Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen

Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen: Recipes from West Falmouth Baking Company is complete and ready for sale for $12.95. It includes (among other things) my recipes for Dreamy Island Cookies, Lemon Cake and Cranberry Biscotti.

A local food writer has planned to write a review of the book in the Falmouth paper in a couple of weeks. She sent a note earlier today to say she really liked the book.

I will also have copies of it for sale at the Coonamessett Farm store, include it as an option in my gift baskets and if people prefer they (for now) could send me an email to order a copy. You can probably pay by pay pal and I'd be happy to ship one out to you.

It's been fun to think up a creative project (like putting together a collection of my best recipes) then seeing it through to completion.

The Limoncello Girls!

On Sunday, my girlfriends and I hosted a sweet summer backyard barbecue by the water-a celebration of the summer of sorts!
We kicked the party off with a homemade Limoncello tasting. Guests took sips and were asked to come up with fancy names for our versions of the delightful Italian liqueur.
The names were read and guests voted on their favorites. A prize was offered to the best name.
The Limoncello girls first gathered last fall. We brewed up this idea to make our own Limoncello at my birthday party. We got together about a month later for evening lemon zesting and girl talk.
While making that first batch we gathered three times-each time became a mini party among friends. Then we shared homemade Limoncello with friends and family last Christmas.
In February, we met up again at one of the Limoncello Girls' book signings and chatted about our desire to get together and make some more. We did.
The party became a celebration of The Limoncello Girls and our desire to have fun and throw fabulous parties.
Lots of guests arrived in fancy yellow attire and we served them my lemon cakes and a friends delicious lemon squares for desert! One guest even arrived by boat and docked right at the house. Another guest offered her incredible home made fudge and the chocolate became the best accompaniment to the tart lemon treats.

Summer Parties & Having Teens in the House

I am pretty sure that Sophia's fifth birthday was a hit! Here's a quick snapshot of her helping me bake the pony shaped sugar cookies we served as guests arrived.
I feel so lucky that she enjoys baking with me.

As for teens in the house, it doesn't feel quite as effortless. They seem to only want my time to drive them around town and as much cash as I am willing or able to shell out.

As for other summer parties-this weekend is our Homemade Limoncello Tasting and Barbecue.

It's been very strange on Cape Cod lately. We will be blessed with one gorgeous summer sunny day and then have five or six straight days of either rain, clouds or cooler temperatures!

This doesn't seem possible but we haven't even spent a day at the beach this season yet.

Chocolate Decadence Cake and Pony's!

On Friday I made a chocolate decadence cake with sweet cream for a friend's mother's 80Th birthday! It's a cake that you really can't go wrong with it. You start by melting chocolate and whip it into softened butter and white sugar.
I topped it with a mini whale shaped cake dipped in white chocolate for decorative effect. She called to say they LOVED it!
As for pony's-my youngest turns five this month. She and I have been planning her birthday party and a pony is set to arrive at our house. I also found a pony pinata and a pony craft too.
Naturally, as a baker I searched for and found pony shaped cookie cutters.
If you know Sophia you will understand why we chose purple and pink colored sugar to dip the pony cookies.

Kids, Farm Delivery, Gardens & More

My kids were happy I baked before they even woke for school this morning. They all had a taste before the bus. I added mini Lemon Cakes and banana bread to my baking table.
Then, I stopped by the Wholesale Nursery to pick up compost and a mixture of potting soil and peat moss to go into the tiny spot I have to put in my garden.
I am going to try squash, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant. I think I will be all set if I remember to water regularly.
My cookbook is almost there. I have worked through a number of printing challenges and it is a matter of getting it done now. Once my teaching semester ends I am more hopeful for its completion. In the meantime, I will bake as much as I can.
The weather today reminds me what I love most about living on the Cape. I went to a teacher conference at Bridgewater State College for the day yesterday and it was a good 15 degrees hotter there than it was when I returned over the bridge.

Basket, Cookies & Ta-dah!

This week I donated one of my gift baskets to the kids school for a silent auction. When I dropped it off (my four year old in tow was still wearing her night gown) the office staff commented on how pretty it looked. Sophia looked pretty adorable herself. Her long super curly blond hair complemented her silky and pink princess nightgown. She wore her Hannah Montana flip-flops.
I am up early this Saturday morning baking cookies for the farm. I am bringing dreamy island cookies for sale at the store later today.
As for today's ta-dah! I finished writing my cookbook this week. I am in the process of finding the best way to have it printed.
At some point, you can purchase a copy at the farm directly or order one through me.

Gotta Love it & Things to be Counted on!

With the arrival of spring on Cape Cod I am able to get back to my favorite walking spot. Here is the view from the entrance of the path I like to walk at South Cape Beach.

One of the things that comforts me the most in life is that no matter what happens their are certain things that can and will remain constant.

For me-it's a good walk, good talks with trusted friends, baking a cake and the love and care I have for my children.

The kids are home this week. I am so happy for the added time I get to spend with them. I suppose I should add that even though I'm happy about them being around, I wouldn't say it's easy. Between the late nights of my teens and my early bird daughter Sophia I am tired. Although like those things I can always count on my love for them will remain constant.

The kids had fun yesterday playing with a cousin that is visiting from out of town. I am going to make them banana bread for breakfast later and cranberry biscotti that I need to add to a gift basket order.

Oh, And you gotta love it- The weather man claims that after the bit of rain we are getting this morning we are headed for five days of warm air and sunny skies!

Lemon Cake Compliments, Gardens & Signs of Spring

Sophia and I started our seeds indoors last weekend for an end of May planting. We are hoping that come summer we will have home grown cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, lettuce and a few herbs growing in the yard for us to pick and eat.
I have an excellent Summer Vegetable Tart recipe I will pull out over the summer.
I made a Lemon Cake for a friend as a thank you for something nice she had done for me recently. She has written me twice to tell me how much she enjoyed it.
Planning is underway to set aside some time to get my recipe collection complete this weekend.
Wish me luck! A few friends have said they are hoping for a copy when it's complete.
As for the Signs of Spring, they're everywhere. On a walk earlier today I saw crocuses and daffodils popping up all over the place. There were three adorable tiny sparrows sharing a snack from the bird feeder off the kitchen window.

Biscotti & Cake Balls

I have been working on my recipe collection this week. I hope to have it written and printed by Mother's Day. It will be offered for sale here as well as at the farm table next to my cookies.
I have written the introduction and lots of mini 'stories' to help introduce the recipes. I have completed the section on Cakes, Cookies, Quick Breads and Biscotti.
I added my recipe for Cranberry Biscotti.
I still have a section on Cheesecakes and 'Baking as Dinner' which includes my recipes for things like Empanadas, Quiche and Tarts.
What has been the most time consuming is a large portion of my recipes are primarily from memory or just the ingredients are scratched on a sheet of note paper.
As for Cake Balls, I made some for my students and my kids this week. It had been a while since I baked for my kids and they were asking for something.

What you Give & Life's Surprises

It was Sir Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister during World War II) who said "you make a living by what you get a life by what you give".

I don't know about you but these words inspire me. I love (adore) the restaurants around the country who have recently been inviting customers to pay what they can afford. Good for them and their customers!

I have a minor confession- my baking time has lapsed a bit lately. I remember a time where I baked each and every opportunity I could find.

In my effort to get back on the baking track, I have hired my older daughter to help me in the kitchen this coming summer to meet baking obligations. Lucky for me she was more than willing to help and make a little extra summer spending money. And, thanks to her willingness to help I see a completion to my recipe collection on the horizon!

As for Life's Surprises, recently I have been a bit betrayed by someone who should very much know better to give me not only the benefit of the doubt but also kindness to the very real fact that I have always been a loving and kind mother not to mention a very devoted and supportive wife.

I suppose though not every lesson in life is for me to learn. Sometimes, it might be the other person who has something to gain from the possibility of a 'new perspective'.

In the meantime, I will do my very best to heed Churchill's message and give what and where I can because that is where I 'gain' a life worth living.