A First Time for Everything

Well, over the past couple months living in Krakow, we've experienced a lot of "firsts". I will often point it out or acknowledge it by saying, "awwww this is our first time ________."



Here's a picture from our first family dinner in Krakow...what a special night that was after being reunited with Q's family!



My first time working at the cafe. My mother-in-law taught me how to make all the brownies and cookies, how the oven works, and where we keep all of our special ingredients. Since we received that great review in the paper, our business has doubled!! Saturdays are crazy busy now so I've been going in to the cafe to help do some of the baking. I love it!




Our first time walking to the little grocery store near our house.





Our first time at the mall! It's a good one...Galeria Krakowska (pronounce the w as a v).
Truman tried on this jacket. He thought it was so cool and wanted me to buy it for him...I didn't.


Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to bake pies. This was my first pie in Poland! Apple...with lots of cinnamon and the flaky pastry that my mom taught me how to make. We had it for dessert after one of our special family dinners.


Our first time on the bus was also our first date night in Krakow. Every Thursday evening Q's parents take all the grandkids in their apartment and give them supper and play or watch a movie and Q and I and Jessica and Steve get to go out and do something "just the two of us". We've really been enjoying it...thanks, Mom and Dad!





It was a drizzly chilly Sunday, but we couldn't wait to see Old Towne...it's the center of Krakow...the oldest part of the city. The buildings are beautiful and there's so many great restaurants and shops and designer boutiques. Cobblestone streets and a big open square...a Sunday afternoon in the city feels like a family vacation.
That Sunday, was also our first time eating at McDonald's in Krakow...just a little snack. We've been to McDonald's many times since, and they also have KFC everywhere and Subway too. We're Americans...so of course, it's sort of like a piece of home.

"Briar's Sink"

We live in Europe...enough said.

When we saw our apartment for the first time we were looking around and when it came time to see the bathroom, the kids looked in and exclaimed, "Look! it's a little sink for Briar!" ...and the rest is history! I've noticed it's more common than not for a bathroom to have a bidet...I mean a sink for Brair (wink wink)

Rave Reviews!

There have been several reviews written about our "more than a Cookie" shop. Sometimes we know the food critic is there...but sometimes we've been completely unaware! Sometimes customers come in with an article that led them to our cafe...an article we knew nothing about that is raving about our cookies and brownies. God is blessing our business with free advertising.
Word around Krakow is --this guy rarely has anything good to say about anything he tries...here's what he had to say about us:


The columns opposite the school are happily painted and tempting. An entrance to something: happily for us dear readers and eaters, an entrance to More Than a Cookie, a truly American cookie shop? café ? The opening hours (only until 7 pm) show that the café life is determined by the confectionery life.

It's like this: you enter and the inside is a bit like a doll house, warm, in soft tones of yellow, with moulding, ornately decorated. The chairs, of course, with pillows, the tables colorfully tiled. What can I say? That's kind of not my style dear ladies, but in a place like this, this style is not a sin; furthermore, someone carefully designed this place from the beginning, with the colors and details in mind. And I feel good in here so I don’t think about the rest.

I went to More Than a Cookie in the morning: the aroma fills the little locale, I can choose between several American products – brownies, cookies, ice-cream, coffees. I ordered coffee for myself (it was Kenyan that day), not too strong, in American style – for 5 zl I got a vast cup in accordance to the American custom of bottomless cups. Nobody in this city will beat this offer dear readers. There is even better news: the coffee was very good.

I would rather deny the next part or hide it from the world. And so I've tried (read: I've eaten) the majority of goods in this workshop. First breakfast offer – oatmeal. It sounds very innocent, but in reality it's a rich batter combined with oats, covered with cream, topped with bananas, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. A powerful energetic kick, a powerful shot for the newly started week. Then a brownie topped with a delicate crust while it's center is nearly floating, full of (forgive me) wanton sex. Oh my dears of both genders. Oh! (This brownie has also got a twin brother with cashews and chocolate). A bliss. (And when I was trying it, a lady entered asking if my BMW was blocking her car). I took cookies home – chocolate chili cookies with frosting are impossible to beat, chocolate with chili is the best of possible compositions; a chocolate cookie with mint frosting and cookies with nuts follow close behind.

It's like this: in a place that I like, that has it's American flavor (because on square Na Stawach there used to be an American joint, and a few minutes walk is Massolit). Secluded, which also has its charm, came in to being a little café: pampered, shiny, different. Everything here is American from the spirit, but I'm not going to dwell on how authentic it is in here. The best thing about this place is that it’s something different: it is nice here (the service is worth every penny), simply tasty, fresh. And that's the only little joint in the city where New Testaments are available to take. (from Gideon, the same in the hotels). Enjoy your trip there.

More Than a Cookie, Syrokimli 22
Two coffees, four brownies, five cookies – 40 zl. Sensible breakfast portion – brownie and coffee- around 10 zl. And they have hot chocolate with marshmallows...

Cast of Characters

This post is for the benefit of my readers who have never met the Martys (Q's family). Or, for those of you who just aren't familiar with "who's who". I'm sure these faces will be in many of the pictures while we are living here in Krakow so I just wanted to introduce everyone to:


Paul Marty
Quenton's dad
Occupation: Entrepreneur
He's the brains behind this cookie operation
We call him Dad
the kids call him Grampa or "Tickle Monster"



Cindy Marty
Quenton's mom
We call her Mom
The kids call her Gramma
she bakes A LOT of cookies and brownies



Justin Marty
Quenton's youngest brother
Marrital status: single
Occupation: Cookie Dough Maker
We all call him "Cutty" (his nickname since early childhood)
The kids call him "Uncle Cutty" or "Cutter Butter"




Jessica McAllister
Quenton's little sister (13 years younger)
the baby of his family
We all call her Jezzie or Jess
The kids call her "Auntie Jezzie"
with 2 kids, 2 and under, she's a full-time mommy


Steven McAllister
Quenton's sister's husband
We all call him Steve
He's a pretty crazy guy...class-clown type
Occupation: Cookie Sales


Rose McAllister (2 years)
Quenton's sister's daughter
Briar calls her "Rosie" or "RoRo"



James McAllister (10 months)
Quenton's sister's baby
He has many other names...including but not limited to: Jimmy Mac (that's my name for him), Puppy Love, Buppa La, Bupper Doo, Dupper, Bup...etc.
Truman loves this little cousin "Yes, another boy!"

Liters and Meters and Grams! OH MY!

Well, it's been quite something to get used to! Whether it's figuring out the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit on my oven...or sending Q off to Google how many grams are in a cup. Growing up an American, I just simply think in inches and feet and ounces and pounds. It's interesting to me that I can "imagine" the weight of a pound...I just think butter...still in the box...four sticks! Of course! But, suddenly I find myself faced with kilos which is equivalent to 2.2 lbs. So I don't imagine ONE kilogram I can't do it...my mind won't think it...I have to think 2 boxes of butter...um plus a little more! And, that's just measurements!!! We're also faced with the whole electricity saga every day...we shipped the SUV loaded with a bunch of our stuff and it arrived at the end of February! This was very exciting for us. We now have a second vehicle and all of our own bedding and towels and a lot of my kitchen stuff, but one of the most important items in the Explorer that came over on a ship...MY COMPUTER! You can imagine my excitement as Q was getting everything all set up on my desk that had been eagerly awaiting my computer, monitor and keyboard...he had already gone to get the special new power cord. It was a "drum roll moment" as he plugged it in! With a loud pop and a huge explosion from the back of my computer, all the lights went out!
We all looked at each other like "WHAT WAS THAT?" ...well, long story short we had to replace the burnt up power supply to the computer, but that was much cheaper than the alternative...apparently there was a teeny tiny little red switch he neglected to flip to 240...minor detail...and the saga continues.

1974

...that's the year I was born...on February 18th! If you do the math you'll quickly figure out that I turned 35. I was pretty emotional about it...I don't know...I guess it's just the reality of things sinking in.
When I was a little girl, I never understood why the grown-ups complained about another birthday and all the birthday card jokes about hating birthdays! Who wouldn't want to have a birthday? ...Well, I finally "get it".


As it turns out it wasn't such a bad day after all, thanks to my wonderful family.
My in-laws made me my favorite Asian dish, Twice Cooked Pork and we all celebrated together (two days before my birthday). My birthday cake was a brownie from the Cafe with a candle. Thanks for the great night and all the special gifts, Mom and Dad Marty!







Then, on the morning of my birthday...with the help of my sister-in-law...the kids brought me "breakfast in bed" and birthday cards that they had made for me! It was sooo sweet!



Q knew it was difficult for me to accept turning 35 so he was very sweet and encouraging to me...He came home from work with a dozen hot pink roses for me.
Then he took me out on a date...his sister took the kids for us overnight!!!...we went out for American Food at a restaurant here in Krakow called Jeff's. We had such a great evening together just the two of us. I had made myself a birthday cake --my favorite-- Fresh Orange Cake with Walnut Buttercream Frosting, so we came home for dessert. Thank you, Honey, for making my birthday so special. I love you! And, special thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes all the way to Krakow! I received many birthday cards and gifts. Thanks to my bff Dawnie for the sweet card, new slippers, and the rings...I wore one of them on my birthday!

me and my birthday cake!

Fresh Orange Cake

Cake:
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup shortening
1 tablespoon or more of grated rind of 1 orange
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup juice of the orange
2 eggs

Filling and Frosting:
1 cup milk
5 tablespoons sifted cake flour
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/2 to 1 cup sifted powdered sugar

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8-inch round baking pans. Set aside.
• To make the cake: Sift the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Add the shortening and the grated orange rind.
• Add the milk and the orange juice to the dry ingredients and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed. Add the eggs; beat for an additional 2 minutes.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans. Bake in the 350 oven about 25 minutes or until the cake tests done with a wooden toothpick.
• Cool 10 minutes, then carefully remove the cake from the pans (may stick on bottom). Cool the layers on racks.
• To make the filling and frosting: Blend the milk and cake flour in a saucepan. Cook over meduum-low heat to a very thick paste, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm about 40 minutes (tip: if I'm in a hurry I scrape it out onto a plate and spread it out a bit so it cools faster).
• Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, cream the shortening and butter with the 1 cup granulated sugar and salt.
  Add the lukewarm paste to the shortening mixture and beat with electric mixer on high speed until fluffy.
• Stir in vanilla. *Remove 3/4 cup of the mixture. Fold the nuts into the remaining mixture. **Spread 1 1/2 cups of the mixture between the cake layers.
  Add the powdered sugar to the remaining mixture and beat vigorously with a spoon to desired consistency. Frost top and sides of cake.
  

* Use the reserved 3/4 cup of frosting to seal in the crumbs. First, brush off as many crumbs as you can by hand. Then, spread the sides of the cake with a thin smooth coat of frosting. This layer will help seal in any stray crumbs. Finally, spread a thicker layer of frosting over the thin layer, swirling the frosting decoratively.

** If the filling and frosting is a little soft, add some sifted powdered sugar until it is just the right spreading consistency.