Monday, March 24, 2014

Third Time's the Charm

This post was initially entitled Friday Fragments, but Friday was a whirlwind, so that didn't happen. I tried to get it together on Saturday morning, but Saturday was also a whirlwind, so that also didn't happen. Now here it is Monday afternoon, and it's not too late, is it?

My gourmet group met on Friday, and our theme this month was 'It Ain't Easy Being Green'. Each recipe featured a green ingredient, and I have to say our plates with all that color looked so pretty, and mostly healthy.

I made an interesting dessert which was a strawberry basil yogurt cake. It was slightly underdone in the very center, but the taste was nice. The basil was subtle, but definitely present. I'd make this again but would bake it a little longer. The recipe said 30-35 minutes and my oven normally cooks fast. I baked mine for 40 minutes and the edges were golden and pulled away from the springform pan, but it still needed another five I think for the center to be less gooey.  The batter was a lovely spring green, and then you laid the strawberries on top before baking.


Wow, my photography skills have deteriorated this winter.

It really is a pretty shade of green. Pretend the weird lighting and shadows aren't there.  And of course I forgot to take a photo of the finished product, but in my defense I was preoccupied with my home improvement project wrapping up mere minutes before people were due to arrive.

You'll be happy to know my wall has been repaired and looks brand new.  Because it is. Our repairman did a great job matching paint, so no need to re-do the entire foyer-upstairs hall-family room this spring. He finished at 11 am Friday morning and my lunch guests arrived at 11:30,  just as I was putting away the vacuum. Good times.

On Saturday we attended a Bat Mitzvah, and it was a really fun day. I hadn't been to a Bat Mitzvah since I was in high school, and it was so interesting. Our friend's daughter is adorable and she did a wonderful job leading the service, reading and reciting all the prayers in Hebrew, and sharing her own thoughts on reaching this milestone.


Afterwards they had a lovely celebration at a local restaurant complete with a party room for 80 kids, a DJ, and the biggest balloons you've ever seen (that were not attached to a basket carrying people I mean!).


I decided I need to have a party that requires ginormous balloons. I don't think these slightly blurry pictures do them justice so you'll have to take my word for it. Tres festive!

After that party ended we went back to our friend's house for more food and chatting. Our friend's cousin walked in with two of the most amazing trays of hand dipped pretzels, popcorn, potato chips, and bugles I have ever seen.


Who knew a bugle dipped in white chocolate could be so delicious?

The pretzels were either chocolate and carmel, Oreo, or peanut butter, and they really were a work of art. I cannot imagine how much time it took her to put all of this together, but rest assured her efforts did not go unappreciated. I only had a bite of the pretzel, but I could have eaten all the popcorn.

Didn't but I could have.

Long time friends from Maryland traveled up for the event, and they came back to our house to spend the night. Always fun catching up in person as we have daughters the same age.


I bought tulips to put in their room because some years we need to make our own spring.

This appears to be one of those years.

Three inches of snow in our Tuesday forecast. On the bright side, most of the snow on the grass has melted, so that's something. We still have small mountains here and there from the plow, but baby steps right?

Before our friends headed home on Sunday we all went to see a former work colleague of the guys. We had such a nice time sitting in their lovely den with a spectacular view of tinytown lake.  It's still frozen and looked like a postcard. You'll once again have to use your imagination because I neglected to take a photo. I need spring to get here and clear out the cobwebs.

There's probably more, but I'm hosting my book club this evening, and am thinking I should be baking-cooking-cleaning as opposed to blogging the minutiae of my weekend.

Happy Monday everyone!

11 comments:

  1. We have attended a few Bar mitzvahs also and I'm always in shock and awe at the parties afterwards.

    Is it wrong of me to slightly enjoy that you (finally) took blurry photo or that you forgot to take one in general? ;)

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  2. I have never heard of a gourmet group, but that sure sounds fun. And I have never been to a Bat Mitzvah either, though I would LOVE to. We just love to see how it is all done and hear the prayers etc. Those were some ginormous balloons, lol. And as for the tray of goodies, oh my, don't know if I could have controlled myself on the chocolate covered popcorn...love that. The rest of your weekend sounds fun too. Such a busy lady, but all soo good.

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  3. My gosh, you're busy!!! I've never been to a Bat (or Bar) Mitzvah, but they sound like a good time!
    I would have been TOTALLY freaking out if I only had 30 minutes between getting the wall fixed and guests arriving!

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  4. I've never been to a Bat Mitzvah but they always appear to be fun in the movies! Glad your wall turned out perfect and that he was gone before your guests arrived. I have seen dipped bugles on Pinterest and wondered how they would taste. Sounds like a great weekend and your so busy!!!!

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  5. Oh my, you have been beyond busy!! Whew! I would be worn out and not able to even lift a book for a book club meeting!! What a lovely time you had, each and every minute of your jam-packed weekend! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. I don't think I have ever been to a Bat or Bar Mitzvah..love the ballons though. Those treats sure look tasty. Smiles

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  7. So glad your wall turned out well...and on time! The tulips are lovely. I'm sure your guests felt special!

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  8. Glad your wall repair turned out perfectly ... and finished just in time.

    I think I would have had to have eaten ALL those snacks ... that kind of food is my weakness.

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  9. Yay for good repairs! We will be getting some quotes for work on the house in the next few weeks and on some level it always feels like a gamble!
    Gourmet club, book club, house guests, parties with HUGE balloons... Oh my you are crazy busy! I can't believe you even found time to post!

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  10. Boy you like to cut it close on those repaires don't you? :-) You sure are busy, but you are living a full life and I'm glad for you. The snack tray looks just too good to pass up.

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  11. I make dipped Bugles for almost every party and they're always a hit! I've never done it in white chocolate though so now i need to. Tulips are my favorite flower and they're only around for such a short season that i buy them at least every other week. You're a busy gal!

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