Foodie Friday -

Foodie Friday

My 2nd Foodie Friday

Foodie Friday is hosted by Designs by Gollum,

her blog is an absolute treat and you will enjoy

all of the wonderful food provided by the other participants.

This cookbook has been around forever. It is not, shall we say, good for the waistline, but if you want to do a special breakfast for company this is always a winner. It doesn't hurt when you have the best and freshest grocery stores at your finger tips, Patty always uses the best and freshest, and treats

her guests like royalty. I know because I was one of

the lucky Queens that enjoyed this wonderful breakfast.

Roasted Asparagus with Scrambled Eggs

2 pounds fresh asparagus

good olive oil

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt to taste

Freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

16 extra large eggs

1 1/4 cups half and half (ouch)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)

(Patty also used truffle butter OMG)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Break off the tough ends of the asparagus and, if they're thick, peel them. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then toss to coat completely. Spread the asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast asparagus for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender but still crisp. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes until cheese melts.

While the asparagus is roasting, whisk the eggs in a bowl with the half and half and salt and pepper to taste. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet. Cook thee eggs on the lowest heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, to the desired doneness. Remove from heat, add 2 more tablespoons of butter, and stir until it melts. Check for salt and pepper and serve with the roasted asparagus.

This is pictured with a fresh fruit salad and
homemade sour cream coffee cake.

Both recipes come from the Barefoot Contessa - Parties
cookbook and are fabulous.
Enjoy!

The good thing about this post is it is not fattening unless you actually make and eat this recipe ;) So skip on back to Gollum's for more deliciousness.

In an earlier post you found me sad.
I was sad because I would be missing my annual Twin Lakes camping and fishing trip with my dear Favorite Uncle Frank and Auntie Laurie (or Juliet as Sean calls her)
My mom wasn't feeling well so I stayed home with her. She is feeling much better, and will be going back to the doctor today to see what magic he can perform.

But I stray...
I received a picture to my phone from my dear FU and Auntie and it made me smile. Perhaps it will make you smile too.

This is Frank and Laurie with the lake in the background and two glasses with a bottle of port in the foreground (and the feet, you know how I love the feet). My guess is the empty glass on the right is for me. Here was the caption on the phone:

"Things just aren't the same without you both here."

I think I might have a tear... Thanks FU and Auntie

Beach Blanket Bingo, I mean Bunco

Patty says ....

Tuesday we enjoyed our bunco at Patty's beach house. This is especially fun because we not only come for bunco, but we stay overnight and Patty cooks us a simply scrumptious breakfast the next day. Some of the girls continued their fun by heading off to the beach for the day. Unfortunately I headed back home and work.

We started the evening with some beverages and appetizers
at a the Landmark Steakhouse a couple of blocks from her house.

The ladies enjoyed themselves.

and tolerated my camera.

and had a great time with a lemon drop or two.
Then we headed back to Patty's... let the games begin.

Coconut cupcakes.... yummy

A lucky winner...Katina

On the patio

Some of Patty's pretty things... fresh flowers everywhere.

Julia, another lucky winner. Patty's gifts were from
Sur La Table and they were all so cute.

Otis, wondering why these ladies are invading his space.

The next morning we did not tell "Manly stories and have waffles"
Patty made us a beautiful breakfast, part of it right out of this.

The table was ready for us.

More fresh flowers

French toast souffle, scrambled eggs and asparagus, fruit salad, homemade coffee cake, orange juice and coffee... it doesn't get better than that.

The Hostess with the Mostest.


Thank you Patty, it was so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Patty's Beach Bunco

Today is the day... Patty's Beach Bunco.

We will all be heading to Patty's Beach House in Laguna

for an evening of laughter and fun.

We will be able to escape from the heat for a bit, enjoy a martini or two and

catch a glimpse of the gorgeous sunset over the water. Can't wait

to capture some pictures of that.

Enjoy your day.

Mourning Twin Lakes

I was supposed to be enjoying one of my favorite places this weekend, with some
of my favorite people...however it was not to be.

Twin Lakes outside of Bridgeport in the High Sierras (CA)

My mom wasn't feeling well, so I stayed home to help her out. Kevin headed up to Rock Creek, with a couple of friends so the weekend was not a total loss for him. Here are a few tranquil mornings we have spent at Twin Lakes in the past.

Kevin and Marc (Greg was lucky) had a bit of bad luck on their way up... but that
is another story.

Some early morning fishing... this is the spot where a family of otters live.

Kevin and Uncle Frank with the sun just coming up.

Uncle Frank contemplating ... to fish...or not to fish...

Just a pretty view of where we had been.

The hubby doing what he likes to do best.


Now the bad luck story.

On the way up this weekend Kevin and Marc had a flat tire. 4 hours later AAA showed up and fixed it. About a 6 pack later, Greg
showed up and they resumed their trip. All I know at this point is they

got a new spare, made it up to the campground, Greg and Marc had each caught

a trout (Kevin had only hooked one, and we all know that doesn't count) and

were relaxing and having a piece of famous homemade pie at Rock Creek Cafe.
Hope they had a great weekend...they will be back Sunday.

Foodie Friday ... Let them eat cake

Welcome to Foodie Friday
Hosted by one of my most favorites Designs by Gollum.

Put this blog on your favorites, you are in for a treat.

I just wanted to post something edible so I could play Foodie Friday. My daughter has not posted this darling cake so I decided to steal it and post it for her. Sshhh, don't tell.

This is a cake for a lovely ladies birthday and will serve 10 generously.

Or maybe it could be just for the birthday girl.

If I were the birthday girl I would take my purse and go home ;)

This is chocolate cake, iced in butter-cream.
It has a delicious chocolate mousse and raspberry filling.

If you would like to see more of her creations, click here.

It has a fondant handle. The only non edible part is the cute bow in front.

Thanks for stopping by, now back for some yummy treats.

Luck is a Lady...

This is a Pre-Tablescape Thursday

I couldn't not play, right?... thank you to Susan

at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting.

She is also having a fabulous givaway

I am one Lucky Lady

Once upon a time, not so long ago, my daughter decided to get married.
At this point you have mixed emotions.... who is this man?
Is he going to be a good husband.... is he going to be a good father to my future
grandchildren?

Well I soon discovered the answer to these questions was YES.

Tim is a wonderful husband and father, and the added bonus is he is a wonderful son in law.

The other fear when your kids get married is the sharing of time. When

the husband's family (the Outlaws) enter the picture, you know you

will be sharing time. But this story has a happy ending.

My daughter's mother in law (and father in law)

are a fun addition to our family.

We are so lucky, because the Outlaws, Dave and Joy

will be joining us for the holidays this year. It doesn't get better than that. The more

the merrier...

Joy recently sent me a little gift. Check out these adorable dishes, a set of 4, each with a different stylish lady. I can't
wait till she visits again so we can have a fun little ladies lunch. She got Kristi a

set too, so we can have a ladies lunch for 8.... like I said, the more the merrier.

I will be doing a special tablescape.... "Ode to Joy" soon.

Joy, thank you so much for this gift and thank you

for raising such a wonderful young man for my daughter.

The Many Adventures of Dora the Explorer

The Adventures of Dora and Riley

Boldly going where no cat has gone before

Our story opens deep in the heart of the man room. The man room you

may ask, what is a man room? This is the deepest darkest of

caves that Dora is about to explore. She will meet many dangers, but

the most dangerous is a small girl named Riley....

Our Dora kitty is growing, and with all new babies they need
toys to play with. However, when the grand daughter is helping to put
the toy together, I think she might get the idea that the toy is for her.

Such was the case with Riley and Dora.

Here is Dora checking out her new tent. She is infatuated with the label.

Here is Dora playing a little ball... not sure what the game is but

I will find out.

Here is Dora giving Riley the stink eye, because Riley wants to get inside the tent.
"Hey Chickie, this is my domain..... go find your own tent" says Dora
Here is Dora learning how to share.
"Well okay, maybe you can play for a little while"

"Hey, Riley, poke your head inside, maybe you'll get stuck"

Actually she poked her head in and popped out the other side.

"This is actually pretty fun. Riley you can come back anytime"

But I think this works best.
Riley and Dora

Pink or Blue?

As I was perusing my pictures it
occurred to me that I have questions about one of life's great mysteries....

Growing up as a Disney fan (thanks to my dear dad) I developed two favorites.

One was Peter Pan. I absolutely loved Peter Pan and had a record (that's right, a record... remember those?) that I played non stop.

My other favorite was Sleeping Beauty.
Yes, back in the days of no DVD's and no movies available on demand, and not near as many princesses to choose from, we were
limited when choosing our favorite princess.

Mine was Aurora aka Briar Rose aka Sleeping Beauty.

The controversy arises however. All princesses
have their signature gowns in their signature color. To me sleeping beauty was and
should always be in "Blue" After all Meriweather did change her
dress to blue at the end of the movie didn't she?

As she was lying in the tower waiting for Prince Phillip she was in blue wasn't she?

Well that is the controversy. Do you think Sleeping Beauty should
be in Pink or Blue?

Disney chose Blue to commemorate her 50 year anniversary.

I will leave you with one more question. Who is your favorite Disney Prince?

Prince Phillip gets my vote.

He was handsome and could sing and dance in the forest...

He could slay the fire breathing dragon...



And he could rescue the damsel in distress.... what more could you ask from a prince?

It was fun reliving my girlhood days ;)

Vaaarooooommmm, Vaaaroooommmmm.......

Happy Tablescape Thursday

Hosted by the very lovely Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.
I really don't think Susan does much napping on that beautiful porch
of hers, because she is too busy entertaining us with her charming blog.

Today I have decided to do a masculine (loosely speaking) outdoor
tablescape for six. My inspiration comes from a vintage style convertible that I found

to do a cookie bouquet a few years ago, and then it was going to be used

in decorating a baby grandson's bedroom (no boys so far, only girls)

therefore I have brought it out to set a table in honor of men in my life.

My colors are aqua blue, chocolate brown, tan and white. I have set an iron umbrella
table that is situated right off the pool.

I started with a striped tablecloth that I got at HomeGoods. It
is an umbrella tablecloth that I got on clearance.

I found these fun polka dot napkins that I just loved. Actually
I just love polka dots.

I started with a wooden charger (very manly ;)
and then an aqua plate and bowl. I got these at Target several years ago.
I used a mixture of polka dot and solid aqua napkins since the package had both.

Agua glasses that I just love, I bought a few years back.

I love the pattern in the glass and the vibrant color.

I hung lanterns from my umbrella. I wish I had gotten pictures
with them lit. We get so anxious to eat, no one wants to take pictures.

One of the lanterns.

Simple flowers from the garden. Gardenias, roses, hydrangeas.

Close up of the place setting. Very simple.

One more angle.

Love those glasses.
Can you see the vintage car. I think it just started up and is about to take off.
Yup, it moved inside to check out the food...

Did I mention we were having manly food?

Now drive back over to Susans for more tablescape fun...

Thanks for visiting.