apple picking

we decided to partake in the quintessential autumn activity of apple picking. it was a great day except for the fact that i dressed the girls like it was 50 degrees out, but it was really in the 70's (so the whining was in full tilt). the hot summer did me in and i am ready for the cool, crisp fall weather with haste. it was fun family time, but i have to remind myself that even though it is autumn on the calendar i still need to keep the short skirts, bare legs and sandal wearing for the better part of september. and not to be so quick with donning the flannel shirts, fleeces and denim that i am so anxiously wanting to embrace.

oh, and as you can tell k is not a huge fan of the apple peel.

another breakfast recipe: lemon ricotta pancakes

here's another breakfast recipe we have added to our rotation. lemon ricotta pancakes from williams- sonoma recipes. they are fluffy and heavenly. the girls snarf them down and josh and i tear them apart thinking we will have a couple of bites and then end up eating an entire humongous one.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1/4 cup sugar
• zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 1/2 cups cake flour
• 1 tbs. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:

in a large bowl, whisk together the ricotta, milk, egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest and juice until smooth. sift together the flour, baking powder and 1/8 tsp. of the salt over the ricotta mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.

in another large bowl, using a whisk, beat the egg whites until frothy. add the remaining 1/8 tsp. salt and continue beating until soft peaks form. using a rubber spatula, fold one-third of the egg whites into the ricotta mixture, then gently fold in the remaining whites.

preheat a griddle over medium heat. spray the griddle with nonstick cooking spray. ladle 1/3 cup batter onto the griddle for each pancake. cook until bubbles form on top and the pancakes are golden underneath, 1 to 2 minutes. flip the pancakes and cook for 1 minute more. transfer to a warmed plate. repeat with the remaining batter. makes 12 to 14 pancakes.

my morning go-to

i have been making this kale/berry smoothie almost every morning for the last couple of weeks. it gives me energy and has the right amount of protein so my hypoglycemia does not kick in. on some days i eat it after a morning work out and it leaves me feeling healthy and spirited all day long. on the days i work out i usually eat a breakfast of oatmeal or toast with almond butter.  i put together this recipe after trying out different ones from different sources, but this is the one that does the trick for me:

single serving:
-1/2 cup frozen berries (bj's has a great organic combo of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries)
-1/2 cup of kale (you can use any greens. sometimes i use spinach. and i have been known to freeze fresh kale from our csa and it has lasted weeks in the freezer especially for this smoothie)
-1/2 cup of coconut water (i use vita coco)
-1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt (i use chobani plain nonfat yogurt)
-1-2 tablespoons of flax seeds
-1 banana

that's it. mix it in a blender and enjoy!

blue mountain lake

here are some pics from our recent trip to blue mountain lake in the adirondack mountains. we meet our family at the hedges camp, a rustic waterfront camp where you can connect with nature. we always go the third weekend in september so we can go to the adirondack mountains antique show at indian lake. canoe rides, hearing loon calls, fly fishing, hiking, camp fires at night, and some swims in the lake (the water was the warmest it has been so we took a dip). we also celebrated my father-in-laws birthday, hence the party hats. it's one big outdoorsy weekend party in a peaceful setting with hudson bay blankets, lots of antlers and nips of whiskey.

i like

some random design loveliness that i have spotted on the internet the past month. hope the images brighten up your day or give you some inspiration.

sources
1. ikea ps 2012 led wall lamp. $49.99
2. paper foldings by andrea russo via theresa l (tdoeswool) on pinterest
3. via marybeth reid's pin (my favorite pinner-she really rocks it!)
4. dansk kobenstyle black 6-quart casserole from crate and barrel
5.  linen throw by caroline zucchero hurley via babble family style
6.  image via the design files

still life

 

hello all! hope you are enjoying the routine and structure that school brings and loving the transition into fall. it's my favorite time of year. it's been a little nutso the last two weeks. we have traveled to ohio for a 100th birthday celebration, celebrated the girls birthday the same day they started their four-year-old preschool class, started swim lessons and creative movement classes, and traveled to blue mountain lake in the adirondack mountains this past weekend. as much as i love to travel, i am so ready to have zero plans on the weekend. to slow down and nest. read magazines. go apple picking. hike in the woods with no humidity. stuff my face with slow cooked goodness. and take a pottery class.

here are some still life pictures that i took from a quick trip to ohio of my parent's home in chagrin falls, ohio.

100 years

for labor day weekend we took a road trip to where josh and i grew up. ohio. we had a really good reason. it was josh's grandmother's one hundredth birthday. thirty-five family members met up at josh's parent's home to celebrate. there were tractor rides, kayak races,  water balloon fights, running races, bingo, find grossi's picture scavenger hunt, funny and sentimental toasts, and a large party given in her honor. 

josh took six pictures of her and blew them up and adhered them to foam board for decorations for the party. he then strung them on wire so all the guests could see what she looked like on her wedding day and various other days of her life. we also purchased jumbo mylar number balloons right here and then had them blown up at a grocery store once we got to ohio. we attached them to stakes in the ground and positioned them in the front yard so when guests walked down the drive way they could see them. 

naomi tompkins, aka grossi is such a quick, smart, funny, lovely and kind woman. she amazes me with her humor and warm heart. cheers to 100 years!