Waldorf Salad

Spring has started behaving more normally. Today has been on the cool side. I think of salads in the spring and Waldorf salad is one that comes to mind. Today we're having Waldorf Salad.

You will need:

3/4 cup raw walnut halves (lightly toasted then chopped)

3 Red delicious apples, cored cut into 1 inch chunks

1 cup of green or red seedless grapes halved lengthwise.

2/3 cup sliced celery, about 1/4 inch thick

1/3 cup mayonnaise ( you can use light)

1 T. plain yogurt (you can use lowfat)

1 1/2 T. Honey Or even 1 T. sugar (optional)

2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 tsp. Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper to taste

1 cup miniature marshmallows ( optional)

1/2 cup raisins ( optional)

1 small head butter lettuce

To lightly toast walnut halves

pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. arrange walnuts on a baking sheet and heat in oven for 8 minutes; remove and chop.

• Add walnuts, mayonnaise, lemon juice, yogurt, honey, salt, pepper in a large bowl and mix well.
• With a spatula mix apples, grapes, raisins, marshmallows, and celery with mixture turning to cover apples etc. well. Chill until ready to serve.
• To serve line plates with butter lettuce and top with Waldorf salad.

"Forgive your enemies

but never forget

their names."

-John F. Kennedy

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Anniversary Table

The 29th of April marks the one year wedding anniversary of William & Kate.  I recall waking very early in the morning at 5:00 AM just to catch a glimpse of  her in her wedding gown. She did look  very beautiful, when I finally got to see her in that beautiful gown.
 I recall  feeling elated as if I'd known William  personally and felt  joy  for them both as the day evolved.

Afterall I had watched him grow up,  thanks to the media.

Anniversary Table for Two Vignette/Tablescape

The napkin fold is called the crown napkin fold.

photo sourcehere.

The wedding look alike ring...

 Happy Anniversary April 29th, 2012

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Seasonal Sundays

Chicken Marsala

This is a wonderful Chicken dish that can be used  for a special occasion to an everyday meal...

If you like chicken, mushrooms, Marsala wine you will like this.

Vodka Martini

Use your favorite Vodka for this.

Serve with rocks if you like.

Plaited Poppyseed Bread

I've been obsessed busy baking a lot of bread lately. Poppy seed bread is new to me. I liked it but I will have to bake  it a little bit under the recipes timing of 30 -35 minutes down to 20 minutes. My oven gets pretty hot. The bread got over browned just a bit.

 I like to just dip this in olive oil.

If you prefer butter that 's good too.

As you can see just a bit too brown but it still tastes  good. I couldn't wait to try braiding the bread ropes. I need to practice. I plaited my hair when I was young but it turned out much better than this loaf did.

Plaited Poppyseed Bread

Makes 1 loaf

You will need:

2 cups white bread flour, plus extra for dusting

1 tsp. salt

2 T. nonfat dry milk

1 1/2 T. Superfine sugar

1 tsp. active dry yeast

6 fluid ounces lukewarm water

2 T. vegetable oil, plus extra for brushing

5 T. poppy seeds

Topping

1 egg yolk

1 T milk

1 T. superfine sugar

2 T. poppy seeds

Method

1. Sift the flour and salt together in a large bowl and then stir in the milk, sugar, and yeast. Make a well in the center and pour in the lukewarm water and the oil. Stir well until the dough begins to come together. Add the poppy seeds and knead until they are incorporated well. Turn out and knead well for about 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
2. Brush a bowl with oil. Shape the dough into a ball, put into the bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
3. Brush a cookie sheet with oil. Turn out the dough into three equal pieces and shape each into a rope10-12 inches long.
4. Place the ropes side by side and braid the dough. Pinch the ends together and tuck it underneath. Put the loaf on the  prepared cookie sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
5. To make topping, beat the egg yolk with the milk and sugar. Brush the egg glaze over the top of the loaf and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
6. In a preheated oven to 400 degrees F. bake bread for 20-30 minutes or until a golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped with your knuckles.
7. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

"The supreme happiness in life

is the conviction

that we are loved."

-Victor Hugo

Dinner Rolls & My Table

These are not hard to make so I hope you will give them a try.
Who doesn't like a good dinner roll. 
Love Dinner Rolls!...

 Photos of my table.

Brush a little butter on the top if you like after baking. or Sprinkle a little flour on the tops, beforehand.

Make some delicious rolls today...

Recipe at the end...

The Large crystal candelstick holders I've  had a very long time can't remember where they came from.

The smaller candle stick holders was an anniversary gift. They came from Elder-Beermans  a very long time ago.

The tablecloth and matching napkins came from TJMaxx. by Ralf Lauren.

The bone china is Montvale Platinum, by Noritake.

The crystal glassware I have forgotten the name of, have had a long time.

The large vase in the center of the table came from Big Lots.

The stainless steel 18/10 silverware pattern is Heirloom by Oneida

The little bird cream and sugar holders came from TJ MAXX.

This recipe can be printed with out photos.

Click the green print button at the bottom of the post and check the no photo box.

Great for your special dinner or just because...
You will need:

1/4 cup warm water

1 packet ( 2 1/4 tsp.) dry active yeast

1 cup milk

3 T. unsalted butter, room temperature

1 T. sugar

1 T. honey

3/4 tsp. salt

3 cups unbleached  all-purpose white flour

plus more as needed

1 tsp. vegetable oil

Pre-heat oven to  350 degrees F.

1. Combine water and yeast in a large bowl, whisk until dissolved, set aside.
2.  Combine milk, butter, sugar, honey, and salt in  another glass or plastic bowl, microwave for one minute, or until milk is just warm. Set aside until butter is melted.
3. Add the flour to the bowl containing the water and yeast, followed by milk mixture. stir until a sticky dough forms. Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface. Knead dough for about 6 minutes, add enough flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking to the surface, or your hands.
4. Stop when you have a smooth, soft, elastic  ball of dough. Grease a large bowl with oil. Place the dough into the bowl and turn over a few times so the dough is lightly oiled. Cover with a clean towel and leave to rise in warm spot until it doubles in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
5. Punch down the dough, and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a square and cut into 16 equal-sized sections. Roll each piece into a ball. Line an 18X13-inch baking sheet with a silicon baking mat. Place each ball, seam side down, about 2 -inches apart on the baking sheet(4 rows with 4 rolls each).
6. Optional, put a tsp. of flour in a fine mesh sieve and tap to dust the top of each roll with a little flour. This gives a classic dinner roll look. Set the pan in warm spot and allow to rise for 40 minutes. It's OK if the rolls are slightly touching each other after they have risen.
7. Bake on the center rack for about 25 minutes, until golden-brown. All ovens are slightly different remove from oven when lightly browned.  Let cool on a rack for 20 minutes before serving.

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Seasonal Sundays

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Einstein

Einstein is the world's smallest stallion, standing next to Playboy, the horse in Barnstead, New Hamshire, USA. Standing only 20 inches tall. photo found here http://hotnewshome.com/2011/12/29/review-of-the-year-the-cutest-animal-pictures/9315/attachment/9390

Isn't he the cutest thing!

Einstein is on the right...

Can you imagine a horse this small?

Pat's Pink Apron

Cherry Pie

Cherry pie is another favorite pie for many. This cherry pie boasts a  homemade taste of fresh cherries but are   pitted tart cherries from a can. Do not use  sweetened cherries as they would not work  in this recipe.
Lemon juice adds to the fresh tart taste of Cherry pie.

 For the crust use your favorite pie crust or use pre-made crusts. Follow directions for the pie.

Serve this up with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream if you desire.
This is a quick and easy recipe. With a restaurant taste.

You will need:
1 cup sugar
4 T. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
1 T. melted butter
2 cans pitted tart cherries drained, reserving 1/2 cup juice.
1/4 tsp. red food coloring
1 T. lemon juice ( 3 tsp.)
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1 pastry for double crust pie 9-inch, lattice on top.

• Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Drain cherries reserving 1/2 cup of the juice.
• Mix cherries with sugar and salt in a large bowl.
• Mix  cherry juice, lemon juice, food coloring, almond extract, with cornstarch mix well. Add to cherries and mix.
• Add butter, mix well.
• Pour into pie shell.
• Cover with pie crust lattice.
• Bake for 50 -55 minutes or till done.

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