L is for Lion

L is for Lion.

Several years ago a little lion cub was born at the zoo.  But something was wrong.  The cub needed medical help that the Veterinarian was not able to provide.   So the Veterinarian sought the help of a Neurosurgeon at a local hospital.

 (Family photos may not be borrowed or pinned.)

This is a picture of the little lion cub being fed a bottle by the Neurosurgeon who tried to help him.   He was my father-in-law.  (And the little boy is one of  Mr. Garden's brothers.)

Sadly, even though every effort was made to save the cub, he died.  :-(

It's Alphabe-Thursday.  Visit Jenny Matlock's to read all the L posts.

Storms Rumbling and Frogs Singing

We had another storm rumble through here tonight.   We knew it was coming because the sky started to turn dark and the frogs started to sing.   Yesterday morning we had some small hail.   All normal spring weather here.

Our Bradford Pear tree is in bloom.  Pee-ew!  (It looks beautiful, but does not smell good.)   The Eastern Red Bud is covered in purpley-pink blooms and the Lilac buds are about ready to burst!   I LOVE this time of year!

Four more blocks completed for  the embroidery challenge  , and only four more to go.  What am I going to do when this project is finished?  I need a new craft project to work on!!  Something portable, that I can take with me to craft club.  Quilting doesn't travel.

Black-Eyed Susans

Quilt block-  Bear Paws

Green vaseline depression glass plate

(Anybody besides me collect this?)

Jacaranda tree

Easter weekend

Hope everyone had a very happy Easter!   I have only been away from the computer and "blogland" for a couple of days, and it looks like I have some serious catch up reading to do.

Our kids were home for the weekend.  I helped my son get signed up for a summer class  and my daughter and I went shopping for a bridal shower gift.  

We had a wonderful, big, extended family gathering on Easter.  I wanted to show you the picture of the cheesecake.  I decided to just slice and sugar strawberries to spoon on top, instead of making an actual glaze.   (see the recipe here.)  Everyone in the family contributed 3 or 4 dishes to the big dinner, so no one had to do too much. Our kids are all older, but we still hold an egg hunt.  They have a lot of fun!

I did not have much time to work on the embroidery squares, but can catch up in the next day or two.
Now I'm off to read as many blog posts as I can before I head to bed.

Happy Easter!

Forsythia in bloom means that spring is finally here!   Just in time for Easter!

Three more blocks completed for the embroidered 39 squares challenge.   I only have 8 more to go.

Forget Me Nots

Pineapple

Lemon Meringue Pie

Happy Easter!  May God bless you all as you gather with family and friends in worship and celebration.

K Is For Konza Prairie

It's Alphabe-Thursday over at Jenny Matlock's.  Join us this week for posts on the letter K.

(image from the web)

K is for Konza Prairie located in the Flint Hills region of Kansas.   The 13 square miles of native tall grass prairie are jointly owned by the Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University and operated as a field research station.  A small herd of buffalo call Konza Prairie home.    Six miles of nature trails bring in hikers and the environmental education program makes it a popular place for school field trips.

Flowers growing among the grasses.

Peter Rabbit, More Squares

I love the tales told by Beatrix Potter.  The books are tiny enough for little ones to hold, the illustrations amazingly gorgeous, and the stories unforgettable.  And every child can relate to the curious and naughty Peter Rabbit, who gets himself into a great deal of trouble when he does not heed his mother's warning and goes into Mr. MacGregor's garden.  He eventually makes his way back home and his mother tenderly takes care of him and tucks him into bed.

These plates hang on my kitchen wall year round but I thought it very appropriate to share them with you at Easter.   They remind me of many lovely afternoons when my children would sit at the kitchen table to have tea and cookies with mommy.    And they also remind me what our Easter celebration is really about:  Forgiveness from someone who loves us very much and a chance to start anew.

*  *  *  

Here are 5 more of my blocks for the stitch-along 39 squares challenge.

A basket of flowers.

Lavender

Wheat

Maple leaf in the fall.

Pink piglet.

Cheesecake Supreme

I mentioned yesterday that I would post my recipe for Cheesecake, so here it is.  The first time I made this cheesecake was a special occasion.  A certain handsome Italian guy was coming for dinner.  It was our second date.  The main course was fondue, and cheesecake was what I served for dessert.   I topped it with strawberry glaze and sliced strawberries.  Turned out he loved cheesecake, but disliked strawberries, so he scooped all the lovely fruit and glaze off his piece.  In spite of the strawberries we got married a couple of years later.   ;-)

Since then it has been made for various family gatherings and special occasions.  I taught my little sister how to make it and my oldest niece.  It is now firmly entrenched as a family favorite.   And it will be dessert at our Easter dinner this Sunday.

(One of my sisters took this picture)

Here it is in the center of the dessert table at my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary luncheon a couple of years ago.  My little sister stayed up all night and made 3 of these cheesecakes for the event.  This one fell a little, but not bad for a 4 am cheesecake.  :-)   

Here is the picture from the cookbook. Doesn't that look wonderful?  It tastes as good as it looks!
(See a picture of the one I made for Easter here.  And a picture of the one Diana @ Bits and Pieces made here. )

Cheesecake Supreme 

 (From Better Homes And Gardens New Cookbook, 1962 Ed.)

A truly spectacular dessert. Filling’s smooth and creamy, the crust almost like a lemon cookie. On top, beautiful strawberry glaze and fruit.

Make Crust:

1 cup sifted flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1/2 cup butter

1 slightly beaten egg yoke

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Combine flour, sugar and peel.

Cut in butter til mixture is crumbly.

Add egg yolks and vanilla. Blend thoroughly.

Pat 1/3 of dough on bottom of 9 inch spring form pan, sides removed.

Bake in hot oven(400) about 8 minutes or til golden; cool.

Attach sides to bottom, butter and pat remaining dough on sides to height of 1 and 3/4 in.

Make Filling:   

5- 8oz packages cream cheese

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 and 3/4 cups sugar

3 Tablespoons all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 or 5 eggs (1 cup)

2 egg yokes

1/4 cup whipping cream

Let cream cheese stand at room temperature to soften (1 to 1.5 hours). Beat creamy.

Add vanilla and lemon peel.

Mix sugar flour and salt and gradually blend into cheese.

Add eggs and egg yokes one at a time, beating after each just to blend.

Gently stir in whipping cream.

To Bake:

Turn into crust lined pan.

Bake at 450 for 12 minutes;

Reduce heat to 300 and continue baking 55 minutes.

Remove from oven; cool.

Loosen sides with spatula after 1/2 hour.

Remove sides at end of hour.

Allow to cool 2 hours longer.

Glaze with Strawberry Glaze OR Pineapple Glaze and sliced fruit

Serves 12.

Strawberry Glaze  (this is the one I always use)

2 or 3 cups fresh strawberries

1 cup water

1 and 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar

Crush 1 cup of strawberries; add the water and cook 2 minutes; sieve.

Mix cornstarch with sugar (amount of sugar depends on sweetness of berries);

Stir into hot berry mixture. Bring to boiling, stirring constantly.

Cook and stir till thick and clear. (add a few drops of red food coloring if needed.)

Cool to room temperature.

Place remaining strawberries atop cooled cheesecake; circle with halved pianaple rings if desired.

Pour glaze over over strawberries and chill about 2 hours.

OR

Pineapple Glaze   

3 Tablespoons sugar

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Combine sugar and cornstarch in saucepan; stir in pineapple juice and lemon peel.

Heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to boiling. Cook and stir until thick and clear. Cool to room temperature.

Cut canned pineapple rings in half; arrange spoke fashion around edge of cheesecake. Spoon glaze over; chill two hours.

Or, spoon glaze over top of cooled cheesecake and chill. Trim with fluffs of whipped cream centered with drained ppineapple chunks.

Notes:

 I like to double the dough recipe and then pat the dough all the way up to the top of the pan.    This bakes messy so be prepared to clean your oven afterwards. 

I always make the strawberry version.  And these days I leave all the toppings on the side and let each person top their own. 

This recipe was from my Grandma's 1962 edition of the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. 

Chicks and Bunnies and Eggs

Things are beginning to look like Easter around here!   The sun is shining and the little chicks and bunnies and eggs have started to make an appearance.

(Mona, this picture is especially for you!  I have faux greenery too!)

Three more embroidered squares have been completed for  my 39 squares stitch-along-sampler.   That brings my total  up to 19.  

My sweet old yellow boy kitty, Willie, who died a few months ago.  (I think I will go back and add a neck. this looks strange with just a face.)

A gingerbread boy cookie.

I love zinnias!

My sister-in-law (Mr. Garden's twin sister) and I were on the phone today to plan Easter dinner.  We always have such a good time when we get the whole family together!  All the kids will be coming home... it's just going to be a great celebration weekend!   Looks like I will be making cheesecake. (among other things)   I should post that recipe.  Look for it later this week.