Whats baking in the Kitchen?

I bake all year around.  My Kitchen Aid mixer sits right on the counter, it is not hidden away in a closet or cupboard that I do not have . . . . it is right there and gets used sometimes daily.   I think baking is slightly meditative for me, it is certainly yummy  and I love to share with friends, family and neighbors . . . but there is something calming about measurig nout the flour, the sugar, the leavening agent.   About knowing that if I do all these singular things that I will then have something beautiful. I love the smells that it creates, sweet or spicy, it says good for your soul.  Weekends tend to be bigger times of baking, more people are around or we are entertaining.
 This weekend at Chestnut Hill we enjoyed form the Top: 

Pumpkin Muffins- my youngest' most requested, we love the crisp tops of the muffins and the kids enjoy them in their lunches all week - if there are enough left!

Next is Cinnamon Oatmeal , Raisin cookies, created from my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, these went to an Eagle project this afternoon. 

 Next up is Cinnamon Pizza- Cinnamon sticky bun meets Fried dough meets Pizza dough.  Extra Pizza Dough, Cinnamon Filling and Cinnamon sugar, mixed and folded in and then baked,  Crispy, cinnamon sugar yumminess.  *** a Chestnut Hill Original

Lastly but not least, Apple Pie, as we had the grandparents out for a little campfire and grilled some hamburgers etc...  I like to use 20 ounce apples mixed with some other Apple that i have on hand.  I used the Pie Crust recpie from this new cookbook that I  am growing to love:  The Model Bakery     
Any online or walk in book store should have it! This crust has both Butter and Vegetable shortening it it.  This contributes to taste and flakiness. Usually Lard gives you the flakiest crust . . . but most people shy away from using this.  As the cookbook notes, the butter gives taste and the Shortening reduces the amount of water interacting with the flour so you do not form as much gluten protein. Ie: a tough crust.   side notes: When I take a pie out of the oven I will put a pizza pan on the top followed by the Tea kettle for weight.  This collapses the crust to meet the Apples and allows for serving a cleaner slice of pie.  I always bake the pie on parchment paper or a Silapat  non stick mat this aids in the clean up of the overflowing juices. 
Well that is what is baking here this weekend.  What's baking in your kitchen?

First Day of School

School starting is always a exciting and sad time in our house.  We are excited over the return to days filled with our friends and learning new information, mastering new skills.  We are excited for new shoes - if we need them. We operate on a needs based of adding clothing and shoes to wardrobes. We are sad for the long lazy days of summer that are behind us. I am sad to have to pick up  making lunches and policing school tool and homework and bedtimes.  although there is less of that these days as my kids age and take on many of those responsibilities themselves.  This is the last year for my middle child - he is a senior, 8th grade for the youngest and 2nd year of college for my oldest. Lots of college exploration headed our way this fall.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/eleanorroo385439.html#pgAHJyTTEeMrarMc.99

 Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events: Small minds discuss people.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

Oscar Wilde

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/o/oscarwilde161644.html#uaRoZDr5Tf6CqRIV.99

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

Oscar Wilde

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/o/oscarwilde161644.html#uaRoZDr5Tf6CqRIV.99

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

Oscar Wilde

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/o/oscarwilde161644.html#uaRoZDr5Tf6CqRIV.99

End of HOT week Giant Swallowtail visits Garden at Chestnut HIll

This afternoon as the thermometer hits 93 and the heat index 100 this beautiful Butterfly the Giant Swallowtail visited the Chestnut Hill Gardens.  I sat in the shade with my 55-225mm lense and took image after image as it feasted on my Purple cone Flowers otherwise known asEchinacea purpurea
This Butterfly is not commonly seen where we live but perhaps the extended hot summer and weather has pushed it North a bit.  It has that very distinct bar of yellow across its back when open and that is the telltale sign of identifying it.  Most swallowtails like the Herb Rue which I used to have in my garden and will need to replace- Rue is a host for the eggs and catepillar.  The catepillar for this beautiful Butterfly is very ugly.  I actually have a hard time posting the image as I do not like caterpillars. ( bad experience as a kid . . .)  The butterfly's are all my images but the Caterpillar is a stock image not mine. So even on a beastly hot day- there is beauty in the garden if we only spend a few moments to look and enjoy!  Be well, stay cool and carry on.

Leaving to Create and Live in the 3rd largest City in West Virginia - BSA National Jamboree

Here we are - the day that has been planned for say about 3 years, the day that B218 has been working towards for 12 months, Departure for Mt. Hope, West Virginia  Summit Bechtel Reserve,  This is a BRAND NEW High adventure site for the Boy Scouts it will now be the permanent home for all future National Jamborees and home to the next World Scouting Jamboree.
                  It has everything and any thing you can imagine that is high adventure, Zip Lines, rock climbing, white water rafting, Mountain biking, Shooting, Archery, water sports, ATV, the list goes on and on . . . Both of my boys are there - Yoda for his first at 13 and Slugger his second Jambo at 17 ( sorry they do not like there pictures on the web at all)
                     Additionally my Husband is on board as an Assistant Scoutmaster and in charge of all things medical for 36 boys and 4 adults.  that means Medical forms prior to leaving, ( 3 hard copies each, 3 electronic copies of the whole troop . . . each boy had like 20 pages . . .) passing daily meds, trips to Medical tents . . . .
                    Many things are different this year, being in a whole new place, The new location is totally wired for technology, each subcamp that holds about 8K kids has its own Cell Tower.  This year there are about 40K of youth and 10K of staff  all the adults and staff are volunteers and  each paid to be there as well as using their own vacation from real world jobs to be there. Yes a city of 50,000 people set up in about 24 hours. The buses arrived at 800 an hour I think they said for 8-12 hours . . . .this is from Alaska to Florida East coast to west Coast . . .it really is pretty amazing when you stop to think about it.
           I am proud and moved for all the time and effort my husband has put into this endeavor that these 36 boys under his temporary care can have the time of there lives.  He has been texting photos and commentary back to parents which is a real perk. When my older son went 3 years ago, I saw and heard nothing.  Biggest issue is usually heat and dehydration. most days are Red Flag and they are supposed to drink a liter of water an hour.  Showers are cold but he and my older son say at the end of an exhausting, hot day they feel just right. They have 5 more days before they come home. 
             One of those will be a Day of Peace and they will be taken off site to a WV location to do community service. 40K youth/adults will each provide 6 hours of service to a WV community - you do the Math, think about the impact that they should leave on WV.   The New River National Gorge Park is what this High Adventure Camp Borders on- check it out!!!

Birds of Cape Cod 2013

Gray Catbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Baltimore Oriole

Least Tern

Piping Plover

Willet

Chickadee's - some are babies

 GrayCatbird

4th of July 2013

Freedom and Flight and Food for all

Dinner Tonight

       Corn Hill Beach looking towards Provincetown Mass. for Fireworks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windows of Boston

Lots of detail

Sunburst and rain cover

Loved the Trees and the detail below it

Simple

So solid and Strong

Ornate Church windows

Shutters on this one

Beautiful window box, simple lines

Notice Hearts in the Wire work

Jail windows . . .

While on a 7th grade trip to Boston this week, I took all these pictures of windows. IT was interesting to see the different Architecture and the plantings . . .  I live in the country rurally but I do love a little city now and again. It is great fun to imagine what goes on behind the windows . . .probably no different than my rural windows that look out on trees, fields and views that never end. Totally love all the window boxes. Someday I hope to have some here at Chestnut Hill.