Fine Art Friday

“My heart that was rapt away by the wild cherry blossoms - will it return to my body when they scatter?”
-Unknown

Hello! In honor of spring and Japan, Sakura (cherry blossoms) are the subject of my attention today. I would like to share these wonderful pieces of art - Enjoy!


“Break open a cherry tree and there are no flowers, but the spring breeze brings forth myriad blossoms.”
-Ikkyu Sojun



1.) Cherry Blossoms Print
2.) Cherry Blossom Original Watercolor
3.) Japanese Cherry Blossom Tree Watercolor 3 Print
4.) Cherry Blossoms
5.) Cherry Blossoms Original Painting
6.) Small Print Cherry Blossom
7.) Cherry Blossom Original Silk Screen Print
8.) Original flower drawing (ink on paper)


In Your Absence

Not yet summer,
but unseasonable heat
pries open the cherry tree.

It stands there stupefied,
in its sham, pink frills,
dense with early blooming.

Then, as afternoon cools
into more furtive winds,
I look up to see
a blizzard of petals
rushing the sky.

It is only April.
I can't stop my own life
from hurrying by.
The moon, already pacing.

-Judith Harris

Mosaic Monday

"A perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one. And it would not be a wasted life."
-The Last Samurai

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Mine was very nice - I actually relaxed somewhat! Today's mosaic is of Cherry Blossoms which are one of my favorite blossoms/trees. Hydrangeas are the only flower that I like better! Enjoy!



Cherry Blossom Facts:

* A cherry blossom is the flower of the cherry trees known as Sakura. In English, "sakura" refers to the Japanese flowering cherry, the fruit cherry comes from another type of tree.

* Japan gave 3,020 cherry blossom trees as a gift to the United States in 1912 to celebrate the friendship between the two nations. Those trees replaced an earlier gift of 2000 trees which had to be destroyed due to disease. The 3,020 trees were planted in Manhattan and on the shore of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

* Cherry blossoms are thought to be an omen of good fortune and an emblem of love and affection.

* Cherry blossoms represents spring and are a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life, and are depicted as so in many works of art.

* Cherry blossoms are indigenous to many Asian countries including Japan, Korea, and China. Japan has a wide variety of cherry blossoms, over 200 varieties can be found there.


"In the cherry blossom's shade there's no such thing as a stranger."
-Issa

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Wacky Wednesday Recipe

Hello! I had a friend ask if I would share my almond pasted cookie recipe - so here it is! I learned to make these cookies when I was a little girl and they have been a staple in our home as long as I can remember. They are very tasty and easy to make. A few hints: Don't make them to big, bite-sized is best, DO NOT overcook them or they will become hard and dry, I always double this recipe, and last but not least - follow the recipe to a 'T!' Enjoy!



Nicole's Almond Paste Cookies

Ingredients:

* 5 large egg whites
* 2 cups superfine sugar (you can put regular sugar through a food processor)
* 1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
* 1 Lb. almond paste
* Sliced almonds & Cherries

Equipment Needed:

1.) Mixer
2.) Cookie sheets
3.) Parchment paper

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350°
2.) Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2.) Beat egg whites until smooth.
3.) Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
4.) Refrigerate dough for 2 hours, until firm.
5.) Roll into 1" balls. (wet hands to prevent sticking)
6.) Place dough balls onto cookie sheet.
7.) Top each ball with almond or cherry, pressing down softly in the center.
8.) Bake until lightly browned.

Tasty Tuesday!

“Why not upset the apple cart? If you don't, the apples will rot anyway.”
-Frank A. Clark

Hello! I hope you are doing well. I had a late night last night, so am very slow this morning! I have only had 1 cup of coffee so far!! My boys are clean and fed, so I guess that is a start! I have a wonderful little dessert to share with you today - it is so yummy! Make sure to use day old bread - it soaks up the liquid much better!

Enjoy!

“So we grew together, Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, But yet an union in partition.”
-William Shakespeare


Apple-Cherry Bread Pudding
Serves: 10

Ingredients:

* 4 Tbsp butter, melted, divided
* 1 10 oz baguette, cut into 1/2" cubes (day old)
* 2 unpeeled Granny Smith apples, coarsely grated
* 1 cup dried cherries
* 1 Tbsp orange zest
* 3 cups half and half
* 7 large eggs
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
* 1 Tbsp almond extract
* 1 tsp ground nutmeg
* 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
* confectionery sugar

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.) Coat bottom and sides of large roasting pan with 1 Tbsp butter.
3.) Place baguette, cherries, apples, & orange zest in pan.
4.) Mix ingredients thoroughly.
5.) In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 &1 /2, eggs, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, & remaining 3 Tbsp butter.
6.) Pour over baguette mixture, stirring to mix thoroughly.
7.) Let rest 10 min.
8.) Bake, uncovered for 45 min, until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
9.) Let rest 15-20 min before serving.
10.) Scoop into plates and sprinkle with confectionery sugar.

“Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious.”
-Author Unknown

Silly Joke of the Day:
Why were the teacher's eyes crossed?
....She couldn't control her pupils.

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Temptation Tuesday!!

Hello!

I have been very lax about posting lately - sorry!

Summer vacation is upon us and my days have become even busier! (is that possible?)

This past weekend was crazy:

*My son, Zachary, turned 7 on Friday!

*I made a 3 tier rehearsal dinner cake, for Friday night.

*My 25 year-old cousin, Anna Teresa was married on Saturday!

*Zachary chose to go to a cherry festival and cherry picking on Sunday as part of his birthday weekend!


I have so many pictures to share, but it would be impossible to post them all!

Therefore, at my son's insistence I am sharing pictures from the cherry festival and our wonderful lunch that followed!


The Cherry Festival was held at:

Cobblestone Farm Winery
5102 Route 89
Romulus, New York


Tasting Room

It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day - sunny and in the 80's!

We picked 10 Lbs. of cherries, the kids were able to run around, play games and take a hay ride!







We had a wonderful lunch at:

Dano's Heuriger on Seneca
9564 Route 414
Lodi, NY 14860


Front of Restaurant


Dano's is one of my favorite restaurants!


Though modeled on a centuries-old Viennese tradition, there's never been anything quite like Dano's Heuriger on Seneca, America's first heuriger (pronounced Hoy-rig-er). Dano's on Seneca combines the traditional Viennese Winery Restaurant concept with the region's award winning wines and the superb Viennese-inspired cooking of Dano's chef/co-owner Dano Hutnik and pastry chef/co-owner Karen Gilman.

The food is wonderful and the view is amazing!

The Heuriger overlooks Seneca Lake and they offer outside seating!

We were able to sit outside and eat while the boys ran around the large expanse of lawn to their hearts content!



Front of Dano's (herb/edible flower garden)


They have a special that I ALWAYS order!
I know - it seems boring, but it really is not!

Dano's calls it their: Viennese Bento Box

If you are familiar with Japanese food, then you know what a bento box is!

Well, Dano's has changed it up to suit their style!

You get a flavorful, melt-in-your mouth pork shank, a lean-yet tasty piece of knockwurst and several sides!

I happen to get braised red cabbage, spatzle, marinated cucumbers, viennese potatoes and liptauer spread!

As usual, I ordered a large basket of assorted bread and a trio of spreads for the table!

YUMMY-IN-MY-TUMMY!!!



Apple Strudel (my dessert)


Well, I hope you enjoyed this small portion of my weekend culinary adventures!

I hope you are tempted to create your own!


Ciao!

Temptation Tuesday!!

Hello!

I really have been very busy with orders - which is a good thing!!!

That being said, it puts this blog on the back burner!!

I do not have much time for a long post, so I decided to tempt you with some of my favorite foods!!


#1: Nutella

(stock photo)



There is a lot more juice in grapefruit than meets the eye.
-Author Unknown




#2: Cherries





Sex is good, but not as good as fresh, sweet corn.
-Garrison Keillor




#3: Watermelon





Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
-Author Unknown


I do have more favorite foods, but these 3 top the list!

What are your favorite foods?

Have a wonderful day everyone!