Balance

I know that balance is the key to living a good life.  It is creating balance that is the challenge.  Like the rocks, we can build a foundation and then build slowly.

He's Simple and Sweet

For now he is simple and he is sweet.  Just how I like my summers.

National Anthems

They sang the national anthems on the field and etched a memory in their lives forever.

We Wandered Hog Town

We usually choose the woods, today we chose the streets.      We wandered Hog Town and saw a different side of life.

Another Time.

It wasn't avoided, it just didn't feel right.  Another time.  The tulips looked nice.

Choosing to see

Noticing the dirty window but choosing to see the sunshine highlight her body.  There is always a choice.

Vibrancy Beside Patina

Love the aged order.  Vibrancy beside patina.  It was a good day.  Felt like moving back in time and I could share it with him.

A Bowl to Ease.

I coughed through teaching a yoga class today.  Proved to be challenging on the mind and body.  A bowl full of homemade soup eased me out of my morning.

Organic Chicken Broth

Tablespoon of Miso

Chunk of Ginger

Chopped Organic Carrot

Chopped Green Onions

Handful of Organic Baby Spinach

Red Chili

Drizzle in 1 whisked Egg

Not complicated.  Only 5 minutes.  Yum!

Organic Chick. Broth.

She was home from school sick...not too sick.  And so we cooked and organized.  We had a day of folding and making chicken broth.  Back to school tomorrow.

We Celebrated...

We celebrated him but also the spring weekend.

A Day Free of Expectations

Energy is low when it needs to be high.  Time to settle into a day free of expectations.

Easter Egg Nest Cake

This is our Easter dessert.  Chocolate.  Chocolate.  Chocolate.

It just makes you feel good looking at it.  It is the freshness of the pastel coloured chocolate eggs, the lightness of the creamy chocolate whipped cream, the contrast of cream, flake, lightness and density.  These contrasts are the promise of spring.  This is a part of our Easter weekend. 


Cake:
8oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 stick softened butter
1tsp. vanilla
6 eggs, 2 whole; 4 separated
1/3c. plus 1/2 superfine sugar:  1/3c for the yolk mixture; 1/2c. for the whites

Topping:
4oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
1c. heavy cream
1tsp. vanilla
1c. of robin's eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line bottom of 8-inch springform pan with parchement paper.  Do not grease the sides of the pan.

Melt the 8oz. of chocolate with the butter in either a double boiler or microwave and set aside to cool slightly.

Whisk the 4 egg whites till firm, then gradually add the 1/2c. sugar and whisk until the whites are holding their shape and peak but are not stiff.

In another bowl, whisk the 2 whole eggs and 4 egg yolks with 1/3c. of sugar and the vanilla, and then gently fold in the chocolate mixture.  Lighten the mixture with some of the egg whites - just dollop a large spoonful in and stir briskly.  Then fold in the rest of the whites gently.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35 - 40 minutes or until the cake is risen and cracked and the center is no longer wobbly on the surface.  Cool the cake in its pan on a wire rack: the middle will sink as it cools and the sides will splinter. 

To finish the cake, carefully remove it from the pan and place it on a plate, not worrying if bits fall off here and there. 

Melt the chocolate for the topping and leave it to cool a little.  Whip the cream until it is firming up and then add the vanilla and fold in the melted chocolate.  Fill the crater of the cake with the chocolate cream and easing it out to the edges.  Arrange the robin's easter eggs on top, shave additional chocolate and ENJOY!


Recipe from Nigella Lawson,
FEAST, Food to Celebrate Life

Multiplying Rabbits

Before it was over, our counters were filled with multiplying rabbits.

Quiet Still Moments

Turned out the lights to honour the earth.  With that, we honoured each other.  It is these quiet, still moments where gratitude is fostered.

Spring is like...

  

Spring is like a perhaps hand.  We walked and watched it unfold.  We felt young and carefree.

Grown Up Giggles

We laughed so hard.  Grown up Giggles. 

They Still Said Thank You

Today I had to work for it.  Some classes flow freely from my body, others seem to get muddled in my mouth.  They still said thank you.

Reading Labels

Seeing him across the room, I remember why I love him.

Headstands and Chess

So my day started with headstands and ended with my little man beating me in chess.

Oatmeal Cookies circa 1957

Recently my Nana passed away (well it has been six months now but I still feel like she is away visiting my Aunt in California).  I miss her but haven't come to grips yet that she really is not coming home.  Through the process of losing her, I have been given the privilege of having her old cook books.  I love them.  I thumb through them often and I love seeing her hand writing, spills and stains in the margins of the books.  They make me feel warm and that she is still with me.  So I bake, and cook with her recipe books. with her stoneware bowls and wooden spoons.  Everything always tastes better when it comes from her.  The funny thing with this baking morning, the cookies disappeared before they had their turn in front of my lens.  You will just have to take my word for it that they were yummy and always the best when eaten warm!

Quick Oatmeal Cookies
(taken from the Personal Recipes 1957 edition.  Sponsored by St. Paul's Women's Church Year, Brockville, Ontario).

1/4 c. shortening
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tbsp. hot water
1 c. rolled oats
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg

Cream the shortening and butter, add sugar and cream together well.  Mix soda with hot water, add with rolled oats and flour, vanilla and nutmeg.  Mix together well.  Mixture should be quite thick.  Place small teaspoons of mixture, one inch apart on well greased baking sheet.  Press down with fork.  Bake for five to six minutes in 375F.  Yield 3 dozen cookies.