Marching into 2017 has been all about staying warm. I keep reading article headlines that give advice to people on how to stay happy and positive during these difficult, cold, and dreary winter months. Being that I love winter, and up here it is a pretty long one, I’m grateful that I have all positive thoughts about white snow, winter hikes, and warm cracking fires.
What I’ve noticed living in this New England climate, is that many people save up winter projects to keep them busy over these months of freezing temperatures that sometimes don’t make it out of the teens for a week at a time (we just had one of those).
Our friends up the road save projects like quilting and sewing for activities to do around the kitchen table in front of a warm fire. Our other friend picks up woodworking and clock repairing projects to do as a hobby…and another refinishes the planks for his wooden dingy used to get back and forth from his sail boat.
I decided to follow suit. Between getting outdoors for some pretty frigid winter walks, I’ve compiled a variety of projects and activities to happily carry me through these winter months. We gave each other piles of books this holiday. Post dinner time can find us snuggled under blankets around the fireplace. Patrick is deep into The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan. Dreaming of traveling to Scotland occupies my evenings as I am enjoying all the rich details and plot developments of the Outlander series written by Diana Gabaldon.
I have Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History as well as Lilac Girls written by Martha Hall Kelly. The pile of reading material is pretty tall under those first choices but the list of Golden Globe movies is toggling for attention as well.
I’ve never been one to follow the various award ceremonies like Golden Globes, Academy Awards, and The Oscars. I couldn’t tell you who today’s A-list actors are and which films are winning these top awards but I have always admired people who were in-the-know about all of these
- Ingredients:
- 8 eggs
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 6 oz. goat's milk cheese, cut into ¼-inch rounds
- 1 tsp. plus 2 Tbs. olive oil
- ½ lb. mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- ¾ lb. assorted wild mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed and cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces
- 1 bunch Swiss chard, about ¾ lb., stems removed and leaves cut into 1-inch strips
- Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In the deep half of a frittata pan (I use a black cast iron pan) over medium-high heat, warm 1 tsp. of the olive oil. Add the sausage and cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until well browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the sausage on paper towels, then transfer to another bowl.
- In the same pan over medium-high heat, warm 1 Tbs. of the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the bowl with the sausage.
- In the same pan over medium heat, warm 1 tsp. of the olive oil. Add half of the chard and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with 1 tsp. of the olive oil and the remaining chard.
- Return the rest of chard, the sausage and the mushrooms to the same cast iron pan and heat over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the egg mixture and cook, using a rubber spatula to lift the cooked edges and allow the uncooked eggs to flow underneath, about 2 minutes. Add the goat cheese circles and let melt into the frittata. Continue cooking until the eggs begin to set, 4 to 6 minutes more. Place entire pan directly into the oven. Continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes until the frittata doesn't jiggle too much when shaken. It will continue to firm up after removing from the oven.
- Cut into slices and serve directly from cast iron skillet.
A mouthwatering frittata. The kind of comforting winter dish you want to eat after (or before) a long walk in the snow…
You really live in a wonderful place. Really dreamlike.
Best wishes for 2027!
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Rosa. I’ve been following the loss of your kitty, Kismet. I am so sorry. You are the 3rd person recently to lose a pet. Pets are such a terrible loss indeed.
I think it’s great that you embrace your wintering in instead of fighting it.. good plan. We are currently snowed in and the sun is shining and I’m happy to stay home and knit my pink hat for the Women’s March on Jan 21st.. not marching in it but will be wearing the hat in support of it!! My sister is marching in the Portland one, the big one will be in Washington DC. I’m so proud of her. ((hugs)), Teresa
How wonderful of you to knit a pink hat for the Women’s March. There will be one here in Concord and I will be attending there. Times…they are a changin…
I make my frittata almost the same way you do. It’s always so good! I love your photo of the League of NH Craftsmen shop. I’ve been in there so many times! I used to live in Concord…
I’ve never managed to “flip” a frittata without making a mess…so I cook it a bit like a quiche. I love getting to know Concord. The farmer’s market near the capital building is wonderful…especially their almond milk ice cream bars.
I love fritattas – my husband hates them which means all the more for me! I also LOVE goats cheese with sausage – Your photographs today are all warm and wintery and comforting – beautfully composed. I am very impressed. In fact I feel inspired to go out and create some decent photos myself! Have a lovely day.. c
Thank you Cecilia…I always imagine your farm a bit like a Beatrix Potter meets Charlotte’s Web children’s book series in the making. It’s important for all of us to understand the daily life of farming and how much work goes into maintaining farm animals.
Beautiful pictures………….. I love New Hampshire and hope to visit again some day.
Oh, I’m glad you were able to visit here. NH is such a wonderful place to call home after all of the moving we have done over the last 25 years.
I’ve never met so many woodworkers until I started dating someone from Michigan!