Sunday, September 9, 2012

My Favorite Kinda Day

I'm not a morning person, but I do love early Saturday mornings when Jingles and I are the only ones awake.  
And everything is nice and quiet.
While she did some birdwatching.
I made pancakes and froze the leftovers for breakfasts this week.
Baked banana muffins.
1-1/2 mashed bananas; 1/4 cup canola oil; 1/2 cup honey; 1/2 cup skim milk; 1 egg; 1-1/2 cups wheat flour; 2 tsps baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt.  Mix, spoon into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 til done.

And used the dates from my co-worker to make oatmeal date squares. 
Boil 1/2 cup water with 1 cup of pitted chopped dates then lower heat and simmer until thickened.  Mix together 1-1/2 cup quick oats; 1 cup whole wheat flour; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/3 cup canola oil and 1 egg.  Spread half the oat mixture into a greased baking dish, spread the date mixture evenly over the top, then pat the remaining oat mixture over the dates.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool completely before cutting.

And since the oven was already on, I sliced up an eggplant for roasting to make eggplant parmigiana.
While the roasting was going on, I decided to make a quick trip to the hardware store to pick out paint for our offices at school.  Turned out to be not so quick a trip after all ... I was there for an hour and a half.  Had to call Yusef and have him turn off the oven.  Picking out paint to please several people with different tastes is no easy task.
The parmigiana recipe I sort of followed is by Mario Batali and was recommended by Sam at Farmgirlsam.  I basically used the recipe as a guide, didn't really follow it to a tee.  The good news is,  even my picky 13 year old loved it.
Even better news is that after painting 8 samples on the wall today at school, we decided on colors.  I just hope we actually like the look once it is done.  Picking colors for any project is never easy for me.
 On Friday night, I actually did get my yarn rolled into balls and made a start on the baby blanket.  Not sure how I will work in the other granny squares I made since all the yarn is different sizes.  They aren't really fitting together but I'll figure something out.
Today it was back to school.  Another week of trying to keep up -- it seems like all I do is wash clothes and dishes.

Hope you are having a fabulous day!




45 comments:

GrannyTaughtMeToCrochet said...

oh i love that blanket! and your cakes look good! x

Marina said...

Wow, your Saturday morning was really busy! :)

Dagmar said...

I agree, what a happy busy Sunday you had, and now you are all preferred for the week ahead! ❤

Kit said...

What a great way to spend the morning! I bet your place smelled soooo good. Thanks for the recipes too, I am gonna try the banana muffin one. Have a great week! Kit

Becca said...

Hi Tammy! Wow! You sound so busy...look at all that stuff you accomplished! Such yummy food and your morning with Jingles sounds lovely! Have a great week!

A Whole Lotta Magic said...

Sounds like a pretty perfect morning to me!

S
xo

Anonymous said...

You were a busy girl! I love all the recipes (can't have enough of those can we). The blanket is coming along nicely. I am doing a picot bind off on a shawl today. Between football, eating, and journaling!
~Dawn

Linda said...

Looks like your week is off to a productive start!

My favorite kinds of weekends are when we're off doing something fun together as a family. We did that again this weekend with the Broomcorn Fest and now the weekend here is coming to a close in a bit, but I'm looking forward to another weekend of travel next weekend - to Southern Illinois for our family reunion. I'm also hoping for some extended weekends coming up - too many fun things going on, and I'd rather have more time off work! :D

Love, Linda

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Tammy,

Sounds like a very productive Saturday. The baby blanket is pretty and your family are lucky with all the home baking.

Enjoy the new week and back to school.
Hugs
Carolyn

Elna said...

Wow you are doing a lot of baking and Jingles is busy looking at birds. Lovely colors at your yarn.

Hugs

Helen Philipps said...

Your baking always looks and sounds delicious, Tammy! You did well to pick those paint colours...choosing for other people is really difficult! Showing small paint samples to make sure they look right is definitely the best idea! I love the colours of your yarn, such a sweet blanket. Wishing you a happy new week!
Helen x

Anabel Luna said...

Oh my Gosh Tammy, what a variety of desserts and meals.I just finished grilling in my yard.Great day for me too.But did not take picture .......:0( ....totally forgotten ......But I had a great Sunday....thanks for visiting .Always welcome.
Ohhh and yes Argentina has a large variety of crochet magazines .My friends always mailing them to me,we do swaps ,all she can't find in Argentina I buy them and mail them to her ....then she mail to me the magazines ,that's what I'm interesting on.....she is a very good friend.
Thanks and have a wonderful week.

:0) Luna

Mereknits said...

That is a pretty productive morning if you ask me, no rest for the weary that is for sure. Everything you make looks so yummy, I think I am going to use your banana muffin recipe and substitute the honey with agave. I have made muffins before, just not for a while. Glad you got out your hook so your weekend could be complete. Have a great week at work,
Meredith

Serena Lewis said...

WOW...you've been a busy girl, Tammy! I'm a morning person through and through...like you on Saturday mornings, I love being up while everyone else is still asleep. I potter around, write letters etc. I've never even thought of baking that early. What delicious treats you made too. Thanks for the recipe link...my daughter loves eggplant so I'll pass that one on to her also.

I'm sure you'll work something out re. the granny squares for the baby blanket. It's looking beautiful!

Have a fabulous week!

~ Serena xo

20 North Ora said...

Tammy - WOW Girl!! What a list of accomplishments. I bet you were tired by evening! Good recipes.

Judy

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

That was a great morning! Look at all the yummy food you prepared! Nice!

Barbara Jean said...

wow! you were busy!!

thought I would let you know...the shelf i my post? it is a paper cutter. you know the old kind that attached to walls in stores, and held huge rolls of paper? I put two fence boards on top to use as shelf. =)

hugs
barb

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Tammy,

You have been a rather 'early' busy bee. Got concerned about that roasting time too; glad you had Yusef turn it off. All your baking looks yummy.
Enjoy your coming week and your crocheting project.
Hugs to you,
Mariette

Mistea said...

Oh my, your baking looks delicious.
Love the pretty crochet granny.
Hope the painting goes smoothly.

Wanda said...

Hi Tammy ~ I love the way your baking leads to another, baking, and another...I love to do that while the oven is hot, and then freeze things for later. It's so nice to have something handy for a gift, or a fast dinner.

Melanie said...

You are one busy lady! Your baked goods and eggplant parmigiana look delicious. Beautiful baby blanket...who's it for?

vintage grey said...

Look at all your yummy treats and eggplant parmigiana! The baby blanket is coming along so sweetly! Have a great week! ox Heather

Angela Richardson said...

I love those quiet mornings before everyone else wakes and what a delight to spend the time baking.
Everything looks yummy.
I expect Jingles just sat and watched!!
Have a great week.
Angela.x

Maya Kuzman said...

Well, I wouldn't say all you do is washing clothes and dishes and there are your beautiful pictures to prove that :)
Love your blanket - I am nowhere near starting it :o

Tanna said...

You get so much done, Tammy. I know life feels like a hamster wheel sometimes, but you are amazing at how you manage to focus on the sweet blessings along the way. You food looks soooo good, as always! And, I know that blanket is going to be so cute.

Choosing colors for MYSELF is an ordeal! I cannot imagine trying to please others, too!! LOL! Good luck! blessings ~ tanna

Rostrose said...

Dearest Tammy, oh-oh, now I got hungry after seeing all of your delicious food! Thanks god I'm not on a diet! :o))
Your baby-blanket is going to be wonderful - I'm sure you will manage the rest!
Give my love to sweet Jingles. Perhaps you can ask her if she is interested in an internet-date with my Maxwell ;o) (Max is looking for a true lady cause Nina is already engaged to the boy cat Lucius of my blog-friend Stephie...:o)))
Hugs rom Austria,
Traude

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Well, we can call you the busy baker! It all looks delicious! Love how well jingles take a good photo! Paint samples always seem to be the hardest for me as well! Hope it turns out pretty! Love the crochet for the baby blanket!

Diane said...

Nothing like getting up early and sharing the morning with a peaceful kitty. You just can't beat that. I have a hard enough time trying to pick out paint for ME forget about others!!! You and your flying fingers - you must be busy all the time Tammy. Diane

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Hi Tammy, I'd say you've been pretty busy during the last months finishing all those lovely projects. You inspired me to crochet some dishcloths. I have to check my stash if I have some thicker crochet thread that would work for that purpose.
I haven't made pancakes for quite a while. I used to make them with buttermilk and I doubt I can get that here. Maybe I'll try another version next weekend.
Jingles is such a cutie!!!
Have a great evening!
Hugs to you,
Julia

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that you are doing a lot more than washing dishes and clothes, I wish I had only a quarter of your energy, that being said I´m definately most productive before noon, after that I seem to run around in circles until I´m exhausted.

Susan said...

Hi Tammy. I think your family is VERY lucky that you make them so many wonderful, yummy treats. The banana muffins sound really good! Take care and have a good rest of the week at work. Susan

Mrs. Micawber said...

A morning of baking - the best kind of morning. :)

I hope the paint works out to everyone's satisfaction, and I look forward to seeing what you do with your blanket squares. Good for you for rolling your yarn into balls! I'm a terrible slacker in that regard.

Unknown said...

the early bird catches the worm :)
you accomplish more in a couple of hours than I do in an entire day!

Anonymous said...

wonderful cooking & baking!
i love the baby blanket colours so pretty.
your cat is soooo cute i do love kitty kate.

valpowery@yahoo.com said...

the yarn looks fabulous...your blanket willbe lovely.
have a great week!

podso said...

You did a lot on a quiet Saturday morning! I enjoyed seeing all your projects from the summer. I am just starting a new pattern of a double pot holder--you crochet in a circle, sort of. It sort of doubles itself and is called "magic potholder." You could google it and find a tutorial. Love the colors of yarn you chose! Hope you are having a good week so far.

June said...

That does sound like perfection Tammy. Your children are so, so lucky to have you for their mommy. I love a mom who bakes : )
hugs from here...

glor said...

Goodness girl, you are one busy gal. I'm like you with the early morning hours. I love to get all things going and in order, and hopefully get some rest later on. I see you just keep going and going and going!! Like the energizer bunny. Have a lovely, blessed day.

Stan and Jody Gabara said...

Tammy, You were a busy girl. It's great to have those days. Now, you're inspiring me to get some things done today. Thank you. Have a relaxing weekend!

Jody

Kathleen said...

Wow, you got a lot done for someone who is not a morning person!

Celestial Charms said...

Hi Tammy,
I so love eggplant, and your eggplant parm. looks fabulous. We have been growing it in our garden all summer long, so I eat it often. Most times, I just saute it with olive oil, salt and pepper, and add a little dash of a homemade sweet/sour sauce. I let it simmer to soften, and then wella! Thank goodness it is a veggie that can be used in so many ways. Have a great day!
Maureen

Catherine said...

Well it looks like you and sweet Jingles had a very productive day! I love that you freeze pancakes. We do too! So many lovely goodies you made. Hope you and kitty are having a terrific week Tammy!
xo Catherine

Leah said...

What a gorgeous post - delicious food, delicious crochet - just perfect!

Have a fab weekend hon.
Leah
x

Cat said...

I would love to be more of a morning person, I love the early morning but stay up too late to get up early, I'm so very tired must try and get to be earlier. It looks like a very productive Saturday, I love days like that:)

Sam I Am...... said...

That's so funny because I just made the eggplant parmigiana today again and just finished eating some....I want more but I'm trying to be better about portion control! LOL! I'm so glad you liked it! I use Panko crumbs on top which gives it a little crunch. The sauce I make ahead and freeze and then I have it on hand as from there the dish is easy to "throw" together. I'm glad your son liked it...my boys never liked veggies the way I do but I was brought up half Italian (my step-father) and his relatives and they cooked lots of vegetables and grew them in their small backyards....they even made their own Italian sausage. But there was always lots of banana peppers, eggplant, artichokes, mustard greens etc. I loved it all and still do!
For someone who says they're not a morning person, it sure sounds like you got up and got lots done! I don't get that much done in a week! LOL! You're amazing! Take care sweetie!
P.S. Take pictures of the school colors when they get it painted...I'd like to see what you picked out. I bet it will look great...you have good color sense with all your needlework.

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