Best Ever Banana Muffins (circa 1985)

3 large bananas

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg slightly beaten

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1 1/2 cup flour (white or whole wheat or combination)

1/2 cup flax seed (whole or ground, toasted or not) - a 2011 addition

1/3 cup melted butter

chocolate chips as many you wish

Mash bananas. Add sugar and slightly beaten egg. Add melted butter. Add dry ingredients. Add chocolate chips. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Jaimie's Birthday Weekend

To celebrate my friends Jaimie's birthday, we went on a girls weekend away. Jessica, Jaimie, Amy, myself and little Isaiah are taking it easy, eating, chatting and enjoying the wild life.

Crisp Cornflake Cookies

This is a recipe I hunted down in a cookbook store when we lived in Toronto (1980). We had these cookies at Alan Gross's cottage - his mother brought them.

1 cup butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 flour

3 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 salt

1 tsp vanilla

5 cups cornflakes, crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, and gradually blend in sugar. Beat in egg. Combine and sift in flour, baking powder and salt. Add vanilla. Measure cornflakes before crushing. Crush and add to butter mixture. Drop by teaspoons by about 1 1/2" apart on greased cookie sheet . Press as flat as possible with fork dipped in cold water. Bake 10 min.

Friesen Fest Time Lapse

Claire & Friends

Susan's good friend Claire rented the cabin for a week in July with a bunch of girlfriends and their kids. It sounded like they all had a great time.

Cabin with Friends

On the hot weekend of August 13-15, Mike and I visit the cabin with friends Jaimie & Luke and their daughter Violet.

It was a weekend full of porch crawlers, blow up pools, meteor showers, and whale watching. Mike and I also celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary that weekend.

We are returning with Jaimie, Luke and Violet along with Jessica, Mike, Ella, Gab and Isaiah on the September long weekend - looking forward to it!

Susan's Red Cabbage Salad

My daughter Susan came across this recipe soon after moving to New York (2009). It's delicious and adds colour and crunch to a meal. Surprisingly, it's become a snack food for us!

Mix:

red (purple) cabbage shredded

Fuji apple grated

sunflower seeds

Dressing:

1 - 2 tbsp toasted cumin seeds (crush after toasting). Toasting intensifies the flavour exponentially! If you wish to eliminate one step, gently heat powdered cumin in a skillet.

juice of a lime

drizzle of olive oil

drizzle of soy sauce

red pepper flakes

Peanut-Ginger Chicken with Cucumber-Fruit Salsa

A delicious and simple chicken recipe from Vange, another part-time Mayne Islander. Perfect in summer.

12 chicken thighs (about 3 lbs)

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 bottle of chili sauce (1/2 cup; would ketchup and red pepper flakes do?)

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp vinegar

4 cloves garlic minced

2 tbsp grated ginger

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients and pour into a large sealable plastic bag. Add chicken pieces. Marinade for several hours or overnight.

Drain chicken before grilling and reserve marinade. Simmer marinade (to make it safe for consumption) and serve alongside grilled chicken.

1 cup chopped fruit (mango, plum, pear, nectarine)

1 cup chopped seeded cucumber

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp oil

1 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsp finely chopped green onion and some grated red onion

Mix all ingredients, cover and let sit for 2-3 hours. Keeps in fridge for several days.

Tuscan Broad Bean Salad

This is from my dear friend Cherie in Winnipeg, who has a good eye for a new recipe that becomes a hit!

2 tsp lemon juice

1 or more cloves garlic

1/2 tsp salt & pepper

2 tbsp olive oil

1/3 cup asiago cheese

1 tsp lemon zest

3 tbsp thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes

1 can broad beans

Whisk lemon juice with S & P. Whisk in lemon juice. Drizzle in olive oil while whisking. Toss in cheese, zest and tomatoes. Stir beans into this mixture.

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

A recipe from the 80's!

3/4 cup margarine

2 cups (or less) sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp orange zest

2 cups coarsely grated zucchini

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup nuts

Use cake method for mixing. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 min. in greased bundt pan or 40 min. in 9X13 pan.

Drop chocolate chips somewhat evenly over warm cake, leave for a minute and spread melting chips for an easy icing option.

Impossible Pie

I got this recipe in 2009 from Rosie and Timmie, the fabulous cooks at the first silent retreat I attended at the Rivendell Retreat Centre, Bowen Island.

4 eggs

1/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 cups milk or almond milk

1 cup coconut

1 tsp vanilla

Place in blender and blend until completely mixed. Pour into buttered pie pan (or square glass baking dish). Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. When done, crust will be on bottom, custard in the middle and coconut on top.

Pear Pancake

This is another family favourite from Bonnie Stern - a dish we've served for many years for weekend brunches at Victoria Beach and on Christmas mornings.

In a skillet (you may wish to bake the pancake in the same skillet), saute:

1 1/2 tbsp butter

4 firm pears (Anjou) cut up in small chunks

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup brown sugar

I add cranberries (dried or fresh) to add colour and tartness.

Whisk together:

3 eggs

2 tbsp. sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

Spread the pears in an oven proof dish (or leave in skillet) and pour batter over the pears. Bake uncovered for 20-25 min in 400 degree oven. An iron skillet works well and adds drama to the table, but don't burn your fingers grabbing the handle!

Double the recipe to serve 5-6 people.

Blueberry Flax Pancakes

Blueberry Flax Pancakes (without blueberries) are a favourite of my son-in-law Mike. This recipe comes from Bonnie Stern and replaces her earlier Pear Pancake which was standard family brunch fare at Victoria Beach, Manitoba and Christmas mornings.

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup crushed flax seeds

1 tbsp. whole flax seeds

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

pinch of salt

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

4 tbsp. melted butter

2 cups blueberries

Mix dry ingredients. Combine moist ingredients and add to dry. Drop blueberries onto the surface of pancakes as they cook and prior to flipping over to finish cooking.

I serve blueberry sauce along with the pancakes. Simmer blueberries, sugar and a little water with grated orange zest (or bits of whole orange). Thicken with cornstarch and water mixture and bring to boil.

Elsie's Emails

Date: Fri, 2 Jul 2010 10:38
Subject: from Elsie
From: Elsie
To: Maria & Joyce

Hi Maria:

Your mom told me you're arriving on Mayne tonight.

Just thought I'd let you know that these things are in the fridge:

5 small red potatoes
1/2 litre of 2% milk
an entire lettuce
1 garlic head
1 lemon
jam galore!!!
butter
cream cheese
one bunch green onions
1 good apple; 1 not-so-good apple
mayonaise
granola
two dozen eggs, dated, Gulp!, May, but your mom says eggs stay good a long time
a bowl of veggie chili (I'm sure Mike will want that for a midnight snack tonight)
mustard, 2 kinds
3 things of pancake syrup
peanut butter
mild salsa
some mouldy jam
something freakish looking
a yogurt container I'm afraid to peer into
onions

and in the freezer:
one really great bread
other freezer-burnt bread bags
coconut ice-cream, to die for
vanilla bean ice-cream, also good
strawberry swedish pancakes
frozen strawberries & blueberries, I think
a bunch of browned frozen bananas your mom bought at the local grocery store for "next time"
a bit of pie dough
a few indiscernable items
some crumbs and red sticky stuff

I will water the outdoor plants today.
Sky's blue now, and hope it remains.
The half-moon hung in sky at 9:30am.

The clock in the kitchen ticks loud.

I couldn't figure out how to turn on the tv, so I may have screwed up the remote, but maybe I was using the wrong one!

I didn't touch the stereo. Is that a stereo?

I repositioned the ant trap an invader squirrel attempted to steal twice. I told him to stay at the neighbour's but i spotted him under the deck yesterday. Bad boy!

I wiped the coffe table; it's lovely. Your mom said you bought it.

I will try to vacuum, depending on my rotator cuff.

I used my own bedding and towels.

I hope you enjoy this place as much as I did.

Thanks, Joyce, for this awesome gift.

I read one wonderful book, from which I sent you quotes. I am ashamed to confess I did not walk once since your departure, however, I thought about it, imagined the entire walk, so maybe I tricked my body into thinking it was taken for a walk. I will attempt a walk this afternoon after I visit the local bookstore, which I have not yet set foot into since my arrival. Now, that's a miracle to testify about in church this sunday. Feel free to speak by proxy, Joyce.

Enough. Too much. I'm stalling. Time to tidy up and wash my hair before I re-enter civilization beyond the premises.

Bye, Maria.

Bye, Joyce.

Love, Elsie

REPLY

On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 4:27 PM

Subject: RE: from Elsie
From: Maria
To: Elsie & Joyce

Elsie - you are too cute!

Mom - the fridge and freezer sound scary!

Looking forward to enjoying that deck this weekend.

-Maria

REPLY

On Fri, July 2, 2010 at 4:38 PM

Subject: from Elsie
From: Elsie
To: Maria & Joyce

Oh, and there are grapes, too. Good ones. And apple juice. The toothpaste fell behind the sink; maybe Mike's arm can reach back there. Mine refused. Sorry!

I cleaned the fridge part, but not the freezer. And I vacuumed some cat hair and then realized how foolish that was.

Maria, I took the cushions off as it looked like rain, and then an hour later the sun came out, so if it looks like rain tomorrow, that's the trick to stave it off until Sunday night.

I watered everything today, too.

Also, the sheets on the main bed are just put on, and the rest of the bedding I'm leaving for you, Maria, as I hate making beds. It always leaves me ashamed.

The gate is in but the plumber did not return. Nor the mechanic. I think my Kate Gosselin hair scared them. :)

Joyce, I ate the last french fries. Sorry.

Maria, enjoy enjoy.

Amen.

Elsie

Picture Wall

For Mother's Day and Father's Day this year, we gave Mom & Dad a picture collage for the front entry.

The pictures are of times spent on vacation and at Victoria Beach, Manitoba.

I planned out the layout on AutoCAD and printed it full scale, making it much easier to mount all 24 frames.

I hung them on the July long weekend, when Mike and I were at the cabin with Ryan and Rav.

Welcome Pole

Another weekend with Nicole, Brian, Arly and Mavi. We had to stop and take our picture with this "Welcome Pole".

R.I.P. Little Bird

Our first causality of the beautiful glass railing.

R.I.P little sparrow......R.I.P.

Cork Flooring

Our dear carpenter, Brian, installed the beautiful cork floor in the basement shortly before Christmas. They look great!

On January 2, myself, Mike, Brian, Nicole, the 2 dogs, and the cat all went to Mayne for the weekend. The girls laid around while the boys installed baseboard heaters. Mike almost got his eyebrows singed off in the process.

We took Arly and Mavi to the Lighthouse for a run around with the ball. At one point, Arly let the ball run down the cliff and there had to be a rescue mission involving me holding on the leash, and Brian, while holding on to the other end, slide down the rocks to retreive it.

At the end of the weekend, we left Brian there to continue his work installing trim and the cubbies in the basement bathroom and laundry room. We are so lucky to have such a talented guy working for us!

The dogs put up a bit of a fight when it was time to leave. Arly & Mavi - you're invited back anytime!

Grey Gardens Weekend

Weezie and I delivered approximately 900 lbs of wood flooring and 900 lbs of limestone tiles. Maria and her brother-in-law, Brian 'hand-bombed' all of the 7' boxes of wood, while I cut the ends open for the wood to begin acclimatizing to Mayne Island.

Then, Weezie and I painted the ceilings (again), the living room, entrance, guest bedroom AND unloaded the limestone.

At night, a bath in the new tub with the funky garden hose faucet and in the mornings, porridge and toast in bed substituted for the spa treatments we needed.

It's like we're moving again. Everything is in chaos, preparing for Brian to install the wood flooring this week. He's already installed the cork in the basement, as well as installing some doors and window trim. This place is going to look great. THANK-YOU Maria! Thank-you Brian!

The most fun part of the weekend was watching the documentary, Grey Gardens on Friday, and on Saturday night, Grey Gardens (the HBO movie) with Jessica Lang and Drew Barrymore. Weezie took charge of it all: construction progress, painting tasks and entertainment.

Now how will we keep ahead of Big Eadie and Little Eadie Bouvier? We easily polished off a carton of Ben & Jerry's "If I had a Million Flavors" ice cream on Saturday night and Maria discussed the possibility of breeding cats - Rice and Patches don't seem enough after watching these movies.

Maria left on the Sunday 8 pm ferry that brought Randy here. Caroline and John planned to visit but it didn't work out this weekend. The power went off during the early hours of Monday and didn't return till Tuesday evening. By the time we left at 5 pm on Monday, the place was getting chilly.

Arbor Inspiration

The next major decisions that the Lochts have to make is the design of the arbor on the deck. I have pulled some images for some inspiration. Let me know which ones you like.

Image #1: We wont paint or stain the arbour, but let the wood turn gray with the rest of the deck - the "o-naturel" look.

Image #2 - The grid is nice - very geometric.

Image #3 - Off set grid - adds some interest.

Image #4 - Skinny Grid -

It's a more modern look, not so much in this image (due to the clay oven), but I think this could look quite beautiful, I like the shadow's it creates. Notice the grayed out wood - prrrrr.

Image #5 - Horizontal Lattice. For the left side of the deck, to create some privacy and shade. This image looks very much like what our furniture will look like - white plastic bucket chairs with a rectangular wood table.

Tile Shopping with Mom

Mom and I have been driving around the city this week, searching for hardwood floor and tile for the cabin. We are making progress - hardwood is 75% confirmed, and the bathroom tile concept is coming together.

While I'm busy talking with the sales people, asking about price, availability and installation, Mom is busy talking on the phone, dropping tile, and asking, "Are we done yet?".

She's so cute!

Mom Plays

Mom Prays

Yoga

A typical morning

Patches seems concerned about Dad's coffee.

One Special Whale

There was this one whale that stopped in front of our cabin, turned over onto its back under the water, poked his head up and looked right at me! Then he curled his tail up out of the water as if to say hello! I couldn't help but scream and wave at him. ...Huh? I may have been on this island too long. (I'm not sure the whale is the only one that's "special.")

Our summer reading

Mom only wishes.

Sleepover on the deck

Susan and Maria slept on the deck - under the dome of billions of stars

Lung Cancer Ward

We put in a lot of hard word during our first weekend as Mayne Island residences. After 30 years of smoking, by the previous owners, the walls needed to be washed. We wiped down the walls with ammonia. When we dumped out each bucket, the water looked like coffee. After seeing what smoking does to your home, just image what it does to your body!

Blog Workers

Susan and I learning the ropes of blogging. Notice my severe case of bedhead.

Summer breakfasts 2009