I missed Cinco de Mayo

I guess I am averaging one blog per month. It wants to rain today. My daughter came home from college last night--it is so great to have her home for a little while. The moments and memories of our lives make life worth living. The azaleas are mostly done blooming, the sage is almost done blooming--oh how beautiful the blooms were this year! The turtles are all over the lake again and the fish are near the surface too. The lake is alive again, teeming with life! Summer will soon be here and with 90° temps upon us it feels like it already is.

April Fools

The first of April. This seems to be my pattern, blogging on the first of the month My son has already gotten me with an April Fools Joke and it is only 5:50 A.M.. We should be starting the month off with those April Showers that bring May Flowers, although the azaleas are already in bloom. I have a stupid head cold and it is messing up my schedule. Time to get outside and do some gardening--YEA!!

Now it is March 1st?

I can't believe a whole month has flown by while I wasn't looking. It is a beautiful windy day on the lake. Sunlight dancing off the ripples. Temps in the upper 50s. The dog and I have done our 2 miles around the lake--he lays stretched out and exhausted, I type on the computer and prepare to finish my lesson for the Va Beach Genealogical Society. I also await the call from my dear Husband from around the globe--literally the other side of the globe. Enjoy March and the beauty of the earth.

Can it be February?

The first month of 2008 flew by for me. In four days it will be Mardi Gras day and then the Mardi Gras (and King Cake) season will be over. It is almost like early Spring here in Virginia Beach. There is rain and warmth and plants starting to bud out. I will include a wonderful King Cake recipe and a picture of what one looks like for those who don't know what a King Cake is. Have a wonderful day. **Note : the additions in ( ) are mine, from my experience.~~Beth

Jackie's

King Cake

The King Cake has been a Mardi Gras tradition for many years. Decorated in the traditional colors of purple, green, and gold, this confection brings with it many charms and superstitions. Purple is used to symbolize royalty or honor; green for growth or prosperity; and gold for money or wealth. Also, hidden inside this cake is a charm; a small plastic ornament; usually a baby, but, a small crown may also be used.

Entire parties have been centered around the King Cake. Each person takes a piece hoping to find the charm inside. The recipient of the charm is "Crowned" King or Queen for the day. However, there is one catch to this honor, it is the responsibility of that "King" or "Queen" to provide a cake for the next party.

Read this recipe thoroughly before beginning as it takes a little time. But, it's well worth it!

Dough

Ingredients:

· 2 packages dry yeast

· 4 1/4 cups bread flour

· 1/2 cup sugar

· 1/2 cup milk

· 1/2 cup water

· 2 teaspoons salt

· 1 stick butter

· 2 eggs

Directions:

(I use my bread machine for the first part, just add ingredients according to the order your bread machine requires. I let it go to the end of the “sweet dough” cycle.)

In large bowl combine yeast, two cups flour, sugar and salt. Mix well.

Heat milk, water and margarine on medium heat until margarine just melts.

Add immediately to the flour mixture and mix well.

Add eggs and beat on medium speed of your mixer for three minutes.

Gradually mix in the remaining 2 1/4 cups of flour until you can no longer use your mixer.

At this point begin working the rest of the flour in with your hands. This is all of the kneading you will need to do.

Be sure that all of the flour is mixed in with even moisture and elasticity.

Transfer to a glass bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours or until doubled in size.

While you are waiting for the dough to rise, mix the following filling recipe.

Filling

Ingredients:

· 5 tablespoons butter

· 3/4 cup powdered sugar

· 1/4 cup dark brown sugar

· 2 tablespoons cinnamon

· 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Cream margarine and add sugars and cinnamon and nuts. Set aside.

Assembly

Directions:

Flour hands and place risen dough on a floured surface.

Roll dough into a rectangular shape about 1/8 inch thick.

Cut dough into four equal strips.

Spread each quarter with filling.

Fold each strip over and pinch the ends together.(This part of “pinching” is very important, I found I had to wet my fingers to make sure it sealed correctly)

DON'T forget to enclose a baby in two of the strips.

Braid two strips together and form into a circle, pinching the ends together.

Repeat with the other two strips.

(If you want one large cake, just join the two in a large oval or rectangle and use a large jelly roll pan or baking sheet)

Place each King Cake on a greased cookie sheet.

Cover and let rise one hour in a warm place. (I covered with a damp light weight towel)

Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees.

Cook each King Cake separately in the lower half of your oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

When each cake is done, remove to cooling rack and let cool completely before icing.

Icing

Ingredients:

· 2 cups sifted powdered sugar

· 1/2 cup melted butter

· 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

· 1-2 tablespoons hot water, until glaze is of desired consistency

Directions:

Stir the first three ingredients together.

Begin adding the water until it reaches a thick glaze consistency.

If you wish to sprinkle the top with the three Mardi Gras colors, they can be easily made by dropping food color, drop by drop into granulated sugar until you reach a desired color. (no, no, no, I went to my local cake decorating store and bought the colored sugars—much easier) Let the sugar sit for a little while before sprinkling so it can dry out. Stir before applying to cake and try to sprinkle on top before the icing firms up.(I found you must sprinkle the colored sugar as you ice each section or it won’t stick well---the traditional color scheme is purple, green, gold-repeat)

Makes two King Cakes to serve 8 to 10 each.

What do I want to accomplish with this blog?

Definitely want this to be a place where those researching the same family names can come and share. A place for cousins to meet. A place for wonderful recipes and gardening information. In light of the above, I will add some of the names I am searching: Balkenhol, Bauer, Boudousquie, Burelle, Calve, Cloutier, Crepes, Decalogne, de Chouriac, Drouin, Garvey, Haney, Heller, Jean Bart, Lea, Maillet, Moffett, Morath, Mulvey, Patton, Royston, Schneider, Smith, Stringer, Talbot, Trepanier, Von Maltitz. (28) I have a lot more to do. Happy Hunting

Still Exercising

Want to keep this updated, so I am exercising my ability to do so. The roads are icy today and a person was killed near my home because of it. And yet, the schools are still open and not even delayed? What does it take to want to delay a school opening so that no one gets hurt? ~~Beth

Weather

What is this weather doing? I know others across the US are having a lot of snow, but we have trees that are trying to bud out. Now we have a lot colder airmass coming our way and the trees are going to have a hard time of it. Found a beautiful photo on the internet today---can I just post it here?