Boots with the fur

Well not quite... But oh my gosh! I got the pattern from Ravelry. The yarn is Simply Soft by Caron, and the buttons came from a highly successful trip to the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. Oh my gosh! I may have - let's just admit it - I did squeal with delight as the buttons were being sewn on!

I wish the pictures did them justice.

Aunt Cissy's Cakes

Forgive me. I started eating before I remembered to take a picture!

This year for the first time as an adult I made a Valentine treat from my past. I was worried that it wouldn't be the same, but I was happily wrong.

The tradition began when I was three years old. Aunt Cissy would have been over to make deep pink strawberry cakes for my class party.

However, the story actually begins a good while before February 1986. My Grandma and Aunt Cissy (twins - identical - also called "Tuffy" and "Cissy") hail from Jena, Louisiana. My dad remembers delicacies like squirrel gravy when he was a little boy and using an out house when he went to visit family. Let's just say their home was a bit secluded.

I don't have all the details, so I will need my Mama to fill in some blanks. Basically one of my great great aunts bought a heart-shaped baking pan for her husband whose birthday was near Valentine's day. It was a big purchase, a bit frivolous for them, and as you can see luxury wasn't exactly something they were accustomed to enjoying.

Anyway, Aunt Cissy and I made these cakes, in these very cake pans, from 1986 until I had my last class party in 6th grade. A few year ago I was given the cookbook and the pans. I'm not sure why I had not chosen to make them. Maybe I was avoiding the calorie intake. Maybe the memories of being a little girl helping from the countertop felt a bit too fresh. But this year was the year.

I loved reading through her notes. She adapted a recipe in the Natchez Homemaker's Extension Club Cookbook from 1976. The cake was incredibly easy to make, and it tasted just right. I will need to work on the icing. That wasn't spot on, but the cake was exactly as it lived in my memory.

I don't know if my class remembers this tradition, but in honor of sharing (and the recipe makes two hearts), I sent one cake to Tom's resident room in the Endo department. It was a hit, and I have to admit I was thrilled! Besides, the cake didn't last a full 48 hours at our home before the last morsel was demolished.

We are both looking forward to celebrating and sharing the cakes with friends every February in the future.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mardi Gras

It is hard to watch Facebook during Mardi Gras. All the good food, all the friends, all the booze, all the party. It makes a girl jealous.

I woke up on Fat Tuesday in pursuit of my own fun. We are too poor to order and ship King Cake's, but I hope that will change eventually. I had to bring Louisiana to us.

I pulled out my Holly Clegg cookbook and dug around for crawfish anything. My latest edition of Louisiana Cookin' was all about mudbugs. I haven't handled life well, since they rubbed the little critters in my face. (Did I mention I've been feeling jealous?)

Well with a little work and one tiny hiccup, we dined on Crawfish Creole on Tuesday night.

A little roux.

A little trinity.

A little Crawfish Creole.

My disappointment was a big one, but it didn't really impact the dish. I thought I was buying crawfish from south Louisiana. Alas, it was a Gulf Coast company, but crawfish meat was from China. CHINA?! I was upset, but we survived. I can't wait to get back towards the coast where the seafood is fresh and from someone with a terrific accent.

Recipe follow up

- I'll try the eggplant orzo one more time. I didn't read the recipe attentively as I should have and made the orzo in advance instead of letting it happen in the oven. He liked it, but we both agreed it was more work than it was tasty.

- Oh by the way, he survived the KKC. One hour and 8 minutes. 12 donuts. No vomiting.

- The Mushroom-Shallot Frittata. OH MY GOODNESS!! We both loved it. It was a lot of chopping but so worth it. In the future, I can easily make scones the day before and this for brunch. Add in a fruit salad, mimosas and Bloody Marys. This sounds like a great weekend gathering!

- I just ran 4 miles. Why do I ever fall out of rhythm? I finish, and I feel that I am on top of the world. I don't understand after a run like that why I ever let myself take time off. Now I'm looking forward to training for the 10miler (and Cooper River) even more than I already was.

Happy, happy Sunday!!

Weekend Menu Planning

This weekend T needs to buckle down on his thesis. It is possible he will defend his thesis on April 2nd, so the reality of the work to be done has officially hit home. He looked at me like I had three heads last night when I looked deep into his eyes and said, "I'm in charge this weekend!" I told him he has to focus, so I get to do all the cooking! Wahoo!

Here is what is in the works...

He will spend the night in Raleigh tonight before the Krispy Kreme Challenge tomorrow. I will go to Raleigh tonight to see a great friend who is in town, so supper tonight and breakfast tomorrow are off the books.

Saturday lunch - Shhhh! Don't tell him, but I'm picking up Jersey Mike's. We both love it, and after I've worked that morning, it will be something easy to bring home.

Saturday dinner - Salmon combining two recipes (See here and here.) Eggplant orzo. And something green.

Sunday breakfast - Mushroom and Shallot Frittata. Heart-shaped bacon (an early Valentine's day happy!). And fruit salad.

Sunday lunch - Chicken and Corn Chowder (I sort of want to make this shrimp instead of chicken.)

Sunday dinner - We have been invited to enjoy hot pot and a friend's house. Yum!

Countdown to Cooper River

I'm getting so excited for the Bridge Run this year. It will be my 3rd time to run it, and I hope it is something we do annually whether we are pushing strollers or setting PRs.

HTTP://COUNTINGDOWNTO.COM

FoodPornDaily.com

I kid you not. This is the name of a website. And OH MY GOODNESS!

Today they have posted the picture of a salted brown butter M&M cookie. And yes, they link it back to the blog that produced the picture and the recipe.

My life has changed...

FoodPornDaily.com

Salted Brown Butter M&M Cookies

I want to stop working nights and weekends, so I can be an adventurous cook/baker again!!!!!