Celebrating Birthdays

Today, we celebrated Joyce and Sally's Birthdays

With lunch

Out

in Lamar, Missouri

(famous for being Harry Truman's birthplace)

At a place called Cap's Cabin

It's recently moved from a teeny cabin

(hence the name)

to a bigger space in downtown Lamar

It was full on a Tuesday lunch

Lamar is about 40 miles from home

Cap's Cabin is  famous for . .  .

Fish and chips

(the best I've had outside of England)

I favor the flounder

It's served with Midwestern coleslaw and hush puppies

After, we came back to Linderhof

to celebrate birthdays

In the dining room

With the Aynsley Pembroke

And the lace tablecloth

Coffee and cake

Birthday cake

Without candles!

The cake is an Italian Cassata cake

Simple and easy to make

 A make ahead cake

I like those

All set for when we come back from Lamar

Slices of Birthday Cassata 

with freshly brewed coffee

And presents (a dozen cranberry pecan rugalach) and cards!

BIRTHDAY CASSATA

2 c. Ricotta cheese

1/4 c. sugar

2 T. liqueur (sherry, brandy, Amaretto, I used Maraschino liqueur)

1/4 c. finely chopped candied cherries

1/4 c. mini semi sweet chocolate chips

1 pound cake (I used Sara Lee frozen)

CHOCOLATE GLAZE:

1 c. mini semi sweet chocolate chips

1 t. instant coffee dissolved in 1/4 c. boiling water

6 T. unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces, chilled

sliced almonds for garnish

Combine ricotta, sugar, liqueur and mix until silky.    Fold in candied cherries and 1/4 c. semi sweet chocolate chips.    Set aside.

Cut pound cake in half horizontally using sharp serrated knife.    Cut each half again horizontally.    Place pound cake on serving platter.    Spread 1/4 ricotta mixture evenly over cake.    Repeat procedure twice.    Top with remaining cake layer; press lightly to compact layers.    Cover with plastic wrap; chill at least 2 hours.

Meanwhile heat 1 c. chocolate chips and coffee in top of double boiler over hot, not boiling water.     Stir constantly until chocolate is melted.    Add butter pieces, one by one, stirring constantly, until all butter is added and melted.    Remove from heat; let cool to spreading consistency, about 2 hours.    Spread top and sides of cake with chocolate frosting.    I garnished the cake with sliced almonds on top.

New Sofa . . . and Chair

My husband is hard on sofas

I am envious whenever I hear of people who have their sofas for twenty years

Two is our average

And so in the almost 30 years at Linderhof

we've had a lot of sofas

And we've got another!

It's a paisley by Moussard

which we found was a very good brand

selling at Neiman Marcus and Horchows

So they're not cheap!

It's a color that goes well in our living room

And when we bought the sofa, we also bought . . . 

A chair!

It's a good brand, too, CR Laine,

so "exclusive" that all of the sellers on line say

"call for quote"

It replaces  . . . 

This sofa

Which although nice looking in this picture

was not worth the $800 we paid for it

For it didn't even last a year

Before it broke down in the middle

(and you could reach behind the cushion and touch the floor)

And then the leather started coming off the seats

(Unfortunately, the company we bought it from is no longer in business)

And the chair . . . 

A consistent store find 1 1/2 years ago -- it had started to wear in the front 

where my legs rub against the cushion

Not bad but I was thinking that I would have to get it reupholstered next

year . . . but, now I don't!

The living room with the old sofa

And the living room with the new one

Actually, I think it looks better than the "old" one --

the lighter color just goes better in the room with the rest of our furniture and curtains.

The pattern, too, adds a little bit of texture

And as seen as you come down the stairs -- chair on the right

and sofa on the left

I won't say we were actually looking for a sofa and I definitely was not looking for a chair

But those things are always in the back of your mind --

 the fact that we would soon be needing a sofa

And Husband Jim enjoys thrifting and is always on the lookout . . . 

We were in the city last week --

I had a meeting while he shopped

He went to lunch with his friends

While I had lunch somewhere else with a friend

We got together after

And he was so excited --

he had found the sofa

at a Thrift Shop

I was a bit skeptical because often the bones of Thrift Shop sofas are good

but the upholstery doesn't always fit

But if it's cheap enough, one can always reupholster

We walked in and I was grateful it wasn't the red, blue and green plaid one that I first saw

Then he showed me 

this one.

I liked the color, the style is classic, I noticed the label said "Moussard"

And the price was certainly right.

Next to it was 

I've always liked this style and the price was certainly right

Much less than what it would cost to reupholster my current chair

It's brand was CR Laine

The store wouldn't hold them for us, even if we paid for them

We took a chance and next day Jim borrowed a truck and went to get them

Luckily they were still there

I haven't been this excited about furniture in a long time

They fit at Linderhof

As though we went to one expensive showroom and selected the pieces and upholstery

Are you curious as to what we paid for them?

Less than $50 for both pieces!

If the sofa doesn't last a year, the cost per year for the sofa is a lot less than the last one!

But I'm thinking the quality may be there

And this may be our "forever" sofa

And that's something I always wanted --

A "forever" sofa

Good enough to reupholster every 10 years or so!

We'll see . . . 

Happy Frank's Giving Day

Doogie and Daisy

Are eagerly awaiting

the arrival of

Happy Frank

Let Doogie tell you the story . . . 

"When I was a young pup

and new to Linderhof

Dolly the corgi told me about

Happy Frank

on the fourth Thursday in November, said Dolly, Happy Frank comes and leaves treats and toys

for all good little dogs

I asked Dolly how she knew those things

How she knew more than me.

She told me the legend was told to her by Ollie.

And How did Ollie know, I asked.

Dion DiPoochy told him, she said.

So I believed that first year I was here --

I believed in 

Happy Frank

and how he brought treats to good little dogs.

Which I am, most of the time

When Daisy came to Linderhof,

I shared the legend of 

Happy Frank

And like good little dogs, Daisy and I are early to bed

so that

Happy Frank

can come tonight

and bring toys and treats to all of us good little dogs."

"Surely" said I, "Happy Frank won't think that tearing the stuffing

out of sock monkey is a BAD thing?"

"Will this mean that I won't get a treat and a toy?

Does he remember and write down things that you've done all year long?

Oops, I may be in trouble here!"

"And as Daisy and I  sleep tonight, visions of homemade cookies dance in our heads!

And I promise not to sneak any more cookies out of the basket -- but don't tell -- THEY don't know that I do that!"

Do You celebrate

Happy Frank's Giving Day?

And does Your dog get a treat and a toy

on

Happy Frank's Giving Day?

Doogie and Daisy are sure that tonight

Happy Frank

will leave them a treat and a toy . . . !

One of us will report back tomorrow!

A Cooking Class . . . As A Student

One of my favorite cookies are

Macarons

They're French, they're yummy, they're colorful

And they're expensive!

I tried my hand at making them a few years ago

And they turned out although I didn't have all the nuances

for making these tasty French treats!

Because of being so colorful they were perfect for Easter

But I also found a source in the city for these wonderful goodies:

A charming little shop

 And I would buy a few if I were in the city and near the store

Then on Thursday . . . 

I was in Natasha's kitchen!

There to learn how to make macarons!

With friend Vonnie and four other students

Vonnie was the high bidder on a package that included this cooking class

And I was the lucky person that got to go with her!

I felt very fortunate to be included!

Vicki and Natasha were great teachers

And the recipe was in true bakery language

for it was in weight rather than amount!

We . . . 

Whipped egg whites

And heated syrup

And mixed the two together until it was the perfect macaron consistency.

We then piped them onto parchment paper  . . .

Ready for the oven after they "cured"

And while they rested and cured, we turned our hand at Italian buttercream

for the filling

We chose  four flavors:

Champagne, strawberry, pistacchio and almond

Finally, the "tops and bottoms" were done and out of the oven

We piped the filling and made the little sandwich cookies

I think they look quite professional!

 And we each got a box to take home!

And my box . . . 

Was brought out for tea Friday afternoon

Looking quite professional in Natasha's box

They were perfect for Friday afternoon tea

And for several more teas to come!

Will I make them again!

Definitely . . .

But not for me but rather when I have a tea party and I want a special treat for my guests

For they are a special cookie and not an everyday cookie jar cookie!

But I must admit that as long as my box lasts, macarons will be on my afternoon tea menu!