It has been some time since I...

Well that is a pretty bold statement and there are a lot of things that I haven't done in some time but my biggest concern is the family food situation. Since moving to my father's both my husband and myself have just not been making inspiring meals. We thought that our island life would be quaint and quiet. Though nightfall brings absolute stillness and darkness our days have been anything but. I am sewing like a madwoman (working on Kitsch in the Kitchen), children are exploring their new environment and my husband is commuting back and forth between mainland and our island sanctuary, a 5 hr trip door to door.

Tonight is one of those calms before the storm- Tomorrow I have the fall fair where I am going to hawk my sewn wares. Sunday I am driving and literally ferrying my children to the washington coast to spend time with the Aunties and Uncle. Monday heading to the big smoke to have dinner, date, birthday celebration for my husband.... and..... Tuesday going to Prague for a week (baby free vacation). Oh but it doesn't end there, because we have to do most of that in reverse to get back to our island... This is not busy work, most of it (if not all) is self inflicted but when I write it out like this, it appears to be slightly daunting...

So tonight I will cook a quality meal for my children and I!

A delightful Breakfast.

About a month ago I entered a give away on a blog that I frequently read and I won?! I never win these things, and what is funny I won another give away the same week from another blog (but that is a different story). 


This give away is called Pay it Forward.  As a recipient I received a package of foodie goodies from a current host  of Pay it Forward, Velva of Tomatoes on the Vine. The game is simple, each winner will hold their own Pay it Forward give away and send three more food packages that reflect their region to the winners of their own round (I am going to Pay it Forward in a couple months time- I want my treasure chest to reflect sunnier days). This is what I won:

• Dare Lemon Creme Cookies
• Goya Guava Paste
• Everglades Seasoning
• House Autry  Pork Bake
• Connie's Ham Country Bean Soup
• Chow Chow
• Pecans
• and some fun chocolate- York Peppermint Patties & Hershey Kisses. 

In true fashion, my family and I nibbled on the chocolates first... but what to do with the rest of the bootie? Well as soon as I saw the Pecans a recipe immediately popped into mind, incidentally it was from Velva's blog. Here is the Praline French Toast Casserole that I made with Pecans and a recipe from Tomatoes on the Vine.

photos by me, inspiration from Tomatoes on the Vine.