Beef and Barley Soup

A really nice, comforting soup for this cold weather is beef and barley soup. I have always loved pearl barley in soup. I also love to make soup! So here is my version of this recipe.

Beef and Barley Soup 

serves:6

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

14 oz. beef chuck roast, I use 28 oz. Keystone beef (I use just half of the can) 

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 cloves of chopped )

2 tablespoons onion powder (or 2 large onions chopped)

2 stalks celery, sliced

2 large carrots, peeled and sliced

6 cups of beef broth 

2 bay leaves

1 cup sliced button mushrooms

3/4 cup pearl barley

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a large pot, heat the oil add the beef and warm up. Then add the garlic powder and onion powder cook for 1 minute. The add the celery and carrots and cook until slightly soft, about 10 minutes. Pour in beef broth and add the bay leaves, then simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, pearl barley, and thyme, and cook until the barley is tender about 15-20 minutes. Just before done add the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Adapted from: The City Tavern Cookbook: Recipes from the Birthplace of American Cuisine 

You can easily make this out of a dry food pantry with the ingredients I have used. I keep celery, mushrooms, and parsley frozen too. I just needed to add fresh carrots. Such a nice weeknight meal that cooks up easily, and all you need to add is crusty bread or a grilled cheese.

Enjoy!

In Victory,

Sherry

December Cupboard

This is my cottage corner for December. I am very understated this time of year.  

I am using tealight candles and not electric lights. A little greenery, and I changed the transferware out to Old British Castles by Johnson Brothers. 

I also love to use pewter in December. I love this piece that I found at a thrift store for $4. It is perfect for my December cupboard. "Peace on earth and goodwill to all" is from the Bible. 

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14

 Have a wonderful holiday season! I will be rocking a baby and cooking a lot till the new year! 

In Victory,

Sherry

Highland Thistle Tea for December

Tis the season...I like to let it come slowly and with respect for all that it means to so many all over the world. 

This year I am enjoying a new combination of these Highland Thistle teacups with 

this green willow teapot. I never have had any teacups that look right with this teapot, and I pulled these out this year and thought to myself, "Why haven't I tried these before?" 

The Highland Thistle was a perfect pairing to this teapot. 

I have found that I really like the swan for this season too. It gives a graceful and majestic air to the scene. Haven't done all of the decorating yet,  and I won't do much, but I will work on it. The older I get, the simpler the  better.

In Victory,

Sherry

Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cake

 

This might be one of my favorite cakes I have ever made. It cooked up like a dream, and the moistness of the cake along with the white chocolate icing just made it fantastic!                      

                                                                                               

I made this as a late November birthday cake, but it is perfect for any celebration this time of year.

The layers of this cake were spotted with fresh cranberries, which gave the cake a tartness that complemented the sweetness of the white chocolate icing perfectly. 

This cake recipe is a winner, and I did something I don't often do: I followed the recipe pretty much just like it was written. The only thing I did differently was glaze the cranberries and leave them in the fridge for just an hour, where the recipe suggested to leave them in overnight. My cranberries were just fine with the shortened time invested in sugar coating them.  The recipe can be found at: Life, Love, and Sugar.

In Victory,

Sherry

My Favorite Way to Roast a Whole Chicken

I have tried roasting a whole chicken many different ways, but until I tried doing it like Jill Winger from The Prairie Homestead Cookbook. I could not get a chicken roasted to perfection. She has a technique of roasting it with the lid on in a dutch oven and then roasting it without the lid. 

I won't give away her recipe, but I did find a lady who shows you the technique of roasting and flipping on this Youtube channel. I am not associated with The Prairie Homestead Cookbook, but it is one of my favorite cookbooks. 

The recipe roasts the chicken to perfection every time! It is very tender and moist. We are dining with Peter Rabbit here and having the roast chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and sautéed apples with cinnamon. 

Why so much comfort food? Because it is snowing again and, it is a wintery wonderland outside.

In Victory,

Sherry

A Winter's Tea Tray

I have been having a lot of fun styling my tea tray. Today I am pushing spring a little bit by having some white tulips with Mom's Blue Willow china. 

Blue Willow looks great all year long, but it is nice to do something other than white for this time of year.

Speaking of white, I think we are getting more snow this week. I will see how that goes. 

I have written before about the legend of this china pattern. It was a marketing ploy to enhance the sales of the china. I would say it worked. I posted that in 2015, and you can read it here: The Legend of Blue Willow China.

It still remains one of my favorite china patterns and a bright spot on my table for tea during a wintery week. 

In Victory,

Sherry

The Garden in Winter

I woke up one morning and we had ice fog. The whole garden and all of the trees looked like they were covered in diamonds. The pictures really don't do it justice, because it doesn't capture all of the sparkle.

Here the old garden rose is completely covered with ice, from just the fog, which is really amazing.

I captured a little junco on top of the fence post. I didn't see him at first, for he blended right in. 

Still trying to capture the frost on this trellis, but still the photos don't look as good as it looked in person.

And then, more snow...

It is cozy and warm staying inside, but everyone in the house can't keep from going to the windows and looking out with marvel at this incredible snow. We usually don't get this much snow in a week or even in a year for that matter.  

Staying warm and baking looks to be on the agenda today. Much to love about every season.

In Victory,

Sherry

Teddy Bear Dreams

Teddy bear is dreaming about...what is in the presents? The new year? What do you think he is dreaming about? 

I think he is dreaming about forgiving seventy times seven, understanding that when you walk a mile in someone's shoes, it isn't as easy as you would imagine. To me, Teddy looks terribly worn out, and he looks like I feel. I have had a really rough year dealing with an elderly parent, and it isn't over yet, but maybe we have a stability point. I am praying that is the case. 

Meanwhile, while I still have a life to live, I have been upkeeping the house and touching up the paint. I have doors and window sills that have been unpainted from a remodel for 17 years, and I am finally getting to paint them. 

All this month I have been cooking the Mediterranean diet, and I am surprised that for the most part it is well received. I might be sharing some of those recipes soon. I know that I am not the only person who has endured a rough, 2024; may all who suffer be blessed with the faith to endure till the end.

Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right.
    The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Matthew 5:10

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

In Victory,

Sherry

Understated Holiday

 
I am going very understated here for my embellishments for the season.

I have always preferred to forage my decorations in December. 

This centerpiece is comprised of two juniper sprigs, a blue ribbon, two tealights, a dough bowl, and a bag of pinecones I just got on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $1. 

I just made the table runner too, with a yard and a half of fabric from Hobby Lobby also.

Just creating a cozy feel is a must. 

No electric lights, just tea lights. Simple, understated, and nostalgic is the look I have created here in the cottage corner. The pine smells really good. I just cut it today. Breathe deep and breathe in, and have faith. 

 “O Israel, stay away from idols!
    I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.
I am like a tree that is always green;
    all your fruit comes from me.” ~Hosea 14:8 

In Victory,

Sherry