The deck covered in ice.
Having a farmhouse at the end of a long, gravel road means that when you’re iced in, you stay in. This past weekend as I gazed out the kitchen window, the deck looked like a thinly-clad ice rink. Trees, stark and stick-like, protruded from the bleak panorama like figures painted onto a gray canvas.
By contrast, I was quite cozy. A blazing fireplace, a full pantry, and some lively banter gave promise of a warm weekend, at least indoors. If all else failed, we could binge watch my favorite Netflix of the season: Grace and Frankie. But, instead, we turned to the “PyeonChang Parade,” where we could view what was fashionable in Olympian sportswear. I was especially attracted to those colorful stocking caps, the perfect head gear to get my ears and sinuses through the remaining days of winter.
My son-in-law offers warm Snickerdoodles to those lounging by the fire watching the Olympics. This was his first attempt at cookie baking. Well done, JC.
A Bowl of Chili to the Rescue
Since we eat more when we’re cold—they say to maintain body heat—I made a big pot of chili, perfect for family and intrepid friends coming for dinner despite the ice. To go with the hearty beef and bean combo, I added a chopped La Scala Salad and chili’s essential companion: cornbread. But this time I made buttermilk Fried Cornbread Cakes with the crispy-edges and soft-center.
Robin serving the chili
There’s nothing like a bowl of chili on a brisk winter evening.
These MIni Potato Skins come from Southern Living. A 5-ingredient snack that’s easy to make ahead and assemble at the last minute. Put a bit of sour cream in a plastic sandwich bag, snip off the corner and pipe the sour cream on top, before adding the bacon and chives. As you can see, I neglected to do that.
Old-fashioned Fried Cornbread Cakes. My grandmother preferred them to sliced bread.
A neighbor showed up with a lovely shrimp platter and homemade cocktail sauce. Huge yum!
A loaf of Ken Alford’s Worthy Breads is a treat anytime of the day.
Another 5-ingredient recipe. I love this combination of roasted pears with honey and balsamic vinegar topped with Manchego cheese from Epicurious.
Earlier in the week, when I lunched at the Capital Grille, a friend had a delicious serving of pears baked in honey and balsamic vinegar. I later found a recipe online and added it to the weekend side dishes.
Another guest made a one-layer cake with a French Chantilly Cream topping. It was a simple, one-layer cake, that called for vanilla paste. I’ve not used that before, so I had to do a little googling. I found that vanilla extract is made from the bean, but the paste comes from the more potent vanilla pod and has small specks remaining in the liquid. It’s great for intensifying the vanilla flavor.
This simple one layer cake was enhanced with vanilla paste and a topping of French Chantilly cream.
Following a warm, hearty meal, it was time to relax around the coffee table for a game of Trivia questions. Yes, it was cold and icy outside. But, so what?
On the Road Again
While being indoors was toasty and enjoyable, getting from the deck to the car and navigating the sideroads to the highway took a bit more time than usual. But I’m back in St. Louis and on the lookout for an Olympian-style cap to accessorize my winter attire.
