This week’s bake was a real challenge to make . . . a classic French cake, derived from the French word “fraise”, meaning strawberry. It is a combination of layers of a Genoise sponge cake, vanilla syrup, creme patisserie, strawberries, and whipped cream. Making this cake is a series of multiple steps, in which I felt like I used every bowl and pan in the … Continue reading this week’s bake – fraisier cake
I had just walked in my bedroom when I noticed the light coming in the window was teasing the dried hydrangeas on my dresser, and flirting with them in a most provocative way. I grabbed my camera to capture their blushing beauty. A little bit of sunlight during these long winter months, will make any of us smile. Even the urn they are in, looked … Continue reading winter light
This simple corner of my bedroom always reminds me on Valentine’s Day and Easter of the true meaning of love. I found this lovely machine embroidered “LOVE” on a piece of linen, some years back at a yard sale for just a few dollars. It’s detail is simple, yet exquisite. I found the frame at a flea market for $10, and married together, the two … Continue reading a simple love note
This week’s bake is Valentine sugar cookies that I made for my office for Valentine’s Day. I’m giving them a little early since making and decorating them is such a long process, it’s not something I can do in an evening after work. This is the same dough recipe I used for the snowflake cookies and the recipe can be found here. The dough did … Continue reading this week’ bake – valentine sugar cookies
If you’ve ever had “Gooey Butter Cake”, then you know what these cookies will taste like because they are made from the same ingredients and taste equally as good. The dough for these cookies is really gooey. I thought maybe it would be less so after chilling the dough, but it wasn’t much better. Be prepared to get your fingers sticky and gooey when rolling … Continue reading this week’s bake – gooey butter cookies
This is probably more of a summer dish than something you make in the dead of winter, when your body is craving “comfort food”. But, I came across a bag and a half of peas in the freezer, and in my attempt to be more responsible with my food spending, I thought I’d make up this salad to use them up . I am often … Continue reading pea salad
My new toy arrived today – a KitchenAid mixer. I have a hand mixer that was received as a wedding present, 45 years ago. I have been using that hand mixer since that time, and it has been a faithful appliance. This little mixer has always worked despite the fact that over 40 years ago I lost the cord to it when moving. This cord … Continue reading a new toy!
Well, it is Sunday, and time to bake again. I’ve had this almond-flavored sugar cookie recipe for years and it’s always been a favorite. It came with an icing recipe, but I wanted to try my hand at Royal Icing. This recipe says to chill the dough for 1 hour after making before rolling it out. Since I didn’t make up the dough until Saturday … Continue reading this week’s bake – sugar cookies (and my first attempt at royal icing)
Since gardening keeps me busy three seasons of the year, I save all my inside home projects for the winter months. I find if I schedule enough of them, I am scrambling to get them all finished before spring, and it makes the winter go fast. Over Christmas break, I repainted the kitchen. That leaves me the living room and the utility/laundry room to finish before … Continue reading repainting the living room
It’s an oppressive dreary day outside and perfect for turning on the oven and filling the house with good smells. Now that I’m baking again, I wanted to try making pizza dough. I have a recipe I’ve made before and remember it as being very good, so I threw together the dough and set it aside to rise. The dough didn’t rise as much as … Continue reading pizza day
