Buona Primavera… Happy Springtime…

Welcoming Springtime with some pretty little handmade Velvet Easter Eggs…

Una Torta Per Franca… A Cake For Franca…

Franca is never in America on her birthday,  so we don't  get to celebrate it with her.  I thought that I would surprise her with a Birthday Cake,  even though her Birthday is in November.  She and Mimmo were spending the day with Paul and Edy,  so I had the time to make the cake without her knowing.  We met at Anna and Nicola's for dinner and surprised her with a little celebration in her honor…  The cake was an Amaretto cake,  filled with Vanilla Pastry Cream,  a little Apricot Jam,  and finely chopped Candied Walnuts… the outside was Fondant , with a flower design which I hand painted with food colors.

Compleanno Di Mamma…93! Mom's Birthday… 93!

We celebrated Mom's 93rd birthday this weekend.  It was extra special because Franca and Mimmo are here from Italy to celebrate  with us.  We celebrated Paul's birthday too,  but poor guy,  born just a few days before mom's birthday,  he always has to share the spotlight… I don't think he minds though,  it's us girls who really like to feel special for our birthdays. It was a fun night with good food and two cakes for two very special people!

Un Copri Torta a l'uncinetto… A Crocheted Cake Dome…

It started as a beautiful Crocheted Doily…   a gift from Angela.   She has made me so many beautiful pieces over the years.  I thought  that this particular one would be the perfect size to be turned into a cake dome.  I used  Fabric Stiffener,  and a large bowl to repurpose this pretty Doily.  I have many Cake Domes and Cloches,  but this is the first of it's type.

Quasi Primavera… Almost Springtime…

                We finally got some much needed rain,  and Spring is in the air.

La Vacanza E Finita… The Vacation Is Over…

After a month long visit,  Vitangelo and Angela left yesterday.  I'm feeling a little lonely,  and a lot less busy.  We had a great time , sharing great food,  remembering times past,  planning for future visits…  next time in Italy…

Gnocchi…

I've been so busy with food preparations around here lately. Vitangelo and Angela had never had Grilled Pizzas before I made them one night…  ( they fell in love with them),   and have requested doing another night of them since they  have just about reached the end of their stay here with us. We will be doing that the night before they leave.  In the meantime,  we are preparing for one last get together with the family, which means all of the cousins will be here too.  There will be about 30 of us…  lots of food to prepare.