Buon Compleanno Mamma… Happy Birthday 94th Mom…

Mom's 94th Birthday Celebration was so much fun. The party was a joint effort,  with Paul and Edy making the Eggplant,  Anna made Sausage,  Isa made the Antipasto,  and I made  Lasagna Bolognese. Frances and Mimmo came from Italy to celebrate this special day with us.  Frances and I each made a Cake.  Hers was a Pan Di Spagna filled with Chantilly Cream and topped with Fondant Flowers,  mine was a Coconut Pecan filled with Buttercream and topped with  Fondant and Fresh Flowers.  Representing the fashionista that Mom always was,  and still is,  Moss Purses,  filled with White Roses,  Blue Sea Holly,  and Silver Dollar Eucalyptus,  seemed perfect.  Mom was very happy,  and enjoyed herself.  Surrounded by lots of Family and Friends… It was a very special day…

Ravioli Dal Giardino…Ravioli From The Garden…

As I made my Homemade Ricotta Filling with Red Italian Dandelion Greens,   and Herbs from the Garden,    I couldn't help remembering all the time spent in the restaurant kitchen,   making big batches of Ravioli.  In my minds eye,  I could almost see Dad,  placing the filling on the huge sheets of fresh pasta, then topping it with another sheet and pinching the dough around the filling… It's a labor of love, so glad Paul still does it at the restaurant…Just wish I had that giant dough sheeter to make the process a little faster than my Kitchen Aid can handle…

Buon San Valentino… Happy Valentine's Day…

Sweets for my sweet… Dark Chocolate Covered Almond Cake and Dark Chocolate Cointreau Truffles!

Weekend…

Homemade Tater Tots,  Lemon Rosemary Pound Cakes, Another  Gingerbread Cheesecake With Caramelized Hazelnuts, Salted Caramel Chocolate Tarts… Marshmallow Hearts… Hearts And Flowers… Thinking about Valentine's Day

Giardino Invernale…Winter Garden…

It's that time of the year ,  part of the country is covered in snow,  and i'm complaining that things are looking so bare.  Having to prune the roses while they still want to bloom… so spoiled…