Wednesday, April 29, 2009

SPRINGTIME SUGAR COOKIES



Perfect for springtime! I have added nasturiums to salads since they are slightly peppery tasting ... have never heard of decorating sugar cookies with pansies. Here is the link for more details how to do it ... seems simple and fun!

http://www.rightathome.com/Food/Recipes/Pages/PansyFlowerCookies.aspx

Friday, April 17, 2009

Frugal Upstate: A Great Green Giveaway

Frugal Upstate: A Great Green Giveaway

Sometimes we save...sometimes we spend ..... DH and I are trying to be mindful of how we use what we have ... right now Frugal Upstate is collecting frugal, green ideas for a giveaway ... go check out the ideas, leave one yourself and enter the giveaway.... what do you have to lose?

Thursday, April 16, 2009

SPRING IS BLOOMING!

Two days ago, we had a big snowstorm on Mt Etna ---
on the plains of Catania the wildflowers are out!


Dahlias I planted in one of my three windowboxes on the party balcony ... still need flowers for the other two windowboxes ... want to find something colorful!

Monday, April 13, 2009

OVERNIGHT BUTTERMILK-RAISIN PANCAKES

Tried something new for Easter breakfast ... and it is a KEEPER!

2 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 TB sugar
1 teas. baking powder
1 teas. baking soda
1/2 teas. cinnamon
1/2 teas. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup raisins (used sweetened dried cranberries, nearly 3/4 cup by the end)

Mix together oats and buttermilk in bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight.
In large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, cinnamon and salt.
Add oats, eggs, butter and raisins; stir until moistened -- don't overmix.
Let batter stand for 20 minutes before cooking.
When ready to cook, add more buttermilk if too thick (I used another 1/2 cup).
Heat a lightly greased skillet over medium heat.
Make pancakes (I use a soup ladle), flip pancakes when bubbles cover the top.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

RAMACCA ARTICHOKE FEST - PALM SUNDAY

Don and I went over to Ramacca to experience the artichoke festival held Palm Sunday weekend. Ramacca is famous in Italy for it's artichokes.









Yum...good artichokes!

CANDY EASTER EGGS SICILIAN STYLE

On Easter Sunday, children and adults alike look forward to opening the brightly
wrapped chocolate Easter eggs that friends and relatives give them on Easter. The more the better! Of course all eggs (except the tiniest) contain a surprise that range from toys (some are small like Hot Wheels or the Happy Meal toys) to larger ones like Big Wheel toddler riding toys to walkman radios to silver charms or gold dipped jewelry (depending on the price and brand). The left over chocolate from the eggs is usually frozen or melted to make sweets. There are many versions of Colomba Pasquale such as chocolate, etc. in colorful boxes that are appreciated as gifts. Such fun!

Giant chocolate egg by Carrafour -- wonder what's in the hollow of this one? (Yes, it is a real candy egg)Don with some of the smaller eggs ....
Eggs -- eggs and more eggs ---