When I wake each day I flip my daily calendar to give me daily inspiration. Today the message reflects on what we often forget to take comfort in and take for granted instead.I love my job because I get to take things and make them beautiful whether that be a room, food or how I dress. This makes us take a moment and think about how thankful we should be for those special daily things. vs. WARM BED...... Mohair throw & Silk and Cotton bedding by St. GeneveWARM MEAL.............Beef Daube Provençal2 teaspoons olive oil 12 garlic cloves, crushed 1 (2-pound) boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 1 cup red wine 2 cups chopped carrot 1 1/2 cups chopped onion 1/2 cup less-sodium beef broth 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme Dash of ground cloves 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with liquid 1 bay leaf 3 cups hot cooked medium egg noodles (about 4 cups uncooked noodles) Chopped fresh thyme (optional) Preheat oven to 300°.Heat olive oil in a small Dutch oven over low heat. Add garlic to pan; cook for 5 minutes or until garlic is fragrant, stirring occasionally. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon; set aside. Increase heat to medium-high. Add beef to pan. Sprinkle beef with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove beef from pan. Add wine to pan, and bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add garlic, beef, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, carrot, and next 8 ingredients (through bay leaf) to pan; bring to a boil.Cover and bake at 300° for 2 1/2 hours or until beef is tender. Discard bay leaf. Serve over noodles. Garnish with chopped fresh thyme, if desired.Note: To make in a slow cooker, prepare through Step 2. Place beef mixture in an electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours. --Karen MacNeil(*copied from Cooking Light website)CLEAN SHIRT......J-Crew Indian Cotton Shirt I wanted to leave you with this image I found online wrapping up the child's hug, sunset and fertile soil image as one special pic. Enjoy the simple blessings all around you!
