Movie Review

baked maple bacon mini donuts

November 28, 2012
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baked maple bacon mini donuts

I’ve been cooking almost all day, and what a fun day it’s been. Playing with the Demarle pans again! This time I made Chicken Cordon Bleu in the grande mold…and when Gracie got home we made a batch of these baked maple bacon mini donuts in the donut pan. Everything turned out so good. I can’t get enough of these pans. I’m serious. Nobody is paying me to say this. I’ve fallen in love with this product and really can’t see myself going back to regular bake ware after this. What I love the most is the even, beautiful cooking, the easy clean up, and the fact that you literally don’t have to do anything to prepare these pans before using them. Again, if you’d like to talk to...

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six senses saturday

November 11, 2012
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six senses saturday

seeing ~THIS movie in the theater today… Daniel Craig is the best bond since Connery, just sayin’… candlelight on our front porch for date night… and bittersweet growing like mad among the climbing rose bushes, pine trees and grapevines out in our back yard. feeling ~ close to completing my latest yarn expedition and eager to start a few new ones! tasting ~ cottage pie, (I used stewing beef in place of ground…and I added some thawed, frozen peas…because that’s how I roll…) McGuigan Shiraz, and THIS cake with a little lemon zest added to the custard this time…Sooooo yummy! hearing ~ Missy Higgins playing over the sound system….such gorgeous, romantic music… smelling ~ the grill, woodsmoke, fresh air, bay rum soap and sandalwood oil knowing ~ that simple...

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truvy’s cuppa cuppa cake

November 6, 2012
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truvy’s cuppa cuppa cake

“It’s a cuppa flour, a cuppa sugar, a cuppa fruit cocktail with the juice. Mix it and bake it till brown and bubbly. Serve it with ice cream to cut the sweetness.” ~ Truvy (played by Dolly Parton in the movie ‘Steel Magnolias’) I watched Steel Magnolias a few nights ago and was intrigued by the simple recipe for “Cuppa Cuppa” Cake that the hair stylist, Truvy, is describing at the beginning of the movie. It sounded so simple and so good, I decided to make one for TeaTime Tuesday. What could be more perfect than a bit of “cuppa” cake for teatime? 1 cup self-rising flour 1 cup sugar 1 can fruit cocktail with the juice (15 oz. can) butter for pan unsweetened, fresh whipping cream Preheat oven...

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more scenes from our summer staycation ~ days 3,4 & 5

August 13, 2012
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more scenes from our summer staycation ~ days 3,4 & 5

ahhhhh….what a lovely at-home vacation it was…traveled to Cannon Falls for some live music, vino, antiquing and waterfall gazing…grilled some pizzas…saw THIS movie (which was awesome)…lounged around the house…started reading THIS book… had a yummy dinner at THIS restaurant…entertained my daughter’s cat (Doug)… and took a few hammock naps. I hope you’re all enjoying summer! XO, ~Melissa

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six senses saturday ~ the harbor view cafe

May 12, 2012
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six senses saturday ~ the harbor view cafe

Italian bread salad with homemade dressings : creamy french and blue cheese vinaigrette linguini papalina ~ proscuitto, mushrooms, garlic, cream and parmesan mixed grill ~ pork sausage, lamb, beef, kidney, chicken and liver with chutney coq au vin ~ red wine braised chicken wine tasting notes : Nimbus Sauvignon Blanc ~ mineral, fresh herbs, citrus and hay Sycamore Lane Pinot Grigio ~ Sweet aromas of pears, melon, and tropical fruits are accented with pleasant floral notes …both were lovely wines feeling :: warm sunshine hearing :: trains rushing by the lovely Harbor View Cafe in Pepin Wisconsin (I did a review a few years ago, which you can read HERE if you like.)…clinking glass, laughter and happy conversation seeing :: sailboats on the lake…beautiful flowers…and THIS MOVIE… which was...

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six senses saturday

April 28, 2012
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six senses saturday

feeling :: a warm cup of Assam tea in my hands tasting :: the last jam tart and THESE sandwiches smelling :: rain and lilacs seeing :: THIS movie hearing :: Jonsi in the glorious soundtrack to the movie “We Bought a Zoo” knowing :: “Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” ~Pamela Vaull Starr What are you up to today? ~Melissa

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six senses saturday

March 31, 2012
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six senses saturday

smelling :: guilded lotus flowering art tea seeing :: these little snapshots of a fabulous day with my best friend hearing :: the Chocolat soundtrack tasting :: ooey gooey caramel rolls from Tobie’s and a cup of English Breakfast tea feeling :: excited to be traveling into the cities today to spend more time with best friends and to meet a very special new addition to their family knowing :: that this is great advice… “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to your fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” ~Ashley Smith I hope you all have a gorgeous Saturday. Love, ~Melissa

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six senses saturday

February 25, 2012
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six senses saturday

feeling :: newly felted wool sweaters for mitten making tasting :: rotisserie chicken tacos smelling :: Jeff’s crafish bisque simmering on the stove hearing :: Ray Lamontagne sing THIS, THIS and THIS seeing :: big mooshy kitty snoozing on big mooshy comforter and the gorgeous, fabulous, can’t get enough of it… COCO before Chanel knowing :: “You can never get a cup of tea large enough, or a book long enough, to suit me.” ~C.S. Lewis What are you up to today? ~Melissa

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scenes from a girlfriends’ weekend

January 22, 2012
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scenes from a girlfriends’ weekend

I just returned home from the best weekend ever! I got to spend time with by BFF Jana. What a fun, relaxing couple of days. Thanks Jana! I thought I’d share our adventure with you and include some restaurant reviews, wine tasting notes and movie reviews while I’m at it. Yesterday I arrived just in time for an early lunch and Jana had a table full of some of our favorite things…brie with honey and baguette, endive leaves spread with a wonderful, creamy bleu cheese, pita, Holy Land hummus (which is knock-your-socks-off yummy….LOVE the garlic!)…fresh veggies and veggie dip. We chatted…sipped THIS WINE and laughed our heads off while watching THIS MOVIE. Can I just say, some of the best vino…and one of the funniest movies on the planet....

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six senses saturday started with a yummy bowl of baked oatmeal

October 29, 2011
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six senses saturday started with a yummy bowl of baked oatmeal

:: tasting :: baked oatmeal butter a 10 inch pie plate in a small bowl, combine: 3 large eggs 1 and 3/4 cups milk 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup applsauce in a big bowl, combine: 1 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 and 1/4 teaspoons salt 4 and 3/4 cup rolled oats 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and pour into prepared pie plate. Bake at 300 degrees F for 45 minutes and an additional 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. (or until completely set and firm.) Cut into wedges and serve with your favorite toppings. We like milk, raisins, apple chunks and a drizzle of real maple syrup. :: hearing :: and the giraffe :: smelling :: french press coffee...

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