A TRIFLE LATE ON EASTER

Hello!  It looks like we are back to our regular routine again...wishing and waiting for spring.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  All that preparation and it's over in a blink of the eye.  First off, did you notice my new blog design?  I had been toying with the idea for awhile and Friday night I decided to bite the bullet.  So here it is, courtesy of Sara at Sadie Olive.  I told her what I wanted in great detail and she had it up and running for me yesterday.  She did an excellent job!  If you ever need any design work, you have to contact her.

An update on Emily/Mike news.  They moved into their new home on Friday and worked all weekend unpacking, painting and getting rooms in order.  Emily wasted no time in getting their bedroom outfitted and cozy.  The bathroom across the hall is just gorgeous and her kitchen is well stocked with all the great gifts she received from her shower.  The Husband and I went out on Saturday morning and did a grocery shopping for them as a little present.  They are so thrilled. She told me, "Mom, it was so awesome to get up Monday morning for work, take a shower, make a cup of coffee and get ready in my own bathroom!".  It really is those little things that matter.  She asked me if I was happy or sad that she was gone now...how could she even question that?  I guess she hasn't read my last post where I was sobbing on all of your shoulders over losing my girl!  But she is SO happy and I am, too.  I'm going over there tonight to look at some of the recent changes.

Our Easter went really well.  Okay, there were a few snags, of course.  I made some desserts the night before and The Husband and I did a little over~sampling of them.  So I was up at 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning making cupcakes and a trifle.  Then the appetizers, potatoes, salad, ham and a much involved recipe for puff pastry wrapped asparagus.  The snafu, I forgot to defrost the puff pastry.  I ended up doing it in the microwave and it came out a globby mess.  Not to be intimidated, I used a lot of flour and managed to roll it out.  But...I forgot to take a picture.  Next time.

I liked the way my table turned out.  I can't for the life of me remember where I got the salad plates from but the glasses are from Pier 1 and I used my every day flatware.  The kids took a stand against my antique silver plate until I shine it up.  They don't share that awe we have in wondering who used it way back when!

A close up.  As usual, I thought I was organized and prepared and there I was ironing the tablecloth ten minutes before we ate.  I had bought the flowers earlier and I ran around the house looking for anything that screamed "Spring"!!

These are the appetizers, Buffalo Chicken Cups.  They were a big hit.  They are made in won ton wrappers and very simple to throw together.

And finally, my trifle.  I received the dish as a gift over 15 years ago and I did nothing more than display fruit in it.  This trifle consists of layers of angel food cake, strawberries, vanilla pudding and whipped cream.  It was so delicious and simple, I will definitely make it again. 

I totally vegged out on Monday and then yesterday I met Melanie from Comfy House at the Cheesecake Factory out in the burbs.  In spite of my getting lost and ending up 15 miles past the restaurant near O'Hare airport, Melanie was very forgiving and we had a nice long lunch and never stopped talking!  She is incredibly nice and bubbly and since we have been emailing back and forth for months, we were like old friends.  I can't wait to get together again.

The next few days are going to be slow and relaxing.  I am going to hang some new curtains in the kitchen and paint some shelves for the bathroom.  And no, I haven't arranged those darn cookbooks yet, but at least I'll have something to share in my next post.  So off I go.  I hope all of you are having a great week, we have had so much sun lately, it actually looks like spring weather is on the way.  Yay!

XO,

Jane