BIRTHDAY DINNER FOR HIM and THE TOTAL ECLIPSE

Good Morning Kindred Spirits....
I hope this finds you feeling good and happy...
we celebrated a family birthday this week
of one of our kiddos...and
it was a fun-filled event....
a concert with his brother and friends,
an evening in Arlington attending a
Texas Ranger baseball game and then
a special dinner with Mom and Dad!
 

Memories from Maine....

a day in Cape Elizabeth

Love this one of a zen moment on the beach.....

I thought it might be nice to share our menu for this special celebration...

it was casual, and so delicious....

preparing a special dinner for your family can be considered your

love language......

THE MENU

Million Dollar Dip
Shrimp Tacos with Citrus Slaw
Strawberry Cheesecake Shortcake



This is a really good appetizer dip
made with ranch seasoning, sour cream, cream cheese,
shredded cheddar and crispy bacon.....men love this....

Even better topped with some strawberry jam....

The maine course was grilled shrimp....the Barefoot Contessa way...

I decided to crisp up the flour tortillas for these tacos
and this really kicked it up a notch...I plan on doing this next time too....

The slaw had a fresh citrus dressing made with orange juice, fresh lime juice,
a bit of sour cream and jalapenos....

so fresh and tangy.....

These shrimp tacos tasted so fresh and light....

I also prepared a Strawberry Cheesecake layered with angel food cake....

I think he may have really enjoyed his special dinner.....

Now, it was outdoors to experience the Total Eclipse.....

I mean to tell you, this was a awesome experience....
it was magical, spiritual and awe inspiring.....
total nighttime darkness and silence.....



to me, it was God speaking to us all.....

A LOOK BACK AT THE MAINE HOUSE...and THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF COOKING COFFEE CAKE

From 

The Maine House.....

A look back at the Maine House....
Mae Mobley gazing out the front window at freshly fallen snow..
a magical sight to her.....

Our dining room was set for Christmas dinner.....

The Maine House will welcome family 

to gather around the dining table on Christmas morning. 

The frenzy and excitement of Santa's gifts will wait

 until mid-morning as we have all grown a little older

 and reserve this glee and anticipation for grandchildren

 who will be visiting in-law families this year.

 However, the boys and our sweet Jenn will be visiting

 and we shall savor our time with these darlings. 

Estelle's will dim the chandelier, light the candles

 and prepare the best of our savory breakfast casseroles. 

Oh, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, our cinnamon cakes,

 bacon, eggs and potato casserole

 and the fresh smell of citrus for mimosa's 

will be etched in our memory 

of the merriest of a Christmas Morn in Maine. 

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.........

Wonderful World of Cooking Coffee Cake

1-½ stick Butter, Softened

2 cups Scant Sugar

3 cups Flour, Sifted

4 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

1-¼ cup Whole Milk

3 whole Egg Whites, Beaten until Stiff

FOR THE TOPPING:

1-½ stick Butter, Softened

¾ cups Flour

1-½ cup Brown Sugar

2 Tablespoons Cinnamon

1-½ cup Pecans, Chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

 Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.

Beat egg whites and set aside.

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour mixture and

 milk alternately until combined. Don’t overbeat.

Fold in beaten egg whites with a rubber spatula.

Spread in a well-greased 9 x 13 (or LARGER!) baking pan.

A cake pan with higher sides would be best.

In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients

with a pastry cutter until crumbly.

Sprinkle all over the top.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until no longer jiggly.

Serve warm with sweetened whipped cream—delicious!

"...I remember the fireplace with mouth high wide, 

The old-fashioned oven that stood by its side, 

Out of which, each Thanksgiving, came puddings and pies, 

That fairly bewildered and dazzled my eyes. 

And then, too, St. Nicholas, slyly and still, 

Came down every Christmas our stockings to fill..." 

Excerpt from Reveries of the Old Kitchen, pub. 1878.

HOT FUDGE CAKE..HOMEMADE GOODNESS

There is nothing better than fall days and baking

something divine and decadent.

This sweet ending has been a family favorite for years.....

We used to enjoy this so often at Shoney's back in Jackson

and now we can recreate very happy memories.

This little snack cake is moist and so easy to prepare.

The hot fudge sauce is one that you will want to make

again and again for special celebrations.

CHOCOLATE SNACK CAKE

1 cup boiling water

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons baking cocoa

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

In a bowl, beat water and butter until butter is melted. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the egg mixture. Beat for 2 minutes.

Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

HOT FUDGE SAUCE

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

3 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine condensed milk, chocolate chips and salt in top of double boiler 

over rapidly boiling water. 

Stir and cook until chocolate melts and mixture thickens, about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in water,

 a little at a time. 

Add vanilla and pour over dessert while hot. 

Store any remainder in the refrigerator, covered. 

Reheat to use again.

MOMENTS OF WINTER'S PAST

I believe I have a love/hate relationship with Winter.

Some days make you feel like hibernating

and

other days can leave you feeling a bit blue!

I thought it may be fun to reflect on a few

days on Winter's past......

So...while you are still wrapped up in your PJ's

and sipping on your hot coffee...

these may just prove that Winter CAN be somewhat magical.....

There was a day in Montreal

of lingering over a hot breakfast.....

The aroma of a roasted chicken and fresh vegetables

was filling the homestead with a hearty winter's dinner....

Kitty girl was taking time to be reflective

of a quiet world outside her window......

There were afternoons of hot tea and biscuits.....

There were tiny vignettes of Winter scenes....

We baked snowflake sugar cookies.......

There was an afternoon of sledding downhill......

Everyone wanted to stay inside

rather than brave the ice and snow......

Hot cocoa was warming up oh so cold kiddos.....

There were walks of solitude.....

While living in Maine...

winter mornings were quiet....

you could see smoke coming from the fireplaces

as it swirled around in that frigid air....

The icicles were amazing.....

and

rather dangerous....

but they did create a rather Christmasy feeling....

It was always pretty hard work to

shovel a pathway out to the birdfeeders....

Now THIS....you just

need to imagine what this sounded like

when one of these massive frozen ice spears

fell to the ground....

However....it was a picture postcard

everywhere you looked.

 

 The shops were full of winter whimsy all the way through April....

We always were pleasantly surprised when we came

across wild turkeys hunting for food along some back country road.....

The entrance to our neighborhood could be a bit 

of a wild ride.....

Our living room was always

warm and toasty....

we had a beautiful view of our back woodlands.....

Mr. Jimmy, poor darling, had to work a bit for food....

And yes..

we crazy southerners were the ONLY people

frying turkey in winter......

MAINE IN MARCH AND A DAY OF SUNSHINE!

March at Pine Point Beach in Maine!

That's me....wrapped and tucked into layers of warm clothes!

Mainer's walk on the beach any time of year!

It was fun, actually....but really, really cold!

This is the darling up in Kennbunkport on a March day!

This spot is right down the road from Walker's Point,

The Bush's summer home!'

When the mist rolled in from the bay,

it became gray and damp.....

we often drove up here on weekends!

Those were great times, but we sure are happy

to have our feet planted firmly in 

The Great State of Texas!

This was just an ordinary day,

but we loved and appreciated each and every moment.

What a blessing ordinary days are...

the birds are singing and the sun is shining....

I love fresh fruit and sausage and biscuits 

for breakfast, don't you?

Our gorgeous tree just outside our kitchen window

leafed out in the last three days!

Love!!!

I spent the morning outside

listening to the birds and

watching the wind spinner whirl around,

while enjoying morning coffee.

I caught up with the

newest Southern Living,,,

there is a wonderful article on

Barbara and Jenna Bush....

just love these girls! 

I keep the bird feeder full to the brim

so that Mae Mobley is entertained....
I bought this feeder from
The Christmas Tree Store in Scarborough, Maine!

It's fun to look forward to summer

and plan the pool parties and barbecues! 

The cottonwood trees in the greenbelt

are showing their beautiful spring branches!

I need a weekend of planting the pots...soon! 

I love this little bird bath....

It is so sweet to see a Cardinal land on the edge

and take a few sips of water....

Is this color of violet not the prettiest?

Do you have any of these glass self-watering bulbs?

Love them....

these have lasted for about fifteen years already! 

I decided to purchase a pretty

outside serving tray for the patio...

so glad I did!

I  know there will be a million uses for this! 

A spring day and ice cold lemonade go hand -in -hand,

don't you think?

Yes....

Little Debbie Easter Cakes are being

served this afternoon....

I suppose this might be a Texas High Tea.....sorta'.....

Get em' Maypole...

She was a tiny kitten when we bought her perch.....

Please don't tell her she has outgrown it......

Y'all have a great day!