Sunshine at Ona Beach

Monday was the only day this week of Spring Break with sunshine in the weather forcast.  Naturally we took advantage of it!  We jumped in the car and drove the ten minutes to Ona Beach.  It was BEAUTIFUL!

snow day!

Last Tuesday we got snow; honest to goodness big flaky soft packable snow!  And not just a little bit either, six inches.  That's amazing.  There still wasn't very much down by the water, but up on the bluff where we live it stuck around for two days.

It didn't start until Monday night at about 9:30. We hauled the girls out of bed because we weren't sure if it would still be there in the morning. 

The next morning I woke up early and headed down to the bay.  I got some beautiful pictures there.

Drift wood

This past weekend some of our fabulous friends were out here on the coast.  We joined them on the beach for an afternoon.  Because of all the rain, wind and flooding, there was a TON of driftwood.  They put together this amazing fort!  We just got to join in and play after they did all the work :)

Chicken Herding

We have some friends.  They have some chickens.  Together, we had some fun.

 Leah and our friend R holding a chicken

 Naomi attempting to keep the chickens in the coop

 One moment of weakness....

 and he escaped!

"egg beaks"

Day 12-Merry Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my gift to you from me is my favorite roll recipe...

Feather Rolls or Ingrid's Orange Rolls
(It is no surprise that this recipe also came from my MIL)

Mix and let stand
1/2 c warm water
2 T yeast
1 T sugar

1 c milk, scalded
1/2 c butter, melted in the milk
1/3 c sugar
2 t salt
2 eggs, well beaten
Mix and add into yeast mixture.  Beat in 4 1/2 c flour.  Let mix for several minutes.  The dough will be very sticky.  Cover and put it in the fridge overnight. 

 Two hours before eating, knead dough and divide in half.  Roll out each half into a rectangle.  Melt 1/2 c butter and stir in the zest of an orange.  Spread melted butter on dough, roll up, and cut into 12 rolls. 





Put the rolls in muffin tins and let rise a bit before baking in a 425 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. 

Day 11

I'm posting this today because we'll be gone most of tomorrow, so here you go...
On the eleventh day of Christmas my gift to you from me are some more cookie recipies.  (Just what everybody needs right?)

Toffee Diamonds

1 c butter
1 c brown sugar
Beat until fluffy.  Add in
1 t vanilla
1 egg yolk
Mix again and then stir in
2 c flour
Mix.  Add in
1 c mini choco chips

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Press dough into pan.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes.  While still warm, cut into 2" diamonds.  Make frosting.

Melt in a sauce pan
1/4 c chocolate chips
1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla
1/8 t salt
Add in milk 1 t as a time until mixture is a thick, spreading consistency. 

Dot each diamond with a drop of frosting and top with a walnut. 

Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix until light and fluffy
1 c butter
2/3 c sugar
Add in
2 egg yolks
1 lemon zest
1 T lemon juice
1 t vanilla extract
Mix in
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
and finally add
2 1/4 c flour

Scoop out balls of dough.  Use your thumb, or dip 1/2 t measuring spoon in powdered sugar and press into cookie dough.

 Mix together 1/2 c jam, any flavor, and 1 t lemon juice.  Fill cookies with 1/2 t jam.  Bake for 20-ish minutes until golden brown.

FINALLY!!!

We finally got an impromptu family picture as we were out at Seal Rock with my sister in law and her kids.  Where did you find snow, you ask??  No where.  It's sea foam...it just looks like snow.  :)

We almost got one with everybody looking.  :p

Day 9

On the ninth day of Christmas my gift to you from me is my ninth favorite recipe...

"Green Lemonade"
recipe by Natalia Rose

This is a GREAT way to start your day.  Drink one of these bad boys for breakfast and you will have an amazing amount of energy.  Yum!!

1 head Romain lettuce
6 stalks kale
2 organic Fuji apples
1 lemon, peeled
1-2 inches fresh ginger, peeled

Press all through a juicer, one fruit/veggie at a time.  Drink it down.  Go brush your teeth.  You don't want green teeth :D

If you want it sweeter, add another apple or some sweet organic carrots.

Day 8

On the 8th day of Christmas my gift to you from me are another two of my favorite recipes :)

These are both Swedish recipes (surprise) we make each year to celebrate St. Lucia

Engelska Pepparkakor

(these are like a thinner, crispier gingerbread)

1/2 c sugar

3/4 c brown sugar

3/4 c dark syrup *

2/3  stick butter

2 t cinnamon

2 t ginger

1/2 t cloves

1/2 t cardamom

1 t grated orange peel

1 1/2 t baking soda

Combine all and mix well.

3/4 c heavy cream or half and half

Beat until lightly foamy and add to sugar mixture.

5 1/4 c flour

Add to spicy mixture.  Work the dough until shiny and pliable on table adding more flour if needed.  Divide the dough into two halves.  Pat out to a disk, wrap and refrigerate over night, or a few hours if you can't wait that long.  Roll out to 1/8" thin and cut with a cookie cutter.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.  The most traditional Swedish shapes are pigs, goat and apples.  These taste fabulous with egg nog, hot cider or hot chocolate. 



*Dark syrup is dark corn syrup, however you can use molasses.  It just makes the cookies softer rather than crispy.   The flavor remains pretty much the same because of the other spices.

The traditional recipe is Saffron bread or "Lussekatter".  If you've ever looked, you will know that Saffron is obscenely expensive.  So I've adopted this recipe of

Buttered Sweet Potato Knot Rolls

1 T yeast
1 c warm milk
3/4 c mashed sweet potatoes, canned or fresh
1 T butter
1 1/4 t salt
2 large egg yolks
5 c bread flour

Dissolve yeast in milk.  Let stand 5 minutes and then add sweet potatoes, butter, salt and egg yolks.  Mix with a whisk.  Add 4 1/2 c flour and stir until dough forms.  Knead and add remaining flour.  Cover and let rise until doubled in size.  Punch down and let rest 5 minutes. 

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Divide the dough into 24 equal portions.  Working with one at a time, roll dough into a "snake", tie into a knot and tuck ends underneath.  Put 12 rolls on each baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.  Cover and let rise until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Bake rolls (uncovered) for 12-15 minutes.  Brush with butter while still warm.

Puddle Jumping- Oregon Coast Style

It was a picture perfect day

Day 6

On the 6th day of Christmas my gift to you from me, is my 6th favorite recipe...

Swedish Meatballs (once again from my Swedish mother in law)

1 c water
1 egg
In a small bowl, add together and mix well.  Stir in
1/2 c bread crumbs OR 1 medium potato, cooked, cooled and mashed
Let mixture stand while you are grating
1/2 yellow onion
Stir into bread crumbs with
1 1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
Add in 1 lb. lean ground beef* and
1/2 lb. ground pork (plain, not seasoned)

Knead in the meat until all the ingredients are well blended and the mixture is smooth and fluffy.  Shape into 1" balls. 
If you want the meatballs to stay round, place on a baking sheet in the fridge for an hour before cooking.
Over high heat in a heavy skillet, melt some butter and oil.  Add the meat balls 8-10 at a time.  Reduce heat to medium and fry the meatballs on all sides.  Transfer to a baking dish and keep warm in a 200 degree oven while cooking the rest of the meat balls. 
After the meatballs are cooked, use the same skillet and pour off the fat.  Add water and a little cream.  slowly add 1 T of flour mixed with some water until smooth and whisk it over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until you have a smooth gravy.  Add beef bouillon or more cream to taste.
Pour gravy over cooked meatballs in baking dish.

Serve with mashed potatoes, pickled beets and lingonberry jam. 

I use a mixture of ground turkey and ground pork.  I like the flavor better and they aren't as dense.

4th Recipe

On the fourth day of Christmas my gift to you from me is my fourth favorite recipe...
Scandinavian Almond Bars (this is my mother in law's recipe)

1 c butter
2 c sugar
4 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
1 t almond extract
3 1/2 c flour
milk
1 c sliced almonds, coarsely chopped

Almond Icing
1 c powdered sugar
1/4 t almond extract
3-4 t milk

Beat butter in large bowl for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, baking powder and salt.  Beat well.  Add egg and almond extract; beat until well combined.  Mix in flour.  divide dough into 8 sections.  One at a time, roll into 12 inch "snakes".  Put two at a time on a cookie sheet.  Flatten  to 3 inch width.  Brush cookie dough with pink and sprinkle with almonds. 

Bake in a 325 degree oven for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  While cookies are still warm, cut diagonally into 1 inch strips.  Cool on a wire rack. 

Make almond icing by combining all three ingredients.  Drizzle over cookies.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

We had a rather impromptu Thanksgiving dinner this year.  We had planned to eat at our friend's house but they had a family emergency so we gracefully uninvited ourselves. 

Lars thinks the best part of Thanksgiving are the left-overs, so even though we had other plans, he still bought a turkey.  Lars got it in the brine around 11 and in the oven around 4.  Needless to say, we didn't sit down to eat until 7:30 p.m.  I had already made whipped sweet potatoes with hazelnut struessel, roasted brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce with orange and ginger, and apple crisp.  I made stuffing, mashed potatoes. dill carrots and a pumpkin pie.  Lars finished the turkey and made gravy and we ate a feast!  It was delicious and we had a wonderful day cooking and being together as a family.

I just got my camera back from being fixed (HOORAY!!) in time to document my leftover Turkey Sandwich creation.

Rosemary Turkey Salad Sandwiches

1/2 c olive oil mayo
1/2 c fat free sour cream
1 t lemon juice
2-3 t chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t salt
1/4 t garlic powder
1 t dried minced onion
1 stalk celery minced
Mix all.  Add more or less of anything to your own taste.
Stir into 4 cups chopped turkey.

Serve on bread or croissants with left over cranberry sauce!
(If you don't have any cranberry sauce stir some Craisins in with the turkey salad.)

Half Wheat Bread

So I came across this recipe for "No-Knead Whole Wheat Bread".  Made me laugh because it's actually only half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour.  I suppose Whole Wheat bread sounds better than Half Wheat Bread.  :)

No-Knead (Half) Whole Wheat Bread
(Taste of Home's Holiday Get-Together Cookbook)

1 T dry yeast
1 1/4 c warm water
2 T honey*
2 T butter
1 t salt
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Stir in honey; add butter, salt and whole wheat flour.  beat on low speed until well-blended.  Stir in all-purpose flour.  Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Pour batter into a greased bread pan.  cover and let rise in a warm place until batter reaches edge of pan, about 30 minutes.  Bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.  Makes 1 loaf. 

*My girls didn't like the honey taste so I just used brown sugar instead.  I think it has a better taste with honey, but my opinion just doesn't count in this vote.

400 cookies

This is officially my 400th blog post.  Who knew I had so much to say?  (Don't answer that.)

Today for my baking adventure I was jonesin' for some Molasses cookies, but I wanted pumpkin in them.  I found a recipe for molasses cookies on food.com and made my own adjustments to it.  They turned out pretty darn good if I do say so myself.  :)

Soft Molasses Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup softened butter 
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light colored and fluffy.  Add in pumpkin and mix thoroughly. 
3. Beat in molasses and eggs; set mixture aside.
4. Dump in salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves and cinnamon.  Mix thoroughly. 
5. Add in flour.  Mix.
6. Scoop out 1 1/2 inch balls of dough onto the cookie sheet.
7. Pour a bit of white sugar in a bowl.  Dip the bottom of a cup into the sugar and press the cookies flat.
8. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes.  Do not over bake!

Let the baking begin

Seems like once November hits, I get the baking bug.  There aren't many complaints when this bug comes to stay, aside from tight pants.  My first experiment was a layered pumpkin cake. 

It was actually a very simple cake with ingredients I already had on hand.  The only thing I didn't have was whipping cream for the ganche, so I used canned milk and it worked out just fine. :)

Pumpkin Sandwich Cake from Better Homes and Gardens, November 2008

3/4 c flour
1 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
3 eggs
1 c sugar
3/4 c canned pumpkin

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Grease bottoms and sides of two 8 inch round cake pans.  Line bottoms with waxed paper.  In bowl combine flour, spice powder and salt; set aside.
2.  In a second bowl beat eggs and sugar until thick.  Beat in pumpkin.  Add flour mixture; beat just until combined.  Spread cake batter in prepared pans.  Bake 16-18 minutes.  Cool on wire rack 10 minutes.  Remove and cool thoroughly. 
(My layers were pretty thin, so I repeated steps 1&2 to have 4 layers of cake.)

Filling
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 c whipping cream

3.  For filling, whip cream to soft peaks.  In another bowl mix cream cheese and powdered sugar.  Fold in whipped cream. 
(I doubled the filling for 4 layers of cake.)

To assemble cake, place on layer on a serving platter.  Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over bottom cake layer.  Top with second layer of cake.  Spread with c.c. mixture, repeat with 3rd and 4th layers.  Place in fridge while preparing chocolate ganache.

Ganache
1/2 c whipping cream
1 c bittersweet or semisweet chocolate pieces
(I doubled this as well.)

4.  In small saucepan bring whipping cream just to boiling over medium-high heat.  Remove.  Pour over chocolate pieces in medium b owl (do not stir).  Let stand 5 minutes.  Stir until smooth.  Cool 15 minutes.  Spread over top and sides of cake.   

Store loosely covered in the fridge. 

I will conveniently "forget" to include to nutritional content of this cake.  Remember it's fat free as long as you are giving it away.  :)

Million Dollar Baby

Move over Hilary Swank, Heidi's in town.

Lincoln County Fair

This year the Wight women introduced Lincoln County to our amazing artistic talents.  ;)  Leah, Naomi, Emilia, Heidi and I each submitted art to the competition and ALL of us won prizes! 

Naomi by her painting "Pink Studio" and Leah by her sketch "Lighthouse"

Naomi also won the "Judge's Choice" award

Leah with her collage and sketch

Leah painted sand dollars and glued sand to her board

"Light house" up close

Heidi, Emilia and Leah's on display

Emilia's crab painting

Heidi's painting "Stripes!"  (She named it herself)

Me and my first blue ribbon EVER :)