Heavenly Torte, Almost

     My mom had a recipe that she made often for special occasions, including Easter. She called it Heavenly Torte and it basically is a meringue base with whipping cream and strawberries on top. I have her recipe, but I'd never made it. I planned to make it for Easter dinner, but when I saw that I had to make it one day and let it sit overnight in the oven before assembly the next day, I decided to make a variation of the same dessert.

Almost Heavenly Torte

6 egg whites

1/2 tsp. cream of tarter

1 1/2 tsp. real vanilla

1 1/2 T. cornstarch

1 1/2 cups white sugar

pinch salt

1/2 pint whipping cream

Fresh (or frozen) Strawberries, sliced and slightly sweetened

Preheat oven to 275 degrees

Line baking sheet with parchment paper



Mix cornstarch with sugar and set aside.

     In mixing bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tarter and salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar/cornstarch mixture, adding the vanilla after all the sugar is added. Continue to beat on high until stiff, glossy peaks form (see above picture). I actually used a hand mixer with no problems. It took about 3-4 minutes of beating to reach stiff peaks.

     With a large spoon, drop "globs" of the meringue onto the parchment paper, using the back of the spoon make a slight dent in the top. I made 8 large meringues using this recipe. Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees and place the baking sheet on the center rack of the oven. Bake 50-55 minutes until shells appear firm, but not brown. Remove from parchment paper carefully to wire rack to cool. They will keep in a ziploc bag for a few days. They are soft and sticky on the inside.

     To serve: Whip the cream until stiff, do not add sugar. I placed a meringue on the plate, topped with the whipping cream and another meringue...then covered with berries. You can also do a single layer, filling the impression in the center with the whipping cream and adding strawberries to get 8 servings rather than 4.

     It tasted just like mom's overnight recipe and

was a light, sweet ending to a large meal.

I am joining Michael @ Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

Please stop in to say hello!

Goodnight Moon and An Extra Ordinary Day

     A few nights ago I happened to capture this beautiful image from my backyard. The lights you see below it are actually cars on the interstate in the distance. What is it about a full moon that takes your breath away? I think it is right up there with rainbows and falling stars!

     My favorite children's book has always been Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. I loved reading it to my children when they were small. Did you realize it was published in 1947? At the moment, I have a new favorite children's book that I can't wait to read to my little grandsons the next time they visit. I wanted to share not only the book with you, but also the fun, fabulous book signing event that I went to on Thursday night.

     One of my dear friends has written and published her first book and I'm so excited for her. Debbie is one of those people that does everything "over the top". She seems to never need sleep, has 3 busy kids and always seems to find the time to do anything for anyone. She throws the parties that everyone wants to go to because you know that you are going to have a good time and that everything will be perfect at the party. Regular readers of my blog may remember the annual Halloween "Witch Party" that I attend...that is Debbie's party.

     There was no doubt in my mind that I would love the book and that the book signing would be a fun event. I got my copy of the book from Barnes and Noble (it is also available on Amazon) and read it with a smile on my face. As a friend of Debbies, I could almost hear her voice reading it to me. As an objective reviewer, I love the way she found an artist (Jan VonBokel) who was able to capture the story in such whimsical images. I also love the fact that the book opens up a dialog with the child by asking questions and even having a few pages at the end of the book where the child can draw his own pictures in response to the questions.

     There is a definate moral to the story, which is expressed in a way that even the youngest child will grasp it. As for the book signing...see that ice cream cone in the picture above?

     In fact, all the sweet treats mentioned in the book...were at the party. I felt like I was 5...what should I try?

     Of course the plates and napkins matched the book cover. The bowl in the back, filled with bags of cotton candy and ooey, gooey chocolate chip cookies...

...there were cupcakes and huge

ice cream cone cookies (my choice, yum)!

     The signing was in a local coffee shop, which just happens to be featured in the book. Check out those balloons...ice cream cones!

     This odd photo is actually Debbie's outfit. Jan had her artwork made into fabric and then made into clothing. I told you Debbie never does anything "small". The fabric looks exactly like the book cover!

     I really have high hopes that my friend finds great success with her first book and hopefully more to come. I'm so proud of her for having a dream and following it through! Wouldn't it be wonderful if decades from now people are still reading An Extra Ordinary Day to their grandchildren?

Sometimes You Just Need A Little Home

     Just this morning I saw Rascal Flatts on a television show and they were asked why they had named their new album Changed. Gary LeVox, lead singer of Rascal Flatts, said that it described the past decade perfectly for them. He said that they had changed record companies, management and their personal lives had changed as well. He felt as if that single word fit very well for what had been happening in their lives. I think that may be the reason that so many people are going to relate to the songs on this album.

     Those of you who follow my blog know that music is a huge part of my life. I am certainly a rock and roll girl with a lot of teenager still in this middle-aged body. I am equally familiar with current pop music and classic rock from the 70's. I rarely call myself a country music fan and yet, as country music has gradually taken on more of a country pop/rock sound, I have a few favorite artists that I listen to often. Rascal Flatts is at the top of that list. I have many of their albums and I am a huge fan of their beautiful ballads and harmonies. So, when I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing their new album, I jumped at the chance. I knew I would be buying it anyway.

     When asked to review a cd, I have a way I like to listen to it. The first time I play it, I put it in the stereo and go about my business with it blasting in the background. If I catch myself stopping to listen to a song, I know it is a good one. In the case of Changed, I simply stopped what I was doing and started listening to the words. I think this is one of Rascal Flatt's best. It has beautiful ballads and up tempo country rock  all done with the beautiful harmonies that have made them famous. One minute I was in tears, the next I was bouncing around the living room!

    

     The trio, comprised of singer Gary LeVox, bassist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney, have evolved after being in the spotlight as some of country music's biggest superstars. Changed is their eighth studio album and their first with brand new material in two years. Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold over 21 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and delivered 13 #1 singles to the top of the charts. I have no doubt that with this album those numbers are all going to go up!

     My favorite song on the CD is A Little Home.

It may not be the hit from the album,

 but it certainly touched something in me.

Fifth floor. She’s up in her dorm. Studyin’ for her midterms.

She’s had one of those weeks,

where the world it seems is against her.

Right on cue a picture pops up on her laptop.

She can’t pick her cell phone up fast enough.

Sometimes you just need a little home.

Some “hey mom and dad what’s goin’ on?

I’m just checkin’ in. No there ain’t nothing wrong”

Sometimes you just need a little home.

Well he’s tired, sits down in the sand.

Shoe box in his hand, half a world away.

And he smiles when he sees who it’s from.

He lays down his gun, no he can’t wait.

Cards and letters and something sweet.

He takes a bite and reads.

How everybody sends their love, he tears up.

Sometimes you just need a little home.

A little let you know you’re not alone.

 To carry in your heart. And keep your spirit strong.

Sometimes you just need a little home.

 Sometimes I’d like to drive back through that little town.

 And get my feet back on the ground.

Sometimes you just need a little home.

A little hey you’ve been gone way too long.

Yeah way too long.

No matter how grown up you get.

 No matter how far you roam.

Sometimes you just need a little home.

Home sweet home.

Sometimes you just need a little home.

Hey “mom and dad, what’s goin’ on?”

To read more about Rascal Flatts, check out their website.

To see the video of Banjo

Click here!

I did get my copy of Changed for free
from One2One Network,  

but I would gladly reimburse them for it.

I highly recommend it!

Hopping Down The Bunny Trail...

     Easter dinner this year will be casual at our house. My son has to work early in the day, so he will be coming over for dinner. With just 3 of us, I haven't decided if I will cook a traditional Easter meal or if we will simply have something on the grill. I think that will be determined by how much we get done on the bathroom project Friday and Saturday. So, I wanted to set a table that was comfortable and festive. My Dept 56 Snow Bunnies are the focal point, along with a few fresh flowers from the yard.

     The dinner plates are Crate and Barrel and the salad plates are plastic (don't tell anyone)! Small Crate and Barrel vases with violets from my yard add a little extra touch. You have seen my HomeGoods fun flatware many times. I used a silver water pitcher that was a wedding present as a "vase" for lilacs, tulips and honeysuckle from our yard. The light blue tablecloth and stemware along with Easter colored napkins with china bunny napkin rings finish the look.

     

 

I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

for Tablescape Thursday.

Please visit our hostess!

Am I Being Punked?

     I'm one of those people who don't deal well with messes, at least not in my own house. Our 37 years together have been spent in a series of houses that needed something done. In one case, our largest house needed everything done. We have lived without kitchens, without bathrooms and in various degrees of mess. What we loved about the house we are in now is that the only thing we did when we bought it was change the interior paint and that was by choice. It was 5 years old and didn't really need anything done. After 9 years, we have gradually been upgrading the things that were a bit boring in our home. You may remember the kitchen redo, we also did the guest bath and have done simple things like remove all the brass doorknobs and put in brushed nickel. We will be replacing carpet when we no longer have our 16-year-old beagle (that is a story for a different day). Over the weekend we began work on the last bathroom we have to do.

     New floor tile had to be the first thing installed, so everything else had to come out of the room. I've spent the past few weeks deep cleaning my house and in one day...we ruined every room. Boxes of all the things from the bathroom are piled into my office/daughter's room. Saturday night until Sunday afternoon, there was a toilet sitting in my bedroom along with the old vanity. At one point, our old beagle came in the room and somehow got trapped behind a chest of drawers. She no longer likes to be touched, so we had to move the chest in order to get her out. The hardwood floor in the living/dining room was covered with dust and mortar, I'm using the guest bath, so that room that is rarely used now has things sitting and plugged in all over it and I actually moved into the guest room for a few days...so, it has that "lived in" look. No, I'm not mad at my husband, I'm just very sensitive to smells and home projects have many of those.

     Between 2 dogs barking, a tile saw running, an exhausted husband who works much too long and hard at these projects and total chaos in the house, I talked to my daughter and I told her I felt just on the verge of doing one of those laughing so hard that hysteria was going to follow and sobbing would happen next. So, I took a deep breath and counted my blessings that I had a guestroom to hide in and two working bathrooms in the house!

     Here is a hint of the new look. The white tile floor is being replaced with something darker, the taupe walls will be cottage green (the photo isn't quite the actual color-it is sort of a medium seafoam) and I think I will use some shade of  coral as an accent color for towels, etc. I'm not sure about that yet, I want to see the paint on the walls and the new vanity and granite first. I think we are getting too old for this!

     I'm not sure this qualifies for Met Monday.

So far it qualifies for MESS MONDAY instead!

Please join our hostess Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch!