The Road More Frequently Traveled

Often you get to blaze your own path...

Sometimes...

you follow the marked path!

In My Kitchen and On My Nightstand

Not so long ago I read a book called The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.  Rose can taste the emotions of those cooking and baking. Curse or Charm?  Hmmm...I often bake when I have something to work out.  Lately, I have been on a cake baking binge which is hilarious given that I am also attending Weight Watchers!

Tonight we have book club.  One of our former members moved to Alabama and as it was not feasible for us to travel...we are reviewing the book she selected, Before Women Had Wings by Connie Mae Fowler  AND I baked her recipe for a Mississippi Mud Cake.   It is OH SO DECADENT!  My rationale, apart from honoring a friend, is that this book is so raw and tragic yet compelling that we DESERVE chocolate.

In between episodes of Top Chef, Just Desserts...I prepared Chaos in the Kitchen's Chicken Salad and Trish's Mississippi Mud Cake and Kerry's Orange Balls.  My darling husband tried one of the orange balls, sighed and as he sat in the living room said to me, "I hear those orange balls calling me "  He is my biggest fan! 

I have realized that I am a FOODIE.  I love cookbooks, cooking shows, fine dining and experimenting in my own kitchen.  Offering up something fabulous to friends and family says, YOU matter...I care...I love you. 
Sometimes we prepare a meal or bake a cake because that is what we do as a kindness in times of trouble or grief or stress or even a new birth.

Baking is a little like magic and I like a little bit of magic in my days.  When asked why she always baked with the window open, Julia said "I am calling to someone" (paraphrased from The Girl Who Chased the Moon)  Serendipitously, (cue Twilight Zone music) the Hummingbird Cake was baked and pink hair extensions attached prior to reading that magical book and Eric made a version of Mississippi Mud Cake on Just Desserts while I was frosting mine.  How is that for Woo Woo?  What special treat beckons your friends and family?

MISSISSIPPI MUD CAKE


1 1/2 c. flour
3 tbsp. cocoa
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. chopped pecans
1 (3 1/2 oz.) can flaked coconut
1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow creme

Grease and flour 9x13 pan and set aside. Mix flour and cocoa together; set aside. Beat butter for 30 seconds to soften. Add sugar and vanilla, beating until fluffy. Add eggs. Beat in flour mixture. Stir in pecans and coconut. Turn mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. While cake is still hot, spread with marshmallow creme. Cool completely and add icing.

MISSISSIPPI MUD ICING:

1/2 c. butter
4 c. sifted powdered sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla


 

Magic Monday - A Little of This and A Little of That

Time sure does fly when you are having fun!

Salon Bella is doing pink hair extensions and ribbons for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.  My daughter and I now have pink hair.  I am digging it and thinking this may be a new trend for me!  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  A hair extension and a ribbon is a very small thing done with a heart full of love and honor for our friends who have/had breast cancer.  Ladies...early detection is the key!  Please, please feel your boobies and get a mammogram.

As many of my friends know I have a love for the arts (of every sort)  I was visiting my granddaughter's dance class on Thursday and there amidst the wee dancers was one teeny, tiny girl with natural, beautiful talent.  Sadly, her parents are unable to afford dance lessons for her or her sister.  I am pondering a solution to this...maybe a little chat with the studio's owner will provide a way to enable talented children an opportunity to participate.  After my hair appointment on Saturday,  I had the VW Beetle washed at the Palmetto Dance Center's car wash to support the dancers' competitions.  It was heartwarming to see even the youngest student washing cars to earn money.  I think most things are appreciated more when they are earned.  

After the car washing, it was a trip to the local grocery store.  Spending what seemed like a small fortune...I returned home to bake a Hummingbird Cake for our church Boy Scout Bake Sale.  I encouraged my darling husband to purchase the cake from the bake sale for our family get together on Sunday thus contributing to the boy scouts, my ego and Sunday dinner!  It was a delightful, busy weekend filled with service, fun and family!

Here is my lunch today...EVERYONE is out of the office and I am here with Hummingbird Cake!!!  I am counting it as a fruit...it has lots of bananas and pineapple in it...that is my story and I AM sticking to it.

I first heard about Hummingbird Cake from the lovely Christina.  Apparently it is one of Southern Living's most requested recipes of all time.  It is definitely scrumptious!  What is there not to love about a cake full of goodness with cream cheese frosting?  The recipe can be found here.

So my pretties, have a lovely day...enjoy the beautiful weather...celebrate if you have the day off...you know what?  Just celebrate!!!

Happy Fall Ya'll

What I love about Autumn...

*Nature adorns herself in a splendid array of colors* a cool crispness is in the morning air and night draws near earlier and earlier*soup and homemade bread*pumpkins*root vegetables*Halloween*Mums in a riot of color displayed on the stoop*crispy, crunchy leaves underfoot*boyfriend sweaters or cardigans*crazy socks and danskos*scarves*jumping onto cold sheets and cuddling*reading by lamplight*maybe a fire or two*firepits*toasted marshmallows*ghost stories*birds migrating*quilts*knitting*hayrides*country drives*

The night sky is so clear and lovely.  I pointed out the beautiful moon to my granddarling Anna and she says,
"that isn't the moon that's LUNA!  Of course I thought she was too cute and the most clever of little girls.  Sweet Anna looks very much like her mom and aunt in the photo above. She is excited to be visiting a pumpkin patch soon and I wax nostalgic because it is the same one we always visited when "my girls" were small.

Autumn is a very reflective time for me, a day dreamy, wistful, wishing time.  I think of Oktoberfest in Germany and how I would love to visit my relatives in the tiny village of my birth. 

I have been thinking of the song with the words "Would you rather swing on star, carry moonbeams home in jar..."  Here's a little doodle drawn while at my desk being totally non productive (thank goodness I am really sorta my own boss)  I am ready for a weekend of "piddling"  and homecaring and cooking.

So I wish for you a weekend of "piddling, dreaming and wishing"  Maybe you will swing on a star or find some moonbeams!  Happy Fall Ya'll

Blog Book Tour!

Patti Digh, Author Extraordinaire!

What if you only had 37 days left to live on this Earth...what would you do...where would you go...who would you see?  I first became aware of Patti's work on her blog 37 Days.  She urges everyone to fully experience life in the present moment.  Rent the RED convertible! Burn those Jeans!  Unpack your Boxes!  Love unlovable People!  Her essays were compiled to become a book which I absolutely adore and use regularly called  "Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally"

Patti's regular posts on Facebook are funny, wise and inspiring.  She mentioned at one time that she was holed up in a hotel room writing a book on post it notes.  Regular fans gave a little chuckle.  "Four Word Self Help" was the book born out of that effort.  As she says, "life is complex, not complicated"  The simple four word missives speak directly to the heart and are illustrated by artists from around the world. Patti extends an open invitation to artists everywhere to contribute their art for possible use in her books. Also, here is where I come in...copies of her newest book were sent out to bloggers for a Blog Book Tour.  How cool is that!!  She truly embraces creating your own tribe.  How often do we experience someone that truly "walks the talk"? 

Did I mention the huge laugh the UPS guy received when he handed me the package containing my precious copy of Four Word Self Help ?  I was a teeny bit excited!  I held it for a moment, looked at the beautiful art, read a little...put it down...picked it up...read a little more.  It is a beautiful testament to life, to all that is simple and good. Patti's gift for telling her story and our story shines throughout the pages of this gem.  It will be my go to gift for birthdays and other special events.

 

a few favorites:

catch someone who's  falling

write more love letters

leave some things undone

give up itchy clothes

stand up for something

blow bubbles more often

Here is an excerpt that really spoke to me:

"Life is incremental.  Each day's decisions add to the decisions of the day before; each action taken adds to the events of the days past.  As writer Oscar Wilde has said, 'No man is rich enough to buy back his past'.  No, maybe not. But we can create a different future-one simple, beautifully mundane, daily decision at a time"

More information about Patti Digh can be found here

Her newest book, "Creative is a Verb, If You're Alive, You're Creative" is available at Amazon.com and will be available at local bookstores by November 2010.

Gift of Jewels, Gift of Friends Part II

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am participating in the Gift of Jewels hosted by the ever lovely Se'Lah of Necessary Room.  I was and am delighted with these absolutely beautiful cards from Joanna at The Fifty Factor.  To quote Joanna's note to me, "The blog community is filled with extraordinary people from around the world"  One can catch a glimpse of the fascinating lives of wonderful people throughout the world. Though thousands of miles separate us physically... our hearts and minds are connected!  We enter various blogs as strangers and leave as friends.  I think that is pretty cool.  Sometimes my cyber buddies "get me" better than anyone else...interesting...huh!  These cards are so beautiful...it will be difficult to part with them...a heartfelt thank you Joanna!

My Gift of Jewels is heading out of the United States and traveling North!  I will post pictures once my new friend receives her jewel. 

The Blog-o-sphere is a place of learning, a place of gladness, sadness and mostly it is Community.  A magical place where a person can locate her "tribe".  Namaste dear ones.

Gift of Jewels Gift of Friendship

When things seem to be looking down and happy is hard to find, the Universe or for me, God steps in and sends the right people at the right time.  People that enjoy your company (just the way you are) and do not expect anything from you just good conversation and laughter.  God knows I needed the postive support and love.  My darling husband has been remarkable (as usual).  The only downside would be the fabulous meals that I have been forced to eat!  I amazed by the outpouring of love and friendship, both in real life and in cyberspace.  I have been astounded to realize just how many lovely people I have come to know. Making new friends is fabulous...my friends from Nia class...my cyber buddies...my husband's friends from grade school and high school. Nuturing older friendships from my neighborhood (we laughed until we had tears in our eyes)  Book clubs friends reading Eat, Pray, Love and watching the movie...having an intense craving for Italian food after.  "Floozie friends" that love you fiercely enough to allow sadness and step in to offer support and comfort.  So thanks to all my beautiful friends!

My dear friend, Se'Lah of Necessary Room is  hosting another round of "The Gift of Jewels" This will mark the third time I have participated in this wonderful outpouring of love and friendship around the globe.  I am so excited to plan something to mail to my "newest" friend.  I have met a very funny Mamma of four grown sons and a beautiful, creative spirit in Denmark both of whom share parts of their lives with me as a result of Se'Lah's love, generosity and giving spirit. 

I am filled with gratitude and humility and IT IS ALL GOOD!!!

p.s. the above photo is a postcard I received through Postcrossing.