Spectacular Sunset

sunset this evening

Parsnip Chive Gnocchi

 I am taking part in a bi-weekly food challenge with a group of friends. I chose parsnips for this challenge.

I found this recipe online here: http://www.nooschi.com/2009/07/parsnip-and-chive-gnocchi.html

I followed the recipe pretty much exactly but added mushrooms to the garlic butter sauce.

Parsnip and Chive Gnocchi

 1 lb of parsnips
 1 1/2 cups of sifted flour
 1/4 cup of fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
 1 Tbsp chives, finely chopped (I used dehydrated chives)
 salt and pepper to taste

Method
1. Peel the parsnips and cook in a large pot of boiling water until tender (approx 25-35 minutes). Drain and allow the parsnips to cool and dry.

2. In a large bowl, mash the parsnips. Slowly add in the flour and mix thoroughly. Add in the chives, Parmesan cheese, and a dash of salt and pepper. Mix well.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the gnocchi mixture into a thick snake-like shape (about 1 inch diameter). Cut the snake-like gnocchi mixture into small 3/4 inch pieces. Roll each small 3/4 inch piece into an oval shape. With your thumb, press the gnocchi, into the back of the tines of a fork, creating a ribbed imprint. 

4. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Place the gnocchi into the pot of boiling water. 

The gnocchi is ready when it floats to the surface. Drain and serve.

Because this gnocchi has such a nice flavour on its own, I served it with a simple garlic mushroom butter sauce. To garnish, I used freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Yum!! This recipe is a keeper, one that I will make again and again!

This recipe yields 4 servings.

 mashing the flour into the parsnips

 the dough is ready to work with

 rolling the gnocchi on the back of a fork

sliced mushrooms for the sauce

yum, ready to eat!

Mmm look what is starting to ripen!!

our fave, the black blueberry

equally delicious, the blue blueberry

Wild Strawberries

the yummy wild strawberries are ripe

Late Afternoon ...

... at the beach

Waves in Ice

We went to the beach yesterday, it was so cold, not at all pleasant on bare fingers taking photos. I loved the wave patterns in the ice on the sandy shore.

Happy New Year, a little late...

Happy New Year, I am a little behind in my wishes!

Our two children, well young adult children were home for Christmas. Neither of them had been home since last Christmas so it was a special treat to have them home.

I will admit to not doing much besides enjoying their company and cooking for them.

Megan left just after New Years, and Thomas left about a week ago. We are adjusting to our own lives again. I really miss them alot.

Here are a few photos from the holidays.

Megan with her Juicebox (milk box) camera at the beach

she took some fabulous photos with it!

beach shadows

look how long our legs are!!

Thomas Christmas morning

playing with a plastic bag

the whirly swirly Christmas tree

we bought a tree this Christmas,

we will never buy one again,

it was crispy hard..

must have been cut in the summer

it smelled fabulous,

but very strongly,

I do wonder if it had been sprayed

with a artificial tree scent.

Do they do that?