leder legends

Last month there was an auction at our church to raise funds for the FOOD pantry that we run with the Meijer food company here in town. There is much to say about that partnership...  BUT ...back to the auction.  We raised $10,000 in one evening and that's amazing!   One of the items for the live auction was a dinner for 6-8 people at our house.  It went for a tidy sum!  Now that Thanksgiving and Christmas have passed,   it's crunch time!!   The dinner is set for February 1. I'm a good cook and can usually put out a pretty fancy spread.  I know that! Yet, for some reason this is making me very nervous.  I'm loosing sleep just thinking about it. My stomach is in an uproar every time we talk about.  The hubby has ideas but they don't gel with mine. My only restriction is no seafood!

DUTCH CAKE For special occasions I always make a "dutch" cake with special mocha frosting. I think it's called a Dutch cake because that's what my father called them.  It's an old recipe from the Netherlands where he trained as a baker. It's a simple sponge cake! My sister, Louise, fashion a simple frame to sit in a half sheet pan.  It works very well. Beat egg white with a bit of sugar Do the same with the yolks and FOLD together. ...until fully incorporated and still fluffy (there's the trick) Add some flour and a bit of Baking powder and bake! It always looks so ugly.  I'll slice it, fill it and  ice it tomorrow  If I can salvage the Bavarian cream I spent hours making this morning.  It is so so stiff. 

A few snapshots from this morning. I'm looking at the sunrise,  Ava is doing a jigsaw puzzle and Arie is catching up on the news. All things we used to do but now it's in a new way.

I'll admit it.  I really procrastinated this year. I thought this would be a good solution but I have spent the last three hours on-line shopping, texting, email, etc...It takes way longer than I want it to!  I guess I'll go and get dressed! hahahahahaha So then I went to the stores and it was just as difficult.  I bought a chair and some books.  I also bought jeans but they were the wrong ones.  I will return them but order the correct ones online I guess my conclusion is that it has to be a combo of both.

HOLIDAY BAKING Ava loves to bake...especially at our house!  I think it's because she hates to clean up.  She's very creative and although these cookies were made from a mix, she did a superb job decorating them.   We are getting better every year!!  Some will go to her teachers at school!  A new frosting recipe that I will keep because it dries nicely AND stays shiny!

The oldest grandchild is 11 and she loves decorating my house for Christmas. She happily goes down to the basement many times to bring up the Christmas boxes and tubs. Before we went to Phoenix,  the nativity sets were found and put on display. Here are two but there are many, many more. and the ANGELS I buy one new angel each year. I thought this one had some whimsy! I got this one from Aaron years ago! A rustic nativity I found in a small village in Honduras...note the pig (too funny) In Puerto Rico the wise men come on horseback rather than camels! We even put some lights outside! The tree!! It's very bright this year! Ava's favorite spot! A new wreath. All things are merry and bright.  It does put me in the mood to celebrate!

About 8 weeks ago I decided to encourage our employees with a baked good every Friday. I was ambitious. 1. Chocolate chip cookies 2. Brownies 3. Rice Crispie bars 4. Halloween treats - pretzels and Mike and Ike 5. Almond bars and boterkoek 6. Pretzel rods covered with homemade caramel and chocolate and sprinkles. 7. Applesauce loaf 8. nothing LOL I have NO idea if these were appreciated ( I hope so)  but they did disappear every week.  Most everything was pretty simple to make EXCEPT those pretzel rods. Never again!! What is so difficult about dipping pretzels in etc??? First off, I was an idiot and decided to make my own caramel. Again, easy right?  Wrong!!  Sugar and water STIR   add some corn syrup and STIR STIR    STIR   UNTIL finally it reaches the correct temperature!   Dip in pretzels  (such a messy enterprise)   Work QUICKLY Final result...yummy but really not w...

  A week in beautiful Phoenix even when it is too chilly for shorts or swimming is marvelous therapy to counteract the winter blues! The six of us did a lot of talking, eating, playing games. our hosts John and Sally- from Edmonton cousins from Winnipeg Add caption Food! Beef fillet, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, oven-roasted potatoes and salad! No turkey for us! I made Elegant Cheese Squares for dessert. Spiga , a local Italian restaurant was a great experience! for appetizer--- Calamari with sauce on a bed of lemon arugula! We had many "gezellig" meals at home too. Brunch (using new plates) Brunch casserole Lunch on the patio occasionally...it was pretty chilly this year! Very relaxing week...many games of dominoes were played as well as canasta.     Until next year!!