Knitting Girl

I had breakfast with a friend from high school Sunday morning.

We talked non-stop for three hours! The Donald Cafe had to shut us down.

Knitting Girl gave me these fingerless gloves that she hand knitted. How awesome is that?

Breakfast

This hotel Toyoko Inn Kuko offers a free breakfast.
Not much I could eat but amazing for coffee and people watching.

I went down just prior to 6:30 am and there was already a line that surged forward en masse immediately when it opened.

I had seen all the tables last night and thought this is bigger than any free breakfast back home.

Within minutes, all tables were full with still more people coming.

I went and got 'american' coffee and a table right off the bat - smarty pants me.
Then I stepped back into line.
The only items I could eat were plain veggies and rice.

All sorts of platters down a buffet table filled with interesting  (combined) foods labeled in japanese.

The fascinating toast maker (3rd photo) got more popular later on.

Ceramic Non-Stick Pans

I had last Monday off for MLK Day. First up was a doctor visit with the discovery of sunshine surrounding Canbyland which meant there was no way I was heading back into that inversion layer  wall of fog.

I went shopping at Bed, Bath & Beyond for a wedding present. I was also looking at juicers and a new non-stick frying pan. The old fry pan was getting cranky (not to mention those toxic fumes)  so we wanted to try a ceramic one.






















It works.
My Sunday yams/sweet potato hash fried up fast. In fact, the pan gets a little hotter than the old non-stick pan so you need to learn how to turn down the heat a bit. Nothing stuck - at all.
The ceramic browns wonderfully.

We'll see how long it lasts - probably as long as the old non-stick pans which is about three years.
My BB&B coupon on my smarty pants phone was duly scanned and we all agreed how easy that was.

I don't remember the brand on this pan. There were about three to choose from at BB&B. I don't see it on the web site.

Sunday breakfast;  fried yams with bacon (voget's)  & eggs (did I tell you about the seaweed wraps?).

Back to MLK Day: Totally enjoying the sunshine which made the interior of the car toasty warm even though it was only 35' outside, I took my mom out for lunch without our coats.

I made a few other stops and then as soon as I took the left-hand turn at Columbia Helicopters back to Canbyland, I could see that wall of fog still intact isolating Canbyland; dreary and cold and wet.
That inversion layer broke Friday (Thank God) and we are now enjoying cloudy/sunny skies around 40'.

Off to a bridal shower today  and then to Retro Revival. My creative friend owns this shop in Oregon City and they are hosting a gigantic grand opening today.

Danish Puff Pastry

This is our traditional Christmas Day breakfast treat.

Danish Puff Pastry

My kids could not go down to the beach this Christmas day because they were worried about opening their presents and missing their Danish pastry.
We went down to the beach the next day so we could have Danish Pastry a second time with the family!

The recipe is in the Betty Crocker Cookbook.

My mom made this, my sisters make this recipe and I have made it more years than I can count.

It's easy and bakes while we unwrap gifts. I've rarely seen leftovers.

DANISH PUFF PASTRY
1 cup all-purpose Flour
1 cube Butter (1/2 cup, softened)
1 - 2 Tbsp water
--------------------------
1 cube Butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup Water
1 Cup Flour
1 tsp. Almond Extract
3 Eggs

Cut 1 cup Flour into 1/2 butter until it crumbs - like making pie dough
Sprinkle water until mixture forms a ball. Add extract if you want.
Divide in half and spread onto cookie sheet --each smooshed out with the heel of your hand to about 12" x 3".
Set aside.  

In a saucepan, heat butter and water to a boil. Take off heat and add flour and extract. Stir until ball forms. Add eggs and stir until glossy.

Spread on to bases. Cover to edges.

Bake in a 350' oven for one hour (60 minutes). Go ahead and unwrap presents, grab another cup of tea/coffee. You'll know it's done when the smell starts wafting from the kitchen.

Meanwhile, mix the white 'frosting'.    2 Tbsps soft Butter, 1.5 cups Powdered Sugar, 1 tsp Almond Extract and 1 -2 Tbsps Milk/water. Mix to drip consistency.

 

Use all of your white 'frosting'. Sprinkle almonds on top.

Serve it up with a napkin.

They will thank you.

Yum.