Saint Patrick's Day 2009

Today I visited with one of the residents at "The Hamlets". She is 94 and her husband is 92. . .I gave her a bad time about cradle-robbing.

The kids have been bugging me to do a "topsy-turvy" cake, so I made a somewhat feeble attempt today. They are normally quite large, but I managed to modify this to only one cake mix. They are single layers and the bottom layer is only 8", the middle is 6 and the top is essentially a large muffin.

I procrastinated on buying our traditional corned beef brisket this year, and we had two visit two stores before we could find one today. We bought the last two they had (and they were VERY small ones). I cut them into small pieces before throwing them into the pot with the potatoes and carrots this time. Our home teachers are coming by this evening, and we will feed them corned beef and cabbage.

The weather was fairly warm although it was gray and we had a very a brief snow/sleet flurry. The snow is rapidly melting again and we have big frost heaves in the yard. The birds are becoming more vocal too.

March 14, 2009

Well, I think I managed to pull it off!!!

I had planned/prepared dinner for 90 people. There were an estimated 100, I stayed under budget and we had some food left over for folks to take home. Everyone really seemed to enjoy the food. The menu included: green salad with roasted almonds, craisins, blood oranges, with rice vinegar/orange marmalade dressing; Pork loins roasted with molasses, apple juice, apple slices, cinnamon and cloves; Savory-sweet yams (I'll post the recipe); dinner rolls and butter; Mom's barley-corn salad (recipe posted on her site); and dessert consisting of frozen berries (for diabetics/allergies) and a cake. The 12" layer was applesauce-spice cake covered with chocolate butter-cream and chocolate marshmallow fondant, the 10" layer was lemon cake with lemon custard filling and lemon butter-cream, and the top oval layer was devil's food with chocolate butter-cream. I made the topper with royal icing and it is a replica of the Relief Society seal.

As you can see, I have been a bit busy this week. . .I think I will be back here a bit more now for the next little while. I have missed everyone!

March 11, 2009

Monday night the 2 new missionaries came over for dinner. I asked if they wanted Mexican or Italian and one of them said "I'm from California, so my favorite food is Mexican and I am Italian, so either is fine." I found out he is from Pismo Beach!!!

Yesterday afternoon we took the kids to a climbing gym (a school sponsored activity). The boys mainly handled the ropes on belay for the younger ones. They had a lot of fun.

Ron and I went to Kelowna for a business meeting and didn't get back until midnight last night.

This morning I tried a new recipe for a savory type of sweet potatoes and it was a big hit with the family, so it will go on the menu for Saturday's big "do". I will be doing the shopping for it this afternoon/evening, but right now I need to get a cake baked, a batch of fondant made, and get a batch of gum tex going for my class tomorrow night.

It has been quite chilly again -- right around -10/15. BR-RR!!!!