When Life Gives You Eggs

Now that the chickens are in full swing egg production mode, I've pulled out my Henry Thiele's German Pancake recipe to enjoy a tasty memory from my childhood.

Henry Thiele's was a restaurant in NW Portland many years ago.  My mother use to take us there to eat when we were kids. I was completely surprised when I found the recipe in the Seattle Times in 1992 and am glad to have it today. When eating these, I can remember the delicious smells of the restaurant, the color of the light coming through the windows, the table juke boxes and the warm company of my family.

The ingredients are basics that are easy to find; eggs, cream, flour, salt, butter, powdered sugar and a lemon.

Mix it all together and enjoy!

My pancakes don't turnout quite as fluffy as they should and next time I'll be playing with the amount of cream I add to see if a thinner batter will help the pancakes to rise more. They still taste as good as they did when I was a kid, nostalgia at it's best.

Best Blueberry Muffins Ever!!

I'm in the process of using up my remaining blueberries before the new crop sets in this summer. Muffins are my favorite thing to make with home grown blueberries, and while I have made many a blueberry muffin I have not yet found the perfect recipe, that is until now. My most recent cookbook addition is the Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook, by DeDe Lahman and Neil Kleinberg. In it is the most delicious blueberry muffin recipe in the world. I mean IN THE WORLD! There is just enough sugar, a beautiful cake like texture, perfect moisture content, a lightly crunchy topping and plenty of fruity flavor. When you eat one of these muffins you can't help but smile and shake you head in total happiness.

There are also many other wonderful delights is this terrific book!

Just look at all the berries!

Blueberry Crumb Muffins
From the Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook

Makes 10 muffins

1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (add while frozen)
10 tablespoons Crumb Mix

Crumb Mix

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 stick butter

Place the flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, then add sugar, and vanilla.  Add the egg and blend until combined. Add half of the sour cream and mix lightly, then add half of the dry ingredients and mix lightly. Repeat the same process with the remaining sour cream and dry ingredients. Be sure to end with the dry ingredients. Fold in the blueberries until just incorporated and evenly mixed. Spoon the mixture into muffin tin and top each muffin with one tablespoon of the Crumb Mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 30 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. 


This post is part of “Simple Lives Thursday”. 

New Addition

I have not been one to indulge in rhubarb and have never thought about growing it in my garden. It just didn't appeal to my taste bud sensibilities. Until last week, when I had a white chocolate mousse napoleon with rhubarb compote. What a wonderfully pleasing delicious dessert it was indeed. I was so inspired that I went out and bought a couple of rhubarb rhizomes and planted them immediately. Unfortunately I won't be able to harvest any stems this year, so farmers market here I come.

Good Read

I can't believe how fast this winter has blown by. Settling into a new job, a kitchen remodel in progress and spring garden planning has consumed me this winter. I have found a tidbit of time to put my feet up and read Growing a Farmer: How I Learner to Live off the Land written by local Seattle area farmer, chef and artisan cheesemaker Kurt Timmermeister. Kurt narrates  a thoughtful account of his evolution from an enthusiastic novice vegetable gardner to a well seasoned cheesemaker, and live stock and produce farmer. What I found throughout the book is the theme of food bringing people together, a theme very close to my heart.  Told with humor and sincerity, Growing a Farmer is a fantastic read.