corner view: spring

Spring is something we've been looking for in this space for the last few weeks. But, it is finally here!

And as I type, we've just finished off the most beautiful day. High of 75 the first time since last September.

Getting dressed this morning, Isabel insisted on a cotton dress and "No tights! No socks! No sweater! Just my dress and my 'click clacks'*."

My white and pasty arms are not quite ready to come out of hiding, but I do feel that freedom in the warm sunshine.

*click clacks are her way of saying flat fancy shoes. But mostly just her pink corduroy flats.*The second picture is from last summer, but that's the dress she wore today (:

WEEKENDhospitality: Perfect Partners

Chocolate and Coffee.

Need I say more?

This week I’m going to discuss the process of creating a delicious espresso. If you have an espresso maker or other fancy device this post isn’t for you. If you’re lacking in the $1000 to buy a new espresso maker with steam wand, and stainless steel body, etc etc etc. (I dream), then this post is so for you. If you don’t already have a stove top espresso maker, go buy one for a much cheaper $30+. Or do what Mary did for me a few years ago and buy one on ebay for $15+ shipping.

All good espressos start with good espresso beans. Our favorite is an organic fair trade espresso we get from the CO-OP Natural Foods in Sioux Falls, SD. We’ve tried other more famous brands before and have been disappointed with the results, so we try to stay away from those as often as possible. We’ve also done regular and decaf coffee in the pots and they’ve turned out pretty good too, especially if you only want one cup of coffee.

The process starts-- of course-- with your grind. We only have a small blade grinder we got when we got married and it takes about 30-50 seconds to get a fine grind. Trust me, to get the flavor you want a fine grind, not coarse like you’d use for drip coffee or French Press.

After you grind your coffee. Follow the assembly instructions, filling with good quality water, etc. Next you’ll need to practice a good amount of patience. I like to turn my burner to really low. 

For a good cup it takes about 10-15 minutes, but trust me it’s well worth the wait. The aromas that will fill your kitchen as you’re preparing the coffee are amazing! I love to watch the dark brown thick espresso ooze out of the spouts. (mmm I’m getting thirsty describing it)

While the coffee is taking longer to get ready than I do in the morning-- I get the milk going. I pour about 1-2 cups of milk into my small pot. I add about 2  teaspoons of sugar just to give it a little more sweetness and then turn the heat up (not too high you don’t want to scorch the milk, you want to heat it slowly). Taking a whisk I start whisking. I’ll start and stop as my heart pleases. Then once I get the right consistency of foam on top I turn the heat off and hopefully by this point the coffee is done, if not, just let it sit, it won’t hurt anything.

Then I add the shot or two of espresso and then desired amount of milk and foam to the desired coffee mugs. I like my lattes to taste like espresso and not milk. For me the milk is more of a medium through which to enjoy the espresso not overpower it. 

Use the wisk to hold the foam back as you’re pouring and then plop a bit of it on top and enjoy. If you have extra milk and have a kitty in the house (ie. Isabel) pour the remainder into a little mug and let them enjoy the warm milk. (If it’s too hot, just add some cold milk, they’ll love it!)

Now for the chocolate. Chocolate Friands from the Tartine cookbook.

Yesterday we celebrated our normal Sunday afternoon lunch, but added some delicious chocolate treats for a good friends birthday. We even had a candle that Truman helped blow out.

These “small mouthfuls” are simply delicious and super easy to make. What treat doesn’t taste good when you use chocolate, butter, sugar and flour? Oh and there’s a yummy ganache (cream and chocolate) topping. Mine didn’t turn out quite as nice looking as the picture, but they were delicious none the less.

Hope you had a great weekend and enjoy making espresso and chocolaty treats.

--Eric

What's in store for the weekend...

I am so glad it's friday, I am just bursting. The kids both woke up with a cold this morning. And all of us wanted to stay in bed. But we got along with our day... and they perked up a bit after getting out of bed.

This weekend the kids and I are going to lay low, snuggle and recuperate. And make sure we get some fresh air and sunshine.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Homemade pasta

If you need something to do with your kids that is quick and easy, why don't you make handcut pasta?

We just used a basic better homes and garden's recipe out of THE checkered book.

Not hard, just flour eggs, salt, water? I can't remember. And oh-- the directions says mix this in a bowl. Since I did not, I would recommend this. highly.

"Mom, it's leaking..." not exactly the words you like to hear.

I would have busted out the pasta maker and rolled these thinner, but I was lazy. So they were a tad chewy but oooo sooo good.

Truman ate the left over ravioli out of the fridge one at a time for the next day or two. He'd just open the fridge door and steal one. I love that I totally snuck in some spinach and broccoli, fat free sour cream, buttermilk.

Moral of the story? Go. Now. Break out your checkered book. Make these. Do not be scared, it's kind of awesome (:

Thoughts...

Guess whose getting registered for preschool today?

Ahhh. He's so ready. 

But am I?



Bekah is continuing in search of spring for a bit too. With photos from her trip to costa rica!!

corner view:: Typical Architecture

This weeks corner view explores our local architecture, and I live in a little town with a 'dutch front committee.' A group of people who tell you how authentic the facade of your building is. We're trying to portray a picturesque little image here. The town is hard-core about looking like a 'typical' dutch town. We have a tulip festival every year, and businesses are enticed with tax cuts, to put a dutch front on their other wise un-adorned building.

So, I've included one of the park in the middle of town (above), but mostly just what midwestern architecture looks like. Old houses, barns and out buildings. Hope you enjoy.

 [old house, taken about 4 years ago. 

it's now been restored, and painted green]

 [my neighbor's fence, trees and garage]

[century home, a monument in our town]
Photo by Emily Sweet

 [an out building at our friend's farm]

Visit Jane to see more!

in search of SPRING: March 23

Hello Dear Ones,
This is our last in search of SPRING post for this year but thank you for all who joined. We have a newcomer who will be posting for a bit longer. So visit Adela and say a friendly welcome.

Wasn't it wonderful to see what March looks like in everyone's neck of the woods?

[our little explorer, who now plays out front 'by-mytelf']

[Day dreaming Izzo]

[bikes in the front yard]

WEEKENDhospitality: Cheesecake

From Eric:


Cheesecake is such an easy dessert to make but such a difficult one to master. For me, cheesecake was the first dessert that I ever created my own recipe. My dad loves peanut butter so one night I decided to play around with different peanut butter filled items: Reese's pieces, peanut butter chips, peanut butter, etc. I had noticed that the afore mentioned cheesecake cookbook had certain ratios of cream cheese, eggs, etc so I decided to try my ratio and it turned out perfect! 

Ever since then I have tried time and again to create the "Great Cheesecake."

I never repeat a recipe that I've made before, mostly because I can never remember what I've done previously. I never write down my recipes, I know the ratio and just add other ingredients as I see fit. I've made Pumpkin, Chocolate Swirl, Plain and many other variations. 

This week I went with my normal Plain recipe and it was all going well. I had to use cereal for the crust, which as one friend explained was kind of like a cookie. I used my food processor to get the right consistency of crust (Cheerios and Special K). I mixed in my desired flavors, vanilla, cloves, freshly ground nutmeg, butter, salt, sugar and placed it all into my springform and baked it. 

 After cooling I added the cheesecake base and baked it at 400 for a while. I don't remember how long it was, 15-20 minutes probably, then I turned the heat down to 325 and baked it there for another 30-45 minutes.

The next day unsatisfied with the appearance I tried making a chocolate glaze. Taking the buttermilk and sour cream we had on hand and mixing in some 1% milk I warmed that and then poured over chocolate. The consistency was good and the flavor was actually really good. The only problem was that it never set up properly so there was chocolate oozing all over the place. 

Needless to say, this wasn't my best cheesecake, in fact I didn't particularly care for it. I did like the cheesecake but the chocolate was a bit disappointing. But that won't detour me from trying again!

Have you ever tried cheesecake? If so what do you think? If not, try it, it's simple and very diverse and you never know you may discover your own Great Cheesecake.
--Eric

*For the record, the cheese cake tasted delicious, the sauce was runny, and it was hard to cut. Who doesn't love chocolate oozing all over the place? But the cheesecake itself was pitch perfect. Thanks Eric for joining us for a weekly post!

in search of SPRING: March 19

As I'm typing this, there is a inch or two of snow covering all the lawns and trees like a thick coating of powdered sugar. It's a dark morning, and the house is still quiet, so different from yesterday's 60 degrees and sunshine. I'm guessing this weekend's search for spring may be a little more difficult. But this always happens, we ebb and flow back and forth between light snow and sunshine. And that is perfectly fine.

Actually I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one with two tastes, beautiful white blankets and glorious lighted afternoons. Nature, if a politician would be seen as wishy-washy. I, if a poititian would be seen the same.


Here are a few images from the week:

[our weather vein a top our barn... yes we still live in town. 

And we have a barn for a second garage... only in Iowa]

[Bright sweet clementines. Are tangerines the same thing?]

[Wilted fresh spinach with fried egg...
a springy quick mommy-meal]

 [a project in motion]

Isabel's Drawings

I am totally getting a kick out of Isabel's drawing abilities right now. This top picture is of her favorite people taking a walk together. Left to right: Truman, Grandpa John, Grandma Bonnie, Isabel with Lucy-dog behind her. Ahhh wonderful!

Here's a picture of our family! Right to left: Isabel, Eric, Me, Truman and Lucy.

I love how all the adults have glasses (because we all wear them!).

corner view:: Front Doors

This, ladies and gentleman is the front door of my dreams. Missy, my twin sister, took this photo while she was attending a leadership conference in Lithuania, while we were in college.

This is my real front door, picture taken last summer. We love sitting on the front porch in the summer. The sweet smell of plants blooming, kids playing, bubbles blowing... you know, evening perfection.

If you want to see more front doors visit the side bar at Spain Daily

in search of SPRING: March 16

[Inside]

  

'basking in the sun' while playing beach

helping me wash the floor or playing cinderella

a boy and his dog

a bonnet for Izzo on the needles

[Outside]

sandals and a coat

bikes!

looking for fairies

tulips inching up

weather worn mailbox

running water