Loved, and Strawberry Almond Dream Cream

Wow.  I don't know what to say, but that I am blessed with a wonderful husband and fabulous friends.  There are so many adjectives I could use here, but it suffices to say that I feel so loved. 

This post might not begin far from the facebook status updates, tweets, and blog posts from many other happy and in-love husbands, wives, friends, children, or parents over the past few days.  After all, most of us celebrated love on Monday. 

My husband and I joined in these amorous festivities.  On Saturday night, I prepared an elaborate menu for two, in the comfort of our own kitchen.  I served a Pomegranate Arugula Salad to start, an entree of Passionfruit Glazed Salmon and Green Beans followed by a cheese course, and Strawberry Almond Dream Cream for dessert.  We ate, talked, danced to a jazzy mix of Harry Connick, Jr., Michael Buble, and Norah Jones, and oogled at each other across the candlelit table.  And, for as much as I cook for him, it always delights me when he says, "this is spectacular." 

Our celebration of love didn't stop there (and I hope it never stops, ever).  But on Monday night, I returned home from an afternoon full of classes to a wonderful smelling apartment and a delicious meal, cooked by my sweet husband.  He prepared a stuffed pork loin, roasted winter vegetables, green beans, and a divine bourbon panna cotta.  It was a treat and a blessing, and I was very impressed with his culinary skills! 

This two-part celebration of love is enough for me to express how blessed I am, what a wonderful husband I have, and how much I love and am loved by him.  But I cannot leave it there.  I have to tell you about Sunday night. 

You see, on Sunday night, we were invited to a birthday celebration for a friend.  It was a surprise party, and there were a few glitches with the timing of the event, but we finally arrived, pulled our cameras out and went to join the others in anticipation for the birthday girl to arrive.  I came around the corner to join my friends who I knew were waiting in the living room, and SURPRISE!, the birthday party was for me!  I was completely blown away.  One of my friends, a fabulous artist, painted a "Belle of the Kitchen" sign; everyone prepared a recipe from the blog (recipes posted below); and best of all, I was so honored by all of these sweet friends who took their time to bless me (not to mention messages, texts, and cards from those near and far).  Yes, I am honored and blessed, and feel so completely loved, and the older I am, the more I realize and appreciate this. 

With all of this love around, I wanted to share with you a recipe that expresses the same.  This Strawberry Almond Dream Cream is a sweet treat to share with those whom you love, whether you are celebrating Valentine's day, a Birthday, or just love, in general.  It is best served the day it is prepared.

Strawberry Almond Dream Cream

Adapted from The Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook

1 1/4 teaspoon plain gelatin
3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup amaretto
1 cup half & half
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
4 strawberries, sliced
Strawberries and Basil or Mint sprigs, for garnishing

In a small bowl, whisk together the gelatin, milk, and amaretto. 

In a small saucepan, combine the half & half and sugar.  Heat to about 175 degrees (when you can just see steam rising from the pan, but not to a full simmer).  Remove from the heat and whisk into the amaretto mixture until combined.  Whisk in the extracts. 

Divide the sliced strawberries among four parfait or martini glasses.  Pour the warm mixture over the strawberries and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.  Garnish with a strawberry and basil sprig just before serving. 

This is best served on the day it is prepared, particularly when it is just set and very tender. 

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Want to know what my friends prepared for my surprise birthday party?  Here are the recipes:
Aniversary Shrimp and Grits
Mixed Green Salad with Pecans, Goat Cheese and Fruit
Artichoke Bruschetta
Cheese Straws
Hummus
Tomato Salsa
Peanut-Peanut Butter Brownies

Black Russian Cake

Ways to say "I Love You," and Grand Marnier Cake

Valentine's day is approaching, and it seems appropriate to talk about love.  In January, I took a class which emphasized the essential qualities of a counselor.  The subject matter was largely introspective and reflective, but even so, I think the class could have been alternately titled "How to love others well." 

As I took this class in January and had a proverbial mirror held before me, I realized how little time and effort I spend intentionally seeking to love those in my life.  I think it is easy to go on "auto-pilot" when it comes to loving family and friends.  We let the days and weeks pass us by, while we love one another only clumsily, if we make any effort to love at all.  So, in light of Valentine's day, a day to celebrate love (whether romantic or not), I want to reflect a bit on practical ways to love others intentionally. 

Call, Text, or E-mail.  My tendencies concerning communication revolve around necessity rather than love.  If I need something, or I need to communicate something, I will pick up my phone or computer.  But rarely do I purposefully seek to encourage or love others without prompting.  I hope to be more purposeful in initiating loving and encouraging words using these oh, so easy conveniences!  I know those words will be appreciated and the recipients will certainly feel loved. 

Write a hand-written letter.  This is another area where I struggle.  I want my letters to be heart-felt and well-worded, and so I tend to put off letter-writing for another time when I can invest more time and thought.  But the truth is, hand-written letters will be greatly appreciated, no matter how brief or brilliantly stated. 

Spend time together.  Whether time is spent together studying over books, chatting one-on-one over tea, or savoring the company of friends and a good meal, I am learning more and more the benefits of setting aside time for others.  I find that I am more purposeful about this when I put it on the calendar.  When we do spend this time together, I am learning to make sure that I will not be distracted, so that I can truly enjoy and love those in my company. 

Do something for them.  As I am learning to be more intentional in loving others, I realize that sometimes lives can become hectic and there is little time for tea, much less dinner together.  But loving well might mean going to the store for a friend, or proof-reading a paper, or doing something else that might make their "to-do" list a little lighter. 

Give them a gift.  This is easiest for me, but I still need to strive to seek to love others in a way that they would feel loved.  A trip to a favorite store, a box of a favorite kind of tea, tickets to a movie, or a thoughtful after-school snack will all be sweet reminders that "I love you."  And, of course, chocolate, especially in cake form, being synonymous with love, also expresses that sentiment. 

I hope that my musings and strivings to love others well have encouraged you to think about how you can intentionally love those in your life.  I would love to hear your ideas of how you purposefully show love to your loved ones!

Grand Marnier Chocolate Bundt Cake

Adapted from Mom's Special Company Cake, Cooking Light, September 1998

For the Cake:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur
2 large eggs
Zest of one orange

For the Glaze:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup stick margarine or butter
1/3 cup Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur
1/4 cup water

Preheat oven 350.

Butter and flour a bundt pan. In a large bowl, combine all of the cake ingredients except the orange zest. Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients for 30 seconds, then increase the speed to medium and beat for three minutes. Using a spatula, stir in the orange zest. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan.

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Leaving the cake in the pan, prick the cake all over with a fork or wooden pick. Combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil for one minute. Pour the glaze over the cake; allow the cake to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, remove to a serving plate and store in an airtight container.

This cake is even better on the second or third day, and would be excellent with Frangelico, Kahlua, Amaretto, or other chocolate-friendly liqueurs in place of the Grand Marnier.

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To My Valentine, and to all those I love

I always look forward to Valentine's Day.  I like the idea of celebrating love, and setting aside a day for that is fine by me.  In high school and in college, I would always wear something pink or red, and tried to enjoy the day whether I had a "special love" or not.  It is enough to share the love of my family and friends.  Now that I have my love to share the rest of my life with, it makes the day even that much more special.  I consider myself extremely blessed by both family and friends. I have so many people in my life who love me unconditionally. And although this might be as impersonal as a mass e-mail, I hope that those of you who read it will know that I do love you, too. Happy Valentines Day.



To my love, my husband, my valentine: I am so happy and thankful that you will always "Be Mine" for as long as we both shall live.  Thank you for loving me, putting up with me, pursuing me, encouraging me, holding me accountable, and so much more.  Je t'aime. 

To my parents, brother, and sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, I miss you and love you very much.  I wish that I could be there to give you a hug today.  Thank you for investing in my life.  I am truly blessed with a wonderful family. 

To my friends, old and new, far and near, I am so thankful for your friendship.  Many of you have been there through both smiles and (often unwarranted) tears.  I hope that I am some small part of as much a blessing in your life as you are in mine.