A Great Start - Steel Cut Oats

I hope everyone had a great holiday with plenty of good food, fun and family! This morning we had a hearty cereal of steel cut oats. I've made them before the over night method, but this worked just as well.

I have a health food store within walking distance from my house so it is easy for me to pick up any grains, flour, rice, etc... they sell many in bulk as well as herbs and spices. So if I need a cup of special flour or a table spoon of a spice I haven't tried before, I can buy just that and try it. So I picked up a couple cups of steel cut oats...

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat, add 1 cup steel cut oats and toast for about 2-3 minutes.

Add 3 cups boiling water, stir and reduce to a simmer, gently simmer for 25-30 minutes, stir occasionally.

Stir in 1 cup milk (I didn't have milk so I used coconut milk) and cook for 10 minutes until the milk is almost absorbed stirring 1 or 2 times.

Remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes.

It will keep up to 3 days in refrigerator.

My daughter had a friend over so I let them decide what they wanted on their oatmeal. My daughter like cinnamon and brown sugar. Her friend had coconut milk and honey. I had cardamom, dried Michigan cherries, coconut, coconut milk, sunflower seeds. You can enjoy it with any fruit, nuts, berries, or sweetener...that's the fun of making it your way!


Just a few recent photos to share from my two weeks off... my husband called me outside to see if I could get a photo ot the snail moseying along the cactus...


..close up! It's pretty cool!



We joined some friends at their house for Christmas dinner...


I brought this pork roast...
Gary made a beef roast and potatoes. ..


...they are from South Africa so they don't have family in town at Christmas either.


Maranda, playing with some toys that we get in the Christmas crackers...and that is sparkling cider she's drinking.


Some other goodies that were in the crackers...the kids at school will love them!

Another friend Sarah joined us and she brought her dog too. So we had four dog with us at Christmas...we couldn't leave them home...well 2 belong here and we brought Tucker, and Sarah brought Sadie the Lab was welcome too. They all got along fine and were so well behaved. Jeanne did a good job getting them all together for the photo...with treats in hand!

This time of year my lemons are in full swing...good thing, I used it all week for my ginger, tea with lemon and honey.

I used my new Tervis Tumbler (made right here near us in Florida) I got it for Christmas from my aunt and uncle. It's perfect for keeping drinks warm or cold.

.., another sunset walk on the beach, (ha! caught them off guard). it was a really nice evening...this was Monday the day after Christmas. We've been having perfect weather lately.

The sunset wasn't that spectacular, but we saw some dolphins as soon as we got there. They are so hard for me to catch a good photo of , but they are always so cool to see, I never get tired of it!

Hope you all had a wonderful week! Looking forward to the New Year to come, and visiting you all.
Back to school (work) tomorrow, and here I thought I'd get more done than I did. Will post more soon!

Another Cookie revisited and sharing some Christmas

I first posted these cookies two years ago, I was looking for a gingerbread that used crystallized ginger...just like I had bought when I was up in the Lake District in England years before. I never found that gingerbread recipe or any that came close, but I did find this ginger shortbread that soon became a favorite of mine. I like the buttery flavor of the shortbread, then you get that little gingery kick when you bite into a piece of the candied ginger. I did increase the amount just a touch, you don't want too much or it could over power the buttery shortbread. I make these for Christmas, but have froze one of the logs and pulled it out later to use at another time! Thought I would bring them back and share with my new friends.

These delicate, buttery cookies are nice with a cup of tea or coffee.

Ginger Shortbread cookies
Bon Appétit March 1997
yield: 36 cookies

2 1/3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup coarsely chopped crystallized ginger (I used a little more about 1/3 cup)
1 tablespoon sugar (for chopping the ginger)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Additional powdered sugar (optional)


Combine flour, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, ground ginger and salt in medium bowl. Combine crystallized ginger and 1 tablespoon sugar on work surface; chop finely.

Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until light. Add lemon peel and extracts. Beat in crystallized ginger mixture. Beat dry ingredients into butter mixture in 4 additions.

Transfer dough to floured work surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into 6-inch log. Shape each log into 2x1x6-inch-long rectangular log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly butter 2 large baking sheets. Cut each dough log into 1/3-inch-thick cookies. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart (cookies will spread slightly during baking). Bake cookies until edges are pale golden, about 24 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheets 3 minutes. Using metal spatula, transfer cookies to racks. Sift additional powdered sugar over warm cookies, if desired. Cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.)



I also wanted to share little Christmas with you. I received this card from Mrs Yoder's class. She had emailed everyone at school that was chosen to get a card and handcrafted ornament (I left the ornament hanging at school) from her class explaining that her writing prompt was for everyone to choose a person that they think was helpful and write a letter to them.



Miguel chose me and here is my letter. I just love gifts like these, my favorite and they are always cherished. (But I don't help the kids get hurt, just help when they do...hehe)


I have been trying on some new wings on the shell angels that I make. Here is some nylon tulle instead of the feathers.


and this is the one with some wired sheer ribbon with snowflakes on it. I think I will double it next time.


First attempt on making a character ornament...reminds me of the shell figure my grandma used to get when she lived in Clearwater. I think the slice shells that I used for the antler would make good angel wings too. This was a gift to one of the diabetic students that I see everyday...he helped me decide what to do for the ears. I think he liked it.


a different way to display the sea urchins other than my jellyfish and placing them over the little bulbs.


This was so delicate, some liked it better without the pearl trim.

There you can see the sea urchin over the light.

I dropped my daughter off at Cha Cha Coconuts at St Armand's Circle so she could meet a friend for lunch. Such a fun place to visit and shop...especially around the holidays!


Okay I had to sneak a shot of my favorite owl that I bought at Pier 1 . I gave a few away as gifts, but they all have such personality it was difficult to part with. The rest of the photos are just more of the ornaments that I made, except the snowman...he came with the owl. I sold quite a few this year. So if you just want to skim past them I understand.















I finally caught something, and have been feeling miserable for the last couple of days...I don't get sick!!! I work around sick kids all day, the nurse caught something and so did my husband...I was bound to, but I have not been sick for quite sometime now at least two years...like with a cold or flu that is. I just get allergy related things. Well at least I didn't miss any work...I have two weeks of Christmas break, and I still can't seem to get things done.

Blogger friends visit, a weekend in Sarasota

Okay enough playing around, I've got to get back to work. After a week of quick dinners (I had to squeese some food in) like above of yellow rice with cilantro, steamed carrots and kale, and pork cutlet....not much to write about there. It has almost been a whole week since we had our lunch, where we got to meet up with some fabulous fellow blogger friends of mine. I am sure many of you know Rebecca from Chow and Chatter, she is just as nice in person as she is in all of the videos she posts, and she is every bit herself everywhere you'll see her on facebook , twitter and where ever else she might be. Rebecca and her family are awesome, if you haven't been there please check out her blog...I admire all that she does.

We also met Sam from My Carolina Kitchen, we were so lucky that they were in Florida for the season, and they drove up to Sarasota to join us for lunch at Mattison's City Grille downtown...just as the farmer's market was pulling out for the day. Sam and her husband were such a delight, we all had plenty to talk about. If you want to see some fantastic food and stunning photography, be sure to visit Sam's blog, you won't be disappointed.



Rebecca with her finally napping little guy...cat naps for him on this trip.




Sam and her husband Meakin, never a dull moment...




Daddy helping out so mom can eat...he's got his hands full and he can still eat, now that's talent!



I always have to get and action shot...I don't know how I do it!!! :) sorry!




I was busy working on my shell ornaments and crafts for the season. I wanted to bring them along to share...the glue was drying in the car on the way over...it's a long story...about the wrong glue. I didn't get a photo of those, but you can see one of the shell angels I made on Rececca's blog.




Later, I did work on my sea urchin snowmen, and finally found something that would work for a hat. What do you think? Any other ideas what I could use beside a cheap bead?




They were able to enjoy some beautiful weather, and sunsets. So much fun to have Rebecca walk my beach and enjoy the beauty that is around us and where I live. It was great we ran into them there on the beach. So much more to see and do.



After all the sunsets I post, I wanted to share a sunrise looking out my kitchen window. If any of you are visiting Florida and are near Sarasota, please give me a shout and email me. Would love to meet you!

My 100th Post

Friendship
It seems kind of unreal to me. I haven't been blogging a full year yet, and it seems like I've been here for so long. This blog sprouted from my everyday, friends and family, places, crafts, travel and photos blog Aqua Sunday. I figured I needed a blog for mostly food and recipes. What I didn't realize was how many great people I would meet along the way. Funny how you can get to know someone halfway around the world via computer and consider them close friends.

I wanted to make this post about them. My friend Robyn who started me on this lives across the country from me, and yet I feel so close. Blogging lets us keep posted on what we each are doing and how our families are. Some day I hope we get to meet in person, I am sure we wouldn't stop talking for quite sometime.

Two other great ladies I want to tell you about are Ann from Anncoo's Hobby and Kristy from My Little Space. Both these women literally live half way around the world from me, if it's 9 AM here it's 9PM where they are. What is special is they are both so talented in the kitchen, not only do they bake like professionals, they can cook too. I am in constant awe of their baking skills. (As you all know I am not very good at baking, but I am still trying). They would both drop everything to help me out in a heartbeat. I don't want to lump them together, but they are both equally talented, creative and kind...and funny too. It's so nice to see blogger's personality shine through. I often get a chuckle out of their comments and blog posts. You should see their photos too!
Now out of the blue for no reason other than that's the kind of person she is Ann sent me this.

She knows I am getting into making bento box lunches. I commented on how cute the picks were in her photo...so she sent them to me! Wow, how great was that? I love them, she also included some egg molds (which I am going to post about shortly) and some baran, which are dividers that you use in the bento. All of this stuff I can not pick up in a local store around here. So needless to say I was thrilled. Can't wait to use it.

Most recently I received this in the mail from Kristy!

For no reason, just because that is the kind of person she is. This too is the nicest thing for her to do. I love it, and was so excited to open up the package. She sent me a beautiful silk bag with a drawstring, some yummy candy treats, seasonings, an awesome tooth brush with some more replaceable brushes! I love it all. You are so special to do this. Now the pressure is on to post what I make with these! :D

I would like to thank you both for such great gifts, and for the inspiration that you give me each day. You are both wonderful people, and they are not the only wonderful people that I have met. So many of you share your talent and creations, and reach out to others. It is so encouraging to see, and experience the friendship. Thank you all!

Okay is that too sappy? Just wait until my year anniversary....hehehe!