Peach Cake

It's the tail end of peach season, so I found this peach cake recipe just in time! Fresh and sweet for dessert, it could be a morning breakfast cake or perfect for afternoon coffee. I know it will be a favorite for a long time...

PEACH CAKE

3 cups peaches, peeled & chunked

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cube butter or marg.

(or canola oil if you're being good)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. amaretto

1 large egg

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup sliced almonds

sugar to sprinkle on top

Peel and chop the peaches into nice big chunks. Set aside. Beat the sugar and butter. Add vanilla, amaretto, & egg. Then mix in flour, baking powder and salt. Finish up stirring in the milk. Stir in all the peaches and spoon into a 9" round pan sprayed with Pam. Cover the top with the almonds and sprinkle it all with sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes until golden brown.

It's good warm and cold--and always better with piles of whipped cream! On this first try, I added 1/2 cup chopped walnuts--just because I'm a nut nut. And I sprinkled powder on top through a sieve jus before serving--just for the "pretty." The cake has as much fresh peach as it does batter, so it's light and just sweet enough.

September

September, the threshold to my favorite time of year--back to school, catching up with friends after summers away, baking again--apple crisp and cranberry bread, a certain order that comes from the regular routine. I usually anticipate it all with a particular autumn joy. This year though, I'm over my head at school, a dear friend is just beginning her chemotherapy journey, financial complications and more medical concerns... Where's the joy? I think this year I'll have to settle for mere contentment. That's enough for now. God have mercy.

Salmon Salad Nicoise

After a delightfully cool summer, we are finally having sweltering days that demand a fresh salad for supper. So last night we enjoyed a Salad Nicoise with salmon with a dense loaf of crunchy sour dough bread.

SALMON SALAD NICOISE

Lettuce greens

Sliced tomato

Cooked, chunked red potatoes

Cooked baby green beans

Assorted good olives

Salmon, grilled and flaked into chunks

Layer all the ingredients into a artful plate for salad. Pour on dressing just before serving.

DRESSING

1/3 cup olive oil

2 tab white balsamic vinegar

garlic salt

pepper

Combine in a little jar and shake until emulsified.

Top Ten - China 2010

Another amazing trip to China, good days with Micah, Jodi and the lively grand-girls, punctuated by a memorable train trip down to Hunan to stay with Jodi's dear parents. I could write dozens of memories--but here's my "top ten."

#1. Getting to know the new "grown up" Maryann was the best! She was my little buddy and would sit and listen to books forever, constantly asking "What's that? What's that?" on every page. She's our curious little kid!

#2. In Changsha, we explored the grounds of the oldest university in China. Great fun toddling through the gardens with Micah and Maryann--photo opportunities galore in such a beautiful place.

#3. I'll never forget the days of remarkable hospitality in the Zhou's home. It was wonderful for me to see how & where Jodi grew up. From the chicken feet dinner our first night to the warm send off at the train station as we headed back to Shanghai, they were so gracious and kind. I wish I could speak Chinese and really get to know them...

#4. One hot evening Jodi's childhood friend guided us across Changsha to a historic courtyard building --part Buddhist temple, part small shops and we continued upstairs to the most incredible dim sum restaurant. A sea of bright flagged carts surrounded us as we sat down--so many choices! Micah and Jodi chose 25+ small dishes for us to sample, all washed down with green bean juice (surprisingly refreshing!) The table was beautiful, so full of colorful offerings.

#5. I loved watching Micah being the "Daddy" --showing the girls the rainbow in a fountain, doing water "calligraphy" on an old stone wall, pointing out Venus and Jupiter in the night sky.. He had them giggling and squealing as he tossed them in the air-- and is the fun bath time Dad. He has amazing patience and understanding for 2 little girls. They are blessed.

#6. The Zhous hired a little gray van to take us over an hour out of town to a lake filled with lotus plants. We were ferried around the lake in a gondola style boat, poled by an older Chinese man who was informative and clever--He made us a lotus leaf/flower hat that we all modeled for pictures and dug out seeds from lotus pods for us to sample. The brilliant pink flowers big as platters dotted the masses of enormous green lily pads. So beautiful and tranquil.

#7. On our travels home in the little gray van I had a wonderful chance to chat with Jodi. She really is a bright, amazing person. With girls almost asleep on our laps, it was a quiet spot in our week and I feel like I got to know Jodi in a new way...

#8. One evening we had dinner in a little restaurant a short walk from the Zhou's home--including a huge "corn fritter" and for dessert candied apples and bananas--delish! The Zhous headed home while Jodi took Micah, the girls and I on a little walking tour of her growing up neighborhood. We passed her old schools, a small lake, simple stores and the city park. Jodi stopped at a sidewalk toy vendor to buy the girls little twirly light up toys with a very repetitive chinese melody. They loved them! It was a real highlight for me to see more of Jodi's world.

#9. One afternoon I pulled out the little photo album I had sent Charlotte of her visit here with us last winter. I wondered how much she really remembered of her weeks at "Grandma Rhonda and Grandpa Larry's house." But when I turned to the page of us eating stew for dinner she started to sing the "I like carrots" song that we had sung that very night! It made my heart so very happy to know she still remembered!

#10. I did have a chance to babysit one afternoon and evening while Micah and Jodi took a day away. Charlotte and I walked to the market for lunch/dinner supplies and then we came home to play all the grandma favorites --Maryann can squish play-doh forever. And there was a tea party, lots of coloring, story books, punchy balloons, paper dolls, the chinese equivalent of Sesame Street on tv and of course bath and bed time. It was the best!

Now I'm home. I told Larry I made two resolutions in China-- Never go again in August (too darn hot & muggy!) and never go without Larry. It's too much for him to miss. I thankful for these amazing, memorable days.

He Lijun, Jodi's mother

The person who's been on my mind since I left China is Jodi's mom, He Lijun. She and I share an affection for two adorable grand-girls. We were both born the same year, but that is where our life similarities end. At 14 years old Lijun became one of millions of victims of China's Cultural Revolution. She was taken from her family to labor on a farm in the countryside for a number of years. That is where her schooling ended. At age 24 she took a job in a fertilizer factory where she met Jodi's father. They married and had their one child, sweet Jodi. By marrying in this town she lost her chance to return to live by her family. For years the Zhous lived in a 6th floor walk up apartment owned by the factory until home ownership became possible and they bought it from the company. They live there still in their tidy home with the squat toilet and a compact kitchen where she turns out dish after dish for each meal. She has traveled to Shangahi to be with Micah and Jodi, but not far beyond. She's never driven a car or attended a church. I wonder what she would think of my life here. She is a strong woman and as far as I can tell from eavesdropping on Chinese conversations, she has a definite point of view. I wish I could know her better. She seems an amazing woman.

On my way to China

I'm almost out to the door to China. With a little (no, make that big) help from Larry, I have my visa in hand. Two cunning little black checked dresses are hanging in the hallway to be packed and the pile of take-along items is growing in my bedroom. In a way, my heart is already there, ahead of me, with Micah & Jodi and those two kissable grand-girls. I'm in the thrall of anticipation. Charlotte &Maryann, here I come! Want to get out the playdough? How about a story? My heart is thankful...

Summer Salad

Peaches sweet and juicy make this the perfect fresh summer salad...

Salad:

fresh greens

1 chicken breast, cut in small bits

1 tab. fajita seasoning

a big juicy peach

1/3 cup pecans

2 tab. sugar

Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tab. tarragon vinegar

salt & pepper to taste

1 tab. sugar

Saute the chicken breast pieces in olive oil until cooked through and browned. Sprinkle on the fajita seasoning. Stir in 2 tab. of water until all the chicken is coated. To prepare the pecans, put the pecans and 2 tab. sugar in a nonstick pan. Stir until the sugar melts and carmelizes a bit (be sure not to burn the sugar). Turn the coated pecans out onto a piece of foil to cool.

Then layer the lettuce, chicken, peach that has been peeled and cut into chunks and finally the pecans. Pour on dressing just before serving.

Best eaten out under a maple tree in the backyard on a hot summer evening with a tall glass of "tinto de verano" and a slab of good bread. delish!