50 Years And Counting

A couple of weeks ago a customer came into the bakery with the most beautiful vintage wedding photo I had ever seen (other than that of my own parents of course). She was asking that we put the image in edible form on the cake for her parents 50th wedding anniversary. These kinds of cakes are actually very rare since the divorce rate is quite high these days, and not to sound morbid but due to our current lifestyles so are the death rates. As a manager I get stuck being the 'face of the bakery' and often times doing a lot of paper work, but this cake I had to do myself. I couldn't pass this one up. When the day came to make it I was actually really nervous about it. The daughter of the couple was very sweet and gave me complete reign on whatever I thought would look good. She was maybe hoping we could recreate some of the flowers in her bouquet. The cake size they were getting was rather small, and I wanted to keep the photo the main focus. So I used some gold accents since it is the official color of the 50th wedding anniversary and only had enough room to fit just a few flowers around the picture.

That afternoon a small older lady came to pick it up and when I handed it to her she fell back into her buggy and started crying. I've never seen such a reaction to a cake before. I looked at her closely and asked 'Is this you?!' she replied 'Yes it is. I haven't seen this photo in 20 years. And those buttercream flowers, they match my bouquet!' And she started crying again.

I was hoping this meant she liked it.

It took me 20 minutes to get her calmed down. Then I started crying myself. Her name was Barbara and she explained how her and her husband had been married 50 years ago on St. Patrick's Day, the luckiest day of her life. She got the man of her dreams. Now Barbara's husband has Alzheimer’s, but their love from their wedding day is still there.

She hugged and kissed me and thanked me a thousand times for making it so special. What an honor to create the centerpiece for such a magical day. But let's be honest, the centerpiece was this outstanding couple.

Barbara let me take a picture of her with the cake so I could keep that memory with me forever. I've made a ton of cakes in my years as a decorator, but that by far was my absolute favorite. Though very simple in design, it's meaning meant so much.

She came back in today to see me, still raving over the cake and she showed me all of the pictures from the party. Her husband looked so happy, and she looked radiant. I've never seen such a handsome couple. And have never been so proud to be apart of something so special. So here's to you Mr. and Mrs. Benny, and many more years of wedded bliss!

4 Years, 13 Days, and 8 Hours

Yesterday I was sitting in front of a Starbucks enjoying this beautiful Georgia weather and enthralled in a quite hilarious book when an older gentleman and his daughter asked if he could sit at the table I was occupying. The sun wouldn’t directly hit him there. Of course I was more than anxious to oblige, so the man sat down and his daughter headed to her car for a couple of hours of shopping with her mother. Instead of me getting up to find another place to sit I stayed right where I was and continued reading. The man interrupted to thank me again for letting him sit there and proceeded to tell me a rather funny story of a time he fainted in the sun. We exchanged names, his was Sal. Sal then asked me to guess his age. I started at a rather low number and he kept making me guess higher, and higher. I couldn’t seem to get it right and he finally told me he almost 90 years old. I couldn’t believe it! He didn’t look a day over 70. I asked what his secret was and he said ‘I always liked the age of 25, so I thought in my mind I’d stay there forever.’ Perfect advice I think for someone who just hit that age and I have to admit I quite like it myself. I may take Sal’s advice and stay here for a while.

Sal started telling me stories of being an Italian and growing up in New York. He said how in Junior High he worked for a $1.25 a week at a shop for a horrid man before getting fired after asking for a raise. Now Sal’s mother was a widow with another baby at home and they depended on that $1.25 to barely get buy. So he went home, and told his mother not to fret and went to a man in the streets who sold produce on a push cart. This man new Sal very well and asked why he wasn’t at work. Sal said ‘Don’t worry about it, but the next time you go to the market can you bring me back a box of lemons?’ The produce man asked how Sal planned on paying for this box of lemons, and he answered ‘I’ll give you the money when I sell the box.’ And sell he did. He sold all the lemons in one afternoon and started doing this and was now making $4 a week and could provide for his mother and little brother better than ever. Sal told me lots of stories about selling lemons on the streets of the city, standing in the bread lines, and finding out his father had been murdered when he was much older. He also told me about being drafted at 18 to fight in World War II. These were such fascinating stories of poverty, love, and war and he told them so well. Sal tried to write a book about his life, but after 60 pages in lost everything and decided not to start the project again. He just wanted something that his children and grandchildren could read and see how different life was then, and get a better understanding of what made him who he is now. Our visit to the past was short, because an hour and a half later his daughter and wife came back to get him. I helped him in the car, met his lovely spouse (Sal’s a cradle robber by the way) and said goodbye to a great hero.

In honor of that visit, and the stories he may never put on paper, I’m dedicating this Tea Time Tuesday to lemons, and all the great experiences he had selling them. First up, because it’s so warm outside I’m making an Iced Green Tea Lemonade to cool off with. Next, some sweet Lemon Bars, made with fresh squeezed lemon juice. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I enjoyed listening to this amazing man. Citron!

Iced Green Tea Lemonade:

5 cups cold water

2 large Green Tea- tea bags

¼ cup Granulated Sugar

2 Cups Lemonade

Boil 4 cups of water in small sauce pot. Once boiling remove from heat and add tea bags. Let seep for 5 minutes. Add sugar and stir. Allow tea to cool for 30 minutes to an hour. Pour into what you will be serving the tea from and top with remaining cup of water and lemonade. You may add lemon slices for garnish. Pour over ice and serve.

Lemon Bars:

1 ½ Cups plus 3 Tablesppons All Purpose Flour

½ cup plus 1 Tablespoon Confectioners Sugar

1 ½ sticks Cold Butter cut into small pieces

2 Large Lemons

3 Large Eggs

1 cup Granulated Sugar

½ tsp Baking Powder

½ tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil. Make sure to extend foil on short ends of pan. Lightly grease foil. In a medium bowl combine the 1 ½ cups flour and ½ cup confectioners sugar. With your hands cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle dough onto prepared pan and bake until lightly browned (about 15 minutes).

From lemons grate 1 teaspoon of rind and squeeze 1/3 cup of juice. In a large bowl mix the eggs on high sped for 3 minutes until thick and lemon-colored. Reduce speed and add all remaining ingredients (except the 1 tablespoon confectioners sugar). Beat until blended and scraping bowl occasionally. Pour lemon filling evenly over warm crust.

Bake until filling is set (about 15 minutes). Allow to cool completely. Lift foil off pan and pull away from sides of bars. Cut lengthwise into 3 strips and cut each strip crosswise into 12 pieces.

Tea Time Tuesdays!

Tea Time makes any time special. Whether it’s a lazy weekday afternoon enjoying the sun pour in through your window, or talking with a friend or two about a long day at work, or hanging out with your family just reminiscing about good times, it makes those simple moments in time a little extra memorable. It is scientifically proven that holding something warm between your hands instantly makes you happier. So does being around the people you love, & enjoying sweet treats. So what’s not to love about Tea Time in the afternoon when it includes all of these things?

 Every Tuesday I’ll try to post yummy little recipes that I think will make any moment with your favorite warm beverage a little extra special, without having to make a big fuss over it. Today I’m sharing with you a recipe that’s been in my family for quite sometime. It’s a Chocolate Chess Pie that my mother use to make, and her mother, and so on. We use to only have it on Christmas day, because my mom always said it gave us something to look forward to if we could only have it one day a year. I don’t think this is very fair myself considering that out of all the kinds of pie the world has given us, this Chocolate Chess Pie is my absolute favorite. How dare I be limited.

I think this rich dessert is a great treat to enjoy with a hot cup of Vanilla Caramel Tea (found on the tea aisle of your grocery store) and homemade Almond Whipped Cream. I’ll be using a refrigerated pie shell as oppose to the frozen ones the seasoned women in my family enjoyed using, because it’s lighter & much flakier which I much more prefer in a pie crust. This pie is best served warm with the cool cream on top, but can certainly be made a day in advanced and eaten cold or at room temperature. So put the kettle on the stove and enjoy a nice warm cup of tea and a slice of pie this afternoon!

Chocolate Chess Pie:
1 small can Evaporated Milk
1 ½ cups Sugar 3 ½ Tbsp Cocoa ½ stick Butter, Melted
2 Large Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 Refrigerated Pie Crust

Place pie dough in 9 inch pie plate. Trim any excess dough that might be hanging over plate. With a fork poke holes all around pie crust to prevent puffing while baking. Mix all ingredients until blended and pour into prepared shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour until pie is set and not jiggling when moved. Allow pie to set for an extra 30 minutes or so before diving in.

 

Almond Whipped Cream:
8 ounces Heavy Whipping Cream 1 Tbsp Sugar 1Tbsp Almond Extract Whip until soft peaks form. (Over whipping creates butter.) Spoon over Chocolate Chess Pie Slice, and enjoy!

J'écoute De La Musique en Lisant

There is certainly nothing better than after working six incredibly long days straight, having a night all to yourself. The feeling of having absolutely nothing to do because you choose to do noting is without a doubt one of my most favorite feelings. Tonight I got home a little late (again) and granted I have to go back in tomorrow on my off day for a couple of hours due to some training purposes, but I’m still considering it a day off nonetheless and plan on still having the me party I have been so looking forward to for the past week. Tonight’s dinner isn’t much of a dinner at all, but it’s exactly what I want and it will be perfect eating for listening to a Janis Joplin record spin quietly while I get lost in the current book I’m reading ‘The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy’. With the exception of my meat and potatoes in every meal eating father, my mom, siblings, and I could make entire meals out of just eating bread, fruits, cheeses, & veggies. It’s easy food just for snacking while we would carry on conversations about music, movies, books, politics, & life. Sometimes you just need a little delicious substance and not necessarily an enormous meal to make an evening extra special, even if in this case it is just for me, myself, and I. We certainly will enjoy it. I’m having yummy fresh bakery French bread that I just warmed in the oven for a few minutes dipped in a blend of olive oil & spices. With it, small slices of a spicy chipotle gouda. And of course some carrots, green beans and celery with ranch, just because I think it fits well with this set of snacking. To wash it all down ‘I’mma sip Moscatoooo!’ because it’s a nice sweet wine to compliment the salty and spicy foods I’ll be nibbling on. So if you need me you can find me stuffing myself with a dinner that can sit out and be enjoyed during all the hours I plan on laughing at Mr. Adam’s writing and crying over Ms. Joplin’s heartache all at the same time.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey...

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” from 1975 is a classic B movie musical based on 1940’s horror films about a wholesome couple who gets a flat tire & their lives change forever. Well, for one night anyway.

"You've arrived on a rather special night. It's one of the master's affairs"-Riff Raff

Brad & Janet start their day at a friends wedding & after becoming engaged themselves, they head out to visit with the Science Professor who is the reason these two love birds met in the first place. Simple plot that turns into complete chaos after walking in the rain to a mansion they saw on the road seeking assistance with their tire woes. There they walk into a party & discover a houseful of interesting guests, but none quite as unique as the mansion’s owner- Dr. Fran-N-Furter. After discovering the mind slip of the 'Time Warp' and the Dr. singing to them of his transvestite ways, he takes Brad & Janet to his lair where he shows them his latest creation: a blonde, rippling muscled, hunk of a man whom Frank-N-Furter has named Rocky.

"A mental mind fuck can be nice.'-Frank-N-Furter

From here on our hero & heroine (and us as the audience) are exposed to a new world of sex, murder, feather boas, & aliens. Yes this movie is a classic. I feel like you have to be a certain kind of person to enjoy a movie like this one. The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” fan is one who is open-minded to cheesetastic cinema, & isn’t looking for more than good songs with a confusing plot line, & Tim Curry in fishnets. Personally to me this film has it all with just those things!

I first saw this movie as a young child, because my mom was obsessed with it. Granted I wouldn’t recommend people under 17 watching this film, but my siblings & I all grew up on it & I’d say we all turned out just fine (depending who you ask). I knew how to Time Warp long before I could do the Electric Slide or the Cupid Shuffle, & that’s something I’m quite happy with. And even tho I have seen this movie a million times I still laugh every time. I don’t laugh AT the movie mind you, just at how great everyone is in it. It’s always just as funny, sentimental, scary, & entertaining each time I watch it. With an amazing cast of unique characters & fantastically written songs, this movie is a true entertainment from start to finish.

My mom & I doing the Time Warp...again!

                                                          

The menu for this film is something I’m really happy with. Everything is super easy to make so you can spend more time enjoying this movie with whomever is willing to watch it with you & it all fits just perfectly with the theme of this movie. First up Eddie Ala King. This is my take on the classic 70’s dish Turkey Ala King. We’re still using turkey because the one point in the movie when everyone comes together to eat dinner, which I must add is at a very interesting time of night when already so much has happened, the group appears to be eating turkey…but alas nothing in this mansion is at it seems, Frank-N-Furter removes the table cloth to expose a dead ‘Eddie’ in the glass table. Were they really eating Eddie? I’m not quite sure, but you will be with this delicious dish!


"You're lucky, he's lucky, I'm lucky, we're all lucky! Ha ha ha!!!!"-Magenta

For dessert we have Rocky’s First Birthday Cake, because after all, this is the night of Rocky’s birth, and he’s such a big boy already. Mm-mm-mm. It's made with vanilla cake & what else then Rocky Road Ice Cream. This sweet cake is sure to have your friends more interested in it, then the hot blonde on the screen...um, maybe not.

And to top off this sinister meal we have a drink called Alien Urine which is a mixed cocktail consisting of different ingredients that taste super sweet & girly but will certainly put some hair on your chest. From it’s title to it’s taste, this drink is really quite fitting for Dr. Frank-N-Furter & I’m sure he/she would approve.

The amazing friends helping me with this entry!

Since it’s release this film as become a huge success as a midnight movie & still is to this day. Fans of the movie dress as the characters & reenact the movie as it’s being played on a theatre screen behind them. They also involve the audience to participate throughout the movie & if you haven’t experienced the movie in this way & happen to be a fan, I really recommend it. I also recommend watching this movie with my menu! Both are great ways to rediscover a classic & to enjoy it over & over again.

So without further ado, with an all-star cast including Susan Sarandon, Meatloaf, Barry Bostwick, & many more I give you a sweet transvestite of a film “ The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Let's do the Time Warp Again!

Eddie Ala King with Alien Urine

"Dammit, Janet, I love you"-Brad

Eddie Ala King:2 pounds Cubed Eddie, I mean Turkey
1 bag of Frozen Peas
White Mushrooms
2 Green Peppers
4 Tbsp Butter for Eddie
2 more Tbsp Butter for rice
¼ cup Flour
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Can Chicken Broth
2 tsp Garlic Powder
Cooked White Rice
S&P to taste

The Ala King part coming together!

The butcher deboned & cubed the turkey for me!

Season Cubed Turkey with salt & pepper & cook in pot over medium high heat & remove once cooked thoroughly. In same pot melt butter. Add peppers & mushrooms until just cooked (4-5 minutes). Stir on flour until smooth. Slowly whisk Chicken Broth & cook until slightly thickened. Stir in cream, turkey, garlic powder & peas (You may not need the entire bag of peas, use as much as you‘d like). Add salt & pepper to taste. *For the rice I like to use the 10 minute rice that you boil in a bag. I use about 3 bags for this recipe that can serve about 6 people. After cooking rice I pour it onto a platter dish & mix the 2 Tbsp of butter in the rice for extra creaminess and flavor.* Pour Ala king over the rice & enjoy!

"Hot patootie, bless my soul! I really love that rock n' roll!"-Eddie

Enjoying a slice of Rocky's Birthday cake

Rocky’s First Birthday Cake:
1 box Vanilla Cake mix
Rocky Rd Ice Cream


For Chocolate Buttercream
½ cup Room Temperature Butter
1 ¼ cup Powdered Sugar
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
2 oz Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips Melted & slightly cooled

Molding the Rocky Road Ice Cream

"Touch-a touch-a touch-a touch me / I wanna be dirty! Chill me, thrill me, fulfill me / Creature of the night!" -Janet

Mixing the Chocolate Buttercream

Prepare cake mix as box directs for 8 in baking pans. Cut one layer in half & reserve the other layer for cake for another day. Set rocky road ice cream at room temperature for a little while to allow for easy movement. In an 8 inch cake pan place sirane wrap inside the pan & mold everything form the ice cream container in it to make a nice round shape the same size as the cake. On a cake plate place one split layer of cake, then the ice-cream, then the other split layer on top. Place covered in freezer.


To prepare the butter cream mix together butter & sugar. Once creamy add vanilla then slowly pour in the melted chocolate. Instead of spreading this over the entire cake just before serving with a pastry bag & a 2D star tip make rosettes over each slice. This cake is rich enough that I feel like it only needs a small dollop of this sweet chocolate butter cream. If feeling extra festive place one lit birthday candle in each slice. Happy Birthday Rocky!



Alien Urine
1/2 oz Midori® melon liqueur
1/2 oz peach schnapps
1 oz coconut rum
1 part sweet and sour mix
1 part orange juice

"It's not easy having a good time! Even smiling makes my face ache!"-Frank-N-Furter
I like to serve this in a tall thin glass over ice. Also the coconut rum is optional, this drink is just as yummy without it.

This is what a few Alien Urine cockatails look like. :)

"If only we were amongst friends... or sane persons!"-Janet

*Photos by Megan Ashleigh Evans -A big thanks to her for also adding a creepy look to these pictures!

'The Rocky Horror Picture Show': 1975: Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Ricjard O'Brien, Patricia Neals, Peter Hinwood, Nell Campbell, Meatloaf:Produced by Twentith Century Fox: Filmed in England: Based on the London play "The Rocky Horror Picture Show.