Full Morning Course

Saturdays and holidays always lend such an air for full breakfast service.
Through the years this has been our custom. My husband truly makes the best breakfasts so he is the main cook. Except the biscuits, that's my part. When the weather is good, eating outside is the added bonus. Such pleasant times we have shared and it is one of the things I hope my children will think back to with fondness.

This morning being a holiday found us gathered around the patio table. Hunger was astir and we were anticipating such bounty and could hardly wait. The appetizing food was all placed on the wrought-iron table, everyone was appropriately seated. Oops! This will not do at all; "someone" had forgotten the plates!

Coffee machine

Woke up yesterday morning and just as I do every single morning, I put the water, coffee filter and coffee grounds into the coffee machine. Ah, the blessing of electricity and simple machines! But the little knob that always blinks on red when I hit it did nothing! I worked that little knob and worked that little knob.....nothing. Just the thought of not having my morning coffee was making me want it even more. My husband was out of town, so I had Alan try it especially since he, like his mother, looks forward to his morning cup of coffee. Nothing! So I did what anyone in their right mind or in this case their caffeine deprived mind would do, I sent him to Hardees to buy us a fresh cup of coffee. I found myself so very thankful to live only a hop, skip and a jump from conveniences such as fast food stores.

When my husband came home last evening I told him our newest dilemma, he proceeded over to the coffee machine, pushed the little knob up......red light. No malfunction whatsoever. So this morning with trepidation I pushed the knob.....viola! The coffee machine seemed to purr as it came on. It seems I wasn't the only one that was missing my husband!

A Secret Place

Some evenings Charlotte will take her bath before supper and instinctively slip her nightgown over her head. So it was on this night. But on a whim we decided to visit older brother's place. No time to change. It was definitely a "come as you are" visit.My girls are convinced their brother lives in a little playhouse with its gatekeeper appeal. Along with the many deer and fawns that greet you as you come up the driveway, there are also open fields, apple trees, and an enclosed garden with a heavy latched wooden door. You find yourself inadvertently holding your breath as you enter. The girls love to wander on the brick-paved paths and smell the variety of roses. It is unlike Mary Lennox's hidden place in The Secret Garden, yet you still find yourself enveloped in its unique charm. What awaits for you there?

This particular time a nightgown-clad princess skipping by was wonderful enough for me!

Icy Watermelon Dessert

Having some watermelon that needed to be used quickly, I decided to teach Rose how to make an easy, fun dessert. You may call it granita or sorbet, same recipe just a different technique of freezing it. I pureed about 1/4 of a watermelon with pineapple mint and stirred in 1/4 cup of sugar. I relied on my Cuisinart ice cream/sorbet machine to freeze it which actually took no time at all ( I put it on while I was preparing supper). The other method is a little more time consuming because it involves putting it in a casserole dish in the freezer and scraping the mixture ever so often during the freezing process which takes several hours.


Very refreshing and light! Rose especially enjoyed it.

sock knitting once again

As the garden spiders are joyfully welcomed upon making their annual appearance amongst the plants in my kitchen garden, I pick up my double-pointed needles once again to knit socks. Last year I had such earnest aspirations to knit a pair of socks for all my friends as Christmas gifts. Alas, I only managed for two of my friends to cozy their tootsies in hand-knitted striped wool socks. I have no such ambitions this year; just to feel the touch of the narrow threads of wool between my fingers and the gentle "sight whooshing" of the #1 needles is enough. I believe I am presently as much of a process knitter as a project knitter. If I only looked at the project I would feel such a failure because the projects are not completed adequately on the time scale that I think they should. Instead, I just pick up the needles, enjoy the moment.
Knit, Knit, Breathe, Knit.
And a little Bach adds extra bliss.

Saturday morning waffles

Yesterday afternoon I was happy to discover this little magazine lying on the hall table where my children had dropped the day's mail. I love this food recipe magazine and I have enjoyed giving it as gifts to my friends and they always seem to appreciate receiving it as much as I enjoy giving it. I found a waffle recipe that I could hardly wait to make this Saturday morning. It contained buttermilk and little taste flags jump in my brain when I think of cooking with buttermilk. I think baking with buttermilk makes everything tastier. I was not disappointed, they were delicious! Yet I was somewhat unnerved about the amount of butter this recipe contained and I will attempt to make alterations to the recipe in the future. But this morning I was happy to know I had the stick of butter in my refrigerator along with the needed buttermilk....oh and don't forget the fresh blueberries and maple syrup. All Saturdays should begin so well!

Mere Lavishes

A hurried in evening. Must get supper started as I have a hungry family to feed. But the mood must come first so I put on one of my favorite opera CDs. As Pavorotti fills the kitchen with "Nessun Dorma", I pull out what I so appropriately call," the red pot". I am convinced everyone really must get such a pot if they don't already have one in their possession.
I saute chopped onions and garlic in olive oil, add fresh tomatoes and toss in thin strips of prosciutto. Quickly, run to the herb garden right outside the kitchen door and gather a few snips of basil...chop,chop...in they go too. A few twists of the pepper grinder, shake of the salt shaker. In the meantime the thin spaghetti noodles have been boiling. Salad made with fresh lettuces, always prewashed beforehand, and garlic bread pulled from the oven as the aromas of this simple dinner are now joining the music in a harmonious blend of sensory satisfaction.
All to prove that even the preparation of last minute meals can lavish us too!

First Ballet Lesson

Ever since Charlotte was three and a half years old she has wanted to take ballet lessons. Today her heart's desire was met while she danced at her very first lesson in classical ballet.She arabesqued across the dance floor!

Bon travail Charlotte! Bon travail!

Still Moment

For some reason or another I was weary this afternoon. I decided to do what my friend Jacqui does and take a quiet moment. Taking the time to brew Earl Grey Tea , taking the time to sit down and sip it from a Royal Albert teacup.
And the most positive thing to do, taking the time to feed the spirit. Therefore, I opened the scriptures to His Word and rested quietly in Him. Moments of worship provide moments of strength.

Fresh Apple Cake

We will be picking up various children at different destinations tomorrow after church.The first stop will be the airport to pick up son #1 who will be arriving from Rhode Island; then on to grandma's house where the girls have been visiting. Since I still have so many apples (even though we must all eat at least three a day), I decided to make an apple cake to take along for Sunday supper. Many people have given me apple cake recipes through the years, but I always find myself hankering for this cake. I almost dropped it today upon removing it from the pan, hence the lopsided effect. But it will not change the taste, no sirree it definitely will not!

Fresh Apple Cake

2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 cups flour
3 cups apples, peeled and diced
3 eggs
1 cup of pecans or walnuts
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup water

Peel apples and chop. Set aside. Pour oil into mixing bowl, add sugar and eggs, beating well. Sift flour, soda and salt. Add flour mixture gradually to creamed mixture. At this point I add the water because I like the extra moistness it adds to the cake. Fold in apples, nuts, and vanilla. Bake in greased tube pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour. When cool, glaze.

Glaze
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons water
1-2 teaspoons of vanilla

Mix together and drizzle over the cake.




This cake is best eaten with someone......or alone....or in a crowd.......

A Rainy Interlude

A deluge of rain slowed the traffic for a slight moment on the busy highway as we traveled this afternoon to take my girls for a weekend visit with grandma, granddaddy and visiting aunt. My husband and I were able to journey on for an evening with several stops as we headed back home. First, we dined where the lights were low, the food was satisfying and our seats were situated in a corner allowing our knees to touch. Then a stop to buy a new fragrance at Crabtree and Evelyn, Wisteria.


On the highway once again, I stared at a van carrying a mattress and box spring on top of its roof, tightly wrapped in plastic....thank goodness.....because it was raining once again.