West Falmouth Baking Company

Story Behind Dreamy Island Cookies

2012-01-27T06:34:00.001-08:00

A couple of summer's ago I baked and sold many of my Dreamy Island Cookies at the Coonamessett Farm Store in Falmouth. I hadn't baked them in a long while and the other day my daughter Bella asked if I would make them. They have chocolate, finely crushed pecans and flakes of coconut.

The best time to eat them is warm, right out of the oven.

I started my small at home baking business from the first summer we moved to Cape Cod. One day I decided to take my kids to Martha's Vineyard for the day. It was a perfect summer day. We rode the ferry, had lunch and took a swim. I remember we walked by a large white house that had a beautiful blue glass collection in the window. We went into town and bought a new piece for their collection. We had the store clerk gift wrap it. We went back to the house and left it on the doorstep anonymously with a note that said, "to add to your collection".

It was fun to do something unexpected for someone else. The kids and I had fun sharing in something spontaneous. My kids are much older now and I hope from time to time they remember that fun day we shared.

On the Ferry ride home I decided I would come up with a cookie for my newly formed business that would reflect the fun of that day. I thought of the name Dreamy Island Cookies to remember that trip to the Vineyard. I am not quite sure which ones I like more my Celebration Cookies with cranberry, blueberry and white chocolate or my Dreamy Island's with pecans, coconut and milk chocolate. I suppose I don't have to choose.

Never the Same Pie Twice!

2012-01-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

"Any time of the day is a good time for pie."- Fabienne, Pulp Fiction

My kids were home from school on Monday. It gave me a chance to get a few things cooked and baked to have around the house for the week.

I baked a Cranberry Apple pie (pictured here) and I realized that I've never baked the same pie twice. I always make it more from what seems most fresh at the market and what I have on hand than a recipe.

I used fresh cranberries, apples, lots of fresh squeezed lemon juice and a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon. If I use lots of fresh fruit it's bound to turn out yummy! I like the way the tart of the lemon juice balances out the sweetness of the fruit.

Last weekend, I was invited to a fun birthday party with a group of friends. We stayed at the fancy and well-known Chatham Bars Inn. It was a lot of fun to get away for a little bit. My friend asked me to bake something sweet to share and I decided to take along my Celebration Cookies. We went out to dinner and went into town to listen to a band. We ended up having the cookies with coffee for breakfast as we spent time chatting about the night before.

The cottage we stayed in overlooked the ocean and it had snowed but it was still bright and sunny. It was a perfect winter Cape Cod morning.

Do Try This at Home!

2012-01-12T14:46:00.000-08:00

Here is the Chocolate Banana Cake I decided to make for Friday's Lunch Club. It was a perfect day for baking a cake-grey, rainy and overcast all day! I decided to share the recipe here and urge you to try it at home. Why? Because it tastes really good and your family and friends will be so happy you did.

It's an updated version of the recipe I have in "Meet Me in My Cape Cape Cod Kitchen" and I think it's my new favorite. I must admit, I was so happy when I started to make this today and realized I had everything I needed on hand so I didn't have to make a last minute run to the store.

An old friend used to sell her version of a two layer Chocolate Banana Cake to the restaurant we helped start when we lived in Dallas and every once and awhile I get a craving for a cake like this. It takes a bit of time to get this done from start to finish, but its worth it.

Recipe for Three Layer Banana Chocolate Cake

2 1/2 cups sugar

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

4 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

2 tsp. baking soda

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp. Vanilla

6 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed in a bowl

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 9 inch round cake pans, set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar until well mixed and add in the eggs and beat well. Mix in the sour cream and the bananas until blended and then add in the vanilla. Sift the flour and baking soda together and add to the creamed mixture and beat well. Divide batter evenly into all three pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes until baked. Cool a few minutes before removing from pans. Cool completely before frosting.

For Frosting:

4 3/4 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup natural cocoa powder

1/3 cup butter softened

4 Tbsp black coffee, brewed

Sift the powdered sugar with the cocoa then add the butter and mix on low until blended. Add the coffee and blend well until you find the consistency you want for your frosting.

Friday Lunch Club

2012-01-08T06:34:00.000-08:00

"Food is not about impressing people. It's about making them feel comfortable."
~ Ina Garten, 'The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook'

I relate so well to this quote by Ina. It reflects the same basic ideas I've shared in "Sweeter by the Beach", "Meet me in My Cape Cod Kitchen" and the many articles I've written and published over the past few years like For the Love of Lobster, Fun & Fabulous Holiday Gifts, Comforts of Baking and most recently Food as Gift.

Sharing food for me, really is about making people feel comfortable.

Over the Holidays, I went to a party where an acquaintance told me about a Friday Lunch Club. She gathers girlfriends once a month and invites them over for lunch on a Friday. The idea is to make and share one of your favorite recipes, print up copies of it and send guests home with it so they can make at a later time.

I thought it was such a simple and fun way to get girlfriends together. So I've decided to host a Friday Lunch Club at my house this Friday. For this first one, I'm going to keep it simple: home made soup, a vegetable quiche and one of my favorite cakes that I don't make very often: a layered banana cake with chocolate frosting.

Happy New Year, Easy Recipe for Chocolate Shortbread & Cake Balls!

2012-01-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

"In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want." ~Irish Toast

I baked Chocolate Cake Balls yesterday (pictured here). I'd been so busy baking for others throughout the holiday season that I never got around to making these for my kids and they are one of their favorites.

I like the sentiment in the Irish Toast because my friends have always been such an important part of my life. I have a couple of friends that I am still close to today from early grade school. It is such a blessing to have good friends.

As for the Recipe for Chocolate Shortbread I wanted to share it here because I plan to bake it later today for a New Year's Dinner I'm making to celebrate my son's birthday. I'm making a black pepper roast, garlic mashed potatoes and a spinach & feta quiche. I thought the shortbread's would be something simple and yummy to go along with it.

Chocolate Shortbread

(with these you may have to begin any new year diets tomorrow)

1 cup butter

3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 ounces milk chocolate, melted and slightly cooled

2 cups all purpose flour

In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar, until light and smooth. Beat in vanilla and melted chocolate. Stir in flour until just blended. Spread into a greased 13x9 baking dish and bake at 300 degrees for about 40 or so minutes. Let cool completely and then cut into squares.

Quick & Super Easy Recipe for Sausage Egg Bake!

2011-12-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Sophia wanted to invite some friends over this week to decorate sugar cookies for her class party. I made a ton of snowmen, stocking and star shaped sugar cookies and left them for the girls to decorate. They had fun.

I'm happy I was able to finish my grading for the semester and take some time to let her have friends over. They giggled a lot and the kitchen was a mess with green and red frosting, white snowflake jimmies, green colored sugar and mini candy Christmas trees.

They decorated enough for everyone in the class and made sure there were enough for the teacher and her aides. We packaged them in a large container and wrote all their names on top and sent them in this morning.

It's hard to believe Christmas is the day after tomorrow. One of my favorite meals of the year is Breakfast on Christmas morning. I decided to make a Sausage Egg Bake, Warm Cinnamon Rolls, Fresh Fruit and Orange Juice.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Blessings for a Prosperous and Healthy New Year!

Recipe for Sausage Egg Bake

9 large eggs
1/4 cup finely chopped scallions

1 1/2 cups shard cheddar, grated fine

1/4 cup milk

ground spicy sausage, cooked to brown in a skillet, at the last minute add the scallions to soften

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a baking dish. Beat the eggs in a small bowl until smooth and add the milk. Sprinkle in the salt and pepper to taste. Mix the browned sausage and scallions into the bowl with eggs and gently add in the cheddar. Pour into greased baking dish and bake for about 25 minutes. Enjoy right out of the oven!

Busy Busy Bakers & Another End of Semester!

2011-12-17T04:49:00.000-08:00

There's been lots of baking going on at my house this week. I like to bake for neighbors, my kids teachers, other friends at the holidays and I often bring in cookies on the last day of my classes for the semester. In my English Composition classes this week, I brought in Coconut Pound Cake drizzled with Chocolate, Sugar Cookies topped with Crushed Candy Canes, Chocolate Chip Cookies with a hint of Peanut Butter and Cranberry Biscotti.

The cookies were definitely a hit with my students. We played a couple of word games on the last day. We wrote a Community Story and played 'Passadoodle'. It was fun.

I like my students to leave with the idea that although College writing requires them to work hard and write well throughout the semester language and literature can be fun!

I like to hear what they write for a Community Story; it's always wacky and wild plots with outrageous descriptions. It'll be nice to have a break for a little while (to spend time with my own kids) before the Spring Semester begins.

Cupcakes, Fuzzy Pink Slippers & Fig and Prosciutto Puffs!

2011-12-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

T'is the season for Holiday Parties. I love a good party. And at times the Holidays seem like one of the few times I get a chance to see certain people. It's fun to catch up with people I haven't seen in awhile.

I can't go to a party empty handed so I baked some fun cupcakes earlier today-butter flavored cupcakes with blue frosting and green sugar.

I also brought the new appetizer recipe I came up with right before Thanksgiving because it's easy and good and people really seem to like it.

Recipe for Fig and Prosciutto Puffs

Mini Phyllo Shells
Fig Jam
Prosciutto, Sliced into pieces
Pepper Jack Cheese, shredded

On a baking sheet place the mini Phyllo shells. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop a teaspoon of jam on the center of each pastry shell. Place small slices of prosciutto on top of the jam and top with a sprinkle of shredded pepper jack cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry shells are brown.

Oh ya, and as for the Fuzzy Pink Slippers, I did some Christmas shopping today and in an effort to take good care of myself throughout the holiday season I decided to buy myself the cutest and most comfortable slippers I've ever had. It seems like if I remember to take care of myself too, I will enjoy the hectic holiday season so much more. Just a thought, but maybe it would work for you too? Not the pink slippers, but the taking time for you around the holiday!

Kindness, Cake Balls & NYC!

2011-12-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

It was my kids Dad's birthday this weekend and even though we are no longer together I decided it was worth the effort to help my kids put a mini birthday celebration together for him. I helped my daughter's buy a quesadilla maker, the ingredients for a dinner they would make for him at his place last Friday and other decorations. I also baked a pie to send over too because what's a birthday without desert? From what my daughter's said, the dinner came out delicious and he seemed to appreciate their efforts.
Regardless of how things turned out between he and I, I want my kids to know how important it is to show kindness and appreciation for the people you care about and what better way then to help them make a celebration for him. I didn't have to be there, it was enough of a reward knowing my girls had fun in their efforts. I have to admit, I also think it's pretty cool that my daughter's are learning the art of cooking and sharing good food too. Something I hope to share with them for years to come.
My oldest daughter and I took a day trip into NYC on Saturday. We had a lot of fun. After a long effort on my part I finally finished my book proposal for "Sweeter by the Beach" and sent it out to a New York Agent for her to take a look at last week. I was happy to finally complete it because I tried to get it done by summer's end but between the kids and my teaching job it simply took longer than I expected.
We had a blast tooling around the City. The cool thing was that at one point I realized we rode right by the Agent's office Building where I sent it to. I hope it gets published someday because it has been a fun project and I think people would enjoy seeing what it's about.
As for making Cake Balls, I baked some late Sunday afternoon because the holidays are fast approaching and I need to get a jump on my baking now before all the party's get underway.
For my first batch of the season, I made chocolate dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy canes. (Yum!)

How Time Flies & Giving Thanks!

2011-11-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that my niece will turn twenty tomorrow on Thanksgiving Day. I remember the day she was born. I was living in Hermosa Beach, CA at the time.
We had plans that day to go to her Dad's sister's house for Thanksgiving Dinner, but got the call that my sister had gone into Labor. We drove to the hospital to meet her. I remember thinking she was so little, so cute and absolutely perfect! It's amazing how much life has changed in those twenty years and how fast the time flies.
I was doing my holiday baking by candle light and a fire early this morning. It's cold, dark and rainy today and the candle and fire made the house feel less gloomy.
The house was quiet and I had a chance to think about many Holidays I've spent in the past. I thought about that day twenty years ago, but I also remembered how much I used to love the holidays when my Nana and all her sister's were still alive. My grandparents used to attend a Catholic Church that would sing and deliver part of the message in French. I remember feeling as if there was something so special and sacred about that. Even if, I didn' understand exactly what was being said and sung.
Another favorite memory I have of Thanksgiving's past is all the pies my Aunt Ollie used to bake. She made pie perfection- chocolate cream, apple, pumpkin and pecan pies! As a kid, I couldn't wait until dinner was done.
I hope you have a peaceful Thanksgiving and remember to take time to give thanks for even the little things.

Autumn Fires & Freshly Baked Tortilla Strips!

2011-11-18T10:10:00.001-08:00

Last week when I made the batch of Chicken & Corn Tortilla Soup, I roasted corn in olive oil, added garlic, cumin, coriander, sage and red pepper, tomatoes, scallions, chicken broth and diced chicken. I also baked my own tortilla strips and they were so easy and good I thought I'd add a quick recipe here.

Take Flour Tortilla's and brush them with olive oil on both sides, slice into small strips and place flat on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 or so minutes, until brown.

Freshly baked tortilla strips are great to top off a bowl of soup or as a crunchy topping for a leafy green salad.

As for the Autumn Fires, I've been making them a lot lately. It's so relaxing to be home and have a fire going to warm the room.

Memories, Laughter and Chicken & Corn Tortilla Soup

2011-11-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

“When someone dies, you don't get over it by forgetting; you get over it by remembering, and you are aware that no person is ever truly lost or gone once they have been in our life and loved us, as we have loved them.”

― Leslie Marmon Silko

I spent part of last week at a family wake and funeral. Overall, the experience was deeply sad and I can honestly say I learned a lot, was gifted with the pleasure of recalling many memories and besides the nature of the event that brought us all together I did have the opportunity to laugh quite a bit. Laughter is good medicine, especially when it's shared with people I deeply love.
Silko's right it 's by remembering that no person is ever truly lost once they have been in our life and we have loved them.

One memory in particular I enjoyed sharing was of an old family friend who would have us to their home each year on the night before Christmas. It was a big white house set high on the hill. I remember a large hidden attic, a back stair case from the bedrooms down to the kitchen and an old wooden chute that the kids would drop their laundry in. It would turn up in the basement right next to the washing machine. I used to think this was brilliant.

The Mother, a good friend and cousin of my Mom's was an impressive baker. At the end of a large meal the dishes would be cleared and the table would be replaced with all kinds of scrumptious pies, cheesecake and cookies.
After I returned home from the Funeral, I was eager to share food and new memory with friends and family. I made hot rosemary rolls, a Coconut Joy Pie and Chicken & Corn Tortilla Soup. I made a fire in the kitchen fireplace and called a few friends to come over. Late last night, Sophia said the Pie was 'amazing' and Bella said the soup was 'so yummy'!
And either way, the loss of our loved one will remain. Yet, we still must get together, eat good food and make new memories along the way....

Pies, Pecans & Libraries!

2011-11-04T06:04:00.000-07:00

When I got my library card, that's when my life began. ~Rita Mae Brown

I adore our Library system on the Cape. I'm constantly stopping at one of the many branches and either looking for a good movie, music or book to check out. I go there first when I hear what my book club is reading next.

When I need something for one of my classes, I often stop there before the campus library because it simply feels more like home. And I know that part of why all three of my kids have such a strong love for reading is the many times I've brought them there. There's nothing better than getting a library card and using it. So when the Children's Librarian recently asked me if I wanted to bake pies for the annual volunteer luncheon I felt it was the least I could do.
I baked a Cranberry Apple Pie and a Pecan Cheesecake Pie. Fall on Cape Cod is Cranberry harvesting season and cranberry's are in such wonderful abundance. My oldest daughter says, the Pecan Cheesecake Pie is the best dessert she's ever tasted. I offered to bake the Pecan Cheesecake Pie because the Fall always reminds me of the years we spent in Dallas collecting and shelling pecans from the many trees in our neighborhood that produced them. And for those who had never tasted a Pecan Cheesecake Pie, I didn't want them to miss out. It's such a perfect combination of creamy and crunchy.

In case you feel like doing some baking this weekend and have yet to taste this particular pie I'll leave you with my version of the recipe. You can use either a refrigerated pie crust or use my recipe for a simple pie crust in "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen".
And, if you give it a try, let me know how it turns out!

Pecan Cheesecake Pie
1 pie crust, placed in the bottom of a pie plate, fold edges and crimp.

8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

4 large eggs, divided

3/4 cup sugar, divided

2 tsp. vanilla extract divided

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans

1 cup light caro syrup

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rack on lowest position in oven. Combine the cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, and the salt. Beat at medium speed until smooth. Pour the cream cheese mixture into crust. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the cream cheese. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, corn syrup, 3 eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla. Pour the mixture over the pecans. Place on the lowest rack and bake for approximately 50 minutes or until the pie is set.
Cool completely. Enjoy!

Early Morning Fire & Lemon Cake!

2011-10-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."~ Colette

I can relate to Colette's idea's on cooking. There are days when so much needs tending to that even the thought of having to boil water can feel like a chore.
But on other days, when I'm settled in at home I can make and bake a whole host of yummy foods. I'll make some for now and some for later and some to share as treat with a loved one.
And similar to love, the rewards, seem equal to what is put into it.
I was in my kitchen first thing this morning baking a Lemon Cake. The house was cold because I haven't turned on the heater quite yet so I made a fire to take away the chill. At the bus stop my neighbor said she could smell the fire. I must have used an especially fragrant piece of wood because it really filled the air throughout my yard and beyond.
We joked about how between the smell of the Lemon Cake baking and the fire burning I was making my own form of aromatherapy.
And like cooking, love comes in so many different forms. This week, I was lucky enough to witness the love my niece has for her new born baby. I got to watch my youngest daughter's face light up when I surprised her at her school lunch. And, then saw another family member's concern over her loved ones recent illness that progressed for the worse. Like the quote above, it's better to enter into with abandon than not at all.

Harvest Party Time!

2011-10-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

"Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you posses. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace. " ~ Kent Nerburn

I decided to host a small autumn get together to celebrate the harvest this weekend for two reasons. It had been far too long since I hosted a get together and one of my main ideas in the book I've been writing is to share how fun it is to gather friends and family around good food inspired by living near the beach-I consider hosting a party as research for the book!
Another reason I decided to host a party, is that I've been invited to a number of Halloween Costume parties and for whatever reason (I can't even come up with a good one) I really don't like having to wear a costume to a party. Although by passing on those parties, I didn't want my friends to think I didn't want to get together with them so I decided to invite them to a Harvest Party instead.
I'm going to serve all things harvest related and have a fire going in the fireplace.
First thing this morning I baked a carrot cake, cranberry biscotti with white chocolate and a pumpkin bread with a white glaze. I'm serving baked brie with preserves and walnuts, pumpkin and sage ravioli, bacon and blue cheese tarts and an apple crisp. I will offer guests Pumpkin Flavored Beer, Pomegranate Martini's or Apple Cider to share in a toast of this season's harvest.
More than anything, it's a chance to catch up with friends!

Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies!

2011-10-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

Many friends who have tried my recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies say they are the best they've ever had. There really is "something so special and simple about a really good chocolate chip cookie". They are the ultimate choice for sharing food as gift, because like Sophia says, "who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies?"

Earlier this week I decided to bake Chocolate Chip Cookies for one of my three English Composition Classes. When teaching I often use the over head projector to share with the class different images, videos or notes and one day this week the computer wasn't working properly and a student offered to let us use his laptop instead. I told him I would thank him by bringing in cookies to class. They said things like, "Mmm" and "Yum" and "Thanks for the Cookies".

In case you want to give my recipe a try:

Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 sticks butter, unsalted (softened)
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
12 oz milk chocolate chips

1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2) Combine in small bowl salt, flour and baking powder.
3) Beat together in a separate bowl butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla blend well but don't over mix.
4) Stir in flour mixture until well blended and dough forms and then stir in chocolate.
5) Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup drop rounds of cookie dough onto a baking sheet. Bake for 15- 17 minutes or until bottom of cookies brown.

These cookies are perfect when shared with a large glass of cold milk!
Happy Baking!

Simplicity,Chill in the Air & Baking!

2011-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

Do you know the song "Simple Day" by One Eskimo? I listened to it first thing this morning. I pulled it out to remind me of the kind of day I wanted to have! It's a good song. If you have a chance, do a search for it and you can find a version of it online. The kids are home from school today because there was a staff development day in Falmouth.

It was such a treat not to have to get up so early make breakfast then lunch first thing and rush everyone off to the bus. We slept in and took the morning slow. I drank coffee. The girls snuggled in their beds and we had a chance to laugh over silly things and catch up after a busy week. My son had a couple of friends over but they were snoozing until almost noon.

There's a chill in the air this morning and the house felt cool. Sophia and I took a walk and she asked if we could bake something together. We decided on her favorite's: chocolate chip cookies and an apple pie. The kids will be at their Dad's this weekend and it will be fun for her to bring them with her to snack on over the weekend.

Daughter's, Feels Like Summer Again & Weekend Food!

2011-09-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

" Food is our common ground, a universal experience". ~ James Beard

Last night after dinner my daughter's decided to bake a cake together. It was so much fun to hear them chatting and laughing away while they worked in the kitchen. My son was home too yet had little interest in the baking part. He did make an appearance when it was time to give it a taste.

It makes me happy that I've been able to pass on and share my love for baking with them. I hope it's something I continue to do and share with them for many years to come.

Today has felt like summer all over again so I spent the day outdoors as much as I could. I know the weather will turn cold soon enough.

I met a friend for lunch earlier then snuck down to Wood Neck Beach for a walk. I was the only one there, which was fun and a nice change from the busy summer days.

As for weekend food, I've been cooking on Friday's to have food and snacks on hand for the week-end. It's kind of nice because the kids are usually in and out and there's something ready for them to pull out and heat up. I made a large Pot Roast in the Crock-Pot and a Cranberry Apple Pie.

Intuitive Cooking, Roasted Red Pepper and Cheddar Tart & Chicken Pot Pie!

2011-09-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

I love to pull out an old recipe that I've had for years and follow it to a T, because an old recipe evokes memories of other occasions, maybe even time with family and friends that we don't want to forget. And an old recipe promises it will be good, because we've used it many times before.
But I also love setting out to cook and bake by using my intuition. I like being creative in the kitchen and waiting to see what will emerge.
Last week I made the recipe I've had for years for Tortellini and Tomato Soup. But I didn't have sage, thyme or paprika on hand so I used cayenne pepper and lots of freshly chopped basil instead. It was delicious.
My oldest daughter asked if I would bake her a Chicken Pot Pie because she had one at a bakery recently and liked it. So, I made one up from scratch. The entire pie was gone within a single weekend. I made up my own version (simple and easy, perfect for a busy week-night).
As for the Roasted Red Pepper and Cheddar Tart, I made that for book-club last night and I just used a simple combination of sharp cheddar cheese and roasted red peppers on a flat sheet of puff pastry. Here is what I used to make the Chicken Pot Pie.
Super Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Take two pie crusts and place one on the bottom of a pie plate.
15 oz. can of cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups corn
1/2 cups of peas
1 Tbsp. freshly chopped garlic, chopped fine
salt and pepper to taste
tsp. sage
tsp. basil
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, boiled and diced fine
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until mixed well.
Pour into pie crust and cover with additional crust, fold over the edges.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45-50 minutes.

Patti's Pumpkin Bread & Gifts from Friends!

2011-09-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

It's a great day for baking. The weather is crisp and cool. When the feeling of summer fades it's fun to make more quiche, soups and breads.

There are a number of people in my life who stopped by to give me really special gifts this week to celebrate my birthday. I am so thankful for each and every one. And, my kids were especially good to me.

Among them is this beautiful bread tray a friend gave me as a gift. It's perfect for serving home made bread in.

I don't teach on Friday's which is a blessing because I have a chance to catch up around the house and get some baking done. Just in case you feel like baking this weekend here is my recipe for "Patti's Pumpkin Bread"--I got this recipe years ago as a gift from a friend of mine. Enjoy!

Patti's Pumpkin Bread

2 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

3 tsp pumpkin pie spice (you can also put together your own combination of nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon)

1 tsp salt

3 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 (15 ounce can) pumpkin puree

1/2 cup water

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9 x5 inch loaf pans. Sift together the flour, powder, soda, salt and spice mixture and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, oil, eggs and pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture alternately with water. Divide batter evenly between the pans.

3. Bake for approximately 55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean in the center.

Walk at South Cape Beach, Friends & Food!

2011-09-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

We were blessed with amazing weather this past weekend. After Labor Day, I get to enjoy South Cape Beach again. It's less crowded and after the Summer season ends it's easier to find parking. I love to walk the path on the town side to Dead Neck trail out to the Jetty. A friend of mine took this photograph and I want to share it with you.

My birthday is tomorrow. And I'm feeling very blessed to have so many wonderful friends. I hosted a small get together at my house on saturday as a way to celebrate my birthday.

I made Avocado and Cheddar quesadilla's with fresh Pico de Gallo and a Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil salad with Balsamic vinaigrette.

I baked an apple pie for my kids on Sunday because there's been so many fresh apples at the store right now. It disappeared instantly.

I also baked a batch of Dreamy Island Cookies for my neighbor because I know those are her favorite and I wanted to thank her for a small favor she had done for me earlier last week. She called to say, "How do you make them so good?"

I love finding opportunities to cook and bake for people. It seems like such a simple but satisfying thing to do for someone else. Who doesn't like good food?

Savoring Summer!

2011-09-05T09:54:00.001-07:00

Pictured Above, From Top: Sophia and Mom's Apple Pie, Coconut Cake & Celebration Cookies, View from Bike Ride to Seconsett Island, Sunset at Chappy Beach and S'mores on the Fire-Pit, back-yard.

And even though it was a hectic week of driving my kids back and forth to Football & Cross Country practice, not to mention getting my own classes ready for a new semester to begin..we've been savoring all the sights, taste's and smells of summer too.

Food as Gift, Mike's Mussels & Fresh From the Garden!

2011-08-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

I wrote a sweet essay I called "Food as Gift" that's going to be published in the upcoming September issue of "Cape Healing Arts". I shared two of my recipes for publication: one for Quiche and the other for Tomato & Tortellini Soup. They're both items I make often for my family. Since the article comes out September 1st, I thought one that included tomatoes would be useful because they're usually an over abundance of tomatoes as we head into September.

My neighbor has a wonderful garden and recently she invited me over to pick things I might enjoy. I used all the vegetables pictured here in a Cold Pasta Salad tossed with Feta, Italian Dressing and Balsamic Vinaigrette. It was yummy- even better because the vegetables were grown in her garden.
I love when people get passionate about a new recipe they try or create themselves. Recently, I saw a friend post about a sauce he made to dip his freshly steamed mussels in. I asked for the recipe so I could share it with you. I am a big fan of making good food and sharing it with others. He called it "Creamy Garlic and Wine Mussels".

I haven't always liked eating mussels, but since moving to the Cape I have had some very tasty ones at Chappaquoit Grill on 28A in West Falmouth and at Amari's on 6A in Sandwich. Amari's is just before the turn to Sandy Neck Beach and I've stopped there to pick up a batch of freshly steamed mussels before on the way down to watch a sunset.

Recipe for Mike's Creamy Garlic and Wine Mussels

1) Wash Mussels, take out any broken ones and place in a large pot with two cups of water.
2) Add lots of fresh chopped garlic, a whole small finely diced white onion, 3 tbsp. butter, fresh squeezed lemon, bunch of finely chopped fresh scallions and a sprinkle of fresh chopped basil and 1 cup dry white wine.
3) Steam for about five minutes. Drain, reserve liquid.
4) Place mussels in a large bowl.
5) Take the reserved liquid and add approximately a 1/4 cup of cream stir and place in a bowl.
You can either pour the liquid over the mussels or use in a separate bowl for dipping.
6) Make sure you have a loaf of really fresh, warmed sour dough bread to dip in the left over broth. Enjoy!

Following your Dreams and Peach & Pecan Strudel

2011-08-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

"Trust in your heart." ~ Paulo Coelho

My Book-Club met last night. We just finished reading "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. It's a fable about the importance of following your dreams and pursuing that which excites and interests you.

One thing I love to do is make good food and share it with others or spend time in my kitchen dreaming up new recipes.

One of the items I made last night was a Peach and Pecan Strudel. It's super easy and tastes yummy! In case you feel like giving it a try, here is my recipe:

Recipe for Peach & Pecan Strudel

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread out a pie crust or a sheet of puff pastry flat on to a baking sheet.

2) Spread cream cheese on the crust in a thin layer, sprinkle brown sugar, chopped pecans then peel and cut into small pieces two fresh peaches.
3) Fold over and crimp the edges of the pie crust or puff pastry as pictured above. Bake for 20 minutes or until begins to brown.

4) Let cool slightly. Make a glaze of 2 Tbsp. melted butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 2 Tbsp. of peach juice. If you use canned peaches you can simply use the juice that the peaches are packed in. Whisk together and pour over the baked strudel.

Recipe for Blueberry Pie!

2011-08-13T04:54:00.000-07:00

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating." ~ Luciano Pavarotti

Food's such a fun way to bring people together. Earlier this week my daughter Bella asked if I would make her a blueberry pie.

I picked up two large containers of fresh plump blueberries from Roche Bros. and decided to bake her one. It's so easy to make and especially right now when blueberries are so abundant and in season-- it's especially good.

Recipe for Blueberry Pie

1) For the Filling: In a medium bowl gently toss 4 cups of blueberries, 3 Tbsp cornstarch, 1 1/2 cups of white sugar, tsp. cinnamon and a squeeze of fresh lemon until berries are covered.

2) Either make a pie crust of your own, I have an easy recipe for one in "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen" or use a store bought refrigerated one and place one on the bottom of a pie plate. Pour the blueberry mixture in the center and top with 2 Tbsp. butter.

3) Place an additional pie crust over the top, fold over and crimp edges or you can cut strips of a second pie crust to make a lattice top, pictured above. (I used more than four cups of blueberries because I tossed in my extras so my pie overflowed with blueberries.)

4) Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.

Dusk, Hand-Tossed Pizza & Company!

2011-08-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

It was especially calm down at the beach the other night around dusk. It's my favorite time of day. Wednesday night I went down to the water right after making some really yummy home made pizza. I made a hand tossed with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese topped with sauteed shrimp & fresh garlic and a diced meatball and feta pizza. We have two pizza stones that are perfect for baking really yummy home-made pizza's. I also love sauteed fresh diced tomato, chopped onion and fresh garlic as a topping combination.
As for company, I definitely have more people come to visit me in the summer and I can't really blame anyone, it's an enchantingly beautiful place during the summer months.
In the winter, I still find solace from the natural beauty but it isn't quite the same as the long lazy days of summer and not nearly as many people come down to visit.
When I know company is about to arrive I like to think ahead and have some easy food combinations on hand. I want to feel relaxed when company comes but I also want them to have food ready and to feel like they can help themselves.
Of course, life gets busy so things don't always fall into place. Last night we ate a roasted lemon and pepper chicken, a large leafy green salad and corn on the cob! My favorite company is the kind that isn't afraid to help out in the kitchen. My kids Dad's mother is in town visiting from Texas and it's nice to have a couple of extra hands around to help out in the kitchen. She made dinner while I picked up my son from Basketball camp and brought my youngest daughter to running camp.
When I finally sat down to eat last night, it all tasted so delicious.

Making Time, Pico de Gallo & Cranberry Biscotti!

2011-07-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein." ~Life's Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I've decided to give myself the gift of time. At least a little bit of it anyway.The bit I can reasonably squeeze for myself with three kids, a house and freelance writing and baking work to tend to. For the next three weekends I am limiting my social obligations and devoting myself to my baker's book and related writing project I set up for myself this summer.
Although, other demands, summer get together's and projects often seem to get in the way, I'm going to commit myself to spending as much time over the next few weekends as I can to writing. This weekend the kids are spending time with their Dad so I'm taking myself on a close to home mini retreat from house chores then next weekend I'm going to Kripalu and packing my Laptop to take with me. The following weekend, well I won't get too far ahead of myself. I hate to make promises I can't keep. But I already know it involves time spent writing.
As for Pico De Gallo, I spent six years in Los Angeles, CA then ten years in Dallas, TX and among many other gifts and treasures I took away from that time in my life I learned how to make really good Pico De Gallo. Earlier this week, I grilled a steak, sliced it into thin slices and placed it into warmed tortilla's with shredded cheddar and slices of fresh avocado then topped with the Pico De Gallo.
And I just happened to bake Cranberry Biscotti first thing this morning. My oldest daughter had been away at Camp. The first thing she said when she walked in is, "Mom, I want some of your baked goods". She was happy to see I'd just made the Biscotti.
And I realize that I'm not the only one with only 24 hours to fill each day. You have that much as well. If you happened to stop by and read this particular post remember to use your time well toward the dreams you wish to accomplish too.

Recipe for Fresh Pico De Gallo

2 Large fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped fine
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 tsp. jalapeno, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh garlic, diced
Mix ingredients in a small bowl, chill and enjoy simply with corn chips or tortilla's and cheese.

A view of "The Knob", Falmouth

2011-07-25T06:41:00.001-07:00

Sophia's Peach Cobbler & Beach Adventures!

2011-07-22T18:05:00.000-07:00

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” --Jacques Cousteau

With the weather so nice this week there were so many beach adventures to be had. On Monday, a friend I had not seen in literally 25 years came down with her girls to spend the day with me and my family. We took the Island Queen over to Oak Bluffs. The day flew by in an instant but it was fun catching up and making new memories.
On Wednesday night, my book club decided to meet out on the Knob. It's a beautiful spot in Falmouth overlooking the water.
We laughed, ate good food and enjoyed watching the sunset. Sophia had a play date this week that lasted throughout the day and I took them to Wood Neck Beach. It's so fun to enjoy the sand and calm of the water while listening to the chatter of the girls playing.
Today was so hot that I couldn't think of a better way to spend the day than down at the beach cooling off. Sophia and I packed our lunch and met some friends down at Menhaunt. It was one of those perfect beach days where you wish that time might stand still forever.

As for Sophia's Peach Cobbler, the peaches are so amazing right now that I couldn't resist making peach cobbler. It's a recipe that Sophia loves. If you have some ripe peaches in your fruit bowl ( or have a chance to stop by and pick some up at your local farmer's market) give this a try it's dee-licious!
Sophia's Peach Cobbler
4 lbs, fresh ripe peaches, peeled and sliced
2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp butter

Cheddar Biscuits:
2 cups biscuit/baking mix
4 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
2/3 cup milk
1 Tbsp butter, melted

In a bowl combine the peaches, lemon juice and extract. Place in a greased 13x9 baking dish. Combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt then sprinkle over the peaches. Top with the butter.
Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine biscuit mix and cheese add in the milk and butter until just blended. Drop by Tablespoons onto the hot peach mixture and bake for an additional 20 or so minutes until the biscuits turn golden. Eat warm with either fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Baking, Writing & Quick Story!

2011-07-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

I've been busy in the kitchen this week. I was happy the weather cooled a bit because baking in a steamy kitchen is not fun! I've baked lots of celebration cookies, a vegetable tart, my "Linda's Lemon Cake", a Chocolate Ganache Butterfly Cake and a bacon & cheddar quiche! I love being in my kitchen with the windows open.
The quiche is my daughter Bella's favorite, I sent it with her to her dad's this weekend because this morning is her birthday and I wanted her to have something special from me first thing.
As for writing, I've completed a few writing assignments this summer since my teaching semester ended in June. The good side is I enjoy writing and it's nice to earn (a little) extra money from home. The down side is I've had less time to work on "Sweeter by the Beach" than expected. I try to have faith that I will complete it when the time is right.
As for the quick story, I recently submitted a food related article that will be published this fall. I mentioned briefly in the article a time I baked for my Dad before he died. Because of space limits I didn't have time to tell the whole story so I wanted to post part of it here.
My dad died a few years ago, and when he died it reminded me of a time when my son was first born. I wanted him to meet his grandson and I knew he wouldn't have a lot of food prepared for our visit. That morning I baked a tart, a loaf of whole grain bread and a lemon cake in my kitchen. I packed them up, bundled up my ten day old son and drove to his apartment in Boston so we could share the meal and he could meet his grandson.
It wasn't until years later, after he died, did I look back on that day and see how much that day must have meant to my Dad: our visit, our gift of sharing good food and the joy that a new baby always brings.

Sandy Neck Beach, Cookies for Sale & Friends!

2011-07-08T18:32:00.000-07:00

"Friendship isn't a big thing-it's a million little things". - Author Unknown

I'm so grateful for so many of my friends- people in my life who are willing to be authentic, helpful and supportive. I find it's so important to make sure I strike a balance between give and take with each of my friends so that there exists a reciprocity between us.
I'm also aware that not everyone in my life is a true friend and that some are mere acquaintances. Different friends fill different needs and that's OK.
I went down to Sandy Neck Beach over the July 4th weekend to meet up with an old friend. It was good to reconnect. The weather was such a blessing on Cape Cod over the 4th. We couldn't have asked for better weather. They have a Winnebago they park out on the sand and offer an open invitation for friends to come down to visit. It's become a fun tradition to spend at least part of my July 4th weekend out there. The fireworks in Falmouth were really good this year too. My daughter said, "July fourth is my favorite holiday" as I helped her get ready for bed late Monday night.
As for my cookies for sale, I sold them at the Coonamessett Farm Store and at the Pavilion on the bike path. I made a new acquaintance this week and it was fun to bake a batch of cookies and offer them as a gift as we talked over coffee.

Loving What Is, Birthday Parties & Blueberry Sangria!

2011-07-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

One thing I seem to be able to count on for sure in life is the fact that things don't always turn out the way I hope or plan for.

This leads me to the place of loving what is! Or at least I try to.

Life happens when I'm ready for it or not and it's up to me (us) to deal with life's changing events the best I can along the way!

My sweet daughter turned seven this week. She and I spent a better part of our days getting ready for it because I think she loves a good party as much as I do.

She decided to frost her sugar cookie pops with chocolate frosting and white chocolate chips for her guests to snack on as they arrived--we put together party hats for her friends to decorate before jumping in a pink and purple bounce house castle, eat pizza and sing happy birthday.

As for the blueberry sangria I decided to make a batch to serve to friends as they arrived with their kids as a way to welcome and celebrate summer! If you do a search for blueberry Sangria on the top corner of my blog I'm pretty sure you'll find my special recipe for it because I posted it last year when I came up with it for a trip down to Sandy Neck Beach with friends.

And if you're in Falmouth this weekend be sure to stop by the Coonamessett Farm Store as I delivered packages of just baked 'Celebration Cookies' for sale earlier today.

Coonamessett Farm, Corn on the Cob & Wood-Neck Beach!

2011-06-24T05:07:00.000-07:00

I've been busy this week putting packages of my Celebration Cookies together for an upcoming delivery to the Coonamessett Farm Store.
I printed out red white and blue labels that say "eat more cookies, they'll make you feel good".
One of my favorite foods to eat in the summer is corn on the cob. Sophia and I picked up a batch of super fresh and sweet corn earlier in the week and had fun shucking the ears together. Last night I decided to try my own version of herb butter and it was delicious! As for wood-neck beach it is one of my favorite Falmouth Beaches. I took the girls and my sister and my niece for the day on Tuesday. It was one of those beach days where you feel you might never leave. The breeze was nice. The water was warm and not a cloud in the sky. Too bad every day isn't like that.

Linda's (touch of lemon) Herb Butter

Stick of unsalted butter, softened
Tbsp. fresh ground black pepper
Tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. fresh dried basil (or oregano, your preference)
Tbsp. lemon juice

Place all ingredients in a bowl and with a wire whisk, fork or even use a hand mixer blend together until smooth. Spread on still warm corn on the cob. Enjoy!

Girlfriendology!

2011-06-19T03:32:00.000-07:00

Have you visited the website Girlfriendology or checked them out on Face book, yet? It's a wonderful website full of fun resources and ideas for growing and sustaining friendships.
I was interviewed by the Creator of Girlfriendology last Friday, a wonderfully supportive woman named Debba Haupert and in case you'd like to listen in I am posting the link here. http://girlfriendology.com/podcasts/108/Girlfriendology-interviews-LINDA-MARIA-STEELE-Friends-and-Food/

Back-yard Fire Pit, Simple Pasta Dish & Recipe from Book-Club!

2011-06-15T04:46:00.001-07:00

Neighbors stopped over the other night to sit around a back yard fire, roast marshmallows for s'mores and catch up. It was unusually cold
for June and the fire felt welcoming.
I love to make pasta and salad's in the summer. One night this week I made the easiest pasta dish and yet it's one of my kids favorites.
All you do is cook angel hair pasta and toss with olive oil, lots of freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, ground black pepper and fresh squeezed lemon juice. It sounds too simple to be as good as it is. My kids always come back for seconds.
As for the recipe from book club-we met this week for our monthly get together and one of the women brought an appetizer that was really yummy so I wanted to share it with you here. She said, she found it on a Ritz Cracker box.

Layered Artichoke & Bruschetta Spread

8 oz package cream cheese
14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Tbsp. lemon juice
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
4 green onions, sliced fine
2 Tbsp. Italian dressing
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup black olives, chopped

Combine the first four ingredients, mix remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Refrigerate both mixtures for an hour or so. Spread the artichoke mix on a serving plate. Make an indentation in the middle and fill with the tomato blend. Serve with crackers. Invite a friend or two over and enjoy!

Life Goes On, Beach Food & Chocolate Croissants!

2011-06-10T03:28:00.001-07:00

Have you ever noticed how food is always such a big part of both the most tragic and exciting of life's big events-from weddings to graduations, funerals and birthdays?

Life goes on and we have to eat!

Earlier this week my teenagers and their Dad were in a really scary car accident. The other driver was on the wrong side of the road and when they swerved to avoid a collision the car spun around and flipped on its side! The glass shattered everywhere. They were really shook up but remarkably all three of them didn't have any injuries. Sadly, the other driver didn't even slow down. When the Police arrived he was long gone.

I talked to my teens and made sure they were OK and did my best to comfort them. I told them they'd probably feel as though they were 'in shock' for a couple of days.

The next morning I woke up early and baked them buttery croissants with chocolate. The way I see it making them a special breakfast before they went off to school didn't change anything but it helped.

As for the beach food, it's that time of year again when I steal as much time as I possibly can to spend down at the beach. I grabbed a couple of hours yesterday to meet a friend, catch up and eat lunch. I made us tasty fresh avocado, garlic hummus, swiss and cheddar cheese wraps rolled on flour tortilla's.

Osprey, More Spirea & Celebration Cookies!

2011-06-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist sharing another picture of my Spirea bushes. They're just so beautiful right now. I've been on three bike rides down to Seconnsett Island in the past four days and each time I spotted this Osprey looking over the nest.

As for the Celebration Cookies, I baked a batch of one of my favorite cookies with cranberries, blueberries and white chocolate for my students today as this is the last week of class for the semester! There was not a single bite left and many of them told me they were the best cookies they've ever tasted. I definitely loved that feedback!

Spirea & Being Social Through Sharing Food!

2011-06-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

Each year around this time I get excited when my Spirea bushes bloom. I have about six of these in different places in the side and back yards.

As for being social; at a time when most people get so easily tied to blackberry's and laptops (me included) I love to remember the importance of being social and the best way I find for me to do that is by sharing good food.

We have new neighbors moving in soon and I'm going to bake cookies to welcome them. Since the good weather has returned maybe I'll make a pitcher of summer sangria too with fresh blueberries and orange slices. My daughter Sophia knows me so well. When she heard they were moving in she said, "Mom, we'll have to bake for them"!

And, I am definitely due for hosting a back yard barbecue at my house soon now that the weather has turned so nice to gather friends and share good food.

Felt like Summer & Summer Fruit 'Pizza'!

2011-05-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous weekend it was on Cape Cod for the Memorial Day holiday. It was so fun to get to do so many things I love like spending time with my kids, going to the beach, catching up with good friends and making, eating and sharing really good food. It all felt like such a blessing!
Here is the recipe for the Summer Fruit Dessert 'Pizza' I made in case you want to give it a try soon. It's really easy and it's a light and refreshing treat that disappears quickly!

Summer Fruit Dessert Pizza

1) You can use your favorite pizza dough, there's a good one in "Meet me in My Cape Cod Kitchen" or you can simply buy two packages of refrigerated croissants and place in a rectangle on a greased baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for about ten minutes. Let cool completely.
2) Whip together until smooth 8 oz of cream cheese, 8 oz. fresh whipped cream (take heavy cream and whip on medium with electric mixer for about three minutes) or frozen whipped cream and two Tbsp. of strawberry preserves. Spread evenly on cooled crust.
3) Wash then let dry fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and then slice and peel a kiwi and cut strawberries. Gently arrange the prepared fruit on top of crust and cream, let chill before serving.

summer fruit pizza

2011-05-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Conference, Cute Cupcakes & the (seemingly endless) Rain!

2011-05-20T03:09:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to report the sun is finally back out on Cape. Here's a picture of the back yard sun from today after my son cut the grass. It's nice to have teens who are willing to help out.
I presented a workshop at a Teacher's Conference at Bridgewater State yesterday called "Give Them Something to Write About".
My presentation was well attended and I got some good feedback. It led to some interesting discussions with my co-workers. It was good to have that opportunity but it was a hectic day getting my kids off to school and traveling off Cape.
I felt inspired by the Keynote Speaker. It's funny though when he began his talk he was rather dry and dull and I wondered if I would gain anything of value from listening to him.
But then- just like when the rain stops and the sun finally arrives- his talk turned around and he showed us a video clip about a really cool documentary on happiness which led to a wonderful discussion among the group.
It reminded me how important it is to give things a chance, to remain open and hopeful that I will learn and grow and that the sun will eventually return.
I've had my baker's hat on today and I'm trying a new kind of cupcake called lemon butterfly cupcakes. If you feel inspired to bake this weekend give the recipe below a try. They are delicate and yummy.

Lemon Butterfly Cupcakes

For the cupcake:
2 sticks sweet butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the frosting:
1 stick sweet butter, softened
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. lemon zest
2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 18 paper baking cups in muffin pans. Combine all ingredients for the cupcakes in a bowl and beat until smooth. (2 to 3 min) Spoon the batter into cups.
2) Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool. Prepare the frosting, beat ingredients until smooth.
3) For the butterfly part, slice a thin layer off the top of the cup cake and cut into two. Frost the cucpakes and then place the half circle of cake at an angle on each side of the frosting.

Baking Banana Bread, Offering Support & Farm Store

2011-05-13T11:19:00.001-07:00

"We must be small enough, humble enough, to always be beginners, observers. We must be open to experience, new experience, new sources of knowledge and insight, while still staying grounded in the fact that what we already know and have done is estimable, also important".

~ Julia Cameron

It was cold yesterday and the sun wanted to peek out from behind the clouds but it never did until late in the afternoon. I had bananas on the counter that were ripe and ready for baking. So I decided to bake banana bread because it was a good day for it.The house smells so inviting when banana bread's in the oven.

Sophia had a friend come over to play after school and they were happy that there was warm bread waiting for them to snack on.

As for offering support, I find it's important that I take a look at the lives of my friends and family and see if there is something I might do to offer them support. Life is hard and complex already, all on its own, and it feels good to know we can have support from others from time to time. Besides, it seems like we can do more with the love and support from the help of good people then we ever could on our own.

Recently, I offered a friend's teenage daughter a copy of my cookbook and an offer to call me if she was baking and needed my help. She'd been looking for a new hobby and she wanted to learn how to bake. I know my offer of support was small, yet when I ran into her the other day she said she tried my recipe for banana bread and that it came out really good. And, It's fun to know I've turned another person on to how much fun baking can be.

As for the Farm Store, I've been chatting with them this week about my summer baking schedule. I've decided to deliver my Celebration Cookies for sale just before the July 4Th holiday on the First of July. I've decided to make deliveries less frequently this summer in the hopes that I may get more of my book written. With three kids home, the summer gets filled up quickly. I won't be teaching so hopefully I can set a productive writing schedule. But I didn't want to let the whole summer pass without sharing my cookies.

Dangerously Good Cookies & Gorgeous Day!

2011-05-06T10:18:00.001-07:00

It's such a gorgeous day today that I snuck down to South Cape Beach for a quick early morning walk. I was playing with an idea I have for the cover photo of "Sweeter by the Beach" which is to write the title in the sand. One of the things I love the most about the beach is how easy it is for me to relax when I'm there.

I've been doing some writing about one of my favorite topics this week: Food. I submitted my guest blog post for www.girlfriendology.com that will appear Mid-June about Friends & Food.

I offered two tasty recipes and wrote about a fun story of an adventure my girlfriends and I recently shared. I also submitted my article on eating Lobster that I called "For the Love of Lobster". The lobster article will be in print in The Upper Cape Enterprise, Supplement Magazine Section that will hit newsstands Memorial Day Weekend.

Lately, I've been having just as much fun writing about food as I do eating and making it.

As for the 'Dangerously Good Cookies', I stopped by my Mechanic's Shop today to see if he could sell me a back break light that had burned out. He said, "you know those cookies you gave me the last time you were here? They were dangerously good"!

I love that comment. I think what he meant is that he liked them so much he had a hard time not eating them all at once. It was my Celebration Cookies and they are pretty good!

Hazelnut Shortbread, Birth Announcement & Cape Cod Canal!

2011-04-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love the most about my teaching job, well, besides getting to talk at length about two topics I love (Writing & Literature) is where the campus is located. I park in a spot that overlooks the canal. I like to eat my lunch in my car because the view is so amazing-this particular blue fishing boat was heading through the canal very quickly.

I often see the largest of cargo ships pass through, like the pictures I took, posted here. I love to witness how often the canal changes depending on the current, tide and weather.
I received a birth announcement in the mail this week of a friend who recently had her second baby, a boy. I baked celebration cookies and then printed out a label with the baby's name and birth details on it then dropped them in the mail to send to the family. It's fun to share a good cookie to celebrate a happy occasion!

As for the Hazelnut Shortbread, I'm posting my recipe for this delicious cookie here as a toast to the Royal Wedding and the Popular British tradition of afternoon Tea-Time. I thought the church where they got married was beautiful beyond belief.

It makes me wonder though do you think, even though they are Royalty, when the camera's go away and they begin to live their lives as husband and wife they will have the same up and downs and challenges like the rest of us?

My wish for them is they have found true and lasting love. Although, since nothing is perfect, my guess is they will each have to work at it, even as Prince and Princess. They certainly look good together. And, since I am truly a romantic at heart and still believe very much in the possibility of love, I am hopeful they will have a wonderful life together.

Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 Tbsp. maple syrup

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/4 cups finely chopped hazelnuts

1/2 cup chocolate morsels

1) In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add syrup and vanilla. Add flour; mix just until combined. Fold in the nuts.

2) Shape dough into 2-2 inch rolls; wrap each in ziplock bag or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for two hours or until firm.

3) Cut dough into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets at 325 degrees for approximately 15 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks, cool. Melt chocolate and drizzle over cookies. Let chocolate set.

I love these cookies. Serve them with tea in the afternoon and invite a friend over to join you.

Lemon Cake Frosting & Hope!

2011-04-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."

~ Helen Keller

I'm learning that as I further walk into life as a single mom there are more and more things that I have to not only accept but get used to. I was with Tommy for a long time.

I want to be graceful about this whole process, too. And, why not? I try to be graceful in my role as a mom, friend, teacher, baker and writer that it only makes sense that I'd want to bring this same intention to what I'm going through now. Things do feel right. Yet, it doesn't all feel easy. Because it's not.

In the meantime, it's the holidays that seem the most tricky.Tommy spent Easter morning with the kids and I made dinner then filled Easter baskets that afternoon. It didn't feel entirely graceful partly because I just wanted to be with my kids. I've always been a big part of their holiday morning celebrations, but I also knew they needed some time on the holiday with their Dad so I had to find a compromise.

Luckily, it was a beautiful day on Sunday. It was sunny and sixty down at South Cape Beach. I went on a long walk on my favorite trail.

Keller's words above remind me of so many things that I've once enjoyed. It's nice to be reminded that those things I've loved deeply 'become a part of me'. Because they do. They do for all of us.

For example, I loved when we lived in Dallas at Easter. We had super fun neighborhood Easter Egg Hunts with all the kids from the neighborhood or we'd go to the kids aunts house and share a big meal together. And because I loved these times deeply, even though they're gone, they're now a part of me.

One of my all time favorite memories from the past is when two long time girlfriends and I, one of whom I'd lost touch with for a few years, would walk with our kids on our favorite beach on Outer Cape. We'd write names and words in the sand then take pictures.

When I thought about drawing in the sand all those years ago on my walk I decided to write the word hope. Because this Easter holiday was a reminder that there is always hope.
As for dessert on Easter Sunday, I made dreamy island cookies: my own cookie creation with pecans, coconut and chocolate and lemon cake. Bella took her first bite and said, "Mom, this frosting is amazing!"

Perseverance, Friends as Writers & Red Shoe Shaped Cookies!

2011-04-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground. ~Author Unknown

I received a friendly voice mail from a woman yesterday who asked where West Falmouth Baking Company was located. Her message said that she's been looking for me since she moved here in December because she heard I was a very good baker.
Her call reminded me of the importance in life of perseverance. I started West Falmouth Baking Company while my daughter Sophia was only two, we'd recently moved here ourselves and at the time I was commuting from Falmouth to a teaching job in Worcester at Clark University (two hour each way commute). I knew I needed to find something closer to home so I could be here for my youngest daughter. At the time I made a list of my favorite things to do and baking and writing topped the list.
I applied for a home food license, started testing recipes and exploring creative packaging ideas. I remember my very first customer was a neighbor who wanted my cranberry biscotti to serve to the women at her bridge club. From there, I sold packages of Lemon Cake and Dreamy Island Cookies (my own creation) at the Coonamessett Farm Store. I sold sugar cookies in the shape of a cross for a Baptism. I personalized the labels to reflect the occasion. Time passed and Sophia went off to school. I found another teaching job (another passion of mine) and since I wouldn't be baking as much at that point, I decided to write a small book with my recipes included so that others could still enjoy my cakes and cookies. Working on a second longer book about food and life on Cape Cod feels good partly because baking and cooking is something I am very passionate about but also because it reminds me of that little nut that held its ground.

Who would have thought that my small at home baking service with Sophia by my side would have grown to the point that I'm working on my second book and receiving word of mouth calls from people I've never met?

Yesterday, I spent the day in the company of some amazing writer friends of mine. We gathered in Hingham for an author release party. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to connect with such talented and creative women. Women who themselves have persevered. As for the red shoe shaped cookies, I baked and brought them along to the event yesterday. I love offering thoughtful touches to a good party. My friend released two books yesterday and on the cover of one of them are bright red shoes. It was my way of letting her know how proud I am of her.

If interested, visit http://www.kathyhandley.com/ to check her work out for yourself. As for the baking business, some of my very best memories are the times Sophia and I spent baking together in our kitchen. I still bake often but now I have turned my attention more fully to my writing about it. I still test and share my recipes with family and friends but they are being gathered to be included in "Sweeter by the Beach".

Making Do & A Girl Can Dream, Can't She?

2011-04-10T03:51:00.001-07:00

My daughter Sophia was sick this week and she needed to stay home and rest. She and I missed a number of things we had planned last week including attending my son's Basketball Banquet. I was supposed to bring an appetizer but I had to 'make do' with what I had on hand because I couldn't get up to the grocery store with my daughter home sick. I quickly made a pie crust and from there I tossed in chopped bacon, diced onion and sharp cheddar cheese and made a tart. It wasn't fancy but sometimes in life we just have to make do. It must not have been too bad because my son returned home with an empty plate. I took a long walk on Chappaquoit Beach (pictured above) late yesterday afternoon. I was thinking about how when I put together my first recipe book I did it all from my home computer and a local print shop. As I continue to work on Sweeter by the Beach I realize I hold a bigger vision for this second collection. I want to make samples of all my food creations, bring them down to the beach, set them out on long tables with white cloth and photograph them for display in the book. Can you picture it? I can. It really would be--Sweeter by the Beach! And besides, isn't this where all things that are worthwhile in life begin in the first place, simply as a want or a wish or a dream?

The Gift of a Recipe & Apple Turnovers!

2011-04-01T15:22:00.001-07:00

The thing I remember the most about the holidays while growing up is how much I loved waiting to see what my Aunt Olga was going to bring for dessert. She made the most delicious Chocolate Cream and Apple Pies I've ever tasted. As a kid, I couldn't wait to hurry through the meal and dig into dessert. I think it was a combination of the love and care she put into each recipe and the fact that she always made everything from scratch that it tasted so good. She passed away a few years ago and it's sad to think that no one will enjoy the gift of her special baked pies ever again. I love to hold on tight to a good recipe and then share it with others too because a good recipe is like a well liked gift. The kind you can cherish for years to come. My oldest daughter and I took some time for a Mom/Daughter adventure this week. We had a blast exploring Outer Cape together yesterday. Before we got back on the road to head home we decided to stop at Marion's Pie Shop on Route 28. Marion's is a must stop bakery that serves delicious pies and sweet treats. They have the size kitchen that at this point I can only dream about--there's a huge wooden work surface to roll out the dough and an extra large double oven. My daughter ordered an Apple Turnover that to me looked like it could serve a family of five! She savored every last bite of it. I decided to bake my own version of apple turnovers today so that my other kids could have a taste too. And, since I love sharing a good recipe if you feel like baking this weekend, give this simple recipe a try. Apple Turnovers: Bake your own pie crust (Good recipe in "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen") or use two pre-made refrigerated pie crusts, cut into 6 in. rounds. (Use a knife and a small plate, to cut). Take 3 Large Apples, peel and chop fine, then place into a small bowl Toss with a Tbsp. cinnamon, Tbsp. brown sugar, 3 Tbsp. butter, softened. You'll need 1 additional Tbsp. butter melted for brushing the tops of the turnovers and 1 Tsp. white sugar. 1) Place approximately two Tbsp. of apple mixture in the center of pie crust round, top with a 1/2 tsp. of the butter. 2) Roll over the edge of the crust to meet the other side. Crimp the edges (take a fork to seal the crust). 3) Brush a little bit of melted butter and white sugar on the top and bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until the turnovers start to brown. Enjoy warm!

Melted Chocolate, Fresh Whipped Cream & Keeping things Slow & Simple!

2011-03-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

I took this picture from the edge of Seconnsett Island, Mashpee on Sunday. The sun was setting to the right. The light allowed the clouds to reflect off the water in a very sweet way. It was a very peaceful twilight. Later that night I made a baked and breaded chicken Parmesan topped with mozzarella and fresh baked garlic bread for dinner. Then for dessert I served the butterfly cake. Honestly, I hated to cut into it (just because it looked so cute) but I did because the kids' wanted to dig in the moment it came out of the oven. I served large slices of the cake with warm melted chocolate, fresh whipped cream and plump strawberries. I heard lots of yum's and mmm's with mouths filled with cake. I took that to mean they enjoyed it. The arrival of Spring on Cape Cod always feels like a tease. I knew this when I wrote the previous post. However, I was trying to hold the vision of that day: warmer temps, sunny skies and all day spent outdoors! However, I saw snow flakes both Monday and today. Go figure! As for keeping it slow and simple, I've been applying that easy mantra to many things lately. I think it's appropriate for where I'm at. I've been in the same relationship for twenty years now and for almost a month now I'm on my own. It will simply take me a little time to further adjust. So yes, I think keeping things slow and simple is a good plan at least for now.

Whether I'm baking a cake, enjoying the beauty around me or whipping fresh cream-- I do it because they are each simple enough...

Signs of Spring & Butterfly Cake!

2011-03-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

The early mist had vanished and the fields lay like a silver shield under the sun. It was one of the days when the glitter of winter shines through a pale haze of spring. ~ Edith Wharton

After a long winter I always look forward to the signs of spring:

*It's been lighter later and the kids love having more time in the evening outdoors.
*On walks around the neighborhood I've noticed the dailies slowly coming out of the ground.
*The robins are back and I filled our bird feeders with seed.
*I planted basil & tomato seeds then put them into the kitchen window box for early planting.

To greet the first day of Spring's arrival, I made an adorable butterfly cake first thing this morning to serve to company that's coming for dinner tomorrow. It's a butter cake dipped in chocolate.

Surprise & More Good Karma Through Cookies!

2011-03-12T04:14:00.001-08:00

Here's a fun recipe for a cookie I call Surprise Cookies. It's included in Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen.

I made them recently for my older daughter to share with her class. They look like a regular sugar cookie until you bite into one and Surprise-you get the sweet taste of lemonade!

If you're home baking this weekend give this a try.

I love to bake cookies and then share them with others, it's good karma! People really do love it when you bake for them.

Surprise Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 can frozen lemonade, concentrate, thawed, divided
additional sugar

1) In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
2) Combine flour and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture alternately with 1/3 cup of lemonade concentrate, beating well after each addition.
3) Drop by rounded, tsp. 2 in. apart on cookie sheet.
4) Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
5) While cooling brush with the additional lemonade concentrate and sprinkle with sugar.

Sweeter by the Beach, A Note about the Ganache & Facebook!

2011-03-08T06:47:00.001-08:00

When I self-published "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen" the whole experience was a fun and learn as you go kind of adventure. I wrote it because while caring for a house, three kids and a teaching job I've never quite been able to fill as many baking orders as I'd like to. Soon I'll have to decide if I'm going to re-print copies of "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen" as I'm close to the end of my current inventory.

In the meantime, I've been working on a second longer work that I'm calling Sweeter by the Beach. It's a book about food and family inspired by life on Cape Cod.

As for the food it's about family favorites, special summer drinks and Cape inspired party foods. And, as for raising a family here, if you can survive a winter the rest can be amazing. And, I've always secretly feared that if Tommy and I weren't together my kids would no longer have a family. Yet now that this has become a reality, I realize my kids will always have a family even if it doesn't look exactly like I'd hoped it would.

As for the Ganache recipe I shared I want to point out that it goes a long way. The recipe I made covered not only the Coconut Pound Cake I described but also a Two Layer Chocolate Decadence Cake with plenty left over for the girls to taste.

As for Facebook, I've been slow to consider adding my blog there. Not because I don't value it as a good place to make friends and connect with fellow foodies but rather I tend to be a shy writer even though I've been a freelance writer for years.

However, since I've decided to begin this second book I thought a Fan Page might be a good way to gather support and feedback for my next writing endeavor.

I hope those of you who look for me here will also look for and then like Sweeter by the Beach on Facebook. And in the meantime, Happy Baking!

Dealing with Loss, Coconut Pound Cake with Ganache & New Beginnings!

2011-03-03T04:05:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about Rilke's wisdom this week and trying to 'love the questions themselves' and hoping that I will 'some day far in the future live into [my] answer'.
I remember the very first time I saw Tommy. He was tan with long curly blond hair and he had the most beautiful shade of blue eyes I'd ever seen (lucky for me years later my three amazing children have been blessed with the same beautiful shade of blue).
When I met him, I'd just arrived in Hermosa Beach, CA. I was turning 21 the following day. My plan was to transfer from a Boston College to UCLA that next year. We dated for years and married in October, 1995.
This week Tommy moved out. It's been a long road to reach this decision. A year ago we agreed on a temporary separation for a three month period and I was so certain that things would come back together, that we just needed a break, that I barely even told anyone.
Partly because I value family so much it mattered to me to try every option possible. However, this separation feels more permanent because I sense a lightness in the house now that hasn't been there for awhile.
My heart is sad because dealing with a loss of any kind is hard. And, letting people know isn't easy and yet it's the right thing to do. Nobody likes to feel vulnerable and yet at some point we all do.
Relationships are complex. People change and grow in unexpected ways. Forgiveness and healing from past hurts take time and don't always happen the way we want them to. Love between two people isn't always enough to make things work even when we hope it will be.
And, I wonder now that we've decided to go our separate ways can we rediscover a friendship with one another something that's been missing for awhile now? Will we learn how to share in the joy of the most beautiful and amazing children despite the loss? For today all I can do is "love the questions themselves".

My Friends have always been such an important part of my life and they've offered such wonderful words of wisdom recently that I want to share them here in case they might feel helpful to you: "when one door closes another opens", "everything happens for a reason, right"?, "you can make the future look exactly like you want it to-a blank canvas so to speak" and my personal favorite from a close friend who said "you will be OK, because you are a beautiful person inside and out".

In the meantime, I decided to bake something because it always adds a bit of fun to an otherwise ordinary day. I made a Coconut Pound Cake that I topped with Chocoalte Ganache. The kids enjoyed it so much that it disappeared instantly.

In case you want to do some baking too the Coconut Pound Cake recipe is included in "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen" and as for the Ganache, it's easy to make. Ganache is a fancy way to say mixed chocolate with heavy cream and it's so good.

As for new beginnings, I filled a cake order this week for a girl who turned 21 and it reminded me of my younger self in CA all those years ago when I'd first met Tommy and how much possibility life holds for us all when we're still so young. And also, signing my youngest up for Spring Baseball so she has something new to try.

How to Make Ganache

3Tbsp. corn syrup
6 Oz. heavy cream
12 oz. dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

In a small sauce pan add the corn syrup and the heavy cream, combine. Bring to a simmer and add the chocolate. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let cool slightly. Drizzle on the Coconut Pound Cake. Be careful, disappears quickly.

Rilke's Wisdom, My Favorite Tree & Good 'Cookie' Karma!

2011-02-24T16:05:00.001-08:00

" Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, for they could not be given you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps, then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without noticing it, live your way into the answer." ~ Rainer Marie Rilke

The weather was unexpectedly pleasant today. It was warmer and the sun was extra bright. Sophia and I spent a good hour or so in the yard raking leaves together. (I know! The leaves should be raked in the fall, however, the cold hit fast and hard this year and we were simply playing catch-up).

While we worked in the yard I decided to take a picture of my favorite tree. I can see it best from in the house, from either at my desk or through the upstairs bathroom window. But today, it was fun for Sophia and I to stand below it and look up and take it's picture. I thought I would share it with you.

As for Good Cookie Karma, I love to bake cookies for people and drop them off unexpectedly. Recently, I sent a batch in the mail to a high school friend who did a favor for me that I really appreciate. Today I dropped off a batch of Celebration Cookies to my mechanic because he managed to fix my car in a short period of time for a really decent price--dropping off a batch of cookies seemed like good Karma.

Baking Tarts for Book-Club, Bonfires & Cake Balls!

2011-02-19T07:48:00.000-08:00

During the winter months it's easy at times to feel isolated living on Cape Cod. I go through periods where I can feel far away from some of the people I love (not that many people come to visit in the winter) and because it's so cold I stay indoors more. In the winter it can be dark as early as 4:30 p.m. I do what I can to stay connected to friends and my kids stay busy through sports.

Book-club has been a great opportunity to get together. We read a book throughout the month and then come together to discuss it but more than anything it's a time for friends to laugh, share a fun cocktail, eat delicious food and catch up on each other's busy lives.

For book club this month I made two tasty tarts. I simply rolled out a sheet of puff pastry onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. I topped one of them with roasted red peppers and cheddar and the other with caramelized onions, bacon and blue cheese then baked at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or so until the pastry browned. It's easy to be creative with food and a sheet of puff pastry. I also like the combination of goat cheese, black beans and roasted corn.

As for the bonfire and cake balls, a friend called last night to invite us over for a backyard bonfire. The past couple of days have been bright and sunny and relatively warmer. It almost reached into the 50's yesterday. So I thought it was a great idea for getting friends together. I am baking a batch of chocolate cake balls dipped in white chocolate to share.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Anonymous Cards & Bagels with Egg, Cheese & Bacon

2011-02-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

I snuck out of my warm bed extra early this morning to pull together a special breakfast for my kids. I decided to dip large strawberries in melted milk chocolate and make one of their favorites: toasted honey wheat bagel sandwiches filled with bacon, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese.
I figured it was the least I could do on this chilly Valentine's morning as they headed off for school.
Sophia spent the weekend making the most precious hand written, thoughtful love letters to each person in her class. I suggested I could buy her any kind of card she wanted but she was determined to make them all on her own. Each card has become a sweet work of art.
I read an article recently that suggested as a random act of kindness to anonymously leave Valentine cards on people's windshields in a parking lot. I decided to give it a try. It's a fun way to do something special for someone else. I only left a few and I'm pretty sure no one saw me!

Super-Bowl Sunday, Sunset to Sunrise & Squares!

2011-02-09T04:13:00.000-08:00

I was so happy to see the sun greet us on Super Bowl Sunday. The first picture I took while at Chapaquoit Beach, the other one is from my doorstep the next morning. I was excited to see the sun again the following day.

For me, Super-Bowl Sunday is just as much about all the food as it is about the game. Who even played in the Super Bowl--just kidding, Packers Vs. Steelers, right?

To serve during half-time, I made a large batch of chili. I used ground turkey, fresh diced tomatoes, sauteed chopped fine red onions, black and pinto beans, tomato sauce and lots of spices. A friend of my husband's stopped by and said, "this is delicious"! I made a large loaf of baked garlic bread too.

For desert, I baked my kids favorite Chocolate Cake. It's a moist Bundt cake drizzled with white and dark chocolate for the frosting. The recipe for that is included in "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen".

As for the Squares, it's a tradition I started years ago. I want the game to be fun for my kids too even when they were still too young to care much about who was playing.

We make a traditional betting chart that the five of us take turns filling out. I buy prizes of things the kids like and depending on whose name is on the winning numbers they get to pick a prize.

It's usually just a large candy bar or something cool I came across. But they still look forward to it.

Somehow, I never seem to win a single square everyone won except for me!

One Eskimo, Cabin Fever & Baking!

2011-02-04T04:12:00.000-08:00

It has been grey, cold, icy and wet for most of the week here on Cape Cod. The thing I like the least about that is we don't go outdoors as much and cabin fever seems to set in. The pictures show my attempts to make the best of staying indoors. The kids were dismissed from school early on Tuesday then Wednesday was a big mess of slush and ice around my neighborhood. I've been listening to a CD by the band One Eskimo that I've really been enjoying and one of the songs is called "Simple Day".

It felt like such a simple day on Wednesday when all I did was tend to the fire, work on my lesson plan for class and bake a large batch of "Celebration Cookies".

I decided to bake those because they remind me so much of the summer. The kids were happy because they ended up eating them all.

Crepes, Courage & Connecting with Sophia!

2011-01-31T11:42:00.000-08:00

"Be Brave. Take Risks. Nothing Can Substitute Experience."
~Paulo Coelho

On Saturday I went on an all girls adventure to the Vineyard. We had a lot of fun. It was a perfect day for it too-the sun was shining brightly and the water was calm. There were twelve of us and we shared lots of laughs.
The above quote by Coelho comes to mind because having the courage to take risks and get out and live is what life' s all about. It seems like only in the looking back on my life's experience am I able to make any sense of it anyhow so in the mean time I've got lots of living to do.
On Sunday, Sophia wanted to have a play date but none of her friends were available so I suggested we make something together.
Here's an easy recipe for Crepes. Crepes are one of those things that make you feel like you're a marvelous cook (and you are!) but homemade crepes aren't as hard to make as people make them out to be.
We decided to make them super decadent--we rolled them with fresh sliced strawberries and drizzled with melted dark chocolate then topped with fresh whipped cream.

Basic Crepe Recipe:

In a blender combine 2 eggs, 3/4 cup fresh cold milk, 1/2 cup water (blend then add) 1 cup flour, 3 Tbsp. melted butter and blend well again. Place in refrigerator for one hour to chill.
In a small skillet heat pan to medium and drop additional butter to melt on bottom of surface. Place a small amount, approximately an ounce of batter, swirl to spread evenly and heat for about half a minute then flip and cook for another 15 seconds. Lay flat on a clean, dry, surface and continue making them until batter is used. Fill with strawberries and roll. Top with melted chocolate and cream. Enjoy!
Remember to Share!

Snow Kissed & Recipe for Coconut Sugar Cookies!

2011-01-26T04:11:00.000-08:00

It snowed here yesterday. The flakes were heavy and by early evening the trees looked so beautiful-as if they'd been kissed with either coconut or powdered sugar. Watching the trees inspired me to share my recipe for coconut sugar cookies.

Coconut Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
3 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. almond flavored extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. In mixer, whip together the butter sugar then add the egg and extract. Gently mix in until blended the flour mixture. Stir in 1 1/4 cup of coconut until well blended. Roll dough into little balls and dip each into remaining coconut before placing on a cookie sheet. Bake for approximately 10 minutes.

Have fun baking and remember one of the best parts about baking cookies is sharing them.

Friendships, Chocolate Chip Cookies & Sea-Term!

2011-01-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

I had my students read a short story by Herman Melville this week called "Bartleby, the Scrivener". It's such a funny little story with a dense language. I walked them through it and was impressed with their ability to discuss the various characters and themes. I feel it's my responsibility to assign at least something by Melville however there just isn't time to take on "Moby Dick" in the five week course.

I had coffee this morning with two women friends whose company I adore. It was tough to sneak away on a Saturday morning but I did because I wanted time with them. I love how with certain friendships you can go months (even years) without seeing one another and when you have a chance to reconnect it's as if no time has passed at all.

I'm baking chocolate chip cookies and cranberry biscotti right now because I needed to re-stock but also because I'm expecting company next weekend and I thought it would be fun to have something baked for them to try. My chocolate chip cookies and biscotti freeze well so I'll tuck them away and pull out before they arrive.

Creativity in the Kitchen, Old Recipes & Winter Walks!

2011-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

One thing I love about the kitchen is it's a place I can be super creative. It's fun to open my fridge and pantry to see what I have on hand and come up with a new combination and then share it with others.

Yesterday I tossed together a big leafy green salad with fresh blueberries, feta cheese crumbles topped with dry fried onion ring pieces. I didn't need a recipe I just looked around to see what I had on hand and it was a really good salad.

And yet I also love the joy I get from using the same recipe my Nana used years ago, those few that are hand written, frayed around the edges and tucked into a favorite cookbook used on only the most special of occasions.

And it's fun too to try a special recipe that catches my eye in a magazine. I gather the ingredients, give it a try and offer it to my family or friends.

We watched the Football game on Sunday at a friend's house. I brought a baked four cheese and macaroni dish with bacon. The dish was a hit. I found the recipe earlier last week in a magazine and wanted to give it a try.

As for winter walks, despite the frigid temperatures and often slippery roads I've still been getting out there each morning for a walk. I often walk with my neighbors but since I enjoy walking so much I usually go with or without them. It's so peaceful especially this time of year. I bundle up in layers with a hat, scarf and gloves.

For the Football game, I also brought over a batch of my Celebration Cookies-the ones with the white chocolate, blueberries and cranberries. I made an extra batch that I'm going to send to an old friend.

A Snow Day, Robert Frost & Red Hot Chili Peppers!

2011-01-12T11:11:00.000-08:00

"Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the Village, though:
He will not see me stopping here.
To watch his woods fill up with snow..."

From "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost

The kids are home today because of the snowstorm. Since I didn't have to rush everyone off to the bus stop early this morning, I decided to bake muffins, make cheddar cheese omelette's and slice up a fresh honey dew melon.

It's nice to have them around but it's a wet snow and we didn't get as much as expected so for now it's not really good for playing outside.

I'm teaching a Sea-Term Analysis of Literature class that began yesterday. The campus is quiet and I enjoyed meeting my new students.

I often include the above poem by Robert Frost in my syllabus and it seems appropriate to share an excerpt from it here today.

It's a good day for music too and I listened to the song "Snow (Hey Oh!)" by Red Hot Chili Peppers while working in the kitchen.

Recipe for Bella's Blueberry Muffins

2011-01-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2 eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. lemon juice (whisk lemon juice with milk)
1 pint fresh blueberries, rinsed, dried and patted (can use frozen, if fresh not available)
(for topping, 1 Tbsp. white sugar mixed with 1 Tbsp. light brown sugar)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat muffin tins with butter or use muffin liners. Cream together in a bowl the butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix the flour with the baking powder. Pour the milk into the butter mixture mix gently then add in the flour mixture. Don't over mix. Crush 1/2 of the blueberries and mix into batter then gently fold in the rest of the whole blueberries. Scoop into Texas size muffin tins then sprinkle with brown sugar mix. Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until done in center and tops brown. Eat warm!

Comfort Food, Taking it Slow & Bella's Blueberry Muffins

2011-01-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

I'm glad it's the weekend.

It was a challenge to get everyone back into a routine after all those late nights over the Holiday break.

With busy sports schedules my kids come home starving and it's hard to keep enough food cooked to satisfy them after a long day.

Earlier today, I made a big casserole of comfort food-a Baked Beef and Potato Dish to have ready to heat up over the weekend.

I have new Texas Size Muffin Tins I wanted to break in so I baked Bella's favorite Blueberry Muffins for weekend snacking too.

While working in my kitchen I listened to a song I love by John Legend called "Ordinary People". He sings, We're Just Ordinary People and we Don't Know Which Way to Go. Maybe We Should Take It Slow.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Here on the Cape it's going to be cold and we're expecting snow so I plan to 'take it slow'. And, if you feel like cooking here's a recipe you might want to try:

Baked Beef & Potato Casserole

1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup water
14 oz canned chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp thyme
2 lb+ potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 garlic clove, halved
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 Tbsp. butter, extra for greasing
2 onions, sliced
1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Choose a sturdy round or oval casserole dish, grease well.

Mix the paste with the water in a bowl, then add to a pan with the thyme and tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stir occasionally, for 30 minutes, until thickened. Remove from pan then cook the potatoes for approximately 20 minutes in boiling water.

Combine the beef and egg in a bowl and season to taste Shape into six patties. Cook on the skillet until lightly browned. Remove. Saute the onions in the skillet for about 5 minutes until soft.

Put half the potato slices in the bottom of the dish. Cover with the patties, then add the onions and sprinkle with half the cheese, dot with the butter and tomato sauce, repeat layers and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Serve warm.

Memories, Possibility & Banana Bread!

2011-01-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

"Maybe all life's promises didn't come true. But the morning came didn't it, and look, a sparrow sings in the tree". ~ Flavia

We flew to Dallas, Texas on Christmas night and returned last night just before the New Year rang in. We spent the week recalling old memories with friends and family while having fun making new memories too. The quote above was written on a plaque in the guestroom I stayed in. It seems so appropriate for New Year's day and I wanted to share it with you.

It seems to me that all we can do in life is balance the good with the bad. Because no matter who you are or what you have or have not accomplished there will always be some of life's promises that don't come true.

When I returned home there was an email sent to me from a friend who recently used my recipe for Banana Bread and said how much she and her family enjoyed it.

I missed baking while I was out of town. I left a bunch of not quite ripe bananas on my counter when we left and now a week later they are perfect for baking banana bread.

A new year seems to be about possibility and I hope 2011 holds many possibilites for you.

Peace at Christmas & Snow

2010-12-24T03:58:00.000-08:00

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." ~ Buddha

I took this picture while checking my mail earlier this week. Doesn't it look beautiful?

The snow can be so peaceful especially on a day I don't have to go too far from home.

It snowed a couple of days this week and I felt lucky to have lots of baking to do from home for teacher gifts, friends and neighbors. I was happy when I had all the ingredients I needed and I didn't have to run up to the market for last minute items.

Throughout this holiday I've made pecan breads, lemon cakes, cake balls, dreamy island cookies, sugar cookies, celebration cookies, cranberry biscotti and chocolate chip cookies. I was glad I thought to save a small assortment of each for my own family so that I don't have to bake today if I don't feel like it.

The kids love to snuggle up on Christmas Eve to a fire in the living room, watch "The Polar Express" and snack on some of my baked goods. My oldest son is getting a bit old for snuggling but since it's Christmas we might even persuade him to join us.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year to you.

Holiday Parties & Morning Walk!

2010-12-19T06:02:00.000-08:00

I feel blessed this holiday because even though I don't have a lot of extended family on Cape Cod, I've been invited to so many fun holiday parties by good friends. Last night a woman in my book club hosted a party and it was nice because I didn't know everyone there and it was good to meet a few new people.

I met a man who travels from Cape Cod to Paris four times a year, a man who makes the best gumbo I've ever tasted and his charming girlfriend who shares a similar love for good books as I do and a man who as it turned out grew up in the same neighborhood I did in Worcester, MA who had such a great sense of humor!

Not surprisingly, I was asked to bring the dessert. I brought white and dark chocolate cake balls, celebration cookies and my most recent creation; sugar cookies with melted chocolate and crushed candy canes. They definitely were a hit and I came home with two large but empty Tupperware tubs that I brought them in.

I also brought a pitcher of my Holiday Cranberry Sangria. I used my recipe that accompanied my recently published essay "Comforts of Baking". I didn't actually taste it but friends said it was really good.

As for the morning walk, I convinced my fourteen year old to go with me on a walk early this morning. It was beautiful! It's cold but the wind was calm and the sun was bright. I took the above picture as we were out walking. It was early and we saw a coyote and two foxes!

Sugar Cookie Dough & Student Summaries

2010-12-17T04:32:00.000-08:00

I brought my students a sampling of baked goods for the last day of class. I had sugar cookie dough left over from my party. I decided to create something new.

I rolled the dough into rounds, baked them then removed from my oven and painted the tops with melted milk chocolate and crushed candy canes. They are really yummy and it took a little less time than rolling them out into shapes. I also brought in a batch of double chocolate holiday cake balls drizzled with white chocolate.

Each semester I ask my students to turn in a portfolio-a compilation of the best of their work throughout the course with a one page summary that allows them to reflect on their experience in the class and their development as writers.

It's always fun for me to read them because I get to hear from them on a personal level about what they will take away from my class. I always learn something that both surprises me and that I appreciate.

It got me thinking; this concept of taking time for self reflection can be applicable in other areas of our lives too especially around the Holidays when stress is often high and we are about to close out one year and welcome a new one in.

Chopping Hazelnuts, Crushing Candy Canes & End of Semester

2010-12-13T07:36:00.000-08:00

I spent a good part of my day last Friday chopping hazelnuts and crushing candy canes into tiny pieces. I was trying to get a head start on the party I hosted here last night called "Cookies & Cocktails"-it was a girls night only get together.

The weekend was otherwise busy and I wanted to make sure I was ready when friends arrived.

I baked a number of different kinds of cookies and served fun cocktails in those fancy martini glasses. The crushed candy canes were for the rims of the glasses. I made my own version of a 'chocolate martini'. I placed the outer edge of the martini glass into light Caro syrup then coated it with the crushed candy canes. I drizzled chocolate syrup into the bottom of the glass then poured a chilled mixture of whipped cream flavored vodka, peppermint flavored Kahlua and a splash of sierra mist. It was so decadent.

However, I was so busy greeting guests, making fancy cocktails and setting girl friends up to bake sugar cookies of their own that I never actually tried one!

I offered my friends samples of my cookies: Hazelnut Shortbread, Celebration, Dreamy Island, Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Biscotti with White Chocolate.

I sent my friends home with the cookies they baked in fancy party favor bags. I printed up labels that said, "Got Baked at Girls Night Out, Cookie's & Cocktails".

Tomorrow is the last day of the semester at my teaching job. I've had a lot of fun getting to know this particular group of students and I will be sad to see them go. They've been hinting that I might bake them something for tomorrow's class-who knows I might just surprise them and bake something for them after all.

* The image is just a quick shot from my living room right before friends arrived for the party.

Life's Challenges, Sweet & Savory Biscuits & Off-Season at Beach!

2010-12-08T04:05:00.000-08:00

Life often has a funny way of challenging us. Of course as soon as I wrote the previous post many things happened to see if I was committed to my resolve for daily self-care.

Was I making time each day to 'take good care of myself'? It's easy to ignore my own needs while three kids and two jobs constantly seek my attention.

Good thing I have enough sense to know that I can do better at my job or raise my kids when I step back and care for me. I think it's even more important those times when others either get upset with me or judge me for doing so.

Tonight's my neighborhood Book-Club. We've decided to celebrate the holidays with a pot-luck meal and a Yankee swap gift exchange. My task is to bring the bread and I've included my recipe for one of the items I'm bringing. It's a dependable quick bread and goes well with many dishes.

As for Off-season at the beach. It's cold by the water now. But I still love to go down there (bundled up of course) to enjoy the peace it provides. The picture above is from South Cape Beach just before sunset Monday night.

Sweet & Savory Biscuits

1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 cup lowfat yogurt vanilla flavored

1 Tbsp. honey

1/2 cup minced scallions

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the flours. Sprinkle in the baking powder and salt and stir well. In a separate bowl, combine the oil, yogurt, honey, scallions, dill and pepper. Blend the yogurt mixture into the flour mixture quickly and thoroughly to form a soft dough. On a floured countertop, pat the dough into a 3/4 inch circle and cut into eight wedges place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm with butter or additional honey.

Holiday Cake Balls, Parties & Good Self-Care!

2010-12-03T07:28:00.000-08:00

Each Holiday season I get excited about making 'Cake Balls'. They are one of the few items I only make this time of year but they're so good!

A few years ago I wrote an article for the Holiday Supplement to the Enterprise where I shared some fun ideas for making Holiday gifts which included my recipes for both making Limoncello and Holiday Cake Balls.

The holiday season seems to be getting in full swing fast and early this year as we have a party to attend both tonight and tomorrow.
I love a good party. But I also love time at home simply relaxing.

I guess that's where the good self-care comes in. In order to do all the things I like to do for others this time of year it's also important to remember to take a little time each day to do at least one thing special or relaxing or fun just for me! I invite you to do the same for you.

Cookies & The Holidays!

2010-11-28T04:02:00.001-08:00

We spent Thanksgiving at my Mom's house. The girls and I drove up early in the day because it turned out the annual Falmouth football game (the team my son plays on) was in Barnstable this year and I didn't want to arrive even later than expected. I know it takes a lot of work to prepare such a big meal.

The boys drove up at the end of the game. It was not a win for Falmouth. But, my son played hard and gave it his all throughout the entire season. I'm proud of him and of course it's nice to win but like most things in life it's really about how you play the game that in the end matters the most.

When I got back to Falmouth their was such a nice message waiting for me from a woman who ordered a couple dozen of my Celebration Cookies for her Thanksgiving meal. The message said, "words can't even describe how awesome your cookies taste". I love the feedback. I always try to bake the way I want my son to play the game of Football. I put care and attention to each batch I place in the oven.

As for the Holidays, I decided to get up early this morning to pre-make batches of my "Nana's No Fail Sugar Cookie" Recipe. It'll freeze well and it'll make my life so much easier to have that done and ready long before my "Cookies & Cocktails" party that's planned for the twelfth.

I also hope to get my Tree, lights and decorations done today partly because Sophia thoroughly enjoys Christmas and I think having it up now will make the whole season that much more magical for her.

I miss the feeling of total magic that Christmas can bring especially when your still as young as Sophia is. It seems like such a small but precious gift I can give to her simply by taking care of the decorating now. She loves to help with putting the ornaments on the tree.

Happy Thanksgiving to You!

2010-11-25T06:23:00.000-08:00

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.
Thich Nhat Hanh

Synchronicity, Cookies & Gratitude

2010-11-22T18:17:00.000-08:00

Last week, I asked my Freshman English Composition students to write about an act of kindness they performed without expecting anything in return. For the few who couldn't think of anything immediately I suggested they come up with something they might do for someone throughout this holiday week. I reminded them of the movie "Pay it Forward" and how acts of kindness are an extension of gratitude a fitting topic for Thanksgiving.

I baked three batches of Celebration Cookies after dinner tonight. Bella says it's her all time favorite cookie. They really are good with pieces of cranberries, blueberries and white chocolate. It's my own creation- I was inspired to make them while watching Fireworks this past summer over Falmouth Heights.

I made them to fill a baking order. I made extras to have on hand if unexpected company stops by over the Holiday. I was so disappointed to hear my husband was going to work both Friday and Saturday of the Holiday week so hopefully friends will stop by to say hello. If not, the girls and I will embark on our own adventures.

As for synchronicity, I unexpectedly ran into a long ago friend at a High School Reunion on Saturday that I haven't seen or talked to in years. It was a lot of fun to catch up and create new memories. In some ways it felt like the twenty something years haven't even passed by.
I think what makes the moments of synchronicity so special is the hope that the connection will continue.

I brought the reunion hostess a gift of my jumbo chocolate chip cookies with a hint of peanut butter, celebration cookies and cranberry biscotti dipped in white chocolate because I know she worked so hard to pull it all together. She sent a note saying how much she enjoyed it.

Fun with Fillo! ( Phyllo)

2010-11-17T04:24:00.000-08:00

Tonight's our monthly book club meeting. I always look forward to getting together with these particular friends. An added bonus is how fantastic and fabulous the food usually is. We rotate houses for hosting and each member brings an appetizer to share.

I found mini phyllo shells on sale at Roche Brothers grocery store in Mashpee and I bought several packages to keep in the freezer throughout the holiday.

For tonight, I decided to fill them with mashed sweet potatoes, goat cheese crumbles and pecans. I looked around my kitchen and fridge and out of what I had on hand that sounded like a good combination. If you're feeling adventurous (and have more free time on your hands than I do right now) read on for a good tip to bake your own mini pastry shells.

I'm including the recipe of what I'm making for tonight's appetizer because with Thanksgiving right around the corner you might like to give it a try too.

Sweet Potato, Goat Cheese & Pecan Pastries

1 package of pre-made mini phyllo pastry shells
1 large sweet potato, peel, slice and boil until soft, then mash with 1 Tbsp. maple syrup and 1 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. Goat Cheese crumbles
1 Tbsp. chopped pecans

Place the Phyllo Shells on a baking sheet and fill with the mashed sweet potatoes, the goat cheese and then the pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 8 minutes. Enjoy warm.

Baker's Tip: If you'd like to make your own pastry shells you can take a pie crust (either from scratch or a pre-made one from the refrigerator section) and cut 2 in. rounds. Take a mini-muffin tin and flip upside down. Place the 2 in. rounds on each upended muffin tin and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 8 minutes. Let cool, then follow additional directions above.

Party Invites, Out of Town Phone Call & Celebration Cookies!

2010-11-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

I sent out my holiday party invites on Friday. I'm calling the party "Cookies & Cocktails". I remember last year I planned a Holiday Open House for couples and their families too and we got a major snow storm the night before the party and it turned out that many people were not able to make it because of the severity of the storm.
Luckily I have a number of friends that live within walking distance and we still managed a fun time. Although, I hope the weather cooperates this year.

Here's something fun: a woman who lives out of town and who subscribes to Cape Cod Magazine recently read my article, visited the blog then went to Amazon to order my book. She called me yesterday to ask a question about my recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. Her phone call got me wondering: how have other's found my blog? I know a few people visit because of the labels I put on my baked goods all summer long at the Farm Store which includes the address.

As for Celebration Cookies, I'm accepting very few orders for Thanksgiving this year as I have my own baking to do not to mention I'm in the middle of my teaching schedule. However, I couldn't resist a friends request today to make her a couple of dozen of my Celebration Cookies for her Holiday party.

The Best Laid Plans, Biscotti & A Cookie Party!

2010-11-07T04:34:00.000-08:00

I decided to sneak out of my warm and cozy bed early this morning into the chilly air while Sophia was still fast asleep to get a bit of baking done. I enjoy the quiet of the morning to think and get a head start on my day.

As soon as I started down the stairs I heard Sophia climb out of her own bed and follow my lead. I thought of that Robert Burns poem that refers to the 'best laid plans'. It's like the other night when I'd hoped I'd reconnect with my teens over a fun board game but they had too much homework and it just never happened.

I cherish the time I spend in the kitchen with Sophia. I have the vague sense that years from now these are the times she will remember the most about me and our relationship. Yet, for today I'd hoped to get it started while she was still nestled in her bed because we already have a busy day planned. Let's face it I can move quicker on my own.

Yet, once we settled into a comfortable groove (and I let go of my idea for my 'best laid plans') we managed some of our most precious interactions yet. We chatted about things like how much we both love flour. She said, "I love how puffy and fluffy it is". I told her I agreed. Their is something about a big tub of flour that is so inviting and I love the way her and I share the simplicity of that.

We're baking Cranberry Biscotti with white chocolate. I am using my recipe that is included in "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen".

As for a Cookie Party, I've decided that sometime between now and Christmas I'm going to invite a bunch of women friends over for "Cookies & Cocktails".

I have tons of fun cookie cutters and a fabulous recipe for sugar cookies. I will serve my recipe for Holiday Cranberry Sangria and have a fire going in the kitchen fireplace. I guess as busy as the season can get I don't want it to pass without having a chance to connect with my girlfriends too.

Brownie's, Banana Bread & Game Night

2010-11-03T12:04:00.001-07:00

It's been chilly around Falmouth lately. It was 30 degrees at the bus stop this morning. Brr!

It's been an amazing autumn this year with exceptionally bright shades of yellow, deep dark brown, red and purple leaves. The pictures offer a sampling of the colors from my morning walk and the view from our side yard.

I'm about to bake a batch of brownies the way the kids like them. I use double chocolate with a mix of cocoa and chocolate chips. I'm also baking a loaf of banana bread. The brownies are for dessert tonight. I love the smell in the house when I am baking two items at once, the chocolate and the banana bread together smells great. I think we'll all be home and I'll suggest playing one of my favorite games: Apples to Apples.
I'm baking the banana bread today simply because I have a few bananas that need to be used. It'll be nice before school in the morning tomorrow.

Feeling Frazzled & Comforts of Baking!

2010-10-30T06:09:00.001-07:00

This past week it seems as though I've had too many things to get done. When this happens it's easy for me to lose my center and I begin to feel frazzled. I know how important it is for me as a working wife and mother to stay centered because when I'm happy and balanced my family is too.

Yesterday I helped Sophia's First Grade Class put together a Halloween Party, watched the Parade at her School and took her to a Spooky Spaghetti Dinner. She had a blast-- I was exhausted!

Although I'm happy to be there for her and enjoy her activities I find that too much fun for her without a bit of fun for me can leave me feeling drained.

I think it's all about balance. This morning I am taking it easy by enjoying the morning, drinking a cup of hot coffee and relaxing. I have no 'to do' list for right now and it feels great!

As for Comforts of Baking, if you get a chance please check out my article in Cape Cod Magazine's current issue. What I tried to convey was how rewarding spending a little time in your kitchen can be and how much comfort the simple act of baking can bring.

The photography is gorgeous and I cooked the food right here at home in my kitchen and I share some of my favorite holiday recipes.

Pomegranate, Clementine, Caramel Sauce & Pursuing Passions!

2010-10-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I picked up the most perfect pomegranate while I was doing our grocery shopping. I also bought a large batch of clementines.
I wanted to come up with a really creative way to use these unique fruit that is in abundance right now instead of just the usual way of scooping or peeling and eating.

I decided to make a sauce by scooping out the pomegranate seeds and squeezing the juice in, peeling and dicing the clementine into small pieces and taking a handful of caramels and melting them over a double boiler.

Don't make this sound harder than it is- you can easily make your own double boiler if you don't already have one by heating water in a sauce pan and placing a glass bowl on top-just make sure the boiling water doesn't heat the glass only allow the steam to heat the glass.
Stir the fruit and caramel regularly until the caramel melts and a sauce forms. Let cool. Pour over a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

As for pursuing passions, I had the pleasure of being invited recently to exhibit three pieces of my art work at G Design Center in Mashpee Commons (creating unique sculptures is another one of my many passions). My work will be there until mid November.
On Friday the owners hosted a private reception for the participating artists and our friends and supporters. I had a number of friends stop by to show their support and I really enjoyed the opportunity to share my work in a fun atmosphere with the other artists.

*Note on the sauce: You can leave the sauce with bits of fruit or you can cool and puree in your blender. I prefer it with pieces of fruit.

Chicken with Ricotta & Pesto over a Tomato, Lime Vinaigrette & Dinner as a Family!

2010-10-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

We have a pretty hectic schedule although I strongly believe in the importance of having dinner as a family so I try to make it happen as often as possible.
As simple as it is I think it does matter that I offer my family good food. It may not be fancy every night but when we do get a chance to share a meal I like to catch up with my family and turn the tv off so we have a chance to reconnect.
Tonight I made a yummy chicken dish that might sound like it's on the fancy side but it was super easy and the kids liked it. Give this recipe a try some time soon and let me know if you like it.
Chicken with Ricotta & Pesto over a Tomato, Lime Vinaigrette
Boneless chicken breasts, 6
12 oz. ricotta
3 Tbsp. pesto
Mix the ricotta with the pesto in a small bowl
Cut a slit in the center of the chicken and stuff it with the pesto, ricotta mix.
Place in a baking dish, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper
Bake at a 375 degree oven for approximately 25 minutes
For the Tomato, Lime Vinaigrette
6 oz. diced tomatoes
juice from one lime
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
salt and pepper
Place in a blender and pulse until smooth.
Spoon onto the plate and place the baked chicken on top. Serve with fresh leafy greens and rice pilaf.

Sunshine, Seashells & Tarts with Squash!

2010-10-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

The kids were home from school yesterday because of the Columbus Day holiday. It was 69 degrees and sunny and I grabbed the girls out of their slumber and took them down to South Cape Beach. I was so surprised to see two couples in their bathing suits-one of them was even swimming! It's gotten a bit cold for me to brave a swimsuit.

We walked, looked for sea treasures (I found an especially beautiful shell, pictured above) and enjoyed the sun. My son had football practice but he was able to meet up with us for lunch at Wicked. Later that day I snuck out for a bike ride down to Seconsett Island. I'm going to miss that ride once winter arrives.

As for tarts, I love them. You can make so many varieties from sweet and savory to a breakfast, dinner or even dessert version. I want to share the recipe I used for Squash, Sage and Gorgonzola Tart because if you like those items you may want to try it for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday.

Squash, Sage and Gorgonzola Tart

Make a pie crust or pick up a refrigerated pre-made one. Place in a pie plate.
For the Filling
small butternut squash
tbsp. olive oil
1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper, to taste
6 oz. crumbled gorgonzola cheese
2 eggs, plus 1 yolk
6-8 fresh sage leaves

1) Cut the squash in half, brush with oil and place cut side up on a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes, until they are brown and very soft. Let cool. Scoop out squash, place in a bowl and discard the skin.
2) Mash the squash and mix with half the cream, season with salt and pepper and spread in the bottom of shell. Spread gorgonzola crumbles on top of squash. Whisk your remaining cream with the eggs and yolk and pour over the squash/cheese. Make sure it settles evenly. Arrange the sage leaves in a circular pattern in the center on top.
3) Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 30-35 minutes. Enjoy warm.

Gratitude, Cranberry Biscotti & Friends!

2010-10-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to spend time with a close friend for the day on sunday. I left my husband in charge and decided I was giving myself a few hours off. It's always important (and needed) to take a little time to connect with friends. They help bring me back to me!
This particular friend lives in Central, MA and decided to drive down for the day. We had so much fun. We had a nice long lunch at Anejo's- a new Mexican Restaurant in Falmouth and sipped on their amazing Anejo Margarita's, took a long walk at the Knob (a truly special place) and afterwards we sipped a honey chai tea at Coffee O while I shared my pictures from the trip I took with my girls over the summer. We laughed often about the silliest of things.
She and I met in second grade and we have a very special bond. We know everything their is to know about one another and we still love and enjoy each other's company. To me, that is something to be truly grateful for.
As for Cranberry Biscotti, I was recently asked to donate a signed copy of my recipe book and a sample of my baking for a local upcoming Fundraiser/Auction. I decided to bake a large batch of cranberry Biscotti with white chocolate in part because it stays fresh so well and people really enjoy good Biscotti. I often hear, "that is the best Biscotti I've ever tasted".
I find there are always challenges and unique crosses that each of us must bear, however life is meant for living and I always try to do as much of the 'living part' as I possibly can. What about you?

Dreaming, Apple Crisp & Celebration Cookies!

2010-09-26T05:36:00.000-07:00

I love to dream. Dreaming matters because it helps me to see possibilities!
I dream about things like taking long romantic adventures to Italy, throwing wildly fancy parties right at home with good friends and having somewhere perfect to wear my favorite dress and shoes!
I also dream about big things like wishing for the day that could end hunger and poverty among families and also little things like wondering what I might be able to do to make someone else's life a little bit brighter.
Maybe dreaming is important because it puts us a little bit closer to the types of things we want and how we want our life to look. Even when it doesn't always look that way now.
On Saturday I went to a party with some women friends from my writing group. I brought my Celebration Cookies along and one of the women commented on how much she loves the way I come up with new recipes the way other people paint on a canvas or create a sculpture.
Perhaps my recent frequent day dreaming might be because I have teenagers and I do a lot of back and forth driving around town. Although perhaps the driving is not all bad.
As for the Apple Crisp I really need to get in my kitchen and get busy baking. We went Apple Picking on Sunday as a Family to Keith's Farm in Acushnet, MA and we picked lots of fresh juicy apples.
I asked my kids what they wanted me to do with them and they all said, "Make your apple crisp". And, as for having two teenagers in the house I'm well aware that a trip apple picking as a family is somewhat of a dream in itself. I'm so glad they decided to come.

Kripalu, New Friends, Ginger Scones & Chestnut Puree!

2010-09-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

As I woke this morning my heart was filled with so much love and gratitude toward the amazing weekend I spent at Kripalu Yoga and Retreat Center in Lenox, MA. I spent the weekend with the Beckwith's-they are the most beautiful and awe-inspiring couple I have ever met! They created an incredible environment for healing, growth and joy. I also met some new friends which was so much fun.
One of the things Kripalu is known for is their delicious and abundant food. It is so good for you. I felt it nourished not only my body but my soul as well.
As for the Chestnut Puree, I finally managed to get my hands on some. It arrived by delivery truck just as I was pulling out of my driveway on Friday to head to the retreat for the weekend.
It's downstairs ready for me to make Chestnut, Maple and Pecan Tart out of it. I can't wait to bake it as it sounds like a really yummy combination.
As for the Ginger Scones, I ate them one morning with my breakfast over the weekend and they were so good I am going to experiment with my own version soon.

Fall is in the Air, Photo Shoot & Birthday Presents!

2010-09-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

At the bus stop this morning it felt chilly. The coolest it's felt in a long time even though the sun was shining. There were lots of neighbors milling about, walking their dogs and stopping to say hello before the kids boarded the bus for the school day. Sophia grabbed a sweater and my toes were cold in my flip flops. Autumn on Cape Cod often sneaks in unexpectedly and it always takes time to adjust to the abrupt temperature change.

The photographers arrived today for taking pictures of some of my recipes. Before their arrival I prepared Pecan Bread, Fresh Coffee with ground Pecans, Pancakes with Raspberries, Slivered Almonds and Fresh Whipped Cream, Celebration Cookies, Apple Crisp and a Cranberry Sangria.

As for birthday presents I would have to say the favorite gift I received was from my three kids. They bought me one of those way oversized music cards that plays the song "girls just wanna have fun" and each wrote a sweet note. It came with some fun gift cards for dinner and a movie that we'll go out and enjoy together sometime soon. But it's the fun card and thoughtful notes that I really appreciate.

Getting Old(er), Baking Bread & Picking Up the Pieces

2010-09-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

I turn forty-two on Monday. In some ways I see it for the blessing it is-I am in excellent health, have wonderful children and am fortunate enough to do many things I love. And yet there is a part of me that sighs at the thought--where has all the time gone?
And even though I think I've aged fairly gracefully I'm noticing way more wrinkles than ever before!
I remember (very clearly) when I turned fourteen. I reminded my close friends at the time that my birthday was approaching weeks in advance and fourteen felt so exciting because I was a full fledged teenager ready to take on the world.
I remember having the sense that not only was the world my oyster but I knew what I wanted. Looking back, I realize I was so young and naive and wish I could have known then what I know now.
I suppose I might look at my wrinkles today as 'learning lines'-evidence that I have grown and changed in remarkable ways even if at fourteen I thought I knew it all.
I'm about to bake bread this morning-a banana bread as there are ripe bananas just waiting to be used and a special order for pecan bread loaf.
As for picking up the pieces, my sister has been hard at work trying to put her life back together after the recent fire and she has been doing remarkably well. Although tragedy takes time to recover from. For now, I simply continue to check in on her and make sure she's OK and see what I can do to offer my help and support.

Photographs, Unexpected Tragedy & Cookies!

2010-09-02T03:52:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote an essay called the "Comforts of Baking" that will be featured in the upcoming food section of Cape Cod Magazine. They want to visit soon to take photographs of a few of my recipes to complement the article. It should be fun. One of the recipes is for pancakes with raspberries and slivered almonds. The recipe is one of my kids favorites and I'm sure they'll be glad to get to eat them after the photo shoot.

Over this past weekend we had my husband's mom visiting from Texas. My sister planned to drive down from Central MA to join us for dinner and to catch up with family. Sadly, she was struck by an unexpected tragedy-a car driven by a teenager who had been drinking lost control of his car and slammed into the front door of her house! The car went up in flames and lit her entire home on fire.

It was truly unbelievable. Thank God she made it out safe although her beloved cat died in the blaze. I drove up that morning to see it for myself and felt my heart deeply aching for her unexpected loss.

I had chocolate chip cookies and cranberry biscotti already baked so I packaged some to share with her. I know it didn't do much that morning but usually a good tasting sweet treat can brighten just about any one's day.
As our company headed back to Dallas I asked them if they'd stop by to drop some of my cookies off at the home of a previous neighbor. From what I hear the cookies really brightened her day as well-- I did it simply because I know she is the kind of person that would really appreciate it.

Maybe there is someone you know that is either lonely, feeling blue or experiencing an unexpected hardship and you don't quite know what to do to help. What about starting with the simplicity of sharing a fresh baked batch of cookies?

Chestnut Puree, Cookie Delivery & Apologies!

2010-08-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

I mentioned I've been searching around Falmouth for Chestnut Puree. I did find it online through Amazon although they were wanting to charge me over $10.00 for shipping. At this point I'm thinking about picking up some chestnuts and pureeing them myself! They're not the easiest food to puree but I really want to give this particular tart a try.

I just finished baking a batch of Cookies that are on their way to the farm now.

As for apologies, when my daughter's and I were out of town a voice message was left for me and I saved it intending to return the call when we were back on Cape. It was a new customer looking for a birthday cake for her child's first birthday and somehow that particular message didn't get saved and I don't have the telephone number so I have no way of letting the person know I did in fact receive the message. I feel bad because even if I know I'm not available for an order I still like to at least acknowledge the call.

The weather today is cool, wet and windy. It's a perfect cape cod day for cooking, baking and staying indoors.

Sweet & Savory Tarts, Biscotti & Joy of Friendship

2010-08-19T04:26:00.000-07:00

What a busy summer it's been at our house! Last week we had long-time friends fly in from Dallas, TX to visit us for the weekend. And, what a blessing it was! They were wonderful house-guests and it was so much fun to catch up.

The joy of friendship is that if you make a lasting friend connection you can go without seeing one another for years and when you meet up again it's as if you pick up right where you left off.

I dropped off cookies at the farm right before they arrived (and the morning after they left) as I knew we would be having way too much fun for baking while they were here.

In one weekend we went to Old Silver Beach, Surf Drive, La Tavola (the Italian Community Dinner in Mashpee), National Seashore and the Fort Hill Area in Eastham, Cahoon Hollow and of course The Beachcomber, the Jetty in Provincetown (each of my three children walked it with ease) and then of course the main drag in Provincetown. On Sunday just the girls and I spent a super fun day walking around the wharf in Boston and looking around Quincy Market (and of course eating more food).

I sent them home with packages of my Cranberry Biscotti with white chocolate and from what I hear the rest of their family really loved getting a taste.

I've been feeling creative in the kitchen this week as it gives me a chance to feel grounded again and last night I made a super savory Butternut Squash, Gorgonzola and Sage tart.

Next, I'm going to try a sweet option-a Chestnut, Pecan and Maple Tart as soon as I can locate chestnut puree somewhere on the Cape.

Joy & Baking

2010-08-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

I am a bit behind in my baking schedule as I snuck away with my girls on a fabulous little vacation to Orlando, Florida. Yep-I took them to Disney! We'd never been and it had been awhile since we traveled very far from Cape Cod so I thought it would do us some good to get away. It did! The whole trip flew by in an instant but it was a lot of fun.

We met some cool people which is always fun. In fact we met one couple who hung out at the hotel pool with their kids a couple of the same nights that we did. It turned out that they are going on their first ever Cape Cod Adventure for her 40th birthday--without the kids! I think they will love it here.

As for baking, I am heading into my kitchen first thing in the morning. I know for sure I will make Dreamy Island Cookies for the farm and I have an order for Cranberry Biscotti dipped in White Chocolate to fill too. The picture above--I just had to share so you can see for yourself the joy I know the girls felt while on our little getaway adventure.

Importance of Having a Dream & What to do While the Boys are Away!

2010-07-30T04:05:00.000-07:00

"What is most essential is invisible to the eye!" ~ From "Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint Exupery.

I am pretty certain (a quick search would confirm this) that I used this very quote to frame another post many (many) posts ago. I come back to this quote time and again because it rings so true for me. The book "The Little Prince" is all about the importance of dreaming and I believe wholeheartedly that the things that really matter are matters of the heart (the things that we don't immediately see when we look at someone).

Sophia helped me bake dreamy island cookies for our farm delivery yesterday. She was so enthusiastic to be in the kitchen with me. I taught her how to use a butter knife to level off the flour in the measuring cup and she was thrilled. Her eyes lit up- "Cool, Mom" she said as a smile appeared across her face.

My husband and son have been on a road trip together this week and it's just been me and the girls. I decided to redecorate our guest room without the boys around and it has inspired me to recognize a dream. It's actually a dream I have had tucked away for quite awhile but this week has helped me to recognize it, claim it as mine and share it with you.

The couch in the picture pulls out to a bed and the room is so cozy now for a weary traveler to rest.

My dream is to some day run a (small yet simple) bed and breakfast in my home.

It would be a space for people who need a bit of pampering and self-care a quiet place to get away from it all.

I would make special treats from my recipe book and set it out for breakfast and then pack cookies and biscotti for guests as they head out to explore the area. I would offer warm towels and heated coffee mugs. I would provide stamped postcards with a pen at the writing desk. (Tiny touches that would make guests feel special).

For now, it will remain as a dream. My house is awfully busy with the hustle and bustle of raising kids but someday the house will be so quiet that my dream may just have a place and time to come true.

For now, it's been fun to have a little extra time with just the girls and an opportunity to dream.

I bet that you have a dream of your own. What is it? Have you named it? Do you take tiny steps today so that one day it will come true? If not, what are you waiting for?

Rainy Days, Trolley's & Relationships

2010-07-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

It's been raining a lot today on Cape. It's been a nice break from the heat and humidity we've been having. I decided to bake cookies for the farm first thing this morning. I made a batch of dreamy island cookies and I wanted to get a batch of my cranberry biscotti started too but I got a call earlier than expected that Bella's camp bus was arriving.
She spent a week in New Hampshire--I missed her like crazy but it was such a blessing that she had so much fun. We stopped by the Farm on the way back from camp pick-up to deliver at least a few packages of cookies for sale. I love to bake although with three kids around for the summer I feel pulled in many other directions too and never bake as much as I'd like.

Sophia has been wanting to ride the Falmouth Trolley so I dropped things needing my attention on Thursday and we hopped a ride to Woods Hole. She got a special treat and I had a large coffee from "Pie in the Sky". We walked down to the Aquarium and Sophia loved watching the seals swim around in the water. Later that night we met some friends at the Popponessett Marketplace for a truly out of this world Lobster Roll and a fun concert.

As far as relationships go I was thinking that they can be (at times) so delicate and fragile. In other words they can be our greatest joy and blessing and also our biggest obstacles.
When I baked this morning I pulled my butter out of the freezer and as I had less time than usual I decided to soften it by popping the sticks in my microwave. I let them stay in a little too long so the butter was more melted than I wanted it to be. I like my butter to be soft but not melted. I didn't want to waste the butter though. The cookies came out tasting the same but I noticed a slight alteration in the texture. Something probably only I could detect.
Like the butter melting too quickly and affecting how the cookies turn out the same can be true for my relationships.
If I alter what I do or how I participate in a challenging situation I find that my relationships instead of getting harder actually have an opportunity to change or grow. In other words by doing less I just might get more.

Whale Shaped Sugar Cookies, Bella's Birthday & Views from a Bike-Ride!

2010-07-18T05:05:00.001-07:00

What a week it's been. I was unexpectedly pulled into a bit of a drama and I found myself needing to step back and take stock.

Over the years, I have learned (through trial and error) how to look at a situation and see what my part is and also what my part is not.
It's been an invaluable experience for me because for many years I often felt I was entirely at fault in any miscommunication or problem especially with family members. What a blessing to finally know that I'm not the cause of everyone else's misfortune or problems. I'm only responsible for my tiny plot of my life.

In the midst of the drama I managed to provide my daughter Bella with the most beautiful and simple yet attention to detail filled fourteenth birthday celebration. One of the details involved personalized shoe shaped sugar cookies as part party favors for each of her guests.

I also managed to bake and deliver whale shaped sugar cookies to the farm for sale and went on the most magnificent bike-ride (pictured above). I also realized how very loved I am by so many close and attentive friends who immediately offered words of kindness and care for my well-being.

In the end I always return to the things I love the most like bike riding, hanging out with my kids and (always) a bit of baking.

Celebration Cookies!

2010-07-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

By Monday I already knew what I wanted to put in my latest cookie creation although it's been a busy week with catching up with friends and hosting house guests that I didn't have much time to sneak away for baking and testing new recipes.
In fact, I had to turn away two new customers because I barely had the time to bring my cookies to the farm. I made sure I went into my kitchen first thing this morning to get a batch of Dreamy Island Cookies started.
I'm calling the new recipe, Celebration Cookies. I've put dried blueberries, dried cranberries and white chocolate in them as a tribute to the Fourth of July Holiday. They have a unique texture and sweet taste. I love them.
I invited my son in for a taste and as I anxiously awaited his response he said, "they're so good"!
We're going to a Cocktail Party tonight to Celebrate the completion of a home that my husband has been a large part in the renovation of and I think I'll bring the host a package of my new cookies to try.

Fireworks at Falmouth Heights & Creating a New Cookie!

2010-07-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

We rode our bikes down to Falmouth Heights last night to watch the fireworks. We decided to let Sophia ride on Tommy's Handlebars instead of her own bike--and she had a blast!

I decided over the weekend to create another cookie.
It's been almost three years since I came up with Dreamy Island Cookies--and those have been my all time favorite...

Although it's time to try something new. I promise to post what I come up with after testing variations in my kitchen.

Eating Cookies at the Beach & Blueberry Pancakes!

2010-07-04T04:56:00.000-07:00

We spent a good part of the afternoon and into the evening hours at Sandy Neck Beach yesterday. It was a perfect day for a bit of off road fun and catching up with old friends.
In the morning I dropped off a bunch of my cookies for sale at the Coonamessett Farm Store and packed enough to take some to share at the beach. We stayed late enough to enjoy the setting sun and a nice fire.
While the cousins were visiting earlier this week I decided to make them pancakes with fresh blueberries for breakfast one of the mornings. One of my nephews thought they were the best pancakes he'd ever had. With complements like that I told him he could stay as long as he wanted.

The Cousins & Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies!

2010-06-30T04:57:00.000-07:00

The cousins are coming!
My four nephews to be exact. What fun Sophia will have with all the boys running around the house! I am so grateful that the sun is shining and that we'll be able to pack lunches and head to the beach together later today. And, even more grateful that after a day filled with sand and sun everyone can rinse off in the outdoor shower before coming back into the house.
My next farm delivery will be a batch of Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies--it's a recipe that I get excellent feedback on and is included in "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen".
Bella, Sophia and I spent a few fun hours together at Wood Neck Beach yesterday. The water was warm and the tide was high when we arrived then slowly crept out as we enjoyed the afternoon sun.

Coonamessett Farm Cookie Delivery

2010-06-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hey! If you're hanging around town this weekend stop by the Coonamessett Farm Store and pick up a package of my freshly baked Dreamy Island Cookies that I dropped off first thing this morning!
It's a beautiful Cape Cod day and I hope you're enjoying it. I'm about to head to Menhaunt Beach to put my toes in the sand and catch some rays!