Day FiftySix::ThreeSixtyFive

Mmmmmmm...
Don't these look good?

Day FiftyFive::ThreeSixtyFive

My PhotoOfTheDay is a photo of a photo I took last fall.
Cheating?
Perhaps.

But I am happy to finally be editing these.
and who knows...maybe I'll actually get around to printing some before they leave for college.

Day FiftyFour::ThreeSixtyFive

This is the cutest little cabin on the school's playground.
My boys are sitting on the roof.
Naturally.

Day FiftyThree::ThreeSixtyFive

Elbows.

Day FiftyTwo::ThreeSixtyFive

Today with my little girl, T was a day at the park.

Day FiftyOne::ThreeSixtyFive

Garden by the foot

Day FortyNine::ThreeSixtyFive

Queen's song 'I want to ride my bicycle' kept running through my head.
Go ahead, pull up YouTube and get your fix.
I'll wait.

Day Fifty:: ThreeSixtyFive

Ball jar.
I love these guys!

Day FortyEight::ThreeSixtyFive

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day FortySeven::ThreeSixtyFive

Breakfast in Charleston.

Day FortySix::ThreeSixtyFive

This was a great little breakfast place called caviar & bananas

Day FortyFive::ThreeSixtyFive

I forgot to post this yesterday.
I was having too much fun eating cheese and drinking wine.

Day FortyFour::ThreeSixtyFive

stars

Day FortyThree::ThreeSixtyFive

Today I had the most fun watching two masters at work.
Tasia and Marti were working on something new for Belle Chèvre.
Here's a peek:

Day FortyTwo::ThreeSixtyFive

Today was made for meatballs.
Meatballs were made for today.

Butternut Squash Soup- How do I love thee?

Dear Butternut Squash:
How do I thee? Let me count the ways...

I love thee in late summer's night
amongst the vines and holding tight

i love thee sitting lazily
upon my counter crazily
tucked beside one juicy tomato
not imprisoned in dark like the lonely potato

I love thee cut, seeded and steamed
with butter, brown sugar and lightly creamed

But, today,  my horizons I find much broader
I love thee most by Alice Waters.

{My apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning}





Butternut Squash Soup
*adapted from Food and Wine. Recipe by Alice Waters

Ingredients
1 medium sized butternut squash- peeled and cubed
1 medium onion- chopped, divided
1 medium fennel bulb- cored and sliced into thin wedges
1 bay leaf
2 cups chicken stock
1 tbsp butter
chervil - garnish


Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss half the onion and fennel with olive oil and salt and arrange on a pan to roast in the oven for about 25 minutes- until they start to get a nice golden brown. I even like mine a little charred.

In a pot place the squash, remaining onion, bay leaf and 2 cups chicken stock. If needed, add water until it covers the vegetables and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until until the squash is tender.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the squash and onions to a blender and add some of the liquid back in. This is all personal taste here. If you like a thinner soup add more liquid. If you are like me and prefer a soup you can eat with a hunk of crusty bread, then add less.
Puree.
Hurray!

Add the pureed soup back to your original pot and over low heat melt in the butter.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon the soup into bowls and garnish with the chervil and the roasted fennel and onions.

Day FortyOne::ThreeSixtyFive

Today I am working on a new post post.
Farro Soup.

Day Forty::ThreeSixtyFive

Day ThirtyNine::ThreeSixtyFive

Today it is freezing.
Just ask these fish.

Day ThirtyEight::ThreeSixtyFive

Day ThirtySeven::ThreeSixtyFive

i.love.proverbs.

Surprise! Oatcakes!

Surprises.

They have a capricious essence to them.
Generally speaking, I love surprises.
I don't hound my husband to give up birthday presents early.
If a box is labeled Do NOT open until Christmas. I wait.

And I didn't find out the sex of my first 3 children because I wanted to be surprised.
And I was.
All three times I thought for sure I was having a girl.
And all three times I was wrong.
wrong.
wrong.
wrong.

And then another pregnancy, this time a surprise.
Which is such a misnomer.
A lie, really.
Let's be honest, it's silly to refer to this as a surprise.
I know how it happened.
When it happened.
And I even know with whom it happened.
So when I use the term Surprise what I really mean is I wasn't planning on it.
Which is what happens sometimes after you've had a few.
kids, that is.
As caught off guard as I was when the test came back positive, nothing prepared me for what came next:
"Baby A is looking good-there's the heart beating strong....and Baby B....blah blah blah"

Now that's a surprise.

What does that have to do with these Oatcakes?
Not much really.

Except that I was pleasantly surprised when my kids ate them.
Especially the twins.

Oatcakes

*adapted from Supernatural Everyday- Heidi Swanson

Ingredients
3 cups rolled oats
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup walnuts, chopped & toasted
1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/3 cup salted butter
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions
Preheat Oven to 325°F and place rack in top 1/3.
Butter 12 cup muffin pan.
In a large bowl mix together oats, flour, baking powder and walnuts.
Over low heat, melt together the coconut oil, butter, maple syrup and sugar until just melted
Pour this over the dry ingredients and give a little toss. Add the eggs and mix until everything is well incorporated...no need to go uber crazy here...if you overdo it, you risk a tough cake, and these are already hearty to begin with.
Spoon into your prepared muffin pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Day ThirtySix::ThreeSixtyFive

I helped by boys make their Valentines Day Cards today.
Actually, I did most of the cutting and pasting... And they signed their names.
Lucky for them I'm about as good at this today as I was 32 years ago.
Which isn't saying much.
;)

Day ThirtyFive::ThreeSixtyFive

This is a little piece of road I drive nearly everyday.
It's nondescript.
It can be anywhere.
But today I thought I saw something interesting.
What do you think?

Day ThirtyFour:: ThreeSixtyFive

I am attempting to make my own granola bars.
Buttering the tin foil made my recently burned fingertip feel much better...

Day ThirtyThree::ThreeSixtyFive

This is a vintage typewriter I have been searching for.
I've got plans for you, baby!

Day ThirtyOne::ThreeSixtyFive

My kids love the Muppets as much as I did when I was their age.
Only they get to watch it in the car....

Day TwentyNine::ThreeSixtyFive

This photo was taken by my 7yr old, A.

He made me say 'stinky almost rotten cheese' and then used a funky camera angle.

joker.

Day Thirty:ThreeSixtyFive

Today: rainy and blue

Day TwentyEight::ThreeSixtyFive

Today I was flipping through this month's F&W and came across a squash soup by Alice Waters.
When I looked at the recipe I thought ' I can do this!'
And I did.
See! It's true Anyone Can Cook!- -------(Ratatouille)

Post to follow

Day TwentySeven::ThreeSixtyFive

These here are the oatcakes from Heidi Swanson's book : Supernatural Everyday.
They rock.
Post to follow.