Sunday Morning Swedish Pancakes

This is a funny title, because I am a descendant of a Swedish grandmother, so I should be a pro on Swedish treats. I am not. This is not even a 'family' recipe.

One day I stopped by a friend's house and she was just finishing up breakfast, and it smelled divine! She threw a couple pancakes on a plate for me to try (I used syrup, but my we usually use Lignonberry jelly on them too) and they just melted in my mouth! I love breakfast food, so this quickly became a staple in my kitchen.

Now my family usually makes them on Sunday mornings. (But we have been known to make them for dinner when we are needing pure comfort food).
I am trying to teach my boys how to make them, so they can enjoy them whenever they want.

Here is the recipe:

SWEDISH PANCAKES
4 eggs, well beaten
pinch of salt
4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup of flour
1 cup of milk
1/3 cup melted butter

Beat the eggs so they are nice and bubbly

melt the butter and let it sit aside for just a minute so it isn't too hot

 whisk in everything but the butter, making sure it isall mixed nicely

once mixed well, whisk in the butter

it may appear to have small clumps- that's okay.

Some of the eggs may set when in contact with the hot butter that you add.

Using about 1/4 cup of mix, make a circle on a hot griddle

Fret not if the first one falls apart...these are buttery and thin, and if the grill isn't hot

or greasy enough yet you may have a mishap....

Oops!

Save it anyway, it will still taste yummy.

Roll onto a plate, and use any jelly or syrup of choice.

We always sprinkle with powdered sugar (sometimes that is sweet enough for some people)

Side note:
I save my old Parmesan Cheese bottles to use for powdered sugar-
these work better than any sprinkler I have ever bought

You don't need to butter, these-

just roll up, fix up, and enjoy

Makes 12-15 pancakes, depending on size-

so if you are cooking for more than 3 or 4 people you may want to double

Enjoy!





Perfect Sugar cookie

It is a Valentines tradition to make a huge batch of sugar cookies for the holiday. I started doing this about 7 years ago, when I found the perfect recipe that even my husband, who is not a sweet tooth by any means, can't resist.

First, the frosting. This is from the Wilton classes, and will taste like a bakery style buttercream. you can tweak the flavorings if you like a different taste, but the cookie is very mellow, so a sweet frosting is perfect on these.

1 cup Crisco shortening

1/2 tsp butter flavoring

1/4 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond flavoring ( all flavors are the clear Wilton bran, for a white icing)

4 tbsp water

3-4 cups powder sugar

Blend the shortening, flavors, one spoonful of water and 1/2 cup powder sugar on low in a medium size bowl. It will make the frosting base. Once it is well blended alternate one tablespoon of water with 3/4 cup powder sugar, until icing peaks. A slightly softer icing is better for the base spreading, and stiffer will work best for the borders. If you use liquid coloring, more powdered sugar may be needed before decorating.

The cookie recipe is as follows

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk
6 tsp baking powder
6 cups flour

Cream together first 4 ingredients, adding milk,powder and flour one at a time after.
Roll out onto floured surface to desired thickness, creating shapes with cookie cutter. Bake at 350* for 8 minutes, cookies will be light but puffy. Let cool 2 minutes and remove from sheet. Frost when cooled.

In our family, it is also tradition to give the kid's teacher a personalized super sized cookie. Our favorite secretary and principal always get a cookie, too. Apparently the secretary screamed with glee when she saw her personalized cookie this morning....that makes me smile....

A few tips:
I have treated myself to using disposable bags most of the time. By the time I am done with the process, I love just cutting off the tip to save and tossing the greasy bag away. Well worth money.
If you don't have any tips just get a good star tip, and a good round tip. You can do most anything with those two tips to pull off a cute cake or cookie.
DO NOT whip your icing. Keep it on low, and take your time, when you beat it too high you whip bubbles into the icing and they pop when you decorate.

Wrap tinfoil on a piece of cardboard cut to size for a great give away plate

You can get the Wilton extracts at most craft supply stores, and even Walmart in the wedding supply area. I buy big, because I love to frost things.

There it is. I gave away my secrets. I hope you can use them for someone you love.

We actually had cookies for breakfast this morning....
in my mind, a great way to start a day of love

Weekend Finds

So, you know I was falling flat for spirit and inspiration last week. I even declared myself officially grumpy and pouted on the couch. I am not sure why. These things do happen.

But, on mommy's day out, I found some great finds that reminded me of the simple things in life

First a stop at the bakery

That lovely heart sugar cookie you see is now probably stuck somewhere between my intestines and my thighs, but it was delicious.

Then surprising find of vintage inspired Valentines

These are made by Punch Studio, and I found them at Barnes and Noble after browsing through all the Somerset Magazines. Is it just me, or is $6.95 for a box of 24 an incredibly great deal? I was a little giddy over that- but after working with my other materials I have for the Valentine swap they aren't quite right. I will hold on to them for the future.

I browsed the aisles of our local thrift store. looking for some fun mismatched china ware. At the local antique store a saucer and tea cup can run $8-$15, and I just don't want to pay that much. I noticed a man with a full cart of various goodies, rummaging the shelves and looking at labels with a magnifying glass. In spite of this "professional" I still scored some great things.

I started stacking these pretties in my cart, not yet sure if I would buy them all or not, when suddenly a woman came up to me, just raving about the plates I found, and how she used to have similar dishes, and she couldn't believe they were just on the general shelf of dishes. That caught the magnifying glass man's attention, and he, too, peered into my cart, and said. "Wow, you have some great finds".

At that point, I decided I would just buy everything I had in the cart (at 50 cents to a buck an item, why not?) and felt pretty happy (although I am not sure why). I must admit, I left them in the car until hubby left for work. He is not the biggest fan of second-hand stores. (if you are reading this i love you babe and love me for who i am)

Now I have a few more pretty pieces to mix and match with my china for our Valentines Brunch Book Club. I love a reason to host!

On the fashion front, this weekend I am drooling all over this Spring line by Chanel. I don't live a life where I would parade around in these beautiful garments, but if I did, I may show up to the next party in this

I got the new Style.com app on my iPad and so I now sit and browse the fashion shows whenever I have a minute. It is a great app, if you're into that kind of thing. Perhaps I can beg the dentist to turn up the happy gas and dream myself in the fashion world today while I get my root canal finished.

Wish me luck

and live beautifully today

Eat Cake

photo by Sweet Tooth Fairy

"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat stomach a conspiratorial little pat. Everyone else who is pressing a fork into the first tender layer looks at that person who declined the cake and they all think, That person is better than I am. That person has discipline. But that person isn't a person with discipline, that is a person who has completely lost touch with joy. A slice of cake never made anybody fat. You don't eat the whole cake. You don't eat cake everyday of your life.
You take the cake when it is offered because the cake is delicious. You have a slice of cake and what it reminds you of is someplace that's safe, uncomplicated, without stress. A cake is a party, a birthday, a wedding. A cake is what's served on the happiest day of your life."

Jeanne Ray "Eat Cake"

photo by The Chocolate

Thanks for the bakery stop on our little dinner date last night, honey. That slice of cake gave me the sugar sweats.

Worry not, the Diet Coke kept me focused. I finished the whole slice.

And thanks to authors like Jeanne Ray, who so eloquently express what my sugary obsessed brain can't seem to say, and makes loving the cake a matter of virtue.

If I had money to burn

I would buy you all one (or two) of these......

They are THAT GOOD

I am not a huge 3 Musketeers fan, but come on, I am not really going to turn one down.....

I was a little more excited about the mint option, mostly because of the dark chocolate coating, BUT THIS, this is something to crow about.

The thin crispy cookie is better than that of a Twix. The truffle like mouse filling is just fluffy enough that it almost melts in your mouth.

The chocolate coating is the perfect taste of milk chocolate.

I got one and that is all it took...

I am going back to the store tomorrow after my appointments in the morning, and I am prepared to clear the shelf.

Tell Dave Ramsey I am now making a "3 Musketeers Truffle Crisp" envelope, to help me know when to stop..............

How many of these would I need for a 2 year supply?

To prove I am serious I am going to mail an unspecified number of these to one lucky reader. It may be one (I doubt it) or it may be 5, or it may be 50 (doubt that too).

Leave me a comment- and you are entered.

Link me up in any way (lets spread the word about a candy bar worth buying) and let me know for another entry...

...and in the meantime, if you see one at the checkout, try it out and let me know!

November Fun

Fighting a head cold (way too much running around and late nights have caught up with me) has kept me away from my regular computer time.....here are a few highlights of the month.

I have this kind of a family



We really do gather around and sing holiday songs and hymns whenever we can. I was thrilled to see my brother enjoy my Clavinova and have my teenager join in on his guitar. This one of my favorite times with my family.

My kids enjoyed helping with these for the little ones to enjoy at Thanksgiving dinner





I really did run off at midnight to see New Moon with my niece and sisters



This is the only way to see a Twilight movie, with screaming and swooning ladies of all ages who aren't afraid to make some noise, sigh over Jacob's muscles, and even giggle at the cheesy dialogue. I loved it, however I fully blame that 12:30 viewing and waiting in the cold for the beginning of my sickness.




If New Moon didn't satisfy your craving for an interesting film experience then I highly recommend renting this
aside from the fact that Luke Wilson is so painfully adorable that you want to climb in the screen and give him a hug, this movie is funny and heartbreaking and artsy in a touching way. For me, right up there with Lars and the Real Girl and Dan in Real Life...which is saying a lot, unless you hate those movies. It has been added to my Christmas list since I saw it with Netflix.

Lastly, I actually broke out of my shell and e-mailed fellow art blogger Becky at Whimsical Musings for a little tag exchange. Her beautiful tags arrived and made my sickly day on the couch much better.....

I was a little intimidated by this task, but already learned a few things and picked up some ideas from her gorgeous art work, so this bit of discomfort was good for me. I highly recommend you click on her blog if you like this amazing work, she has collage freebies and ideas galore plus links to her Etsy pages you can purchase for download anytime.

I wish I could have this tree by my beside, with a plate of cupcakes beside it.....
It was the Marie Antoinette tree at Mystical Paper in Mesa Arizona. My hubby was sweet enough to rest on the soft chair in the doorway (smart idea, shop owners) and let me gasp and sigh over the amazing contents of this little artsy store. It was heaven. I left with a full bag and spent every last bit of my 'blow' money.


Usually I am knee deep in wrapped gifts, baked goods, and Christmas decorations by the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but this year my sickness has slowed me down and my fall decor isn't even put away yet. Cross your fingers for me and wish me luck as I vow to begin the holidays today after church. I can use all the positive vibes I can get right now!
I hope your holidays are off with a bang and life is full for you, too.

Emotional eating ROCKS!!!

Some days, it does. Take this little calorie laden emotional satisfaction, for instance......
THE ALLIGATOR JAW
If you are lucky, the filling will even be piped in buttercream frosting, instead of whip cream, but that is a rare occurrence.

I believe my devotion to the alligator jaw craving started in my tween years. Crumpled dollars and carefully saved quarters added up to enough for the purchase of this never failing bakery miracle. The 'cool' kids left the middle school and walked to Roe's Bakery for this, or perhaps a Maple Bar, and a milk to share. What a lunch. It was rare I had the cash to go along, but I did once in a while.

I have been known to drive to the next town when my local bakery at the market is out of these. Sometimes, this baby doesn't even make it home because I have finished it the car. Some nights, like tonight, I am disciplined enough to save a bit for later, maybe after one more show or a few more chapters.

Call me crazy, call me a binger, call me whatever...I am not sure what this qualifies me as emotionally, but I know there are just some of those days when nothing else will do. Today was one of them.

I salute you, Alligator Jaw. You are a true friend.

Much more than Marching

So yes, if you haven't read my experience about the 9-12 March on Washington scroll down and take a minute. It was so surreal.


If you have then move on with me to just a few other (non-political) highlights from my trip.

Me jamming out to All American Rejects, at the NASCAR night race. I am not even sure if I really like them ,(my kids love them) but I have to admit, when they sang "Gives You Hell" I surprisingly sang at the top of my lungs like a teenage idiot. Someone from the racetrack with a KODAK jacket on came over and was taking pictures of me. Sweet. I am tween again.

The Mount Vernon dollhouse. This is a close up, just so you can see the details (Are you getting this, Lynnae?) Mount Vernon was spectacular, no doubt, but as I stood at this doll house I was suddenly 10 years old again holding a Dawn Doll in my hand with nothing but an Evil Kenivel male doll to be her date. Oh, the courting ( and motorcycle stunts) that could have gone in this house! It was to die for.

A little shot of a shop in Alexandria. We had just eaten at a delicious French Bakery (quiche, Lemon Scones, and Torte, thank you!) and finding this shop sent me into an excited panic attack. It continued as I walked out of the shop EMPTY HANDED. Thank goodness I snuck a few pictures to bring home with me. What I am sad I left behind... I vintage crown bamboo floor mat and artistic goddess bust statue. But really...how am I going to pack that stuff home?

At "The Trellis" restaurant in Williamsburg. This is the "Death by Chocolate" dessert and just take my word for it...it was FAB-U-LOUS! The topping, the layers, the fudge sauce it sat on (which I ate with spoon after I declared myself 'full')...it was all divine. If you ever go to Williamsburg, don't miss this. Cake like this doesn't come along every day....

and to think, I left some of it on the plate! Even my hubby and I couldn't finish it.

A decision that could ALMOST haunt a girl like me!

Kitty Litter anyone?

Go ahead and dig in!










I don't get hugely into April Fools Day jokes (surprising, I know), but I do like making a silly treat every once in a while. Here are my younger two being good sports and enjoying it.....















Funny thing, though, my oldest son just didn't think it looked that appetizing! What do you think?

How to Have a Great Valentine's Day

Here are the instructions for a fabulous Valentine's Day.

1- Plan for Book Club to meet at your house. Once you get past the panic that you must host it on a special day, the ideas and excitement begin to flow. Reading Jane Eyre give you a valid excuse to break out the china and enjoy the moment. Great conversation about Jane Eyre (the covered book) and Atlas Shrugged makes you feel excited to be alive and free and have friends. Hubby is shopping with kids and going to Basketball....relax and relish in the adult conversation..

NEXT-
2- Have your husband and kids walk in at the end of book club carrying a balloon, roses, chocolate cake, a giant kiss, (I always wanted one of those!) and the new David Cook CD. These all score major points in the Valentine's Day score book, especially when we 'celebrated' the night before and went to dinner. Bonus. I felt like Phyllis, on The Office.


3- Declare you are exhausted from all the excitement of the day and plop on the couch with a quilt, by your Valentine's side where you both fall into a long winters nap. Naps. What a gift.

4- Be woken from your nap by a phone call from your cool cop little sister that is visiting from out of town and decide to join her and her husband for dinner. Yum. (plus this means you don't have to cook and clean!) Double Bonus!

5- Hang out, kick back, send kids to bed, and head up to your bed with your Valentine for a night of proving your love......well, you get the idea.

Valentine's Day. Awesome.

I have no reason to complain, but....

I am going to do it anyway.


I really should be dancing with twinkly flowers falling from my heels as I go, but instead I am sulking around the house. Why, may you ask? Why?

I am not excatly sure. Perhaps it is the NEWS and the same stupid politics as usual and realizing they really DON'T CARE about US as a people at all....
perhaps it is the dreary weather and my need for sunshine and warm air (no, the tanning bed isn't cutting it)
perhaps it is the Sundays and the tricky kids (that's one way to describe them) that I chase around for hours and come home and crawl into bed with exhaustion over
perhaps it is the son who is still missing assignments
or the son in new braces that have to be cranked and I can't crank the device
perhaps it is the bill that came with the braces....and the fact that Ihave been paying debt FOREVER and feel like I will be paying it FOREVER more...
perhaps it is the number on the scale
or the fact that everyone else in my running group is way way better than I am
perhaps it is the messy house I don't even care to clean


on days like this I often resort to the following measures;





(actual cake I drove to the store and bought just for myself on a similar bad day...I know, don't say anything about the scale bit)

see....it is like nothing REALLY is wrong, but I kind of wish I could disappear for a few weeks and come back happy and bubbly and funny again.
Allow me this misery for a few more days...then , please join me in praying it will GO AWAY!

This year I want to....

Be inspired.
By little things, big things, beautiful things and simple things.
I had told my sister on Facebook just a few days ago...I really want to surround myself with things I love. I don't have the spacious awesome home, but when I see things that reflect me I feel so happy.... imagine my soul when my Country Home came today and the cover proclaims ;


"Live with what you LOVE- and get rid of the rest"


(I really tried to scan it for you because the cover is so to die for, but my scanner doesn't like me today)


I took that cover headline as a sign. This is a year for me to do it. Here are some things in the meantime to peek at for inspiration....


Marie's cute pages......even a non-scrapper must agree, these things are so pretty, they will surely be fought over by the generations that follow.





Also, I couldn't help but drool over this amazing piece (little cell phone pic, so excuse the quality) at the art museum.....

From what I can gather by my notes I scribbled and just found in the bottom of my purse, this is by Heather Barron...and I am getting all wishy wanty over here pics for sale here.

Go look...maybe they will touch you in some way, too.

As it is I am going to ponder what to do with my new AMAZING scrapbook embellishments from Ashley (my hubby said I look like a little girl on Christmas morning laying out her doll clothes...how cute is that!...as I was studying them on the floor) and I am vowing to create things this year, because it really does my heart good.

Am I brave enough to take a class? Maybe......we'll see. Until then relish in my Christmas past....

Plus a little picture I promised long ago of the cakes from the Mona Lisa Cafe'
(yes...they were as good as they look...even better!)

but wait...

there is so much more...

And heck, inspiration is where you find it, right?

So why not throw in this...

What could be better than a picture of your son with a freaky make-up clear mask on?

As for me....my heart wants to write but my head hurts like mo-fro, (caffeine withdrawls or PMS? Who know? Who cares?) so I am off to snuggle on the couch.

Yay. More football. I am sure it will make all this splitting pain go away.

Breakfast of Champions

I have shopping to do, laundry to fold, coupons to clip and 3 clients scheduled....

This breakfast has never failed me yet!