greenclogs

savory memories and a recipe

It started when I saw this photo that Rachel posted on Flickr the other day. It took me right back to our two weeks at Grandma's cabin in Cannon Beach and to the delicious destination at the end of our morning wanderings, Waves of Grain Bakery. Each morning, one or some of us would walk or ride bikes to the bakery down the road and stand in the long line for our breakfast (my delusions of making breakfast every day quickly disappeared after the first taste of this place). We'd bring home our jammers, our scones, our muffins and our Tillamook cheese biscuits, we'd cut everything in halves and put them on the old melamine plates and snack away at them all morning. Luckily for me, the kids were so enamoured of the sweet baked goods that they never noticed the cheese biscuit and I would have it all to myself. Unless my brother was there. Then we'd have to buy two. Those biscuits were amazing - flaky and savory and peppery. Studded with cheese and scallions. They were everything a biscuit could be. And until I saw Rachel's cheese biscuits, it never occurred to me to try and make them myself.

This morning, I set out to recreate them and I was pleased with the results. Here is my recipe for Tillamook cheese biscuits. The basic biscuit recipe is adapted from the New Basic biscuits in the New Basics cookbook. Obviously, you can substitute whatever cheddar cheese suits your fancy. 

Cannon Beach Cheese Biscuits

makes 6 large or 8 medium size biscuits

2 c all purpose flour

1 T baking powder

1 t sugar

1/2 t kosher salt

5 T unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces

4 oz. cheddar cheese (approximately - we used a block of cheese that was about 3" x 1" by 1") cut into 1/4" cubes

4 scallions, sliced thinly - both white and green parts

1 t freshly ground black pepper, or more if you like it good and peppery like the originals. I scaled back for the kids but would use more next time

3/4 c buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450. 

Stir together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the cheese cubes, scallions and the pepper and stir in until they are evenly distributed. Add the buttermilk and stir gently until the dough comes together. It will still be slightly crumbly. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and press into a 3/4" to 1" thick rectangle. Cut out biscuits, gently reform dough and cut until the dough is used up. I got 6 biscuits using a 3" biscuit cutter. 

Arrange biscuits 1" apart on a baking sheet. I used parchment paper because of the potential for cheese sticking. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until puffed and golden brown. Remove to a wire rack and let cool. 

Sit on the back patio and eat them with scrambled eggs and coffee while you listen to the neighbor across the street yell about a restraining order (!!!!). Or skip that last part. Eat them in the comfort of your warm kitchen if it's too cold outside, unlike here where it is 95 again. Tell the kids that they're gross so they don't eat them. Because today, Annika discovered how good they really are and now I have to share. 

I hope you enjoy them as much as we did. 

blast from the past, installment 2

Another CD of photos came from my father today. All were in black & white and there were some real favorites as well as some seriously scary shots. These surprise CDs make me happier than anything else that arrives in the mail.

Can I just tell you how much I love those saddle shoes? And that plaid coat? The coat was brown, I think. I was 4 years old in these pictures. My mom, my brother and I went to a park with a photographer and we gave the photos to my dad as a gift. What's funny is that I do exactly that now, as the photographer.

My brother, age 2. He slays me in this photo - looking so sweet. You'd never know what a pain in the keister he really was. He's much nicer now. Really.

Jeff thinks I look like Annika in this one.

Me with my first camera. Age 11? 12? something like that.

I can't believe I'm posting this one, but really. Look at the outfit, people. Go ahead, click for a larger image and really soak in the late 70's. A smocked sundress with a long sleeved plaid shirt? What was I thinking? I'm sure I thought I looked very cool. As a family, I don't think we can possibly look any geekier. Except my grandma - she looks adorable, of course. This is circa 1979 or 1980. Yikes.

I have no idea when my dad took this photo of me - clearly several years ago before my eyes started looking old. Wise? Old. I don't think I'd ever seen it before today, but it's my new favorite. I'll just stay looking like this in my mind's eye.

Okay, back to crafts with mailing deadlines. And remember. Plaid shirts and smocked sundresses never ever mix.

70's style

A surprise package arrived in the mail yesterday from my dad. Enclosed was a CD full of photos from my childhood - baby pictures, birthday parties, family vacations, beach photos. While most are far too embarrassing to share, I thought I'd post a few.

Grandma's beach cabin, where the kids and I went this summer.

Then:

that's me on the left with my grandpa and my aunt Chris? Mom? Help?

in the sand

In the drainage ditch. Those little houses?  All replaced by far larger ones.

My brother walking the beach

Now:

Disneyland then:

And I'm sorry, but how cool is that terrycloth outfit? I think it's the one outfit in the bunch that didn't make me cringe.

Disneyland now (okay, 18 months ago):

No Minnie Mouse photo that year. She would only let the princesses get near her. Maybe when we go on Spring Break this year. Oh, and I highly recommend the Princess Dinner for a little girl birthday. It's still talked about.

Old friends that I haven't seen in years

Me on the left with Liesl, Lisa, Tracy and Kasey - a birthday slumber party. Kasey ended up working for me 9 years ago at an insurance brokerage. Totally random. I've exchanged emails with Lisa and should really see her the next time I'm home. Liesl ended up a slutty rocker chick in high school, which was sweet justice since her mother thought we were going to corrupt her and she was the only one who went that way. Don't know what happened to Tracy.

Old friends that are still friends

me, my friend Matt, and our mutual aunt Lois (my dad's sister and his mom's sister-in-law)

Vacation on Uncle Pervin's farm in Wanamingo, MN.

Unfortunately, long gone. How I wish I could take my kids there, in spite of the fact that what I remember most is being really homesick and laying in the barn loft wishing I could just fly home. We were on the colossal American road trip in our VW bus and I think I'd had enough. But the farm was great. There were sheep. I'd appreciate it much more now.

Victorious moments

My dad on Mt. Hood, I believe. Love the look of pride. And the jacket - that's a sweet jacket.

Dad, thanks so much for this treasure you sent our way and for all the time that went into putting it together. You brought tears to my eyes.