Happy Friday!  I am so excited for the weekend.  The weatherman has forecasted unseasonably warm temperatures for the next two days.  I can't wait to get outdoors.  To bring on the sunny, I made a treat that is bright and cheery.  I found blood oranges, which are as elusive as 70 degree temperatures in January, to pair up with pomegranate for a citrusy, sweet, and tart dessert.

The recipe is very similar to a traditional coffee-based tiramisu with a few adjustments.  The result is still a 'pick-me-up' that is sure to please.  The blood oranges are a delightful addition.  If you haven't had them before, they are something like orange meets berry.  Buy extra so you can eat them on their own... but start looking today.  They won't be around long. 

savour... capturing the elusive

Get the rest after the jump...

We are wrapping up our contributions to Soup Month today with one of my childhood favorites.  This dish was a regular part of our winters as a kid in Michigan.  I don’t know if it was tradition or frugality that kept it around, but it didn’t matter.  To me this soup tastes like childhood. 

The soup is easy to make and full of wonderful flavors.  It is creamy, sweet and savory.  It really is hearty enough to eat as a meal, but will make a great starter in a smaller portion.

savour... warm dishes and childhood wishes

Get the rest after the jump...

It’s mid-winter and it has been a chilly season so far.  You have likely seen temperatures falling and energy bills rising.  There are many ways to cut back including my favorite… turn down the heat and wear a sweater. That aside, one of the easiest ways to make an immediate impact on your heating costs is caulking.

Caulking will form a flexible seal around windows, doors, and other joints around your home.  It is best suited for gaps less than ¼” wide.  Some studies indicate that the money you spend on caulking and weatherproofing usually pays for itself after one season.  Your time/money investment could even save you for the rest of this season.  After all, who knows how long it will last… besides Punxsutawney Phil?

savour… unseen shadows

Get the rest after the jump…

As the title suggests, this is not a real post.  Instead, it is a post about what happens when you realize that you have too many things holding you back to move forward with any momentum.  Life comes at you much too quickly sometimes and leaves you spinning in circles trying desperately to make sense of it all.

I am certainly not the most organized person, but I am fairly well organized.  I have posts tentatively planned months in advance and usually get the outline written weeks ahead.  On the weekends, I typically shoot whatever photos I will need for the coming week and complete any projects.  Final details and editing happen throughout the week.

This weekend as I began my planning, I realized that I had far too many loose ends to tie up.  There were bills to pay, workspaces to organize, dogs to wash, etc.  It only took me a few minutes to realize it was time for the dreaded "reboot".  It's that time when you have to shut everything down and start over.  Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often.  When it does, it puts a huge wrinkle in your plans.  Nevertheless, it is sometimes the only thing that will work.  So, now it is done.  I will move forward now with a clearer head and, in some cases, a clearer path.

Today I offer up my 5 top tips for avoiding the "reboot".  They are:

• Stay organized -  No matter how good your system is, you must put things away when you get them out.
• Have a routine - Get your mind/body in a groove.  Count on the same things so you will do them on autopilot even on the days you are not fully committed.
• Plan everyday -  Make part of your routine to plan.  Either do this in the morning with a cup of coffee or tea before you launch or wrap up your day with a summary of the day and plan for tomorrow.
• Get help from those around you - You mustn't be afraid to ask for help.  Some jobs are too big to tackle on your own or small enough that they could be handled by a kid with a little instruction.
• Stay healthy - An illness can set you back days.  Get some sort of daily exercise into your plans.  Drink lots of water.  Get adequate rest.

Sometimes it is still not enough.  If all else fails, prepare to reboot.  Don't beat yourself up over it.  It happens.  Everyone has done it before and they will understand.  Press the buttons and hope for the best.  Until tomorrow...

savour... clean slates.

What a hectic week!  This was one of those weeks that you have loads of stuff planned and nothing goes as expected.  I felt incredibly busy, yet I am not sure I am any further along than I was on Monday.  I am looking forward to a little relaxing this weekend (feet up, I think).

To help get me started I have created our treat of the week... cherry amaretto biscotti.  This is far easier than you may think.  The result is a twice baked cookie that is crispy and crunchy, but somewhat tender in the middle.  This will be perfect with a steamy cup of coffee.

Freshly made biscotti is wonderful and nothing like the mass produced ones.  Once you see how easy it is, you will surely add it to your recipe box.  The cherries in this version add a pop of color and flavor.  They are delightful as they are, but would also be delicious dipped in chocolate.

savour... weekends

Get the rest after the jump...

Today is National Popcorn Day.  For me, popcorn day happens about once a week.  I absolutely love it.  I typically eat it with no butter and plently of popcorn salt.  If you haven't tried popcorn salt, I highly recommend it as it is more finely ground and sticks to the corn much better than table salt.

For today's post, I was on a mission to give you new reasons to try popcorn.  If you aren't making popcorn at home, read this earlier post on making it at home and caramel popcorn.  I was, and still am, suprised to learn how many people had never made popcorn on the stove.  The sounds, smell and process of homemade popcorn is truly one of life's simple pleasures.

savour...  freshly popped

Get the rest after the jump...

We continue our tribute to Soup Month with this yummy recipe.  No Soup Month would be complete without at least one cream soup.  This one is my favorite as it is mostly about the other flavors and less about the cream.  Much of the creaminess actually comes from the avocados.  They also contribute to the lovely green color of this soup.

The creaminess of the soup counters the heat of the peppers very well.  This soup is balanced and hits all the right notes.  It is the perfect start for a Tex-Mex meal or could be eaten on its own with a few tortilla chips on the side.  There is plenty of good stuff inside.  Using Greek yogurt to cream it up adds a healthy portion of protein the dish.

savour... hot, but not too hot

Get the rest after the jump...