These Aren’t The Droids You’re Looking For.
Mind over matter. Power of suggestion. The force.
Whatever you want to call it, that's what I've been wrestling with for the past week. Everyone around me is aching and couching and sneezing. The odds are kind of stacked against me here. I'd have to be some sort of guru of meditation with a fistful of mental placebos to resist all that.
I'm not. I'm not made of midi-chlorians. I'm made of squishy flesh and achy bones.
However. If I were a Jedi I wouldn't bother with curbing the common cold or not looking silly when I sneeze. I'd have way more fun. I would wave my hand casually yet deliberately and tell you how much you need this Maple Pecan Streusel Pumpkin Bread. Struck by a sudden delicious idea, you would calmly rise from your seat, gather the ingredients and make yourself one awesome snack. You'd slice off piece by piece savouring the full flavour of pumpkin, the punch of spices and the sweet, buttery crunch of the streusel topping until it was all gone. At which point you would feel the need to bake yourself another and another and another... Do or do not. There is no try.
Hey... Maybe I am a Jedi!
Love Muffin: Maple Bacon Cheddar Cornmeal.
There's about two feet of snow carpeting the ground. Icicles decorate the eaves troughs. The evergreens slouch under the new weight. The streets haven't been plowed all Winter. A single Autumn leaf clings stubbornly to the frozen ground. The temperature has plummeted to uncomfortable depths.
There's only one thing to do when the weather turns this chilly. Make Chili! The natural partner for a steaming hot bowl of Chili is, of course, Cornmeal Muffins. These aren't your average Cornmeal Muffins, folks. They're Maple Bacon Cheddar Cornmeal Muffins.
A little sweet to compliment the spice. A little hot inside to contrast the cold outside.
How else are you going to work up the nerve to shovel the driveway? Or scrape ice off the windshield? Or risk frostbite to check the mailbox? I suppose you could always just stay toasty warm inside and eat muffins for dinner. Like I did.
Warming Up To Winter.
On a cold Winter's day such as this one what's better than warming your kitchen and your heart with soft, chewy fresh from the oven Oatmeal Cookies? And not just any Oatmeal Cookies. Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies!
It's been particularly chilly here in Edmonton, which normally wouldn't come as a surprise at this time of year and in this part of the country. I guess I was enjoying Autumn so much I didn't realize Winter was already upon us.
I miss all the pretty colours. I miss walking out the door in just jeans and a sweater. I miss the sun. I even miss the rain.
Despite all this, each time the seasons change I decide on a new favourite season. It doesn't matter that I can't feel my feet, or that my nose turns an embarrassing shade of red, or that I get an electric shock from everything I touch, or that the zipper on my favourite coat is broken.
The ground looks like it's made of diamonds. The trees are glass. Breath hangs in suspended animation. Footsteps are forever.
Looks like I might be warming up to Winter. Pun intended.
As the seasons shift I thought it was a perfect time to change up a few things here at Hot Polka Dot. Time to mature. Time to grow up. Time for big bold photos. I'll miss the polaroids, but change is good.
Silver Lining.
When I discovered that I would not advance in Project Food Blog my mind reeled with a series of thoughts. The first of which I won't repeat here. But the second thing that came to mind was, well I guess I don't have to make those Cinnamon Buns anymore.
But really, why wouldn't I? I bought the pumpkin, pecans and maple syrup. I do still have a food blog right? Oh yeah, that didn't cease to exist when I got eliminated.
Sure maybe for a moment there I wanted to drown my sorrows in a vat of chocolate or order a fleet of pizzas for dinner. But I didn't. Instead I made the most delicious Maple Pecan Pumpkin Cinnamon Buns. Let me tell you, it's hard to feel sorry for yourself with a mouthful of one of these lovelies.
So this would have been my eighth challenge entry to Project Food Blog. I probably would have said something a little more eloquent.
But at least now I don't have to feel so bad about using canned pumpkin instead of fresh.
A few of my new friends from Project Food Blog decided to share our pumpkin posts despite our recent exclusion from the contest. They've concocted some amazing pumpkin recipes. You should visit and remind them that they are all winners.
Asha from Fork Spoon Knife
Heena from Tiffin Tales
Josie from Daydreamer Desserts
Liren from Kitchen Confidante
Winnie from Healthy Green Kitchen
The Picnic: Inside Out.
I'd like to thank everyone who helped me get this far in Project Food Blog. I appreciate all your support in all its forms! Thank you!
“For this challenge, you're tasked with creating a delicious meal that will travel well and still look great. From picnics and school lunches to bento boxes, or any other meal on the go, you need to whip up an entree, side, drink, and dessert to enjoy after hitting the road. Be sure that your meal fits inside the Project Food Blog Road Trip Cooler.”
Have you ever wistfully watched a sunset stained with roses and violets while sipping a glass of wine? Have you ever savoured a simple chocolate bar on the waterfront, salty breeze in your hair and sand beneath your feet? Have you ever bitten into an apple and let the juices run down your chin on a lazy afternoon absentmindedly swaying on a creaking porch swing?
Twitterpated birds are the best dinner companions. Fresh air is the sweetest spice to add to any meal. A park bench is the perfect table setting. The fading glow of the sun rivals any candlelit dinner. Food is best enjoyed in the presence of nature, humbling and beautiful.
The picnic is the traditional way to bring the inside out and eat at nature's table. There's nothing traditional about this picnic. I've expanded on simple picnic food to elevate your experience. The plain sandwich has been spiced up and transformed into the Curried Egg Salad Sandwich. Chips and dip have been revamped into sweet and spicy Peach Salsa with baked Pita Chips. The simple glass of juice has been stirred into a bubbly frenzy and become Sparkling White Grape Peach Juice. The average Rice Krispies square has been reinvented into a nutty and flavourful Brown Butter Maple Pecan Crispy Treat.
Nature is in a constant state of flux and I've pulled my inspiration for this meal from that fact. Nature's ever changing landscape offers a unique and beautiful tablescape. Go outside and enjoy the fresh air. I think you'll find your food tastes a little bit sweeter, a little more satisfying.
Pretty Pictures.
There are a fair number of people out there that turn their noses up at food blogging. I know! Crazy right? They criticize food photography and food staging for being contrived.
But it is...
I'm not going to show you pictures of what I actually did with this rack of cookies or this plate of cake. That would be weird. Who really wants to see pictures of me stuffing my face messily, repeatedly and, dare I say, uncontrollably?
When you make something yummy your first thought isn't to place it artistically yet casually next to some perfect strawberries or pair it with a jug of milk that you'd never really drink from. And, admit it, some things we make aren't even that pretty.
This is why I spend hours in the kitchen just to bake a simple batch of cookies. 90% of this time is spent making sure my cookies don't look like junk and the other 10% is spent actually baking them.
Food photography can be a tricky business. There are tripods, expensive lenses, reflector panels, all the digital editing and cropping and let's not forget how hard it is to find photo-worthy dishes and utensils.
So yeah, it's contrived. But it's pretty. I'm all about making things pretty. Food bloggers go through a lot of trouble to bring you pictures worthy of mouth watering and stomach grumbling.
These pancakes are pretty. I didn't even need to do much to them. For reals. I just slapped them on a pretty plate, dusted them with powdered sugar, dropped a handful of raspberries on them and slathered them in syrup. Some things are just naturally beautiful.
And after turning off my camera I inhaled them, natural beauty and all. Can you blame me?
So Next Season.
I know, I know. I'm weird.
Who makes something maple flavoured in the Summer? In case you can't see, that would be me reluctantly raising my hand.
It's like I'm just asking for it. I'm tempting the fates. Tomorrow all the leaves are going to turn orange and fall from the trees. And it will be all my fault. If that happens I take full responsibility. And if that happens you'll at least have some appropriate cookies for the premature Autumn season.
I guess I could have tucked away this little gem and waited patiently for the next season. Do I strike you as a patient person?
Let me explain the method to my madness. Remember when I made these Maple Bacon Oatmeal Muffins? Well I had some maple syrup leftover and I couldn't see that sugary heaven go to waste so I planned these lovely Maple Banana Whoopie Pies.
I had exactly one cup of maple syrup left. Did I plan it that way or am I just that lucky? Why can't I be lucky with something useful like the lottery or Kitchen Aid giveaways? Whatever. I'll take what I can get.
And if licking the measuring cup clean of any maple syrup residue is wrong then I don't want to be right.
Love Muffin: Maple Bacon Oatmeal.
Yeah you read that right. Ladies and gentlemen, that was no typo.
For those of us who just can't make up our minds in the morning. I give you the ultimate breakfast. It's like four breakfast meals rolled into one. It's a bowl of oatmeal. It's a stack of pancakes. It's a handful of bacon. It's a muffin... umm obviously.
Breakfast. Of. Champions.
These days we're discouraged from eating things like greasy bacon and pancakes slathered in syrup and here I am combining them. No, I'm not trying to kill you. There's some oatmeal in there so that's got to count for something, right? The healthy power of oatmeal might magically counteract the unhealthy evil of it's breakfast foes.
You can pretend it's healthy. Like I do.
Or just shirk the rules and shove them in your mouth. Like I do.
Connect
Archives
Kitchen Inspiration
- A Cozy Kitchen
- Always With Butter
- Anne's Kitchen
- Annie's Eats
- Bakerella
- Bakers Royal
- Beyond the Plate
- Brown Eyed Baker
- Call Me Cupcake
- Cherry Tea Cakes
- Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
- Cooking for Seven
- Crackers
- Delish Living
- Dessert Stalking
- Desserts for Breakfast
- Food Gawker
- Gingerbread Bagels
- Gourmande In The Kitchen
- Honey and Jam
- How To: Simplify
- Joylicious
- Kitchen Karate
- Kitchen Korners
- La Tartine Gourmande
- Minimalista
- Mowielicious
- My Baking Addiction
- Pass The Sushi
- Piece of Cake
- Pioneer Woman
- Poires au Chocolat
- Sing For Your Supper
- Smitten Kitchen
- Sprinkle Bakes
- Sprouted Kitchen
- Sweetapolita
- Tartelette
- Taste Spotting
- The Cilantropist
- The Dog's Breakfast
- The Novice Chef
- The Purple Foodie
- Today's Nest
Design Inspiration
- Creature Comforts
- Design Dust
- Design is Mine
- Design Seeds
- Design Sponge
- Have and Hold
- Inspired Bride
- Keiko Lynn
- Polka Dot Bride
- Style Me Pretty
- The White Library
- Twig and Thistle
- Wedding Gawker