Beyond The Sprinkles

I  have been away.

Orlando FL is the  perfect place to go,

to read, lay in the sun and work on a project.

It is good to be HOME

and

today is Doughnut Day!

{Doughnuts are my one true vice}

 For doughnut day, I shall celebrate with this photo,

because these donuts

were our dessert one day while in Florida.

To spurge on something that you love

can change your attitude for the entire day.

It is true…I had 3 doughnuts ….a day

while in Florida.

Splurge today. You deserve it.

Love you beyond the sprinkles.

Me

Be Carried Away By Love

Some days, love can carry you away.

It does not matter where.

Love cannot make  a bad moment better

but it can snuggle along-side heart ache

reminding us that in time…joy will return.

To find the flowers blooming,

wishing to dance to sweet music

smiling to yourself

and

to be inspired by ART.

Be carried away by love.

Love you.

Me

The Box

Late yesterday afternoon the doorbell rang,

Larry said, when he opened the door no one was there,

but there was a gift bag.

Inside the bag was a card with a poem

and a box.


We opened the gift together.

And cried.

Debbie, our wonderful next door neighbor

rang the doorbell and left the bag.

She told me that she was crying too.

How awesome is it,

when your friend  knows exactly how you feel?

Thank you Debbie.

This special gift makes me smile.

Through the tears of course.

***

I am trying……

Love you.

Me

Chocolate Love Loaf~Chef Valentine

 Last week, I found a recipe.

It is like cake, but like a quick bread too.

The recipe was in an old church cookbook from Half Price Books.

I tweaked it a bit….and Larry changed the name of it.

{say it in your best Barry White voice}

Chocolate Loveeee Loaf

 1 1/2 cups mini semi sweet chocolate chips {divided}

1/2 cup butter-softened.

2/3 cups brown sugar

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

GLAZE

1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

1 Tablespoon butter

 3 Tablespoons Half and Half

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

****

Grease and flour 2 loaf pans {medium pans}

Preheat oven to 350

Melt 1 cup chocolate chips- set aside to cool

Cream soft butter and brown sugar till fluffy

Add eggs and cooled chocolate

Mix well

Add applesauce and vanilla

COMBINE- flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt

Add to cream mixture

Stir  in 1/2 cup non melted chips

bake for 40 min

Take out. Let cook for 20-30 min

make glaze.

*******

Melt 1/2 cup of mini chips and 1 Tablespoon butter together

Stir in  half and half

Remove from heat. stir in confectioners sugar and vanilla.

drizzle over Chocolate Love Loaf

*****

We enjoyed one loaf then sliced and froze the second loaf.

I call this…

Larry’s Chocolate LOVEEEEE Loaf.

Till next time,

Valentine

Blueberry Pancake Casserole~Chef Valentine

Hi.

Larry and I had to switch up Sunday Dinner and Movie

due to broken hearts

and

had Sunday Breakfast and Mimosas instead.

Things will get back to normal in a few weeks,

and

then I shall share a few recipes.

Till then

for today’s offering:

****

BLUEBERRY PANCAKE CASSEROLE

Crumb Topping Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour

3 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 Tablespoons butter-cold-cut into cubes

Casserole Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 eggs

2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup milk ( I use 2%)

4 tablespoons butter melted

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups of fresh blueberries

Maple Syrup

***

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Spray 13 X 9″ baking dish with Pam

***

Prepare Crumb Topping

In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar. cinnamon and salt.

Add butter and use your fingers to work into flour

till it looks like wet sand.

Butter size should be pea size or smaller.

Put into fridge while making the casserole.

***

Make Casserole

In large bowl, combine flour, sugar,

salt, baking powder,baking soda.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs,

buttermilk, milk and melted butter

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.

Using a spatula to stir, till just combined.

{do not over mix!}

Batter will be lumpy.

Pour into prepared baking dish.

Sprinkle blueberries over top.

Sprinkle crumble topping over blueberries.

Bake 45 min till golden and edges

are pulling away from the sides of baking dish.

I spoon helpings out of dish and drizzle with maple syrup.

Perfection with Mimosas.

There is something special about a family breakfast.

Enjoy.

Till next time,

Valentine.

Aloe Vera & Stone Soup

Today , Sweet Matilda is performing in the production of

STONE SOUP.

I am ready to go,

I made a new dress…{the short one}

out of this fabric:you cannot see, but they are small flowers.

***

Over Easter, I was telling Matilda about a plant called Aloe Vera.

It can sooth bites, burns, etc…..

Last night we bought an aloe vera plant

and planted it in this cute planter.

It will be Matilda’s  Prima Dona gift.

{her gift for being in a play}

Ok, granted, she is five years old,

but, look out world!

Isn’t it a great day when you know that the world is your oyster?

Happy weekend.

Love you.

Me

Treasured Moments

Did you have a lovely holiday weekend?

Linus is my new gnome.

“Lucky Linus” is a true garden gnome.

He measures in at 4″ in height and weighs 2 ounces.

That means, he can travel with me!

He arrived with a thick gauge wire stuck up his …well…you know, his butt.

Larry amputated the wire and now Linus is ready for fun.

***

Fun as in Easter brunch at the Millers Maison? {OUI!}

Jamison and Matilda

Lauren and Josh had goodies spilling all over the brunch table.

A lavender plant was the centerpiece at lunch.

Matilda and Ayah!

Such adorable girls.

Well, adorable girls love to make crazy faces too!

Beautiful Easter moments.

I find myself treasuring moments such as these.

My daughters and granddaughter smiling, laughing and sharing stories.

Larry holding my hand as we enjoy the day.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend

and….

lots of Cascarone Confetti Eggs!

Beautiful Jamison got smashed in the head

with a cascarone egg by Matilda!

Love you and treasure you.

Me

The Mitten Adventure

It has been a month since I was sick

and

now I am free!

Exercise, Weight Watchers, Yoga, painting

and

just my regular “stuff”.

Look out, I intend to feel 100% soon.

*****

Now on to current events.

To celebrate my recuperation,

Lauren had a treat box sent  to me,

It is called

The Mitten Adventure

{a box of goodies from Michigan}

This box was filled with amazing gifts from Michigan.

I love each one of them.

Rosemary Mint Soap!

{I adore goat’s milk soap}

A charming adventure mug.

{with the Mitten Adventure logo on it}

Note cards with Michigan as the design.

{by my favorite ARTist}

Oh my and a Mackinac Fudge candle!

{I wish that you could smell this}

Earrings!

I love these and plan to wear them to dinner this weekend.

{they look like stardust}

And an awesome lanyard.

{I need one for my back pack speaker}

If you are interested in a box for you or a friend,

here is the web site for a Mitten Adventure:

The Mitten Adventure

Thank you Lauren. I love my box

and your thoughtfulness.

****

Please share  your lovely day with someone…

Love you.

Me

Sunday Movie and Popcorn

Sunday, our traditional “dinner and movie” day,

took place at our movie theater.

Months ago, Larry bought us tickets

for the large screen showing of

North By Northwest.

A 1956 movie in today’s theater.

I sat in the recliner and watched a favorite movie.

We had

for dinner, while we watched

I was in heaven.

****

I am working today….so this will be short.

Be happy and follow your heart.

No one else is responsible for our happiness.

We must find what happiness means to us

and make it a reality.

Did you know that I have a passion for…

Mt Rushmore?

My birthday 2011. Rapid City, SD

 

One year,  Larry took me there for my birthday…

Happiness. It comes in all shapes and sizes.

Love you beyond Teddy Roosevelt.

Me

 

 

Room Service

I wish that I felt better.

Don’t mean to whine but…..merde.

When I was in the hospital last week,

room service brought me fruit.

It is the best meal I have had in weeks.

Answer me this:

Is that because of the visual application

or

because I was feeling better?

Of course I took a photo,

even in the hospital.

Love you.

Me