Even though I try to eat well most of the time, every now and again I long for something homemade with the ingredients of the season.  With my husband being a cherry fan, I decided to make this cherry cobbler (and realized I have never made one before).

Canned cherry filling doesn’t do it for me~~way too sweet with an unnatural thick, gelatinous consistency.  However, true fresh fresh sour cherries are never available here.  After doing some research, this recipe from Cooks Illustrated  (obtained from GroupRecipes.com) has apparently been rated the best cherry cobbler recipe.  Using Trader Joe’s Morello cherries in a jar, this cobbler is full of flavor and not too sweet. However, you can adjust the sugar if you like your dessert on the sweeter side.

You make the biscuits first in a food processor combining the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and then the butter. Add buttermilk. The recipe says to use a spring loaded ice cream scoop to measure out the biscuit dough, which I do not have.  A regular ice cream scoop or large spoon will do.

While the biscuits bake, you then make the cherry syrup using the cherry juice, wine, cinnamon stick, sugar, cornstarch and salt.  If you want to minimize the red wine flavor, I imagine you could just boil it down longer.  My version had a distinct red wine essence, which I really liked.  However, my 16 year old daughter wrinkled her nose a bit at it at first…as she does not like the smell of wine (yay!)

Arrange the biscuits in 3 rows of 4 over the filling.  Bake the cobbler until it is bubbling and the biscuits are golden brown.

I served it with freshly made whipped cream (another indulgence!).  This was absolutely delicious.  For an extra kick, you could drizzle it with Chambord, which up until this post I thought was a cherry based liqueur~~it is actually a black raspberry liqueur, but works too!!

I know my friend, Sam, will be sending me the calorie count on this shortly!!!! Not only is this a beautiful dessert but delicious too!

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A year ago today, I sent my first blog post of Life at Bella Terra.  It was an intimidating moment, because I thought “who would ever want to read this?”  I don’t consider myself a very good writer and I’m really trying to improve upon that.  But your words of encouragement have brought me back to the computer to post again and again.  If it wasn’t for your kindness and support, it would have been easy to just quit.  Thank you for your loyalty and feedback and comments. Truly. From the bottom of my heart.

Each time I send out an email letting you know I’ve created a new post, I am praying you find it interesting, enlightening or even motivating.  I try to share a small piece of loveliness in hopes that I can brighten your day. As I look out into the world, I believe we each need to find sources of joy and create our own beauty.  Whether it be feeling the warmth from a freshly picked tomato, or the scent of a homegrown flower, these moments of perfection can only help feed the soul.

Blogging for me, is a chance to stop and capture a sliver of time, an exquisite photo or a recipe that bursts with flavor. Plus it is forcing me to attack those cluttered corners of the house or undone projects while showing you my progress. But I can honestly say, I am still a long way from feeling confident about creatively illustrating that to you. But I will keep trying.

So here is a look back at the year and some of my favorite photos and posts.

My very first blog post was about the New York Times Bestselling author, Rhys Bowen and the fundraising English tea we had here at Bella Terra.

And other events we happily hosted here…..

Recipes shared…..

My Renovations and Restorations….

Travel and leisure…..

Decorating and Design…

The holidays….

Cleaning, Organizing, and Updating…

Sharing our home and yard….

My attempt at art….

Flower arranging..

Our pets…

And a few DIYs….

My online store….

There is still so much to learn, especially better photography, writing and getting my watermarks the same size on every photo.  So thank you again for following me and sharing my blog with others.

PLEASE send in your comments~~What area of interest would you like for me to expand? What are your favorite topics? How often should I post (trying to do a maximum of twice per week)? What can I do to be better for you?  My goals for the next year are to do a contest or giveaway and conduct a real survey into your likes and interests.

Here’s to one year and onto the next!! I couldn’t have done it without you.

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It is STILL very hot here in Phoenix and this recipe is cool and refreshing.  Wherever you are celebrating Labor Day, this salad is full of fresh, summer ingredients and is very simple to make.  With just a few ingredients and a light dressing, this is a perfect accompaniment to something off the grill.

Since access to the Farmers Market is still a few days away, I purchased the tomatoes and peaches at our local Safeway.  The tomatoes are a deep, dark blackish red heirloom tomato called Eclipses.

Aren’t these flat peaches fun? They are like regular peaches that someone sat on~~these beauties are called Saturn, donut or saucer peaches.  The reason I chose them is they were the ONLY peach that wasn’t hard as a rock and these actually smell like peaches.

The dressing is a Honey Vinaigrette ~~which is a lighter, slightly sweet dressing.  My relatives, Bruce and Janiece, have their own bees and make the most delicious honey.  We are always so excited when we get a shipment of their honey and I added this golden elixir to the recipe.

I adjusted the recipe a bit by adding cilantro.  I felt like it needed some green and who doesn’t love cilantro?

This recipe was in the July 2017 edition of Southern Living magazine on page 62.

Have a Happy Labor Day!!!!

This post shared with Tuesday Turn About #58 Fun in July

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Is cold brew coffee all the rage in your area?  Two years ago, I never even heard of cold brew….naturally thinking it was maybe some new kind of beer.  I began noticing it at the Farmers Market and occasionally on the shelves at the grocery store, but until recently, I never tried it.  I’ve always been a “brew your own/hot cup of coffee in the morning” gal.

Since then, I now notice it EVERYWHERE and it appears to be a marketing phenomenon. So what’s the big attraction?  I finally did some research and if you are as unfamiliar with cold brew as I am, then hopefully this will be the Cliff notes on cold brew.

Why is cold brew coffee different from hot brewed coffee?  According to ToddyCafe, a roasted coffee bean contains many compounds that are extracted during the brewing process. Some of those compounds, including certain oils and fatty acids, are soluble only at a high temperature. During the cold brew process, coffee beans are never exposed to high temperature. Deceptively simple, cold water brewing extracts the delicious flavor compounds (and some of the caffeine) from coffee beans, but leaves behind myriad bitter oils and biting fatty acids, including undesirable elements such as ketones, esters and amides.  You can serve cold brew coffee concentrate either hot or cold.

Cold brew coffee is not iced coffee, either. Iced coffee is pouring hot brewed coffee over ice.  Cold brew coffee is like sun tea~~naturally extracting the flavor with water and time.

You can certainly buy cold brew coffee but it’s very simple to make yourself at home.

I am experimenting with 3 different brewing techniques using a French press, a Ball mason jar, and a Teavana strainer. Plus I am using 3 different types of coffee: 1) old (really old) Mexican coffee beans from my freezer; 2) French Roast beans from Peet’s coffee; 3) already ground coffee from World Market.

There are many theories as to the perfect ratio of bean to water, however, it appears that the ratio is from 1/4 lb. of coffee beans to 4 cups of water. I used this ratio~~ 1/4 cup of coffee grounds to 1 cup of water.  You can adjust the strength based on your personal preference.

In the Ball mason jar, I added 1/4 cup of medium coarse grounds  from the freezer beans.

Then I add 1 cup of filtered water from our reverse osmosis system. Stir well and cover with cheesecloth.

Next, I added medium coarse Pete’s coffee grounds to the French Press and filled with water.

And lastly, I added regular Italian Roast ground coffee from World Market to a Teavana tea strainer with the appropriate amount of water.

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Now all three were ready to sit and wait 12- 24 hours.  I couldn’t fit the French Press into the refrigerator so it sat out on the counter for 24 hours.

The next day, I strained the coffee grounds out of all three. The jar with the cheesecloth was the most difficult.

Both the French press and Teavana strainer were extremely easy due to the built-in straining system.

Here’s the VERDICT!!! The old coffee beans brewed in the Ball mason jar produced the weakest brew and was a bit lifeless.  No surprise there and just confirms that you should discard any coffee beans that have been sitting in your freezer for years (embarrassing…).  Not the fault of the coffee bean.

The winner:  The strongest and most flavorful coffee was the Peet’s French Roast coffee in the French press.  The pre-ground coffee from World Market (done in the Teavana tea strainer) was also very good.  I’ve come to the conclusion that it may not be critical to grind your own beans, but to use a fresh coffee roast that you like.

Some stronger brews can be diluted with water or milk~~and of course it is fun to experiment with flavorings.

We use our cold brew concentrate for iced coffee, however, it can be heated also.  Below I’ve added my homemade almond milk.  For the blog post on making nut milks, click here.

From what I have read, cold brew coffee concentrate will last up to 2 weeks in your refrigerator. It does have a smoother taste, yet all the flavor of coffee…and very handy to use.

I love our neighborhood as it provides the best of both rural and urban living.  Even though we are 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix (the 5th largest city in the US), our North Central neighborhood feels like it is miles away.

A few years ago, my friend and neighbor, Bo Mostow, called me to discuss her idea of starting a farmers market.  Bo’s dream has now become one of the most successful farmers market in the country.  I was so inspired to see her take her idea to fruition and as a result we all benefit from this wonderful addition to our neighborhood. USA Today has listed Uptown Farmers Market as one of the top 50 markets in the United States.

Every Wednesday and Saturday, the Uptown Farmers Market gathers at the corner of Bethany Home Road and Central Avenue, within walking distance to our home.  In the summer, they house nearly 100+ vendors in an air- conditioned space at a North Phoenix Baptist Church on Saturdays only.  Come September, all the vendors and white tents will again be outside for the cooler, fall weather twice a week.

Going to the Farmers Market is such a joyous event.  There is such a wide variety of food choices- from local farmers, small businesses, and home cooks.  In addition, there are handcrafted goods, food trucks, musical performances, activities for children. All the vendors and customers are genuinely happy~~it has such a nice family feel.

Fresh produce from the Farm Club. Look at these gorgeous pickled items by Lillie Mae’s Blue Ribbon Pickled Garden.

In spite of the heat this time of year, the market was heavily attended.

I have been craving heirloom tomatoes and really good peaches, so I decided to see what I could find at the market. Look at the incredible displays of fruits and vegetables from Abby Lee Farms. Fresh, local and delicious.

The absolute BEST cinnamon raisin bread is made by Capistrano’s and purchased from Rowland at the Noble Bread tent. If you don’t get there early, the bread sells out very quickly.  Just seeing Rowland on Saturday makes my day!

I purchased two loaves of this bread and it is chock-a-block full of raisins.  A quick breakfast before a workout will be one slice of this toasted, with almond butter, sliced bananas and chia seeds. Delicious!

I typically buy one loaf of sourdough, slice it and freeze it with a piece of paper towel in a zip lock bag. I use the sourdough bread to make my daughter her favorite sandwich~~grilled brie cheese with sour cherry jam.

So here is my haul from the market~~eggplant, zucchini, arugula, kale, brussels sprouts, peppers, tomatoes, peaches, French breakfast radishes, romaine lettuce, lemons and fresh herbs.  Plus two smoked bones for the dogs from Ruff Life. I would have bought more if I had more arms/hands!

I can only lay claim to a few of the photos in this post.  The balance of the Uptown Farmers Market photos were done by Kinita Albertson, from Caught by Kinita.

Kinita is doing a project for our neighborhood group where she was tasked to capture the essence of our area.  She was kind enough to give me permission to use her farmers market photos for this blog post.

For more information about the Uptown Farmers Market, please click here.

I just returned from a 7-day trip to the east coast.  5 flights, 3 hotels, 2 different rental cars and lots of driving and a wide variety of activities. There is quite a bit to share with you so please forgive the longer post.

Monday, I flew into Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. and stayed at The Hive Hotel, which is walking distance to the George Washington University campus, where my son has been staying for the summer during his internship.

This is a very cool boutique hotel, based on a beehive concept. Mixing smart design with the unexpected, The Hive unites modern innovation with historic character.

With its prime location, Hotel Hive guests can buzz about the city and return to a unique and innovative hotel experience. Their efficient rooms provide guests with everything they need and nothing they don’t.  The rooms range from 125–250 square foot hives are anything but ordinary and are perfect for one or two guests.

They serve a limited menu at their bar and rooftop deck~~excellent pizzas and a fun cocktail menu.  This place is “buzzing” after work hours and on weekends.

The staff is young and upbeat and their customer service is superb.  I would definitely stay here again.

The next day, I attending a military interment service at Arlington National Cemetery for my dear friend, Bob Garrett. The service was done with all the precision, respect and honor that the military represents. I didn’t realize Arlington has 30 burial services each day.

The reception following the ceremony was at the Officers Club where old friends shared their favorite stories about Bob. It was a fitting send off to a dear friend. I was especially glad that my son and my brother, Mike were able to attend. Arlington is a somber reminder of all the brave men and women who have served and fought for our freedom.

Tuesday night, I connected with a long-time friend and business associate, Bob Pikora.  We met for hors d’oeurves and drinks at the stunning restored post office on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Old Post Office, the city’s original postal center, has endured a series of uses throughout the years. Opened in 1899, it included a Clock Tower, which at 315 feet, remains the second tallest building in the city and provides panoramic views of Washington, D.C.

In 2013, the building had a $200 million dollar restoration and is now Trump International Hotel.  As one who loves historical buildings, this one is an architectural Romanesque Revival gem. Hard to believe this was once slated for demolition.  We sat at the outdoor cafe on this beautiful evening, had wonderful conversation and delicious bites.

On Wednesday afternoon, I flew up to Connecticut for a very quick trip to take my Aunt Gail out for her 97th birthday.  Yes, 97!!! The last remaining member of my father’s siblings, Gail is sharp as a tack, lives alone, still drives and has a very busy life.  We had an enjoyable lunch at the Norwich Inn and I am always in awe of her good health, quick wit and sharp memory.

While there, I stayed at my sister, Susie and her husband, Ned’s home in Old Saybrook, CT, which is right on the water. Lucky me!

The weather was absolutely perfect-in the 70s, low humidity and slight ocean breezes.  Having my cup of coffee in the morning and overlooking this view at low tide, was balm for the soul.

Even though I was there for less than 2 days, I was able to get in a few invigorating walks, where again, I coveted those flowers that cannot grow in Phoenix.  This seashore community has very attractive homes and beautiful landscapes.

The weather was perfect for boating. Here are some pictures from our dinner boat ride from Old Saybrook, CT to Stonington Borough, CT.

Just before I left on Friday to fly back to Washington, D.C.,  I met my siblings and their spouses at Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough in Noank, CT for their famous lobster rolls and seafood.

I landed late in the afternoon in D.C. in time to go out to dinner with my son and celebrate the last day of his summer internship.  He is a big foodie so he chose The Dabney for dinner.  The evening was overcast and drizzling and the atmosphere at The Dabney was perfect~~with its open hearth cooking.

As quoted from their website, “At The Dabney, we source our food from the Mid-Atlantic’s finest farms and purveyors. The centerpiece of our open kitchen is a wood-burning hearth that allows us to showcase the region’s versatility while staying true to its classic cooking methods.” It was truly a culinary experience and such fun to share it with my son.

The next morning we drove from DC to Charlottesville, VA to begin the move-in to his new college room, which is in a 1919 brick 2-story house.  Naturally, the t.v. went up first!

For the next 3 days, we cleaned and scrubbed, assembled furniture, hung window coverings, and got his room in tip-top shape for the start of school next week. Here’s the finished product!

It was a VERY busy and productive week and it’s good to be back home.  All 3 children are now settled into school and we are back to some semblance of a schedule again.

Hope this finds you happy and healthy and enjoying the balance of the summer.