pumpkin cranberry bundt cake

I think the world of sweet-lovers can easily be divided into two camps - those who will choose chocolate, hands down, anytime, and those who will choose cinnamon. When it comes to dessert or anything sweet I will always go for the cinnamon. Don't get me wrong - I love chocolate and anyone who knows me at all can vouch for that. But when there is a choice, cinnamon wins the day every time. 


This cake is so delicious that we (all of us) find as many excuses to eat it as possible. It shows up pretty frequently any time after the leaves turn in the fall (pumpkin= fall, right?), fits right in with Thanksgiving (pumpkin and cranberries), and is perfectly in tune with Christmas-y food. The warm spices are wonderfully inviting and the sharp tang of the cranberries is the perfect counter-point to that warmth.


With the fresh snow that fell (and fell and fell) last night and the smell of this cake baking, it feels like Christmas! 

pumpkin cranberry bundt cake
(a recipe from my sweet sister-in-law Sonja)


2 1/4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 cup chopped fresh (or frozen) cranberries


Mix dry ingredients together. Add eggs, oil, pumpkin, and cranberries. Mix until the dry ingredients are incorporated. Bake in a buttered and floured bundt pan for 50 minutes at 350 F. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack. Dust with icing sugar before serving. (whipped cream is perfect with this)


Notes: I used coconut oil as my oil for this cake today. And fresh cranberries are a little easier to chop than frozen but both tend to hop around. Since that is the hardest part of making this cake I consider it well worth the minor frustration.


The smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves marks December 4.

the tree

The tree is decorated. We don't have a decorator kind of tree. It doesn't make a design statement or have a theme. It is just filled with tiny little pretty things that hold precious happy memories and somehow it all works and feels just right in my home. I love it.


The little rocking unicorn joined our collection when we lived in Osaka in 1991. It is pretty and delicate - hand blown, one of a kind. When I unwrap it each year I remember five sweet fresh little faces, just the way they were that year. It survived the disaster of the falling tree (at about 3:00 AM one year there was an awful crash - the tree just....fell over. What a mess!!!), magically our little unicorn was unscathed. It is such a Japanese Christmas decoration but we love it more because of that. Why Japanese? A rocking-horse is a reasonably typical Christmas theme but honestly, do you think unicorn and Christmas in the same breath? and then rockers on it? There you go! 


December 3rd is marked by the memories I take out as I decorate the tree.

helping

I had planned to decorate our Christmas tree this morning. I started last night but due to my ridiculousness it takes hours (yes hours with an 's') to just get the lights on the tree. A pre-lit tree would save tons of time but I love our tree and so every year, despite swearing each previous year that I will not be so weird about the lights ever again, I find myself (with no-one but myself to blame) wrapping each branch carefully with lights so the cords are as invisible as I can contrive. I am a prisoner of my own obsession but finally last night, after trying to convince myself that it would be just fine to walk around the tree stringing lights in my wake, I have decided to embrace my weirdness (re: lights at any rate) and I actually enjoyed the process. That still left me with all the rest of the beauty to bestow on our Christmas tree this morning.

Sadly - for my tree-decorating plans - David had a flat tire on his way home last night. He was obliged to do the entire changing-of-the-tire-in-a-business-suit routine at the side of a busy artery in glaggy, ugly, traffic-y slush. Poor guy. And this morning greeted him with a heavy list of things that had to be done asap. But the tire needed to be fixed or at least attended to. That is where these two stories meet.


The concept of reaching out to others at Christmas is pretty embedded in the season. After all, we are celebrating the birth of Christ. As those who profess to follow Him it should really be all about what we give rather than lists of what we hope to receive. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of making lists of shopping to do (for the gifts we want to give), wrapping, baking, parties, decorating, making, and whatever else makes up Christmas for us. And in that trap forgetting (or turning a blind eye) to simply help others. To perform small acts of service that will make life a little better for someone around us. Sometimes we even do something big or bigger - the gift to charity (which is wonderful to be sure), the trip to the homeless shelter to help prepare or serve a meal - but charity does not need to be something that can be quantified on a tax return or signed up for somewhere. Most significantly it occurs where it is all too often harder to give. At home. There are always small acts of kindness that can be offered. Little sacrifices that can be made. Often at such an insignificant cost to the giver that it seems churlish not to give. But it does require a desire to love unselfishly and a willingness to put aside personal agendas for a moment or two. That is something that I am always reminded of at Christmas time - a yearly prompting to recommit to being a better, more loving, genuinely kind person. To be Christ-like as much as I can be.


So, my tree is still un-decorated but the tire issue is taken care of. I hope it helped relieve a little of the load for David - I know it helped me. On the 2nd day of December, my advent activity was just a little loving help. A good part of Christmas.

advent calendaring

The summer that Eden was a year old (go ahead, do the math, and yes it was a long time ago) I saw a pattern for an advent calendar in the Vogue Pattern Catalogue. I saw it and knew that I had to make it. I burned to have one for my little family. I do not exaggerate my desire. As David was still in university (read: we were poor students) I had to cut a few corners and be a bit creative on a couple of fronts in order to accomplish my goal but I did it. I drew my own version because I just could not afford a piece of felt large enough for Vogue's true vision but I tried to make up for that by embellishing the ornaments that count down the days with sequins and beads - something that Vogue's designers had somehow overlooked. Every afternoon during the precious hour or so of nap-time for my two toddlers I would pull the bag of felt and bits out and sew, then hastily stuff it back in the bag and under the sofa when I heard the first stirring child. It took months of hand-stitching - every stitch sewn with love and the anticipation of how much my kids were going to enjoy this special tradition. I don't think I could have ever guessed how well-loved this advent calendar would be. If I were to die tomorrow, this could well be the most ardently desired item.  

Since that time I have wished that I had used white felt instead of red for the background, occasionally decided that perhaps we could use another idea for an advent calendar (always vetoed), have backed the original with supporting fabric to prolong it's sagging life, lost and found ornaments that have been squirrelled away by tiny hands, and refereed more squabbles than I can count over exactly who's turn it is to put up the ornament for the day. (With five kids it was always a race since everyone wanted to do it every day. lol)

I have made several other advent calendars in an attempt to give more hands an opportunity to mark off the day. They have each been lovely, or cool, or fun, but none has reached the status of the calendar.

Counting down the days to Christmas Day is something that I have always loved. We did not have an advent calendar in our home when I was growing up but I always drew my own version and religiously marked off each day with mounting excitement. Now that there are no little ones running to mark the passing days with my (now nearly vintage) calendar a lot of the fun is lost but I still find myself drawn to the concept of this activity. I have intruded myself on my kid's families and made sure that they each have an advent calendar of some sort (whether they want one or not) and would probably make a new one for each family every year if I only could get myself organized early enough to do so! (somehow I never think about starting it in August anymore.) The red calendar goes up on December 1st here - even though I am now a bit embarrassed by some of the work on it - because of the sweet memories it stores. 

For my personal countdown this year, I am planning hoping to mark each day from now to Christmas by sharing something here. Something that I love about, or do, every Christmas. Seems like a fun way to count the days of this wonderful season.

elf stuff

The last day of November! Tomorrow the Christmas fun begins in earnest - and toward that end I present my version of the 'elf on a shelf'. It is truly not that I think I need to one-up the book and packaged elf (does that sound patronizing? hope not) but I just kind of like a handmade product over a mass-produced one. And I like to make things. Hopefully our littles will be enchanted with these elves - one for each family - and have just as much fun with the tradition as many others have.

Years ago David used to tell his little brother Reid stories about Greeny the Elf. Greeny kept an eagle-eye on Reid during December and truth be told (from the stories I have heard) I think poor little Reid was a bit afraid of Greeny. But it was a lot of fun for David, and Reid was a very good little boy for at least a month. Clearly the concept for an elf on a shelf has been around and waiting for ages.

Elf on a Shelf is a cute story and has garnered quite a following. If you google 'elf on a shelf ideas' you can find long lists of elf activities, from simple to elaborate. Many of them way more elaborate than I would be willing to undertake but if that's your thing, that's your thing. Me? I just like to make elves.

These little guys were very simple, fast and fun. I used some old wooden spools, some lovely wool felt, a sharpie to draw the eyes and nose, and a bit of wool I pirated off a fluffy/curly wool pillow that sits in my sewing room. One short seam to sew up the hat and a line of fabric glue to secure the "clothes" and ta-da! done! (Since the elves are not to be touched by childish hands - a rule of the tradition - they don't need to be terribly tough child-proof. Makes making one a lot simpler.)

I printed a set of "Rules" to go with each Elf Scout along with some suggested activities for parental eyes only. Can't wait to deliver these little guys and watch the fun!

(to give credit where credit is due I was inspired by a simple craft idea in Canadian Living magazine. Their elves were made with toilet paper roles and filled with candies or small toys. 24 of the little guys and you have an adorable advent calendar. I found them totally charming and since I had already determined to make my own elf on a shelf, I just tweaked the idea a tad and had a blast.)

hummus adventures - otherwise known as spinach, feta, and almond butter hummus

When my kids were little and my days were filled with the busyness that little ones bring, I decided one fine autumn day to make my fortune by creating hand-made dolls and selling them at a local craft market. Good thing that I was feeling pretty fulfilled with mothering because the fortune was never realized. I ended up being quite disgusted with the number of people that would stop by my table, carefully examine my wares, and then proclaim that they could make it themselves. Gah!!!! Or, they would try to bargain me down to 5 - 10.00 per doll - which was totally offensive to me given that the materials alone amounted to a fair bit more than that, never mind the 30 or so hours involved in the creation. And to be honest (and not immodest) they were beautifully made dolls. I really doubted that many, if any, of the self-proclaimed artists could go home and make one. ahem...sorry, I will step off my soap box and contain the rant. I still get a bit hot after all this time. Anyway, the purpose of this long story is I must admit that I am guilty (almost) of the same offence. 

At the farmer's market last weekend I sampled some very delicious hummus. Spinach and feta hummus. It was not unreasonably priced but I can make my own for far less, and knowing how very easy it is to make, I sampled, loved, and decided that I could make something similar at home - for less. And walked away. At least I didn't say "I can make this at home myself." ....but I still feel a tiny bit bad.

Not terrible though. Because this hummus is incredibly yummy. And easy. It is just a riff on the peanut butter hummus I posted about a while ago. Try it yourself. At home. You can indeed make yourself for less. I won't be the least bit offended at this - in fact I would be thrilled.

spinach, feta, and almond butter hummus

1 396gm can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 small garlic clove, peeled and crushed
5 Tbsp natural almond butter
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground cumin 

scant 1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper

3 cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach leaves, washed

2 oz (or about 60 gm) feta cheese, crumbled

Put all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and give it a whirl. When it is all nicely pureed, you are done. Simple.

Enjoy with pita bread, crisp flatbread, veggies - or all of the above.

barley salad with squash and broccoli

Eden and I made this salad for a dinner party she hosted last weekend. She reported that it was well-received by all and that Daylan in particular loved it. She recommended I make some for the people living here (that would be just David and I now) and so I did. Now I recommend the same recipe to you. It is delicious and healthy and pretty. Can't want more than that, right?

The recipe is from Everyday Food. The only change I would make to the recipe as they printed it is to use regular pot barley instead of the quick-cooking barley called for. I did try the quick-cooking and although it is indeed a quicker route I prefer the taste and texture of the regular grain. It is easy enough to cook and just requires a very tiny bit more time. And it is a lot easier to find at your local grocers.

Barley is an ancient grain with a very impressive list of health promoting benefits. It has roughly 4 times the dietary fibre of oats and twice the protein. Many of the potential health benefits are associated with the fibre - regularity, lower cholesterol, & intestinal protection (how's that for sexy?). Barley is a rich source of magnesium - a mineral that has a vital role in bone health and is a co-factor for more than 300 enzymes. Barley may protect against Type 2 diabetes, post-menopausal breast cancer, gall-stones, childhood asthma, and hormone dependant cancers. The copper in barley can benefit those suffering from arthritis. And the phosphorus in barley aids in the development and repair of body tissue. Sold yet? In addition to these and many more (but potentially yawn-inducing) attributes barley is just plain yummy.

This recipe makes what Martha's writers allow for four people. We had large servings and it easily served at least 3 more. It saves very well for a day or two. We had it with salmon, Eden served it with roast turkey breast and sweet potatoes. It would be wonderful on its own for lunch.

barley salad with squash and broccoli

(tweaked from Martha Stewart Everyday Food mag - November 2011)

1 medium acorn squash, halved, seeded, and cut into 1/2" slices

4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

6 cups broccoli florets

1 1/2 cups pot barley 

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 Tbsp minced shallot

2/3 cup chopped almonds

1/2 cup raisins

shaved Parmesan

Preheat oven to 450 F. Toss squash with 2 tsp olive oil and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and roast for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile toss the broccoli with another 2 tsp oil and arrange on another parchment-lined sheet. Add that to the oven and continue roasting both vegetables for another 15-20 minutes, or until tender. Watch the broccoli as the flower bits can crisp past the point of yummy pretty quickly. Let cool slightly and cut the squash slices in half.

Meanwhile cook the barley in 4 cups water. (Bring the water to a boil , add the barley and reduce the heat to simmer until the barley is tender - about 40 minutes.) Drain any remaining water from the barley and rinse under cold water. Drain well.

In a large bowl whisk together 3 Tbsp evoo, lemon juice, and shallot. Season with salt and pepper. Add squash, broccoli, barley, almonds, and raisins. Toss. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve topped with shaved parmesan. (We passed the wedge of Parmesan - wrapped in a cloth napkin - and a vegetable peeler so each person could add the cheese to their personal preference. I like more rather than less, myself.

(Full disclosure - David loved this but he did comment that if people are not used to healthy eating this may not appeal to them ... until they taste it. What on earth does that mean?!!!)