I made baked oatmeal on a whim Wednesday night for dinner because it was sooooo cold and I needed something not only to warm up my belly, but the air in my apartment.  It worked.  It was awesome!  I'm sharing.

The recipe is here.  I made a few modifications though.  2 tsp of cinnamon instead of a 1/2 because I love my spices,added a handful of craisins, and 2 tsp of vanilla.  Also, instead of using all 3C. quick cooking oats, I did 2C. quick cooking and 1C. rolled….for texture's sake, you know?

 
And it was so pretty!  Don't think I paid $4 for a box of blueberries in the dead of winter, folks.  I scored them on manager's special because they were a bit tired looking.  You know a recipe is meant to happen when you get blueberries for $2.

 
I was absolutely too excited to dig in and forgot to take the picture.  Sorry for the big gaping hole.  Kind of. 

 
This is plopped straight out of the oven in all it's toasty, gooey, loveliness.  If only I could send you the smell of it baking through my blog.  Oh.  My apartment smelled, well, sinful really.

XO, Candie
 

It's been a bittersweet past few days—my project review for the book was a smash, phone calls and emails with friends, organizing classes for later this fall, things are really moving and I don't want to take it for granted.  On the other hand, my dad is sick and it seems to have gotten worse the past few days, so that's weighing heavy on my mind.  Could you send some good healing energy his way?  Thanks in advance.

Two nights ago, I made a batch of soup and some  Green Tea muffins to go with it.  I've been wanting to try these for oh, say, three years now!  Katie picked me up some "matcha" (green tea powder) the other day at the international grocery store  Love the intense green color!

Ok, got a little carried away with the "green." I first tried green tea muffins in China (even though I think it's a Japanese thing).  It was out in Changshu at a Kenny Roger's Roasters restaurantt (very random), believe it or not!  Of course the restaurant closed down not too long after we got there.  So I've pretty much been hungry for them since…

Could not resist this cutie plate at the dollar store!  I found the recipe by googling "green tea muffin recipe".  Thank you Collection of Words for posting this great recipe.  I didn't have hazelnuts, but they still were awesome.  I'm making another batch in the morning to take out to a friends house for lunch.  Looking forward to that!

Ugh, I am craving a stroopwaffeln right now!  Katie I know you are too!  My Dutch friend, Coby got me hooked on them when I lived in Suzhou.  Then when we were in Germany and Belgium the Spring before last and I bought a load of them for everybody I knew.  Maybe I’m having association cravings or something weird like that?  Earlier today I realized this will be the third year in a row that we miss out on Aunt Jane’s pickled eggs at Easter. And just to add a log to the fire, today is my crazy cute nephew’s fourth birthday and we are missing it. 🙁 That’s it, I’m having a pitty party for myself.  You’re all invited, of course.