Peeps

Spring brings thoughts of new beginnings. And candy.

Hello Again

Another year of living. 

Keep swinging.

Peace.

Blueberry Lemon Coffee Cake

Blueberry Lemon Coffee Cake

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
zest of one lemon
1 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk (I used 1/2 cup milk + 1 tsp lemon juice)
2 cup of fresh blueberries


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8x8 pan (or bundt pan, or bread pan)

I mixed everything by hand, but use a mixer if you're more comfortable with that.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla, and cream for an additional 2 minutes.
In a separate bowl, whisk together salt, baking powder, lemon zest, and flour. Slowly add this mixture to the butter mixture with mixer on medium to low speed.
Add buttermilk in a steady stream, with mixer still on low. Continue to mix until everything is evenly incorporated (about 3-5 minutes).
Use a spatula to fold in the fresh blueberries and pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in the oven for about 60 minutes. Remove from oven and let it sit for about 10 minutes before removing the pan.

Recipe adapted from here

Ginger Scones

I have been making these ginger scones a lot lately. They are easy and delicious. 

I use the basic biscuit recipe, but before crumbling in the butter and adding the milk, I add a scant half cup of powdered sugar, two teaspoons of powdered ginger, and some chopped crystallized ginger. That's it.

 Ginger Scones

1 3/4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 scant cup powdered sugar (I use not quite 1/2 a cup for some odd reason)
2 teaspoons powdered ginger
Chopped crystallized ginger (as much as you like)
5 1/3 tablespoons butter (unsalted, I used salted during the blizzard, it was fine)
3/4 cup milk (I often use plain lowfat yogurt mixed with water)

Preheat oven 450°. Mix dry ingredients. Crumble in butter with fingertips. Add milk, a little at a time, until dough comes together. Turn onto floured surface. Knead eight or so times. Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick or so. Cut into circles (I use a glass) and place on baking sheet. Bake 10 to 20 minutes. I usually turn the baking sheet after 5 minutes. Then check again after 5 more minutes. If you like your baked goods on the soft side, take these out as soon as they start to turn lightly golden. I prefer mine, or at least my ginger scones, to get a little crispy and almost caramelized, so I let them get pretty dark (see photographs).

Makes about a dozen. Serve with butter (or I bet cream cheese or creme fraiche would be delicious, too).

Peace.

Peach Crumble

April. May. June. July. 

 I guess I haven't blogged in a while. 

I decided to make something with some of the peaches from our tree, before the squirrels ate them all. I didn't want to look for a recipe, so I just made it up. Then, when I got it in the oven, I went upstairs and googled recipes. The first one, Martha Stewart's, said to bake it for 40-50 minutes. I had no idea it was supposed to take so long. So I began to worry that the bottom shortbread layer would burn, because I had already partially cooked it prior to topping it with fruit and crumble.

Here's what I did:

Shortbread crust
preheat oven 425
1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick of unsalted butter
Mix dry ingredients.
Crumble in a stick of unsalted butter.
Turn into a square baking dish. Moosh around with the heel of your hand (there's some french word for it). Pricker it with a fork. Bake for 15 minutes (or as long as it takes you to peel and cut the peaches).

Peaches
I used about 9 small peaches from our tree, peeled and sliced and dumped into the bowl I used for the shortbread (w/o washing). Add a couple teaspoons of sugar and some cinnamon and a capful of vanilla. and a sprinkle of salt. I probably would have added lemon zest if I'd had any. Mix. Pour on top of crust.

Crumble Topping
1/2 cup flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
capful of vanilla
Cinnamon and sugar (I have it premixed, so I just sprinkled some on)
1/4 cup brown sugar
dash of salt
4 TBL butter
(Nuts would be good but I didn't have any)
This was all made in the same bowl, too. Just mix it all together with your hands. Crumble it on top of the peaches.

Place on a cookie sheet in the oven. Immediately turn oven down to 375.

Panic that it's gonna take too long. Turn on convection fan. Cook 'til you can't wait any more. Serve. Ice cream or whipped cream or, heck, even cream, would have been good but I didn't have any. 

It turned out great. Yum.

I hope everyone is having a lovely summer.

Peace. 

Happy Friday

Thinking of my dad.

Love to you, Poppy.

Peace.

Happy Friday

Peace.

Love.

Happiness.

Happy Friday

Peace.

Happy Friday

I've been in a fog lately.

I think I see the sunshine emerging.

Peace.

Happy Friday

Peace.

Happy Friday

This picture is from 12 January 2011.

What a difference a year makes. No snow here yet. We're still hoping!

Peace.

Happy Friday

This winter vacation has been one long slumber party for me and the girls. Luckily for us, my amazing mom made all of these pajamas for the girls' dolls for christmas so they could join in the fun!

I'm trying to talk the girls into going out to our town's First Night celebration tomorrow. The 11yo's chorus teacher is in one of bands playing, and I thought that would be fun for her to see. So far they are not showing much enthusiasm for going out. They'd rather stay in, in our pajamas, and bake cookies, light candles, and try to stay awake until midnight.

Do you have any festive plans or new year traditions?

Happy New Year.







Peace.

Spiral Peep

Lots of thoughts, as one year ends and a new one begins.

Peace.

Happy Friday

Bring on the wise men. We need 'em.

Happy Return of the Light
To you and yours.
However you celebrate it,
Enjoy.

Peace.

On.

Earth.

Happy Friday

Peace.

The Parlor

We have a small house.

It seems I am constantly moving furniture from room to room to make it fit our house and our lives. Along with changing each room's purpose, I change its name.

Until recently, this front room has been my art studio, which really means it has been a nearly-impenetrable mess of all my art and teaching supplies.

As our family is leaving our life of hermitage to attempt to be more social, I realize I need this biggest room in the house for hosting gatherings. Its transformation is now almost complete. I hope to begin hosting weekly music parties in the new year, so I needed a room where more than three people can sit comfortably.

Welcome to the parlor.

P.S. This is my 500th post. Cheers!



Peace.

Happy Friday

Tell me a story.

Peace.

Happy Friday

The aftermath.

Guess which plate was the grown-up's.

This year, like last year, I wonder why I do all the work for this modest feast when the girls only eat a couple bites. Next year I may have to come out from under the tyranny of the turkey!

I hope everyone enjoyed a pleasant repast yesterday and escaped the blackness today.







Peace.

Happy Friday

Peace.

Happy Friday

I was lucky enough to get to see Steve Westfield and the Slow Band last night. A ten-piece band that hadn't played out in eight years, they had one practice before the gig then just jumped in together. They lifted my feet off the floor and lifted my spirit, too.

What music will you enjoy this weekend?











Peace.