to take the little Pickle to school so we don't have to venture out in the cold!  Major brownie points will be scored if he follows through on this one!  Anyway, we had a fabulous Certified Angus Beef fillet, baked potato, Texas Grasshoppers and salad.  Since Scott is very picky, he had a boring salad with bottled salad dressing...I on the other hand despise bottled dressing, as it has a funny taste to me.  I prefer any homemade dressing and much more exotic ingredients rather than the boring lettuce, cheese, dressing and bacon bits.  I lately have been enjoying a salad with romaine lettuce, dried cranberries, crumbled blue cheese and toasted pecans, tossed in my homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing.  Salads had become boring to me until I discovered this dressing.  It is light, refreshing and a little will go a long way and I don't feel like I have blown my diet!   Anyway, I will share my go-to salad dressing recipe with you and you too can begin to enjoy the wonders of freshly made dressing! I will also share the recipe for Texas Grasshoppers as we have learned to love the cheesy, peppery wonders a few years ago!

Until next time, see what adventure awaits and embrace the to the fullest!

Sarah

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

3 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar or White Wine Vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 clove of garlic, pressed
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup olive oil

Place first 6 ingredients in the blender and begin blending on low speed. Slowly drizzle olive oil in while blender is running.  This will thicken and emulsify.  Dress your salad, and store the remainder in an airtight container.  I keep my in a cruet style jar in the refrigerator.

Texas Grasshoppers

Fresh jalapeno peppers
cream cheese
bacon

Slice jalapeno lengthwise, and remove one side.  Remove seeds and white membranes and rinse in cold water.  Stuff with cream cheese and place other side back on to "remake" the pepper.  Wrap stuffed pepper with bacon and secure with a toothpick.  Grill over indirect heat until bacon is crisp and pepper is tender.  Be careful as the bacon will cause a flare up on the grill if it is over the coals.

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