baking, but much more

 Friday night I made a decision.... use those cherries Heather gave me and the recipe I found on facebook and...just do it.   So I did

Here is how it started.

Heather came over on Monday night. She has been coming every Monday night to get an easy start on her day here in Bellevue ( it's a longer story, but you get the picture)
These were tart, maybe sour cherries.  She was loving them. Eating them right out of the bowl.

I did too ( sort of .... I tried a few )

A lady named Maia from the Ukraine has been posting many things about her country, and despite all the horror, she has found positive things to write about.

Like the bucket of cherries that was given in return for some care packages to some villagers who have nothing.  That is what she said. They have nothing. It is part of their life to give.

One of Maia's friends used those cherries to made Pirozhki. 
Many readers were interested and soon Maia posted the recipe and step by step directions.

That did it. I printed all 5 pages.  I laid out all the ingredients like she did

I put on my Ukrainian apron and said

                     "I can do this"    and I did.

You make little balls and then press each one into a pocket and fill with sweetened cherries

 

Into the oven 

and

                    

They did not turn out as pretty as the picture
So I dusted them with powered sugar
and
followed the next nudge

I shared them

At some point, I googled Pirozhki, and found out it is also called Piroshky .. sometimes savory, sometimes sweet  Oh, I think I can pronounce that better.  

Lessons learned..
No matter how difficult, ugly, scary life might look (mine right now is not there, for sure) there is always something to be thankful for. 

Giving. Sharing. Gratitude. Should be a part of every life.   A part of my life.

There is a deeper meaning in all of this, just not finding the words right now...but

Maia, you have inspired and blessed many.

I live an exciting life

Such a day

Actually, it was 2 1/2 days, 
but today was the best

Cousin came and spent the day with his older cousin. 

So let's proceed with a few photos.

Still celebrating Christmas 

A little time on the iPad 

Game time 

Hoping for a little education on others who do not have as much as we do
not sure if they got the message
but I tried 

Lunch ...you know where

Always help at this store 

 And just around the corner...

Where Grampy came to watch the Husky game....
until the 3rd quarter 

Home and time to do some baking

" I have done this before,  Hold my hair back "

Nicely done 

And another egg for the mix  

p.s.   those bars were good.  Very good. I know because I ate "some".   Actually, it would be good if you could come over and eat some of them.  That would make me feel better. 
If not, I would not let them get old and stale and.....

who bakes on a Sunday afternoon ....

well, this might be a first,  but, I was determined to make my old standby recipe to take to Texas.

Here is what happened.

Saturday afternoon I put together all the ingredients for Scottish Shortbread, covered it with a towel and left for a few hours.  I was surprised that the dough was pretty dry, but worked it up a bit and rolled it out and cut out hearts and baked them.   I was more than surprised when I pulled them out of the oven an hour later and found them to be.....let's just say not worth sharing.
The good part is,  I learned a lesson.


Sunday afternoon and I was ready again. Thought there might be someone out there who does not know what goes in to real Scottish Shortbread, so here goes.

All the ingredients are piled on the bread board
That is a pound of butter 

Ingredients:  6 teacups flour
                     2 teacups corn starch
                     2 teacups sugar
                     1 pound butter, room temperature
                     2 tablespoons Crisco
                     from by friend Zena, dated April 1983
                   

You work it all together with your hands
wishing your grandchildren were around to help

This can take 20 minutes to 1/2 hour 

before it sticks together, it get crumbly

Then you roll the dough out, about 1/3 inch thick  

You bake these babies for at least an hour at 275 

Ta -Da ! 
Time to come on over, the coffee is ready 

p.s.  this is like my dilly bread. When the family saw them in the making they said "Oh we must be having company" 
They do appreciate them more now than when they were kids.  

My little men

It was an early start to the day
              and a sweet one.
                                 

   doesn't take them long to start playing  .

and
then
comes
baking time

                              We are baking a little brownie to share

                                                    Watching the brownie rise

       one seems to prefer milk and pouring milk
                                              the other prefers the brownie

                        You have to admit it is a fun tea set - 
                                        Curious George

               always a willing helper.      then it is outside we go

                               Time to help Grampy....

                                               Here we come Grampy...

                  Watching while Grampy puts nets over the fruit trees. 
                                               And here comes Uncle D

                                               Time to play with Uncle D.

                                 That ball went so high..it landed up in the tree

               Time for a coffee break. 
                   real coffee and little short bread pups.
                                  

                                      How did that lid get into Mom's coffee?

                                            

  Busting some moves for Emily  and playing with Mr. Potato Head

                                              Thanks Emily.

                   Hungry again...........
                                  That calls for a trip to  
                                         The Burg   

       And now it is time to say goodbye
So, does it take 3 ( sometimes 4 ) adults to keep up with 2 little men under 4 years old?

  Maybe not,  but I am always  glad to share the joy !