spring

Loving Lately

Easter Recipe Ideas

In spite of the snowfall this week, spring is here. Which means lighter desserts, such as pavlovas topped with berries and lemon curd, and berry sprinkled tarts are popping up all over my feed. Love.

I’ve assembled a few of my favorite ideas from Martha Stewart, and Southern Living, etc. I’m pretty sure some of these will appear on our dessert table this Sunday.

Recipe photo courtesy of Armando Rafael via MarthaStewart.com

Key lime pie is such a lovely transitional dessert for the season. The brightness of lime is a welcomed diversion from heavier winter flavors, and the light green is as indicative of spring as the buds on the trees. Martha Stewart has given us a No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake, an “airy, mousse-like treat” that boasts completion in 35 minutes… she’s got my attention.

And how about this beautiful Almond & Blackberry Cream Pavlova from CamilleStyles.com? Gorgeous! (Also, the featured image.) I’m ecstatic about all of the fresh fruit coming into season. And I’m always ready to welcome the light crunch followed by the dense chew of the sweet marshmallowy treat known as pavlova. Always. Bring it.

Southern Living Photographer Hector Sanchez;Food Stylist Torie Cox;Prop Stylist Caroline Cunnignham Banana Pudding

There is just something about Easter dessert that is etched in my mind with cream puddings and silk pies; much more than chocolate bunnies and jelly beans. I love banana pudding. Truly. It is comfort food in dessert form. So when I was reading 50+ Delightful Spring Desserts from Southern Living, it was natural to click on the Coconut-Banana Pudding Recipe feature from MyRecipes.com… Coconut and Banana? Definitely yes.

He is Risen!

Happy Easter everyone!

Featured Image courtesy of CamilleStyles.com

Loving Lately

Spring Tablescape

Hurray for Spring! We are so ready to welcome this season into our homes! What better way is there to celebrate than with the bright colors and foods springing up around us?

TV dinners, meals on the go, family members with crazy schedules trying to fit in supper when they can… we get it. However, when you can make it happen, family meal time is really worthwhile. Numerous studies have been done emphasizing the benefits of eating together. According to healthfully.com, such practice can not only promote healthier eating, but strengthen family relationships, curb risky behaviors, and even produce better academics. In an article by StandfordChildren.org titled, Why the Family Meal is Important, they explain how “dinnertime is a time of respite from the hustle-bustle of everyday life.” They even suggest creating chores (place setting, clean up, food preparation, etc.), and having expectations (sharing, listening, being respectful of one another, etc.) for meal time; which can lead to improved self-esteem. Sounds good to us!

Setting a table is kind of a lost art. Not every meal at home has several courses, with corresponding various wines (at least not in Sadie’s Nest); we can save those table settings for when the queen comes to visit. However, setting a basic table can be fairly easy. According to the Emily Post Institute, “Setting a table is not as difficult as it seems. The basic rule is: Utensils are placed in the order of use; that is, from the outside in. A second rule, with only a few exceptions, is: Forks go to the left of the plate, and knives and spoons go to the right. And finally, only set the table with utensils you will use. No soup; no soup spoon.” We can handle that.

And who doesn’t love the idea of bringing fresh flowers into the house? I’ve been waiting all winter to have some blooms! Okay, maybe allergy sufferers aren’t enthusiastic about it, so here is a link to Martha Stewart’s Spring Centerpiece ideas.

Our fresh arrangement of cabbage and roses, was created by Rhonda. -A special thank you to Sadie and Rachel’s mom, who has given us a lifetime of magazine worthy tablescapes, for putting together this lovely display!

Loving Lately

I’d like to tell you I’m loving decorating my spring-themed porch. Hahaha. I’m more like loving sarcasm. I can’t put flowers out on my porch. They would freeze- not just in the temperature dropping night, all day long. I could put out fake flowers. Of course everyone would know they must be fake. (Not like the fantastic blooms above from @misskatyenglish)

But looking at porch ideas got me kind of excited about flowers… just pretty pictures of random bouquets. They’re inspiring.

Courtesy of Pinterest

Yet, in this progression, somehow my inspiration always comes back to food and drink. Always. I was (slightly) surprised to see that the last 4 pins for my “Inspiration” board on Pinterest actually contained coffee or food or both.

Courtesy of @mezanin

Apparently that’s where my heart lies. Because I start with nature… then I just totally drift back to food. I mean, c’mon… these pies are as pretty as a bouquet of flowers. Come to think of it, I don’t know if they really are pies… or flowers? And I honestly don’t know which one I would be more excited about being surprised with.

Yes I do. Give me the pies. Are they pies?

Courtesy of Vue » Portfolio – Debby Lewis-Harrison

People keep crossing the lines of food and art. And I’m down. But I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I get confused. Like this season: Is it winter? Is it spring? We’ve got these beautiful breakfast egg tarts. They are so whimsy… in a rustic setting surrounded with herbs, egg shells, kitchen utensils, an apron, pine cones… Pine cones? Are they pine flavored? Are we supposed to eat the pine cones? Because I will. Just kidding- no I won’t. But I still like this picture.

Courtesy of Fotogrammi di zucchero

But I’m not just all about the food this spring. I mean yes, it is too cold to go outside. So, I spend a good portion of my time in the kitchen. Which means I probably need to spruce it up- give it a little spring makeover. Therefore logic says I should get a new copper hood for my stovetop.

Courtesy of baltimoreathome.com

It makes sense, as long as you don’t think about it very hard. But really, does copper say spring? Because, I’m feeling it.

Courtesy of @mademoisellepoirot

Is it more spring-ish if it’s used for a bouquet?

Courtesy of Pinterest

Okay, it’s possible I’m getting off track. Basically what I am saying is this: I’d like to be outside, decorating my house, but I’m not. The next best thing would likely be to brighten my day with a fresh bouquet.

courtesy of GREY AND SCOUT

However in reality, I’d be more apt to make a bouquet of Rainbow Roll-Ups with Peanut Sauce.

Courtesy of Pinch of Yum

And until it gets a little warmer out there… I’ll be keeping it real over here, dreaming about the possibility of spring and touches of copper while I eat and drink.

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Loving Lately

Okay, okay. I know what you’re thinking. “Whoa Sadie! Two posts in a row, your a little overzealous!”

That’s true.

Well, excited might be more accurate. But here’s the thing: if you’ve followed my blog at all, you know that Thursdays are really my only days of consistent posts. This is the day I share my favorite things, ideas, new finds, i.e. stuff I think everyone should know about. I love to share new products, delivery services, cookbooks, food (usually food), etc.. Right now, I am loving the idea of Spring.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRji7eKAHQp/?taken-by=dayspringcards

Courtesy of DaySpring on Instagram

If you could see out my window right now, you’d laugh at my blatant disregard of the winter storm outside. Hey, that’s the beauty of ~~denial~~ optimism. And in spite of the fresh layer of snow on my lawn, I am ecstatic about spring on the horizon! I am loving the idea of rhubarb pies, tulips and daffodils, mucky boots, baby birds…

Two days ago, my kids were fighting while we were trying to get out the door for school. My son, overloaded with snow gear like the little brother in A Christmas Story, didn’t see (so he says) his sister’s leg while she was sitting on the floor pulling up her boots. He apologized after stepping on it, but apparently she wasn’t satisfied. So, after she stood up, she gave him a shove which sent him toward the staircase. He caught himself with his hands out on a step before any serious damage had been done, but the force of the shove (no impact mind you) was enough to cause his glass nose to start bleeding- maybe it also had something to do with the dry winter air. Anyway, I stopped zipping up the baby’s (he’s three years old, but my youngest) coat to run and grab a paper towel. My son with the bloody nose just stood there dripping. So, I yelled to the baby not to touch the blood, which I could see him staring at on the floor. I told my other son to come to me and helped him clean the blood off of his face and hands. I handed him a fresh paper towel to hold against his nose and turned around to see the blood drops had been smeared around the wood floor at the base of the steps by the baby, who while clearly ignoring my direction insisted he was helping clean up. I still don’t know what he used. I told him to go wash his hands, which he is very capable of doing since it has been a regular occurrence during his excessively long potty training routine. At this point, the bleeding seemed to be under control, and I cleaned the floor properly. I made sure my kids had their lunches, backpacks, gloves, etc. and realized that the baby had been in the bathroom a long time. I called his name and asked what he was doing, to which he replied “nuffing” and then I knew he was up to something. I walked in to see him covered in vaseline- his hands, his face, his shirt, his hair… Needless to say, the kids were late to school.

“But that was then, and this is now…” -Tommy Boy. I’m looking ahead to fresh- not frozen air. I’ve already seen bright ruby radishes in my local market. (Don’t tell me they’ve been there all year long, or that they were shipped from the south… I’m quite content in my Spring bubble.) I’m scouring Pinterest and flipping through my cookbooks for spring recipes like lamb stew, cream of asparagus soup and radish toasts:

Fried Egg on Toast with Salted Herb Butter and Radishes courtesy of Bon Appetit

Oh sure, I might have “the cart in front of the horse” so to speak; like department stores displaying Christmas decorations in October. But the first day of spring is officially less than two weeks away. After the very snowy winter we’ve had in the upper midwest, I’m ready.

Printable Spring Peony Art from The Happy House

We had two days of almost 60° weather last week. (Yes, I’m bragging.) I went for a walk around my new neighborhood. I cleaned a few windows. I could finally see the remnants of last year’s weeds that needed to be pulled. That was of course, before the last no school-snow day; before the second to last snow storm (which is still currently underway); before pulling out the boots and snow pants for the I-lost-track-of-how-many times. Don’t get me wrong, I love winter. I’m thankful for the beautiful snowfalls we had this year. However, it was a lovely glimpse of what lies ahead, where 2 rounds of stomach flu, flu type A, and another season of strep throat fades into a wintery memory.

Courtesy of Buzzfeed.com

It’s… so… close!

Picture by Heather A. Stillhufsen courtesy of Pinterest

Just imagine temperatures warm enough to open the windows; brisk- but not overly chilly evening walks… daylight sprawling out further into the day… sending the kids outside after dinner! The thought of these things are enough to get me through this (possibly) last blast of winter.

Courtesy of Inspirational Quotes

I hope you have a good day… and thoughts of Spring.

Featured photo courtesy of Zsa Zsa Bellagio Tumblr

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Loving Lately

So Spring is not exactly “in the air.” In fact, currently the temperature is below freezing. But it’s that time in the upper midwest when we are ~~ready~~ longing for Spring. And because Michigan has drastically fluctuating weather, I am aware that beyond this nearly 60° forecasted weekend, there is probably still a snowfall on the horizon. Actually being the true Michigander that I am, I’m okay with it all. But I am still loving the idea of Spring… the gradual bursts of opened windows… the flower buds… the recipes…

I am really excited about making the spring line-up from Farmhouse Rules by Nancy Fuller: Spring Fling Fiddlehead Soup, Tavern Ham, Roasted Asparagus, Buttery Braised Radishes… Fiddleheads and radishes! How spring am I! I am looking forward to the fresh garden offerings, and more time outdoors. It’s menus like this, little peeks of sunshine, and days with longer stretches of light that fuel my fire this time of year.

It’s a time of transition. And it’s not very beautiful. The trees are still bare, the snow has left behind brown patches of mud… But it’s hopeful. It has the promise that good things are on their way. (Photo courtesy of Betterphoto.com) I’m eager for the good things that lie ahead. I think we all get that way after a long cold winter. It’s the homestretch, our rite of passage. I can almost taste it… and I want to taste it!

Here’s a random goal: I want to eat nettles. (Photo of baby nettles courtesy of forageporage.) Apparently, they only grow in the Spring. Eiven and Eve Kilcher, from Alaska: The Last Frontier, make them sound like the most necessary and nutritious things I’ve never tried. In their cookbook, Homestead Kitchen, they include them in several recipes from tea, to Nettle Bread, and even Nettle Burgers! …Now, how do I get nettles?

The first day of Spring this year is March 2o. Yes, (small cry) still over a month away. We are smack dab in the middle of “The Thaw” phase (photo courtesy of Flickr). But thinking about Spring helps me get through the cold and gray. And enduring these last cold murky days makes the appreciation of what’s in store all the better.

Thank you refreshrestyle.com for my featured image and inspirational spring quote!

(And even more so, thank you to my readers who put up with my ramblings! Xoxo)

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Loving Lately: Spring Flowers

You know what they say, “Spring showers bring May flowers…”

Well it’s holding true once again.

Although we had a snowy wintery start to our spring…

The flowers are on cue.

It’s the stuff sonnets and songs are made of.

I’m feeling it.

(And thank you Pinterest for providing me with images)

Loving Lately ☔

Loving Lately: The Rain

Confession: I love the rain.

I love a warm rain that I can walk in.

I love to curl up and drink something warm during a cold rain. On a blustery wet day, I love to build a fire and look out the window.

I love rain so much that I gave it as a middle name to one of my children.

It’s a blessing: “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater…” Isaiah 55:10

So long for now, I’m going to take a stroll in the rain.

(And I cannot take credit for any of these photos, which you can find on Pinterest.)

Spring

I finally felt it today.

Sure, there is still snow on the ground from our 4th round of winter.

Yes, the kids are recovering from Strep throat.

But this morning the sun shone differently.

I could hear the birds chattering with excitement.

And when I looked out my bedroom window (ready for it’s seasonal cleaning), I believed them.

Spring is almost here.

I’m ready to celebrate.

Sadie's Nest

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