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Of all modern notions, the worst is this:
Domesticity is dull. Inside the home, they say, is dead decorum and routine; outside is adventure and variety. The truth is that the home is the only place of liberty, the only spot on earth where a man (ahem, and a woman) can alter arrangements suddenly, make an experiment, or indulge in a whim. The home is not the one tame place in a world of adventure; it is the one wild place in a world of rules and tasks.
G. K. Chesterton
Hello everyone! Gosh it seems like ages since I’ve posted, maybe to you, too. I’m sorry about that, but I really felt lousy with whatever it was that I had – mostly a sinus infection, but there was some serious fatigue in the mix, too. Yuck. If you look at the previous post, that’s about how I looked 90% of the time, too, wearing sweats and assorted hats to keep warm, spending copious amounts of time in front of the television, cats on my lap, going through boxes of tissue. A real party.
A funny and slightly gross story to go with this. The hubster, who is quite used to me being full of verve at all hours of the day, became quite concerned after so many days of couch potato Colleen that he suggested I have my thyroid checked. Then, when he happened to be home for one of my uber disgusting nose blowing extravaganzas, he said, “Wow, you really are sick, after all.” I laughed and said, “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” Bless his heart, he replied, “I’m a visual learner!” We had a good chuckle!
This reminds me, have you seen the 30 Rock where Liz and Jack go to Stone Mountain, Georgia? Liz orders a special “chuckle” sandwich and gets very ill. Jack tries to console her by gently brushing a broom across her back while she vomits. I just about wet my pants with laughter watching that (perhaps this is saying too much about me, but hey, I didn’t actually write it and put it on TV, so there). It’s the gosh I’d like to be sympathetic, but you are grossing me out, so I’ll use this broom to keep my distance but give you a little TLC at the same time. Been there, but never thought of the broom, thanks 30 Rock!
As you can tell, if you’ve bravely continued this far into the mire, I have absolutely nothing of substance to say. I guess I am not entirely well, but I did make that guacamole last night, and it was delish. Anyway, it is good to be mostly back. Hope you are well!
Do we dare to be ourselves? That is the question that counts.
Pablo Casals
When I was living at home, my mom called this a Breakfast Wake-Up. I have also seen it called an Oven Pancake. No matter what the name, the hubster and I find it rather delicious. It is a firmer variety of pancake – and very, very good. This one is topped with ginger pears using my recipe for sauces with regular-old pancakes that you can find here. I would say that the one down side to this recipe is that it only makes one pan at a time, so if you are really hungry, you’re also going to need to be really patient whilst making a second batch. I suppose there are worse things in the world. As well, yours may not look like the picture below when you take it out of the oven. Sometimes it comes out looking like a sombrero, others, a moonscape. It’s kind of neat, actually, like mad science!
Dutch Baby
2 tablespoons butter
3 eggs
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (regular is fine, too)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees with a 10″ skillet inside. Add butter to skillet, and remove from oven after it melts, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk eggs to combine. Add flour, milk, and salt; beat until smooth.
Immediately pour batter into the hot skillet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until puffed and browned. If you have an oven with a glass front – turn on the light and watch the magic!
Be really careful not to touch the handle after removing from the oven. I can’t tell you how many times I have burned my hand because I forgot it was hot, ouch!
Serve with butter, maple syrup, dusted with powdered sugar, or topped with your favorite sauce.
Enjoy!
Happy Birthday sweet Stella Ruby!
Tags: Cooking and Baking, Recipes
Great Tuesday greetings blog friends! I have a killer headache from some nasty head cold I can’t seem to shake. I feel well for a couple of days, and then it sneaks in through the back door, and I feel terrible for another day or two. So much for the super-hero immunity I thought I had. Boo.
Anyhoo, I can’t think very clearly, so you get some random thoughts about me.
1. I cry while watching award shows. So much sincerity and the love of telling and sharing stories, for aren’t we all a collection of words, experiences, and emotions?
2. I love peanut butter. Have I told you this before? I can’t remember. With jelly or chocolate, in a spicy satay, on a pancake, sprinkled with smoky salt, or slathered on a rye crisp.
3. I believe in the power of architecture: wood, steel, glass, concrete, and LOVE.
4. I love ruffles, pearls, velvet, and brooches – all the trappings of a woman with a girlish heart.
5. I love smoked fish – sardines, salmon, trout – best when purchased in early morning, at a shack by the sea, dearest friend at my side, the scent of the sea and warm smoky fish filling the air. A slice of heaven, for sure.
