The man walked over to the perfume counter and told the clerk he'd like a bottle of Chanel No. 5 for his wife's birthday.
"A little surprise, eh?" smiled the clerk.
"You bet," answered the customer. "She's expecting a cruise."
It's an awful thing to grow old alone. My wife hasn't had a birthday in six years.
Knock Knock!
Who's there?
Gus.
Gus who?
Gus who's birthday it is today?
That's right, it's birthday time around here! Happy Birthday Phillip!! He is going out to lunch with our old asssitant pastor who is visiting from Australia. Then, this evening we are having a group of friends over for a party. Grace, Emily and Benjamin have their gifts all planned out...I think he'll be happy!
I'm off to see what I need to bake the cake. I'm making the ultimate Coconut Layer Cake. It is from the Cooks Illustrated magazine. This group of chefs will cook 318 chickens just to see what the BEST way to roast it is!! I would post the cake recipe but I'm too embarrassed to tell how much butter is in the icing. LOL A birthday is only once a year right?!
I'll post pictures later today.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Making Lunches Special
Here are some fun ideas from my "Penny Whistle Lunch Box" cookbook to make your chidren's lunches more personal.
-Write your child a note - not a reminder to clean her room, but a love note or funny message.
-If you planned the menu with your child, throw in an extra treat that will be a pleasant suprise with a note saying, "Surprise! Mom sent me!"
-Choose some funny jokes or riddles, copy them on a card and include them in the lunch.
-Start a cookie cutter collection. Any sandwich when cut into a funny shape will amuse your child - and will induce him to eat his lunch!
-Get a stack of stickers. They will make brown paper bags all the more fun!
-Magic markers are terrific for writing your child's name or for drawing on the outside of the lunch bag (or even for making faces on hard-cooked egg shells or bananas!)
Here is a link for some fun labels and stickers you can print out. Have fun!
http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel190543&catid=cat21434&navLevel=3&site=kids
-Write your child a note - not a reminder to clean her room, but a love note or funny message.
-If you planned the menu with your child, throw in an extra treat that will be a pleasant suprise with a note saying, "Surprise! Mom sent me!"
-Choose some funny jokes or riddles, copy them on a card and include them in the lunch.
-Start a cookie cutter collection. Any sandwich when cut into a funny shape will amuse your child - and will induce him to eat his lunch!
-Get a stack of stickers. They will make brown paper bags all the more fun!
-Magic markers are terrific for writing your child's name or for drawing on the outside of the lunch bag (or even for making faces on hard-cooked egg shells or bananas!)
Here is a link for some fun labels and stickers you can print out. Have fun!
http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel190543&catid=cat21434&navLevel=3&site=kids
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
What: A picnic lunch
Where: The backyard
When: Today at noon
Who: Grace, Emily and Benjamin
Menu: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, dill pickles and apple slices.
Where: The backyard
When: Today at noon
Who: Grace, Emily and Benjamin
Menu: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, dill pickles and apple slices.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Dear Little Muffins
In Victorian and Edwardian London, the "muffin man", carrying his wares on a large tray skillfully balanced on his flat hat, was one of the most popular street vendors. He would announce his arrival around 4 pm with a large bass handbell. (From Beatrix Potter's Country Cooking).
The following recipe is served at Sheila's Cottage at Ambleside.
Dear Little Muffins
2 pkgs. active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/4 cup warm water
3 1/2 cups unbleached plain white flour
1 rounded teaspoon salt
Blend the yeast, sugar and warm water together in a small bowl and leave in a warm place for 10 minutes, or until frothy. Sieve the flour and salt together into a large mixing bowl. Add the yeast liquid and mix with a fork to form a soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes by hand, or work with a dough hook or in a processor for a few minutes until the dough is smooth. Place in a oiled bowl, cover with plastic and set in a warm place to rise for 1 - 11/2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Knead for a second time, about 5 minutes. Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thick, cover it with a tea towel and leave to relax for a further 10 minutes. Cut into rounds with a 3 - inch plain cutter. Slightly grease cookie sheet and place muffins on it. Lightly cover with plastic and leave in a warm place for 30-40 minutes until the muffins have risen and doubled in volume.
Preheat oven to 450 F. Bake the muffins for about 10 minutes, turning over carefully after 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
To serve the traditional way, break them just a little around their "waists without opening them, then toast lightly on both sides. To eat, pull them apart without cutting and butter generoulsy, or spread with cream and jam. (Makes about 12)
The following recipe is served at Sheila's Cottage at Ambleside.
Dear Little Muffins
2 pkgs. active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/4 cup warm water
3 1/2 cups unbleached plain white flour
1 rounded teaspoon salt
Blend the yeast, sugar and warm water together in a small bowl and leave in a warm place for 10 minutes, or until frothy. Sieve the flour and salt together into a large mixing bowl. Add the yeast liquid and mix with a fork to form a soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes by hand, or work with a dough hook or in a processor for a few minutes until the dough is smooth. Place in a oiled bowl, cover with plastic and set in a warm place to rise for 1 - 11/2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Knead for a second time, about 5 minutes. Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thick, cover it with a tea towel and leave to relax for a further 10 minutes. Cut into rounds with a 3 - inch plain cutter. Slightly grease cookie sheet and place muffins on it. Lightly cover with plastic and leave in a warm place for 30-40 minutes until the muffins have risen and doubled in volume.
Preheat oven to 450 F. Bake the muffins for about 10 minutes, turning over carefully after 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
To serve the traditional way, break them just a little around their "waists without opening them, then toast lightly on both sides. To eat, pull them apart without cutting and butter generoulsy, or spread with cream and jam. (Makes about 12)
Monday, May 15, 2006
A trip to the library
Every three weeks we all make a trip to two different libraries in our city and get all the books we can carry!
What we are reading:
Lots of stories by the following authors...
-Nancy Tafuri (sweet little animal stories)
-Don Freeman (famous for the Corduroy books)
-Margaret Wise Brown (I didn't realize she had so many great stories until tonight)
If you have young children, you may want to check out some of these authors at your local library.
What I am reading:
-A way of seeing by Edith Schaeffer
-The next book in the Elm Creek series. If you like to quilt, you will love these books.
What we are listening to:
-Kenny Loggins "Return to Pooh Corner"
What we are watching:
-Jane of Lantern Hill
-Ancient Egypt
-Gypsy Colt (a horse movie for Grace)
Hopefully this will keep us busy for the next few weeks.
What we are reading:
Lots of stories by the following authors...
-Nancy Tafuri (sweet little animal stories)
-Don Freeman (famous for the Corduroy books)
-Margaret Wise Brown (I didn't realize she had so many great stories until tonight)
If you have young children, you may want to check out some of these authors at your local library.
What I am reading:
-A way of seeing by Edith Schaeffer
-The next book in the Elm Creek series. If you like to quilt, you will love these books.
What we are listening to:
-Kenny Loggins "Return to Pooh Corner"
What we are watching:
-Jane of Lantern Hill
-Ancient Egypt
-Gypsy Colt (a horse movie for Grace)
Hopefully this will keep us busy for the next few weeks.
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