There’s still a chill in the air that can be dispelled by cooking and eating hot soup. Don’t forget to throw in the rind of Parmesan to add flavor to the minestrone.
Author: Ruth
Retired from Pittsburgh Piblic Schools Visual Art/photography teacher, photographer, knitter, reader, cook,baker, poet, filmmaker, Grandmother, traveler, Friend,
Silent Sunday
Silent Sunday
A Teacher Plants Too Many Seeds to Count
Q: How many seeds does a teacher plant in a lifetime?
A: Too many to count.
That lone seed looks like it is floating to me!
There are lots of teacher gifts with apples and seeds and sweet sayings but I was thinking about how often a teacher sees the fruit of one’s labors from the years of teaching in the classroom.
Henry the Airedale Remained Unperturbed
Henry the Airedale sat serenely while Maura jumped around outside for a few minutes. She shed her coat. I had on wool socks, wool sweater, down vest and wool hat. I could hear my mother in my head, warning me about pneumonia weather or catching a chill. Maura thought that the sun being out and her running around made it an early Spring. She kept her hat on her head. Then put her coat back on. Brrrr. My hands were cold when I got inside.
Henry just sat there, taking in the fresh cool air. No “sit” or “stay”command given.
And no, I did NOT knit her hat.
Another Color Photo Appears Black and White
When the outdoor world seems black and white and gray but your photograph is in color. Everyone has had enough of the cold, snow, ice and dark. They’re ready for crocuses and daffodils bursting through the earth, looking for light.
I’ve photographed this tree before. I always like how the snow defines the branches.
Wordless Wednesday
Traditional King Cake for Mardi Gras
“The King Cake tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870.” Wikipedia
This King Cake created at the Party Cake Shop in Brookline on the Boulevard where I got the Paczki last Thursday.
Here is a Traditional New Orleans King Cake Recipe made with yeast .- a brioche like dough https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/traditional-new-orleans-king-cake/
Anyone Lose a Hairbrush?
Anyone lose a hairbrush?
Silent Sunday
Pączki Sales are Hot for Fat Tuesday
Tuesday March 5th is Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras.
Pączki is pronounced Poonch–key. The Pączki sign was in the bakery window as my friend Donna and I were headed to her home after eating breakfast in Dormont. I had never heard of them.We parked and I went into the bakery and Lynn was wonderful to tell me all about the Pączki. I bought six, three for Donna and three for Steve and me. Lynn put each order in white bakery bags. When we got back to Donna’s we cut one in half and shared it along with a cup of tea.
If you live in Pittsburgh they are available through Fat Tuesday at the Party Cake Shop on Brookline Boulevard.
Here is what the Party Cake Shop says “Pączki is a pre-Lenten Mardi Gras tradition deriving from the Polish word meaning little package.
These little packages are large pastries enriched with egg yolks and deep fried like a doughnut. Each Paczki is available plain or filled with various fillings that include: vanilla custard, lemon, apricot, buttercream, chocolate buttercream, raspberry jelly, or prune and finished off with a toss in granulated sugar. “
The taste reminded me of a fresh doughnut from childhood. Much tastier than any doughnut I have eaten in years. I see there are recipes online to make your own but a trip to Party Cake Shop would be well worth the effort. Last summer visiting friends took the ‘Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tour in Pittsburgh’s neighborhood of Brookline.
