baking – Dear Liza

Yummy Gluten Free Blondies

Dear Liza,

Auntie Bridgett has been trying to change her diet lately, so there has been some experimental baking going on. She found this recipe for gluten-free blondies (like brownies but with less chocolate).
We used the recipe as she wrote it in her sketchbook.

Feeling up to the challenge, I jumped in, helping and photographing.
First, a can of chickpeas got drained and dried. We saved the juice!

Then some oats got ground into a rough flour in the food processor and everything else got added to that.

In less than a minute, it was a nice smooth paste. We added a handful of walnuts and chocolate chips,(because of course we did.)

The whole batch got poured into a greased and parchment-lined pan and put in the oven at 350 F for half an hour.

While it was baking, we tried what seemed like a very unlikely task… making meringue from the chickpea juice!

Amazingly, with some agave, a pinch of cream of tartar, and whole bunch of whisking, zbridgett turned this into a tasty topping.

The hardest part of the whole process was waiting for the blondies to cool so we could eat them!!

Though not anywhere near a health food, these are a nice baked treat for folks who are sensitive to gluten.

Yummy, too!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Easter Preparations

Dear Liza,

Grandpa Nelson, Auntie Bridgett and I have an Easter picnic planned at Laurelhurst Park with Auntie Katie, Cousins Jasper and Kestrel, and Katie’s pal Douglas. We are providing most of the food, so there was a lot to do!

First, of course, was cookies. Donna Spicer’s sugar cookies always turn out delicious, so I made a double batch.

As you can see, I have included the “traditional” Easter dinosaur. (Maybe it is traditional somewhere…)

Once the cookies were baked and cooled, I iced them with plain white frosting and painted them with food coloring.

The colors are sort of Easter-ish, even if there are no bunny cookies. Cats, yes, and flowers, and a happy face.

But you can’t have a picnic of just cookies, so we made some deviled eggs.

We sliced the eggs a little differently, mixed the yolks with spices and mayonnaise, and filled the eggs back up.

Then Auntie Bridgett put on the tops and gave them little eyes made of peppercorns.
Little chicks hatching from their shells! Aren’t they cute?

So now, the night before Easter, I feel ready for the picnic. We have cookies, deviled eggs, fruits, veggies, meat and spreads, pickles and other goodies. Auntie Katie will bring lots of bread, and we’ll be fed!

So now I can watch Yul Brynner give in to Charleton Heston in “The Ten Commandments” and head off to bed.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Christmas Day in Retrospect

Dear Liza,

It is now the day after Christmas and I am still full to the brim from the feasting and family. Our Christmas celebration started around 10 in the morning when the rest of the family woke up (Auntie Bridgett and I are early risers), and went until after 9 that night when tired Grandkids headed home.

First there were cinnamon rolls and coffee, and presents for and from Auntie Christy and Cousin Kyle. We were all pleased with the Hogwarts’ goodies, so perfect for us and our chilly winters here in Portland.

Auntie Katie and the Cousins came later, bringing more gifts and a delicious ad- libbed cream pie.

Kyle, being the Dungeon Master of the day, had prepared a Dungeons and Dragons adventure for Jasper and Kestrel, and the three of them developed characters and played while the older folks chatted, ate and drank, and played music.

Jasper, Kes and Kyle working in character development

Katie and I were the only ones who wanted a walk, so we headed off to Laurelhurst. I wore my new Hogwarts scarf, and met a fellow Hufflepuff! Her name is May. She is a delight and I hope we see each other again. We also did some serious bird-watching, Katie sharing her Great Grandma Billie’s love of feathered friends.

Watching the Bullock’s Orioles in the park

Katie is always good company. She and I talked about my story and she gave me some good advice on how to make it better as I go forward.

We got home and had dinner, which was, as always, a team effort and delicious.

Then came more presents! Harry Potter and Wonder Woman and weird little Hands for Handy Hand to hang out with. What a day!

Then there was more music, with harmonies and extra verses. As everyone’s energy level started to sag, no one wanted the day to end!

Kyle and Jasper played a video game on the sofa while the rest of us watched The Grinch (the original, with Boris Karloff’s voice) and the White Christmas, with which we sang along.

Finally, we had a game of Kozo, then Dreidle, and then we had to just own up that it was time to go to bed.

I am so blessed to have this life full of loving people, safety and abundance, ideas, music and surprise.

Love,

Grandma Judy