Wishful Thinking

Favorite Photo Fridays

Quote of the Day:  At every crossroad, follow your dream. It is courageous to let your heart lead the way. - Thomas Leland

A Dream is a wish your heart makes. from Cinderella

"What was your wish, Mary?"

"I don't know, exactly. It was just wishful thinking."

Perhaps, the heart knows best.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  What are you wishing for today?

Fall is My New Year

Quote of the Day:  Though I have seen the oceans and mountains, though I have read great books and seen great works of art...there is nothing greater or more beautiful than those people I love. - Christopher De Vinck

Our Second First Day of School

Bobby, the senior, stayed home on the official first day of school (district policy).

Our last First Day of School with Bobby, the senior.

Sigh, you can't stop the river of life from flowing.

The Fall of the year is my New Year. It is the start of a new school year. I have a senior, an 8th grader, and two 6th graders. Marking the growth of children is an excellent way to prove that nothing stays the same. I don't want them to grow up and leave me, and yet, I can't help but celebrate with them as they reach new heights, learn and grow, and seek their own adventures.

The Fall of the year is also my birthday, Sept. 6, this year, the first day of school. What a celebration it is! I started celebrating last Thurs. by going to the movies with a friend and watching The Help. It's an excellent movie. It translates well from book to silver screen, and so well cast, acted, and filmed.

Over the weekend, I saw family. My mom baked my favorite birthday cake, German chocolate with the coconut/nutty frosting, and I stayed overnight at my sister's house. Monday, I had lunch with my best writer-mama-pal, Roxane, in Fargo. Tuesday, I sent the younger boys off to school then joined many mothers and others at the coffee shop.

Erika, Mary, Lisa, JeMA

I had lunch with my big boy, the senior.  The food was delicious, and the company was delightful. My big boy wants to be some kind of engineer. He's a techie, creative, and kind. We had a great conversation. He even asked me what I thought I might do once all the kids graduate. (I don't even like thinking about it, but I know I have lots of options.)

The boys had a great first day of school. We went out for supper (no kitchen duties for this birthday girl), and hit sack early.

Today, my group power class will enjoy my "Birthday Track" and later in the week, one more birthday lunch with a friend. I think everyone needs a week-long birthday celebration, don't you?

Go. Create. Inspire! And, fill your days with those people you love.

Journaling Prompt:  If you were free from social and family obligations, where would you go? What would you do?

Classic Tiramisu

This classic Tiramisu or  "Pull me Up" torte  recipe will have you jumping for joy, probably from all the espresso in the torte.   This was the first Tiramisu recipe I ever attempted years ago.  A similar version was handed down to me by my husband's Zia Dora in Rome, Italy.  One of the first things she said  (in Italian),  is if you are afraid of fresh eggs, get over it.  These days, it seems everyone is worried about something.  Given the  fact that this is the classic version, and oh so good when completed, I got over it quickly, you will too. 

Follow the recommendations of the American Egg Association when handling raw eggs.  Another important fact is to find incredibly fresh eggs, preferably from a local farmer. We use farm fresh eggs all the time.  Once you have had some, I am sure you will be hooked.  Be sure and make this a day ahead.

Ingredients:

36 lady fingers/ either sponge or dry Savoiardi

2 cups good espresso / brewed and cool

3 extra large eggs. (separated)

two bowls chilled , one for your egg yolks, one for your egg whites.

1 - 8 oz container of Mascarpone cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup good brandy

Coca powder to sprinkle across each layer while you assemble the torte

Dark, good quality chocolate

Into a chilled bowl, whip your egg whites with a quarter cup sugar, adding the sugar little at time.  It's important that your bowl be chilled.  Follow recommendations from the American Egg Association. Set them back into the refrigerator.

If you are afraid of egg yolks then continue with the next step.  If you are not, skip.

Prepare a pan of simmering water  for your egg yolks.  Put your egg yolks/ sugar/ brandy into a bowl and set it above the simmering water and mix being careful not to scramble.  You want to raise your yolk temperature to 160 degrees on cooking thermometer.  Quite honestly, if you trust your farm fresh eggs like I do, I omit this step as there is a better chance at getting hit by a bus then there is contacting Salmonella.  Set aside to cool.

Combine your  room temperature egg yolks,  marcarpone cheese ,sugar, brandy and set aside.

You can omit the Brandy if you must.  The brandy intensifies the flavor of this torte, but it is not necessary.

In your baking dish, place a little espresso on the bottom.  Soak your lady fingers on both sides and line them up in the bottom of the baking dish, set aside.

Combine your egg whites now with your yolk mixture a little at a time until completely combined and has doubled in volume. 

Combine a layer of your mixture over your lady fingers.   In a separate baking dish, continue soaking your cookies and line your cookies on top of your mixture.  Sprinkle some cocoa over each layer until you get to the top.  Sprinkle with shaved chocolate/ cover and refrigerate. Let set 24 hours.  Serve in plates/ cut in squares.  Sprinkle with additional shaved chocolate.    Buon Appetito ~

CALAMARATA PASTA (Mezzi Paccheri), with Shrimp, Black Olives and Cherry Tomatoes

What  wonderful festive pasta for a Friday night dinner.   We don't live in an area where we can find fresh Shrimp.  There are some good quality bags of frozen shrimp out there.  I look always for wild caught, Atlantic/Pacific shrimp.  I picked up several frozen bags of good quality Atlantic shrimp while at the Whole foods Market in Memphis, TN.   I always keep a can of Italian black olives in the pantry.  There are always salted Sicilian capers in the refrigerator.  There is never a shortage of white wine.  I went to the garden to pick some cherry tomatoes,   If you are in a hurry, this sauce is not only fresh, but full of flavor.  You will be making it too.

Ingredients:  Serves 4-6 people.

About one pint of cherry tomatoes/ rinsed and dried
4 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
one can of Italian black olives, drained and rinsed.
one large clove of garlic diced or left whole, smashed, and sauteed for flavor and removed before serving.

12 oz of  medium, peeled, cleaned shrimp, rinsed/drained and pat dry with paper towels.

one handle full of parsley/ chopped and a few leaves left whole for garnish

1/2 cup of White wine

2 tablespoons salted capers.

1 pound of pasta cooked in boiling salted water to al dente

Into a skillet heat your oil, saute your garlic until fragrant. Add your black olives and smash some with the back of a spoon.  Add your tomatoes and do the same.. After a few minutes you will notice your cherry tomatoes will begin to color your oil some.. Keep cooking on medium / low and add your shrimp.  Cook for a few minutes until your shrimp are cooked through.  Add 1/2 cup of white wine and let evaporate.  Add your capers, turn off your heat.  Cook your pasta as directed, drain, and mix.  Serve on a large, decorative platter.   Add your parsley for garnish. Can it get any easier? 

Special note:  The name, "Calamarata" pasta refers to a shape similar to that of cut up calamari rings.  If you have trouble finding them, look for the largest rigatoni type or tubular pasta you can find.

Buon Appetito~

He Loved Coconut Cream Pie . . . Saying Goodbye to Grandpa John

You may have noticed I haven't been posting as much as usual this summer, and there's been a good reason for that. My dad, whom we affectionately called Grandpa John, passed away yesterday morning at the ripe old age of 83 after a steep decline that began in July. I was spending some time with him everyday and I am so glad I had the opportunity to do so.

He was a really sweet guy. Kind of a quiet man, he loved opera music, the Detroit Tigers (one of his favorite phrases was, "Don't let the Tigers break your heart!"), difficult crossword puzzles, his grandsons Charlie and Nathan, and he never could resist a fluffy slice of coconut cream pie.

He's back with my mom now, I like to think, and I'll bet they're probably holding hands and smiling, somewhere out there in the great beyond. I miss him already.

I am looking forward to baking again very soon, and hope to be back in the blogging saddle again in a week or so. I may just have to make a nice coconut cream pie . . .

(I took the photo above--my dad's last picture--on Monday, August 29th, with my cell phone. He's shown there with Charlie, my 18-year old.)

Inviting You In

Favorite Photo Friday

Quote of the day:  I type in one place, but I write all over the house. - Toni Morrison

This is an inviting space that I created.

Well, the former owners of my home built the deck, but I added the ingredients that invite me in, help me relax to create and dream.

I'm out here often in the summer and early fall.

I have about a month left before it gets too cold in this northern state.

I'm like Toni Morrison in that I write all over the house. I have tiny scraps of paper lying around to prove it. Also, with the ease of laptops, I'm in several locations, including the kitchen table, my room, and coffee shops.

Go. Create. Inspire! and create an inviting space for your creative soul.

Journaling Prompt:  What does an inviting space look like to you?

Dementia Awareness

Quote of the Day: 

Walk to End Alzheimer's is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1989, this all age, all-ability walk has mobilized millions to join the fight against Alzheimer's disease, raising more than $347 million for the cause. Events are held annually in the fall in nearly 600 communities nationwide. from www.alz.org.

 

I have become involved in a local group called Lakes Area Memory Awareness Advocates (LAMAA). I have always been interested in the brain, how it works, how we learn, why some things seem to "click" while others never soak in.  I wonder why some people have a strong ability in maths and sciences, while others of us are strong in the arts.  Ever since Ronad Reagan announced his diagnosis with Alzheimer's in 1994, I've had an interest in this disease.

The LAMAA group was formed in our area through Alzheimer's Association and some people directly affected by the disease. Their goal is to be a place where people can go for information on Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. They are a local resource for what we have to offer in our area for care and diagnosis, support groups and education. A few of them were speaking at the library earlier this year. I attended their presentation and asked if I could do a story on this topic for our local women's magazine, Her Voice.

I ended up joining this group and have started a blog for them.  The story I wrote on Alzheimer's will be in the November issue of Her Voice. I'll be sharing the link when it's available.

If you or someone you know is experiencing the difficult diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia, this blog is here for you. If you live in the Brainerd lakes area of Minnesota, we offer some resources for you, and the LAMAA group would love to speak to your group or organization.  This disease affects everyone in a community.

LAMAA blog and email.

 

Brainerd area Walk to End Alzheimer's link. The walk will be Saturday, Sept. 24, starting at 9:00 at the Kiwanis Park in Brainerd.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Do you ever struggle with how much to volunteer or give away of your time and talents? What causes get you up and walking?