Tripidation: Faith

July 19, 2016 ~ Harper220 ~ 1 Comment

Welcome back to day two of my Africa “tripidation” reflection. It was the trip which gave me much trepidation. However, with an open heart I entered, and boy did it get filled!

Faith is a word that conjures up so many heated emotions, because let’s face it, there is an undercurrent of religion inherent in it. However, from my experience in Dandora, one of the largest slums in Nairobi, Kenya, there is amazingly a great amount of tolerance. When our group of 28 broke up into smaller groups for home visits with the local people, I saw first hand that tolerance in action. We were hosted by a lovely woman and several of her family and friends. It was a small two room home (which to some would be referred to as a shack) but it was filled with LOVE and she was so honored to have us as guests and her table was filled with snacks and drinks for us. One of the first things I noticed was that her walls were decorated with religious imagery. The Blessed Virgin Mary, The Holy Family and the Sacred Heart of Jesus all present and accounted for. Clearly a Catholic home. It reminded me of so many homes belonging to the older generation I’ve seen throughout Ireland.

Our hostess with the mostest, especially the most faith!

Though her home was tucked in off a crowded dirt road nestled amongst other similar homes, you could still hear the dull buzzing of the outside world in which they lived. At one stage I was able to recognize the sound of the Muslim call to prayer. It overpowered everything else and our conversation halted. I point blank asked if this bothered her. And she looked me straight in the eye and smiled gently and said, “No why would it? It is just like our own church bells”.

Some may think that with little resources to go around some may be unwelcoming to “strangers” from other nations and religions. But the people I met in Dandora are not, as they have faith. This faith is what drives them to wake each day and walk sometimes 2 hours to work. It moves them to help one another, including those of different religions and races. It fuels them to journey to church each Sunday and spend their entire day worshipping and celebrating. But interestingly enough, even on the day of the dedication of the new church, where the mass service lasted over 5 hours, the place was packed! The people poured out into the courtyard. I must admit it was such a wonderful service that those 5 hours actually flew by!

These wonderful people of Dandora have faith that is steadfast, passionate and tolerant. The faith I experienced being with them was vibrant! They worship from the tops of their heads to the bottoms of their feet. Their faith is also very reverent and respectful. It is such an inspiration to me, still, to have a continued commitment to one’s faith. Even when we can’t see it.

There is a great chant that Father Andrew, the pastor of the Holy Cross church there says at each service. It is a call and response and goes like this:

Fr. Andrew: God is good all the time

Congregation: All the time God is good

Together: And that is His nature, WOW!

In fact this chant is very personal to my Hubby and me. We’ve been saying it for nearly ten years now since he taught it to us. Father Andrew was in Los Angeles for our wedding in 2007. And ten days later just before my Hubby had brain surgery for a tumor, Father Andrew gave him the anointing of the sick. While some, including those in our family, had doubts about the outcome of the surgery, we had faith. When after a nine hour surgery I first saw Hubby in the ICU recovery he was resting. I held his hand and whispered, “God is good all the time.” And my Hubby whispered back, “All the time God is good” and we said together, “And that is His nature, WOW”

It is amazing what we can do through faith, what we can endure through faith, and what awaits those with faith. I’ll end now with some photos my Hubby took during our amazing and totally unforgettable time in Africa!

Faithfully LOVING you,

YDP

Tripidation: JOY

July 18, 2016July 18, 2016 ~ Harper220 ~ 2 Comments

I LOVE this quote, but it isn’t always easy to do. Imagine waking each day literally beside a trash dump? This is a reality for the fine people of Dandora, a slum in Kenya.

It has been five weeks since our time in Africa. A trip about which, prior to embarking, I had much trepidation, for many reasons. Hence I referred to it as a “tripidation“. My physical health being one of the reasons I was concerned about going. But mostly I was hesitant to go to Dandora, Kenya because of what I thought I might find there. I expected to see poverty and filth that would take me back to a dark place in my own life. I am so sensitive and I thought it would be too hard to see people in dire conditions. I had experienced that feeling before when I had visited the Phillipines. I felt guilty that somehow, I managed to improve my life. I now have food, shelter and clothes. But how could I witness others in these circumstances and then go back to my “normal” life?

Well folks, all I can say is that I will try my best to impart my feelings each day this week by using only one word to describe my experience. Today that word is JOY. That is it. I won’t write much more, as I will let my Hubby’s amazing photos tell the story. But suffice it to say, the people we met, the people that we helped, the people that we worshipped with and sang with, danced with and dined with, they have the one thing that eludes so many others. In spite of having next to nothing, they have everything and they shared it all with us. Their joy is exhilarating and infused our souls with an energy that makes me long to go back. Back to that place, to those people, and especially to the sweet, sweet children!

There it is, JOY shining forth from these faces with their beautiful smiles. At one point, while at a school mass, I felt like my heart was going to explode from so much joy. I have posted this on my Instagram if you give a little click on this link you can hear the children singing. But guess what? My heart didn’t explode! It just expanded wider to make room for more JOY to enter! It is the gift that keeps on giving!

Check back tomorrow for more reflections on my tripidation!

Bursting with JOY and LOVE!

YDP

Recipe: Easy Peasy Pancakes

July 16, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

Why is it that every time we get bananas in the house there are the couple left uneaten turning brown and spotty? One would think maybe we should just buy a smaller bunch when we go to the supermarket. However, I think we will keep the status quo because my inner baker is always thinking of another way to utilize their sweetness! Many of the recipes for ripened bananas you see are for banana bread, muffins, cupcakes etc. And though I once tried a healthy three ingredient banana pancake recipe it was a bit too fiddle-y to make. I was so hungry this morning too, so that is always an incentive to get crackin’ in the kitchen. I made the recipe for a tutorial on my snapchat story (username is blissbakery) and it really lives up to it’s name. This my friends, is an easy peasy pancake recipe that will now be in heavy rotation!

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas, peeled
2 eggs
1/2 cup (50g) porridge oats
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
Couple of drops of vanilla extract

Whizz everything up in a blender until smooth. Let sit for a few minutes to thicken up a bit. On the stove top, heat a griddle or frying pan with some melted butter or coconut oil. If you prefer you can use a non stick pan. Drop the batter into small rounds using a turkey baster or a spoon. Cook for a couple minutes then careful turn with a spatula. Continue to cook on the other side until golden brown. Remove to a plate. Sprinkle with cinnamon and pecans and drizzle with syrup. Or you can top with your favourite berries. So delicious and nutritious!

Because I like to support Irish food producers, I used Flahavan’s Organic Porridge Oats and Highbank Organic Orchard Syrup. I not only love the taste, but I feel these products are good for your body and the environment. But you can choose any type you like. In fact, Hubby had his pancakes with maple syrup instead. Coming from America, maple syrup is a staple there so he’s accustomed to it! The recipe got the thumbs up as he gobbled up all his pancakes.

The great news is that they reheat well. Hubby had a dentist appointment just as I was about to serve them. So I went ahead with breakfast and he had his (reheated) when he got home and they were perfect. As well, these are so light that you don’t feel the carbo bloat after you eat them as you do with ordinary pancakes. They are gluten free, dairy free and sugar free. Give them a go yourself and let me know what you think!

Going bananas with LOVE,

YDP

Foodie Fieldtrip Friday: A Before B, Except For This Day!

July 15, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

We all know A comes before B in the alphabet. But there was a time where A actually came after B, and that was for one of my Foodie Fieldtrip Friday adventures. When I lived in Dublin there were so many foodie places I wanted to try. But I was literally always working and never had the chance. So now when I go back I’m like a tourist and visit as many places as possible. I may not share all of them on here, but some are a must tell! This past Foodie Fieldtrip Friday is one of those experiences.

The Brown Hound Bakery (our obvious B on today’s adventure) is located in Drogheda, County Louth in Ireland. It is about 45 minutes north of Dublin and so worth the drive. Though there isn’t even a full website yet (here is the web place holder), they do have Facebook and Twitter. But to be honest, you just have to go visit there in person. Because let’s face it when you make some of the best desserts in all of the Emerald Isle you need to let the food do the talking. They do sweet and savoury fare and darn good coffee. A Turmeric Latte is even on offer, which was delish by the way! I only had a little taste but I’m thinking this might become my go to hot drink.

I was not on my own for this Foodie Fieldtrip Friday. I finally met in person some of my Snapchat friends, sisters Caitriona Redmond and Olivia Kirwin. They live not too far away and though they had been to the Brown Hound Backery before, were game to go again. It was the perfect venue for a meet, greet and swap tastes of the incredible food. Olivia ordered a carrot cake cupcake, which was lovely and quite moist. I ordered the signature Brown Hound Cupcake which was decadent and chocolate-y with a gorgeous meringue topping. Caitriona ordered a savory veggie and feta hand pie that looked amazing, though I was in sweets heaven so passed on a nibble. But I think anything we’d ordered would have been delicious as it is all handmade fresh in house with the best of ingredients!

The owners of Brown Hound Bakery are a husband and wife team Reuven Diaz and Jeni Glasgow. They also own the Chinese restaurant Eastern Seaboard Bar and Grill next door. Since Irish born Jeni spent time in New York, she definitely brought some of those sensibilities back with her. The ambiance of the place, with the repurposed wood and vintage furnishings, felt like a cafe I was once in off 57th and Madison in Manhattan. She brought on board American baker Craig Thompson to help create the menu and train the staff on how to recreate these All American treats.

After our eat up and catch up session we flew over to a community allotment that Caitriona helped start several years ago. Yep, you guessed it, the A for today is the allotment! And if you remember Caitriona, a foodie and cookery book writer, was one of my Woman Crush Wednesday recipients. And I said back then she is a true renaissance lady! She toured us around the communal gardens where I met the pigs they are rearing and tasted some of the gorgeous handpicked strawberries. We had the best time and I loved hearing all the stories about their younger years growing up in a family of four sisters. I seriously want to seek adoption into their family!

My daughter and her husband used to be involved in a community allotment when they lived in Santa Barbara. There really isn’t anything more satisfying than growing your own food. Especially with young children, not just to feed their bellies, but also to feed their souls. It is so relaxing to be amongst nature and tend to the gardens of fresh herbs, fruits and veg. It is calming to hear the buzzing of the bees from their hives. And of course if you are lucky enough to have animals as well, you get a good laugh at a piggie stampede! Though I put all of this on my snapchat story (my username is blissbakery) it has since expired. But here is a link to Caitriona’s post about her allotment and in it there is a link to a youtube video. It really is inspiring to see someone growing their own food for their family’s table!

It was a wonderful way to spend time in my soul home Ireland. To share the day with lovely new friends, enjoy food at a fabulously tasty bakery and appreciate the good earth from which it came! Thanks again Caitriona (aka @wholesomeie on snapchat) and Olivia (aka @gizmok3 on snapchat) for spending a Friday with me for a fun Foodie Fieldtrip I will never forget!

Growing LOVE,

YDP

P.S. I received the best keepsake of the day when Caitriona gave me a signed copy of her cookbook, as well as a couple of delicious freshly picked strawberries (I might have eaten a few more as well LOL). Thank you so very much! And you know what? L may not come before A and B in the alphabet but it does in life. Because LOVE is truly what I feel for all of you who have taken the time to read this post!

Recipe: Woman Crush Wednesday

July 13, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

Happy Hump Day folks! Or as I lovingly refer to it as my favorite day of the week. I get to try out a new recipe from another gorgeous gourmet gal and share the love for her with you on here, and on my Snapchat cooking tutorial (my username is blissbakery if you’d like to come watch). Today’s Woman Crush Wednesday chef is the beautiful and talented Michelle Darmody. Her lovely foodie haven The Cake Cafe is tucked away in busy Dublin city center. An oasis that is oozing with delicious treats. So of course, today’s recipe is going to be sweet!

I’ve been to the The Cake Cafe several times, for breakfast, lunch and even afternoon tea. It is a quirky, cool, hip place nestled in the patio area of the Daintree Building off Camden Street. You can eat inside or out, but it does get packed as it is so popular. The tables, chairs, linens and crockery are all mismatched to perfection. But it is the food that stands out thanks to Michelle’s love of baking and making the best food possible.

Michelle now has another little sister cafe to add to her arsenal. The Slice is located in the hottest spot in Dublin called Stoneybatter. I can hardly wait to try it out, but until then here is Michelle’s Chocolate Biscuit Cake.

Ingredients:

225 g (8 oz) chocolate

150 g (5 1/2 oz) honey

275 g (10 oz) butter

400 g (14 oz) broken biscuits (you can use digestives, amaretti or ginger nut)

40 g (1 1/2 oz) chopped dried apricots

1 tsp ground ginger

40 g (1 1/2 oz) raisins

40 g (1 1/2 oz) dried cranberries

40 g (1 1/2 oz) chopped hazelnuts

80 g (3 oz) chopped hazelnuts

Instructions:

First, line a 9″Square tin with baking parchment

Melt the chocolate, honey and butter in a bowl. Stir the mixture and make sure the three ingredients are combined.

Mix in the rest of the ingredients and pour the mixture into the tin.

Allow to cool and then place into the fridge to set. It will take a few hours, so perhaps it is best to make the cake the day before.

How easy is this recipe guys? No baking even needed! And it looks like it is an adaptable recipe in that you can substitute various bits and pieces. For instance, some folks might prefer walnuts to pecans etc. Or you could make it gluten free by using biscuits made without gluten. It is a wonderful recipe and would certainly benefit with using the best ingredients possibly sourced. Of course I am partial to Irish butter, and getting a nice quality chocolate is important. But it is a wonderful recipe to make and then share with your co-workers or neighbors. Speaking of which, Michelle is a neighbor of a former co-worker of mine! Dublin is a small world indeed!

But I have to say I admire Michelle for publishing her own cookery book and doing so without photography but with cool illustrations and graphics. And her commentary included in the book is lovely as she shares a personal story of how she got to the place she is. Which in turn affected her ethos on life. My fav bit is the very last page in small but affectionate letters, ” Hugs and butter kisses to all the amazing people who have made this cafe what it is. M.D.”

While Michelle has been featured in numerous magazines such as Image and Vogue, and is a food contributor for the Irish Examiner, she is still down to earth. In an article on Her.ie Michelle reveals that she didn’t expect her cafe to become the giant success that it is. But her philosophy is still the same, to make sure each customer has a happy experience. Well even the famous American chef Bobby Flay was happy as he said the best breakfast he had in Dublin was at The Cake Cafe!

Well I would have to agree! I also fully support Michelle’s article on butter being one of Ireland’s cooking assets. As I have shared on here before, Irish butter is my best friend! So I might have to work my way through Michelle’s cookbook and make each of her buttery delicious desserts! Until then I am going to enjoy this incredible Chocolate Biscuit Cake!

Thanks Michelle for being an inspiration in the kitchen and in business!

Love from a butter buddy.

YDP

Recipe: Precious Birthday Cookies

July 6, 2016October 24, 2017 ~ Harper220 ~ 1 Comment

Today is normally the beloved Woman Crush Wednesday series. However I am currently traveling and don’t have access to a kitchen. Besides, it is my son’s birthday and in honor of that I decided I would share a recipe that I think you will LOVE. My son is quite the chef himself and a total BBQ master, however, baking not so much. Yet, when he was a kid he loved to help! He was a champion at licking the mixer beaters. This recipe is so easy he might want to bust out his apron and brush up his pastry skills.

Though cake is the common birthday treat, today for my son’s birthday I am sharing a cookie recipe. But not just any cookie recipe. These cookie are made with pistachios and saffron. Saffron has long been considered the most exquisite and expensive ingredient in a chef’s pantry. Each tiny thread is so delicate in flavor and strength. This ancient spice is also known as the stigma of the crocus sativas of the flower. The stigma (like a small thread) is plucked from the flower and dried to use not only in cooking, but also as a dye for fabrics and textiles and medicinal purposes.

On a recent trip to Istanbul Hubby and I went to the famous Spice Bazaar for a Foodie Fieldtrip Friday. I purchased a tiny jar of Iranian Saffron (said to be the best in the world). Though I have used saffron in my cooking many times, I have mostly used it in savory dishes. But I wanted to see what it would be like in a little biscuit that might be able to travel to parts unknown. Here is a close up of one of the saffron threads next to a blueberry just for perspective.

I wanted to do a most special baking recipe because my son and I won’t talk on his birthday. He is in the military as I have shared on here before. He is deployed at the moment and he won’t have access to a phone. But I am thinking of him, as I did when my daughter’s birthday passed and I wrote about it on here. Though she lives in Washington State and we couldn’t be together either, at least we were able to Face Time. I am grateful we live in the modern age so that we can connect even if we are apart geographically.

These little cookies are so delish. They are ever so delicate and hopefully they will make their way to my son who is ever so special to me!

Scant 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
1 tablespoon hot water
4 ounces/ 114 g (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup/ 110 g caster sugar
1 large egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup/ 155 g all-purpose flour
1/2 cup/ 55 g shelled unsalted pistachios, toasted and coarsely chopped

Crumble saffron threads into a small bowl and pour hot water over them. Let stand for a few minutes.
Beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar until it is fully incorporated and the mixture is fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and salt, then saffron-water mixture, until evenly combined. Add flour and beat on low speed until the flour is fully incorporated and a dough forms. Stir in pistachios by hand with a wooden spoon or a spatula.
Lay a 12-inch-long piece of waxed or parchment paper on a work surface. Spoon the dough onto the paper and shape into a log about 6 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide, rolling the paper around it to assist. Press each side against the work surface to square it off. Twist the ends of the paper closed and place the log in the freezer until firm, about 1 hour. (To store the dough for up to 2 weeks, place the log in a freezer bag before freezing.)
Preheat oven to 180c/350ºF. Remove the dough from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature until it is sliceable but still firm, 15 minutes to half an hour. Using a thin-bladed, sharp knife, cut the dough in 1/4-inch slices. Roll the edges of each cookie in a bit of vanilla sugar before places on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until firm to the touch and barely golden at the edges, about 10 minutes. Remove cookies to a cooling rack and cool completely.

You can really see the bright orange saffron threads peeking through and it just screams JOY! The yummy green pistachio nuts add that pop of color as well. I sprinkled a little bit of vanilla sugar on top just to add a bit more sweetness and to make it look pretty and sparkly too.

As hard as it is for a mom to not be with her adult kids on their birthday, I think it is important to focus on the LOVE and happiness and times we have been able to celebrate birthdays together. And I like to ponder how they have grown and matured into wonderful people. Since I shared about my daughter in her birthday post, I’d just like to say how grateful I am for my son. He such a good decent person. He is creative, smart, hard working and industrious. He reminds me so much of my dad, willing to do a job to help others, risking his own life in the process. He has a great sense of humor, very high standards and morals. He’s adventurous and loves to travel and explore, yet a total home body too! He has a very tender side as well which was present even as a little boy. He loves his wonderful wife and their sweet doggie Carl Winslow. And he really is a superhero! Even as a child he wanted to make the world a better place. I admire that so much!

It is natural as a parent to want to protect your kids no matter their age. But that isn’t always possible. But both my kids know I would do anything in the world for them. I was listening to an Adele song “Make You Feel My Love” and these lyrics hit home.

“I’d go hungry; I’d go black and blue,
I’d go crawling down the avenue.
No, there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do
To make you feel my love.”

I LOVE you, I miss you and Happy Birthday Son! And I hope you like your Precious Birthday Cookies because you are so precious to me!

Mom (YDP)

Happy 4th of July

July 4, 2016November 18, 2016 ~ Harper220

Like Thanksgiving, the 4th of July is such a wonderful American holiday. It isn’t about religion or buying the perfect gift. It is about celebrating all things red, white and blue with family and friends. Mostly people BBQ, watch parades, picnic, attend baseball games, eat ice-cream, swim, watch fireworks, etc. It is all about FUN and FOOD! My two fav things!

I’ve celebrated this holiday in Chicago, California and New York as I have lived in all three places. I celebrated in Georgia three years ago at my son and daughter in law’s, and last year in Washington state with my daughter and son in law. And of course I celebrated many Independence Days (as it is also known) in my home in Dublin, Ireland. But this is the first year I have celebrated here in London, England. It will be strange for sure! Especially since the United States was founded by the many people who left England for freedom and a new land.

But I must say that two years ago was a very special celebration. It was the first time the company I worked for decided to honor the American tradition. Since so many Americans live in Ireland, and indeed so many Irish live in America, there is a certain kinship. And so the owner of the company let me decorate the shop I managed (a fresh gourmet foods store) and invite all our neighbors and customers to come celebrate with us. We had a BBQ, a coloring contest for the kids, played games, did face painting and of course had all sorts of red, white and blue themed desserts. But the best was the Son’s of St. Patrick Men’s Glee Club that I was lucky enough to have come perform in the shop. I still get chills watching this video.

No matter where you are today, whether you celebrate this holiday or not, I just want to wish you a Happy 4th of July. It is an important day on the calendar that to me, reminds all of us that freedom isn’t free. It is a privilege and a blessing. And I for one am very grateful!

Love and may the fourth be with you!

YDP

P.S Here is a great recipe I have shared before (click here) for some rice krispie treats on a stick. Only I made these perfectly patriotic for today!

Yankee Doodle Paddy

America + Ireland = LOVE

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