"I do not claim that I can tell a story as it ought to be told. I only claim to know how a story ought to be told." -Mark Twain









4.28.2011

A Rose By Any Other Name....

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."


I am still
waiting to close
on my house...
but in the meantime
there is a lot of
packing going on.
I did not want to unpack
dishes
like I did last week,
so instead I have brought in
part of a rerun.
For the full-real-deal
go here.

My mother has every single piece of
Desert Rose ever made.
I really mean that.
She has even aquired more since
I took these pictures last year.
She loves to set beautiful tables,
and actually uses it.


I also included dishes
in this tablescape
that were from my
grandmother
and great-aunts.
I'm telling you,
I come from a long line
of dish hoarders!












I am linking this wtih Susan at Between Naps On The Porch.
Also Show and Tell Friday with Cindy.

4.27.2011

Limeade Raspberry Cakalicious!

The handle coming out of the cake, is actually a pitcher behind the cake! Poor picture taking!!
 For Easter I made Paula Deen's
Limeade Raspberry Layer cake.
Too bad you cannot
smell through the computer.
It was heavenly.
The lime and the rapsberry mix...
mmmmmm!


The cake is very dense and very easy to stack and work with.

 To be honest,
I do not like limes
nor raspberries!
But my family does.
And they loved this cake.
It was a three layer limeade cake
with rapsberry filling.
Topped with limeade cream cheese icing.
And it really did smell delicious.


Another "this is not a handle on the cake" nor a "glass container coming out the top" picture.

Everyone that ate the cake
loved it.
They all said it was very rich.
There was about half of it left.....
But we had at least six desserts to pick from.
So on the way home,
the-half-a-limeade-raspberry-layer-cake
was sitting on its little green stand
when my hubby took a corner
pretty darn sharp.
Yep, the cake fell over.
But in true
we-love-this-cake
fashion,
my sons and husband scooped it up
when we got home
and said it was still
good enough to eat!
The recipe follows after the last pic...
Enjoy!

This pic was taken after the cake fell over in the car. You can see what it looks like very close up tho!!

Limeade Raspberry Layer Cake

Ingredients:

3/4 c. butter softened

2 cups sugar

1 tbs lime zest

3/4 c. limeade concentrate

5 large eggs

3 3/4 c. all-purpose flour

2 3/4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 c. whole buttermilk

raspberry filling (see below)

cream cheese icing (see below)

garnish of lime slices and whole raspberries

Instructions:

Preheat over to 350 degrees F, spray three 9 inch round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl beat butter, sugar and lime zest at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add limeade concentrate, beating until combined (mixture will look curdled). Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a medium bowl combine flour and baking powder. Gradually add to butter mixture, alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just enough to combine after each addition.

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 17-20 minutes until wooden skewer comes out clean from center. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes once finished baking and then remove cakes from pans. Allow to cool completely on wire racks.
 
Once cooled, spread raspberry filling evenly between layers and ice with cream cheese frosting. Garnish as desired.
 
Raspberry Filling
Ingredients:

1 (10 oz.) package of frozen raspberries

1/2 c. sugar

2 tbs cornstarch

3 egg yolks

1 tbs fresh lemon juice

1/4 c. butter cut in pieces

Instructions:
Blend raspberries until smooth in a food processor. Strain mixture and discard solids.
In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add raspberry puree, egg yolks, and lemon juice, whisking to combine.
Cook over medium heat whisking constantly, for 7 to 8 minutes or until very thick. Remove from heat, whisk in butter gradually until melted.
Cool mixture slightly then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Cream Cheese-Limeade Icing
Ingredients:
1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. butter, softened

3 tbs limeade concentrate

1 tbs lime zest

5 c. confectioners’ sugar

Instructions:
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add limeade concentrate and lime zest, beating at low speed until combined. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth.





and White Wednesday!
Hooking up with Foodie Friday and the talented Ms. West!
Also Sweet Tooth Friday and Romantic Homes Show and Tell!



4.24.2011

Simple Sundays

"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:28

Because He lives!

(my daughters and niece took this
and several more cross pictures
while touring Ireland.
They are my favorite!)

4.23.2011

He Grew The Tree................

 I remember well
the first time I heard this song.
It was sometime in the early 80's.
I was completely taken by not only
the song
and the words
but by the
very idea.
All these years later,
I still cannot get
over the concept.
Such love
is
absolutely
impossible
to comprehend.
If you have never heard the song
go to Youtube and listen to Barbara Mandrell's version.
(Lyrics after pic)
 He Grew The Tree
(Music and lyrics by Chuck Lawrence)

HE MOLDED AND BUILT A SMALL LONELY HILL

THAT HE KNEW WOULD BE CALLED CALVARY.

THEN HE MADE THE SEED THAT WOULD GROW TO BE

THORNS THAT WOULD MAKE HIS SON BLEED.

THEN HE MADE A GREEN STEM

GAVE IT LEAVES AND THEN GAVE IT SUNSHINE AND RAIN AND

SHELTERED IT WITH MOSS.

HE GREW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE

USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.

 
WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES GOD LOOKED DOWN THROUGH TIME

SAW HIM SPAT UPON REJECTED AND MOCKED.

STILL HE KNEW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE

USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.

 
NOTHING TOOK HIS LIFE WITH LOVE HE GAVE IT.

HE WAS CRUCIFIED ON A TREE THAT HE CREATED.

WITH GREAT LOVE FOR MAN

GOD GAVE WITH HIS PLAN.

HE GREW THE TREE SO THAT WE MIGHT GO FREE.

 
STILL HE GREW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE

USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.



 

4.22.2011

Mother Earth and Betty Crocker!


I thought I would post a few pictures of my
Earth Day tablescape 
from last year.

It was such a fun tablescape to create.
It's one that I think I will re-create,
some summer evening,
once we are "settled" in to 
the new digs.
I come from a long line of hardy people
that have long loved, appreciated and
nurtured the earth.
Thankfully, those ideals were passed down,
and I hope I am doing my part to
pass them to the next generation.

My favorite 'earthy' quote is an old 
Native American proverb:
"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors,
we borrow it from our children."
The Native Americans understood LONG 
before the rest of us caught on!
To see my entire tablescape for Earth day from last year
Other things I am doing on my 
day off....
Starting my desserts for 
Easter Sunday.
Among those desserts....
the miniature cupcakes
turned pushups....
which you can see here.
Lots and lots of cupcakes...
for lots and lots of pushups.
Better get back to work!
I have linked with Funky Junk Interiors. Check out the goodies!

4.21.2011

Carrot Tops

I am in the middle of packing.
Lots of boxes everywhere.
So I picked a few things out
here and there.
Trying to make a tablescape.......
(And keep in mind it is a very loose
use of the term 'trying'.)

I put my
tablescape
out on the back deck.
Ignore the stacked chairs, etc.
Even things on the deck are
stacked and ready to move.

I found a piece of springtime fabric
in the fabric box
and used that as a giant runner.
I had some Easter stuff out.
I found the big blue plates
in a closet that has not been packed.





I used the "plate holders"
as chargers again.
Obviously they fit the plates....
since they are plate holders!
My girls bought me a bunch of the
navy plates
at an estate sale.
They mix with lots of things I own.

I put some simple eyelet napkins
in a blue goblet.

I filled a pretty blue vase with my
giant carrots from last year and tied a
white burlap bow around it.





Simple, fast, and full of carrots!

Then I saw the blue dot bowls
sitting in the box
and I decided to try them
on the table as well.

I liked them too,
but eventually went back
to the carrot plates.
Maybe next year with the bowls.....


                              Now back to packing!
Have a wonderful Easter.
I have linked this with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

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