Around Here Lately

The end of the week had me baking 8 dozen cookies!

I have to say this new kitchen made it an easy task.

96 cookies, rolled, cut out, baked, cooled and frosted in 4 hours!

Then the kitchen got put back together, the cookies got boxed up

and they waited to be picked up.  I hadn't had a cookie order in

a while, so that was very fun!

The rest of the weekend was lazy!

We ate buttermilk blueberry pancakes with

homemade syrup, thick sliced bacon and fried eggs.

We flopped on the couch.

We did a little bird watching outside.

Some of us did bird watching inside!

It's more up close and personal that way.

And the birds tease and sing like they know they

are safe in their cage. ha.

They don't even flinch when a paw tries to get through

or big yellow eyes peer at them upside down from the top.

We tried a new recipe, too.

Chicken breasts stuffed with sun dried tomatoes, pesto and feta.

omg...SO delicious!

The recipe was a keeper (I'll share soon)

and so were the weekend memories.

Now we're going to make a pizza and watch

the Super Bowl.  Well, I'm more interested in 

the commercials! ha.

♥

Yum.

♥

This And That

1. Pretty in pink and in the shop.  Love this.
2. Ahi tuna steak dinner.  One of our favorites.
3. Starlings.  Almost had my own murmuration!
4. Mr. Cardinal.  He was winking at me through the window!
5. Socks, came home late New Year's Eve after being gone three days.  Looks like he was injured or in a fight.  I've been nursemaid this week.  He must have heard me say he should go to the vet because this morning he disappeared. ha.  And guess who just showed up tonight after the vet is closed!  Smart kitty.
6. Blue Jay waiting for Shadow, the mighty bird hunter, to leave the area. ha.
7. Breakfast.

I'm linking up with I'd Rather B Birdin' today.

Visit all the other birders HERE!

♥

Can She Bake A Berry Pie?

She can bake a berry pie

in the twinkling of an eye! ♪♪♪

I puttered in the kitchen today and this was the result!

Real butter, all from scratch, pie a la mode.

There's something therapeutic about baking.

I can be alone with my thoughts and just enjoy the process.

And later, enjoy the results!

♥

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

I started thinking about these while I was sitting in church this morning. 

They sounded SO good and I went through a list in my mind..

Buttermilk? Check.  Fresh blueberries?  Check.

Brown sugar for homemade syrup?  Check.

So the dream became a reality for brunch today.

yum.

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

2 c flour

2 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1/4 c and 1 T sugar

1/2 t salt

2 eggs

2 c buttermilk

1/2 stick butter, melted

1 t vanilla 

fresh blueberries

Makes 16 pancakes. 

For my syrup recipe, click HERE.

I hope you're thinking of a random act of
kindness to do this week!
Come join my adventure!
See sidebar for details.

♥

Fruit On The Bottom

♥

Blueberry Kuchen

Gloria at Canela Kitchen posted this delicious looking dessert recently and

I knew I wanted to try it with all the blueberries that are plentiful right now.

And I'd never heard of a German Kuchen before, much less tasted one.

It looks like cheesecake but tastes more like a firm custard with a cookie crust.  Very easy to make and so pretty, too!

And did you notice the lovely plate?  Believe it or not, it was discarded to the

trash at an auction.  Of course, I had to bring it home with me! :)

Here it is, written in US equivalents ~

Blueberry Kuchen

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup plain yogurt

5 T soft butter

1/2 c sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 c flour

1 t baking powder

3 T milk

8 oz. fresh blueberries

Whisk condensed milk and yogurt together and chill.

Meanwhile,  preheat oven to 350. 

Cream butter and sugar in mixer. Add egg.

Then add flour and baking powder, alternating with the milk.

Press this dough into a greased 9" spring form pan,

covering the bottom and up the sides.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Layer fresh blueberries over baked crust and pour the

condensed milk/yogurt filling over the blueberries.

Return to oven and bake 25 minutes or until firm and no

longer sticky to touch.  Mine took 45 minutes, so be prepared

to watch and adjust the time if needed.

Cool and then chill in refrigerator.

Yum.  Thank you, Gloria!

♥

Blueberry Coffee Cake

3 c bisquick baking mix

1 c milk

1/4 c sugar

1/4 c oil

3 eggs

2 t vanilla

~~~~

Whisk all above until blended.

Spread in greased 9x13.

Top batter with 4 c blueberries.

Drizzle with 5 T melted butter.

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1 c sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

1 t cinnamon

1 c chopped pecans

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Stir topping together and sprinkle

over the blueberries

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Bake 30-35 minutes ~ toothpick test.

Enjoy!