Leena

"Let CHOICE whisper in

your EAR and

LOVE murmur in your HEART.

Be ready.

HERE comes LIFE."

~Maya Angelou

Introducing my grandaughter, Leena!

Kent & Heather will be bringing her home soon from India!

This is one of the happiest days for our family!

She is just such a lovely baby...

~click to enlarge~

She has three handsome and protective big brothers and a beautiful and adoring big sister waiting for her.

We can hardly believe it!

"The foolish person seeks happiness in the distance,

the wise person grows it under his feet.

James Oppenheim

The little front garden is lovely. Thank you Cole and J.P. who worked with me in the fall to prepare the soil and plant the pansies and tulips.

Thank you, Cole and J.P. The Spring garden is blooming!!!

Filled Vanilla Wafer from Mrs. Alpenhof at the dairy

In the early 1960's, when I lived in Portland Oregon while my husband, Bill, was in Dental School we had milk products delivered from a local, family owned and operated dairy. The family and the dairy were Alpenhof's. Mrs. Alpenhof was well known for her cooking skills and would regularly send recipes out in the mimeographed newsletter that came monthly from the dairy with our milk delivery. This is one of those recipe's.

1 cup crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup finely chopped dates

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

1 cup sugar

2 well beaten eggs

Combine in saucepan and cook over med heat, stirring, until thick. Cool. Spread between two vanilla wafers and roll in powdered sugar. Place in air tight container and age 24 hrs. before serving. These do not keep well beyond 1 or 2 days.

Carmelitos --a confection from Carolyn

2 cups oats

2 c. flour

1 ½ c. brown sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 ½ sticks butter, melted

1 jar (Pint) Mrs. Richardson’s butterscotch caramel

1 pkg milk chocolate chips Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together, pour in melted butter. Mix well.

Spread half (or a little more) of mixture into 9 ½ by 13 in. pan. Bake for about 17 minutes or until golden brown. Right before you take the crust out of the oven, melt caramel in microwave for about 1 minute to soften. Pour caramel over top of crust. Then sprinkle on chocolate chips. (Make this as chocolately or caramely to your own taste). Spread the rest of the oat mixture on top. Bake for another 8 minutes. Let them COMPLETELY COOL and cut, at room temperature, into any size bars. (Carolyn likes them warm and gooey.)

Little Love in Valentine Jammies... my grandaughter, Libby Mei

~ click to enlarge~

Happy Easter!

An afternoon in Erin's basement...helping her children get ready for Valentine's day! J.W., Tanner, Marshall, Libby Mei & I, had so much fun with cupcakes, cookies, frosting, & sprinkles!

Russian Cream with Berries from Carol Lambert I served this at Book Group last night. It was delicious and I will use it again. Great for Valentine! 1 pkg gelatin ¾ cup sugar 1 cup water Combine in a saucepan and boil 5 minutes. Remove and cool slightly 1-1/2 cup sour cream 1 cup heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla Combine and mix well until all lumps are incorporated. Add gelatin mixture to cream mixture, fold and mix with wisk til smooth. Do not beat. Pour into small serving dishes or into a large bowl. Chill for several hours or overnight. Serve with berry sauce, fresh raspberries or whatever fruit you like. I think a Rhubarb sauce would be great on it. I used Ruthanne’s raspberry sauce (recipe follows) and fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries. It was pretty and delicious. 1. Raspberry Sauce for Australian Pavlova Thaw and drain 2 10 oz pgs. frozen raspberries. Reserve all syrup. Add water to make 1 cup syrup if necessary. In a 2 quart saucepan, stir together ¼ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Gradually stir in the reserved syrup keeping smooth (stick blender),juice of 1 lemon and pinch of salt. Stir in drained raspberries. Stirring constantly, cook over med heat until clear, thickened and boiling. Strain and press through strainer to remove seeds if desired. Cool. Store in a tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Happy Halloween Cake

The grandchildren loved this spooky cake!

~the hair is Haribo brand licorice pinwheels~