“I absolutely adore cows.
They’re the most fascinating,
gentle and beautiful animals.
Their eyes are so amazing.
I have ten that live on the land
around my house.
I love to talk to them.
There are few things better
than falling asleep in a field
and being woken up
by an inquisitive cow.”
~ Mary Quant
“Hope is like a road
in the country;
there was never a road,
but when many people
walk on it,
the road comes into existence.”
~ Lin Yutang
Discover hidden treasures while meandering among the unique shops, galleries, and food joints in Mt. Dora, Florida. You never know what you’ll find. It may be a vibrant needlepoint pillowed Picasso in the Modernism Museum Shoppe, the most gigantic hand-blown witches ball you’ve ever seen at Home & Garden Treasures, or “talking flatware” by Uncommon Love at the local Farmers Market. Mt. Dora is a paragon of serendipity you’ll want to add to your list of places to visit. Imagine my delight at meeting Erin, an expert handicrafter of “talking flatware”! She is skilled in the art of creating messages on silver-plated utensils with exceptional results. You may have noticed I tend to use such accents while showcasing the recipes on my blog, Snapshotsincursive. The food section is entitled, “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet”. I am pleased to announce, from time to time, future dishes will be complimented by some of Erin’s designs that I purchased that day. You are invited to accompany me on this mouthwatering journey of the palate.
When my Aunt Gail and Cousin Connie invited us on the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp Airboat Ride, I had no idea what they were talking about. And until you share the sensation of gliding down the river before cutting over hardy reeds, lily pads, and marsh lands, you won’t either. It is the most thrilling exploration of swamps, alligators, and wildlife imaginable. Did you know cattle and steer stand knee-deep in the marsh just to nibble on healthy greens? Or that “gators” flip out on the surface of the waterway only to submerge yards ahead with their eyes peeking over the Everglades? I saw first-hand exotic baby alligators, while merely days-old, mingle camouflaged at water’s edge believing they are completely invisible. I learned the majestic pond cypress tree, with its scale-like trunk, can tolerate wetlands and endure floods making it an ancient species of southern gentility. Seeing a dense grove among floating lily pads is not only impressive, it’s artistic. As the skillfully guided airboat ride ended, I knew I had glimpsed Nature at its best. A delicious lunch sampling of fresh “gator”, frog legs, shrimp, clams, and fish culminated the visit with memories galore, followed by a fond farewell.
What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Burst of Flavor: Risotto Easy Peasy! Until I master the same technique of the gourmet risotto served in my favorite Italian restaurant, I turn to this reliable substitute. Made with eco-friendly high quality arborio rice and seasonings, it’s ready in half the time with results that please. By adding baby peas and fresh parmesan cheese, the outcome gives it my stamp of approval.
RISOTTO EASY PEASY
Ingredients:
1 box Gluten-Free Lundberg Creamy Parmesan Risotto*
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 cup baby peas
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Sauté arborio rice for 2 minutes in olive oil over medium heat using a 2 quart saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups water and seasonings. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The rice will get thick and creamy. Add baby peas stirring until heated through. Garnish with parmesan cheese. Serve hot.
*Available from Lundberg Family Farms. (I receive no recompense for promoting their product.)
This Parisian café is a fragrant oasis hidden away from the main flow of traffic. Its open courtyard features a multi-tiered fountain surrounded by a garden of colorful blooms. As we dined outdoors, under the shade of a red umbrella, our appetites were sated with a buttery quiche fromage and smoky salmon baguette. Sometimes the best kept secrets are right around the corner. Bon Appetît!
A leisurely stroll on a winding boardwalk is perfect for daily exercise. One forgets about the 8-acre distance covered along the shoreline and through dense areas of native plants and trees simply because there is so much that catches the eye. Shaded pavilions offer the perfect stopping point to relax for a moment, soak up the view, or share a picnic. The solitude is therapeutic as well as the company of egrets, ducks, bullfrogs, and dragonflies. Well done, Mt. Dora!
What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Burst of Flavor: Quick Bread Lemon Poppyseed! When life gives you lemons, eat them! There’s nothing more refreshing than the citrusy taste of lemon, in my opinion. It’s light, refreshing, and reminds me of sunshine. I believe you can achieve surprising results when you use good ingredients in a recipe, even if it involves convenient shortcuts. After all, rave reviews are proof enough!
QUICK BREAD LEMON POPPYSEED
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 box of lemon cake mix
1 cup hot water
1 tablespoon lemon citrus peel, granulated
2 tablespoons poppy seed
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine all ingredients and beat for 10 minutes. Pour into greased and floured loaf pans.* Bake for one hour or until done. Bread is done when a pick comes out clean and loaf springs back from pan.
*Makes 2 regular-size loaves or 6 mini-loaves and 1 regular loaf. The mini loaves need bake for only 25-30 minutes. Watch carefully.
Before I begin, let me clarify…I did not make a meal of cupcakes. I’m not saying I couldn’t have, I’m saying I showed tremendous restraint! After all, I could easily fulfill the four major food groups in one sitting:Vegetable = Carrot Cupcakes
Fruit = Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
Dairy = Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting
Protein = Maple Bacon Cupcakes
The dining area is as quaint and appealing as the cupcakes themselves. Overall, it’s a taste of paradise one bite at a time.
Pastry Chef and Owner, Judy, says it quite well:
“The way I see it… Cupcakes are a form of art, a magnificent masterpiece, on an edible canvas and you can never have too many hanging around.”
snapshotsincursive 