Certainly wasn’t pretty. But Auburn pulled it off in the first ever overtime for the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
I’m a happy kitty. Even if the quarterback running in for a touchdown merited a squeal from me that got me dirty looks from three dogs. *sniffs* They just don’t understand…*giggles*
My company closes down for the last 10 days of the year, so I actually got to be home for the holidays this year. It’s not happened for 14 years…the year my grandmother passed from this terrestrial realm.
As we came down county road 28 into Grady…turning onto the street that is now known as Meriweather Trail…The train tracks came into view and on the otherside stood a church. I told my son, “There’s my Great-grandaddy’s church.”
A bit further down the road, “There’s my Great-grandaddy’s house. There’s Memaw’s house…” Pointing them all out. Houses of people long gone from this mortal coil. Houses that still retain, forever in my mind, the imprint of those who had gone before. My cousin Karen now inhabits the home that once sheltered that wonderful man, my great-grandfather. My Aunt Helen and her husband in the home that once housed my mother’s mother with warmth and strength. The places where the family would gather, the cows would moo and the fields would grow.
It was, and always will be, home.
Farther down the road, we turned off onto the drive that winds back through the trees leading into my parents’ property. This place removed from the rest of the world. Every hectic worry, every stress filled moment dropped away and I breathed deep in a new world the second the trees closed in on us.
It was three in the morning, and a soft rain was falling. The moon would peek out from time to time, playing peek-a-boo with the world below and a soft haze filled the land around the house. Its glow lighting up the area as if it were a midnight sun, glinting off of the falling rain.
My family gathers at my Aunt’s and spends hours with each other, plays games, opens gifts, eats and strengthens the ties that bind. I never really realized how very much I miss that, until I was there.
My mother’s paintings displayed beautifully on the wall, the tree dripped ornaments and twinkled with lights, the laughter and chatter fluttered about on the air, the whimper of my newest cousin (my favorite cousin’s new baby) wafted about from time to time…and everywhere, love.
I cooked while I was at home. Mom loves to clean, I love to cook – it works like a charm.
She asked that I post two recipes that are pretty simple and quick to make, but are pretty tasty, so I will be working on those over the next few days. One is a Tuna Casserole, the other is simple Empanadas. I also made the little cakes I mentioned. I went with devil’s food cake and caramel. They seem to have been a hit.
Anyway, I’m back at my house…dogs much spoiled by the adventure, and finding myself wishing I were back home.
I made a few baby wash cloths for my newest cousin – and, of course, forgot to take photos. I really do need to get better about that.
Ah well, life calls and I must answer. I hope you all have been having a delightful time.
So, I’ve decided I’m going to make some special cakes for the parties this season.
No, not fruitcake, thank you muchly for the kind thoughts, though. *chuckles*
Indeed, these are a little off the beaten path for holiday cakes, I do believe.
One that I really like the idea of is devil’s food cake with caramel and fudge in the center, wrapped in rolled fondant and ribboned in chocolate.
Another is red velvet cake with rich chocolate and brandied cherries in the center, wrapped in rolled fondant and ribboned in chocolate.
I’m also considering making a white cake with a fudge center, wrapped in rolled fondant and ribboned in chocolate.
The thing is – which to make…or should I make one of each? See, none of these will actually be cake size. More like 4″ (10.16cm) squares. Little “presents” that are quite delightful…someone could even take two – so they could have their cake and eat it, too! Ok ok…yeah, that was bad.
Anyway…suggestions on which to run with?
There are two types of fondant. There is French fondant which is a sugar syrup that is poured over the cake – you’d recognize it if you saw it. It makes a beautifully smooth, generally shiny coating over the cake/pastry and is oh so yummy.
Then there is rolled fondant. Rolled fondant is also known as sugarpaste (not nearly so lovely a name). It is an icing that gets rolled out into sheets and then can be molded or formed or cut out. Most wedding cakes and other fancy pants cakes are made with fondant icing.
Fondant in its liquid form is also often used to smooth out cakes so that more decorative icing can be applied over the top of it with a much smoother finish.
You can cut rolled fondant into shapes and airbrush them with food colouring to make decorations for your cakes as well. The bows I plan to make for the cakes will be done in fondant. And, I could make the ribbons in fondant, too…especially if I wanted to make the ribbons various colours. I could just knead in the colour I wanted until it was thoroughly mixed through the fondant, roll it out into thin strips and trim it up to be neat and then lay it in place and apply the “bows”. The “bows” will be “stuck” on with corn syrup.
You can see a picture of (and instructions for) the kind of bow I’m going to attempt…well, if I have enough fondant!…at BakeDecorateCelebrate.
There are also great pictures that show French fondant, and rolled fondant at that site. I love it muchly…probably too much. *laughs*
[edit: I decided to make a holiday picture as well, instead of using one that was so premade, since I put the effort into the others...I'll tweak it when I get home and have access to my actual editing tools. My knitter friends should be amused. I hope, anyway 
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