JJBegonias post of Marian Burros Plum Torte has inspired many to bake one.
My friend Roberta made a couple and gave me one she baked but unfortunately Steve and I ate it without thinking about photographing it,
I made one for my friend Josie’s parents and then her sister Carol made one and Josie sent me a photo of it on the phone. Looks like they paired it with a cup of coffee. Mmmm.
Then here is the one I made
Whole Foods in Upper Arlington.
Farm Breakfast is five bucks.
Kids eat free on Wednesday with an adult eating. Good deal!
(Michael’s book is either the American Revolution or the Civil War.) 
Feeling connected to family in Ohio tonight.
Old Grandma got almost everyone to cooperate for a quick pic as they sat down.
Missing a few family members but because of retirement, I can be with family on a Wednesday night, right in the middle of the week!
For Birthdays it was the 1-2-3-4 Cake recipe or the Happy Day Cake recipe on the back of the Swan’s Down Cake Flour box, frosted with Penuche icing. My mother would put the saucepan into a sink of cold water and then beat it by hand once it cooled. I can hear the ring of the metal loop at the end of the pan’s handle. And as I remember it she added a dash of vanilla extract. My dad would pour milk over a slice and eat it with a spoon. Cake and frosting recipes below photo.
Happy Day Cake
2½ cups sifted cake flour
1½ cups sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
Sift flour with sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir shortening to soften. Add flour mixture, ¾ cup of the milk and vanilla. Mix until all flour is dampened, then beat two minutes at medium speed. Add eggs and remaining ¼ cup milk. Beat one minute longer. Pour into two 9-inch layer pans that have been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans; remove from pans and cool thoroughly on racks.
This cake also may be baked in three 8-inch layer pans for 25 to 35 minutes, or in a 13- by 9-inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes. Batter may be spooned into 36 medium paper baking cups in muffin pans, filling half full. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Add the brown sugar. Bring to a boil and lower heat to medium low and continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually add sifted confectioners’ sugar. Beat until thick enough to spread. If too thick, add a little hot water. Frosts top and sides of a 2-layer cake or a 13×9-inch cake.
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p.s. Last year I mailed an actual cake but this year it will be virtual
and another connection was the post when my friend J sent me a cupcake tree to Ohio when I was visiting
response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Connected.”
And I did the exact same thing tonight!
I found this sheet of stamps. (a birthday gift from a friend a couple years ago) in my desk and thought it was perfect for framing in a plastic box frame. 39 cent stamps. The children’s literature characters caught my eye.
One sheet my dad framed. These stamps came out in the early 70’s. The love stamps are 8 cents.
After Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture and prints.http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=25276
And here’s another sheet of stamps my father framed. When the stamps were 13 cents.
I stitched the needlepoint pillow kit of the butterfly stamps and gave it to my Aunt Rhea and then she passed it back to me. Connections
A first peek at some of the highlights of Jarrod and Lauren’s Wedding. The weather was cooperative in that the summer thunderstorm didn’t start until they were safely inside the reception. Perfect timing!
Two caricaturists captured the guests happy expressions. The bride had her caricature done by Jeffrey D. Harris at a festival in 2007 or 8 and tracked him down for her wedding. He was assisted by Dave. The bride and groom put their likeness in a frame and all the guests signed the surrounding mat.
Pittsburgh weddings delight in their cookie tables and Jarrod and Lauren’s was something to see! (and delicious to taste)
The bride’s attention to detail was evident throughout the day. A lovely wedding. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. James.
Dancing music provided DJ Scott Wooten.
Artists Susan Middleman and Joan Brindle. Classmates reunited at Susan’s Opening Reception Friday night.
Class of 1965- they met as freshmen at Carnegie Tech
(now Carnegie Mellon University) Pittsburgh PA
Joan and I were art teachers in the Pittsburgh Public Schools and then Joan was my Art Supervisor. We became friends. That’s how I got invited to her friend Susan’s Art Opening Reception at Gallerie Chiz. The large oil paintings on paper are Susan’s art work.
I met the artist Susan Middleman through Joan.
Hosted by Gallerie Chiz owner/director Ellen Chisdes Neuberg who provided the space for connections. I knew she was the gallery owner as she came to introduce herself. I was inquiring if her plate held a sweet or a savory.
I thought it might be a chocolate or a meatball but it was a baby bella mushroom.
Ellen sported a cool purple outfit, unique art jewelry and turquoise glasses. Plus she wasn’t carrying a purse. Ellen and one other person would have been selected “best dressed” if I were from the paper.
Glass and found objects artist Elizabeth Fortunato showed her work at the art opening reception this evening, too. The show is open through October 10th.
The title is Waiting for the Rain to Stop
The white embroidered dress is from Hey Betty! Vintage Clothing down the street (5890 Ellsworth Avenue)
Piano accompanied a jazzy singer which added to the life of the party
It was my daughter Laura’s idea. She called on Face Time and asked me what I was doing. I showed her the little stack of different size pumpkins hats I knit this past week.
“Make a pumpkin patch with all the knitted pumpkin hats.” she said. “Stuff them with something to make them stand up.” Good idea, Laura.
(I used a couple of large balls of yarn and some dishtowels.)
I was thinking about photographing outside in the grass but it is totally unfall-like with 85% humidity.
The morning sun was streaming in through the lace curtains onto the living room floor.
Not from every angle but the difference in lighting is remarkable.
My first full week of retirement, no back to school. It’s a transition. And we’re moving from summer to fall, even though the heat is intense. Another transition. I bought a snow shovel this week.
There’s still one hat on the needles. I’m knitting the last hat for my granddaughter Maura, who’s going to be 7 in November but said she’d wear one. I already gave one away a few days ago.
My other neighbor, J said the first pumpkin hat I posted looked like a tomato! I think these photos show the color of yarn as orange for sure. Two hats and the one for Maura are Superwash Merino wool and the others are Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Soft Non-Pilling Acrylic. Hopefully easy wash and dry for the moms.
The pattern was from Ravelry by Tara Thomsen in case you want to make some. Newborn to adult sizes. That’s enough for me this season.
My friend Joanne’s guest blog of the Nine Minute Pasta was well received. I’d read the article about the backstory for the Nine Minute Pasta recipe here The recipe was originally developed by Nora Singly . You may have an abundance of tomatoes. Here’s my report.
J mentioned a bit of gumminess at the end and threw in a 1/4 cup of wine. She said she’d make it again.
Since I’d sent the recipe out to many friends, (figuring I’d missed it when it went viral a few years ago so perhaps they’d missed it too), I decided to fire up the stove and make it myself. Plus, I had all those delicious cherry tomatoes from the East Liberty Farmers Market. Steve brought up a linguine that had a 9 minutes cooking time on the box. Yes, you do have to mind the pasta so it doesn’t become a solid block, separate the strands. I used a knife.
The only thing I changed from the original recipe was to let the covered pan sit for two additional minutes (with the burner off). Next time I’d add a few MORE cherry tomatoes. The cutting them in half was the only time consuming part of the effort. I actually weighed the tomatoes to follow the recipe. The fresh garlic from my brother in Okanogan WA and the fresh basil really added to the taste. Going to try a brown rice pasta version and adjust cooking time and liquid if necessary.
Had to get that cell phone to my eye as quickly as I could to capture this composition. My son had called the kids to help me load up the car as I prepared to leave Columbus for Pittsburgh. Henry is tagging along.
They were all (including Henry) going on their own trip, a couple of hours away, to select the Airedale puppy they’ll pick up Labor Day Weekend.
Stay tuned!
Anna as photographed by her mom, Erika, holding their choice- Josie.
Lots of shade in both photos
At the end of the day I will add a word or two to tell how I took the photo.
