Blog Posts

Winter Breakfast

Those rainy December mornings aren’t so fun during a commute to work or school. But on the weekends, those gray clouds lay like a warm blanket over the rooftops. Inside, a cozy candle is burning and a fire is crackling in the fireplace. Sounds like the perfect morning, right? Well, all of these factors might not come together perfectly every Sunday morning, but we’ve got a recipe for you that will certainly help you feel this cozy! German Pancakes are known by lots of different names. We’ve heard Ocean Pancakes and Dutch Babies. You might have a name of your own for this dish, but everyone agrees that it tastes delicious! Adaptations of this recipe can be found in many family recipe books. This one from Mels Kitchen Cafe looks delicious and captures everything the German Pancake/Ocean Pancake/Dutch Baby stands for! INGREDIENTS For the Pan: 2 tablespoons butter Pancake: 6 large eggs (about 10.5 ounces) 1 cup milk (I use 2%) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup (5 ounces) all-purpose or white whole wheat flour 1/4 teaspoon salt Syrup: 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon baking soda DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put two tablespoons butter in a glass 9X13-inch baking dish and pop the pan in the oven while it preheats (if it's taking [awhile] to mix up the batter, keep an eye on the dish so the butter doesn't burn; take it out when the butter is melted). Combine the eggs, milk and vanilla in a blender and process on low speed until smooth, 10-20 seconds. Add the flour and salt and blend until just combined; the batter should be smooth but take care not to overblend or the pancakes may turn out dense and cakey. Take the preheated, buttered pan out of the oven and swirl the butter to coat the bottom of the pan. Pour the batter into the pan and immediately return to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes until the pancake is puffy and lightly browned on the bottom and edges. Serve immediately with jam, butter syrup, maple syrup or whatever else your heart desires. For the butter syrup, in a larger than you think saucepan (it will foam and triple in volume at the end), combine the sugar, buttermilk and butter and bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce the heat and simmer for 7 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the vanilla and baking soda until well-combined. Serve warm over pancakes. Tip: if you don’t have a blender, these can easily be mixed by hand! In a large bowl combine the eggs and salt and flour first , so it creates a really thick batter, then add the milk and vanilla. This will help avoid any lumps! We hope you enjoy this yummy breakfast! Let us know your favorite places to get breakfast in Tacoma, WA in the comments! Thanks for reading Nantucket Gate!

Freshen Up Your Car

In our most recent post, we gave some great tips on freshening up your home for the winter season. As we travel and commute this winter, keeping your car clean might find itself on the back burner. However, decluttering your car can definitely make you feel a lot better. Without trash rolling around on the floor of your car, you won’t have to worry about bumps, noises, or something rolling under the pedals. It’s really easy for cups and other fast-food garbage to pile up in the car. But as you fill up with gas, take a few moments to grab those empty containers and toss them. Clothes somehow accumulate in cars as well, so each time you go into your home from your car, grab a few items and take them in with you. (Tip: in the winter, it might be smart to keep a jacket in your car, just in case you’re ever caught in bad weather!) Wipe down the inside of your windows. As windows get foggy, sometimes we tend to try to wipe them off with a hand, which can leave streaks. Keep the inside of your windows clean so you will be able to see clearly while driving in any condition. Grab some wipes made specifically for car interiors. Clean off steering wheel and dust that may accumulate on the dashboard. Keep vents clear of dust and dirt as well. A plethora of air fresheners are available for your car. From gel based ones to oils and cardboard trees. These are a few dollars and make a big difference when getting into your car, and when others drive with you too! Get your car washed as you can. Sometimes salt and mud from the roads can accumulate on the paint and can take a toll. Visit a local car wash in Tacoma and wash your car regularly. Take good care of your car this season, and you’ll definitely be glad you did. Thanks for reading Nantucket Gate!

Freshen Up for Winter

Winter might seem like a time to cozy up and shut all the doors and windows. You want to keep the cozy in and the chill out! But with all the time spent indoors, you might find yourself longing for something a bit fresher. Don’t wait until spring to do some cleaning, you can do it right now! If you’ve caught any kind of seasonal bug, cleaning out and freshening up will make your space feel bright and clean. Let’s start in the kitchen! If you’re doing any kind of traveling this season, cleaning out the fridge will take a load off your mind. Get rid of leftovers and wash out all plastic containers and dishes. Rinse drawers and wipe down shelves. Use hot water and a washcloth to clean up any spills that may have hardened or gotten sticky. Be careful with cleaners because you don’t want to use anything harmful near your food. Dump crumbs out of the toaster, take out all trash and recyclables, clean off countertops (even behind appliances!), and wipe out the microwave. Taking care of these tasks will make your kitchen sparkle. Your living area is next. Go as crazy with holiday decor as you wish! But keep other personal items tidy and neat. Vacuum rugs and couches to remove crumbs or dust. Lighting a candle is a great way to bring a calm and soothing scent into your home. Next is the bedroom. Washing your sheets is a great way to freshen up your space! Is there anything better than climbing into a bed made with clean sheets? This tip from Pioneer Woman might sound a little crazy, but we think it’s worth a try. She puts her sheets on the bed when they’re KIND OF damp and they dry really crisp and smooth. Sounds crazy, but she swears by it! We hope you feel clean and fresh in your space all season long. Thanks for reading Nantucket Gate! We hope you have a great month here in Tacoma, WA!

Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

As the air gets cooler here in Tacoma, we all start spending a little more time inside. The leaves are falling outside, and inside just gets more cozy! We’ve found the perfect recipe for a yummy fall treat. Make it this weekend— it pairs perfectly with your favorite Netflix series. Our favorite part of these cookies? Pumpkin! We love recipes featuring this bright orange ingredient— it can be dressed up or down, savory or sweet. We found this one from Number 2 Pencil . The site mentions that “Snickerdoodle cookies are a family favorite, and these Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies are the perfect way to kick-off the season of all thing pumpkin spice. These cookies got rave reviews from both my husband and my kids. My husband said they were just the perfect about of pumpkin and my kids LOVED the way they smelled baking! Tender and soft, Pumpkin Snickerdoodles are rolled in a combination of pumpkin pie spice and sugar for the perfect crispy and chewy outside. If you like snickerdoodles and all things pumpkin spice, you are going to love these cookies!” Another delicious pumpkin recipe we found is from Lil Luna. The author says this about these cupcakes (adapted from Real Simple ), “Fall is just starting so I’m hoping you’re prepared for the bombardment of pumpkin recipes the next month. I’ve shared a few already the past few weeks and have just a few more for you. . . . This next recipe is one that I’ve been wanting to make for years!! I’ve seen recipes for Pumpkin Cupcakes but most required a TON of ingredients and time, and I just wasn’t up for it. Call me lazy, but I’ve been on the search for an EASY Pumpkin Cupcakes recipe and finally found THE ONE!” Try one of these yummy fall recipes this season! What is your favorite pumpkin spice recipe? Please share in the comments so we can all try it. Thanks for reading Nantucket Gate blog today!

Holiday Travel Tips

As you travel for the holidays, things can get busy and stressful. With the pressure of holiday activities, there isn’t time for delays or packing a ton of stuff you might not use or need. At Nantucket Gate, we are all about time saving tips so you can enjoy your time away from Tacoma. When it comes to purchasing your flight and planning your trip, take into account what time you’ll have to get to the airport so you can plan transportation to and from. If you are visiting family, decide whether you will need to rent a car or if someone will be available to pick you up upon arrival. As you pack for your trip, attempting to use just a carry-on might be a helpful time-saver. Using just a carry-on means no checked bags which translates into saving time and money. With winter weather comes the possibility of delays. Be sure to be prepared for this scenario. Even if you've just got a short flight, there is a chance you could be stuck at the airport for several hours. It may be helpful to have additional snacks, device chargers, or a book in case you’re stuck. As far as travel snacks are concerned, make sure you’ve got things that are high protein, low mess, and will keep you energized. Some ideas we liked come from Packsmith . The article mentions a few tips: — No liquids (like juice) and items like pudding, gel packs, and yogurt fall under TSA’s 3-1-1 rule (you didn’t know TSA had a special snack regulation , didja?). — Avoid overly smelly or noisy to eat food (i.e. tuna:smelly — or pistachios:noisy). — Pack food that’s good at room temperature. — Bonus points if your foods are hydrating (i.e. watermelon or cucumbers)l The more you travel, the more you will learn about what works for you and what doesn’t. What are your must-haves when traveling? Please share in the comments and thanks for reading the Nantucket Gate blog!

Weeknight Dinner

For those chilly nights after work or school a warm hearty dish for dinner is the perfect end to your day. We love making a larger quantity than needed for dinner and then taking it for lunch the next day or two. Incorporating local, in-season ingredients is a great way to add a nutritious touch to your dish and even save some money! Planning dinners ahead of time is also an option for saving money, but it takes a little bit of effort at the same time. If you need an idea for a comforting fall dish, we found a great recipe for chili from Cooking With Curls . The site says “You can warm yourself up with a big bowl of Guinness Chili on those cold snowy nights. Maybe that’s why we have winter, so we can make awesome hot foods! This is a mild chili, I do not like spicy. No, it does not have a strong beer flavor, it is just a subtle flavor in the background that adds a unique twist to basic chili.” Ingredients: 1 1/2 Pounds grass fed 80% ground beef 1-11.2 oz bottle Guinness Draught* 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 cup yellow onions (diced) 1-15oz can red kidney beans (drained and rinsed) 1-15oz can white kidney beans (drained and rinsed) 1-28 ounce can crushed tomatoes (or diced) 2 Cloves fresh garlic (minced) 2 Tablespoons ground cumin 1 - 2 Tablespoons chili powder 1 Tablespoon chipotle chili powder 1 Tablespoon organic brown sugar, sour cream, and shredded cheese (optional) Directions: Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and garlic. Cook until meat is no longer pink. Add cumin, chili powders, tomatoes, and beans. Add the Guinness® and brown sugar, stir. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Serve garnished with sour cream/ Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, and green onions (if desired). What are your go-to dishes for a quick but hearty dinner? Share in the comments so we can all try them, and thanks for reading the Nantucket Gate blog!