Smoked Salmon Pizza

I was sure that Joe was going to hate tonights dinner.  He's not big on fish anyway.... but smoked salmon.... not at all.   I partially cooked the pizza dough, then added the finely chopped smoked salmon.  I zested 3 lemons and cut off the white, then cut out each section of lemon, removing all the seeds and gave it a rough chop and threw that on with the zest.   Covered it all with grated gruyere cheese and chopped chives, a  heavy shake of pepper, and put it back in the oven (at 400).  I served Joe one piece and told him he probably wouldn't like it.  He ate four pieces and said it was good....so it must be good!

Yesterday it was 78 degrees out.  It's in the 50's today and the weatherman said frost tonight.  That New England weather.  I cut all my herbs down today and brought them into dry.  Always depressing, it's like giving in and admitting winter is coming.

Basil

Marjoram

Oregano, Rosemary, Tarragon 

Parsley

Pineapple Sage

Mint/Chocolate Mint

Dinner Tonight

This was dinner tonight.   I had some raw chicken breast and shrimp left over from the Gumbo/Jambalaya that I made for Saturday's get together.  So it had to be used today.   What the hell to do with it was the question.  I threw some smart balance in the pan (because I'm trying to be healthy and reduce my size and be fabulous before I'm 50) and then added a few pinches of Salad Herbs from Pickity Place. (Pickety Place is a wonderful place in Mason N.H. check it out at PicketyPlace.com - I order all my dried herbs from them online)  (The Salad Herbs contain: savory, tarragon, parsley, dill weed, marjoram, and basil.)  I cooked the chicken then added some chicken stock, some 1/2 and 1/2 (the fat free version is great and much healthier)  added the shrimp and let it cook a few minute till the shrimp turned pink.  I added a little corn starch and cold water to thicken.

 

I cooked two packages of Trader Joe's pasta and added a bag of petite peas a few minutes before draining.

I added it all together and topped it with a handful of fresh parsley..... it got a "not bad" from Joe... so we'll count it as a winner. 

Family

Yesterday we had some of Joe's brothers, sisters, their kid's, and their kid's kid's over for food and fun.  Unfortunately not all of them could be here.  Joe's oldest brother Fred died 9 years ago.  His son Dan was here with Darcey and son Colby and Fred's daughter Irene (named for Joe's mom) and her daughter Kaylee.  Kaylee was really enjoying herself with uncle Joe and the hat. 

It was lots of fun to see and visit with all of them.....Joe's brother Ken and his wife Cathy (Cathy brought a loaded baked potato dish....Oh my God Good) were here with daughter Kim who had twins 3 months premature 5 months ago.  Hayden was here... his brother Scott still in the hospital continuing to battle on with complications.  Here is Hayden in his Halloween costumes.

One of the perks to having people over is that it forces me to clean the house and also decorate for the season.  

Love these photo's ..... got them years ago.... it's great fun to watch people do a double take....they do frighten the little ones though.

In a world where we sometimes only see family at weddings or funerals its nice just to sit and talk for no reason at all.

  

Objects

Ok, I've written about my problem with material objects and how I have a thing about them....well, last night while cleaning the objects on my kitchen window sill I realized color seems to be a thing as well.  Joe once complained that every room in the house is either blue or green.  I had no idea how far reaching my problem is.   

These little bottles were found buried in the back yard by my brother Jim years ago while digging for worms for fishing.  The little salt shaker was my grandmothers (Nana Beck).

The tea cup was another grandmother's (Moo Moo - Swedish for grandmother - my dad's step mom).  The imps were a gift from a friend.

The blue bottom glasses are all the same pattern, but found at different times. 

The rooster glass was my moms, the pale blue one my dad used, the planet I love, and the drink stir sticks (with O my blue and green glass tops).

The blue glass with bubble bottom a gift from my sister, with a blue bubble marble inside.  The teacup is one from my large collection that broke, but because it belonged to Nana Beck I glued it together.  

The teabag holder (a family piece) is holding giant marble that was used to darn sock many years ago (found at an Antique sale).

The little wedgewood cup, egg cups and milkglass antique eggs (the eggs belong to my Nana Mary my father's Mom)and also family  items.

The goat cup is one my mother used as a child, helps to hold my peach pit collection (don't ask).

The dragonfly pin was a gift from my sister-in-law Caroline....I love it.

Ok.....does anyone else think I have a problem......

Well...

Well....I guess there is no stopping it.....10-10-10.....summer is gone....has been gone.  Time to gather all my pretty yard stuff....pack it away and brace myself for the white stuff.  Winter hits me hard.   Oh, I get all giddy with the first snow fall and love it during the Christmas season... but by January 2.... I start praying for the spring. Maybe the blog will help...as long as I stay busy it's not so bad.  But for now I will enjoy the leaves changing colors and the acorns hitting the house like a hail storm.