Happy Birthday My Friend!

I've had an old friend in the back of my mind all week, especially through all the snow. You see, he loved the snow and would have relished in a blizzard of Epic proportions falling on Chicago. As we all grumbled and mumbled about the inconvenience, the closed schools and businesses, the shoveling and the emptying store shelves, my friend Brian would have been relishing in a state of perma-grin. Wonder in his eyes and excitement in his heart as he blazed a trail through the snow.


Yes, I said would have. We lost our friend 18 months ago to the ruthless disease of Cystic Fibrosis at the tender age of 18. You may remember me writing about it then. Well, today is his birthday, and what a day it is. Superbowl Sunday, with his most favorite Green Bay Packers playing in the big game. Two feet of snow on the ground and more fresh stuff falling as I write. What a perfect day he would have thought it to be. Somehow, I know he smiles and roars with that infectious laugh of his as he watches over us today.

So, Brian, my friend, I thank you for continuing to touch my life. I will never look a snow the same way again. I can't promise anything on the Packers, but for the first time in my life, I can smile just a little inside if they win, knowing how happy it would make you.
Happy Birthday!

Virgin Baking (My First Recipe Creation)

Yes, it was my first time. And yes, it was fantastic. I'll admit I was nervous. A little tense and surely overthought it, but it was well worth it. Delicate, sensual, creamy, sweet with just a zing of tartness. What more could a girl ask for her first time out?
Granted, I lost my virginity in the kitchen ages ago. Cooking is always a new and exciting adventure with variety being the spice of life. Don't be asking for a repeat performance from this gal. It's rare you get the same thing twice, even when I try, but baking is a different story. It's an exact science. There's a rule book and the price for not following it can reward you with morning after regrets.

I am here to testify that my first time was legendary. Fireworks, sparklers, rock my world, lick your lips fantastic. So much so, I will definitely be replicating this experience in the near future. Don't beieve me, give this move a try for yourself.





Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Crème Frosting

• 1 cup butter ,softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4eggs
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Directions
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add lemon zest, juicel and vanilla; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream (batter will be thick). Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups ¾ full of batter. Bake at 375 degrees F for 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Raspberry Buttercream Frosting:
• 1 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons raspberry extract
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the butter until creamed. Add the powdered sugar and extract. Mmix until the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the frosting is smooth and creamy.

Pork Carnitas

A favorite of mine and I love this recipe from many, many years ago on the Frugal Gourmet. Easy Peasy and taste great.

Another Recipe Share

This one for my friend Seb. These are both winners. hearty, rich and more than satisfying, yet not difficult to make at all.

Butternut Squash and Apples

This one's for my friend Fern. I got her all jazzed up about the raisins, only to see they are not in the recipe. I do strongly beieve that I added some sweet, plump raisins to the mix though. It's been awhile, but this is a Thanksgiving fave. enjoy!


Butternut Squash and Apples


2 # butternut or buttercup squash
½ C brown sugar
¼ C margarine; melted
1 T flour
1 t salt
½ t mace (can use cinnamon or nutmeg)
2 baking apples; core, peel and slice

Preheat oven to 350°. Halve, seed and skin squash, slice in ½” slices. Stir together remaining ingredients, except apples.
Arrange squash in ungreased baking dish, cover with apples and pour sugar/spice mixture on top.
Cover and bake 1 hour.

10 Lesson Grandma Taught Me

1. Women can be strong, independent and self reliant

2. Presentation is everything

3. There's a way to save almost any recipe gone wrong

4. A pint's a pound, the world around

5. Faith = Strength

6. Hug each other. A lot

7. Rolling dough is an art

8. Pennies make dimes and dimes make dollars

9. Everyone's a little Irish

10. Nothing beats a good Manhattan

Tech and Spanish

Seems there's no limit to the integration of technology in education. It amazes me every day. My kids no longer lugging textbooks in backpacks heavier than they, emailing term papers to avoid the penalty of missing a deadline, the ability to contact a teacher at anytime, from anywhere. the world is such a global place and so much smaller for them than my generation. I find it fascinating. Sometimes a little sad, but still it amazes me.

The mystery of far off lands, the wonder of other cultures, the dream of someday experiencing a whole other way of life is minimized to some degree. They see it, interact with it and almost touch it daily. It has fostered tolerance and understanding, broadened horizons and contributed to a generation a little more concerned about the fate of the world outside their neighborhood. All in all, a good thing. Perhaps their new frontier will take them beyond the earth's atmosphere.

What prompted this little comparison of generations and look a the affects that phone, laptop or ipod has had on life. Well,this for one. The daughter of a friend, looking for blog followers, all in the name of a good grade in Spanish class. Sharing the ways of the Spanish language, as if I had a command of the English grammar that I should. I Do however, look forward to a brush up on my rusty Spanish and the art of verb conjugation.

So stop by and read up on occasion. Maybe even follow a new, young face on the blogging frontier. Who knows, you just might learn something at learnspanishandspeakit.blogspot.com