Author Archives: Marcia Ren

Company Is Coming!!!

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Marcia Ren

If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him…the people who give you their food give you their heart. —Cesar Chaviz Hello, sweet friends…. Recently our friends mentioned they would be driving down to the coast from Eugene… and wondered if they could stop by for a visit… Needless to say we were excited since we haven’t had company for over a year… With that being said… I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to brush up on my hosting skills… by serving lunch upon their arrival… Here is a favorite recipe that I’ve used for years whenever I hosted a tea gathering in California…it’s a sure winner for any occasion! What’s Cooking… COACH’S QUICHE (recipe from Martin Oaks Bed & BreakfastDundas, Minnesota) “9” unbaked pie shell 10-oz package frozen chopped spinach 1 medium minced onion 5 separated eggs 1 cup milk … Continue reading →

Posted in Coastal Living, What’s Cooking? | 5 Comments

A Room Of One’s Own…

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at– Theodore Roosevelt Hello, sweet friend… No doubt the biggest difference between an old house and the newer ones… is the change where the kitchen is the center of the house and almost all daytime space revolves around the kitchen.. I am one of those who actually enjoys working in the kitchen alone… (I see it as somewhat of my sanctuary) This time of quarantine has taught me… now more than ever the importance of having a room to escape to… the proverbial room of one’s own…(We all need physical space to stay balanced) That being said I recently defined separate living areas between two rooms (living room and dining alcove) simply by sewing curtains for the French doors… The results make a happier statement within our home and somehow enhance moments of the day by creating a space … Continue reading →

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living | 10 Comments

Home…All Set For Easter & Coconut cupcakes

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Welcome is what reflects God’s spirit of love, joy and happiness. -Emilie Barnes Hello, sweet friends… Happy Easter!!! Home has never been so important… Ours has become a special way for me to experience contentment and express creativity. I feel fortunate that my husband supports… encourages… and most importantly… appreciates my ongoing efforts in creating a home for us. That being said this past week I had so much delight creating an Easter tablescape… sewing a small table cover and napkins which matched the dining alcove curtains… I think it all came together quite beautifully… What’s Cooking? This year instead of my usual bunny cake I thought it would be fun to bring it up a notch…and so I chose to bake Ina Garten’s delight. Oh my goodness!!! What made this dessert great was Joe loves coconut and I love cupcakes…perfect pairing! COCONUT CUPCAKES Ingredients: 3/4 pound unsalted butter at … Continue reading →

Posted in A Quarantined Life, Coastal Living, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 4 Comments

My Spring Cleaning Break…❤️

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Marcia Ren

Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘let’s party.’ -Robin Williams Hello, sweet friend… This week I attempted a bit of spring cleaning… However I kept getting distracted… (Oddly only while cleaning) inevitably something would pop up… and before I knew it… I’d find myself questioning my priorities… I decided that the distractions had to be a sign from the universe… and we all know that when she speaks… you must listen… WHAT’S COOKING?👩‍🍳 Sausage Egg & Cheese Breakfast Puffs – only 4 ingredients! Super easy to make and tastes great! Puff pastry, eggs, sausage, and cheese. You can assemble ahead of time and freeze for a quick meal later…perfect for when you need a break! BREAKFAST PUFFS Ingredients: 1 (17.3-oz) package puff pastry, thawed 7 large eggs 18 uncooked breakfast sausage links (I substitute veggie sausage) 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 egg, beaten 1 Tbsp water Preheat oven to 400ºF degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a skillet, scramble … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, A Quarantined Life, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 1 Comment

Spring…Decor…and a “Sinful” Delight🥰

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Marcia Ren

“When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” -Helen Keller Hello, sweet friend… Happy Spring!!! This past week the sun was shining… daffodils were blooming… and I gathered up my spring decor… to do the jig a bit of decorating magic… turning shamrocks… into small rabbits… with bright colored garland…. just a few changes… makes all the difference… to celebrate… the arrival of Spring… bringing light…joy…and hope into our home… WHAT’S COOKING?👩‍🍳 For years I’ve attended a women’s retreat at Sacred Heart Retreat House located in Alhambra, California. Due to the Pandemic I was not able to attend this past year…however, recently they hosted a Zoom baking class where the Carmelite nun’s taught how to prepare a decadent delight…and today I share it with you! CARMELITE DELIGHT Below is the actual message & recipe from … Continue reading →

Posted in My Style, Our Cottage, What’s Cooking? | 2 Comments