Author: Amy

I believe in the transformative power of stories. I am a high school English teacher, serendipitous farm girl, LEO wife, step mom, and writer in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Old Fashioned Sweet Pickled Beets

February 13, 2020

On the eve of Valentine’s Day I wanted to offer you up a romantic recipe. Last year I made a luscious beet soup that my husband John did not find delicious. However, his reaction was memorable and I still laugh thinking about it. Needless to say, I will not be making him soup this year. I am still deciding on an entree, but I know that I will definitely make a leafy green salad with pickled beets, feta cheese, raspberries, walnuts, and a homemade lemon dill dressing.
… More Old Fashioned Sweet Pickled Beets

YEAR ROUND SUMMER SIMPLICITY – LATE NIGHT ZESTY BROCCOLI

February 10, 2020

Once we started growing our own broccoli, it would be hard to go back to store bought. The flavor of fresh out of the garden, or even garden fresh out of the freezer, is dramatically different. We use broccoli in pressure cooked meals, in green salads, as a simple side dressed with real butter and a splash of lemon and a sprinkle of sea salt, or even as a late night snack (our favorite especially in the summer). Truth be told, I am known to sneak out to the hoophouse in my nightclothes to cut fresh broccoli, a few beans, and peas (if they are still growing) and whip up a batch with the seasoning mix I am sharing with you today. … More YEAR ROUND SUMMER SIMPLICITY – LATE NIGHT ZESTY BROCCOLI

LOW CARB CREAMY CHICKEN & MUSHROOM SOUP WITH CAULIFLOWER RICE

February 7, 2020

If you have been paying attention, some of the most popular buzz-words right now are wellness, self-care, and low-carb. Though, I admit, as I age I realize how important paying attention to all three are. While I have not jumped 100% on the “carbs are evil” bandwagon. One of my intentions for 2020 was to be mindful of creating a meal plan for myself that was lower in carbs. … More LOW CARB CREAMY CHICKEN & MUSHROOM SOUP WITH CAULIFLOWER RICE

Lessons Learned Outside The Classroom — Glitter and Dog Hair

December 13, 2019

“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” ~ Stacia Tauscher I need to write about this moment. Writing helps us savor and even stop time. How fortunate we are to have language at our fingertips and tongues to help us remember. Friends, you know what […] … More Lessons Learned Outside The Classroom — Glitter and Dog Hair

RASPBERRY LEMONADE GREEN SMOOTHIE – A REFRESHING SIP OF SUMMER

July 16, 2019

“Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we face the question whether a still higher ‘standard of living’ is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free. For us of the minority, the opportunity to see geese is more important than television.” … More RASPBERRY LEMONADE GREEN SMOOTHIE – A REFRESHING SIP OF SUMMER