vegan jam thumbprints

had to try this recipe out...

and so happy i did!

it is chock full of almonds

(so not school lunchbox friendly, but packed with protien)

and oats...the recipe says they can happily be made wheat-free by subbing

oat flour for the wheat flour.

the mix itself is quick and simple to prepare, 

while the rolling, poking and filling is well worth the final product!

the resulting treat is (not too) wholesome and nutty tasting,

and has a lovely tender texture.

i used marg's wild raspberry jam...mmmmm

from the tassajara cookbook by carla oliviera

thumbprints

preheat oven to 350 degrees

mix up in a large bowl:

1 C unbleached flour

2 C ground almonds

4 C ground oats

(whizz rolled oats in the cuisinart until a rough flour)

1/2 t salt

1 C maple syrup

1 C vegetable oil of choice

let dough rest for 15 minutes before using.

then,

roll dough into 3 cm balls, and place closely on baking sheet.

gently poke each ball, and then fill the dents with

drops of:

jam, (you need about 1/4 C) thinned with a little water.

~

bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

please don't overbake

(although i imagine they will still taste great!)

savannah haven

 with the luxury of the ship slipping away like a dream in morning,

they doze as contentedly on the pull-out couch

at the georgian travel lodge...

and we make our way back home.

this was mexico

a beach

a beverage

a sombrero,



a dip in the pool,

then back on board!

mini-mini golf

yes, mini golf for the minis.

h2ozone

this fabulous kids' water park was on the top deck.

we visited daily; the lure of the splashy fun was irresistable,

and highlighted by the self-serve frozen yogourt area.

(jayesh, pictured here, also made sure that edgar finished his broccoli at dinner!)

 

the boy most enjoyed the blasters,

while the girl demonstrated her daredevil side.

labadee

first port, labadee, haiti, was the kid's first experience with the ocean.

labadee, untouched by the earthquake, is a consturuct of the cruise line...

it employs haitians, but from what i understand is not so haitian.

there were two main beach zones;

this one, exhibiting a sportier side of the ocean waves,

(and alive with the whirring of zipliners whizzing past on wires)

and the lagoon side; better for sandcastles and sunbathing. 

also great for those passengers worried they might miss the boat...

i had forgotten how buoyant one feels in the salty water,

and how the sand was once coral, not stone.

a few bands of men performed what may or may not have

been the ancestral music of haiti.

regardless, it was hauntingly lovely.

we didn't miss the boat...even though esther successfully begged that we stop

for a "labadoozie" on our walk back.

this ceremonial beverage of labadee

is a tropical fruit/coconut based smoothie.

e + e had them without the traditional top-up of rum.

(the 'doozie' part?)

mama's pride

the kids enjoyed the talents of a very enthusiastic ship-board facepainter...

cheeta # 1, esther,

and cheeta # 2, edgrrrrr...!