Banana Ebelskivers - It's Summer Vacation!

Can you feel it?  Summer just slipped into our lives.  Not the weather per se, as we are in the midst of the annual June Gloom here in San Diego, but the lifestyle.

Done are the early morning rushes to get out the door before the school bell.  Done are the late nights finishing up homework long after the sun has set.  Done is my driving schedule that has me trecking to and from the school multiple times a day.

What's not done, are leisurely mornings filled with new food creations, laughter with Liv, and steaming cups coffee that I actually get to drink before I run out the door.

Someone wants his own plate...

In celebration of the first day of summer vacation, Liv and I put together a couple of her favorite things.  Ebelskivers (little round pancakes), bananas, and brown sugar, to be exact.

Whipping out our new favorite kitchen tool, the Nonstick Ebelskiver pan, I felt a little like I was cheating.  For years my mom has spent time seasoning the cast iron ebelskiver pans of her youth, but I just can't get the hang of them.

First, I can't get over the amount of butter required to make the little pancakes not stick, and second, I just can't figure out how to make the temperature right.  Hence, ending up with some ebelskivers raw in the middle while others are burnt to a crisp.

So... I didn't tell Mom, but I ordered a non-stick pan a few months ago, and now ebelskivers have become something I can do.  Actually, Ebelskivers have become something Liv can do herself.

For these first day of summer beauties we used our favorite sweet batter, adapted from Kevin Craft's book Ebelskivers.  Actually, if you wouldn't tell mom that we changed her childhood recipe in addition to the pans I'd appreciate that too...

In any case, Sweet Vanilla Ebelskiver Batter layered with bananas quickly sauteed with a touch of brown sugar rang in our first day of summer in style.  Pajamas till noon, coffee sipped while still hot, and brunch... this is Living Life.

Strawberry Ebelskivers for Old Doug in BC

Life is made up of a series of paths taking us from one place to another.  As we meander through this life, these paths sometimes join others and others sometimes join ours.  Some people remain on our path for a lifetime while different people pop in and pop out, and still others may join for a while and then leave all together.

Along the way certain people who cross your path become special, and such is the case with my friend Doug.  Old Doug from BC, he calls himself.  Some of you may remember a post we wrote for his wife, Miss Marie, when she was in the hospital last October struggling with some heart issues.  Doug and her family nursed her through, and though it was a long haul she made it home and returned to the kitchen.

Doug's path is one that has touched mine on occasion, and though we've never actually met in person, I know the world is a better place for having him in it.

Shortly after starting Liv Life, Doug emailed me with a glowing review of a recipe I had posted and sent along some recipes that he thought I might enjoy.  Over the months he's emailed numerous times updating me on his and Marie's latest cooking ventures and occasionally sending photos of their finished products.  Marie is quite the bread baker.

I've heard about new births, grand children's dance competitions (he has 9 great grand children!) and birthdays.  In addition I've enjoyed reading about Doug's days in the Royal Canadian Air Force where he spent some time as a photographer as well as some of his travels which have taken him around the world.  Through our email exchanges his love for his Marie is abundantly evident, and I take joy in reading the love that comes from his heart.  I'm thankful that Doug's path has crossed mine even if it has only been by email.  He has brought a smile to my face time and again and has encouraged me to "Liv Life".

Continuing on our paths of life, we all eventually find an end.  Hopefully we have lived full lives when we reach that point, but I'm certain that coming upon that point is never easy.  My friend Old Doug is facing that point.

Earlier this year he wrote to tell me that he and Miss Marie had spent their last Christmas together (they spent it alone, refusing all invitations and enjoyed a beautiful roast chicken together).  He was now living with an air machine to help him breathe and the doctors had delivered that never welcome news that they could not cure him.  Miss Marie had taken over all of the cooking, though Doug mentioned that he did still make suggestions and he confided that Miss Marie "usually" followed them.

A few weeks ago I received an email from Doug's daughter letting me know that my friend was in the hospital and would most likely not return home.  But last night I received an email from Doug himself!  He's hanging in there, but says he's not in good shape and he wanted to send me his best wishes.

My dear Doug... we are sending our best wishes back to you along with hugs from Liv and me.  Thank you for crossing my path.