Happiness & Breakfast!

  "All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast."
                                                    ~John Gunther

    Best day to make a big breakfast is on sunday, when everyone's around and feeling a little lazy. I woke up this morning thinking about my favorite version of pancakes because there's lots of fresh ripe raspberries ready to be eaten in my fridge.
The photo here is from a picture of when Cape Cod Magazine came to my house to photograph a number of my recipes for publication.
Later that day, my kids enjoyed eating all the food I made for the photo shoot.
I'm going to leave you with my recipe for Pancakes with Slivered Almonds, Raspberries and Fresh Whipped Cream in case you're looking for something to do with all your ripe fresh fruit.

Pancakes with Slivered Almonds, Raspberries and Fresh Whipped Cream

Servings: Refer to Batter Recipe

Begin with your favorite pancake batter. We like buttermilk pancakes. Warm a large flat griddle pan with oil. Drop medium size rounds of batter evenly and grill evenly on both sides.

Prepare fresh ripe raspberries by cleaning and drying gently, gather a large handful of slivered almonds and cream (take heavy cream and a tsp. of vanilla and mix on medium in blender until light and fluffy.)
 Take three pancakes and place in the center of a plate and top with some of the raspberries, almonds and cream.
 Serve warm with  maple syrup. (And try grade A maple syrup it's a little more expensive, but definitely worth it in taste.)

Enjoy and while here you're invited to purchase an e-book version of my recipe book. Happy Baking!

Recipe for Ice Cream Pie!

It's been especially hot and humid on Cape this week. The best place for my kids and I is cooling off down by the beach.
 Another way to keep cool is to make an ice cream pie and have it ready in the freezer for when we return.
I'm sharing my recipe below- It's so easy and such a smart way to have a cool treat ready on a hot day!

Recipe for Ice Cream Pie

Take a half gallon of your favorite ice cream
Buy a pre-made graham cracker crust
cup whipping cream
tsp. vanilla
Feel free to even buy ready-made whipped cream (it's just so easy to do and tastes so much better fresh)

Let the ice cream soften so you can spread it into the bottom of the crust. Put the whipping cream and vanilla into a mixing bowl and whip until becomes thick. Spread the cream on top of the ice cream. Cover and place in your freezer.
Go to the beach for the day and VOILA, there will be a ready made treat for you to enjoy!
Have Fun--the warm weather won't last.

Out of the Ordinary & What's for Breakfast?

When we moved back to New England from Dallas, TX to settle on Cape Cod over five years ago I was surprised to learn how many year round residents took their vacations in the summer far away from the Cape. I remember being surprised at that because Cape Cod is so beautiful and offers so much in the way of recreation and rest right here.
As a full-time resident I can now appreciate the charm in going off Cape for vacation  right when so many others are finding their way here.
Leaving Cape Cod in the summer offers an opportunity to do something out of the ordinary. And it offers a chance to get away from it all and see life from a fresh perspective. And spend some quality time with my kids.
The photo above is of my two teenagers this past week after hiking a trail in Ouray, Colorado. They enjoyed the change in culture and climate that a trip to the Mountains offered.
 While visiting with family one morning I offered to make breakfast. Finding the right ingredients for a recipe can be a bit of a challenge in a town like Ouray that is set high in the mountiains. The closest large Grocery story is about 35 miles away.
I decided to make a trip down to the local market to see what I might find. I wanted to make a fresh baked pastry, and what I came up with was a welcome and delicious breakfast treat. Tastes great with a pot of fresh coffee on the side too. And, as always it's great to be back home.

Breakfast Fruit Bake

1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh blackberries
1 cup fresh raspberries
two cans refrigerated croissants, open containers and spread flat on bottom of greased baking dish
1 8oz. container, cream cheese softened
8 oz. vanilla yogurt (Whip the yogurt and softened cream cheese until smooth in a small bowl)

Bake the flat croissant dough at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until begins to brown. Let cool. Spread the cream cheese mixture over cooled dough. Place clean and dried fresh fruit evenly on top. Let chill. Enjoy!

Summer Berry Pie

      I baked a pie earlier today. My daughter Bella asked if I would.
How could I resist? I know how much a simple well baked pie fresh from the oven can make others feel happy. And it's so easy.
     I chose the freshest blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries I could find from the grocery store. Brought them home and washed them in the large colander that rests on the top of my baker's hutch.
     I let them sit in the sink so the sun that peeks in through the kitchen window could kiss them dry while I tended to the (much needed) laundry. The summer always brings large loads of towels in need of washing from days spent at the beach. Not to mention all the sweaty clothes from kids playing outdoors much of the day.
      As for eating the Summer Berry Pie-- once cooled from the oven you might think you've died and gone to heaven. A single bite dissolves in your mouth and invites you to taste more. Satisfaction only comes when you can lick your whole plate and there's a dark circle of bluish red almost burgundy from the pie juice that rests above your top lip waiting to be wiped clean too..
     My son and his friends were at the house earlier today before heading down to Falmouth Heights to meet up with friends and watch the Fireworks. It's an important tradition to eat burgers cooked on the grill and slices of watermelon too. I didn't want to miss the opportunity while all the kids were around so I fired up my grill and turned my oven on. Besides, the teenagers always seem to be starving and I start to wonder if they possibly could have a hollow leg.
    At my house Summer is not only trips to the Beach, walking on the sand or staying up late watching a movie or reading a good book---it's also S'mores and Summer Berry Pie.