Pumpkin Pancakes with Pear Compote

It's Fall!  With the change in season I start to savor the foods I haven't had all summer.  Soups and stews start to whirl in my head.  What do I want to make?  


I fixed a Beef and Barley Soup the other night that warmed us through and through.  Thick enough to stick to the ribs soup.  I was going to make Beef Stew but in the end there wasn't enough beef to satisfy my two menfolk.  The recipe files in my head started scanning with that soup coming to mind.


Sunday morning is pancake or waffle day in our house.  My Love wasn't going to fix that though.  He was planning on eggs, hash browns and sausage.  Not what I was feeling the craving for.  No, I wanted pancakes and pumpkin popped into my mind.  So what if I had them last Sunday!


This is a wonderful recipe with the addition of Pear Compote to spoon across the top.  They are moist, tender and light with lots of flavor from the spices.  The recipe originated from the January 2005 Sunset Magazine.  Here it is just in time for the holidays when you might have family overnight.


Pumpkin Pancakes with Pear Compote


1      Cup all-purpose flour
2      T. firmly packed brown sugar
1       tsp. baking powder
1/2   tsp. baking soda
1/2   tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2   tsp. ground ginger
1/4   tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4   tsp. salt
1       large egg
3/4   canned pumpkin
1/2    Cup milk
1/4    Cup buttermilk
1/4    Cup plain yogurt
2        T. melted butter


1.  In a large bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.  


2.  In another bowl, whisk egg, milk, buttermilk, pumpkin, yogurt, and butter until well blended.


3.  Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until evenly moistened.


4.  Heat a non-stick griddle over medium heat; when hot, spray some pam on the griddle.  Spoon the batter onto griddle.  The batter takes a little longer to cook through so don't let them over brown.  Turn down the heat if needed.    Turn out the pancakes and top with the pear compote and real maple syrup.  (recipe to follow).




Pear Compote
  (makes enough for 2 servings)


1 pear, peeled, cored and diced,  placed in a microwave bowl.  Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon-sugar, cover loosely or with a microwave cover.  Heat in microwave for 1 minute.  They should be fork tender and  cinnamon-sugar juicy.

Barga...a medieval town

Mumford & Sons "Sister"

  

There's a chip on your shoulder, girl
And by God it'll make you fall
If you let it take a part of your soul

I see the love in your brother's eyes
And the love in your mother's cries
Sister don't test the ones you love

Sister don't let go
Sister don't let go of us
[x2]

Cause your roots will rot away
And your fruit, it won't grow
Your bark will wear thin, body hollow

I see the love in your brother's eyes
And the love in your mother's cries
Sister don't test the ones you love

Sister don't let go
Sister don't let go of us
[x4]

Don't test the ones you love
It'll only tear us down
If you want to feel alive
Then learn to love your ground
[x2]

Love your ground

Sister don't let go
Sister don't let go of us
[x4]


**********     **********  

How did I miss this song?  I heard that this was sung at the recent Bridge School concert it just has never been put on a CD at this time.  Missed the cut.


This song has a special meaning to me of late....  I love you....you know this to be true.

Love Locks

In the Cinque Terre, there is a paved trail that goes between two of the tiny towns, Riomaggiore and Monterosso.  They were so isolated from each other let alone the other towns, that the locals rarely married anyone else from another town.  

In the 20's a trail was made between the two towns while train lines were being built, where in the middle a gunpowder warehouse was placed.  The locals were delighted with the trail that now connected the two towns and asked that it be improved and kept as a permanent connection.   Unfortunately the trail was prone to landslides and it was closed more than it was open.  After WWII, the trail was reopened and it became known as Via dell'Amore because of the meeting between lover's from the two towns.  It was a journalist in 1949 who came up with the name which means "Pathway of Love". 

All along the trail you find these "Locks of Love", up a slope on heavy cables holding the rocky walled cliff in place and down below where shear cliffs drop to the sea on other cables.  Most are on the railings that line the walkway.  We found them first in Venice where the top photo was taken.  We would find them in such odd places, sometimes single and sometimes groups of them. 

When we strolled down the Via dell'Amore they were everywhere.  Some in the most difficult places one could find to secure their everlasting declaration of love.  I wondered if lover's who have broken up come back to remove theirs or do they just leave them to weather the seasons?

Some locks were written on and some where carved with names or initials.  There is a long covered walkway that graffiti written devotions and sometimes poetic phrases have been added.  All very acceptable to do.  You see the typical heart drawn with the names of sweethearts as you would anywhere.  I personally loved the locks.  Anyone can draw and write a name but a lock feels forever.   

When next I go back to Venice I want my Love and I to find a place to lock our love.  We will find that special spot, linger over a kiss while in loving embrace, and place our lock inscribed with our names. Our forever love.

A little occupied

I've been a little occupied.  Well, my Love and I have been occupied.  

We brought a new puppy into our home last week and it is almost like having a newborn without the diaper changes and breastfeeding.  Sleep deprivation was hard the first couple of nights with multiple visits for potty time on the lawn.

Yet what fun a new puppy is!  So happy and full of silly antics.  Sloppy puppy kisses and little yippy barks.  Everything new and in need of exploring.  

My Italy photos are going well with touch ups and uploading though it is slow without the extra time on my hands.  At the rate I'm going it will be weeks till I am done!  Last night we looked at E.'s photos and she asked if I would be touching up hers too.  Well, of course dear....

Some changes...I have stopped working on the blog I had about R. in high school.  I felt that at his age and place this was not right.  If he was little from birth to maybe 10 it might be okay.  As a teen I know he needs his privacy and I need to be honest.  Writing about what his day is like or some event that happens at school felt too open.  

However, I have added another blog in it's place about our pets.  I can brag about the pets and tell the dirty side of them too.  They won't care!  They'll still give me puppy licks.  This blog is called Pupparoos!

Back to work and writing!  The housecleaning can wait.....it's not going anywhere. I have so much to share about our trip too!! 

Venice has captured my heart.....

I'm home. Home, sweet home. Back with my Love and son...back with a cold as well.... I have been pouring over the photos I took and reliving the days and nights while in Italy. The trip was wonderful in every way, from the sights, to the food, the smells, to the sounds. The effect of traveling on the senses can best be described as intoxicating. That moment when E. and I walked from our bus to our first step onto our first bridge of many to come in Venice, it was impossible to not feel like you had just landed in a make-believe land. 

Almost ready and off tomorrow!

 I have been so busy.  So busy I have had no time to write and no time to read any blogs in days.  I have missed my blog friends words and photos but tasks must be done.  


Such as banking, bills, wash and ironing.  Some cleaning too.


I haven't packed.  I thought I would have a trial run earlier this week and nada ...it did not happen.  Today will be packing day!  Oh today is busy!


My mom's birthday is tomorrow but we are going to visit her today.  I put together a DVD of her younger years and got it burned and ready to bring over.  I wanted to bake cupcakes for her and the caregivers but I forgot to buy flour.  I can't believe I was totally out of flour!   That just doesn't happen here in my pantry.  So instead of banana cupcakes with cream cheese frosting I am letting my Love pick some out this morning for me.  This is not a big failure to not have homemade.   I am accepting this hard as it is for me.  Let go Ellen......


So we will pay a visit, bring a little vase of flowers and the DVD and then back home to work, work, work!   Not to forget charging cameras one last time.  Getting all the papers in order to put in my bag.   


I was so nervous yesterday with excitement.   Surprised myself by sleeping soundly as I was fearing I wouldn't be able to sleep.  Tonight  I may have to take some Calm Forte to make sure I get a good night's rest.


Tomorrow....tomorrow...off to enchanting Venice first....then Cinque Terre ~ Vernazza.....then to Lucca....a side trip to Barga a wee little town....and last to my beloved Florence.   


See you all in October.....Ciao!