Original Ornaments

Hey! Look what I'm doing! Hopefully it'll send a couple of gorgeous, original ornaments my way....for the very first

Dunlap Christmas tree!

Find more information here if you would like to play, too!

Chilliness and Soup.

The weather is f i n a l l y lovely enough to have our windows open in the evenings, and, for me, this has stirred up the irresistible impulse to go crazy experimenting with soups. The incident last week involving steaming chowder, a sharp left turn, and a milky car has proved to be no deterrent.
Here is the infamous Potato Bacon Soup.

Potato Bacon Chowder

4 large baking potatoes, peeled, chopped into bite size chucks and boiled til fork-pierceable

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

6 cups milk

1 cup sour cream

1 med. onion chopped small

10 bacon strips cooked and loosely crumbled

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

fresh rosemary

Melt the butter in a deep soup pot over medium heat. Dump in the onions, and cook until translucent. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper, and cook for about a minute. Whisk in the milk and bring just to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring for about 3-4 minutes. Whisk in the sour cream. Mash half of the potatoes and keep the other half intact. Add all potatoes and bacon and cheese and heat until warmed through. Garnish with sprinkles of fresh rosemary.

Serves 6!

Peaceful Office.

I am venturing to assert that roses can brighten anyone's office, even on the blahiest of days. These are from our tiny but enthusiastic "rose garden"-- the pink one being a "Chicago Peace?" I think?!? Or a"Love and Peace?"

An "Office Peace?"

Division.

Last weekend we divided and replanted one bed of our Bearded Iris rhizomes. We had enough to spread to three other areas of the yard, plus about thirty that we had to give away! Next weekend we will probably be digging up the other beds, so if you would like some bearded iris bulbs, call us and claim some! They will be gorgeous in April!

Nicholas

I love you.

You're my dream.

Many happy returns...

I had the best birthday ever.

Ingredients: The Best Husband (may include traces of the following: pancakes, floating helium-filled objects, flowers, homemade cards, Ipod nanos, Bisonwitches, the drive-in theater, wine, homemade birthday cake.)

Thanks to everyone who made my day so very special.

Especially you, Nicholas. I love you!

Happy Happy!

Sick sweeties...

We are SO relieved that these little babies are okay....they were both violently ill this weekend. I can't imagine what its like to have a sick child; sick kittens almost did me in.

Already addicted.

Second stage of the white quilt! (Just for you, Michelle!)

My mother -in-law told me that you know you're addicted to quilting when you start scheming up new projects before the current one is complete. I guess I'm addicted; I can hardly wait to start another one...

I miss you

Come back home to me.
I miss you so much

Belle and the Bathroom

Rain...

N and Belle watching all the lovely rain

The first quilt...

I am so excited for this weekend...the first stages of my first quilt...more photos to come!

Emily's Wedding...

These photogrpahs are from Emily and Colby's wedding...so gorgeous!
I love you so much, Emily!

Chilly New York....so long ago

Time is sprinting merrily by...this photo is from our engagment trip in New York City- almost eight months ago!
Pictures from Paris soon to come!
I love you, N!

Kitten Days...

For the fellow plum-lovers...

This plum cobbler was an impulsive bake....it happily
turned out to to be the most fantastic marriage of tartness and sweetness.
Taken from www.elise.com/recipes.

PLUM COBBLER

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp of white sugar
10 fresh plums, sliced and seeded - about 4 cups
2 Tbsp corn starch
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk1 egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup white sugar, plums, cornstarch and cinnamon. Place the fruit mixture in a 2-quart casserole. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 2 Tablespoons of sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter in with a fork or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk and egg until just moistened. Drop batter on fruit, or if desired, spread batter in stripes. Bake in a 350°F oven for 35 minutes.
Serves 6. Serve with whipped cream (optional).

N

This little babydoll grew up to be my husband and best friend. Happy Year, N! I am the most blessed person on earth because of you. I love you!

1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us."

Death by Namaino Bars...

CHOCOHOLICS:

As requested, here is the recipe for the divinely decadent Namaino Bars, consumed at last night's lovely Reich/Oliver/ Dunlap dinner party! This is taken from joyofbaking.com. Enjoy!

Namaino Bars

INGREDIENTS:

Bottom Layer:
1/2 cup (1 stick) (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
1/3 cup (30 grams) unsweetened cocoa (I use Dutch-processed)
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups (200 grams) graham cracker crumbs
1 cup (65 grams) coconut (either sweetened or unsweetened)
1/2 cup (50 grams) walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped

FILLING:
1/4 cup (56 grams) unsalted

butter, room temperature
2 - 3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons vanilla custard powder (Bird's) or vanilla pudding powder
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups (230 grams) powdered sugar (confectioners or icing) sugar

TOPPING:
4 ounces (115 grams) semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter

METHOD:

Butter (or use a cooking spray) a 9 x 9 inch (23 x 23 cm) pan.
BOTTOM LAYER: In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Stir in the sugar and cocoa powder and then gradually whisk in the beaten egg. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens (1 - 2 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and chopped nuts. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate until firm (about an hour).

FILLING: In your electric mixer cream the butter. Beat in the remaining ingredients. If the mixture is too thick to spread, add a little more milk. Spread the filling over the bottom layer, cover, and refrigerate until firm (about 30 minutes).

TOP LAYER: In a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter. Spread over the filling and refrigerate.

TO SERVE: To prevent the chocolate from cracking, using a sharp knife, bring the squares to room temperature before cutting.
Yield: Makes about 25 squares

a little more Belle & Sebastian....

N and Bellie



Sebastian pretending he's a tiger..





Belle dreaming of bigger and better things...




Bellie and her favorite friend Rj...

M

Here's to my gorgeous
best friend and all the
encouragment she gives
me on a daily basis!
You are such a blessing to me, M!
I can hardly wait to see you!
Hooray for mimosas!