Happy Spring Equinox!!!!!
Right! Now that I have gotten that joke out of the way, we can proceed. No wait! I have a wee rant about Irony. As I type this (and, I really wanted to post this today because, first date of the new year and all....), I am bracing for another Nor'Easter, Toby, with expectations of up to a foot of snow.
Yet, I can't complain! I have much to be happy for! Including magical sunny days and a past weekend fill with smiles and the simple joy of starting something new - plants. From seeds. The last few days, I have been gearing up to the coming warmer months with so much anticipation and excitement, with a little bit of caution.
You see, I for the first time have a piece of real land to grow vegetables in and I have never before potted a flowering plant in my life ever! I have so much learning to look forward to. And, I am thrilled. I have been trying to get some novice reading done and learning cool things like USDA hardiness zone, ground cover and buddy planting, fertilizers... and frost (oh when will the last frost be!). So much fun. I also live in deer country. In fact, they seem to be the very hungry and not-scared kind that happily munches away anything right by my front door. So, I am doing a lot of reading up on natural and humane deer resistance. I do want to share the land with them but I sure as fire not going to have my plants be collateral damage of our friendship! So, wish me luck! :)
Insta Stories
Follow along on Stories on my gardening journey
Insta Stories
Follow along on Stories on my gardening journey
Meanwhile, I have been going back through my culinary memories and reliving favorites from my life and some from this blog. On the occasion of new beginnings, I thought it apt to remember where we came from and the journey here and throw some respect back.
So, in honor of my nearly 10 years of blogging, I resurrected a strong favorite with you readers from this blog - Cranberry Squares, that I had posted back in 2010! It has consistently been a highly browsed recipe despite the average to clunky photographs that accompanied the post, teaching me that nothing, nothing beats quality product! If it is good, it is going to be great. I had no fancy DSLR back then, just a simple point and shoot. But, the goods spoke for themselves.
There! That is my little piece. And, a redux version with chocolate chips and nuts because hey we all need a little change eh? Even if it is old, tweek and its anew all over! :)
The best things in life are not the absolutely new but the same old stuff that bring on a smile and simple feel new again!
Happy Navroz!
Chocolate Chip Blondies
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips, dark and white
1/2 cup chopped, toasted cashew nuts or walnuts
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter the pan you are using. I used an 8 inch round.
In a large bowl, beat the sugar and eggs until creamy and smooth.
Whisk in the melted butter and vanilla.
Add flour and fold until incorporated.
Fold in chocolate chips and nuts and pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake for about 40 minutes or until tester inserted into center comes out clean.
Transfer to a rack to cool completely (takes about an hour really!). Cut slices to serve
