York Brownies

So, I told you I'd probably tell you about these one day. That day is now.

You can use your favorite brownie recipe.

Basics: 
Spread half your brownie batter in a pan, arrange unwrapped peppermint patties - the small snack sized ones - over the bottom layer.  Then spread the remaining brownie batter over that. 

Cook, cool, slice them up and heavens to mergatroid! those are some tasty minty brownies. You'll be a hit not matter where you take these puppies.

The remainder of the Day ...

She felt the cobblestones rumble beneath her ballet slipper clad feet as she was washed in the wake of air created by the train rushing by in little more than a whisper.  The morning air was chill and the slight breeze carried a hint of second hand cigarette smoke from the goth girl up ahead in heels who trudged on without a backward glance.  Melancholy stole into her chest, her heart really, as the seasons morphed from warm and humid Summer to crisp and holiday filled Autumn.  Was it melancholy, or was it nostalgia?  She wasn't sure of the answer to the question, although it remained with her for the remainder of the day.

Just Watched: The Sea Inside

The Sea Inside.

Wow.

Difficult.

Really glad I watched it. Its thought provoking. Ramon Sampedro, a quadriplegic, fights for his own death with dignity. Even as I write this, I am taking deep breaths. Do you know how you feel on the topic? Are you sure about that? The Sea Inside - Did it change my view: I don't know that it did. Did it change how I think about it and see it and feel about it: Yes, yes it did. Ok the side story for me. Javier Bardem, the man who played the part of Ramon Sampedro. Really beautiful. And as I'm finding all these links for this post, I'm realizing Javier is also in the movie Biutiful which is on my list of films to see. I may just move that up a notch or two on my queue. Ciao bellas!

134 - Introspection

120 -

I like the layered feeling of this shot.

And the colors.

And the textures too.

119 - Pickled

Green tomatoes which never got a chance to ripen with our abbreviated summer and cooler weather this year. Pretty and delicious!

118 - One Person's Trash ...

My artist mom-in-law was throwing out these old used frames. I snagged them and went to town taking photos and hanging them strategically around the yard.

Happy...

117 - Recycled

Glass bead, copper wire and metal and plastic beads from necklaces and bracelets that I never wore. Now, yard art and I love this little dragonfly lots.

116 - Rock On

In my mind's eye this was so much more dramatic and subtle and retro than it actually turned out.

115 - Portrait of an Artist

And now, I still am in love with this shot. Nearly everything about it makes me happy.

114 - Oh Lord!

Lordy! You can't know how much (in retrospect) I do not like this photo. I don't like the subject, content, lighting, angle, anything!

113 - Opus

I decided to update my non-consecutive-project 365. Photos I didn't post here for whatever reason.

133 - Self Portrait

Saw this, had to take the shot. That's been happening more and more of late. Seeing something I really want / need to photograph. Who knows where that will lead. I make no promises to anyone, myself included.

Granola

I decided to make homemade granola after reading THIS post on Two Tarts. I changed my version up a bit (of course) and the results were super - D - licious.

Here's what I did - I opened up my freezer and cupboard, saw what I had on hand, asked Mister his thoughts (he comes down on the "no raisins" side of that argument, other wise there would be raisins in this mix) added in my own thoughts on the topic (Mister suggested chocolate chips, I nixed that idea immediately) and here's what we got: (not a lot of exact measuring here, its how I roll...)

Granola 

Mix together in a large bowl, then set aside:

• 4 cups raw rolled oats
• 1 cup(ish) of toasted sliced almonds
• 3/4 cup(ish) raw pecan pieces
• 5 oz large flake coconut
• 1/3 cup flax seeds, milled a bit in the coffee grinder

Stove top, melt these together:

• 1/2+ cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup(ish) honey

When that is melted, pour over the dry ingredients and mix until its all coated.

Spread on 2 large baking sheets and bake at 350. I used the convection cycle of our oven, set the timer for 7 minutes - at that time I stirred up each baking sheet and swapped their position in the oven. I set the timer again for 7 minutes, again I stirred each baking sheet and swapped their position in the oven. I then set the timer for 5 minutes. (About 20 minutes total baking/stirring time.)

After that, I took both sheets from the oven, and let the granola cool before putting it in a large glass jar for storage.

You could literally add in anything you wanted. Craisins, raisins, cashews, hazelnuts, sliced dried apricots, any thing!!

Go crazy with this, its delicious!