My, how the summer has flown by!  Josh and I are at heart a couple of homebodies, but having a baby around sure has livened up the way we spend our time.  This summer we’ve had trips to the zoo, the park, across the country and visits with friends and neighbors.

Picking flowers at the park.

Recently I’ve been able to tackle projects that have been waiting in the sidelines for a long time.  We cleared out the baby’s nursery closet and got that organized, I printed photos and organized the baby album, and for the last few weeks we’ve been digging through boxes in the basement and Saturday we had a big yard sale and got rid of stuff.  It feels so good to have those things done!

I hope that you all have had a terrific summer, too. : )

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I was watching Cook’s Country not long ago and they had an interesting segment on cinnamon.  Apparently, the cinnamon that we use today is not the cinnamon that our forefathers used.  That cinnamon (which is derived from evergreen tree bark) is too costly. So while the rest of the world refers to Ceylon cinnamon as “cinnamon”,  here in the US we use Cassia cinnamon, a less expensive substitute.

Cook’s Country taste tested 10 different types of cinnamon. You can read more about the Cook’s Country findings *here*.

I decided to do my own little cinnamon taste testing (with the help of my adventurous husband).  I ordered two cinnamons from Penzeys Spices online.  I got a small jar of Vietnamese Extra Fancy Cinnamon and Chinese Tung Hing Cinnamon.  We tasted those two and McCormick’s Ground Cinnamon.

From left to right: Vietnamese, Chinese, McCormick

We could not believe the difference in flavor!

Seriously.

Go to a nice grocer or online shop and order some new cinnamon today.  Taste it, then go to your cupboard and taste that flavorless, dusty powder labeled “cinnamon” …and then toss that stuff.

Then make some cinnamon rolls. Your taste buds will thank me.  ; )

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Looks like I last posted about making *iPhone cozies*.  Since our trip east I’ve also embroidered up a batch of *Passport Covers* which are now in the shop.  Next I’ll be listing little clutch purses.  I didn’t hold back on the cute with these.  But they are still being sewn up and photographed, so I’ll post a photo soon.

‘Til next time!

(Go get some good cinnamon!)

Jenn : )

…has almost driven me crazy.

I’ve been poring over my cookbooks for baby, eagerly anticipating baby M’s first foray into the world of “solid” foods.  My mil gave me the organic cookbook, and after reading it my eyes have been opened. (Did you know, for instance, that genes from fish have been inserted into tomatoes to prolong shelf life? Yummy! And so natural!)  I am going to prepare organic foods exclusively for my baby for as long as I can.

The Hungry Monkey book is a favorite of mine.  The author, Matthew Amster-Burton, is a local Seattleite, and he writes in a down to earth, humorous way that I really like.  I read this book while I was pregnant and now I’m reading it again and it’s even better now that I have a little baby wisdom under my belt (ha – no pun intended!).

I decided on Monday, I think it was, to make up a batch of applesauce for me and the little one to share.  Today I finally got to it. (You know, I could have made this baby food a heck of alot sooner if that baby hadn’t been slowing me down!)

I know that you can just mash up the steamed fruit and serve it chunky style.  But since this was our first try, I wanted it to be smooooth.  Just my luck, as I was hitting my stride, my food processor decided to break.

After a few not-so-mommy-ish words were spoken, I rallied and switched to plan B;  hauling out my Beaba BabyCook steamer/blender.  This was my first try with this gizmo – and I loved it!  Super easy.  I made a nice batch of homemade applesauce (ingredients: golden delicious apples & a little water).

At this point, I didn’t even care that much if she ate it or not.  I had a feeling that this would be kind of anti-climactic anyway.  I had been trying to make this stuff for nearly a week, and killed off my food processor to boot.  Basically I was in it for the blog photos towards the end.

But to my surprise, my toothless little buddy actually ate a very small amount.  And the look of confusion and befuddlement on her face made up for all the work and swear words. : )

And I ate some while typing at the computer.

I don’t usually shop at Safeway.  One reason: because each of their organic apples has three stickers on it. Every. Single. Apple.  Do you really need that many stickers on every piece of fruit?

Scrubbed shiny and clean.

Quartered, ready for a 10 minute steam.

Smooth and delicious!

With extra to freeze.

Have a lovely, healthy weekend!

(And if you buy tomatoes this weekend, consider getting the ones without fins ; )

Jenn : )

I recently gave Ina’s Blueberry Streusel Muffin recipe* a try.

(*This recipe can be found in Ina’s Back to Basics cookbook.  I found the recipe online over at Tessa’s blog: Handle the Heat.)

I thought I had a lemon on hand, but I didn’t.  The recipe calls for lemon zest, and though these muffins were fine, I think the zest would have given them a little bit of pizazz.

The recipe includes a delicious streusel for the top.

Doesn’t the word “streusel” make your mouth water, just a little?

My muffins didn’t come out exactly like the photo in Ina’s book.

Ah, well.  I’ll have to get myself a lemon and try these again.

Oh, darn.  ; )

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(P.S. Hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend!

Josh’s parents flew in for a visit and met their granddaughter for the first time.

Joyous!)

-Jenn

Making Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars.

These things are REALLY good, you guys.

And I’m not even a PB & J fan.

Spread batter in pan…

Top with your favorite jam…

Dot with more batter…

Sprinkle with chopped peanuts…

Bake and enjoy.

Ina hits another one out of the park!

Jenn : )

I’d really like to make this cake for Madeline’s 1st birthday.

Wouldn’t it look pretty with some little flowery cupcakes, too?

But if I’m really going to do this, I’ll need to start practicing now,

to be ready in the fall.

What will I do with all my mistakes?

Jenn : )

Making Ina’s homemade granola bars – delish!

I highly recommend!

Jenn : )

…wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Have a glass of your favorite drink.

And a Ginger Cookie on me.

Jenn : )