My Dearest Blogger, will you be my Valentine.

Blogger,

Don't tell Hubs, but I really like you. You have so much knowledge from so many different people, you are just the highlight of my morning. I love reading everyone's stories over my morning coffee, or evening tea. Because of you I have learned a lot about people and myself!

For instance, I learned about loving those around you, having a positive attitude, and perseverance through hard times. I have also learned a bit about cooking, fashion, hair dos, crafting, and parenting (more specifically the type of parent I want to be one day... off in the distant future).

I just find you amazing how you bring people together. It reminds me of the days when ladies would chat over a quilt, each making their own sections... a bit more removed though!

So what do you think? Would you be my Valentine?

With Love,
Mrs. Pear Tree

Ode to Hubster

In case you missed it, the East Coast is getting slammed with snow. It looks sorta like this:



And that is the Hubs, with a big smile on his face, because he LOVES snow. And that is our driveway. You can't see it from this angle, but the driveway is really long. It took Hubster two hours, TWO HOURS, to shovel the whole thing! I think he was still smiling when he finished too. (How cute!)

I think if we had known we were going to get about 50 inches of snow this year we would have bought a snow blower.

But we didn't

So Hubs has spent countless hours shoveling our long long long (is one more too much?) long driveway. Isn't that sweet?! He is providing for us.

He has also chopped a lot of wood for our wood stove to keep us warm. Seriously a lot of wood, it should last us for the week!

I think it makes him feel all manly and masculine, and you know what?! I like it :-)

He is also outside right now, as we speak, carving out a sledding path with all the feet of snow we have in our yard. He has this master plan that starts in the back yard and loops around to the front. I am not sure exactly how it is going to work, but he has a vision!

Don't you just love him!?!

Clam Chowder

I have always loved soup, and one of my favorite soups has always been Clam Chowder. And yesterday, I attempted my first batch of Clam Chowder, and let me tell you, it was awesome. So good in fact that is is gone now. To commemorate it's wonderful existence, I am sharing the recipe with all of you!

New England Clam Chowder

Ingredients

3 Pounds fresh clams
or 10 0z. can clams in water
or 12 oz. frozen clams
1 1/4 cup water
or bottled clam juice (if using canned clams)
Butter
1 Onion
1 Celery Stalk
1 Carrot
3 Garlic cloves
2 Tablespoon Flour
2/3 Cup dry white wine
3 Medium potatoes
1 Bay Leaf
3 Allspice Berries
1 1/2 Cups heavy cream
1 Cup corn kernels
Salt and Pepper to taste
Flat leaf parsley


Wash the fresh clams and place in a large soup pot with the water or clam juice and 1 teaspoon of the butter. Simmer until the clams have opened up, 8-10 minutes.

Strain the clams through a large strainer into a large bowl. Reserve the stock. Discard any unopened shells. Remove the meat from the rest. Chop the larger clams and leave the small ones whole.

If you are using canned clams, drain the juices and add them to the water or clam juice. If you are using frozen clams, defrost them first.

Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in the same soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and salt and saute over medium heat until softened.

Mix in the flour and stir in the clam stock and the wine. Add the potatoes, bay leaf, and allspice. Simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the corn and cook for 5 minutes more.

Remove from heat and discard the bay leaf and allspice berries. Stir in the cream and clams. Cook for 3 minutes more, but do not boil.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with the parsley and serve.

After making this once, I was wishing I made a double batch! So if you have the money for all of those clams... you will want to make a double!


Enjoy!

Frozen, in a number of ways.

And it came to pass that on the 200th day of our marriage, we awoke to the absence of heat in our darling home. We were out of oil... again, and for the 2nd time it was not our fault but that of the land lord. Ugh.

And this was the beginning of the downward spiral of our finances. Starting this day we swiftly ran out of money for the month of February, and it was still January!!

For instance my car was up for inspection in January, and of course it failed. This sort of reminded me of High School, when I would fail tests (only for lack of effort). Here it was: I failed! My car and I were in need of 2 tires, 2 breaks, 1 tie rod, and 1 front alignment. Pricey. Only now that my car is fixed, I feel like king of the road! I guess I didn't realize how bad my car was driving, or I wouldn't admit it to myself.

So hubs and I are living the poor life now.

So poor that I have had broken glasses since 2009 and have yet to go to the optometrist because I am afraid of how much it is going to cost us, even with the insurance.

So poor that we've had a GRAND PIANO which was given to us in the fall, and we have not had the money to get it tuned.

So poor that this past weekend, I learned how to cut my own hair. Of course I used youtube to educate myself. And you know what? I am very happy with the results! Who knew I could cut my own hair?

This is when my mother said "Poverty is the mother of invention" and as usual she is right.

If only I had a spinning wheel and a bunch of sheep and alpacas in the back ground and I could make my own clothing.

As this is Hubs and my first valentines as a married couple, I am trying to think of creative and cheep (duh) ways of making it special. So I am looking at recipes for a chocolate cake and other things, but I guess the best thing of all is that we are married! That is certainly enough for me, but the domestic goddess in me can't stop trying to make it special somehow... suggestions?



Just like our assents, the weather also has been frozen. (bud-dum-ching!) My last post talked about VA's record snow falls, but there has been more, and will be more. This week we've had in about 7 inches so far, and we're predicted to get 15-20 inches Friday into Saturday! I haven't had to go to work all week, and we're called for 1 hr delay tomorrow... but I will not be surprised if that changes tomorrow morning. This does mean, however, that we will be going to school a bit longer this spring.

I would like to point out that VA has had more snow that PA this year, which makes me feel like I've experienced a real winter. You know, building snow men, sledding, hot cocoa type of winter. And of course I am not missing anything by not living in PA...

...except my family of course, miss you guys! And Ground Hog's Day is a much bigger deal in PA. Here in VA it just sorta flew by with out notice.

Rain, Rain, go away... for an hour or two?

These little guys are popping up. Already! I just want to tell them to get back in that ground, that you're going to freeze your little buds right off! This is what happens when Virginia has had sub zero temperatures and record snow falls, for weeks on end, weeks! Then we get one day that breaks 40 degrees and these little guys think it is spring!

But it certainly feels springy around here. Never mind that school was canceled on Friday due to ice, and then another cancellation today due to flooding. The temperatures are still low... but it just feels like spring; and those little buds are just proving me that I am not the only one around here who thinks so!

The buds and I have been acting like it is spring. For example, on my 'snow day' on friday, I whipped open the windows, re-arranged the furniture, and did some honest to goodness spring cleaning! I even bought a new vacuum. That very same day I wanted to go on a walk with Hubs. A walk! For months now, I have been content to cuddle up with a blanket, and maybe take a stroll in the winter snow. And here I was, wanting an honest, healthy, heart-pumping, walk. Trouble is, it has been pouring down rain for the past 4 days. So I have a healthy case of cabin fever!

Rain... isn't that another sign of spring?
January showers bring February flowers... it just doesn't sound right!

Hungry Hungry Hippo!

Yawn! That is how I feel right now. I am tired and hungry, its funny how those two go together.

As I type am in the process of making dinner. Hubs and I really value eating dinner together, but he often works from 4-9:30 and we eat together when he gets home. Such is the case today... and all week!

This is really hard for me to handle.

It wasn't always so bad. At first I didn't really notice the effects. Loss of energy, headaches, general moodiness... pesky side effects of hunger.

So today I started dinner a bit earlier thinking that if it was done before Hubs returned home, I would go ahead and eat. But the guilt is consuming me, so instead I am just cooking all night long. Everything is getting cooked very slowly.

Good thing I am making soup.

French Onion Soup to be exact. My favorite.

Here is how it is done:




PT House French Onion Soup

Ingredients:

1 26 oz. container Beef Broth
1 26 oz. container Chicken Broth
5 White Onions
1 Red Onion
2-4 Garlic Cloves
Red or White Wine
Thyme
Sugar
Salt
Pepper
Italian Bread
Munster

1. Roughly chop all onions and garlic. You may use any combination of onions, I like to have one red onion for flavor and color. Add a pinch of salt and sugar. Saute in a large pot on low for 40 mins to 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

2. When onions are mushy and transparent, bring heat to medium-high, add a splash of a wine of your choice. My favorite for this dish is Yellow Tail's Shiraz. Stir mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to pick up anything that may have stuck (you know that delicious brown stuff!) Add beef and chicken broth. Add 1 Tbsp. of thyme and let simmer.

3. FO Soup is traditionally served with bread in it, under the cheese. You can either buy croutons and use that, or you can make your own. Slice Italian bread, spritz with Pam or Olive Oil, and add salt and pepper. Toast in oven under the broiler - but keep a close eye on them so they do not burn. Remove when a crusty light brown, and cut into cubes.

4. To serve ladel into oven safe bowls, add bread cubes, and top with cheese (I perfer Muster, but use your preferred white cheese). Place bowls on a tray, and put them under the broiler until the cheese is melted, and browning slightly.

Enjoy!


PS: I am serving with Turkey Melt Sandwiches, Yum!

Confession

I would like to own a Bed and Breakfast

I think I have good taste in interior design and presentation.

I also think that I am good at making people feel welcome.

I am also a good cook.
Although not all that experienced or professionally trained.

I think there are some barriers between me and my dream.

I don't have enough money to own one home let alone two.
I have no experience in the hospitality business.
I don't live in an area where (in my experience) this type of business is very successful.
And I don't know the first thing about opening a business, except that I need money.

So, for now it is a dream, and these photos are a bit of inspiration.