Thanksgiving

Things I am Thankful for:  Love in my Life, my Children, our Home, Food in our pantry, Recipes to Make, Ideas to knit, Paint samples, spring time Bulbs, Down comforters, a gigantic Wood pile, our Families, Sisters, my Camera, Kisses, New Words spoken from sweet mouths, Risois, a hot Shower, Contractors, Hugo Dancing, Sunsets, a warm November, Friends, my Testimony, Holiday Spirit, the Breaks in our van, Slippers, Lavender anything, hand Holding and puppy Dogs.

Forget Pie, Make A Tart!

 
Cesar loves apple pie, so I bake one up when I want to please him.  Come to think of it, most of the men in my life, love apple pie.  My Grandma Ruby made pie that brought my Father and brothers salivating to the table.  She told tales of her mother-in-law, my Great Grandmother Clara, who baked apple pies like mad to feed her seven hungry sons on the farm. 

I had a wild hair and decided to try something new, a french apple tart by Ina Garten.  It was barely warm from the oven when I could resist no long and sliced off a corner to taste, and it was scrumptious.  I carried a warm slice out side for Cesar.  He wouldn't eat it.  He said he'd just had some ice cream, no room.  I need to put a lock on the freezer.

After dinner, I put the girls down for the night and excitedly went downstairs to share the tart with my boys.  Hugo had just finished ice cream with his Papa.  What!?  I was kinda mad.  Ice cream would have been perfect with the apple tart.  No takers.  I ate my tart with a little cream on top.

This morning, Hugo was telling my how hungry he was, he wanted a peanut butter sandwich.  I said that peanut butter sandwiches were a good choice for lunch, but that we would be having cereal for our breakfast.  He grumbled.  Once downstairs, (lightbulb!) I remembered the tart.  I told Hugo that I had a better idea, that we could have apple tart for breakfast!  He told me no, that he wanted cereal....  I put a slice of tart on a plate along with his vitamin, gave him a glass of milk, and waited.  He took a bite.  Chew, chew, chew, a big smile!  Then Hugo declared, "Mom, you were right!  This is waaaay better than cereal!"

Pizza Bread & A Pear Tree

While Hugo and I waited for Papa to come home from work this afternoon, we made Pizza Bread.  Yum yum is all I've got to say.  I first tasted this bread at a church function a year ago and went crazy for it.  I walked around the cultural hall asking who made it and how quickly could I get the recipe?? because this pregnant lady wanted more!  Cesar told me it was probably some Sara Lee thing from Sam's, but he was wrong.  I found the woman who made it.  It was Joelene Thompson.  She had been holding out on me, for years.  Make this, soon. 
 

Cesar just finished up his role in the filming of a Smurfs movie.  He scored an ornamental pear tree for our yard.  A 25' ornamental pear tree.  He said that there were two trees used in the film.  The second tree bit the dust during the shoot because of screws piercing its bark.  I hope our new tree survives the shale we live on top of and the coming heat of next week.  Cesar is excited he gets to rent a giant machine for the weekend.  More photos to come of the huge hole to be dug for the root ball.  Exciting times here at Chez Nicolau.

I went to check on the girls who had been left behind inside the house as I inspected our new tree out in the driveway.  I opened the door to squeals of happiness and spied our girls nose to nose.  They found each other.  So awesome!

One Hour Bread

I made these 1 Hour Bread rolls to eat with...

this!  It was yummy!  But, alas, I was the only one who ate one of my delicious portabella cheese burgers here in our house.  Cesar wasn't feeling well over the weekend and our dear Hugo decided that he was going to do whatever his Papa did, or didn't do.  Lovely.  I ate alone.  Well, not really alone, because Rodrigo waited beside my feet with baited, stinky breath for me to share.  And I did.

Oh, and Miss Marlo has found her toes!

Hugo & The Indians

Hugo's box of much longed for Indians arrived today.  He could not wait to see what Popeye had picked out for him one minute longer so we ran up to the house lickity split! 

As Hugo played with his new figurines at the kitchen counter, I did bedtime with the girls.  Once I was back downstairs, Hugo helped me to whip up some blue, and I do mean blue, cupcakes for his preschool class.  Birthday celebrations continue...