Old Recipes--New Ideas. I Hope.

Just brought in a couple of boxes of old recipe books, pamphlets and simple flyers. Right now, they smell like the basement, barn or garage they came out of...

Hope the cake (I mean salad) recipes I plan to try make the kitchen smell a lot better!

Every time I look through recipes books like these I want to grab a ruffled apron to match. Something from the 40's or 50's...embroidered--maybe some rick-rack (who uses that anymore!).

Check out these tidbits.....

I Think they might have these recipes "switched-at-birth". Wouldn't you rather have your hops in a glass three times a day? Kind of an interesting little juicy-juice drink mix for the youngsters. Why do the kids get all the good stuff anyway?

Hey, she's got my apron on.

.....have you noticed editing my script is definitely laggin'? Do you think there might be a recipe I could drink out of a wine glass to fix that little glitch? :-)

We Make Salads Too!

Turtle Cheesecake

Graham cracker crumb crust, creamy vanilla cheesecake with walnuts, dark chocolate and when it's time to serve--warm caramel and whipped cream.

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake

Pretty isn't it? Tastes good too.

Really--next time I'll post a picture of salads!

Signs of the Season

Signs of the Season

Vanilla....Chocolate...maybe a Swirl. Sundaes, milkshakes, malts, ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, frozen yogurt...the possibilities are endless. The only thing I need to do now is call the electrician so this power-sucker has somewhere to call home. John Jilbert scheduled to stop in next week to show me the ropes with "Miss Karen".

The Cafe isn't the only thing that blossoming this time of year. I didn't have to look too far to see the creeping phlox in shades of pink that start a dainty white and run into a hue so bright it might work for Lady Gaga's hair.

Wild strawberries that survived the first mowing....

....and a wee little nest with itty-bitty eggs and a little birdie Mama not too far away.

When Company's Coming....

When Company's Coming...order a cake from the Cafe!

First, we need to name this one. I've been calling it what it is...the flourless chocolate cake....way too functional but it lets the Gluten Free Brigade (love you all!) know it's safe. What this cake needs is a name that describes the dark chocolate, melt-in-your-mouth, "this is so rich I shouldn't eat it but..." yummy that it is.

I know what I call it. Your suggestion is welcome.

Up next, pumpkin. Two layers of moist, spicey cake separated by homemade cream cheese frosting and covered in even more, and drizzled by a thick caramel topping...this pumpkin cake is worthy of picking up the plate and licking it clean of crumbs!

All of our Cafe Cakes are made from "scratch"...simple, fresh ingredients. Baked to order the day you're picking it up--never made in advance and pulled from the freezer.

To complete these cakes or any other yummy you might find at the Cafe...whipped cream! A little extra chocolate or caramel (come on--you're having dessert--DO IT) makes it perfect.

Kick-Start Your Day

Breakfast.

Fuel to kick-start your day. Make it healthy...make it interesting...make it your own.

I happened to be hungry for an omelet today. One egg...couple of egg whites...that's a good start.

Now add fresh tomatoes since they're starting to taste like something after a long winter. Onions? In everything. Now the spinach...a lot (it wilts)...only the fresh stuff. Cheese? I'll skip in my omelet and go for some sour cream and salsa instead.

Whatever you like for breakfast...we'll make it. Maybe you'll find it on our menu...the Greek omelet, the Veggie Omelet, a super Three Cheese Omelet (add sun-dried tomato pesto and really pump it up)...or just go for some everyday oatmeal with almonds, dried cranberries and brown sugar (NEVER instant).

Healthy...not hungry. That's how to start the day.

Our Daily Bread

It's how we start the day...everyday at the cafe. Bread. This is a batch of our oatmeal bread just out of the oven. To be honest, I don't know when it smells better...just baked or when it's on the rise.

We make two kinds of breads for sandwiches and toast...this oatmeal loaf and our honey whole wheat. Both recipes are variations I developed from a home-batch of white.

What's the best way to eat it?

With real butter....AND, the homemade soup you'll find everyday at the cafe! This picture features the hamburger minestrone.

My favorite way to tackle a loaf of either bread...the ends please. I'll save the middle slices for everyone else.

Baby Steps in Blogging

Layer cakes shouldn't stop with the cake. This Strawberry Coconut Butter Cake is filled and frosted with a vanilla cream cheese frosting, then coated on the sides with flaked coconut and finally topped with fresh white chocolate covered strawberries.

Don't worry about a napkin...just lick your fingers...now.