Let's Celebrate!

I brought Bella into Boston last week for a re-check with the surgeon who did her ankle surgery. She and I were so happy when he told us she was 100% recovered.

 I baked him a special package of my celebration cookies as a thank you because he's given her such good care since we first met him last December. He seemed to really appreciate our gesture and told us he and his resident intern would enjoy eating them later that day.

The kids are on Spring Break this week and I wanted Sophia to have a fun way to kick off her break. Last Friday she invited a good friend over to play and have dinner. I baked more cookies and helped them make home made ice cream sandwiches. They were delicious. We took some candy she had left over in her Easter basket and chopped it fine then they dipped the ice cream in the candy as a sweet mix-in before smoothing in between the cookies.

 I love that simply having a friend over to make home made ice cream sandwiches with and getting time to hang out around the house to laugh and play with her friend is the kind of fun she enjoys most.

Lemon Cake, Butterfly Cake Dipped in Ganache & Celebration Cookies

Sophia invited a friend over last week to color easter eggs. I'm grateful I have one at home who is still young enough to want to do this simple and fun easter tradition. They were meticulous about it too. They carefully divided the eggs, chose colors for dipping, markers for drawing and stickers to decorate each with. They decorated for the better part of an afternoon.
My spring semester has begun and I have been teaching every day. So for now I have less time for baking and fun projects around the house.
I decided while they were carefully coloring their eggs I'd bake a few batches of Celebration Cookies. There are a few people I wanted to bake for. I love to wrap a handful of just baked cookies in celophane bags, tie them with a colorful silk ribbon and leave on the doorstep of a friend or send in the mail to someone who lives further away. It's my way of letting them know I was thinking of them. Or I'll bake them as a Thank-you for someone who did something nice for me.
Easter is Sunday and I've decided to make Lemon Cake and my butterfly cake dipped in chocolate Ganache for dessert. I am long over due for baking both of them. When I told Sophia what I'd decided she said she couldn't wait until Sunday. I remember I used to bake and sell many of my Lemon Cakes but now it has become a treat I only make every once and awhile.

Blog Book & Winter Break!

I recently printed my entire blog into a hard cover book. The cover is black with the above photograph of South Cape Beach and the title "Life as a Cape Cod Baker".

 I've shared it with a few friends and they seem to like it. My favorite response is when I showed it to my daughter Sophia. She took it and sat on the couch reading it for about an hour then we chatted about the different stories, photos and recipes. Years from now I want my children to enjoy it as they flip through the pages. It's a good record of daily life at our Cape Cod house for the past few years. I've thought about printing a second copy to share with the Falmouth Library.

As for Winter Break, the kids have been home this past week. We didn't go anywhere except the one day I took Sophia into Boston to visit the Aquarium and do some shopping at Faneuil Hall. She loves taking the train so we drove half way into the City and took the Red Line in from there.

My daughter Bella is still recovering from her Ankle surgery. She's still non weight bearing on her right foot so we decided to keep things simple  and do fun things from home.

And I helped her to set some goals so she'd have something to look forward to when she is fully recovered. Between the ice and the snow and the cold anyone can feel discouraged. Yet I think it becomes even more depressing when you're immobilized. One thing I did to help her  feel  more comforted was throughout the week I cooked some of her favorites: Angel Hair with Parmesan and Pepper with roasted red peppers, Chicken Enchilada's, Blueberry Pancakes and Summer Salad.

 The salad is simple and delicious and I am sure if you do a blog search you can find my recipe for it already posted here. We made the summer salad partly because making and eating it helps us remember that summer will return again soon.

Blizzard, 2013!

     I lived through the Blizzard of 1978. I was only ten. I have good memories of it for the most part though. No school. Sledding with neighborhood kids for hours. Hanging out with my sisters. I can't imagine all of it was good though. It was a tough time. It was cold and there was snow, down power lines and tree branches everywhere. Snow drifts were huge.
    Memory can be like that though. Once time passes we often remember more of the good than the bad of what remains. Having woken up in Falmouth today to the remains of Blizzard 2013 it hasn't been easy. My house was cold, there were no comforts like hot water to shower, heat to warm my body or electricity to brew the coffee.
  My first thought was to cry.
 I soon realized that tears wouldn't clear the driveway, get the coffee made or warm my house. I decided to take a deep breath and do what I could instead.
I gathered wood and made a fire in my kitchen fireplace. I found a metal grate to fit over the logs and used a small sauce pan to boil water, a skillet to grill a bagel. After coming in from a solid hour and a half of shoveling in the snow that simple cup of coffee and warm bagel felt like the most satisfying bit of breakfast I'd ever had.
And I have to say I'm blessed to have some of the most wonderful neighbors around. They called to check in on me, invited me to use their oil stove if I needed to cook again or to stop by if I just simply needed some company. It hasn't been the most pleasant day overall. I've been cold for most of it and shoveled lots of heavy snow. And simple tasks have taken on a more challenging dilemma- I couldn't run the dishwasher or finish the load of laundry downstairs.
And I had to cancel plans I'd been looking forward to.  I didn't get to take my daily walk-something that brings me a little bit of peace every day either.
 But I have a feeling that what will most remain in my memories from the Blizzard of 2013 is not the minor inconveniences but the ways that I found the courage to take care of what I needed to. And finding  a fresh perspective to solve every day simplicities like how to get that cherished cup of morning coffee.

Comfort Food, Baked Mozzarella Gnocchi & Hummingbird Cake!

It's been gray, snowing and cold here for a couple of hours now. And all I seem to want is comfort food. Like the (delicious) Hummingbird Cake and Baked Mozzarella Gnocchi I've been making since my kids got home.

Have you ever tried Hummingbird Cake? It's moist and sweet. It has crushed pineapple and ripe bananas in the cake and cream cheese and powdered sugar for the frosting. I make it in three nine inch layers and then frost it between the layers, around the sides and on top too. It takes a bit of time to pull it all together. But well worth it when it's ready to eat a slice. Especially on a cold dreary day like today.

I also boiled a pound of Gnocchi then mixed in a half of a cup of light cream and added salt and pepper to taste. I spooned it into a greased baking dish, topped it with fresh shredded mozzarella and let it brown under a low broil for about three or so minutes.

I tend to feel a little guilty when I indulge in too much comfort food because I want to make sure I balance my diet with fresh leafy greens and a good dose of heart pumping exercise. Yet comfort food is just so, well, comforting.

Healing Through Food & Love!

 

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

 

I took my daughter into Boston this last week to MA General Hospital for unexpected surgery. She recently fell and broke her ankle. Her Doctor recommended surgery to help it heal properly. It was a bad fracture in an unusual angle. She now has two steel pins internally to hold it together and some repair was done to the bone itself.

 As a Mom, it wasn't easy to watch her in pain, travel into Boston, undergo anesthesia and then head into the operating room. I had to let go a little. I had to trust that she was in good hands, that I had gathered enough information to make the right decision and that all would be well.

 I knew it would help us both to have something to look forward to the morning after we returned home from the Hospital. She was expected to need to rest, keep her foot up and manage the post op pain. We decided to make it a Pie Day and that I would gather ingredients beforehand and be ready to bake some of her favorite pies. We even stopped at Falmouth Public Library and picked out a fun cookbook on all things pie related early in the week for added inspiration. Yesterday, I baked a Triple Berry, Coconut Cream and Chicken Pot Pie. They were really scrumptious. She had a friend over and they ate them together, they said, "Wow, those were Delicious!"

 I used fresh ingredients yet I also added extra love and care when making them. Cooking with love simply makes food taste better.

Making fresh, healthy and home made food for someone you love and care about is one of the most comforting things you can do for someone. Like Beard says, "food is a  universal bond" and yet the making and sharing of good food is part of any one's healing process. And I love to try different versions of my favorite recipes. The Chicken Pot pie may be my new favorite. I added a bit of white wine, cream and broth to make the sauce and I added sauteed mushrooms, onion, garlic, celery and carrots too. It was a hearty meal in itself. It was hard for me to choose either a slice of the triple berry or the coconut cream for desert. So naturally I did the only sensible thing and had a small slice of both.

 

 

Bright Blessings for a Happy New Year & Quick Bread!

 

  

I'm happy to say I didn't spend much time on the internet over the Holiday Break--so I feel a little behind in updating my blog. My time has been well spent though and I had a good holiday with my kids.Things that make me the most happy include hanging out with my kids, baking or cooking a fabulous meal (for friends and family) and walking. On Christmas Eve I was lucky enough to do all three.
     When we first moved to Cape Cod I started West Falmouth Baking Company ( a small personalized baking service that I did right from my home kitchen) while my youngest daughter Sophia was still at home with me. Back then we lived in a little rental house in West Falmouth with access to a private beach. We bought a house of our own and moved across town. Yet, we still enjoy going back to visit the old neighborhood. My kids and I decided to meet down near where we used to live during the day on Christmas Eve to go for a walk. We took some great pictures and it was chilly but not too cold and it was a bright sunny day.
      And at first I thought my son wouldn't even want to come. He's a senior, has a girlfriend and a busy sports schedule too. He showed up on time and carrying a bouquet of flowers for me- A bundle of white hydrangea and red roses. He said, "I thought this would mean a lot to you, so I picked them up on the way".
On the walk my son and two daughters came across a huge piece of drift wood big enough for sitting around my back yard fire pit. My son offered to help carry it back to my car for me. He'll be graduating this Spring. And a part of me hates this fact because as much as I want him to go to College --I don't want to lose him living at home. I guess that's what life is all about though. Change. He turned 18 on New Year's Day and honestly the time has flown by way too quickly. It does make the thought of him leaving a little bit sweeter though when I know what a good man he is growing into.
     As for the Quick Bread I found a recipe in a Magazine and wanted to give it a try. It's called quick bread because it doesn't require yeast or rising time. Although this bread tastes delicious--it is flavorful and satisfying it does require a bit of time to prepare. I baked a few batches for teachers and friends. I baked Cranberry Biscotti and Celebration Cookies to pass along too so friends would have a sweet and a savory treat.
     For the Quick Bread you take a white onion and chop fine. Saute the onion in butter on medium heat for a good 15 minutes or so until it starts to caramelize. Cook, let cool then chop about 12 slices of bacon. Then grate a half of a pound of Gruyere cheese. In a separate bowl blend Flour, salt, pepper and an egg add all the ingredients together and bake in either one large loaf pan or four small ones like I did for about thirty-five minutes. One of the things I like about this bread is it's hearty and filling and offers a great snack for an afternoon walk.
    As the New Year gets under way, I feel hopeful. And yet I feel I am in the midst of a number of changes too. I hope to make further progress on "Sweeter by the Beach"--luckily a few friends still check in to make sure I am working on it when I find the time. I am about a quarter of the way complete. So I see this as (making) progress not perfection. Also my son will be graduating High School- a huge milestone in itself. And finally, this Spring I will be engaged in a busy teaching schedule. I'm teaching Literature and Writing Courses as usual. Yet I am also teaching for the first time a Business Communication course. I'm happy for the challenge of a new course. It's a class mostly Seniors who are about to graduate and receive their Bachelor's Degree take. I have a feeling it will be a good course for me to teach.
Happy New Year to you!

When it's (Not So) Happy Holidays & Christmas Miracles!

 Sample of our Home baked Holiday treats for Teachers, Neighbors and Friends!

 I've been wanting to update a blog post the past few days to offer a little bit of Holiday Inspiration. And wishes for a Happy Holiday. The article I'd written called "Fabulous Foods As Holiday Gifts" was published locally last Friday. And I wanted to mention it here because the fact that it came out made me happy. When I wrote it my intent was to offer inspiration in some small way to those who read it.
     I remember last Friday morning well. It looked like it was going to be an unusually peaceful day. I took a photograph of the sun rise from my living room window. The sky was an unusually bright deep pink. It seemed like it was going to be a good day. Life can change so quickly and not always for the best.
     Yet since my heart has been aching (like so many others) as a result of the recent tragedy in CT last week I didn't feel like sharing what made me happy. It didn't seem right, at least not on Friday, to post when something so tragic had just taken place. I spent the day in deep reflection instead.  I felt (still feel) deep sadness for the families and for the rest of us too. Something is not right with our world if this can happen. There's so much that simply doesn't make sense to me about this unfortunate tragedy.
       Here is what I do know. I believe we still have to do our best in our imperfect way to offer a kindness or a smile to a stranger even when maybe especially when we are hurting. We have to continue to look at our own shortcomings so that we can be the best we can be for our family and friends. We have to recognize that life is short no matter what age or stage we are at and the time to live is now.
      I woke up very early this morning to do some baking. Baking is something that always makes me happy. My kitchen warms up nicely, the smells travel throughout the whole house and I know those people I've baked for will feel a little happier too from my sharing with them.
 I'm going to keep my holidays simple this year by focusing on spending time with my kids and trying not to worry about things that don't really matter anyway.
 My wish for you is that an unexpected Christmas Miracle comes your way this season especially if you are needing one. And remember the thing about a miracle is you have to be willing to ask for (and believe in) them to receive one!

Compassion, Gratitude & Home made Pies!

“It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.” ~ Anonymous Today is Thanksgiving day, 2012, USA. Here are a couple of photos from earlier. The first is of my simple yet sweet dinner table before all the food and family filled things in and then there's me taking the Turkey out of the oven (ta-dah!)  I cooked it in a bag and seasoned it with celery salt, sage and thyme. It came out pretty tasty and tender--along with the homemade cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and macaroni & cheese. Not to mention the fresh baked bread. And that was just the meal. I served appetizers and dessert too. For dessert I baked an apple, pumpkin and chocolate cream pie. I may not have to eat until next Thanksgiving. Each year on Thanksgiving my kids and I partake in two traditions. I started them years ago when my oldest was still in Pre-school. I have a number of traditions I've begun with my kids for different reasons. My thinking is that by having their own traditions it gives them a sense of comfort and safety no matter what else is going on in their lives. For Thanksgiving, the first is simple enough, I buy a balloon and fill it with helium. We each write  things we want to let go of before we enter the Christmas Holiday Season and things we are grateful for on little post it notes, attach them to the balloon and then go out into the yard together to let it go and watch it as it floats away and carries our wishes with it. It's always a unique experience. Today it seemed we could spot the yellow happy face with pilgrim hat balloon floating away for miles. I could see it above a big puffy cloud then it would disappear and then one of us would spot it again until it was too far out of sight. Our second Thanksgiving tradition takes a little more preparation. We look for a way to help some one or even a small group of people. I make a point to find someone in need beyond the traditional ways like the local food pantry. Because I find this way leaves a more lasting impression on my kids and helps them to deepen their compassion for those less fortunate then them. That first year we were living in Dallas and we made over 30 turkey brown bag lunches and passed them out ourselves to people milling about outside the Homeless Shelter. The first year we moved to Cape Cod we purchased gift cards and on our way to a Family get together in Worcester we passed them out outside the homeless shelter there. One year it was hats and mittens. What started this last tradition comes from something deeply personal to me. When I was young I didn't see my Father from when I was five until about nineteen. There were a number of years that I felt confused. At one point, I realized he was staying in a homeless shelter for a period of time. He passed away six years ago. Seeing someone so close to me suffer like that has showed me that not everyone who is less fortunate is lazy or doesn't care.  Sometimes, people really do need the kindness and caring from people around them that have a little something extra to give. And that we can never really know just how much a simple act of random kindness can do to make the life of someone else better. My hope is that when my children are grown they will remember the importance of having compassion for  themselves first and then finding ways to share it with others.

Lemon Cake, Quiche & Calm after the Storm

Remember, the storm is a good opportunity for the pine and the cypress to show their strength and their stability.

                                                                      Ho Chi Minh

        I'm in awe of the energy that comes in with a big storm. On Cape we were OK. The storm caused minor inconveniences nothing like the unfortunate tragedies people in CT, NY, NJ and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast are facing. It's easy to feel helpless when watching the devastation and not know how to help in ways that are meaningful. Yet, I do believe we must try to help if even in small ways whenever we can.
      In my classes this week, I asked my students to talk and write about their experiences. We had good conversations and there was lots of passion in their stories.

    There's a unique calm that arrives after a storm. I took the photograph above on Wednesday. I felt I had to visit the waters edge and get a sense of the calm for myself. I knew sensing what remained after the storm would work it's way into my heart and offer me comfort. When I feel upset or disappointed at something happening in my life I know I have to wait out the storm until inner calm returns. Like when a storm hits, there's things that happen in our lives there's not much we can do about. 

I'm baking a Lemon Cake and Quiche for a friend whose coming for lunch on Monday. She's about to submit her Thesis for earning her Master's degree and she's asked me to look it over and offer feedback. It makes me happy to help. I feel useful. And it's a great opportunity to deepen a new friendship that's developing.

Both my recipes for Linda's Lemon Cake and Spinach Feta Quiche are included in "Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen".