A Video of Ethan 4 Days Old

A video of Ethan....he doesn't like sleeping on his back! He likes his stomach and loves to be swaddled and loves his pacifier!! (8 weeks premature (4 days old).

Welcoming Ethan Brae Into The World

I haven't been on in such a long time as life has been very full for me the past year....but I did want to share with you a precious gift that came to us on Friday.

I have a new grandson!! He came a bit early (33 weeks), so is very tiny. Ethan was born on Friday, September 10, 2010, weighing in at 2 pounds 12 ounces and 15 3/4" long. He is doing amazingly well! He is beautiful and is holding his own. He will have to be in NICU until he gets bigger and stronger. Please pray for him as he grows and becomes stronger so that he can go home to be with his family. Big brother Evan thinks he is the cutest thing and goes to visit him daily. I never knew one child could have so many "big brother" shirts!!! :)

I hope to be writing more and keeping up with my blog. I also hope to having a "Give-away" soon! I do read your blogs late at night while tying to wind down from a hectic day. So many inspirations and ideas out there!!

I will be joining BNOTP for Met Monday soon with items I have been making changes to over the past year. So keep an eye out!

Warm Hugs,

Linda

Fresh Lemons!

Lemons from my tree! Anyone for Lemon Meringue Pie?

Peter, Paul & Mary Lemon Tree Lyrics

When I was just a lad of ten, my father said to me,
"Come here and take a lesson from the lovely lemon tree."
"Don't put your faith in love, my boy", my father said to me,
"I fear you'll find that love is like the lovely lemon tree."

Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.

One day beneath the lemon tree, my love and I did lie
A girl so sweet that when she smiled the stars rose in the sky.
We passed that summer lost in love beneath the lemon tree
The music of her laughter hid my father's words from me:

Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.

One day she left without a word. She took away the sun.
And in the dark she left behind, I knew what she had done.
She'd left me for another, it's a common tale but true.
A sadder man but wiser now I sing these words to you:

Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.
Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.

Have a Creative Day!

Linda

Red Velvet Cupcakes and Chocolate Covered Strawberries!

Here are photos of cupcakes I baked today. They are the Red Velvet with Cream Cheese frosting, then topped with a Chocolate Covered Strawberry!! I had to make 148 of them for a customer! Whew...I am tired!

Have a Creative Weekend!
Linda

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes and Recipes!

I made Lemon Meringue Cupcakes for the Superbowl party! YUMMO!! They were a big hit! I guess I'll put these on the menu!

The Recipe:

Ingredients:
Makes 24 cupcakes
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 extra-large eggs
3 cups self-rising cake flour
1 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons lemon zest

meringue topping

lemon pie filling
castor sugar

lemon wedges

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until softened. With the mixer on medium, add eggs and sugar; beat until well combined. With mixer on low speed, add flour in three parts, alternating with buttermilk and beginning and ending with flour. Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice.
3. Fill prepared muffin cups three-quarters full with batter. Transfer muffin tins to oven and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely in muffin cups.

4. Using a # tip, fill the middle of each cupcake with lemon pie filling.

5. Finish off with the merengue topping.

6. Garnish with a thin wedge of lemon that was dredged in Castor Sugar

Pie Filling and Meringue

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar, divided
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 cups cold water
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
grated zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter
3 egg whites

Pie Filling:
In a saucepan combine 1 cup sugar with cornstarch. Gradually stir in the cold water until smooth. Stir in the beaten egg yolks. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, and continue to boil and stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in the lemon peel, lemon juice and butter. Let cool.

Meringue:

Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually beat in 1/3 cup sugar; continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spread the egg white meringue mixture over the fulling, sealing to edge of crust. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Have a Creative Day!

Linda