The BIRTHDAY BOOK IS DONE!!!

At long last I am actually writing this post. I have dreamed about this for almost as many years as I have been authoring this blog. It is with great satisfaction I can finally say–and mean it–The birthday book is done! 

I have told my husband and the kids so many times "the birthday book is done" that it started to loose meaning. Draft after draft, after frustrating small-tweaks-here-and-there draft, it is really truly completely, no-more-to-do done. I invite you to to pop some champagne for me... no not really, I can do that myself, but geez luize, it is good to put this one on the shelf and say fini! 

It was a project my good friend Robin and I started back when the kids were little. We traveled through so many stages of our lives and I have lived in five houses since we started. I guess I like to move! Or it has just taken a long time and finding the place that is home takes a long time too. 

But anyway, enough about that, here are some of my favorite images from the book:

Filled to the brim with step-by-step instructions for making original gifts, favors, cakes, wrapping, decorations and games, BIRTHDAYS: HANDMADE, HOMEMADE is interwoven with stories, photographs, illustrations and anecdotes. We invite readers to pull up a chair, pour a cup of tea and spend the afternoon making and creating. Our goal is to offer inspiration on how to make a birthday handmade, homemade and your very own.

Readers will love the creative ideas that make this book so personal and tangible. Projects range from fast and easy . . . Dinosaurs in real eggshells, to more timely and in depth . . . Dining table forts. Young parents and do-it-yourself enthusiasts will find endless help onhow to prepare and execute a homemade birthday party.

At a time when it seems like families are trying to take back just a bit of their own and blogs hum with self-reliant know-how, this book is a great jumping-off point for those aiming to leave commercialism behind and bring it all back to the ones they love. 

Birthdays: Handmade, Homemade is available online. 

Hope everyone is enjoying summer!
                                   

                                              Cheers~
                                                         Marica


P.S. I have one copy to give away, so if you live in the United States and would like to enter for a chance to win, leave a comment below. I'll pick a name at random and post a winner Sunday July 23rd.

Vegan Banana Muffins Recipe

I have a real soft spot for banana muffins. These particular muffins are yummy and yet still a tiny bit healthy. I often make a batch at the pie truck and then bring them home at the end of the day for my kiddos—They love when I bring treats. These days it's hard to keep my fifteen-year-old from eating us out of house and home. Seriously! As an added piece—so you can get in the mind of a crazy pie-maker/mother/obsesser-of-story-books—I have an old love affair with the Betsy Tacy and Tib books. I read each and every one multiple times as a child, and to be truthful, I even read some of her later books not so very long ago. Either way, in the stories the house keeper/cook always makes the family muffins on their first day back to school. I found this tradition so romantic. Every time I make my children muffins I think of Betsy and her family and the simple tradition that somehow has made a lasting impression on me. Silly as it sounds, I feel like these are the things that matter. These bits and pieces are what keeps us inspired, warm and decent people in a very complicated world.

VEGAN BANANA MUFFINS

In a large bowl mix:

3 ripe bananas 

1 cup orange juice 

1/2 cup grape seed oil

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cardamom

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

1 cup ground walnuts

In a separate bowl sift together:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix both sets of ingredients together. Pour into an oiled muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes and then rotate the the pan and bake for another 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.


                                                                    Cheers ~
                                                                                Marica

And a million pies later...

This was a good week. A long week, but good in so many ways. Firstly, I felt in tune with the pie truck—and that is a must to feeling good. Sometimes the inside me doesn't align properly with the tasks the world is requiring which certainly causes a lousy battle.  I find that when I feel as if I am playing, I am most at ease. It is a constant wonder in my mind if I am completely loopy, partially loopy, or if most people "play" when they are doing their best work. I hope some of you understand what I mean, because alas, it would be unfortunate to find I am the only one...

Secondly, this week I completed a project so huge and satisfying that my soul doesn't know how to withstand the comfort in having it done. I keep wanting to go back, tweak this, adjust that, yet there is nothing necessary to tweak or adjust. The project is done, at least for this stretch of the road. I am not going to be so thoughtful as to include you all in what the project is, I am not being coy or sassy, it is just that it needs to be kept unrevealed at this time. (Is unrevealed a word? My computer doesn't seem to think so). I will however say it is a book project, so no one will start believing that I built a house from ice blocks or sculpted a goddess in a giant boulder. 

Lastly, I managed to have my children clean the house—just enough—that my "weekend" was not fiddling with dishes, washing floors and scrubbing toilets. I'll admit, I did do all of those things; wash dishes, clean floors and scrub toilets, but they were all minimal versions of what would usually be defined as major cleaning. I am so thankful.

Oh, and on a simple, minor note of satisfaction, I bought a small wood-desk at Goodwill. I thought it was for my daughter's room, but my husband reminded my what a stack of things would gather on it in oh so short a time—and he is right—it will be of so much more use downstairs as a wee work spot for me. Now here I sit, so professional, writing this and feeling quite complete with my forearms resting appropriately as I type. What a lucky trick for me, guiltlessly buying something for someone else, and then reaping the benefit of its luxury.

Well, that just about does it.

All my best to Everyone!

                                                           Cheers ~

                                                                 Marica

Cranberry Tea Scones...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Yesterday morning we had a nice breakfast of scones. I woke up with a strong wish for cranberry bundt cake, but realized I didn't have everything I needed to make it. Instead I made a batch of cranberry scones, which hit the spot entirely.


Cranberry Tea Scones

In a large bowl sift together:

2 cups unbleached white flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cut into small pieces and crumble in with your fingers:

1/2 cup butter, cold

Mix then add:

1 egg

1 + 1/2 cups milk
1 lemon, zest and juice

Mix gently until combined then press into a rectangle about 3/4' - 1' thick.

Cut into squares. Place on a buttered baking sheet then bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

                                                             Cheers ~ Marica

Sunflower Seed Butter Cookies…

Today's been dark and rainy, definitely cookie baking weather. Since I can't eat peanut butter I am always trying other butter cookies. These came out particularly nicely; chewy, flavorful, a touch too sweet, but hey, they are cookies.

Sunflower Seed Butter Cookies:

 In a medium bowl mix:

1/2 cup butter soft

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 sunflower seed butter

2 eggs

Add:

1 + 3/4 cups unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Bake 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

P.S. I didn't add it to mine, but I'm sure some sort of citrus zest would be wonderful! 

                                                     Hope you all are well!!

                                                               ~ Marica

      

Easter Sunday...

Another excuse to make unearthly large amounts of decadent, overly rich food...

Such as Easter Pie which contains so much cheese and eggs 

that I'm not sure how it all fits into the pie crust… 

 So many eggs I ended up counting. Yesterday cost some hens approximately 

eighty plus eggs; thirty-six were dyed and hid, but the rest became an array 

of baked goods that left my stomach undoubtedly a bit too full...

 But isn't that what it's all about…?

 The beauty of a spring feast...

Deep commitment to not taking it lightly...

Depth in decadence... 

Hope you had a lovely early spring weekend…

                                                              Cheers ~ Marica

P.S. My favorite pie crust recipe goes:

Pie Crust

Mix in a large bowl, rubbing the butter into the flour

until it resembles sand-like crumbs:

1+1/2 cups unbleached white flour

A dash salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 cup butter cold and cut into small pieces

Add mixing gently until it forms a ball:

3 tablespoons water

If you have time let it chill a bit wrapped in the refrigerator.

Otherwise roll out immediately on a floured surface then place into

a buttered pie pan…

Recipe from The Blue Heron Ranch Cookbook

Kitchen stuff… Three onion soup... And a granola recipe...

Lots of food… It always seems to go in spurts… I go full throttle kitchen madness and then we will eat burritos for dinner way too many nights in a row… Most of the way I do everything is like that. I feel overly compelled, overly involved and then, break. Stop. Gotta put the screeching over energized ditty to an end. Does anyone else have this syndrome? 

I haven't been getting to my camera as much as I would have liked, but the following are some kitchen bits that made its way onto "film"…

Baked buns with caraway seeds… I have finally gotten the bun drill down. A soft yeast dough, an egg, enough oil to let it stay supple, and then not to forget salt. I don't like salt too much, so I often have to force myself to add a reasonable amount when I know it is a necessary addition. Egg washed and baked, these came out very lovely...

Tamale pie… Oooooo I recommend tamale pie...

And then in the darkness here is a three onion soup with puff pastry baked on top. It was so indulgent!!! Sauteed yellow and pearl onions in butter, beef broth added, fresh thyme and fresh green onions minced… Black pepper of course… A touch of lemon juice… And then, poured into custard cups, buttered rims and covered in puff pastry. Baked. Oh holy of holy fancy soups, this was fancy!

And last, a little photo shy, or a lazy photographer who didn't catch a click, is the granola recipe:

Granola

Preheat oven to 275 degrees

In a large bowl combine:

8 cups oats

1/2 cup coconut oil melted

1/4 cup grapeseed oil

1 cup raw sugar

1/2 cup pecans ground + a 1/2 cup whole

1/2 cup quinoa ground

1/2 cup dried gojo berries ground

1/2 cup flax seeds ground

1/2 cup sunflower seeds ground

1 cup shredded coconut

1 + 1/2 teaspoons salt

Mix well then add:

1 cup almond milk

Pour onto two oiled cookie sheets.

Bake at 275 degrees until golden,  about an hour.

Stir every 15 minutes or so to be sure everything cooks evenly.

     

                       Best Wishes to Everyone!
                                                            ~ Marica

The Croissants Set...

I was going through photographs and I realized I never posted this set from a couple of months ago.
I like it; a simple progression in the life of being a croissant . . . That is before being devoured …

Dough resting . . .

Now triangles, filling in place . . .

Rolled and ready . . .

 Baked and in a pan now dripping full with butter . . .

Done and ready for eating . . .

 The recipe I used was from The Joy of Cooking.

                                                        Best January wishes everyone!!! 

                                                                  ~ Marica

Cranberry Date Muffins...

Morning-time and fall weather is always a good muffin baking combination…

 I had left over cranberries in the freezer and a box of dates on the shelf…

I wanted to make fluffy muffins that you might buy in a bakery or fancy store, so I whipped

 the egg whites before adding them in once the rest of the batter was already mixed.

 I have found this to be the secret to airier muffins… Here is this morning's doings:

Cranberry Date Muffins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix in a large bowl:

3 egg yolks (save whites)

8 or so soft dates pitted and mashed up

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup grapeseed oil

1 cup milk (I used SO coconut milk)

zest from one lemon

In a separate bowl mix:

1+3/4 cup unbleached white flour

1+1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cardamom

pinch salt

Add:

1 cup frozen or fresh cranberries (not sauce.)

In yet another bowl whisk egg whites until stiff.

Mix first two bowls together until combined.

Gently add the egg whites one third at a time.

Pour into an oiled muffin pan. I used paper liners because I happened to have some,

 but I still oiled the pan so the paper can come away from the muffin more easily.

Bake at 375 for about 25 minutes or until golden and puffed.

                                    Happy last few days of November ~ Marica

Halloween...

Well Halloween has come again...

 October has made its way round, and before I even fully saw its face, 

it has already made plans to be on its way...

 Pumpkins and squash have hit their peek, and now are resting until either, they will be consumed as food, carved into lanterns or perhaps just left to become compost that will help build the soil for plantings to come...

 We made pumpkin doughnuts… the recipe of which is right here

The kids spent yesterday afternoon carving scary faces on their chosen pumpkins… 

I think this might be the first year each of them could could actually carve their own pumpkin… Wow!)

 And then there are these little guys, so oblivious of the haunting and sweets 

gathering that is about to happen!!

                                                       Happy Halloween !!! ~  Marica

Sweet foods from yesterday...

Well as it was the 4th of July, and we did have a barbecue… 

All by our selves that is, but the food was so good!!

I marinated chicken thighs in barbecue sauce and marmalade. I highly recommend it...

I also happened to tasted one of the BEST things I have EVER tasted:

I was making French apple pie, but I had no refined sugar only raw sugar and coconut sugar. 

I decided that the only solution was to melt the sugar up a bit, to smooth it out enough, to not leave my pie gritty. I melted 1/2 cup coconut sugar, 1/2 cup raw sugar with the 6 tablespoons butter I had. I  carefully mixed enough so it didn't burn. Just as it was becoming perfect, I drizzled in about 1/3 - 1/2 cup of half & half. Gently I stirred and then I tasted it. Then I tasted it again. Then I had to once more. At that moment I was on the phone with my mother in law and I stopped our conversation to let her know I had just tasted one of the best things I had EVER tasted. Unfortunately, it is not something you could pour into a bowl and spoon up into you mouth in endless delight. It is just too ridiculously rich. But goodness, I will have to make it again just to satisfy my now forever ruined tongue. Nothing beats melting buttery coconut sugar with cream. It was close to caramel but so much more intense. 

Eventually that magical swirl you see in the picture above, was combined with the eggs, vanilla and flour that needed to be poured over the apples so my pies could get into the oven where they belonged. 

Good-bye sweet, rich, thing that could never be eaten on its own. And cheers to French apple pie; just the thing for after dinner on such a gung ho American holiday.

                                                                                             ~ Marica

Apricot Breakfast Scones

I was feeling the calling to make scones this morning…

I am so glad I did too! 

Just the right thing for a sunny first day of July…

Apricot Scones

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

In a large bowl mix:

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup raw sugar

Add:

6-8 tablespoons of butter, cold chopped into small pieces.

Using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour 

until it resembles bread crumbs.

Add:

1 egg

1/2 cup yogurt

4-5 very ripe apricots sliced

Gently mix all the ingredients together. 

Make sure not to over mix or they will become doughy. 

Press onto a floured board and cut into one inch squares.

Bake at 425 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

                                                ~Marica