Thursday, January 29, 2015

My Attempt at a Cherry Almond Bundt Cake…..

What goes better together than cherry and almond flavor!


I recently bought a bundt pan, so this recipe I found on Pinterest caught me eye:


Looks beautiful in the photo, doesn't it?

I made the batter:


I followed the directions perfectly - I taught culinary skills for years, so when I try a new recipe, I follow it to a "t".  I greased my new pan very well, too!  After cooling the cake for 20 min, and struggling to get the cake out of the pan, this is what I ended up with:


She's a beauty, isn't she:


So, I carefully lifted each broken piece and placed it on the top, where it should have been:


Then I made the glaze (that recipe was also a lousy one) and "glued" the cake together:


It's a good thing that this cake was just for us and not for any company!!


You are probably wondering how it tastes? 



 Well, the reason I am not sharing the recipe is because it is dry, and no one should go through all this craziness for a dry piece of cake!!

AND, see this lovely pan:


This is the second time I used it and had the "sticking" problem each time…so off to Goodwill it goes and hopefully someone else will have better luck than I!



I have tried quite a few recipes found on Pinterest and I am not sure if it is ME or not, but some are real lousy, or lacking flavor, or missing ingredients.

 I feel like someone is playing a trick on me!

So if anyone has a great recipe for Cherry Almond Cake - please send it my way!


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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Shabby Vintage Sewing Chest

Last fall I bought this little vintage sewing chest and I have been looking at it for months...


…just waiting for some inspiration...


I pulled out some white and grey chalk paints and just painted away...


...I painted some branches and birds...


…and then waxed it with dark wax.


Now, on to the next project….

Sharing with Met Monday and Show and Share


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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

A Slow Start….

The holidays are over….and I should be full of energy and rejuvenated by now - right?

It's been hard for me to get back into refinishing/painting furniture, even though I have quite a few items in my basement.

It is a slow start.

I am sluggish.

I have lost my creativity.

This is something I finished last week and I am trying to move on to the next project….but I just can't get moving!

I bought this little toddler chair at the market in the fall….

…and did all I could do to spruce it up:


That's been it - 1/2 hour of work and I am tuckered out.  

I need some inspiration. 
Drive.
Energy. 

Maybe I will go down into the basement and stare at all my projects - that might do it.

RIGHT?
(doubt it!)




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Monday, January 19, 2015

Crash Hot Potatoes

This is my 1000 post!

Crashed Potatoes have been on my list of "foods to try" for some time now.

Today was the day.

I baked 4 red potatoes.  You can also boil or microwave them.

In a small bowl I mixed some course salt, fresh ground pepper (from Guadeloupe) crushed red pepper flakes, garlic salt, a pinch of mixed dried herbs and paprika….


…and at the last minute I decided to mix in a little parmesan cheese.


I crushed the cooked potatoes with a potato masher and drizzled EVOO on a baking sheet and on the potatoes.  I sprinkled the dry mixture over the top and baked at 400' for about 15 minutes.


These were SO GOOD and I will definitely make them again!

On a side note….It was only 12' here today.  I stayed in my pjs all day.  I puttered for hours, dusting, putting things back where they belong, sewing, ironing, catching up on emails, browsing through magazines, hanging prints I bought in Europe, and going through recipes I have cut out of magazines.  It was a great day!

I just might do the same thing tomorrow!

I began my blog on March 6, 2009 as a way to journal.  This is my 1000 post and I wanted to thank all of my readers.  Sometimes I am so surprised and humbled when I check my stats and see who is reading my blog and how many are reading it!  I hope that I have entertained, inspired and made you smile now and then!    There is certainly more to come!

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Saturday, January 17, 2015

Spaghetti Pie

The other night a friend mentioned that she had never heard of Spaghetti Pie.

Never. Heard. Of. It?



Well, Jean, this is the recipe I have used for over 20 years:

Cook 4 -6 oz of angel hair pasta, drain.  
Mix together: 1T butter, 2T Parmesan Cheese and 1 egg and stir into pasta.
Spread pasta in a greased pie plate.  
Cover with about 1/4 c cottage cheese:


Fry up 1/2 - 3/4 lb ground beef, 1/4 cup chopped green pepper and 1/4 cup chopped onion.
Add 1/2 cup diced tomatoes in juice and 1/4 cup tomato paste, 1/8 t sugar and 1/8 t oregano, salt and pepper:


Spread meat mixture over cottage cheese:


Bake for 20 minutes and then cover 1/2-3/4 c shredded cheese
(I like a mixture of mozzarella and cheddar) and bake for 5 more minutes:


And it's as simple as that!


Slice and serve it with garlic bread!



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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Keeping busy, keeping warm...

This is what has been going on in "my neck of the woods"...

My baby turned 28 (left)….


..this was a good read…it only took an afternoon to finish...


…our weather has been cold, perfect for soups, stews and hearty meals...


…and I saw a great Barbra Streisand imitator the other night...


January can be a cold, snowy month in Central NY, so I have spent a lot of time inside, organizing, cleaning and being lazy on the couch!

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Friday, January 9, 2015

Marty's Pasta

Have you read Marty's Blog, "A Stroll Thru Life"?

I have been reading her blog for years….


...and tonight I made her "go to casserole"...


….a cheesy macaroni dish with a little sauce and ground beef!


It was a hit and I will definitely make this again - and in our home it will be called "Marty's Pasta"!

I added lots of garlic and black pepper, and she also suggests a way to give it a tex-mex twist!

 While you are there, check out her lovely home!


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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

How I plan on spending my day….

It's a cold, cold day today….


…and I plan on spending it reading this book..


…with a cup of hot cocoa….


…inside, where it is nice and warm...


…just a "ME" day!



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