Happy Birthday Frank!!

I am almost ready for my guests to arrive.  The Chicken Marsala, Ting's Wings, Italian Baked Chicken and Oven Baked Mostaccioli is ready to go into the oven.  I will make the Fettuccine Alfredo, Glazed Carrots and Green Beans right before dinner.

The Mostaccioli is just cooked to package directions, topped with Frank's Meat Sauce, sprinkled with Mozzarella cheese and then baked at 350* for 30 minutes before you want to serve it.

I also baked the brownies and made Frank a Strawberry Almond Torte.  This is one of his favorite desserts and I make it often, all summer long. The recipe is adapted from Pillsbury Bake Off Cookie Book, copyright 1967 and one of the first cookbooks I got when I was first married in 1974.  It is an oldie but a goodie with tons of great recipes.

First, you make a basic Butter Cookie dough.

Divide the dough and press it into two round cake pans.

Make the Almond Topping.

Divide evenly and spread over cookie dough.

Bake until Golden.

Whip the Cream

Fold 1 qt. of Strawberries, sliced, into half of the whipped cream.

Put on one of the cookies.

Top with second cookie and remaining whipped cream.

Top with Whole Strawberries.

Strawberry Almond Torte

adapted from Pillsbury Bake Off Cookie Book

Cookie

2 c. flour

1/4 t. salt

1/2 c. sugar

1 c. butter, softened

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl of stand mixer using paddle attachment.  Divide dough in half and press into bottom of 2 round cake pans.  Set aside.

Almond topping

1 egg

1/4 c. sugar

1/2 t. almond extract

1/2 c. almond paste

Beat egg in small bowl of stand mixer, using paddle attachment, until foamy.  Gradually add sugar and almond extract.  Beat until thick and ivory colored,  Blend in almond paste and mix well.  Divide in half and spread over the cookie dough in each of the cake pans.  Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

Whipped Cream

1 pint heavy cream

2 T. sugar

1 T. Brandy, optional

2 quarts strawberries, washed and hulled, one quart sliced.

Place the heavy cream into a large bowl of a stand mixer using whisk attachment.  Start whipping slowly gradually adding sugar and brandy.  Increase speed as cream thickens and whip until light and fluffy with soft folds.

Fold the sliced strawberries into half of the whipped cream.  Place one of the cookies on a cake plate and cover with strawberries and cream.  Place second cookie on top of topped cookie and spread with remaining whipped cream.  Arrange whole strawberries onto the whipped cream. 

Print Recipe

This Torte will also make a perfect dessert for Mother's Day.  I am sharing it on Inspiration Monday.

Another Busy Weekend in this Life on the Farm

Today is our Anniversary.  Twenty two wonderful years.  I am so very, very blessed.

Sunday is Frank's Birthday.  Sixty three wonderful years.  I am so very, very blessed.

We are celebrating Frank's birthday this evening because our daughter, Nicole and her husband, Pierre came home from Florida yesterday and are flying back on Sunday.  We are so happy that they can spend this birthday celebration with us.  I am so very, very blessed.

Tomorrow night we are hosting our After Dive Party for all our friends that went to Grand Cayman with us.
It was a wonderful trip.  I am so very, very blessed.

Mom is spending this weekend at Dawn's.  She is leaving Saturday morning and staying until Tuesday so that we can have Sunday available to celebrate our Anniversary.  I am so very, very blessed.

Sunday is supposed to be a beautiful day.  The airplane is fixed and ready to fly.  I think we are going to fly to dinner somewhere to celebrate our big day. I am so very, very blessed.

Wow, Look how young and thin we were!!

Ok, so enough with my blessings.  Now it is time for me to get to work.  Mom is starting to move around upstairs.  Frank is making wake up noises in our bedroom.  Nancy and Tamie are on their way over.

We have a large group coming for dinner tonight.  It will be like Easter all over again.  Two tables filled with family and friends, love and laughter.

I have added to the menu a bit.  I have added Chicken Wings as an appetizer, Italian Baked Chicken and Mostaccioli to the main course and a second dessert as well.  I will be back to post photos and recipes but right now I need to get my butt in gear. Hope that you have a very blessed day.  See you later!!!

A Story of Twos

There once were 2 people

So deeply in love

They decided one day

That the 2 should be one

They each had 2 children

2 boys and 2 girls

That first year for Christmas

He gave his wife pearls

They hadn't much money

But they had lots of love

And each day they were grateful

For blessings from above

This was long ago

1992 to be exact

That's 22 years ago

As a matter of fact

And over the years

Their love continued to grow

What started as a whirlwind

Is now steady and slow

So today she remembers

How happy she was that day

And how special will always be

The 2nd of May.

After 15 years

They decided to renew

So in November of 2007

They again said "I Do"

They spend their lives

Caring for others, it's true

But they always try to remember that one day

It will once again be just 2

So they continue to nurture

Their love without end

And recognize it for what it is

A wonderful God-send.

Life is Messy Sometimes

Five Minute Friday is one of my favorite little blogs to write each week.  Our friend, Lisa Jo Baker, gives us a one word prompt on which we write for 5 minutes flat.  This gives us no time to over think or over stress about what we should write.  We just write for the joy of writing.  There is only one rule...you must visit the writer posted before your blog and encourage them in their endeavors.  Easy Peasy....you should join us!!

Today's prompt is Mess.

Go

Life can be messy sometimes.  It doesn't always go the way you had planned.  That perfect little life you had pictured in your head.

You know, the one where there is never any money problems, your marriage is happy each and every second of each and every day, your children are angels who never give you a moments worry and then they become wonderful, well rounded and perfect adults (all because of your perfect parenting) and provide you with tons of beautiful perfect grandchildren that you spend time with in between all your world travels that you are enjoying after having retired from the perfect career that made you completely happy and provided you with more money than you can spend.

Our lives are all like that.....right???

Until the bill collector is knocking on the door. And your children turn out to be just miniature human beings that need to be taught right from wrong.

STOP

And you run out of time when you are trying to get all your thoughts down in 5 lousy minutes LOL...Life is Messy!!  And Good!!!  Have a wonderful day all my Five Minute Friends!

With Fries on the Side

I am posting this just so everyone knows that we are regular normal people.  I do love to cook and entertain and try new recipes but I also have days when we throw together pbj sandwiches, pour a glass of milk and eat in the living room while watching the boob tube.

Today was not quite that bad but when I was making my Weekly Menu I knew that today was going to be a crazy day so I put hot dogs and fries down for tonight.  We like hot dogs around here and always have them on hand. Being carboholics we always want more than just the bun, often we have baked beans or chips but tonight I made French Fries.

I soak the potatoes in cold water to remove some of the starch.

I use my salad spinner to make sure they are completely dry.

Use a good amount of oil but be careful that the pan is not too full.

The oil will boil wildly and overflow if there is too much oil.

Drain on paper towel.

Season with salt and pepper.

Enjoy.

French Fries

1 Russet Potato for every 2 people

Cooking Oil

Salt and Pepper

Scrub potatoes and cut into fries.  I leave the peels on but you can peel the potatoes if you prefer.  Soak in cold water for an hour or so.  Drain, rinse and dry completely.

Heat oil in a deep pan to 350*.  Add the potatoes in batches.  Do not overcrowd.  Cook for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown.  

Remove to paper towel.  Season each batch as it comes out of the oil.

Print Recipe

Our Blessing from Heaven is Revealed

God is amazing.

And so is science.

This morning we were speculating on what gender our baby would be.

Tonight we know......

It's a Girl!!!!

Not your Typical Thursday

My life is generally pretty predictable.  At least during the week.  Mondays are errand days, Tuesdays are backpack days and Mom spends the night with Dawn, Wednesday is food pantry day and shower night for Mom, Thursdays are Mom's hair days, choir night, Dick and Jackie join us for dinner and then keep Mom for us.  Not much variance but today was different.

We had gone to see the stage play version of Sister Act last night, which was excellent!!  What a fun show.  It was a great time.  This meant that Mom did not get her shower as per usual.  So the first thing different this Thursday was that I had to shower Mom this morning before  her hair appointment.

The next different thing was that my friend and mentor, Sister Maryann, had invited me over to celebrate Cheyenne's 15th birthday.  Cheyenne is our pastor's German Shepherd. Cheyenne is also a veteran, having served 3 tours in war overseas before coming home and being adopted by Fr. Rooney.  Sister Maryann loves when our pastors have dogs that she can spoil!!  So, after Mom's shower, I ran to the store for some ingredients I needed to make lunch for all the party goers.  We had Sloppy Joes, Cole Slaw, Fruit Platter and Chips.  Sister made Porcupine Meatballs for the guest of honor and, of course, there was birthday cake.

Sr. Geraldine wrapping gifts before the guest of honor arrives

Sr. Maryann putting Cheyenne's lunch into the oven.

The gift table.

The guest of honor, Cheyenne, with his human, Fr. Rooney

Lunch is Served

Cheyenne's Birthday Cake

The guest's birthday cake.

Cheyenne with his biggest fan.

The Guests

Enjoying his birthday gifts.

Happy Birthday, Dear Cheyenne, Happy Birthday to you!!

I am skipping choir tonight so that I can go with Tingting for her ultrasound that will disclose the sex of the baby.  I will let you know what we are having as soon as she makes her announcement and gives me permission to do the same.  I think we are having a boy.....We'll see if I am right!