Eating Pumpkin Year-round

I typically think of eating pumpkin in the fall when I see them growing on vines in farm fields, or for sale at produce markets.  And I usually associate the "fruit" [that's right- it's technically a fruit and not a vegetable] with desserts - pies, cakes, cookies, or bread, muffins, and scones, more than a main course. But I do have some wonderful recipes for pumpkin soup, white chili, and creamy pasta.

I was surprised when I went through all my posts since I began blogging in January 2012, and discovered I had blogged about eating pumpkin at least 20 times.  Most of those posts were in the months of September, October and November.  When I was doing monthly teas at Ardmore Park Place, October was designated as "Fun in the Pumpkin Patch", using a variety of pumpkin recipes in the tea menu.

Two days ago I received an e-mail from Jesse Miller who found my blog by Googling pumpkin.  The post he found was here.  Jesse recently posted "The 13 Health Benefits of Pumpkin According to Science" plus 8 pumpkin recipes.  He asked if I'd be willing to share the link to his review on my blog.  Of course, I would!  You can read it here.

If you've been following my blog lately, you know I've changed my eating habits and am on a semi-plant based diet now.  I've practically eliminated sugar, a lot of dairy foods, red meat, and foods with empty or unhealthy carbs. So Jesse's e-mail came at the perfect time to remind me that pumpkin is a good year-round food and not just for fall consumption.

I made a creamy pumpkin pasta for dinner tonight, using 100% whole wheat Penne.  Instead of a tomato based sauce, it was pumpkin based - with sauteed chopped onions and minced garlic in a small amount of olive oil, and ground chicken [breasts without hormones or antibiotics], chicken stock, one [15 oz.] can of pumpkin puree, and 1/2 cup lowfat milk.  The seasonings were freshly grated nutmeg, ground cinnamon, sage, chili powder, salt and pepper.  Since mushrooms are a super food and low in calories, I added them to the pumpkin sauce too.

Topped with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese, a salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing, and a cup of Pumpkin Cream Black Tea our healthy and tasty dinner was complete. My hubby declared the menu a "keeper" anytime of the year!

Do you eat pumpkin year-round?

Spring Forward...

The clock sprung forward to daylight savings time yesterday, and there's only 8 days until spring officially arrives.  The stores all have their Easter/Spring décor displayed, and I found two cute bunny plates at Marshall's recently, and am searching for two more.  At $3.99 each, the 222 Fifth porcelain dishes in the pattern, "Bunny Party" are a deal.  They come in pink and blue too, but I like yellow best.

My granddaughter, Brianna, was home all last week on spring break from college. I took her to lunch on Saturday at one of her favorite restaurants - Panera Bread.

[Brianna]

They have a great Greek salad with Quinoa Tomato Sofrito blend, Romaine, Kale, diced Cucumbers and Kalamata Olives tossed in Greek dressing and topped with Feta Cheese and toasted Almonds. It was so good, and definitely one to recreate at home.  I enjoyed a glass of hot Ginger Peach Black Tea with it [by Republic of Tea].

The forecast yesterday was only a high of 30 degrees in southeastern Michigan, but the sun was shining, and I'm antsy to get outdoors and back to a consistent walking regime.

What's it like where you live?

Isabella's School Play

Our granddaughter, Isabella, is in her middle school's drama club, so yesterday we traveled to Chelsea, MI to see her performance in last night's play.  They were without power at their home due to Michigan's high winds on Wednesday, but her school and downtown Chelsea still had power.

We had dinner at Cleary's Pub.  I ordered hot tea [Lipton's was the only choice] and a Mesquite Grilled Chicken Wrap with Sweet Potato Fries.  Yum!  [Sorry, I forgot to take a photo.]

~ Play Program ~

Izzy was Lady-in-Waiting #1  [third from left in purple dress]

~ Curtain Call ~

~ Family photos after the play ~

[Nana, Izzy, Ellie, and Papa]

Jerry treated all of us to desserts at Big Boy's restaurant after the play.

Our "Star"

Food for Soul and Body

Yesterday was the fifth ladies' Bible study at my house.  We meet every other week and are focusing on women of the Bible, but a few men make their way into our studies too. We began right at the beginning of the Bible in the Book of Genesis with Eve, then progressed to Sarai/Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, and yesterday was Leah and Rachel.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.  Even though centuries have passed, women still face the same challenges today that they did 'way back then', and God's Word is just as relevant today as it was in Biblical times.

After Bible study I serve a light lunch which is always a homemade soup and bread of some sort, and a dessert.

I don't want lunch to be the emphasis of our gathering, so it's never anything fancy.  There's no fussy tablescape because we sit around the dining room table for the Bible study first, but I do have a different menu and use different dishes each time we meet.

Since we'll be celebrating St. Patrick's Day on March 17th I used my shamrock china yesterday along with a coordinating menu.  Reuben Soup with Irish Soda Bread.  I have blogged about the soup before and you can find the recipe here.  The bread is Grandma Clark's Irish Soda Bread from the Silver Palate cookbook.  I didn't intend for the menu to have an association with our Bible study, but I smiled when it occurred to me that Reuben was Leah and Jacob's first-born son.

Of course, no meal would be complete without hot tea.  The ladies enjoyed the Snowflake Black Tea the last time we met, so I served it again this time.

Dessert was an Angel Food Cake and Creamy, Pistachio Pudding Parfait.

When we met on February 22nd I served a Creamy Minestrone Soup, pull-apart Cheddar Ranch Rolls, and I got brave and made Rice Pudding from a new-to-me Mediterranean recipe.

I wish I could invite all of you into my home for our Bible studies.  Feeding our soul is just as important as feeding our body. In times like these we need the secure foundation of God's Word to gird us with peace and hope.  The ladies left with the promise God gave to Jacob in Genesis Chapter 28 verse 15a:  "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go..."

Saturday Happenings

Last Saturday was a leisure day at our house with nothing specific on the agenda, so Jerry and I went out to breakfast and afterwards went to two antique shops in Mt. Clemens, MI.  I didn't see anything I couldn't live without, but on the way home we decided to stop at an estate sale.  

The deceased lady had a collection of trios, and when I showed interest in one, my hubby bought it for me.

It's made in Germany rather than England.

A friend recommended the movie, Hidden Figures, to Jerry, so we went to the matinee showing of it.  It was released on December 25, 2016.

It's the true story of Katherine Johnson [played by Taraji P. Henson], Dorothy Vaughan  [Octavia Spencer], and Mary Jackson [Janelle Monae] - brilliant African-American women who worked at NASA, and served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.  The trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

It's a 'must see' even if there aren't any tea scenes in it.  There was enough tea in the final episode of Queen Victoria on Sunday night to make up for it!  ;-)

Tiffany, Mommy-to-be

In addition to all things tea, family photos occasionally make their way onto my blog.  For those who follow me regularly, I thought you might enjoy an update on my granddaughter, Tiffany. She's in her third trimester now, and is doing well.

She's pictured below with her golden retriever, Ollie [Oliver].  I wish I would have looked that small when I was in my third trimester!

~ Little Evelyn [Evie] Rose's picture taken on February 23rd ~

 ~ Invitation for Tiffany's baby shower that will be held later this month. ~

She registered with an online company called Carousel Designs.  Her crib linens will be from the Shabby Chenille line [pictured below].  I ordered the bumper pads and blanket for Evie's crib. Of course, there'll also be a tea set to go with it.

[Carousel Designs Website Photo]

More pictures will follow after the baby shower.  

Southern Lady Magazines

One of my dear blog readers contacted me a short time ago to ask if I would like to have her issues of Southern Lady magazine.  I've purchased a few issues over the years, so I knew it's a lovely magazine.   I told her I'd be delighted to have them.

The postman delivered them recently.  I think the magazine began publication in 1999 and my friend's collection began with the Nov./Dec. 2004 issue right through to the Jan./Feb. 2017 issue. It was a small fortune to mail them, and I can't thank her enough!

What fun unwrapping them, and seeing the treasure-trove of information that will supply leisure reading for quite some time.

Two 2006 issues were about Gone With the Wind.

But the BEST two issues are A Classic Taste of Charleston [July/August 2013] and The Travel Issue of Touring Savannah  [July/August 2015].

I assumed my role as coordinator of the Michigan Tea Tour last fall was a one-time thing, but I find myself knee-deep in plans for a "Southern Belle Tea Tour" this fall encompassing the states of Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina.  I can hardly wait to delve into these two magazines.  

Thank you so much, Sarah, for your kindness and generosity!

Happy March 1st everyone!