This weekend the weather has been beautfiul....bright blue sunny skies, a breeze, birds singing, daffodils in bloom, and COLD! Last weekend it was almost summer-.it was warm. I mean, I mowed the backyard wearing a t-shirt and crocs...and no socks! This weekend, boy oh boy, is it different. Friday night was nice - cool, but bearable without a coat as long as you ran from point A to point B....yesterday, Saturday, it was cold. The wind started to blow. And it blew all day long. Never stopped. When that happens I always know 'the wind is blowing the cold in'.....
I was right. Last night I brought my geraniums inside - I still have three beautiful plants on my front porch. They are doing very well, considering it's February. One of them even has new growth. So, I brought them inside after my dinner guests, Chapel & Brian, left. This was about midnight. Lo, and behold, and true to form, I forgot one. I forgot to bring in ny aloe plant. Poor thing succumbed to the cold last night. Today it's limp and lifeless in the pot. I sure hope I don't burn myself now because I won't have ANY aloe to put on it. A good friend's mom gave me the plant so I really feel bad about forgetting to bring it in.
Speaking of my dinner guests - let me tell you what we had last night...AND what I made! I made Italian Cream Puffs. Really I did! They were bellissimo! Today, I baked white almond cupcakes with almond buttercream for Valentine's Day. Frosted very simply, with a dusting of white sanding sugar over the buttercream. Yum. So, back to dinner....
We grilled a rack of pork spareribs with homemade "Chiquita" sauce; steamed ears of fresh crispy yellow corn, homemade cole slaw with both green and red cabbage and homemade dressing - once it marinates it is WONDERFUL, It's slightly soggy but still has a bite to it - a crunch in every bite. I made baked beans - mine are slightly different. They have a 'secret' ingredient that sets them apart from all others. They're not bad!!!! We also had a loaf of sourdough bread. Sourdough bread is heavy. It is a very 'solid' bread. And just as the name indicates, it has a slightly 'sour' taste. I love any bread (well, except rye) though - and sourdough is one of my favorites by far...
We also had appetizers - I put together an antipasto tray with salame, proscuitto, Asiago cheese, green olives stuffed with garlic, black pitted olives, & roasted red peppers. As if this weren't enough, I also made these little pastry shells filled with asparagus-shrimp dijonnaise.
My friends make their own wine - and they provided several bottles for 'tasting' throughout the evening. River Vines Estates is one of the newest, up and coming BEST wineries at the coast. A home brewed wine - and we had this Chardonnay that was simply the best. It was aged with coffee beans. Thank you, thank you Chapel and Brian. We had the best time with you - it was great having you here with us. I hope we can do it again VERY soon. ....We can't wait to sample more of your wines.....I'll be your taste tester ANYTIME you want!!!!
Today was a 'do nothing' day for me. I don't do that very often. I always have SOMETHING going on.......but not today. I'm posting this and thinking about what else I can bake for Tuesday, the day of love....St. Valentine's Day. Are any of you out there bakers? I'd like to hear what your favorites are!
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