Warm

Finally finished the blue and white scarf I have been knitting for the longest time ( the pattern is so complicated-knit 1*-repeat from * for 235 rows). I now have two more on the go both half-way done; a little warmth for someone who is cold.

Cold

It is cold, very cold. Extra quilt cold. Furry moccasin cold. Big mugs of tea cold.

Knit scarf cold. Extra socks in boots cold.

Build a fire cold. Donate to homeless cold.

Thankful for my warm house cold.

Italian Tray Bake

I have resisted bringing Nigella home for several reasons which I won't go into right now but when she named her latest cookbook Nigellissima (making it sound Italian in order to increase sales) Easy Italian-Inspired Recipes, I had to have a look and see how Italian it really was. In order to be fair, I tried one of the recipes - Italian Tray Bake and everyone agreed that it is great and so Italian with the lemon, rosemary, and olive oil roasted potatoes, chicken, and Italian sausages.

Will I try more recipes from Nigellissima? Certo!

Deer waffles

It's usually pancakes on Sunday but I came across a waffle recipe in the 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens Our Best Comfort Foods magazine; this recipe is definitely a keeper. This recipe calls for a can of pumpkin but our freezer is loaded with roasted sugar babies which is probably why these were so scrumptious. Good thing our visitors weren't in the mood for waffles.  They helped themselves to the smorg in the backyard; cedar, apple leaves and bark, grass, and oregano.

Super oatmeal cookies

These are so good! A cookie filled with dried cherries, cranberries, pecans, chocolate chips, and the goodness of oats. Maura and Mr. Cowboy spent the afternoon baking up a storm and I am so glad they did.

Billionaire's meatloaf

The story got my attention at first but how could I resist a recipe with a name like that? Yes, there are a lot of ingredients to this recipe; a combo of beef, pork, and lamb (Mr. Cowboy does not care for lamb so I used chicken), a pound of mushrooms (Maura  can't eat them so I used shredded zucchini and carrots), brandy (all I had was Jim Beam-no one noticed), a cup of breadcrumbs (Mr. Cowboy made them fresh for me), grated cheddar (again my sous chef helped out), and a nice mix of herbs and spices that made this meatloaf a winner with everyone. Did I mention it was covered in bacon?

Recipe in the current issue of House Beautiful.

Amazing muffins

These are not amazing because they are filled with al dente chunks of apples. And they are not amazing because the buttermilk makes them extra moist. These muffins are not amazing because they are loaded with cinnamon and not with sugar. No, these muffins are amazing because Mr. Cowboy saved the recipe from the newspaper and then made them especially for a couple of hard-working gals.