OLD FASHIONED FIG CAKE

 

Hello Loves....welcome back to Estelle's....
I'm so glad you could join the post for today..
it's a delicious cake recipe and beautiful new cake stand...
I had my eye on this gorgeous beaded cake stand from Mud Pie
for a few months and when it went on sale....I could no longer resist....

So what could go better with a new cake stand, than
a vintage cake recipe......I chose to try
this marvelous Fig Cake....it's a winner y'all!

I made one change to this recipe.....
rather than using fig preserves,
I opted for one package of dried figs...
just cut them into bite size pieces and soaked
them in a bit of hot water before adding them to the cake batter.

It baked up beautifully and oh my gosh....the aroma of spice,
and the buttermilk glaze...heavenly.....

I sure hope you give this one a try.....
it is a delicious cake....gonna be perfect for the Autumn season especially.....

Recipe found on Pinterest

Lovely topped with fresh sweetened whipped cream.......

AROUND THE HOUSE IN MARCH

Good Morning Loves....
what's going on at your house lately?
We are beginning to see bursts of color and 
the outside world is waking up from the
winter season.....here are a few highlights from our Texas home....

A Texas sunrise.....let me just say...
there is nothing more breathtaking than a sunrise and sunset 
that a Texas skyline offers.....except over the gulf.....



I just marvel at the sky on mornings such as this.....

The darling and I enjoyed a fabulous dinner at our favorite restaurant....
it's always a good idea to get dressed up and reconnect on date nights....

My hyacinth appears every spring....I am so proud to have started this plant
five years ago....ever faithful with gorgeous blooms....
Mother would grow hyacinth bulbs every year in the kitchen window.....

Let's talk self-care....
I am a huge fan of Dr Teal's products....
a hot bath filled with gently scented Epsom Salts helps 
a tired body before bedtime....

I have put the faux florals in the front urns and it looks so realistic....
I have started doing this as our summer's can be pretty brutal on
live plants....you can barely tell they are faux and it has proven
to be more economical......

I decoupaged this little watering can a few years ago
and still love putting it somewhere in the kitchen during
spring and summer.....

Today, we are expecting a spring storm front with large hail,
so what can be more comforting than a pot of soup....
I love the Bear Creek soup mixes, along with 
some buttermilk cornbread.....

This dessert is one of my go-to recipes lately...
puff pastry, a can of pie filling and a simple glaze....

I confess......it's also good for breakfast.......

It's putting "the cozy" in the spring season....

 

LEMON RICOTTA DUTCH BABY with PEARS AND CREME FRAICHE

Good Morning Y'all....
How about planning a special weekend breakfast
for the ones you love....
forget the normal piece of toast or bowl of cereal...
this little baby is gonna "WOW" those around the table.....

LEMON RICOTTA DUTCH BABY
with
Pears and Maple Crème Fraiche

Ingredients

1 lemon

2 fresh pears

½ cup flour

4 ounces of Ricotta Cheese

3 eggs, large

½ cup milk

1 t. Cinnamon

1 t. nutmeg

3 T. brown sugar

8 T. Crème Fraiche

4 T. Maple Syrup

1 ounce of pecans

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. All ingredients should be room temperature.

Wash, peel and dry produce.

Zest and quarter lemon.

peel, halve and core pears..then dice in ½ inch pieces.

Place 2 T. butter in ovenproof skillet. Once oven in preheated. Place pan in oven and heat

until butter melts.

Meanwhile, in mixing bowl, whisk flour, ricotta, lemon zest, three eggs and

 ½ cup milk, 1 T. sugar and a pinch of salt.

Once butter has melted, remove pan from oven and swirl butter to evenly coat the pan.

Pour batter in the pan and bake until puffed and golden, 25 minutes.

Very aromatic.....

Meanwhile, melt 1 T. butter in medium saucepan on medium heat. Add pears, cinnamon and nutmeg, cook stirring often. Add brown sugar, ½ cup water and a squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook until pears are soft..about 10 minutes. Liquid should be syrupy. Stir in 1 T. butter.

In a small bowl, mix Crème fraiche and 1 T. maple syrup.

Oooooh, La la.......

Top the Dutch Baby with pears, maple crème fraiche and pecans…..enjoy! 

THE ANTICIPATION OF SPRING and RECIPES THAT MADE THE HIT PARADE

  Spring...... 

Spring is the season for new life and fresh beginnings....
Did you know that spotting a Robin in the yard
is the first sign of Spring...You look around and suddenly
see crocuses blooming through and the cherry blossoms
budding...we can savor brighter and longer days.....

March winds are blowing through...

on a bright and sunny day......

Are you making plans for your garden and Easter celebration?
I do so enjoy this time of year and feel I need a refresh and renewal of sorts....
We have both been rather down and melancholy since we lost our
beautiful Mae...it's different around the house and is going to take
time to become accustom to our new normal....

I was awake at 4 AM...believe it or not.....
and perhaps that proved to be a good thing....
after my first cup of coffee....
I happened to gaze out the front door and saw
the prettiest sunrise.....

and across the greenbelt,
the sun coming up cast the most beautiful
shades of pink behind those stark cottonwood trees.....

I am slowly trying to bring in touches of spring to make
the house breathe again....

I haven't made pancakes in ages....this morning I wanted
to make breakfast.....just because.....
it was FAT TUESDAY....in honor of Mardi GRAS

Are you looking for a new dinner recipe?
This Chicken and Rice casserole was SO GOOD!
I love recipes with few ingredients and easy to prepare...
you will really enjoy this one!

CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SWEET ENDINGS......

These proved to be top winners in the cooking and baking line up....

Ree Drummond's Top Secret Chocolate Cake...
I did not top this with ganache, instead added whipped cream and berries!

TOP SECRET CHOCOLATE CAKE

This would be a delightful pie to serve at your Easter gathering.....
A light and creamy SOUR CREAM LEMON PIE!

SOUR CREAM LEMON PIE

I will share this darling boy with you..
Granddaughter Abbie posted this photo of
her cat Winston...she is totally in love with him
and that makes me very, very happy....

Otis has taken up napping in the foyer sun puddle....
which was where Mae liked to nap..

I am planning to create a beautiful memorial garden for
our Mae Mobley.....we miss her every single day...
A spring renewal.....that's a true God given gift to us, isn't it!
Thank you for visiting today...hope you found something to take away.....

MAKING IT FEEL LIKE A BED AND BREAKFAST

First and Foremost....
we sincerely thank you for all the
lovely sentiments regarding our
precious girl, Mae Mobley.....
it was a comfort to read your heartfelt comments
and words of sympathy.
Yes, we continue to grieve her loss and will for some time to come....

Now.......as we move forward, albeit slowly, 
please join me for a bit of entertaining fun and decorating.....

In December, the darling and I celebrated a very milestone 50th wedding 
anniversary over in Jefferson, Texas!
We stayed at a delightful, charming Bed and Breakfast,
The Delta Street Inn!

Jefferson is known for it's historic homes and their
annual Christmas Tour of Homes which was just
gorgeous and so well done!
Each holiday season there are four gorgeous homes on the tour....
and such nice, nice Texas people to welcome you into their homes.

The breakfast experience was very enjoyable and the food was delicious....
I felt like a queen.....everything was planned so that you were made to
feel like their honored quest home for the holidays.....

Each room was decorated with lovely Christmas décor and it all felt
so warm and cozy....

You could also enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in the gazebo at night.....

Now, also in the news....I recently found one of my dearest childhood friends
and we connected through Facebook....we are each other's oldest friends..
how wonderful is that?
It turns out she and her husband own a grand 1907 historic 
Bed and Breakfast in Laurel, Mississippi!
Which made me think, "why not provide the Bed and Breakfast experience"
right here in our own home....at least in the kitchen....

One good thing about retirement is spending a leisurely morning
sipping coffee and catching up with the news.....
let's make it a beautiful experience.....

I wanted to use all creamy ivory with touches of heirloom pieces.....

Yes....pretty paper napkins in soft autumn shades.....
I felt these colors would lend themselves with a neutral vibe.....

Various sugar and creamers, along with salt and pepper shakers....
for everyone's convenience....

My favorite Johnson Brothers tea cups and saucers.....

Vintage Depression Glass salt and pepper shakers in the
lovely shade of blush.....

Grandmother Grace's sugar and creamer......

Adding a touch of vibrant color.....

Grandmother Estelle's cut glass vase.....

And a small arrangement of acorn stems...to complete the look.

And the BEST SIGNATURE BREAKFAST 
served at Estelle's..my version of
Crème Brulee Oatmeal.....

Hot Oatmeal with a drizzle of Italian Sweet Creme 
and a sprinkle of Cinnamon Sugar!

I love it....now let's enjoy it for awhile......