Wake up to a Dutch Baby

1 01 2013
New Year's Day breakfast: Instead of finishing the Dutch Baby with powdered sugar and lemon, I chose maple syrup and fresh calamansi wedges.

New Year’s Day breakfast: Instead of finishing the Dutch Baby with lemon and a dusting of powdered sugar, I chose fresh calamansi wedges to squeeze and maple syrup.

I awoke to a rainy morning and decided to surprise the rest of the family with a Dutch Baby German Pancake for our first breakfast of the New Year. While they were asleep it baked and rose in a large cast iron frying pan. When Miss Marvelous’s mom was a youngster and lived with us, the call of “Dutch Baby!” would roust her out of bed. She liked to watch through the oven door window how it rose into an interesting shape. Not only fun to watch, but fun to eat, too!

The recipe is traditional and most likely public knowledge. I see variations of it from time to time. The one I use always works. I think I got it from an old friend, reporter Bob Jones, who got it from Carl A. Lindquist (I like to give credit where credit’s due). The only thing I changed this morning were the toppings. See top photo.

DUTCH BABY GERMAN PANCAKE
Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large bowl beat 3 eggs until blended.
Measure 1/2 cup flour. Sift, measure 1/2 cup again (discard any excess), sift again with 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Add flour to eggs in 4 additions, beating after each addition until smooth.
Add 1/2 cup milk in 2 additions.
Lightly beat in 2 tablespoons melted butter.
Generously butter bottom and sides of a 9- or 10-inch unheated cast iron frying pan.
Pour batter into pan.
Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 10 minutes more. Slip onto a serving plate.
Dust with powdered sugar. Serve with lemon or lime wedges.

Out of the oven, the pancake has pulled away from the pan. Just loosen the sides with a knife and slip onto a serving plate.

Out of the oven, the pancake has pulled away from the pan. Just loosen the sides with a knife and slip onto a serving plate.

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke




Catching up with Popo

25 11 2012

Before heading off to Italy in October, I purposely held off making plans for after I came back. I thought I would take my time picking up where I left off or starting any new projects in Hawaii. I wanted to be available and present. As it turns out, being open and alert, there’s plenty to do!

I’ve gotten to catch up with my Painting II students and plant the seed of going to Italy, renting a villa, and painting in Tuscany next summer. They’re interested! I learned I need to tack on a make-up day to review the curriculum from the semester. It’s challenging now that holiday activities are filling up the calendar, but we’re doing our best together.

DH and I were unable to schedule the installation of the new wall-to-wall carpet we ordered before we went to Europe. But it went in yesterday to replace the 27-year-old stuff. It was a good reason to pass up shopping the day after Thanksgiving, as we were busy clearing the space for the installer (Kenneth of State Drapery who has been installing carpet for 40 years) who worked alone. It took six hours, and the new carpeting looks and feels great. I just need to clear the studio—to where we moved all the furniture to accommodate the carpet installation—before the next painting class. 😉

I’ve resumed my going to tai chi class and the alumni glee club rehearsals. I enjoy that.

Most importantly, I’m blessed to be able to spend time with my hanai mom, who is recuperating from surgery. This Thanksgiving all the adult kids (my hanai brothers and sisters), except Ruth, for various reasons remarkably weren’t here! Even DH and I stayed at our own home. Holidays have always been important to Mom. You can’t tell, but she’s 84 now, has failing eyesight, and a big house to maintain. She still works outside the home in the community. Her surgery was successful. Before long she will be up and about as usual.

I found out Mom is going to spend Christmas with eldest son David and Cherie and family this year. That’s good! Meanwhile, Ruth has accepted my proposal to give her some relief with the care giving, and I’m happy and privileged to keep Mom happy!

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke




Faithful Pua

14 11 2012

Pua’s a sweet dog. She always greets us. She comes when called. She minds when we say, “Go to your place,” unlike Alice Brown, who is, shall we say, spoiled. Today’s entry is dedicated to Pua. Miss Marvelous always asks to see Pua over Skype, so I made these photos yesterday and sent the prints off to her in Italy so she can always see her canine friend. DH takes Pua for a walk at least once a day. At Kalaeokaoio park she loves to run and dig crabs out of the sand.

Pua at Kalaeokaoio

Waiting

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke




Gone to Italy!

9 10 2012

Tomorrow my Darling Husband and I leave for Napoli, Italy, and I plan to post my experiences of the next four weeks on my new travel blog.  “Popo Goes to Italy” is found at http://rebekahstravels.wordpress.com. Please head on over!

We’re eager to see our kids.

As we readied for the trip to visit 3-year-old Miss Marvelous and her family, what a pleasure and how wonderful it was to have two Italian friends visit the studio this past week to keep us enthused.

The first was young Sofia, who came to O‘ahu with her mother Lisa and her grandmother, my friend and author of The Hakka Cookbook: Chinese Soul Food from around the World, Linda Lau Anusasananan. Sofia’s father is Italian, and his relatives reside around Napoli. Lisa, who lived in Italy, coached us on some Italian phrases, and we practiced speaking with a correct accent. Sofia and Alice Brown made friends quickly. Almost age 3, Sofia reminded us what it’s like in the company of a toddler!

Me, Sofia, and Lisa

The second Italian is Joe, who’s here now. Joe’s relatives are from Napoli, too! Whenever DH and I have the itch to travel, we need to consider our animals. Having a trusted house- and pet-sitter gives us peace of mind. Joe arrived yesterday from Florida—this is a vacation for him, too—and the animals adore him.

Bossy Ula the cat, in the foreground of dappled light, seems to approve of Joe, in white shirt with Alice Brown. But she’s still wary of the larger dog Pua, at left with DH.

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke




Two of everything. The twins turn 1.

7 10 2012

A milestone among our circle of friends was the Weiss twins turning one. Kingston and Eva were born prematurely a year ago Saturday to Greg and Kaui Weiss. So, the celebration of their important 1st birthday was a Baby Luau at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu!

Beautiful, happy family — Greg, Kingston, Kaui and Eva Weiss

With a big extended family and neighborhood helpers like me, the kuleana (jobs) were divided among many to take care of things like setting up, decorating, entertainment, guest book table, gifts, food and beverage.

The Hawaiian food buffet included kalua pig, chicken long rice, opihi, squid luau, lomi lomi salmon, sweet potato, haupia, and pineapple. While waiting for the buffet line to open, guests could feast on raw fish, edamame, crispy fried salmon, and pipikaula.

Aunty DeeDee and Aunty Nona provided the flowers to decorate. Uncle Peter was the emcee. Cousin Leiohu greeted guests at the reception table. Gigi sang Hawaiian songs, and Piʻi danced hula. Special vouchers could be swapped for admission to the museum attractions for the day; that interested the kids as well as the adults.

Among the many family and friends who came from near and far was this foursome: the babies’ grandaunt Bobbie (from left), John, and maternal grandparents Creighton and Cathy. The Museumʻs Hawaiian Hall is in the background.

Tutu Cathy with the pink tree she made for the guestbook table.

The gift bag was the cutest!





Popo goes to Italy

28 09 2012

Pretty soon I’ll be posting from Italy! I’ve been getting ready for the long vacation from Rebekah’s Studio, but I’ve arranged for you to follow me on my new blog Popo Goes to Italy. I apologize so very much for being missing in action here.

DH and I are preparing to make our house guests and house- and pet-sitter welcome and to enjoy the next week and a half with friends and students.

Tomorrow we’re bicycling from Jim and Sharon’s house to see the Blue Angels fly over Kaneohe Bay. Taking the tandem.

My friends Linda, Lisa, and Sofia arrive from San Francisco on Sunday. Linda is the author of The Hakka Cookbook: Chinese Soul Food from around the World (University of California Press, 2012), and she’s scheduled to do a book signing at the Tsung Tsin Association‘s Autumn Banquet in Honolulu that we’re all attending.

DH and I had the pleasure of traveling with Linda to China as she went from place to place, restaurant to restaurant, talking to chefs, researching and eating Hakka dishes, and finding out more about our Hakka heritage in our grandparents’  homeland. We each included each other in our respective publications—mine is The Chong Family in a New Millennium.

We’ll have a lot of fun with Linda’s daughter Lisa, who was on the China trip with us, and almost-three-year-old granddaughter Sofia. We need a toddler fix. Lisa lived in Italy and married an Italian.

DH and I will have time to attend the First Birthday Luau for Eva and Kingston, girl-and-boy twins, who live down the highway. Special family friends too, so a very special gift is in order—my Kalo Diptych. Shh, it’s a surprise!

Kalo diptych / 10″ x 7″ / oil on canvas / each panel framed separately

My painting students have two more classes with me before a break. They’ll be painting on their own while I’m away.

Then we’ll greet Joe who’s ready at the drop of a hat to come from Florida to take care of Ula, Alice Brown, Pua, and the house. Because he just loves Hawai‘i! It’s all arranged.

Thank you so much for checking in. Be well. I’ll be in touch as Popo Goes to Italy.

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke




Growing up in Napoli

10 09 2012

Family in Napoli

Oh, how they’ve grown in six months! Miss Marvelous and family moved from Ka‘a‘awa to Naples, Italy, where her dad works. Here is a photo he made over the weekend of her mom, her baby sister, and her at the bay of Napoli. That’s Mount Vesuvius in the background.

Papa and Popo (DH and me) will visit and tour with them in October on the days when the child is not in school.

Our granddaughter, 3, attends Italian school. She is one of two Americans in her class of 16 children. This year they are learning Italian and English; the English teacher is from England. Her parents have enrolled her in a special afternoon music program, too.

When I visit, I’m planning to play with the kids, do some sketching and painting, eat pizza, learn some necessary Italian phrases, explore my surroundings, and drink Chianti while watching the sun set as it rises in Hawai‘i half way around the world — not necessarily in that order.

Copyright 2012 Rebekah Luke