Sunday Mornings at Home
Happy Sunday, all….and welcome to Sunday Mornings at Home!
These are posts with thoughts and experiences from my past week…and notes about the week ahead and sometimes with great recipes…like today!
My first week of 2023 has been joyous with a special surprise in the gift of each day.
I dove into a restful, yet productive new year with new focus and purposes for my health, my work, and my overall life.
I hope you will join me with a warm beverage and in a cozy spot for my thoughts during Sunday Mornings at Home.
SUNDAY MORNINGS AT HOME – HOME DECOR
In the past, I have always taken ALL of the Christmas decor down at once and packed it away.
But, this year, I am trying something different ….with Mr. B’s approval.
I have packed away the true Christmas decor…you know, the Santas, the snowman collection, stockings etc.
However, in order to achieve that hygge-feeling I like so much, I have left out the decorations that speak winter warmth and glow.
Though the main Christmas tree is gone (it was getting dry), I left much of the greenery and lights still out and I love it.
It is not as stark and cold as the house seems when all of Christmas is gone. At the end of the month, I will begin to transition to our normal home decor.
SUNDAY MORNINGS AT HOME – THE GIFT OF NATURE
When I live one-day-at-a-time as my word of the year (TODAY) dictates, I am purposeful about noticing nature’s beauty around me.
Yes, even during winter.
The sky last week was amazing and while walking Tux, I had to take time to stop and enjoy.
He does not like it when I take time for a picture, but I think he understands that is me.
Also, the moon last week was glorious…did you see it?
I realize most of the trees are bare at this time, but I can find beauty even in that.
SUNDAY MORNINGS AT HOME – HEALTH
Now, during this Sunday Mornings at Home, I must acknowledge how thankful I am to once again feel healthy…or at least healthier.
As many of you, 2023 has me focusing on my health and I will be writing more about that next week.
Today, I have a delicious salad recipe to share with you…it is seriously great!
One of the benefits of looking through so many recipes to find ones for the Wednesday Today’s News posts, is that I often find recipes I want to try.
That is exactly how I came upon this one…it is from Food & Wine and called Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dressing…and it is great.
One of the reasons I wanted to make the salad right away is that I had the majority of the ingredients.
I did need to buy a Honeycrisp Apple and it was so good that I am glad I did. The recipe says get a small one, but all of this was eaten.
One of my goals for January is to make as much as possible from ingredients and food I have on hand…some in the freezer.
I made Red Beans and Rice last week because I had the ingredients.
I followed the salad recipe exactly, but I did add some grilled chicken breast and the flavors were perfect together.
Mr. B and I often grill extra chicken over a weekend to keep on hand for a lean protein to eat any way we choose for several days.
We marinate the skinned chicken breast for about 12 hours in a bottle of Italian dressing, a 1/4 cup of soy sauce, and a tablespoon of Fiesta Fajita Seasoning.
Of course, the salad is delicious without the meat.
I am so glad to have this recipe now and will return to it often.
I highly recommend. The Smoked Paprika is amazing in the dressing…such a rich, smoky flavor.
I know the dressing is warm, but I will eat this all year long.
On sale at Macy’s today!
SUNDAY MORNINGS AT HOME – NEXT WEEK
This week, Leigh Ann and I are thrilled to welcome out friend Karen on our shopping journeys.
Karen is a new retiree and grandmother all at the same time.
She joined us to show you some styles at Chico’s and JJILL…and, of course, lunch out!
We like a local vegetarian eatery named Green, and it keeps in our health goals for the year.
Wearing color just brings me joy and I wore it often this week…for a touch of whimsy.
The adventures continue tomorrow with Shopping with Karen, Leigh and me!
How about you? How was your beginning to 2023…I hope full of smiles. Please share and thank you for being here for Sunday Mornings at Home…..
KEEP SMILING, LADIES!
By Pamela Lutrell
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Your salad sounds great, I especially want to try the Maple dressing. I often make Kitchen Sink Salads, where I start with a base of greens and raw veggies, and then toss different combinations on top, depending on what I have on hand or want to use up. Yes to leaving the white twinkle lights up, very cozy! I was surprised to see Karen wearing “my” shirt, I found it at Goodwill although mine is navy instead of black. Well, mine is Lemon Grass brand, it looks like Karen’s. I didn’t notice the moon but have seen several gorgeous sunsets this week. Happy Sunday!
I agree that the dressing is the key and can be used in different salads. Such an excellent combination of flavors. Thanks Deb!
I leave all year long white miniature Christmas lights tucked on top of our entertainment center. It has a soft, low glow in our great room. I also do the same on top of our
kitchen hutch. Love the warm, cozy feel.
I love that warm, cozy feeling too! Not rushing to put away the lights. Happy Sunday, Carol!
When Food Network was just beginning to air they had a program “Doorknock Dinners” hosted by Gordon Elliott where they would drive thru’ a neighborhood and choose a house at random and knock on the door. He would explain that he had a professional chef and they wanted to cook for the family who lived in the chosen house and they would use only ingredients already found there. It was entertaining and amazing! Some kitchens and pantries were well stocked and others were pretty sketchy, yet the chef managed to come up with a full meal, including dessert, using only what was on hand. That show inspired me then (I was working at the time and it meant fewer grocery stops on the way home) and now when I’m by myself. It keeps me from re-spending money–i.e. there’s chicken in the freezer, don’t go buy more, there’s cheeses in the frig that can substitute in a recipe, don’t go buy a certain kind, etc. and really using what I have and not wasting, use those apples in salads and sides and snack and desserts for example. It’s challenging, but also fun.
Thanks for sharing this, Carol. I do want to have fun with it! It can be challenging but I look at what I have on hand and there is no reason not to cook this way for awhile.
Since Christmas ends today, I will begin taking down Christmas decorations tomorrow. I few years ago, I began doing what you did this year- leaving anything the says “winter” but doesn’t scream “Christmas”. Our house doesn’t look so empty and bleak.
We have also been using food we have on hand for almost a year. There is still meat in the freezer and this week I uncovered expired instant pudding from 2020! With grocery prices rising it helps to use perishables before they go bad, even if it is not the exact ingredient in the recipe.
It was convicting to me what I have in the house. So I needed to do this! Thanks for sharing…
As soon as I saw your salad picture, I thought “ Yum!” It looks so good. I love fruit on my greens although my Mr. B is not as much of a fan . He’d rather have tomatoes ( which technically are fruit), onions, etc. However, I’m sure he will eat this one if I add chicken. The full moon of January, technically a “ Wolf Moon”, was truly so gorgeous this week in the cool, clear nights and early mornings. I am always a colorful dresser…it makes me feel good too. Even if I’m a column of black, I’ll wear a bright scarf or necklace.
I hope he likes the salad, Celia! It is so good!
Mmmm. Salads with extra ingredients and yummy dressings are my new “thing”. Yours looks wonderful and the Green quinoa plate looks yummy too. I may copycat that one too!
Looking forward to reading next weeks posts featuring Chicos and JJill. I agree tgat getting out in nature abd observing t myr Earths beauty helps to shed sone worries and concerns. I’ll be sending a special prayer for your good health!
Thank you, Paulette. I am feeling much better and glad that stretch of illness is behind me. Today is a glorious day!
Welcome to your new sidekick Karen! I have also left up a few winter pieces, my new favorite was a gift from a friend I made this past year – an adorable “snowman kit” sign I perched in my kitchen window that just makes me happy on many levels. 😊 This first week of 2023 meant a return to student piano lessons, with two new kids to meet and begin the process. I loved hearing about snowy adventures, a Parisian new year (lucky child!!), and funny sibling stories. These beautiful young people keep me current on music they discover, and share their joyful outlook. How very blessed I am!
Yes! We are both blessed today, Connie!
The moon was so gorgeous this week. Glad you could enjoy it too.
The salad sounds delicious! I’ve bookmarked the recipe for future use. Since I’m diabetic, I’ll try making the dressing with a sugar free maple syrup substitute.
I believe it will work just as well with the sugar-free, Elaine! Enjoy!
Honey crisps are my favorite. I put away most of Christmas decor also, but left up the garlands and fairy lights on the bannisters. Just so cozy! It is in the twenties here. Nice to see a new friend, Karen, shopping with you!
Glad to know I’m not the only one who leaves the “winter” decorations up after Christmas! I have a special wreath and mantle decor that I call “January.” It consists mainly of icy branches, pine cones dusted with frost, white twinkle lights and lots of mercury glass candle holders of various shapes and sizes. Since I never got the house decorated for Christmas due to the flu/pneumonia plague that took our entire family down, I am really enjoying the “January” decorations, in spite of the warm temperatures we had this week in north Texas (mid-80’s!) I am very much a fan of the moon, and last week’s was extra-special. I also like to see the bare trees highlighted against the sky when they look like they were hand-drawn in ink on the twilight sky. So lucky that my neighborhood is filled with trees! Your Sunday musings always get my week off to a good start, even when I get behind on reading and enjoy them a few days late!