Monday, March 31, 2014

Sights of Spring

My yard is not looking very spring like yet but, it will get there.  Meanwhile, I am pulling a collage out of the archives to take the chill off these barren spring days.  Is it spring yet where you live?

Sherry
I will link this to:

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House
Wake Up Wednesday at Sew Crafty
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Friday, March 28, 2014

Home Sweet Home #163

Lemon Cake Tea: The Charm of Home
Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  This week I had a Lemon Cake Tea.

Lemon Pound Cake: The Charm of Home
I made a lemon cake that my family really liked in Ina's Lemon Pound Cake.

Spring Collage: The Charm of Home
I made a Spring Collage out of some of my photographs and posted it with a Dickens quote.

Fairy Cakes with Pixie Dust: The Charm of Home
We also had a tea party and celebrated with these cupcakes.

There are so many great creative ideas, recipes, and beautiful homes at The Home Sweet Home party each week. Here are some of the great blogger's post that caught my eye from last week's Home Sweet Home.

Spring Mantel
Diane, at Extraordinary Day created this Simple, Dramatic White Mantel for Spring.  I loved the simplicity and composition of this.

Union Jack Painted Dresser
Suzan, at Simply Vintageous gave makeovers to several pieces of furniture and this was my favorite in: A Day in the Life of....a furniture painter.

Cooking with Edible Flowers
Mary, at Home is Where the Boat Is is always cooking up something stunning, but she really outdid hereself in this post where she cooked with edible flowers: in Swing into Spring: A Roundup of Spring Recipes & Inspiration.

Vintage Strawberry Crate Styling
Patti, at Old Things New created this little bit of Happiness in a Vintage Strawberry Crate.

Craft: French Script Bottle
Nancy, at A Joyful Cottage covered a wine with French script in My $2 Rustic Stool and French Script Bottle.


There were so many beautiful posts and wonderful food!   It is really hard to feature a few and, remember to be featured you must have a link back to the Home Sweet Home party.   Thank you to everyone who joins me at Home Sweet Home!  It is wonderful to have you here!
  Sherry


Follow me on Twitter  

Follow me on Facebook 

Follow me on Pinterest 


Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party: 


Attention: To link up you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or you won't be featured.



Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing home tours and neat shops too!
My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)
Now let's see your beautiful homes, delicious recipes, crafts, or whatever makes your home special!

 *If you are pinning a post submitted here, please pin from the original site.


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Home Sweet Home Will Be on Friday AM

Home Sweet Home Linky Party

The Home Sweet Home party will be available for link up on Friday in the AM (after 9 am).
Sorry if this causes any inconvenience.  
Looking forward to what beautiful things you are up to for spring!
Sherry 

Spring Collage



"It was one of those March days when the sun  shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade."

-Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

I have been waiting all March to use this quote and it hasn't really felt that warm, but I have remembered days like this and I love them.  They have the promise of summer yet to come. 

Sherry
I will link this to:

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House
Wake Up Wednesday at Sew Crafty
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Ina's Lemon Pound Cake

Lemon Pound Cake: The Charm of Home
I made two lemon cakes the day I made this cake and my family ate them all in less than 12 hours!   I didn't realize that they liked lemon so much, but they do.  This cake was the first to go.  It was full of lemon flavor and really delicious!

Ina's Lemon Pound Cake

For the cake:
1/4 pound (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (3-4 large lemons)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the glaze:
1 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour 1 loaf pan. 
Cream the butter and 1 cup of the granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the lemon zest.  

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.  In another bowl, combine 30ml (1/8 cup) lemon juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla.  Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.  Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth tops, and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar with the 1/4 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves.  When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes.  Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them.  Allow the cakes to cool completely. 

For the glaze, combine the confectioner's sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth.  Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.
Yield: 1 loaf
Recipe adapted from: Not Derby Pie

Lemon Pound Cake: The Charm of Home
Sherry
I will link this to:
Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm 
Strut Your Stuff Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff 
Homemaking Linkup at Hope In Every Season 
Rooted in Thyme Simple and Sweet Fridays
The Best Blog Recipes link party 
Tasty Tuesday at The Comforts of Home

Monday, March 24, 2014

Lemon Cake Tea

Have you all been able to tell I have become enamored with tea?  I have.  I always knew I liked it but, I really like it!  I had a bag of lemons from the grocery and wanted to try a lemony dessert. 

I tried two lemon cakes the day I made this and one was a English recipe.  The English recipe didn't turn out for me so I came up with a recipe I knew would work and that is Ina Garten's Lemon Pound Cake.  I will share the recipe tomorrow.

This sweet little teacup was made by Gracie's China.

Having a refreshing pot of tea with a lemon cake for a new spring day.  Such a lovely way to begin the season!

Sherry
I will link this to:
 

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage 
A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life 
Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites
Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Teacups
Tea In The Garden at Bernideen's Tea Time Blog
 
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Be Inspired Friday at Common Ground    
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Say G'Day at Natasha in Oz
Cottage Style Party at Lavender Garden Cottage 
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Home Sweet Home #162

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  Happy first day of spring! This week I shared a Spring Tea Collage.

I joined a sweet friend for a bird themed tea in A Hidden Nest.

I also shared a new version of my Gluten Free Banana Pancakes.  They are dairy, soy, wheat/all grain, and nut free.  What did I put in them?  A boost of calcium for those of us who don't eat dairy and are getting of a certain age, ...ahem, which I won't mention.


 There are so many great creative ideas, recipes, and beautiful homes at The Home Sweet Home party each week. Here are some of the great blogger's post that caught my eye from last week's Home Sweet Home.

Erin at Just Grand's Michigan Beach Cottage was featured in Cottage Style Magazine.

Andrea at Scrapality shared a recipe for Crab Stuffed Mushroom Caps.

Cathy at Vintage, Paint, and more... shared a Stenciled Bird Canvas.


Penny at Penny's Vintage Home Showed us her Repurposed Chest of Drawers.

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes took us on a once in a lifetime trip to Petra.  This post is wonderful, she took us into the ancient city with some beautiful photos.

There were so many beautiful posts and wonderful food!   It is really hard to feature a few and, remember to be featured you must have a link back to the Home Sweet Home party.   Thank you to everyone who joins me at Home Sweet Home!  It is wonderful to have you here!
  Sherry

Follow me on Twitter  
Follow me on Facebook 
Follow me on Pinterest 

Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party: 
Attention: To link up you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or you won't be featured.


Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing home tours and neat shops too!
My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)
Now let's see your beautiful homes, delicious recipes, crafts, or whatever makes your home special!

 *If you are pinning a post submitted here, please pin from the original site.


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Gluten Free Banana Pancakes

I have taken my Gluten Free Coconut Flour and  Banana Pancakes and modified them a lot.  The reason being, is that if you have nut allergies you really could have problems with coconut.  I had this sort of problem last fall.  I have made this many times and I just found a new trick that works great for a person needing to boost their calcium intake.


Ingredients:

2 organic eggs, beaten
1 over ripe banana, mashed
2 tablespoons of potato flour (not starch)
1 teaspoon calcium citrate powder 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon honey or organic pure maple syrup (optional)
dash salt

Preheat a medium cast iron skillet on medium heat.  Beat the eggs in a small bowl and set aside.  Take a medium bowl and slice up the banana then mash it well.  Add the egg, honey, and whisk with the banana.  Whisk in the potato flour, salt, calcium citrate powder, and the vanilla.  Mix really well, you can't over stir this batter, no gluten.  Let sit five minutes.  The potato flour and the calcium citrate will absorb the liquid and make a good consistency to the batter.  
* Note- this gives you 420 mg of calcium with the whole recipe.  Don't take more than 600 mg of calcium at a time, your body can only absorb about this much at a time.  Calcium should be taken in divided doses.  Calcium citrate will absorb with food.

Yield: 6 Half-dollar size pancakes

So here you have protein, magnesium  (banana), and calcium all in one serving.   This works for anyone with a dairy, soy, wheat/all grains, and tree nut allergy.

Sherry
I will link this to:
Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm 
Strut Your Stuff Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff 
Homemaking Linkup at Hope In Every Season 
Rooted in Thyme Simple and Sweet Fridays
The Best Blog Recipes link party
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants 
Waste Not Want Not at Poor and Gluten Free 
Fridays Unfolded at Nancherrow

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

A Hidden Nest

Spring tea: The Charm of Home
Spring is almost here!  I am happy to join Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for a bird themed tea today to celebrate spring's arrival.  Hopefully the weather will soon act like spring.  

Spring tea: The Charm of Home
I am using my birdie teapot and tea mug.  They were both made by Gracie China.

Spring tea: The Charm of Home
My treat today are these petite French macaroons.  They were in the freezer section of our local grocery.  I didn't realize how delicate they were.  Almost all of them were broken in the box I purchased.  They are very pretty.  The flavors were strawberry, pistachio, and vanilla, I think.  They were already eaten by the time I typed this.

Spring tea: The Charm of Home
A hidden nest, for spring.  I am eager to get out on a walk and spy some birds tending their nest.  Maybe next week it will be warmer.

Spring tea: The Charm of Home
Welcome Spring!

Sherry
I will link this to:
 

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage 
A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life 
Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites
Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Teacups
Tea In The Garden at Bernideen's Tea Time Blog
 
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home 
 Be Inspired Friday at Common Ground    
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Say G'Day at Natasha in Oz

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Spring Tea Collage

I haven't joined Mary at Little Red House for  Mosaic Monday for a long time so, I put all of my green and white tea photos in a collage for St. Patrick's Day! 
Have a great day and don't get pinched.


Sherry
I will link this to:
 
Mosaic Monday at Little Red House
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Home Sweet Home #161

Spring Wreath Recycled
Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  This week I put something green on my front door in A Spring Wreath Recycled.

Guinness Cake Tea
I cooked with an Irish stout for tea time in Guinness Cake Tea.

Guinness Chocolate Cake with a Salted Caramel Glaze
Then I shared the recipe source for this cake in Guinness Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel Glaze.

 There are so many great creative ideas, recipes, and beautiful homes at The Home Sweet Home party each week. Here are some of the great blogger's post that caught my eye from last week's Home Sweet Home.

Bernideen's Tea Time Blog showed off her English tea cup and tea pot collection in Holding the Line at 30!
  
Naush at Doodle Buddies showed us how to create these lovelies in Concrete Mushrooms!! A Tutorial.



Margaret of Chantilly Charm showed off how to create this DIY Bunny Pillow.



Amanda at It's A Fabulous Life showed us how to create these fun Rainbow Pancakes.

There were so many beautiful posts and wonderful food!   It is really hard to feature a few and, remember to be featured you must have a link back to the Home Sweet Home party.   Thank you to everyone who joins me at Home Sweet Home!  It is wonderful to have you here!
  Sherry

Follow me on Twitter  
Follow me on Facebook 
Follow me on Pinterest
 


Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party: 


Attention: To link up you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or you won't be featured.

Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing home tours and neat shops too!

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)
Now let's see your beautiful homes, delicious recipes, crafts, or whatever makes your home special!

 *If you are pinning a post submitted here, please pin from the original site.