bear & lion

here's a peek into the highs and woes of our life

  • home
  • about me
  • crafts
    • winter
    • spring
    • summer
    • fall
  • recipes
    • breakfast
    • lunch
    • dinner
    • dessert
    • snacks
  • contact / pr
  • the makery

korvapuusti or finnish cinnamon bun recipe!

September 15, 2013 by mama lola

korvapuusti, finnish baking
mmm…
korvapuusti, finnish baking recipe, cinnamon buns

i’ve shared our korvapuusti recipe before. the name korvapuusti is finnish for “slapped ear” based on the appearance of the bun. they are a common treat in finnish cafe’s and homes. they are simple to make, with most of the time spent waiting for the dough to rise.

this summer these treats became a camping tip hit in our family. DH would bake them before a camping getaway, and then we would enjoy them during our cool summer mornings at camp.

INGREDIENTS:

DOUGH:
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 cups scalded whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
11/2 tsp salt
6-7 cups flour
1/2 cup butter

INSIDE FILLING:
1/2 cup cinnamon sugar

GLAZE:
1 egg *since we are an egg free family, we use coffee or a milk/ butter combo

INSTRUCTIONS:
– dissolve the yeast in the water and add the milk, sugar, salt, and half of the flour. mix vigorously for one minute.
– stir in butter and enough of the remaining flour to make a stiff dough.
– knead until smooth, about 10 minutes
– place dough in greased bowl and let rise in a warm location until size has doubled. may take up to 2-3 hours depending on current temperature.
– pre-heat oven to 375 F
– roll out half the dough into a 12 by 18 inch rectangle. spread with butter (DH melts butter and brushes it on) and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
– roll rectangle firmly into a log roll. cut roll diagonally to make triangular:ish pieces and press down on centre of each korvapuusti spreading out the cut ends.
– glaze each korvapuusti. place rolls onto greased baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until golden.
– do the same with the other half of the dough.

korvapuusti, finnish baked goods, baking recipe
korvapuusti, finnish baked treats, cinnamon buns

 

korvapuusti resepti, finnish recipe

my mouth is watering just looking at these pictures!
these are perfect school lunches too!
YUM!

xo, mama lola

Filed Under: dessert, finnish, food, recipes

« this moment.how to prevent lice, naturally! »

autumn vegetarian squash recipes!

September 10, 2013 by mama lola


 

 

i love squash. so does my whole family.
this time of year is harvest season and all the gourds and squashes are ready for the picking!

here is a round-up of various vegetarian squash recipes. some recipes are vegan too!

 

roasted butternut squash with goat cheese from anja’s food 4 thought
 
 
spicy asian spahetti squash from slender kitchen
 
 
easy italian vegetarian pasta butternut squash from savvy vegetarian
 
 
potato, squash and goat cheese gratin from the kitchn
 
 
black bean and butternut squash burrito’s from oh she glows
 
 
black rice with acorn squash from vegetarian mamma
 
 
baked kale-stuffed delicata squash from serious eats
 
 
spiced chick-pea & squash vegetarian burgers from eat like a girl
 
 
butternut squash lasagna from bon appetit
 
 
curried lentil & squash stew from vegan miam
 
 
creamy butternut squash (vegan) pasta from dishing up the dirt
 
 

butternut squash soup from bear & lion

 

this time of year the thought a piece of yummy bread with hardy stew makes my mouth water!

i’ll let you know which recipes i’ll be trying!

xo, mama lola

Filed Under: dinner, fall, food, homemaker, mothering, recipes

« more road trip shenanigans; heading back south!lion’s first day of preschool! »

perfect fall apple recipes!

September 4, 2013 by mama lola

fall has arrived.
the kids are officially back to school. the trees are starting to slowly change colour and lose their leaves. people are taking about going apple picking and there’s even a crispness in the air on some mornings, oh yes, fall has definitely arrived.

this time of year i like to use my oven a lot for baking and dinners; we don’t have our furnace on so it’s a great way to warm up the house when needed. here are 10+ fall recipes to get your home smelling delicious and cozy this fall!

apple sandwiches from oh she glows
 
old fashioned apple crisp from blissfully delicious
 
apple chips from whole living
 
caramel apples from dot come women
 
orange cocoa apple bread from kitchen illiterate
 
spirit tree apple pizza from off the beaten palate
 
apple muffins from the girl who ate everything

 

whole wheat apple muffins from living lou
 

apple pie bites from yummy mummy club

apple sauce from canning basics

(vegan) apple pie from the southern vegan

which one is your favourite?
let me know if you try out any of these recipes!

xo, mama lola

Filed Under: dessert, dinner, fall, food, homemaker, lunch, recipes, snacks

« fun vegetarian lunch ideas!the Pin It Party: 21st Edition! »

fun vegetarian lunch ideas!

August 29, 2013 by mama lola

i know many kids have already returned back to school. my eldest goes back next week, and to prepare i have collected some healthy, fun lunch ideas! my bear gets easily distracted from eating, so i’m hoping if i change things up a little and create little fun surprises, then maybe he’ll be more inclined to eat. we’re vegetarian and his school is a nut-free, waste-free zone, meaning there are certain foods i’m not allowed to include in his lunch and we need to use a steel lunch box to reduce product waste. i’m not bothered by this because i’m very conscious of dietary issues and always do my bit for the environment! anyway, i want to make sure he’s getting everything he needs in a day with these restrictions in place!
i guess only time will tell!

how do you get your kids to eat their school lunches?

it’s so easy to always make the same thing for lunch. i love these ideas, because it shows that if you think a little out of the box you can really get creative!

here’s what to think about:

  • presentation is key; it’s not just about fun shapes, think brisght colours too
  • hitting the oh-so important food groups
  • cutting things into smaller, bite-sized portions
  • don’t forget about drinks too
  • investing in good BPA-free containers that are easy for kids to open and close
  • don’t forget to label all the pieces of the lunch sets


sooooooooooooooo…. here we go!

delicious lunch box selection from kids kitchen
 
 

make your own sushi from bear & lion

may the force be with you bento box from wendolomania

(i think the bread actually has meat inside, but you could easily substitute with hummus or cream cheese.)
 

healthy choices from i pack lunch

vegan club sandwich from healthy. happy. life.

roasted tomato grilled cheese from the wimpy vegetarian

slow roasted tomato basil and hummus wraps from oh my veggies

falafel & tzatziki from peas and thank-you

pizza pops from bear & lion

vegan sweet potato, coconut milk and sweet chili ravioli from  reclaiming provincial

christmas cactus from organized bites

coming up soon… hot vegetarian school lunch ideas!
perfect for cool fall or chilly winter days!
xo, mama lola

Filed Under: attachment parenting, food, health, homemaker, love, lunch, mothering, recipes, school

« the PIN IT PARTY #20!perfect fall apple recipes! »

10 delicious asian foods!

July 10, 2013 by mama lola

we enjoy asian foods at our house. the kids will devour sushi, udon soup, fried rices and various forms of cooked tofu. stir fries are so easy to throw together; vegetables, herbs and a protein and you’re good to go. some people like to add rice noodles, soba noodles (japanese buckwheat noodles), quinoa or rice as a side. 

: : SOURCES: :

1. tofu stir fry from bear & lion
2. hot n’ sweet sesame tofu from OMG! i love to cook
3. smoked stir fry from veggie wedgie
4. vegan veggie stir fry from motivated mama’s
5. vietnamese summer rolls from tartine & apron strings
6. teriyaki shrimp stir-fry from social cafe magazine
7. chimchurri tofu, sauteed kale and quinoa from vegan miam
8. chinese fried rice from katherine martinelli
9. make your won sushi from bear & lion
10. udon noodle soup from cherry bomb kitchen

asian foods are often great for people with all sorts of allergies, or who are vegetarian, like us (well we do enjoy some seafood now and then!) there are so many countries to draw inspiration from and adjust flavours and spices according to your taste.

let me know which one is your fave!

xo, mama lola

Filed Under: dinner, home, homemaker, recipes

« make a paper mache pinata!THE Pin It Party (lucky) #13 »

millions of peaches… 20 awesome peach recipes!

July 1, 2013 by mama lola

we LOVE peaches! and, when they’re in season we devour baskets of them! to get ready for the world’s best peaches, which will be in season in a matter of weeks here in southern ontario, i have collected some awesome peach recipes, from pizza’s, to sorbet’s to salsa’s!
i did include a crisp and a cobbler for good measure, as well!
YUM… here we go…

{ 20 PEACH RECIPES }
 gouda and peach frilled cheese from winthrop chronicles
 carolina peach margarita from garden and gun
shrimp
greek crostini with peaches and feta from katie’s cucina
grilled peach pizza with goats cheese from zested
 bellinin sorbet from the hungry australian
rustic grilled peach pizza from love cook eat
peach cake from i heart eating
grilled peaches from the snails view
 lavender peach cobbler from the baking bird
 blackberry peach crisp from the key ingredient
peach dumplings from LGB studio
molasses glazed salmon, sweet n’ spicy peach salsa from grab a plate
sweet peach pancakes from spicy southern kitchen
 fish taco’s with pineapple peach salsa from kristine’s kitchen
peach tart from the patterned plate
peach, mango & carrot smoothie from eat, drink & be merry
 peach salad from feasting at home
peach wine coolers from annie’s eats
summer peach rolls from my recipes
peach jam from better homes & gardens
mmm… my mouth is seriously watering after compiling this peachy list of yummy peach recipe’s. let me know if you try any of them or if you have a must-try peach recipe of your own!
xo, mama lola

Filed Under: dessert, food, homemaker, recipes, summer

« the donkeys.learning to be bear wise. »

yoghurt parfaits!

June 11, 2013 by mama lola


my kids love to eat treats, but i’m not keen on letting them eat too much sugar. so, i decided to get creative and take ingredients that we often have at home anyway and just combine them in to something fancy. kids love fancy!
INGREDIENTS:
greek style yoghurt in your favourite flavour
granola or cereal
hemp seeds
your favourite berries

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. layer your ingredients into quaint mason jars (although drinking glasses work great as well) starting with the yoghurt.
2. i did yoghurt + sliced strawberries + granola + hemp seeds + yoghurt + granola , done!


xo, mama lola

Filed Under: breakfast, food, homemaker, recipes, snacks

« nothing beats family fun!the stupidfication of DAD! »

the best banana bread!

May 1, 2013 by mama lola

i found a recipe from here, the whole living web magazine, but as usual i had to tweak it a bit to make it my own.

it was best banana bread loaf i had ever tasted, never mind baked myself! it was perfectly moist, just sweet enough and my family agreed as it was all almost gone by bedtime!

banana bread, baking



INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled 
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 ripe bananas 
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs OR egg substitute of your own choosing
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds

 
INSTRUCTIONS:
 
1. preheat oven to 350F. butter your loaf pan.
2. in a bowl mash your bananas, add melted butter, eggs/ egg substitute, vanilla and both sugars. in another bowl add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. then combine all of the ingredients, careful not to over mix.
3. fold in seeds and pour into baking pan.
4. bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a tooth pick comes out clean. let cool for about 15 minutes first and then transfer to a wire rack.
 
i had some help, as usual. a pro masher in fact!
look at that colour! perfect!
tasted as good as it looked!
 
banana bread, baking
banana bread, baking, treats
let me know how you like it!
xo, mama lola

Filed Under: dessert, food, homemaker, recipes

« this is my pity party.this moment. »

mother’s day treats!

April 27, 2013 by mama lola

i know, i know treats and yummy things can be unhealthy, but on special occasions i think, a little something delicious is worth the extra calories! here are some treats i compiled that i would be delighted to taste, enjoy and devour if made for me on Mother’s Day!
 
WHERE TO FIND ‘EM!
1. chocolate covered strawberries from family fresh cooking
2. blueberry greek yoghurt no bake cheese cake from bareroot girl
3. cake pops from at kokken
4. momfoku banana cupcakes from cupcakes garden
5. no bake chocolate strwberry cheesecake from how sweet it is
6. ice cream sandwiches from the kitchy kitchen
7. rose cupcakes from the cupcake daily blog
8. funfetti cake waffles from buns in my oven

let me know if you’re lucky enough to try one of these, or if you decided to make something from here for another mama.
 
xo, mama lola

Filed Under: dessert, food, love, recipes, special occasions

« this moment :: niagara falls for a birthday was a blast!this is my pity party. »

finnish pulla recipe!

April 8, 2013 by mama lola

today i am sharing a recipe from my motherland, finland. pulla is a traditional, popular coffee bread enjoyed by everyone. it’s the kind of food my mummo always had on hand to offer people when they came for a visit. 

we make pulla for all the major holidays. it’s a special treat and something yummy we love to enjoy!

the original recipe is from “the finnish cookbook” by beatrice a. ojakangas, but we make a few modifications to suit our own taste and fit our allergy needs.

INGREDIENTS:

1 package active yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
7-8 cardamom pods or 1 tsp ground cardamom
4 eggs (or egg substitute)
8 cups flour
1/2 cup melted butter

glaze:
1 egg beaten
1/2 sliced almonds
1/2 cup coarse granulated sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. dissolve the yeast in warm water. stir in milk, sugar, salt, cardamom eggs and 2 cups of flour to make a batter. beat until the batter is smooth and elastic. then add 3 more cups of flour, ensuring the dough remains smooth and glossy.

2. add melted butter and the remaining flour stir until a stiff dough forms.

3. place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes.  once the dough is smooth, place it into a greased mixing bowl, turning it over once to grease the top. let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour (doubled in bulk). then, punch the dough down and let sit for another 30 minutes.

4. preheat the oven to 400F. lightly flour a board or your flat work surface and divide the dough into three even sections. roll out each section until about 16 inches long, and then braid the three sections together. pinch both ends and tuck under. let sit and rise a little longer, approx. 20 minutes.

5. glaze the braids with your beaten egg mixture. add almonds and sugar as desired. bake for about 25-30 minutes on a lightly greased baking sheet. ensure they don’t get overcooked as they will dry out. remove from oven when braids are golden brown.

6. serves 3 braids. slice and serve with a fresh cuppa coffee!


enjoy!

xo, mama lola
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Filed Under: dessert, finnish, love, recipes

« cookies! cookies! cookies!a mother’s guilt, a bear’s meltdown. »
  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • …
  • 9
  • Next Page »


WELCOME! i am mama lola and here is a peek into the highs and woes of our life. i like to share recipes, crafts and tell tales of my daily mothering struggles. stay a while, look around, leave a comment and make sure you become a follower!

subscribe by email

Enter your email address:

follow on bloglovin’

Follow on Bloglovin

categories

anxiety art attachment parenting birthdays brothers camping christmas community cottage crafts dessert dinner environment fall fall crafts family food friends gardening gift idea health holidays home homemaker love mothering nature recipes school self sewing she's crafty snacks special occasions spring spring crafts summer summer crafts this moment travel tumour Uncategorized vacation winter winter crafts

recent posts

  • custom orders, get ’em in now!
  • (no title)
  • snowflake window garland.
  • costa rica : our family vacation
  • hi there. again. i think.

instagram

Instagram did not return a 200.

Copyright © 2026 mama lola · WordPress &#x000B7 privacy policy &#x000B7 Log in