Dear friends: A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family! I had great intentions of delivering these holiday wishes before the New Year arrived. And since it’s still the first week of the New Year (barely!), that’s all well and good with the New Year’s wishes. Unfortunately I’m a bit Fashionably Late regarding Christmas….

If you’re new around here, I mostly post recipes. But occasionally update you on what’s going on behind the scenes too. My last personal update here was in September and quite a bit has happened since. So grab a latte and cozy up while I fill you in.

Our youngest, Hudson, was headed to Boston Children’s Hospital for an evaluation in late October. Hudson is seven and has Down syndrome. He was also diagnosed with autism at that October appointment. We suspected for some time that he had autism, and it was positive to receive official confirmation of his diagnosis.

So now we can move forward seeking appropriate treatments and therapies and we’re muddling through that process now. Hudson is our littlest love who has many difficult/unusual behaviors that don’t always win friends and influence people….

I also mentioned we were looking for a very special dog for Hudson. Hudson has always been petrified of dogs, and since most of our friends and family have them, there were stressful moments. Sometimes if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. So we started looking in earnest for a special dog.

Jacob welcoming Chloe on her first day in her forever home. (One of the boys saw this pic. and immediately remarked “Get that boy some longer shorts!” But he’ll have to take that up with his soccer coach. Out of my control… )

Chloe joined our family mid-October. She’s a 5-7 year old golden labby girl from MS. We had a great experience adopting her from Canine Commitment rescue in New Boston. And this is her first time in the snow. She’s so funny. Inside the house, she’s the quintessential southern lady. All she needs is a string of pearls, that’s what I say.

But get her outside in the white stuff, and she just THROWS herself into the snowdrifts with utter abandon! Burrows her snout into the white, puppy-like. Rolls in the middle of the snow-covered street, tummy skyward – paws waving for emphasis. This furry southern lady is loving the north! And while we initially found her for Hudson, she has each of us tightly wrapped around her little paw. We’re so lucky to have her.

Hudson feeding Chloe her afternoon snack…

Each day when Hudson gets home from school, first thing he heads straight to the treats drawer to get Chloe her after school snack. Happy Hudson, happy Chloe. She has been such a kind, quiet, gentle, patient addition to our family.

A few days before Christmas I went to our local butcher shop and told them I needed something fabulous for a special dog who has been very, very good this year! And they pulled out a large smoked bone, a meaty tendon and several freshly smoked pig ears. So that’s what Chloe got in her stocking. (She was pleased on Christmas morning.)

I finally got my brain in gear to begin decorating our new (to us) house in November. You may remember we moved in July. For the longest time I had a mental block a mile high. I don’t know why. Maybe it was selling our previous house by owner, moving twice (June and July) and that Romanian missions trip sandwiched in between. That could do it to you in a hurry.

Anyway, it took a few months for the cobwebs to clear and the gray matter to kick into gear, but finally…. FINALLY, it happened. And it’s starting to feel just a little bit more like home around here. Snug and cozy, just in time for the fierce arrival of Old Man Winter.

Our three older boys are all doing well. We had a nice weekend trip with them to Quebec City over New Years. You may remember we’ve visited Quebec City before and I’ve blogged about it here. What an enchanting city! I highly encourage you to visit. It’s like a little Europe and not so far away if you live in New England. The exchange rate works out great for Americans.

This pure maple sugar (and maple butter too!) was on each table at the famous Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill, NH where we stopped for breakfast on our way north to Quebec City. What an incredible find, definitely visit if you’re in the area. Side note: I learned something interesting while waiting in the gift shop to be seated at Polly’s. Here’s what I learned about the phrase “I’ll be there with bells on…”

“In the early New England days of horse drawn sleighs, owners would decorate their horses with bells. Each family took pride in the unique sound their bells made. With the roads being windy and narrow, you could hear if another sleigh was approaching. If you broke down and another sleigh stopped to help, it was customary to give the good Samaritan your sleigh bells, for their assistance. Hence the saying “I’ll be there with bells on” means you expect a happy and trouble-free arrival.” 

I know many of you don’t live nearby, but maybe think about visiting Quebec City if you’ll be in New England. It’s only five and a half hours north from our front doorstep (NH) and is an authentic European experience steeped in history, complete with beautiful architecture, creperies, cozy cafes and French! We fell in love all over again. (See more Quebec City pictures here.)

Maple taffy pops cooling on the snow…

My only regret is that we didn’t tour Hotel de Glace. Yes, a hotel made completely out of ICE. I’ve always wanted to visit (not stay!) but we wimped out. Too cold!!!!

The tough thing about the trip was that it was Arctic cold. Like -24°. We came ultra prepared with face masks, scarves, hats, down coats, gloves and heavy duty boots. And still, IT WASN’T ENOUGH!!!! Thankful to still have a nose. Wish I’d brought those hand warmers we take for skiing. I’ve never been hit by cold so hard and fast that it felt like a brain freeze. You know that feeling when you inhale your ice cream cone too fast. That fast, sharp, brain freeze pain right in the middle of your forehead. Ouch. (We survived.)

Great shopping in Quebec City…. so much wool at Charlevoix Laine. Beautiful shop.

And one more thing… we got detained at the border coming back into the states. Jon apparently has an evil twin with the same name in California who is “wanted” on larceny charges, and it holds him up at customs all the time. Thankfully they let us back in. And SO GLAD. Because I don’t think I could have survived one more day of the -24° temps up there.

On another note, we’re gearing up for our kitchen remodel in the next few months! So if you’re into that kind of thing, stay tuned! I’ll be sharing before and after pictures once we get the ball rolling. So many decisions ahead and I’m getting excited! I ordered the first light fixture today.

The aftermath of the latest “bomb cyclone/bombogenesis” in NH. We had to dig out the mailbox. (Who wants to be the mailman during a bomb cyclone?)

I know it’s Arctic temps out there this weekend. (Up and down the East coast at least.) So wishing you warmth and sunshine, joy and kindness in the coming year. But mostly peace. Peace that lets you inhale and exhale deeply. So you sleep like a baby each night in your cozy bed. And have sweet dreams to boot. Wouldn’t that be a gift.

I love hearing what you’re up to as well, so don’t be shy. Drop me a line or two, fill me in.

I look forward to sharing more delicious recipes and thoughts here in 2018. Have a super weekend and stay warm if you can!

XOXO, 

Allie

The post Fashionably Late (?) appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Hello friends and a very happy weekend to you! Today we’re going on a field trip. Out of the country. Yep. We’re headed to Old Quebec City in Canada. You in?

Jon and I went last weekend, had a great time and I want to tell you all about it. Old Quebec City is steeped in history and was a fantastic way to spend a long weekend. It’s the closest thing to Europe without hopping a plane.

A different culture, cobbled streets, pastry shops, bon jour and au revoir. While much of the U.S. is basking in spring sunshine right now, Jon and I are just thawing out from our tundra trip north.

I’m not kidding. Lucky for us Old Quebec City is only five and a half hours north. But the temperature was SO much colder. Thankfully we’d checked the weather and were prepared for the frigid. So hey, let’s go!

We drove in on a Thursday evening, arrived at dusk. They’d just had a fresh snow fall of nearly a foot, making the narrow streets that much narrower! We had mucho trouble parking at our B & B (read: Jon had to grab a shovel and clear out a parking space. Apparently all hands on deck!) Snow was everywhere, and we saw (and heard) snow removal trucks working all over the city. We quickly realized the easiest way to get around is on foot, especially with the tight parking situation. Fortunately we didn’t experience any falling ice!

That first night we happened on an authentic creperie not far from where we stayed. Ham, asparagus and swiss cheese crepes! Delish.

The next day we explored the old walled city. Pictured above is the Basilica de Notre Dame.

This imposing building is the Seminary of Quebec.

I seriously can’t believe how steep the hills were in Old Quebec City. Oh my word. We must have climbed a billion and a half stairs just to get to the base of Chateau de Frontenac, the premier hotel of the city.

Chateau de Frontenac originally opened in 1893 and is built above the wall overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

Here’s the view just in front of Chateau de Frontenac looking out.

Jon spied this sign for toboggan rides. Asked me if I wanted to go. I used my manners, said no thank you. Then changed my mind after seeing his crestfallen face.

See that hill? We climbed it, pulled our toboggan to get to the top. Truth: I only climbed. Jon pulled the toboggan.

And here’s the view from the top of the slide! There were brakes underneath the floor of the slide holding the toboggans in place. We somehow managed to get our rope stuck around the brake underneath and had to get off and untangle it. Leave it to us. Ha ha. The toboggan went 40 mph going down and I was terrified. Sort of. It felt just like a rollercoaster. Of course Jon was thrilled. (He loves rollercoasters.) Me, not so much. The view helped. Chateau de Frontenac towered on the left and the mostly frozen St. Lawrence River to the right.

We skipped the stairs on the way down, took the Funiculaire, an enclosed outdoor glass elevator instead. This was our incredible view through the window going down.

And here’s the view looking back up. It was super steep.

So why did we take a ferry to cross the St. Lawrence River? To get to the other side of course. (Also a famous chocolate shop.)

The ferry pushed through snow and ice on the St. Lawrence River and we had a great view of Chateau de Frontenac from the top deck.

Then we climbed another billion and a half stairs up the bank on the other side to Chocolats Favoris, where all the locals apparently stock up on gourmet chocolate! Score.

Every chocolate known to man (woman and child) underneath that immaculate glass case!

And every kind of fondue imaginable, from cookies & cream to dulce de leche.

Thankfully they sold the fondue in cans so we could bring some home “for the boys.” Ha ha. For us too. You actually boil it in water on the stovetop (in the sealed can) for twenty minutes, then serve it over ice cream or dip fruit in it, etc. We got both the milk chocolate and the dulche de leche. Amazing stuff.

We did more sightseeing in the old city.

I loved this steeple glinting in the sun.

So many boulangeries!!! We picked up a few snacks here.

We shopped in this Parisian section on Avenue Cartier in an artsy part of the city. The unusual overhanging street lamps were recently installed by local artists.

Our last stop as we headed out of the city towards home was the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency containing an 83 meter high waterfall that’s 30 meters higher than Niagara Falls. Yeah. See the faint rainbow in front of the falls? Also the foot bridge spanning the falls. There’s a cable car ride and also a zip-line. That, I would not do. Maybe the cable car. But NEVER the zip line. My children need me. (Or I like to think so.)

Here I am on the footpath, smiling because I am far far away from the footbridge and zip-line!

We took a quick selfie in front of the falls before heading out, facing the sun. Can you see my eyes are totally shut? So funny. I didn’t think they’d show up behind the shades in the picture, but they sure did. Caught.

We had a truly magical weekend away. A few friends asked why Quebec and why in winter. And here’s the truth. We’ve always wanted to do Europe and it hasn’t happened yet. Old Quebec City is like a little Europe. The exchange rate is awesome right now.

It’s also the off season. Gas prices are cheap. It was definitely the right time to go for us. Honestly, we could’ve cared less the destination. The beautiful thing, and the only thing that really mattered, was that we got away. Together.

Made precious memories. Listened to an audio book coming and going. Savored the quiet. No catastrophes at home with the kids. Just getting away for a few days was like pushing a re-set button. A gift.

So grateful for all who helped out on the home front so we could go. Thank you.

You may also like: Sugarbush Farms

The post Arctic Expedition to Old Quebec City appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

How’s the weather behaving where you are? Hopefully better than the politics. I hope it’s warm and beautiful and the buds are out, maybe even blooming. It hasn’t quite gotten spring-like around here yet, which is why I’m sharing this post today for Five Best Homemade Soup Recipes.

So Jon and I were up in Quebec City this past weekend. It’s such a beautiful city, have you ever visited? This was our first time. The view above is from the top deck of the ferry looking back across the icy St. Lawrence River at Old Quebec City. You can see the imposing Chateau de Frontenac beyond the wall on the hill. (I’ll post more about our visit to Quebec City this coming weekend.) We stayed in the old walled part of the city. So much history. And they’d just gotten a big snowfall, maybe a foot the day before we arrived. The temperatures were low. Very low. In fact, one morning it was -15° when we woke up. Now that’s some serious soup weather and I had that on my mind as we traipsed all over the city, bundled to the max. I was thinking about soup, crepes, beignets and hot coffee!

So we arrived home in New Hampshire and it’s still cold here, but not nearly as frigid as it was five and a half hours north in Quebec City. So tonight I’m making soup and it got me thinking that we still have some soup weather left. So I’m sharing Five Best Homemade Soup Recipes today for those of you still experiencing the winter temps.

Simon Pearce Restaurant is located in an 1800’s mill in Quechee, VT, and where I first tasted Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup. Such a flavorful cheddar cheese soup, the recipe is world famous.

Melt butter in a large stockpot. Saute garlic and onion, then add flour to make a roux. Stir in chicken stock and season with fresh thyme and spices. Add grated Cabot sharp cheddar cheese, cream and half and half. While this isn’t a diet recipe, Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup is the ideal creamy main dish soup for a satisfying cold weather New England lunch or supper. Recipe here: Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup

Arroz Caldo is chicken rice soup, a staple in the Philippines. (And our house too.) The key to the excellent flavor of this Arroz Caldo is fresh ginger. The name Arroz Caldo literally means “rice porridge” or “rice soup.” This is a quick, nourishing meal if you’re sick or to boost your immunities. It’s so flavorful and my entire family prefers it to a traditional chicken and rice soup. Aromatic, pungent and spicy, ginger has many health benefits including anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recipe here: Arroz Caldo

Chicken Enchilada Soup has to be one of the most satisfying and flavorful soup recipes in my recipe box. It’s also the one I’ve passed on most through the years. Chicken Enchilada Soup is a warm and comforting, mildly spicy soup perfect for cold days. It’s a knockoff recipe of the Chili’s Restaurant Chicken Enchilada Soup.

The base of this soup is made from Mexican corn flour (masa harina). It definitely has that Mexican flavor. It’s the cumin. And garlic. And onions. Mmmmmm. How ’bout that cheese? Ooooo! It just gets better and better. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love this soup. This is a main dish soup, great with crusty bread and a salad. I often double this recipe for parties and group events. Recipe here: Chicken Enchilada Soup

Everyone loves Ham and Cheese Soup and it’s so easy to make. Even the littlest kids don’t realize it’s chock full of veggies: onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. (And we sure don’t tell ’em!) Recipe here: Ham & Cheese Soup

Bursting with flavor, Hearty Italian Sausage Soup makes a great meal all by itself. The Italian sausage flavors this soup beautifully. But the secret ingredient? Parmesan cheese. It ties the tomatoes and sausage together beautifully. This thick and chunky soup is perfect for frigid winter nights and will have your family coming back for seconds. It’s what’s for dinner! Recipe here: Hearty Italian Sausage Soup

So grab a spoon and enjoy these Five Best Homemade Soup Recipes . I hope that spring arrives wherever you are very soon. (My wish for me too!)

You may also like: New England Corn Chowder

The post Five Best Homemade Soup Recipes appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.