Breakfasting

We spent a leisurely morning at our favorite breakfast spot: McKay Cottage. It is just the cutest little bungalow, with really tasty food and a really friendly staff. The kids absolutely love it, and honestly, it's probably my favorite restaurant in Bend. On another note, I absolutely love the vintage look and effects of all my friends' Instagram photos, and was really bummed about not having an iphone until my supersmart husband pointed out that I could get a similar app for my Sprint HTC Smart Phone. So this morning I downloaded Pixl-o-matic and am having lots of fun playing with my camera phone photos...here are a few I messed with from breakfast!

Ballerinas and (Coconut Lime) Banana Bread

Yes, that's my son in a tutu.

Coconut Lime Banana Bread

This morning while Gracie got in some snuggle time with Daddy, the "twins" and I headed into the living room where we turned on their favorite Putamayo kids CD (Animal Playground), put on their tutus, and they did some awesome ballet moves while I got started on a unique new banana bread recipe I found via Pinterest on the very colorful, very DIY blog, MADE. If you haven't yet enjoyed the rockin' multilingual tunes on this children's CD, I highly recommend it. Robert and I have a (growing) collection of about 20 Putamayo CDs that we like to add to whenever we're traveling, and we picked this one up back before we even had kiddos and it has become a family favorite that is near and dear to our hearts. I mean, come on, what toddler doesn't love dancing and singing to a French version of Old MacDonald or some Ladysmith Black Mambazo?? The bread - a coconut lime version of your classic banana bread - is pretty simple, yet has a very special glaze that definitely sets it apart from any would-be competition! You can view the recipe (with step-by-step photo instructions) here. It tasted pretty darn good straight out of the oven, but I have to say, after letting it sit all day (it always seems to get moister after sitting for awhile, which also gave the glaze time to cool and "candy" the bread...) it was absolutely scrumptious! I couldn't help myself from having a second slice...and then a third (hey, it's all good - I'm pregnant;)). And if that's any indicator, that means by tomorrow morning it will be - dare I say it - even better! and I may just have to sneak into the kitchen early and finish the entire loaf! Definitely making this one again - it would even make a good hostess dessert or snack for book club (since the glaze makes it more like a cake than a bread...). Oh, and since I was out of all-purpose flour I used all whole wheat and it still came out delicious! Tasty and healthy - win, win!

Through the Looking Glass; or what I saw in my camera today.

Baked Oatmeal

Mmmm. I found this recipe at the bottom of my recipe box yesterday morning (given to me by my dear friend Sheila several years ago) and it seemed like the perfect, crisp, spring morning to make some warm, baked oatmeal. Simple, sweet, and simply delightful fresh out of the oven and topped with a few sliced strawberries and a splash of milk. I spoon-fed the leftovers (with more fresh berries and milk) to the triplets this morning while they took their bath...wish I had taken a picture of that!

Baked Oatmeal

combine:

1/2 c oil

1/2 - 3/4 c sugar (I used 1/2 c white sugar and 1/4 c brown)

2 eggs, beaten

Add:

3 c uncooked oatmeal

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 c milk

*I added a dash of cinnamon, too!

Poor into greased square baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes (or until lightly browned around the edges).

Stella & Dot Giveaway!

My lovely friend Julie over at The Girl in the Red Shoes is doing a Stella & Dot giveaway this week: two gorgeous pieces of jewelry (Serenity Stone Drop Earrings or an Interlock Cross Necklace) for two lucky ladies! You can view how to enter the giveaway here

These pieces are just beautiful! I would really love to win these earrings and sport them around Bend; I think it would even call for hiring a babysitter and wearing them out for a date night, don't you?! :)