Cooking & Crafting Thursday: Beef Stroganoff & Artsy Update

 

Hi Friends!

It's a gorgeous day here in the northwoods. Low 70's, a little sun and light breeze. It feels like summer hanging on today. However, the last couple of days felt more like this:

The days were in the low 60's with a little chill to the breeze or it was rainy. The nights have been in the 40's. For all of my poor friends in the sweltering warmth - I am sending you cool thoughts from the north winds. We have had some leaf changing happening, butterflies migrating and geese still doing their practice runs over the bay. I hope you get the Autumn vibes soon too!! 🍁🧡

But today, since it definitely feels like summer yet - I made a cucumber salsa/salad situation with fresh cukes, tomatoes, red onion, some cucumber balsamic I have, cilantro, jalapeno, lime etc. It's marinating in the fridge...along with some chicken breasts I put a marinade over this morning and threw in the fridge. Matt will cook them on the grill for dinner and we will top them with this cucumber salsa. Fresh and summery. I will share the full recipe soon. Along with a recipe for a wonderful sheet pan chicken fried rice I made a week or so ago that I have been meaning to share. 

But don't worry, for today I'm bringing the cozy vibes with this recipe to share. This is a beef stroganoff recipe that I grew up on. The recipe card is in my Dad's handwriting. Both of my folks made this different times during my childhood and it was often the dish they made if we had company over. It's so easy, yet rich and comforting. I thought I had shared it long ago here... but I looked back and couldn't find it. So I thought I'd finally share it today! 

My Dad used to go deer hunting when I was a kid - and I even remember he sometimes made it with venison. I definitely recommend it and to make it just as it's written. The key is not to cook the steak too long at the start - just brown it because it slow cooks the rest of the way through in the pot with the gravy. So so good!! Perfect dish for Fall. 

Speaking of my PapaBear, I went out to lunch with him recently to catch up. He and my step Mom have had a busy summer up here. But they head back to AZ next month...as well as Matt's folks too. So it's almost time for the snowbirds to fly - just another sign of Autumn in the air. 🌻🧡

And for the crafting update - here is the progress on the embroidery project I've been doing. I only have a few more small details and then I fill in that hat with black embroidery and it's done! I think it's turning out so sweet and I'm excited to get to work on the next one -which I will share next week. As well as a little side crafty I've decided to work on. 

And I also wanted to share that I found this lovely painting in my closet. My Mom had made it for my last birthday and I forgot to get it framed. She painted it from a kit. It's nice sized and the colors are so beautiful! I just love it and since it's special because she put in all the time for me - I want it framed nicely to preserve it. So I'm bringing it in soon and will share it again when it's all matted and framed. :) 

Blessings to you all for a great weekend ahead! 

xoxo