Tag Archives: butter

Breakfast

high-altitude glazed cinnamon scones

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As usual, I have included the original sea level notes in my printable recipe below, so this is for everyone!

Just to give you a little picture of what’s happening at the moment… I’m currently sitting at my computer, feeling the floor (and maybe the walls) literally shake. If you have ever lived in South America, you probably have experienced their version of partying. It’s almost 10:00, it started over an hour ago and it will probably go on for a couple more hours at least. Someone (I don’t know if just a neighbor or if the guards were called) is banging repeatedly on their door but to no avail. Besides the cultural differences which has been already written about in many books, I think I have just always been an old soul. How does anyone have the energy to scream and stomp and scream and cheer and holler and dance for so many hours to music crashing through most floors of this tall apartment building?

Update later: the party lasted almost 5 hours and multiple people tried to get them to stop. I didn’t call the guards because I knew it was futile, but I would have if they had woken the baby. Thank goodness they didn’t. He and Mike slept like…babies. ;) This is different than when we lived in Arequipa, Peru – we were told by our neighbors (after other neighbors partied all night) that if one called the police, the police would tell the “guilty” who called them. This would endanger them depending on the situation so no one ever called. Everyone partied and everyone hated it, haha! 

Oh goodness, that has NOTHING to do with these amazing breakfast scones, but I am having a hard time concentrating. :)

These really were amazing! Especially with a steamy cup of coffee right next to it.

I adapted it for high-altitude and it actually worked well the first time! Usually at 9800 feet elevation it takes multiple tries, if ever, to get dough recipes to rise (or not collapse) properly.

I’m really falling more and more in love with the website. It really does share terrific financial tips, recipes, and so much more. You can thank for these scones!

 for the printable recipe.

Sweets: Cookies & Bars

high-altitude turtle cookies

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Before you throw this one away because you live at sea level – I noted on the printable recipe below notes for either. :)

Half the fun of making these was just that they’re pretty. :)

This recipe is from as shared by , but I have adjusted it for high altitude. Remember I’m talking over 9,000 feet elevation, so this should work for most “high-altitude” dwellers!

I don’t really know why but these always scream “Christmas” to me. At least I’ve made them for a Christmas party before! Just a holly jolly cookie, I guess.  ;)

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Breakfast

high-altitude english muffins

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When we first moved to South America at the beginning of 2009, I craved a lot of food we couldn’t get. Just random things, mostly sweets. :)

As the years go by, though, the craving more turned to missing. We miss a lot of things we can’t get in Quito. A lot of the healthier options the States has to offer being on top (I still miss certain candies and treats, of course!) and now certain baby items along with basic conveniences. Sure, we don’t have the temptation of a lot of the junk food USA has in abundance but we also don’t have a lot of healthy options either.

That’s okay. We make do. And we exercise, that also helps. ;) (Oh, don’t get me started on running at 9800 feet elevation…)

Anyway, it occurred to me one day that I could make English muffins, one of the items I used to buy way back when. Granted, we didn’t have whole wheat flour (we do now!!) when I first started making these, but no big deal.

These were completely legit. I’ve made them multiple times and they always work out so well here.

Funny thing is – my baker friend up in Oregon said they didn’t turn out as well at sea level, even after she made the called for adjustments.

Here’s the  with my re-wording of a few things that helped me “stay the course” better, but it’s not really adjusted from .

Note for those interested: I live at 9800 feet. It’s a testament to ‘s skill that these worked so well. :)

Soups

potage bonvalet

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I realized I haven’t shared this recipe before – it’s one of my favorite soups from one of my favorite cookbooks, Taste of Oregon.

It can’t be extremely healthy for you, but have small portions and you’ll be all right. ;)

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Sweets: Cookies & Bars

pumpkin swirl brownies

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Nov 14, 2010.

Original post:

I started preparing these way too close to the time we needed to leave the house the other evening that I was scurrying around like a crazy lady trying to get them into the oven in record time.  I probably did set a record!!

I literally pulled them out of the oven, put them where the rest of the family couldn’t see them and left the house.  I didn’t get to enjoy them till the next morning, but it was worth the wait!

I borrowed the recipe from and adapted it slightly.

You can print it .

Snacks & Appetizers

seasoned oyster crackers

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Oct 2, 2013.

Original Post:

Having something in your kitchen that you can only get in another country ensures you use every last drop or crumb… We had a half-finished bag of oyster crackers I had brought back from the States and, while I haven’t been to every store in Ecuador, I haven’t seen them here.

I had read several different “seasoned oyster cracker” recipes once and then a few weeks later {when my oven temporarily worked heh} just sorta made up my own based on what I already had in the kitchen. I seriously loved it. And I think so did Mike.

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I can’t try any more combinations of seasoning ideas since I don’t have any more crackers, so if you do something yourself, let me know of any good turnouts!

Sweets: Cookies & Bars

white chocolate-dipped cranberry-oatmeal cookies

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 23, 2010.

From Original Post:

Whew!  Long name.  But turns out not that difficult to make…plus they’re pretty!

It’s basically a normal cookie recipe made fancy by the dipped look. ;)

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Sides: Veggies

herbed wild rice

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Mar 24, 2012.

Original post:

As I’m sitting on my couch trying to stay awake, I thought I’d share another recipe with you.  The hubby comes home from warm, sultry Atlanta in a bit.  Fortunately, we live close enough to the airport, I can just leave when he lands.

Anyway, the recipe!  It was a couple days before a long-planned potluck was upon us that I even realized, “oh, I need to make something for that…”  I went to work trying to figure out what I could make that would keep since I had to be at a rehearsal 2 hours before the dinner began.  Then it hit me – duh, the crock pot!

Scattered throughout all my cookbooks are, of course, many slow cooker recipes.  However, my favorite is a whole  magazine devoted to a range of slow cooker recipes.  And, me being me, I can hardly stand repeating recipes so I went on a hunt for a new one.  Obviously, I landed on this wild rice dish.  It was ridiculously easy to prepare and had good responses from the eaters, so high five to !  This one is a keeper.

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Sweets: Cookies & Bars

perfect pumpkin cookie

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 18, 2010.

If you followed this blog back in 2010, you’ll remember how crazy I went with pumpkins! I cooked up a bunch and used it to make all sorts of cookies, muffins, bread and more.

 

When a I followed posted , I immediately saved the recipe and ta-da, have now shared it with you. I remember actually making them in my Grandma’s house in Idaho. Let me tell you, it’s harder to cook in someone else’s kitchen than I had originally thought! But it was enjoyable.

Print the recipe  (just slightly adapted from ).

Sweets: Pies & Cakes

classic pecan pie

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Oct 16, 2012.

Original Post:

It’s been a while since I shared a recipe and here is a classic!  It’s officially Autumn and we are socially free to make soups, stews, pumpkin & pecan pies, and so much more.

But I should probably admit to you that I made this in August.  ;)  If I have ANY time at all this Fall, when we’re not traveling, I have so many soups that are calling my name.  We’ll see about them…but for now, here is a very traditional recipe for super sweet Pecan Pie.  It was actually the first pecan pie I’d ever made and was pleased with the results.  The crust edge was also an experiment and I wasn’t as thrilled with that idea’s turnout, but hey you have to try to know!

Print the recipe .  Although I miss the warmth already and my frozen fingers feel numb typing this, I DO enjoy pulling my boots back out and cooking fall-y dishes. :)