Tag Archives: weekends

Le Weekend Cake

I’ve come to a realization after many, many, years of denial…I truly think it stems from some form of divorce child syndrome….(hey, we all have some dysfunctional childhood syndrome, it happen!). Sorry mom and dad.

There I was, I found myself drying dishes in our kitchen, after washing them moments before, having a conversation with Mr. B about organizing and cleaning up. I said aloud without even realizing it was coming out of my mouth, “If my home, office, car, etc. are clean and tidy, then everything will be all right, because I’m in complete control of those spaces and the things that fill them. Everything’s in the place it needs to be.

Can we pump the brakes for a moment? If this ever was a moment that a weekend cake and break from reality inside my organized little head was needed… This. Was. It.

Hence my adventures in making the French weekend cake, this past weekend. Do I have you scratching your head yet, questioning, “weekend cake” is there even such a thing? Yes, indeed and of course it’s delicious too!

In France le weekend cake, or gateau de voyage is traditional french pound cake that’s rich and buttery. The cake itself got the name because it’s a cake that can be made ahead of time and easily transported throughout the weekend on your picnics.

In the states, Sarah Lee and Starbucks mass produce a really sad spongy pound cake (that people love? Hey, I was one of them too…) that is very dense and heavily flavored with butter, but it essentially is the same concept and will keep for a few days.

Isn’t there just something so special about baking and getting to use your hands to create and transform something as simple as dough into something so delicious and beautiful? Plus baking is something that takes me completely out of my mind and worries of clutter and unorganized couch pillows and unmade beds. (Yep, I’m that girl).

Finally, everything was finished and the oven was cooling off. We both waited for this very moment and huddled eagerly together around the table and with every bite, there were waves that swept us away in pure citrusy ecstasy. Now that’s a weekend cake!

Backpackbees

2015: Memorial Day Weekend

These are two of my favorite photos from this past weekend at the beach. I feel like they just exude summer. The calm, carefree, slow, peaceful, just be in the moment type of days that you only get to really feel during the dog days of summer (no pun intended). These are the days I find myself clutching onto for dear life as an adult.

What a view! We woke up every morning to this view of a Korean seaside village with brightly colored roofs, and the sea water so flat and crystal clear. Every spare moment I could snag I’d hideaway and find myself with the biggest grin on that balcony reading, sunning, watching the dear sweet ajumma’s tending to their flowers and vegetable gardens below, and at night taking in the beach or starry sky.

The days were filled with the perfect amount of sunshine, pillowy clouds, warm sea breeze, freshly brewed coffee, and meeting new friends. Plus I heard that the dive conditions were excellent, once you got past the frigid water temperature. The evenings just as breezy and blissful, filled with the celebratory Memorial Day Patbingsu, and BBQ. Ahhh perfection!

As we wrapped up our last evening with friends I made sure to pause and look towards the twinkly sky and give my heartfelt thanks to the many men and women that lost their lives defending our freedom. Without that selfless sacrifice we wouldn’t get to enjoy these carefree beach weekends year after year.

Backpackbees

Best Belgium Waffles

I just might be a bit bias here, but hands down, these are the most delectable homemade Belgium waffles we’ve ever had! You may just have to add these little guys into your regular weekend breakfast routine.

The waffles had the best crispy outer texture, were very flavorful and just the right balance of moistness on the inside. Bonus, there is a secret ingredient too! I’ll give you a clue….it gives off a very subtle nutty-cherry flavor… any guesses? Almond extract!

Go ahead get a little crazy, let loose on your Sunday morning and top those waffles off with your favorite maple syrup, some powdered sugar, or fresh fruit and enjoy! Don’t forget to let us know what you think.

Best Belgium Waffles
Makes roughly 8-10 waffles

2 Cups unbleached all-purpose flour
4 Teaspoons baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/4 Cup sugar
2 Large eggs, separated
1/2 Cup coconut oil
2 Cups lactose free whole milk
1 Tablespoon almond extract

Directions:

Sift all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl with easy to pour lip.
Separate the large eggs.
In another bowl, beat large egg whites until they are stiff.
Mix together the following: egg yolks, lactose free milk and coconut oil, almond extract and stir slightly.
Add all but egg whites to the dry ingredients and mix well.
Lastly, fold in beaten egg whites.

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Click, Ship & treat yourself!

Monday Types

Are you a Monday type of person? Let me elaborate…you know the annoying type that has to start off your work week by asking all of your co-workers, “What did you get into this weekend?” I’ll admit, I was a Monday type of gal until recently when I started to realize how much pressure it seems to put on some people to come up with an awesomely awesome answer on the spot.

It’s like you can almost see the gears turning as they search for something to keep the other party interested. Like they want to blurt out, “We went rock climbing, kayaking, enjoyed a helicopter ride over Seoul tower, and then we enjoyed dinner at a super exclusive restaurant prepared personally by chef Edward Kwon.” Ha-Ha! Then they look at you like and what did you do this weekend?

For me…I just cannot play into this game. We do exciting things here and there. Otherwise, I’m perfectly content and actually look forward to my mundane weekends that consist of not traveling outside a five-mile radius to our home, relaxing with a hot cuppa tea and book, watching past sex and the city episodes with the hubs (don’t tell him I told ya)coffee dates, cooking together in our kitchen, even tackling the laundry monster.

Yep, for all you Monday types…there ya have it.

Backpackbees

Summer Egg Salad

The weather’s getting warmer and warmer here in Korea. I feel your pain on not wanting to turn on that kitchen oven for lunch or dinner. So, what’s your go to meal? Any ideas or suggestions? Well, if you are looking for something a little different, you are just in luck!

Do you have a mango handy? How about some eggs? A random red pepper that you need to use up? A kitchen staple, curry spice? Mayo and a pinch of salt? What about an onion too?

Great! You have ALL of the ingredients needed to whipping up some summer egg salad! More on that in a bit. Sorry, I know, I always leave cliffhangers in my postings.

How is your weekend so far? Me? I spent my Saturday morning swimming with the G babies!

We swam, jumped, played ball, went down the water slide, splished and splashed until we couldn’t physically go anymore! The entire day reminded me of my childhood. The many times that my grandma and I would tote off to the state park nearby and swim until my lips were blue and skin was ever so wrinkly. What fun!

Towards the mid afternoon of our pool time, it was very obvious that the sleep monster was slowly creeping up. We took a break from the pool, rested, and had some snacks. We had quite the little picnic going for the four of us. Pretzels, cheese, yogurt, grapes, bananas, Cheerios, and hard-boiled eggs. Perfect! Well… not for  ms. A…she is not a fan of hard-boiled eggs. She say’s as her brother peels his egg, “They are stinky.” Eventually even getting up from her spot and moving onto my towel to get away from any egg aroma.

Unfortunately, I am like the little Mr. and enjoy my hard-boiled eggs too. So, once I got home, I  got cracking on my egg salad. YUM-O! I really think that even the pickiest hard-boiled egg naysayer would enjoy some summer egg salad on a warm slice of Ezekiel toast.

Summer Egg Salad (Perfect for two) Adapted from Simple Recipes

Ingredients:

4 Hard boiled eggs, peel and discard the yolks

Chopped onion, to your taste, I used about 2 Tablespoons

1 Chopped small baby red pepper

Pinch of sea salt

Few shakes of curry powder, to taste

1 Heaping spoonful of mayo made with olive oil, any mayo should work

1/2 Chopped fresh mango

1 Warm slice of Ezekiel toast

Directions:

Once the eggs are done boiling and you have peeled the shell, carefully separate the egg white from the yolk. You will only be using the egg white for this recipe. Next toss egg whites, and remaining ingredients into a bowl and smash and mix with a fork until desired consistency.

Serve on a nice slice of warm toast. Enjoy!

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