LEMON CAKE AND WINTER WEATHER

 GOOD MORNING WINTER LOVERS....
Are you snug and warm in your cozy home?
I hope this finds you well, sitting by the fire
in warm socks and soft blankets....we need
comforts during winter as we dream of
warmer weather and picnics in the park....
I have a delightful recipe for your today..
a marvelous lemon cake that tastes sooo good and
smells like a fresh lemon while baking...
You will want to make this for your 
next gathering!

One box lemon cake mix
One small box instant lemon pudding
1 cup milk
1 stick of melted butter
4 eggs
1 t. lemon extract

Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer
Pour into a prepared bundt pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

I wish I could have bottled the aroma....

I always serve a lemon dessert at Easter and this is the one
that will be served for 2026

If you are looking for a good cookbook, this darling
book is all about the art of the PICNIC ...
full of recipes, illustrations and lovely stories..

We love salad for a light lunch and this
Lime garden chopped salad was so refreshing....
I love a bag salad, how about you?

A winter storm is headed our way for the weekend....
perhaps a time for a pot of 15 bean soup....

NEW TABLESCAPE AND SCRUMPTIOUS BROWN BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

 Good morning Kindred Spirits...
I so hope all is well in your corner of the world!
It's been gray and cold here in Texas....
I am STILL packing away all the Christmas decor
and the outside lighting was removed too!
Our evenings are cozy as we enjoy cocktails by the fire.....
I am loving trying out NEW recipes and today.
I have got a fabulous one to share with you....
So, let's pay a visit to the kitchen....

My thoughts can be so random on nights when I have trouble sleeping...
and I was thinking about my little set of Mikasa plates I had..
I love these little plates and thought I need to use them on the
farmhouse table...and so this is what has transpired....

It reminds me of grandmother's table...
I think this theme could work for most seasons too!

I adore vintage glassware and chose to use
these highball glasses from Kate Aspen.

Candles are perfect for winter months and I 
selected one of my Cheerful Giver candles...

This is my favorite brand of candles...
and have been for a long time...

Can you even imagine a more beautiful scent?

And now, let's talk cookies!!!
Y'all....Harry was right!
These are AMAZING!!!!

Harrison Wallace, my favorite home chef and delightful
influencer, who resides in Dallas, bakes these cookies
for most of his dinner parties and celebrations....
he said, everyone will often say, "let's skip dinner, where are the cookies?"

Here is the link to the recipe
BROWN BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

These cookies are a bit of a process, but fun to make and
lovely to bake...what beautiful cookies and I will say,
I was a bit nervous to try my hand at them, but was
over the moon happy about how perfect they turned out!
It's been fun to try new things...

Did you ever go ice skating?
I did as a child and loved it..
it requires strong ankles as I recall....
now that's a lovely memory....

COTTAGE CHIC HOME DECOR AND TRIPLE BERRY PIE

Well....we begin again....perhaps, you are experiencing a bit
of the winter blahs....we often do after the flurry of holiday
activities and all the merriment of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Texas sunrise on a January morning....
cottonwoods are bare in the greenbelt....
Winter can be rather bleak but how thankful that
we live in the great state of Texas....
the high today will be 75 degrees..perfecto for a bit
of outdoor activity....
inside, I am transitioning our home into the spring season....
yes, I decided to skip over the winter months....
I am even planning my Easter decor....makes me happy!



A good beginning in this transition, was to refresh
the farmhouse table with a table runner and a few
of my favorite little pieces that gives off a cottage vibe....

I needed warm and cosy colors of golds and persimmon...
which gives off a feeling of comfort and relaxation.

It's important to keep feeling passionate for a few things you 
enjoying doing, such as changing out your home decor
for the changing seasons.

And it can be as simple as changing out a throw pillow and cozy throw..
I feel better already......
and I still embrace my love for cooking new recipes....
I tried my hand at baking a fresh triple berry pie....

COMFORT FOOD FROM ESTELLE'S KITCHEN

The fresh berries reminded me of summer....
and they are so beautiful and soooo delicious....

I wanted to make a lattice top crust in order for the berries
to show through and make it appear a bit rustic....

Here's a tip on creating a beautiful slice of pie...
allow the fresh berry pie to cool, and then chill
in the refrigerator a bit before serving...
this will allow the juice to settle and prevent it from being too runny....

I would say we are off to a pretty good start for the new year.....

 

CHRISTMAS REVIEWS AND FRANNIE'S APPLE CAKE

 Oh Kindred Spirits....it's just hard to believe..
the year is now 2026!
We must try to keep kindness in our hearts
and spread good cheer toward others.....
I think the word PEACE is my word for the year.....

I so hope you all enjoyed your Christmas season and enjoyed
getting together with loved ones, eating delicious foods
and dressing up in your holiday finest!
We had a wonderful time and the grandchildren were busy celebrating
with both sides of their family!

Our game theme was Christmas Eve at the Theater....

Our Atlanta family Christmas 2025

Our granddaughter's husband's Houston family

The season is not over and so I plan on designing a vibrant

tablescape for New Year's and baking a few things
 I did not get to last week. 

The most important is Daddy's Fruit Cake Cookies,



along with my Peanut Butter Clusters.

Christmas dinner was delicious with Fried Turkey.
scalloped potatoes, cheese grits, green bean casserole
and sweet potato casserole!

I wanted to begin setting the farmhouse table
with a fresh citrus centerpiece that would 
welcome in the brand new year...






FRANNIE'S APPLE CAKE
1 cake mix, yellow or spice
1 can apple pie filling
1 can sliced apples
3 eggs

Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer in large mixing bowl.
Pour into a prepared 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes...
Dust top of cooled cake with powdered sugar!

This is a very easy and delicious cake for afternoon
tea or coffee..I dusted the top with nutmeg..
smells heavenly!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

LAST MINUTE PREPARATIONS FOR OUR CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY

Good Morning Kindred Spirits.....
this is certainly a busy time of year for those
of us who are responsible for making Christmas a magical
time...with the planning, shopping and baking...oh yes.
not to mention turning our homes into
a holiday wonderland by
decorating everything that doesn't move... 
but....I do so love it all!
I decided to pop on Estelle's today.
to give just a quick update on how things have progressed....

All the gifts have been wrapped and placed under the tree...
My favorite wrapping paper this year came from
the John Derian line at Target..it's just beautiful!

I am still of the mindset that Santa will surprise us
with a visit on Christmas Eve....

Much thought and love went into each gift this year...

And Santa finally completes the look of this little vignette....
even though the florals are from the fall season, I decided to
leave them and it works for me!

I pulled out the platters and serving pieces I want to use
for our Christmas Eve party...planning is key to being
organized and feeling less stress...

The sugar glazed ham will be placed in my beautiful new
Thyme Green slow cooker...she's gorgeous isn't she?

Our youngest son requests this trifle every year....

I will say, it is a showstopper....

Our Christmas punch will be a blend
of Cranberry juice, pineapple juice and ginger ale

The wine bar.....

I hope the table is beautiful and the foods are holiday worthy...

Turning a vase into Christmas can be as easy as a 
adding a Christmas pick, velvet ribbon and a sweet ornament...

I have a little breathing room, so it's time to settle in
with a cup of hot cocoa, a cozy throw and a good book....