January Spinach

The weather has been so strange in Columbus.  I checked the cold frame this evening and this is what I found.

The cold frame had glass windows which broke.  We replaced it with plastic, but it cracked and broke in December.  However, it has been so warm that the little shelter that the spinach had was enough.  I will be adding this to the Spinach and Artichoke Dip I'm taking to a Super Bowl Party.

Blackberry Jelly

I've really been craving some homemade blackberry jam.  But getting good blackberries is hard to find in January.  Wild blackberries are my preference.  Sure the big shiny blackberries you see at the store or farmers market are pretty, but the large seeds make them difficult to eat.  So I made a compromise.  I bought frozen blackberries and made jelly instead of jam.  I had some on a biscuit this morning and it turned out great.  But I can't wait until this summer when I can find some wild blackberries!  If anyone knows of a place where they are available in central Ohio, let me know.

Homemade Granola

Around the holidays I make sure that I have several staples in my pantry that I don't have year round. This includes lots of dried fruits and assorted nuts.  Many times some of these are left over and sitting in the pantry unused.  However, this year I had an idea.  I decided to make granola. The biggest expense are the fruits and nuts that are added, so all I had to do is stock up on some oats and grab some flax and sunflower seeds.

My Favorite Room

Off of our kitchen is a nice breakfast nook that Mary Ann has graciously let me turn into a prep room.  Our kitchen doesn't have much counter space, however, with the addition of a prep table I now have plenty of work space. We recently moved the table around, added another table that holds the microwave and mixer, and put up a shelf. I am in the process of rehanging art and figuring out where I want to put everything. There are so many things I love about this room.  I won't point them all out. You can see for yourself.