CHOCOLATE

This weekend, Saturday's weather was ideal. Such a pleasant day. I waited for the electrician most of the day. And made an orange cake with melted chocolate top and a spoonful of whipped cream(one of my favorite combinations)that I shared with two friends. Sunday was dark and rainy and a bit chilly, so I watched sports.

FAVORITE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

This is a great place for seafood, close to the beach, it serves the freshest and finest seafood. We enjoyed our meals and had lively conversations. Then we did some shopping and lastly back to the train station for my travel weary guests from Italy returning to their hotel in New York.

SPRING CAKE

Here I m with pizza I made and a spring cake, even though it's very cold and doesn't feel like Spring yet ! Today was very cold and windy. So cold that I had to put more wood in the stove. Yet I know spring is just around the corner.

PASTA FAGIOLI

Here I make egg noodles and bean broth, I love beans and try to eat them often. I am wearing a scarf in the kitchen because I've been having pain in my neck.

ME AND "LITTLE JOE"

Here I am posing with one of the biggest cats I've ever seen. at the home of a local cat breeder, his name is "Little Joe". Their business has slowed down recently and he was offered to me, but I already have several cats. I hope he finds a good, loving home.

ST PATRICK'S DAY

Happy St Patrick's Day. I had a great time, corned beef, scalloped potatoes, green beer and cake.

FRIENDSHIP AWARD

Thanks to always kind Sara Sofia for this Friendship Award. (first time ever!)

1. I would like to pass it on to Jeanne, of Dream Harness for being a sweet, kind friend.
2. To Paladin, of wowlolwow for his friendhip and good nature.
3. To itsaheartthang, of Can This Really Work for her great sense of humor and her friendliness.
4. To CrisLyric, of Daydream Corner, for her beautiful, sensitive writings and poetry.
5. To Anne-Berit, of Anne-Berit's Fotoblogg!, a fellow dog lover and all around kind lady.
6. To Drew, a kind source of encouragement and support.
7. To Luisa, of mul ti vis, for being friendly and kind and having a great blog.
8. Last but of course, not least, Rita, a wonderful aquaintence of the blog, Rita.

MY DOG'S HAIRCUT

Here with me is my pup who just got a new haircut (a little too short). My vet says some dogs need some fur covering their eyes so they have UV protection which causes cataracts, so next time it won't be so short.

ORANGE GELATIN CAKE

Here is my orange two layer cake with tangerine slices and Jello gelatin topping. Not too sweet and a strong citrus taste with both orange and lemon rind. I enjoyed it, hope you like the photos.

RECIPE for 8" cake pan Preheat oven to 350 degrees Bottom layer ingredients : (most citrus layer) 1 1/4 cup flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 cup melted butter 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1 tbs. lemon rind 1 tbs. orange rind 1/2 tsp. orange extract 1/2 tsp. lemon extract (optional) 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Mix all liquid ingredients add flour,baking soda. Mix butter,sugar, then add to flour mixture, blend in milk and extracts and rinds. Second layer ingredients : Same as above, only add 1/2 tsp orange extract and 1/2 tsp. lemon extract (optional) Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Ready when toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean and dry. Remove both pans from oven and cool for 15 minutes. Top layer (gelatin) ingredients : 2 packages (Jello or other brand) orange flavor gelatin 8 small, fresh tangerine or orange slices ( dry well if from jar or can) Arrange fruit slices on top of the gelatin. Repeat above gelatin directions with other gelatin pkg and pour over fruit slices. Refrigerate again for 30-45 minutes. Flipping gelatin layer over the other 2 layers can be a bit tricky, even though I used a non-stick pan,I had to help ease out the gelatin with a dull knife. Since it got a bit bumpy during that process, I put the cake (on a plate) back into the oven at 350 degrees for 5 min. for a smooth appearance. I'd like to mention too that there are many variations on this cake. More or less layers, different fruit, different gelatin. As Jeanne mentioned using sugarless gelatin, for those of us needing fewer calories. Great suggestion, Jeanne Enjoy Sara Sofia, Jeanne and Meow ! Love, Brad

FISH SALAD

ITALIAN FISH SALAD BOILED & FLAKED HADDOCK ADDED TO OLIVE OIL WITH FRESH CHOPPED PARSLEY AND GARLIC. ADD A LITTLE SALT AND PEPPER. BON APPETIT.

ALMOND PEAR CAKE

ALMOND PEAR CAKE BAKED IN A BUNDT CAKE PAN MOIST AND VERY SATISFYING

PAST EASTER HOLIDAY

Easter wine Easter roast beef Easter chocolate egg I'd like to share some photos of one Easter a couple years back when I had taken photos. I hope you enjoy them!