PENSERIO DEL SPIRITO ~

   ‘SOLITUDE’       Candlelight a lovely sight On my table and placed just right Even in the bright day’s light Another year's soon out of sight   Who can say where the time goes Passing rapidly as swift rivers flow Time to stop and smell the rose Breathe in deeply now think clearly Of all the friends whom we hold so dearly Day dream of thoughts serene Dream on as you will realize your dream  Branches dripping in crystalline dew drops  Sweet pom’ pink martinis for you and me Day dream thoughts bring on such glee Time alone now  I feel so free to just be me       ♥     ♥     .   ‘Hammer Lefsa Makin'  Day’ Another year is upon us once more my friend It will be a been hectic and social holiday season     So surely so and with good reason Four days worth of f...

Basque Lamb Stew ~  White Wine or Red Wine? Surprisingly both!   “I cook with wine & Sometimes I even add it to the food.” W.C. Fields The Basque are an ethnic people who primarily inhabit an area known as the Basque Country. They live in Spain and South-Western France along the Bay of Biscay in the western Pyrenees Mountains.       Ingredients : 750gm lamb shoulder, cut into 2 inch pieces {I used on the bone pieces} 6 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled 1 tbs dried rosemary {or sprig fresh rosemary} 1/2 cup white wine {Four Seasons Pinot} 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 large onion, peeled and chopped Salt 1/2 tsp red chili flakes 3 roasted red bell peppers, cut into 1/2 inch strips 1 large ripe tomato, peeled, seeded, and chopped 2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander 1 bay leaf 1 cup dry, full-bodied red wine {Four Seasons Barouque Reserve} 1 cup vegetable stock  Freshly ground black pepper  ...

It's Winter...It's Time for Goulash   American style goulash is nothing remotely close to Hungarian style, except maybe the paprika used.  If you're looking for a fairly fast and economical dinner that is just as good, if not better, as leftovers, try goulash.  Use a large skillet and add the elbow macaroni in the pan right after your meat is brown. Then you can add in the liquid ingredients and simmer in the same pan.  It makes cleanup so much easier too!  Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef 1/2 cup each of diced celery, yellow onion and bell peppers) 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes 1 small can tomato sauce 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp garlic pepper 1/2 tsp paprika 1 bag large elbow macaroni 3 cups water Top with sour cream, if desired 6 "normal" servings: Brown ground beef in large skillet with the onion/celery/bell pepper mix, garlic pepper and cumin. Drain, add elbow macaroni and stir so that all the mac is comple...

Shortbread Cookies ~ Norwegian Morkaker I saw this shortcake recipe on Norway-Hei.com  and could not resist its simplicity.  I can assure you with great enthusiasm, I loved these cookies.  Methinks these are a cousin to the snickerdoodle , not so much cinnamon and sugar, but lots of gorgeous butter,  tender, slightly crispy.  This cookie is going to be year 'round favorite with me for its ease of preparation, simple pantry ingredients, and delicious flavor. The dough requires a couple hours of refrigerator time, so you might want to start these earlier in the day and putter about until you're ready to bake. Ingredients: 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter , no substitutes (!) 2/3 cup sugar 2 1/2 cups flour cinnamon-sugar mixture (1/4 cup sugar with 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon) In a medium-sized bowl, cream the butter and sugar until white and creamy, about 6 minutes.  Add the flour gradually until well blended...

Penserio Del Spirito Poesia It’s Italiano for ~   ‘Thoughts of the Spirit Poetry 'Seasons' Autumn leaves start falling as cold north winds come calling Trust ~ it is Mother Nature’s song to us What a glorious sound and sight Green turns to orange and bronze so bright Yellow gold and red are swiftly blown & put to bed Reflections of summer are soon put to rest So never the less we shall do our  best To prepare for a colder and blustery season We’ll bundle up warm just to keep from freezin’ Mother Nature often throws her curve ball Do we think it’s very fair at all Blue Moon ~ Oh bright Harvest Moon Falling leaves have come too soon Goodness sake I’ll need a rake Wild whooshing winds furl up frivolous falling leaf tunes Behold the bright red orange Harvest Moon Sometimes snowflakes appear in early  Fall Truly it's not fair at all Tiny flakes of Nature's trickery will fool us once again Some of us accept this and face it w...

  "The moment a child is born ~  The mother is also born.    She never existed before. The woman existed ~  But the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” Rajneesh 'Tiffany ~ Myth & Magic' I loved you my child since well before your birth  Conception even so to my recollection Tiny little ‘Twink’, the object of my affection Furthermore, you were  seriously planned for Little did I know what an angel I had in store I revered the wonders of motherhood Forever & always understood We'd wanted a son first and then had darling Drake It was no mistake & life was great Secondly, a baby daughter became my heart's desire Soon you were born one early morn ~   January 7th, 1973 My heart warmed like fire ~  my spirit soared higher    Our family plan...

A Poem for Daren ~ Happy 19th Birthday! ‘Smile all the while ~ Daren Style’ Since you entered our world we have been greatly blessed Certainly so Dare, I will truly profess My firstborn grandson, you're adored by everyone Dark wavy hair and coal black eyes, with the fairest of skin I consider you 'my Persian Prince' Ever since, and I always will with love immense Fast Forward ~ 3 yrs You set our minds a whirl when you were just three  With a golf club in hand you stood at the tee You hit eleven of twelve balls! What a surprise… I could hardly believe my very own eyes Amazing ~ my grandson a three year old golfer It’s recorded somewhere on video tape You were such a wee form ~ just past toddler shape Wearing  your white satin wedding tux ~ you did so great Fast Forward ~ 8 yrs Soon you were eight and the older brother of Zack We were not fooling when we called him 'Zack Attack' I must c...