Daydreams + Anne {& other tid-bits}

Transported through a glimmer, a hint of another place, secret passageways, a looking glass, a dream.  What does it take to transport you?  I opened the glass door to an antique piece of furniture, the wavy glass acting as a mirror, picking up shadows and light from two mirrors that face each other.  And just like that, daydreams…

For a second, I was in a magnificent English mansion…

Then I was in a fairytale cottage in the woods, looking out upon a stream, reading in a corner nook, treasures on the walls…

Candles flickered, because even in the height of daylight, there was a cool darkness brought on by the towering forest trees.

Pancakes cooked.

Pumpkins baked.

Squirrels ate nuts, and birds chirped.

And then, I snapped into reality, where pumpkins are really cooking.

In fact, I am on my second day of pumpkin cooking.

You see, I have had to pull some pumpkins from the vine a hair too early (they are already orange, but I like to leave them out a little bit longer), as worms found a way to snuggle into several, sending them to the compost heap.

I have cooked about 6 wormless pumpkins so far.

Scraping out the meat, and pureeing it for baking.

The scent is sublime…

It's that scent, a reminder of carving pumpkins at the end of October, that gets me every time.

It brings so much with it.

Childhood memories.

Recent memories.

All bundled together…

As I cook my pumpkins, with a slight cloudiness outside (monsoons taunting), I don't know why, but I can't help but think and think about Marilla and Matthew.

About Anne Shirley.

My heart gets full, bursting full.

She was such a huge part of my early years, and I carry her with me still.

I decide to make oatmeal pancakes.

My mom always talks about, and cooks up pancakes, when it gets cloudy… (her mom started the tradition)

Oat flour doesn't give me a headache like white flour does.

We don't cook much indoors during summer, so I very much enjoy cooking on the burner side of our gas grill, under a great big tree.

I just adore it.

And so, heart healthy flap jacks via plein air, it is…

(don't count the butter & syrup, haha!)

Our Vermont maple syrup was missing (Lovee! he probably drank it, he has such a sweet tooth), so we used this Trader Joe's syrup.  It is grade B, but it was lovely.

Oatmeal Pancakes, recipe by memory, let's see…

———–

1 and a half cups of oats

1 cup of buttermilk

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 tablespoons vegtable oil (I use extra light olive oil)

——–

Using a food processor, grind one cup of oats into flour.

Then, throw in remaining oats, and all other ingredients.

Process until it becomes batter.

Cook on a hot griddle/pan that you have put a bit of olive oil or butter on.

Just like you would regular pancakes.

Cook until browned on both sides.

Be aware that this mixture thickens quickly, and is a thicker batter altogether.

Makes about 8 – 10 small cakes

(today I accidentally poured in a tiny slurp of orange extract, instead of vanilla.  It wasn't very much, so I added a hint of vanilla also, which created a sublime result)

Note:  I use regular large sized oats, from the big bin at the natural foods store.  So, I am sure any oats would work 🙂

There you have them…

 

Oatmeal pancakes, under a tree, on a giant spool table…

Whilst still in a funny little dream-state.

Curious, how that happens, isn't it?

Dream-states, I mean.

Mmmmm, Prince Edward Island……….

 

Time to wash dishes, and check on my cooking pumpkins, as a start to a list of chores (just ran out and popped mail in the box, just in time, phew!  Don't you just love the mail truck?  And mail, and how convenient that it comes to your very own mailbox?  Seems too good to be true.  I love you Unites States Postal Service!  Even though my last 6 parcels were smashed.  One parcel even came with an apology letter from the post office, taped to it, for being so smashed, isn't that wild?). 

Now, how will I ever get anything done, with dreams on the brain?