THE BEST SUNDAY EVER!

I had the best Sunday ever.

It started off well with my all time favorite parfait from Cafe Brasil. YUM.

Mom and I went to just about ever grocery store in Houston.
We made a phenomenal dinner.
Here are some pictures..

Our White Wine Sangria with Naked blueberry pomegranate juice, oranges, raspberries, and blueberries
.

Salmon in a brown butter sauce with capers and almonds! YUM

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/salmon-with-brown-butter-almonds-green-beans-00000000029608/index.html

We did asparagus instead of green beans

Made a quinoa with thyme and scallions.

and an easy and DELICIOUS tiramisu, original recipe by Robin Miller.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces regular or light cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups whipped cream, divided
• 1 package ladyfingers
• 1/2 cup prepared espresso, strong coffee, or coffee-flavored liqueur
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• Semisweet chocolate, grated, for garnish
• ground cinnamon
  

Directions

In a medium mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Fold in 1 1/3 cups of whipped cream. Dunk ladyfingers in prepared coffee. Halve and place layer of ladyfingers in the bottom of 4 tall parfait glasses. Spoon half of cheese mixture over ladyfingers. Top with another layer of ladyfingers and remaining cheese mixture. Top with remaining ladyfingers. Mix a teaspoon of cinnamon in remaining whipping cream. Spoon whipped cream over top of parfaits. Sift cocoa over whipped topping and garnish with grated semisweet chocolate.

PUMPKIN PANCAKES!

SORRY I HAVE BEEN SO BAD ABOUT NEW POSTS.
BUSIER THAN ANYTHING WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF LA BAYADERE!
THESE ARE DELICIOUS!
THEY WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY :)
THANKS JOY!

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

adapted from Martha Stewart

makes 14-18 small pancakes

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

pinch of ground ginger

pinch of ground cloves

1 cup milk

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1 egg

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter

Whisk together flours, salt, spices, sugar and baking powder in a medium sized bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, egg, pumpkin and vegetable oil or melted butter.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Don’t worry if you have a few lumps. You don’t want to over beat the batter, it’ll produce tough pancakes.

Let the batter sit for 10 minutes while you heat the skillet. Over low-medium heat melt a tablespoon of butter or vegetable oil . Once skillet is hot, spoon a heaping 2 tablespoons of batter per pancake into the skillet. When pancake starts to bubble slightly, carefully flip over.

Once browned and cooked through place pancakes on a oven proof plate and place in the oven set at 200 degrees F to keep warm while the rest of the pancakes are cooked.

Serve with whipped cream and cinnamon sugar.. or maple syrup. Delicious!

Recipe and Photos by Joy the Baker :)

UMMM YUMMMMM!

I made delicious scones last night!
Lemon ginger and Maple Cinnamon.
I made up the Maple Cinnamon recipe and they came out a bit dry because of the whole wheat flour!
Next time they will be perfect :)

Once in a blue moon.

I paint once in a blue moon.
Often on a layoff.
Or when I am by the sea.
Once I start I can't stop..
I cannot walk away from the painting, it's a drug that pulls you in.
"I MUST FINISH NOW!"

My beloved cow painting in a vintage gold frame from, you guessed it, THE GUILD SHOP.
It is a painting over a painting.
The first was hideous. For some reason I wanted to paint purple african trees. You know those one that are on the lion king? HAHA They were so ugly. So then I painted these lovely rolling hills to match my apartment and a mommy and baby cow.
LOVE.

I got inspired by an old man who would walk the beach with his walking stick when we were on a family trip in Oregon.

I painted this forever ago in 10th (?) grade I think. It was for a project in class for the book "The Old Man and the Sea".

THE craft room...

I had a random urge to make my dining room into a craft room.
I have used it as a "dining room" once.
I figured I might as well try to turn it into something I would use!
(or at least it will look cute....)

Jars for buttons with fabric ribbons as decoration

I LOVE THIS JAR! The silly woman at the antique said, "YOUR JAR HAS NIPPLES! It must be cold." HAHAHAHAHA

LOVE the Guild Shop for this adorable little shelf. I put my thread and ribbons in it.

Cookbooks, fabric, decor and things..

THE yarn shelf. And a cute little antique milk "spoon holder". I might use it to hold paintbrushes. The white little carrier is so cute. It has three levels and holds markers, pastels, pencils and tools.

YAY.