Irish Pub

Love me an Irish Pub... happened upon this one tonight and it was quite nice.  Live music, warm atmosphere and really, really good Irish soda bread.  Seriously the bread was worth going for.. dense and perfectly moist, not too sweet.. so good and only $1 for 2 whole slices.  I would have bought a loaf, if it were for sale.  So, having that.. now I am on the search for a good soda bread recipe...  which in turn, means attempting quite a few recipes, in pursuit of one that is this good.  

Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub in Tacoma, Wa  Lovely live irish music, as such on Sunday and Wed nights.  There were 2 violins, guitar, mandoline, 2 different flutes.. one wood, drum bodhran (Irish) and 2 people sang.. which was quite beautiful.  

rudolf the red nosed easy gift

Saw this idea on the lovely pinterest and easily recreated with my 3 year old for gifts to give.  Easy, inexpensive and she had fun making them.   A little tape, a little white glue, googly eyes and red pom-pom noses.. we happened to have all these components and you probably do too!  XL chocolate bars or I am sure regular size would do, I just happened to get these on sale.    

 Will definitely try these snowmen or these santas.   Dontcha just love pinterest? 

Find: Vintage Costume Jewelry Tree

How much do I adore this?  Let me tell you the ways.  This has to be one of my favorite things I have seen in quite a while.  My friend Roseanna has 3 of these that she has found antique-ing about and hangs them above her mantle, lit up no less. The photos do not do them justice... they sparkle and twinkle and steal the evergreen's spotlight. They are fabulous.  The more you look at them the more you see.. a seahorse, a vase, a lamp, fleur de lis.. keep staring (try to stop drooling) and you will see something else. 

I do not own one of these.. but now I have something new to dream about and search for at the antique shops.  

Or possibly, get crafty on my own and create one out of the mass amounts of costume jewelry that I collect that does not get worn.  Maybe, one day.  We'll see.   

Until then, I will look even more forward to Christmas when she pulls them out again. 

lighting it up.. simply poke twinkle lights like shown thru the back.. (then hide the cord!)

What's for lunch: Chicken Salad

Love chicken salad.  Favorite sandwich from my favorite sandwich place back home is a Chicken Salad with avocado and alfalfa sprouts on pumpernickel swirl bread.  The Cheeseboard in Linwood is so good at making sandwiches, however while waiting in line I  say I am going to order something different.. then I usually order this when it's my turn.  It's so yum.  
Well, Scarlett loves chicken salad, too.  And I thought I'd share how we make ours.  Nothing special.. just lots of added veggies.  When incorporated, there are no complaints and she usually gobbles up the whole sandwich.

Chicken Salad our way

1-2 cups of leftover, cooked chicken, chopped or shredded small
Spoonful (about 1/4 cup) of vegenaise (we love the soy-free variety) or mayo (olive oil is so good, have you tried it?)
1-2 T. sour cream (opt.)
1 radish, finely chopped
1 inner rib of celery, finely chopped
1 carrot, shredded
sweet onion, finely chopped.. (the amount depends on your taste & child & how much bite the onion has)
S+P to taste
chopped fresh parsley (opt.)

Combine all, adding more mayo when needed.  You can always add more but you can't take it out!

We love it scooped into a pita pocket with crisp romaine, shredded and smooshed avocado.  Crunchy, creamy.. so good.  

Serve with cucumber slices and that is a favorite, healthy lunch!

Baked Caramel Corn

Growing up at the Jersey Shore, one of my favorite things was the boardwalk.  And one of my favorite things on the boardwalk, well, besides all the boys.. was Johnson's Popcorn.   It is iconic of the Ocean City boardwalk in the summer.. the smell and the batches being made in the large copper kettles. So delicious.  The popcorn was sold in large tubs which they would pile high and hand you the lid and off you'd go walking the boards while munching on the fresh caramel corn.  Still slightly warm, yet very crunchy and never moist.  
I got this recipe when I was in the 7th grade and although it's not made in copper drum kettles.. it comes out as close as I remember.  Finished off slowly in the oven, it  comes out perfectly dry & crunchy.  
So, why am I posting a summer treat in the beginning of December, you ask?  Well, it makes the perfect gift.  So easy to make and doesn't break the bank with ingredients... and you will see the rave results.   I touted this as the best recipe to a girlfriend who's guilty pleasure is kettle corn and clearly, I could see the doubt.  Then she tasted it and said it truly was the best she had.  I know. 

This recipe can be easily doubled for gift giving.. I used a pyrex glass dish and 2 white corning dishes that could sit side by side in the oven.  You just want to make sure it fits your oven but the bake time might be longer.  It will be warm but pretty much dry when it's done.  So add time according to your baking dishes, if you double the recipe. I can't do more than 1.5xs in my oven here. 
Not usual for me or my blog... this recipe is not healthy at all and I am not going to apologize and I am not going to try and remix this to a healthy version.  As I see it, this is a treat!..  Not a daily snack!  rich, indulgent and delicious.  So, relax and enjoy a bit, your friends will be glad!

BAKED CARAMEL CORN

1 c. butter
2 c. dark brown sugar
1/2 c. corn syrup
1 t. sea salt

6 qt. popcorn, popped 
1 T. coconut oil (optional)*  

1/2 t. baking soda
1.5 t. vanilla extract

Sea Salt

Pre-heat oven to 250º  
Place popped corn in large bowl.   *optional:  Drizzle and toss with 1T. of warmed coconut oil.  Set aside.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat.  Bring heat up and stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.  Bring to boil and stir constantly for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in baking soda and vanilla. 
Pour over popped corn, very carefully mix well.  
Turn into 2 large, shallow baking pans.  Bake for 1 hour.. stirring every 15 minutes.  If your dish isn't shallow enough.. this might take longer.  
Optional at this point but adds to deliciousness...When hot out of the oven, give a little sprinkle of sea salt, to taste. Not to much, enough for sweet & salty yumminess. 
Let cool completely.  Break apart and store in air-tight container.  

air popped & then tossed with warm coconut oil. Smells so good!

(the largest bowl I could find; holds about 9-10 qts of popcorn)

gooey sugar mixture poured in, using 2 wooden spoons to mix it up

a batch & 1/2 needs 1 large pyrex and 2 corning dishes to bake

Mountain Aire Mercantile

I love living in this small country town at the foothills of Crystal Mountain and Mt. Ranier.  Everytime I say "mountain", Scarlett corrects me and says "volcano, mama, volcano."  Which is true and also gives me a clue she is watching way too much Dora the Explorer.  Did I mention, I can't stand that show.  I am sure I have before.    

Anyway, if I had a store.. it would be very much like this one that opened up last July.  Mountain Aire Mercantile, a Natural Goods and Espresso shop.  Great selection of thoughtful and responsible products.   

These are some images of the store from 1939 which the site says were inspiration for the store today. Love that.  I highly recommend it as a Christmas shopping stop, while in this little town...  for gifts or a coffee and a bite to eat.

from their website www.mountainairemercantile.com

"Mountain Aire Mercantile believes in celebrating the region through food and community by providing local, natural ingredients, as well as exceptional products from around the world, and good old-fashioned personal attention.It's an answer to "Why don't they make things like they used to?" Mountain Aire Mercantile wants you to know that they do. Good Things, NaturallyCome enjoy our coffee house and natural foods grocery store today!"