Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Autumn Fever

Just in case you are staying a little more indoors lately, there is a recipe for that.

For the days when you stand by your window with a hot cup of coffee and hold it ever so tightly as you watch the leaves swirl in the wind. The cool air is almost felt through the threads of your shirt and the thought of a sweater feels comfortable.

This kind of day, was yesterday and the idea of enjoying some home made pancakes sounded good to me. But not just any kind of pancake the oatmeal kind, with apples, walnuts and warm maple syrup to bring the flavor of fall from the outside to the inside. I just had to share them with you.


My favorite Oatmeal Pancakes

2 cups milk
1 1/2 cup oatmeal (quick oats)
2 eggs
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 apple, peeled, cored and diced
1/4 cup of chopped walnuts

Pour milk over the oats. Add the oil and eggs, then the remaining ingredients. Using a 1/4 measuring cup pour the batter onto the hot griddle and place the apples and walnuts on each pancake. Flip over and let the pancake finish off cooking and browning the walnuts.

Note: I usually make an extra batch to store in the freezer. For easy and fast enjoyments, just
pop them into the toaster.

Autumn, hope.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Do the Twist


This is a simple hair idea I came up for the days when my hair has not been washed. Despite that, errands still need to be done and things need to be taken care of so for those days in my life I have this to fall back on.


It kind of explains itself but for those who need details, I parted my hair to the side that best suites me and teased it along the top of my head to create volume. I did a twist to on one of the sides, continued it along the back and all the way to the other side. I continued to twist it around and wrapped it to make a bun. My hair is light enough to pin with bobby pins, but you can play around to figure out something that works for you.

Do you have a hairstyle that you rely on? Share your ideas.

Hairspray, hope

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Crepe Stacks

My friend, Jess came across this great idea for serving Crepes. In this particular magazine, Crepes were spread with filling and stacked on top of each other. This was a very different approach in comparison to the traditional method of folding the filled crepes. Being a carb lover I like it when my crepe can to stand up to the filling and to play the same importance on the plate. Aside from that it is also a great "make-ahead" meal that can serve a crowd. It is easy, breezy and beautiful.


Crepe Recipe:

3/4 cup flour
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk
melted butter

Sift together four, sugar and salt into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, then add milk and mix well. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture, mixing until the batter is smooth.

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Brush pan with butter. Raise the pan off the heat and pour enough batter (3/4 of a laddle full) to coat the pan, swirling to spread the batter evenly. Cook for about a minute and then flip and lightly brown the other side.

Filling:

1 container cottage cheese
1/2 cup sugar, more or less depending on desired sweetness

Place the cottage cheese and sugar in a food processor and blend until it has the consistency of cream. Note: Chopped nuts, dried fruit and/or chocolate can be added to the mix.

1 jar of jam, I choose apricot
1/4 cup water

Place the jam in a now clean food processor and blend with water so that it has a better spreading consistency.

Assembly:

In turn, spread cottage cheese in a thin layer on the crepe. Add another one on top and spread evenly with the jam. Continue until all the crepes are used up, and bake covered for 15-20 minutes in a 350 F oven.

This recipe is definitely safe, but as I continue to experiment with different fillings I will try to keep you posted....

Stacked up, hope.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

BIrthday wishes


Walmart is another place where their wanting little eyes meet my affordability. Going shopping with Jenny reminded me of what being a kid meant. She wanted chocolate coated bananas, candy apples, jello cups along with the cake for dessert. She enjoyed pigs in blankets, ants on logs, bagel pizzas and peanut butter jellies. Food was definitely a part of her birthday and we had a blast just shopping for it. With the food and cake prepared the party was able to get started.



Monday, October 12, 2009

My littlest pony

Every princess needs a pony and every girl who pretends to be a princess wants what they have. My daughter was no exception and her little desires became her birthday wish. So with the shake of my spoon I attempted to make her a "pony cake", because after all she is our little princess.



Unfortunately, the head fell off later on in the day and as I struggled to attach the fondant mess melting in my hands I had to make a quick decision and find a new position for it. One fixed problem revealed a new one and because there were sticks holding the head up there were places where the fondant tore. I was quite upset at this point and completely exhausted so I covered up the mess with a porcelain plate. No one will see what they don't know.

Damaged, hope

Monday, October 5, 2009

Picture Potencial


Pictures. Paintings. Drawings. Scribbles. Art.

If your kids are at all like mine, you can relate with me that papers stacked with sweet "I love you's" are not always the ones to keep. How does one decide between the relatively similar pictures neatly piled on your desk? Of course, you could make the child choose one and file it away. You could frame it for a period of time until a better one comes along. Or, there is my option of buying a big. fat. sketchbook.

When ever one of my kids want to be an artist, they can take out the book and pour their creativity onto the pages of potential. This book will now contain the lives of my kids, their interests, their uniqueness, and of course their individual creativity. So, for me that was one problem that was solved and honestly, made me feel about twenty pages lighter.

Lighter, hope

Saturday, October 3, 2009

On top of my world


It was my birthday on the first and if there is any day that can make some one feel purposeful, this would be the day. The telephone rang the whole day, my message button blinked urgency and I must say it was nice to hear each persons voice. Presents spoken from distant hearts. Distance in miles is only a number for some and even in her chaotic stage, with a borrowed car and three kids my friend drove for hours to make it here for me. She looked exhausted but her face showed compassion and I love her for that. Of course, extreme measures don't always ring the loudest. Small gestures can exceed grandeur. Thoughts, cards, comments, hugs and the classic birthday tune make any one feel like they belong. Like they are needed. Like they exist.

Before all of this, when I just moved to Portland. I was alone. This created a great deal of pressure on my dear "Genius" but I figured if any one at all cared that I was born, it would be him. This year, he did what he does best. Building me some bedroom furniture was on top of my wish list, in addition to his hard work he took a day off to devote himself in making me happy. One of my favorite moments was on the roof-top of an Eco building. We discovered a area that we have never been on before, a place with a fire, chairs and a view of our favorite places downtown. It was around four-o'clock and conversation was becoming small-talk. Eager, I found a new way to create conversation for us when none is left.


Looking at the people below, I saw a lady carrying a florescent piece of paper and it began with that. Objects can remind us of our lives, that paper reminded me of the time "Genius" went to our daughter's class for a breakfast date. Apparently, the teacher Mrs. Lo made the best pancakes EVER, so much so that he asked for the recipe and made it for us the following week. I smiled at the memory but also envisioned the pink sheet of paper the recipe was written on.

"Genius's" memory went back to the year 2001, when we were dating. He was flying-in to meet my family in Canada and in order for him to know where we were my youngest brother wore a florescent yellow, Gap, fleece sweater to the airport. "Highlighted" there was no way someone could miss it, or even forget. Little did "Genius" know that a day would come where that sweater would be the trend of the season. Laugh it up, I said, you have one!

It went from fun to business, from work to family, from life to balance and from priorities to pleasure. We were above everything else, seeing memories and sharing time at the top of a building....I loved it!


Birthday, Hope.