Category Archives: Baking

Apr 7 2012

And….Easter!

I started writing this just before Easter, glanced up, and now it is Easter.  Now I have to edit my tenses…

I completely tossed my plans (even dancing!) last night and worked on my nest, inside and out, all day long. So much was accomplished that it feels like it was an excellent use of my time. Yesterday was an incredibly beautiful day here. Warm, sunny, and light breeze. Mentally, I was four running naked in the yard…giggling, joyous, and alive. Maybe there was a lawn sprinkler, a dog, other kids. But only mentally. Blue skies and high billowing clouds. All my concerns about life were momentarily swept away. Days like this are truly a gift. It’s too early to nod and say yes, it’s another beautiful day. Right now, it’s hallelujah, it’s a beautiful day! And what can I do to enjoy it? Put a bow on this one. It was an incredible gift.

So I tackled the patio, which was more joy than tackling. Everything is spit spot and back in place for summer.  Hanging plants are hanging, wind chimes are chiming, leaf debris and cob webs are but a memory now. I trimmed back the herbs, and found my hands smelling delightfully of rosemary, sage, and thyme essential oils for hours afterwards.To smell herbs, even this brought me joy. But for me, the best moments in life have always been the little things. A smile, a touch, a sweet, soft spoken thoughtful word or phrase, a gentle breeze, a bird song…things that define the moment as special and heart-felt take my breath away.

Then indoors to prepare three loaves of banana nut bread, two batches of raspberry and blueberry scones, and two loaves of carrot cake bread for sunrise breakfast and service tomorrow morning. They are sliced, plated, and wrapped to go. I could go on for days about how much I love this church, but what makes my literary heart sing and swoon is how the works of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and yes, Star Wars are part of the message to connect ancient scripture to current works with the same story or theme.  Best. Shepherd. Ever!! I have taught these works with an overarching theme of good vs. evil to teach about life as well as story. I believe deeply in a literature-based English language arts program and learning vicariously through story and characters that introduce students to deeper truths about the world we live in.

On the writing front, the Pacific Northwest Writers Association has author interviews as podcasts on their web site. Nice! The concept is the interviewer asks three questions of the author, and then the author asks three questions of the interviewer. This is the format of the interviews except when it isn’t. I couldn’t stop listening to them. It was ear candy. Authors talked about the spirit of writing and its nuances. It is very liberating to writers who may be struggling with something like, I don’t know, outlining. I know what outlining is, have taught it, but do I faithfully do it in detail? *Cough* Look, a squirrel! Let’s just say only if I am forced to with a gun, a knife, or a ticking bomb…in close proximity. Two authors on PNWA web site said that it is important to feel your way through your story.  I almost said “amen.” A general idea of the path you intend to pursue before writing is good, like a key word or key idea outline, but in detail ad nauseum is hardly necessary. Feel your way through your story. I think I probably said “thank you” in a small, quiet voice as I listened to the podcast voice say “feel your way through your story.” I will be sashaying along now, just so you know, unencumbered by or intimidated by the lack of a fully proper outline, thank you very much, as it is a bit of okay and a whole lot of alright. What seems to work best for me anyway is working out a plot graph, deciding on chapters, naming them, and writing chapter summaries that may change. This process is working right now, which isn’t to say that it will work next time. Sometimes, it’s color pencils and blank paper to which I sketch out ideas as images and caption with text creating a visual representation, a storyboard,  of the plot. And listening to the direction that the story wants to go in is just as important as listening the process that seems to say how it wants you to work on developing the story. Writing is a funny thing. The more logical I try to make it, the more spiritual it becomes to me, which is really freeing. Sweet thing, writing.

Nov 14 2011

And here comes the holidays!

Thanksgiving Day planning, done. I am looking forward to some time to relax, enjoy a little down time to cook up something special, and decorating for the holidays. I will transform my apartment into a sparkly, twinkling winter wonderland and bake an assortment of cookies to finish the day. Love to bake. Love to make wintery sparkly.

I am looking forward to the holidays beginning this year, but not out of exhaustion and sickness like in so many years past, but out of gladness and joy. And December, well, it gets even better with tickets to Ballanchine’s The Nutcracker at Keller Auditorium and Magical Strings’ holiday concert. There are also things going on at church that I will attend. So life here is full, festive, and very satisfying.

I’ve been in the PNW for 30+ years now, most of my life, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else on earth. It’s home. I have lived from Seattle to the Gorge, and now that I have found the friendliest city ever with so much to do, I would really like to buy a home here and stay. I love to grow things so a little garden space would be perfect, and a patio would keep me elbow deep in potting soil, flowers, and vegetables.

And tomorrow night, one of the greatest contra bands ever will be in Portland. Wild Asparagus. So I will be dancing and reveling in the fact that they sound a lot like this! A good time will be had by all, no doubt. I really think it’s impossible to contra dance and not smile. It is so much fun.Now that I’m closer to Portland, I contra dance so much more and afterwards, it’s not an hour and half drive home. More like 25-30 minutes. Then The Nutcracker and Magical Strings is about the same. It seems most of my life I have moved closer and closer to Portland, namely Powell’s Bookstore, as well. It was all part of the master plan!

Okay, the hour is getting late and sleep calls.

Patricia

Aug 3 2009

Artist in the Kitchen: Blueberry Scones Plus Reading The China Study

Blueberry scones it is. I honestly love my scones. I haven’t baked in a while because Spring and Summer are when I hit the fitness track the hardest. To my credit, I did eat everything else proper today, but had to have a couple of scones made with fresh blueberries and pot of tea. One day to get my scone fix on then it’s done for a while. This is what cream scone dough looks like when prepared to bake. If you are trying these, be sure to use frozen berries. I use a full cup of frozen berries and a half cup of white chocolate paired with a complimentary extract. For blueberries, it’s lemon. Once done, lemon curd goes well, too, on top. Or you can use frozen raspberries and white chocolate chips.

IMG_4121

1/2 c of room temperature butter

2 c flour

1/3 cup turbinado sugar

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 egg

1/2 c heavy whipping cream

1 c fruit

Blend the first six in a mixer. 7-8 minutes on low.

Add egg and whipping cream just to incorporate.

Add frozen fruit and chocolate if called for. 45 seconds (just to mix in..barely)

Then form two balls that are then flattened as above, brushed with cream, and sprinkled generously with turbinado sugar. Push the sugar in a little to make it stick.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes for the best results. I saved the other half in the freezer for another day.

IMG_4124Countdown to yum. For small batches of baked yummies on the rare occasion, I have this counter top oven that bakes, has convection, and broils. It gets most of the business in the kitchen.

But most days there are no scones as I am totally committed to healthy living. My most recent book that I am reading is The China Study which is based on groundbreaking research on the affects of nutrition on health. I just started it today, and is a complete eye opener to the major diseases and illnesses in America today as effects, not causes. The causes are linked to nutrition. This book explains the connection between food choices and poor health. It’s very well done, and a book I highly recommend reading.

From The China Study web site:

“The science is clear. The results are unmistakable. Change your diet and dramatically reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.” Click here to read further about this remarkable book and here to read from the book.

It’s getting late, and I want to read before sleeping. Have a pleasant night’s sleep and best of dreams to you.

-Patricia

Jul 21 2009

Fairy Grot, Yoga Yikes, Too Hot, International Space Station, & Blueberry Crisp

Ummmmm what a day. Finally resting. I rearranged my bedroom and cleaned it from top to bottom or stem to stern as my Nana used to say which means I will sleep well tonight and not a bit of dust to irritate my nose. It’s sparkly. It’s airy. It’s lovely. It’s my fairy grot. I also worked on Sheyu’s room today, too.  I still have some work to do on it, but it’s getting there.  I think by tomorrow after gyming that it will be ready to arrange. It will be very comfortable for him by the time I finish. He wants me to send pictures of it. But most of all….I’m sore today.

Rough drill sergeant yoga teacher yesterday, and today my stuff is muscle aching sore which doesn’t usually happen. I knew I would be sore when I arrived home last night. Instead of namaste, I was thinking “thank God.” It was beyond rigorous. Just saying, teach, you don’t need to include ALL the exercises for a part of the body like abs when instructing yoga or including the most difficult positions for EVERYONE w/o modifications. And breaks like child’s pose occasionally are NICE and are there for a reason. Sheesh.  Gets the teacher in me bristled a bit when hard is thought to equal good when it isn’t…in anything you teach. Hard does not equal good!!!!  Yoga shouldn’t hurt. A little challenging, yes. But it shouldn’t strain muscles to point of pulling them. I think I will do some yoga stretches tonight to try and ease the muscle tension and, of course, a hot shower to relax them.

As is customary, I am having dinner and a movie. This one is from my library so I know I like it. The garbage can is for movies I don’t like. They don’t make the library shelf. Okay, it’s Pirates of the Carribean. I heart this movie and haven’t watched it in a great while.

Another hotter than 40 hells day, and it just gets hotter as the week goes on. This makes me appreciate things like rain, snow, sleet, cold, and really freezing it off weather until about February. Then it can leave.

So the International Space Station is overhead tonight and the next few nights. Just showered, and then Merlin and I walked where we could see the NW night sky wide open and clearly just after twilight. I found NW,  looked up, and there it was. It was the first thing lit in the night sky. That was cool to see! It looks like the North star…that size.  Then, I made some lemonade and whipped up a serving of blueberry crisp which is baking now and am enjoying, I mean really enjoying a cool evening. It was a hot one. I’d like to share with you how someone as health conscious as I am can eat blueberry crisp. One serving is like this:

1 T butter

2 T honey

Cinnamon to your liking

Melt and stir.

Add berries. Tonight it’s blueberries plus a little lemon juice, a tablespoon. I’m very generous with the blueberries. Blueberries like lemon juice. Mix and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes if you can wait that long. 25 will do if you just happen to pass by the stove and think you’re ready to enjoy. Nosh. It’s good for you.

Options:

  • Cherries and almond extract
  • Apples and nutmeg
  • Raspberries and almond extract

And that’s how I get away with eating tasty baked things during super get fit season.  Blueberries are one of the absolute best fruits to eat. It is stunning how good they are for you.  Here is a slide show from Health magazine on the amazing benefits of blueberries. It’s surprising.

Well alrighty. Lovely night. Think I’m ready to turn in. Improving your health improves your enjoyment of life.

-Patricia

Feb 14 2009

Valentine's Day, Sia and Zero 7, Baking Aromatherapy, and Healing

Another Valentine’s Day comes and goes. Hope yours was awesome and that people were nice to you today. Me…well…there isn’t an “other half to my heart,” and I am a partner kind of person.  So Valentine’s Day is “Missing Half Awareness Day” which is to say a bit awkward and, at times, lonely.

I’m passing the evening listening to Zero 7 and writing for National Board.  If you haven’t heard of Zero 7, they are Sia’s band.  If you haven’t heard of either one of these two amazing musical entities, it’s time.  It’s been a year or so since I went to a performance of Sia’s.  I can still remember it.  It was in Seattle’s Crocodile Cafe and was a very beautiful experience.  Super nice people, great vibe, and so much talent.  I discovered Sia’s music from the HBO series Six Feet Under.  She did the music for the final episode at the end.  The song was “Breathe Me”  From there, I wanted to hear more, discovered her band Zero 7, and the rest is really good music.

Did a little baking today.  I made homemade banana nut bread which scented the house with its lovely, soothing aroma. There’s nothing like the smell of something baking to comfort and soothe me.  It’s baking aromatherapy! The bread was quite good, too!

Just snow flurries all day.  I ventured out very little.  My lungs are still a little tender from bronchitis, so I’m being careful and taking care.  I can still here my mom saying “take  care of your health.” I’m anxious to start long walks again, but the cold air hurts to breathe right now.  It’s all healing quite well.  No cough, have pretty much got my energy back, and my appetite is better but not great. At this rate, I should be good as new soon.  Sooner if I would just eat more of my “magical homemade chicken noodle soup with its mysterious healing properties.” But I’m sternly refusing my medicine, not venturing beyond, at most, an occasional sandwich.

Blessings to you,

-Patricia