Everyday Cake
September 16, 2009 Posted by: ERIN
Raspberry Buttermilk Cake was my sweetest success of the summer. I made it THREE times during our vacation, each time for a different set of family and friends. It is incredibly simple and delicious. I'm heading back to the states tomorrow to attend my cousin Mary's wedding, and I love this cake so very much that it has inspired me to (attempt to) bring back frozen raspberries when I return. Of course, it won't be quite the same as fresh raspberries, but we do what we have to down here in the islands.
Raspberry Buttermilk Cake
Adapted from SmittenKitchen.com
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup fresh rasberries
Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about two minutes. Then beat in vanilla and zest. Add egg and beat well.
At low speed, mix in flour mixture in three batches, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour, and mixing until just combined. Spoon batter into cake pan, smoothing top. Scatter raspberries evenly over top and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar.
Bake until cake is golden and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then (if you so desire) turn out onto a rack.
Erin's Notes:
I found when doubling the recipe, it works great in a 9x13" pan. I'm looking forward to also experimenting with other berries ... I don't think there's any way to go wrong with this cake!
A Brief History of Our Summer Vacation
September 12, 2009 Posted by: ERIN
We left San Sal during the last week in July and headed to Baltimore to meet my brand new baby niece, Celia. She was just as adorable as expected, and it was great to spend some time with my sister while she was still on maternity leave. We got to enjoy their lovely new home, and Meredith introduced us to the pure barbeque heaven that is Andy Nelson's (more on this later). Tom and I also took Louisa on a special outing to the National Aquarium. If her death grip on Tom's shirt was any indication, some of the larger creatures made her a little nervous, but the jellyfish, or "bubbles" as she referred to them, were her favorites.
From there we headed on to the NW suburbs of Chicago, where we visited Tom's mom for several days. We did some shopping, went to the movies, and helped Lupe around the house. Lupe treated us to some very tasty Chicago-sytle hot dogs at Gene & Jude's, where they put a pile of fries right on top of your dog. Delish. We also got to spend a fun evening with my college roommate and very dear friend, Chanda (she's coming to visit in October!). And yet another highlight was our day at the races. Lupe works part time at the horse track that's just a few blocks from her house, so she was able to secure for us not only some sweet box seats, but also a special tour of the stables. I really liked the track ... it had a very relaxing overall atmosphere that was punctuated by the excitement of each individual race. I won $12 in the fifth on a horse named 'Girl Sleuth', and just in case you were wondering, jockeys really are teeny, tiny little people.
While in Chicago, Tom and I also took the opportunity to celebrate our anniversary a couple weeks early. We spent an evening downtown, during which we treated ourselves to an amazing dinner at Spiaggia. It was truly incredible. I thought Tom had reached the peak of culinary bliss while enjoying the tortellini in capon broth , but then he really died and went to heaven during his cheese course. And I have three words for you: olive oil gelato. Do not be skeptical, just take my word for it. Oh, and there was also a bottle of the most delicious pinot gregio ever. If you ever have the chance, go to Spiaggia and have the tasting menu. You will not be disappointed.
Next, with Lupe in tow, it was on to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to visit Tom's sister and her husband. Immediately upon arriving at the airport, we were surprised with the wonderful news that they're expecting a baby in January. Congrats, Melissa and Myles! Halifax is lovely. It's a very charming maritime city with lots of history and boats and parks, and a really great farmers market. During our stay, we enjoyed awesome meals at Jane's on the Common and It's All Greek To Me. We also enjoyed great street food in the form of putin and homemade honey garlic sausages (Tom had three). In addition to seeing the sights and sounds of the city, Melissa and Myles took us on a day trip to Peggy's Cove, home to beautiful glacial-carved coastlines and Nova Scotia's most iconic lighthouse, and also to the Petit Passage Whale Watch. The whale watch was spectacular. We saw nine humpbacks! They were so huge and magestic. Did you know whale breath sinks? It's true. Moments after a humpback would surface and open its blowhole, the boat would be hit with a wave of smelly whale breath. Sometimes you could smell the whale before you could see it. There were also porpoises, dolphins, an adorable harbor seal, and a minke whale. Oh and I almost forgot, right before getting on the whale watch boat I ate an amazing scallop roll. Seriously, the best scallops of my life.
From there, Tom and I flew to Ottowa where my parents very graciously picked us up and ferried us across the border. We spent the next week relaxing at the cottage in the 1000 Islands. There was swimming and reading and snoozing and card playing. For some reason, I don't think I took as single photo , but I swear we were there. My sister Liz and Adam and Joba were there for part of the time too. Joba is so big and stong, but still my same little sweetie at heart. Tom helped my dad with some dock work, and then we rearranged all the bedroom furniture in the old cottage. Under a very old rug in one of the bedrooms we found a bunch of local newspapers from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The old advertisements alone are interesting reading, and should make for some neat decorations.
Then it was down to Rochester for the remainder of our stay. We had quite a bit of shopping for the field station and ourselves to get out of the way, during which my mom was our dutiful assistant. On our actual anniversary, we celebrated with my parents and Liz and Adam at Veneto, where I had an really yummy wood-fired pizza with prosciutto, gorgonzola, and fresh figs. Later in the week, we enjoyed an evening at my brother-in-law's favorite dive bar (although I might get in trouble for calling it that), after which we had the honor of being Liz and Adam's very first overnight guests at their new house! Before leaving, we also visited my great-aunt Marian and her family for an afternoon (Hi Sandy! Hi Anne!). Then it was time to voyage southward in our rental car, stuffed to the brim with supplies for the coming year.
We made another stop over in Baltimore to see Meredith, Joe, and the girls. Celia had plumped up in the weeks since our first visit, and let me tell you, she is one smiley baby! Louisa is as beautiful as ever, and getting more precocious by the minute. We also needed to revisit Andy Nelson's, just to see if the deliciousness of our first visit had been some kind of fluke. This time we basically sampled everything on the menu, and believe me, the mouth-watering deliciousness of that barbeque is no fluke. The pulled pork is tasty, the brisket is phenomenal, and the ribs are divine. For sides, the red potato salad and bbq beans are a must, and do NOT forget the cornbread. Then we continued our drive south, stopping overnight to visit my old pals in Gainesville, before making our way to our flight in Fort Lauderdale and on home to San Salvador.
Perhaps I should have titled this entry "How We Ate Our Way Through Our Summer Vacation". As you may have noticed, dining out played a pivotal role in our travels. It's one of the things we look forward to all year. But not only did we enjoy excellent food in restaurants during this trip, we also made some really tasty things at home. Well, at our relatives' homes. I'll tell you about those recipes soon, but until then, enjoy these photo highlights from our trip.
Zipper Phelps
September 9, 2009 Posted by: ERIN
We returned from our summer travels about five days ago, and it feels great to be home. Not that we didn't have a fabulous trip, because we most certainly did, and I plan to share the highlights with you very soon. But even on the best of vacations you get to the point where you really miss your (king size) bed and your kitchen where you know where everything is. Hmmm, and what else? Oh yeah ... your DOG!
Zipper may have missed us too, but he certainly had some adventures of his own while we were away. He's always been a beach-loving dog, but never much of an actual water dog. More of an I'd-rather-just-wade-here-in-the-shallows-thank-you-very-much dog. We'd always encouraged him to go out farther, but to no avail. But check out our former land-lubber of a dog now:
Swimming! Really, truly swimming. Just look at those frantic little legs churning away!!
While I'll couldn't be more proud, it's not that Zipper is suddenly in love with the water. It's more like he finally figured out that he does actually know how to swim, but will only do so under very certain circumstances. In fact, we have yet to witness his triumph, because there are several strict criteria that must be met before he will take the plunge. First, he will never, never, ever swim from the beach directly in front of the field station. I guess that would just be too convenient. Further, if he is at a beach from which he knows how to get back to the station, he'll walk home rather than follow humans (such as his very kind dog-sitters) in for a dip. Also, he won't venture out if there are any humans remaining on shore. And if there are rocks, then it's a definite no-go.
So basically we have to put Zipper in the car and drive him to a smooth, sandy, unfamiliar beach, and then swim away from him until he can't stand it anymore and reluctantly comes out to join us. But he'll be swimming and it will be great! Once everything has been carefully orchestrated, we'll take a family swim and see how it goes.