my life as a short order cook

I make pancakes EVERY day. On weekdays, C likes her specialty - coconut pancakes, Liv eats 'em plain with syrup & butter. I'm so happy that they're eating a nice hot breakfast that I make what they want. Their big brother was not nearly as spoiled as these gals - McD breakfast on the way to school or cold cereal was the norm.

On the weekends I make DH's favorite pancakes with granola, nuts, dried apricots, cranberries, coconut & raisins. Really, it's almost a dessert, don't ya think? Edited to add - the key is not to mix the goodies in with batter, it's so much better if you sprinkle the good stuff right before you flip 'em. Just give it an extra little press down with the spatula & you're good to go!
This morning we have a 2 hour snow delay so I made Liv some heart shaped panny cakes & set the table extra special. Of course, they wanted to eat in the family room by the TV. And the puppy got a hold of a corner of the tablecloth and nearly sent it all flying.

It was nice while it lasted!

Lemon Poundcakes

Blackberry Almond Tarts

I wish I could send you all one of these tasty treats. They are one of my all time favorites - the flavors - a hint of cinnamon, lemon, perhaps - I can't disclose that - the recipe is one of my best kept secrets! Ground almonds in a sugar cookie crust, and seedless blackberry jam. I usually make these in my spring form pan, but one is missing (Dana do you have it there from a cheesecake I brought up?) and another is missing the bottom. So, I used 3 of my small ones and my heart pan. Can you tell how happy I am with this change in tradition? Yep, I'll be doing that again.

I'm sending them to school with Cathrynn, along with my mini lemon pound cake. From another message board I've learned that teachers don't especially like gifts of baked goods and even worse, apple themed stuff, but the gift basket Cathrynn bought has a cool ruler framed magnetic board and apple magnets, she loves it and can't wait to give it to Miss H tomorrow. And that's what the season is all about, huh?

chocolate tea cake & earl grey

Welcome!

'Another novelty is the tea-party,

an extraordinary meal in that,

being offered to persons that

have already dined well,

it supposes neither appetite nor thirst,

and has no object but distraction,

no basis but delicate enjoyment.'

Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.

(1755-1825)

I love how pretty these tea leaves are:
Spring Blossom Green Tea
Organic White Peony
Jasmine

As the Make Mine Pink ladies host their tea parties this week, I thought I'd offer a cup here as well. I decided against formal. As many of you may already know, I closed my tea room last year and I gave up all that starch - in the linens and in the decorum - my tea is simple these days. I still love my fancy little pastries & good china, but this dense loaf of chocolate tea bread on my every day blue&yellow mismatch is even more appealing to me. This cake is unbelievably good - especially since I searched high & low for something exactly like this - Nigella's chocolate loaf/cake exploded in the oven, even after reading every tip on the message boards.

When sweet little neighbor Mallory stopped by on the September 1st with a bag of Amish Friendship Bread starter, I was reminded of the Herman cake starter from the 70s. (yikes, I've slipped & dated myself as middle aged, huh?) . This called for all the usual - mush the bag of fermentation. Add milk, oil and flour. But the cake itself called for instant pudding mix ('cause you know how much the Amish like that, huh? ;) ) . Luckily, chocolate was all we had in the pantry. Dense. Chocolate-y. Moist. Have a piece, or at least let me send you a bag of starter!

Tea alone is good. With friends is even better. Do leave a comment if you stop!

Tea & Tidings,
Kelley

You can't tell, but my walls are periwinkle... here's a much better use for a pot rack:

Come on over for some... Almond & Plum Cake

Instead of breakfast, brunch or possibly even lunch today, I'm having this warm from the oven. Dad stopped by for coffee while Mom got her nails done around the corner and I had this treat for us. So what to do with a bunch of plums leftover from the farmer's market last week? Try Catherine Bell's quick almond & plum cake from her cookbook Everyday Epicurean

Dad's review complete with Food Network style fork in mid-air, chewing and narrative skills: "perfect - the cake is moist and sweet and the plums have a nice tart touch". I'll add that I skipped the oil in the recipe and used all butter instead cause that's how I like to bake and I was a bit zealous with the cinnamon... the best part for me is the great crusted edges. My plums were halved b/c I couldn't figure out how to pit them whole as stated in the recipe and I couldn't find a paper doily to make a pretty powdered sugar design but still de-lish! If you'd like the recipe - let me know.

there's no cornstarch in poundcake

Not any baking powder in today's batch either. That's what happens when you put all your pantry items in pretty mason jars and only label the lids. To recover, I spooned a dash of baking powder into the cakes while in the oven. Cathrynn knew something was up and even said, "this doesn't look right" as I poured the thin batter into the pretty rose pan and ignored her. I silently agreed but checked the amount of flour and proceeded.
Why are we baking? Because it's so hot outside today, I refuse to melt again. After yesterday's play date at 3pm - I'm done with it. I gave in and cranked the oven. Hopefully the a/c will be kind and not have a heat stroke. The girls twisted my arm and the scent of Caramel Rum Poundcake is filling the house. And I'm doing day 2 of healthy eating. I avoided Dairy Queen ice cream cake with chocolate fudge & cookie filling last night. I have willpower. And a large behind.

And for a healthy alternative, the girls made some eye-watering salsa. Yum!

she's co-co for coconut

Cathrynn's last food obsession is coconut. She's happily munching (and with 4 loose teeth - rather loudly I might add) on a bowl even as I type. She even added to her cupcakes - an ultra-cool-thought of it all by herself. To date, I'm the only one who's eaten one (okay, four or so, but someone has to, right?). Liv's licked a lot of icing and C just admires hers from afar. Here's my little cupcakes & their little cupcakes. Off to bake another pineapple upside down cake. Because we have another funeral today. Yes - the 3rd in 4 weeks. The girls should be traumatized for life with all this, especially Cathrynn having to wear a dress again. I promised her after Gramm's that she'd not have to wear another one all summer. Who knew? And Liv just casually questions things about death. Inanimate objects - will they die? She hasn't asked the big questions about the rest of the family. Frank insists that funerals are a healthy part of life 'cause he had a lot of fun at them growing up. Okay. The girls had fun at the first one. I'll give him that but the 3rd? People are just disappearing around here. I might need therapy after this.

Where did you go for your summer vacation? Three funeral homes & cemeteries. Hope they don't make her write an essay.

cupcakes - 'cause food is love

Did you ever have a day that brings bad news and sad news? Yep, that's me today. Seriously, don't call me if you've got big, bad stuff going on. I've had my daily maximum. So, I baked. Banana bread and pretty cupcakes - cause who can be anything but happy when looking at these pretties? The liners are by Martha and are sooooo pretty. Love or hate her, she's got good stuff! And the super duper size sprinkles - Wiltons.

In between story time at the library, baking and endless phone calls, we girls crafted this morning. Their's aren't done yet but here's a peak at mine. A fast project that's useful too - now that doesn't happen very often, does it? I present to you - fridge magnets - I used some text from 1940s magazines.

Back to the kitchen to make more love.

A cyber birthday card for my dear friend Dana. I love her birthday cause it means we're the same age again, and I'm not 45 days older. But who's counting, right?

The ubiquitous pineapple upside down -someone died - cake to take to Frank's uncle's funeral. That's my top secret recipe. Don't tell anyone. Especially Aunt Dolores, who won't share her pound cake recipe and gave Sandra & I both bogus banana bread recipes. In a pinch I used canned chunks & got a bit creative.

oh my ganache!

Silky dark chocolate ganache poured over milk chocolate buttercream devil's food cake with blackberry buttercream & preserve filling.Also made bacon&cheddar deviled eggs, 5 bean baked beans, raspberry almond goodie bars, black berry almond tart & for the kid's - plain buttered noodles. The picnic's at 6pm! Can't wait to load it all and head for the hills. Yummmmmmm!