Masa Cookies

We made a batch of cookies . . .

 And very carefully copied the recipe down . . .

 The kids were thrilled to make "shape cookies" as they call them . . .

 Golden so fast it wasn't hard to wait . . .

 So here is the recipe . . .

Masa Cookies

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

In a large bowl mix:

3 cups masa flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon guar gum

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cardamom 

1 cup brown sugar

Add and rub with your fingers until forms crumbs:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup grapeseed oil

Add:

2 eggs

1 cup almond or coconut milk

Roll out between sheets of parchment paper, oil if the dough sticks.

Cut into desired shapes and lay on oiled cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

                                                                ~ Marica

Also blogged at: wasabihoneybee.blogspot.com

An excursion to the outdoor bookstore . . .

I have always taken for granted that our small town has an outdoor bookstore. It wasn't until this year, when our very good friend who works there mentioned the rarity of such things, that my mind went click click and I realized you just couldn't maintain an outdoor bookshop in most climates. Where we live has its rains for sure, but most of the year the sun shines and the clouds stay at bay. Of course, those of us who grow up here yearn for more "weather" but there is a certain charm to the flexibility of indoor/outdoor living . . . 

So last Monday we decided a mini fieldtrip to the outdoor book-haven was a perfect opportunity to enjoy one of our favorite places in this town, and take advantage of our 

"Inside" connection . . .

It was fun seeing the kids walking through the endless corridors of bookshelves . . .

We were given the exclusive tour . . .

From Anthropology to Science Fiction . . . 

They searched and weighed their options . . .

 Finally to each pick out a book or two to take home . . .

It was a lovely bit of time in the world of sunshine and books . . .

                                                                                                                  ~ Marica

Post also blogged on wasabihoneybee.blogspot.com

October 31st . . .

Pumpkin Donuts 

Gluten and Dairy Free

In a lare bowl mix:

2 eggs

3/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1    15 oz can of pumpkin puree

1 + 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 + 1/2 cups sweet rice flour

3/4 cups almond meal

1/4 cup tapioca flour

1 teaspoon guar gum

In a large pan over medium heat pour 1 quart vegetable oil .

To test if oil is ready, drop a pinch of dough into the oil and if it rises to the top it is ready.

Shape into one inch balls and fry several minutes, until golden brown,  turning as needed. 

Drain cooked donuts on a paper towel.

                                                                Recipe also blogged on: wasabihoneybee.blogspot.com and superbkitchenblog.com

Project finished . . .

Project finished . . .  

  Now onto the next one . . . 

          

                                             ~ Marica

Busy . . .

Rainy Day . . .

Ten kids together with the rain pouring down outside . . . 

It was loud and muddy, but then . . . 

 The clouds made room for the sun . . . 

 And out they ran  . . . All of them to play . . .

                                                            ~ Marica

Some of Monday . . .

After a short walk through the Oak Forest, the kids came back, hands full, with feathers . . . 

 An experiment with compost . . . 

Careful labeling and we are ready to see what happens . . . 

                               ~ Marica

A bit of our projects . . .

Here is a bit of this last week, I also posted it over here . . . I have a weakness for stepping aside from a project to click a few pictures . . .

I question if it depletes my "in the moment" experience, 

but I so entirely enjoy catching these glimpses and setting them into a rectangular memory . . . 

We measured, drilled holes and tied eight-foot posts together to build a small teepee . . . 

In some ways I  actually prefer the way it looks at this stage, to after we added the siding. 

It is the same with before I add a face to a doll. I always almost stop and want to leave it unfinished. There is something so beautiful and simple before a project is finished . . . Like an unfurnished house, or an empty notebook . . . There is so much possibility still bubbling, 

ready to happen . . . 

The siding was thin bamboo fencing that we stapled on . . .

Later they were busy children shoveling old goat manure for our vegetable bed . . . 

Quite industriously I might add . . . 

Then we mixed it with some sand and a few bags of compost . . . 

We made postcards . . . 

With extraordinarily careful writing to make the messages . . . 

And pictures . . . 

On a whole, I feel like the kids are as eyes-wide-open as they can be . . . 

Then faster than a clam, they can turn off and head in a different direction . . .  

Spontaneity without responsibility . . . a piece of being a child that doesn't get to last, 

but let them fly with it while they can. 

                          ~ Marica