Finnish Pancakes - Pannu Kakku to start the Breakfast theme

This month the recipe theme is Breakfast dishes. I am going to start with my favorite a Finnish Pancake (Pannu Kakku.) Similar to a Dutch Baby, a Finnish pancake is like a soufflé that puffs up in the oven, then sinks and is very custardy tasting.  It is the perfect canvas for jelly, fruit preserves, syrups and fresh fruit.  We love to top ours with strawberries and whipped cream. The recipe serves 6 so you might want to have a group to eat it, as it does not keep well and should be eaten immediately

Finish Pancakes

• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter in oven in a 9x13 pan; should be sizzling when you take it out. Meanwhile, mix other ingredients like hell - till very frothy. Pour batter into pan with melted butter. Lower temp to 350 degrees and bake 40 minutes. Eat immediately. Awesome with various toppings.

 RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  

To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.

 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
June 2021 – Mediterranean Dishes
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

Lover's Delight Massage Oil - Bath Blend of the Month

Sometimes the most sensuous thing you can do with your partner is touching.  This Valentine’s Day try some gentle massage with aromatic oil.

This recipe, floral, yet earthy and exotic, is a blend of essential oils in a carrier formulated to appeal to both men and women.

 
Lover's Delight Massage Oil
1 /2 cup jojoba oil
20 drop lavender essential oil
15 drops cedarwood essential oil
2 drop ylang ylang essential oil
 
Drop all the oils into a glass vial.  Add Jojoba oil and roll bottle between palms to blend. 

To use: shake well then apply a few drops to the tips of fingers and massage into the skin of your partner!

Happy Groundhog Day!

You know that tongue twister –

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Groundhogs are also known as Woodchucks.  The groundhog is a member of a group of large ground squirrels called marmots, but they’re also called land beavers and woodchucks. Surprisingly, the name woodchuck has nothing to do with wood, It’s believed to be taken from the Algonquian name for the same animal: wuchak.

The groundhog is a vegetarian with a diet consisting mainly of grass, herbs, and plants like dandelions, daisies, and goldenrods. They also have an eye for human crops, like carrots and corn, which puts them on farmers’ list of Most Wanted. And yes, they do occasionally eat tree bark, as we all hoped woodchucks would.

Groundhogs are a uniquely North American native so our special Groundhog holiday is very American.  Most groundhogs live in eastern and central United States, although you can find them in Canada and even Alaska. They tend to settle down on the edge of a forest or woodland near an open field, where they’ll likely construct their underground burrows. 

They are big burrowers and make dens underground sometimes along building foundations. These are pretty impressive homes. Their underground burrows include multiple “rooms” with different purposes, including a sleeping chamber, a nursery chamber, and a waste chamber (what we would call a bathroom). The entire burrow can stretch anywhere from eight to 66 feet long.

So how did they become the symbol of coming Spring?  It is because they are true hibernators.  They hibernate from late fall to late winter or early spring, which can add up to as many as six months of deep sleep, depending on their climate. During this time, their body temperatures can drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and their heart rates slow from 80 beats per minute to just five. So when they wake up it really is Spring!

Gruyere Gratin Potatoes - Baked Items Recipe Theme

I wanted to end this month’s recipe theme of Baked Items with something that is more savory and I thought a baked potato dish might be just the ticket.  This recipe uses a combo of sweet potatoes and Yukon golds with Gruyère cheese.  This firm tangy tasting cheese from the Swiss family of cheeses, melts well and is perfect with the plain palette of potatoes.

Gruyere Gratin Potatoes

• 1 1/2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes
• 1 1/2 pounds medium red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams)
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon Italian parsley
• 1 teaspoon rosemary, crumble
• 1 teaspoon sage, crumbled
• 1 teaspoon thyme, striped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 cups (packed) coarsely grated Gruyère cheese (about 5 ounces)

Directions:

Fill large bowl with cold water. Working with 1 Yukon Gold potato at a time, peel, then cut into 1/8-inch-thick rounds and place in bowl with water. Repeat with sweet potatoes. Combine cream, butter, and garlic in medium saucepan; bring to simmer. Remove from heat. Mix all herbs in small bowl. Mix sea salt and black pepper in another small bowl.

Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Drain potatoes, then pat dry with kitchen towels. Transfer half of potatoes to prepared baking dish. Use hands to distribute and spread evenly. Sprinkle with half of salt-pepper mixture, then half of herb mixture. Sprinkle with half of cheese. Repeat with remaining potatoes, salt-pepper mixture, herb mixture, and cheese. Pour cream mixture over gratin, pressing lightly to submerge potato mixture as much as possible. Cover with plastic wrap and chill. Remove plastic wrap before baking.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover gratin tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake until top of gratin is golden and most of liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes; serve.

Do ahead version: You can make the recipe and chill up to 6 hours before baking, so you can make it in the morning and then cook for dinner.

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  

To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.

 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
June 2021 – Mediterranean Dishes
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

Zucchini Pizza Slices - Weekend Recipe

Something a bit different for the Baked Items Theme this month is this item you can make as an appetizer or a main dish.  Being winter time, you can use any summer squash that you can get at the grocery, or if you want use eggplant.  You can make these for the Big Game coming up next week.

Zucchini Pizza Slices

• 1 large zucchini (about 11 ounces), cut diagonally into 1/4 inch-slices
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/3 cup pizza sauce
• 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup miniature pepperoni slices
• Minced fresh basil

Directions

Preheat broiler. Arrange zucchini in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. Broil 3-4 in. from heat just until crisp-tender, 1-2 minutes per side.

Sprinkle zucchini with salt and pepper; top with sauce, cheese and pepperoni. Broil until cheese is melted, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with basil.

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  

To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.

 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
June 2021 – Mediterranean Dishes
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

Honey and Lavender Cookies - Weekend Recipe

Make these cookies for a special occasion like Mother’s Day, a birthday, or a girlie gathering. They could also be packaged up in a pretty box and given as a beautiful handmade gift. If you grow your own Lavender, it can make them even more special to the lucky recipient. I save some of my own lavender to make baked goods with in winter.  My hubby loves chocolate lavender brownies, but I like these cookies.

Honey and Lavender Cookies (makes 36 cookies)

⅔ cup melted Butter
1 cup white sugar
¼ cup honey (lavender-infused honey would be great to use here)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
Coarse-grained sugar, for rolling
2 Tbsp. Lavender buds, fresh or dried

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F  Beat the melted butter, honey, and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well incorporated then fold in the flour, baking soda, and salt. The dough will be very soft so refrigerate for at least thirty minutes and until it has firmed up.

Take 1-2 Tbsp sized pieces of dough and shape it into balls. Flatten them with the palm of your hand and then roll in the coarse-grained sugar, coating the whole cookie. Sprinkle the tops with lavender buds and gently press them into the cookie.

Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 10 minutes or until the edges are crispy and light brown in color. They’ll still be soft when you take them out so let them cool to room temperature before eating. Enjoy ~

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  

To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.

 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
June 2021 – Mediterranean Dishes
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

Apple Bread - Weekend Recipe

I like this apple bread because it is perfect to make in the winter, with warming cinnamon and easy to get Gala or Braeburn apples you can make it easily even in midwinter. It is great to spread with honey or butter and have for a weekend breakfast.

Apple Bread

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or use BYP Cinnful Dessert Blend)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups Gala or Braeburn apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• Powdered sugar for dusting, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and line a standard-size loaf pan with parchment paper. In a bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together applesauce, eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, honey, and vegetable oil. Whisk vigorously until mixture is completely homogenous. Add dry ingredients and whisk gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Fold in apple pieces.

Transfer batter to the prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar, if desired.

 

RECIPE THEME
Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  
 
To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.
 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
June 2021 – Mediterranean Dishes
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes