HAPPY EASTER!

photos, courtesy of PINTEREST

WISHING YOU AND THOSE YOU LOVE...

THE BLESSINGS OF A GLORIOUS EASTER:)

HAPPY EASTER! 

Boldog Husvétot kivánok...
az összes kedves Magyar
blogger barátaimnak,
sok szeretettel!

Kahlua-Banana-Nutella Bundt Cake

After announcing that I'm back on my last post; which was nearly two weeks ago...a lot has happened in my personal life...although, one thing that is really positive is that my eye is healing very nicely after the Retinal surgery, and I'm starting to see better, but it will take at least six months for a full recovery of my eye sight.

Do you ever feel so overwhelmed with things happening around you...especially in your family during the holidays?

I had an urgent and important visit from my younger sister from out of town, staying for nearly a week, just focusing on her issues/problems...forgetting about my own (one of the reasons for not posting)...then, came the horrific tragic news about about the Sandy Hook Elementary School with a gunman on a 'killing spree'...which totally shocked, and paralyzed all of us in the nation, and especially in Connecticut where it took place. I am numb, and feel horrible, sad, angry, can't stop crying for the little 'angels' (I have 2 grandchildren their age) and adults whose lives have been taken so tragically...leaving their family 'heartbroken' forever!

So horrifying, and gut wrenching, that I can't begin to describe my feelings. I could go into a long theory of 'gun control' and 'mental illness' which is already a call for HELP~ I could ask, like a lot of people have asked?

"Why does God allow innocent young children to die in such horror?" "Where was God when this horrific massacre took place?" God established humanity with 'FREE will'...we can choose to do right, or wrong, evil...or good; but there are consequences to our choices. God did intervene...otherwise there would have been more death

We blame firearms, God, and our government, but never blame ourselves as a whole. We cannot ignore mental illness, and need to focus more and getting the help for our children early in life when this kind of problem is detected.

Although some bloggers have posted a 'Silent Monday'...we cannot be silent on any day, when it comes to 'gun control' in our society which has gone out of control in our country. We should have a 'moment of silence' in our own way, or together to honor the 'little angels' and adults that have gone on to their final resting place...so, so sad; our hearts and spirits are broken, and Christmas will never be the same!

 I totally re-created this wonderful bundt cake just from 'tweaking' my banana bread recipe with 1/4 cup of Kahlua liquor; you can substitute 1/4 cup strong coffee in place of the Kahlua. Swirl in 1/2 cup Nutella in the batter, but don't mix it in entirely. Also, be sure to add 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon baking soda.

 I wanted to link this delicious bundt cake to #BundtAMonth for December to Lora's blog...so sorry; I just don't have the time or energy to do this right now...also posting my recipe. If you would like this recipe I created, do let me know, and I will post it later!

Thank you for all your sweet and caring comments, I am so ashamed for not even visiting my dear friends' blogs, not even my own daughter's @Cake Duchess!

I love you all, dear friends...please forgive me for my silence and 'aloofness.'

Flourless Chocolate Mousse Cake

Yesterday was such an amazing day...later, celebrating Passover Seder with family, and friends. My only contribution was, the Flourless Chocolate Mousse Cake. (recipe will follow on the next post, along with a new post)
 linking to:#Berrylove 

Passover, so meaningful to Jews... and Easter, to Christians... a religious celebration; unlike other celebrations that divide us. Easter, and Passover brings us closer together!

According to theologian, Martin Buber; "Passover celebrates a God who could not become visible, while Easter celebrates a God who had to become visible to save a sinful humanity."

Passover and Easter are both songs of springtime. Both are celebrations of a season of new growth and new births.It also unites us through our sacred history and sacred scripture. New Christians celebrated Passover up until the second century...in Luke 22:14-20...According to the Gospel of Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7, ...the Last Supper of Jesus was a Passover Seder meal, but according to John 12:1-it has it occurring, the day before Passover. Five, six decades later-the first celebration of Easter, was in Rome, to distinguish the Christians from the Jews.

The change was observed by the Christian followers, because the fear of death was greater than their  fear to violate God's word.

The point is; Passover is about freedom, understood as liberation from oppression, and Easter is about freedom, understood as salvation from sin!

For both Christians and Jews, the egg symbolizes life and rebirth!

Italian Easter Bread from daughter Lora @ Cake Duchess

Easter Cupcakes from Marsha @ The Harried Cook

Photo, courtesy of Anna's blog... Relaxotour

For both Christians and Jews, the egg symbolizes life, and rebirth. Also, another common roots, that Easter is always celebrated during Passover=the Hebrew word, for Pesach...literally meaning, to "pass over" In Italian, it's called Pasqua, the same as in Spanish, and Greek with different spelling.

The word Easter, comes from ancient Egypt-for the worship of Astarte, the "goddess of fertility"...throughout time, it spread over to England in the 7th, and early 8th century...Their Christian celebration, attempting to convert pagans to Christianity. Also called; Eastre, from the word East!

I was in awe of the beautiful fresh green and floral plants indoor at our hosts' beautiful home. (Dr. Eric's parents')
All the plants seemed to be so alive from the perfect light from outside, and the special care given from their caretaker!
These beautiful plants represent the rebirth...a continuous process...one life succeeds the previous one. Renewal cleanses and enables that heart and soul, and mind to... find a wealth of new experiences.

"When a home is ruled according to God's word, angels might be asked to stay with us, and they would not find find themeselves out of their element."
~Charles Spurgeon

Happy Passover!
Happy Easter!
Buona Pasqua!
Boldog Husvétot!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas... a Restaurant Review!

Wednesday, December 14, at  Cafe Sapori  West Palm Beach, Florida

Undoubtedly, you know the song...but seriously, in case I forget to wish all of my dear blogger friends, a peaceful and Blessed Holiday Season! As far as baking, I'm so not ready, as for Christmas shopping...same issues, but I did make an awesome Chocolate Chip Date Nut Spice Loaf...for recipe, click on to Claudia's blog...my Florida friend, @ What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine! She has all the old fashioned Italian style recipes, from her dear mom. and grandmother!

Linking my Chocolate Chip Date Nut Spice Loaf to:
  Full Plate Thursday, 12-15-2011 @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage

Grilled Striped Sea Bass... and Online Bake Sale

I have to confess, I did not make the delicious and so flaky Striped Sea Bass...not even the hand chopped side veggies. It was delivered to me yesterday by my daughter Lora, and her mother-in-law Teresa. Such a sweet gesture. They stopped by just in time for lunch, bringing so much food, from my son-in-law's restaurant, and also my son Joe, and wife Cara brought more goodies, and cat food supplies...and why? you may ask.

Clumsy me, I sprained my ankle Friday afternoon, picking up my granddaughter from her elementary school, as I have been doing for the last two weeks, and running errands for Lora, until she recuperates and can drive. Well, that was cut short...thanks to me!

Sometimes, taking a short-cut walking,  after you have parked your car three blocks away because there wasn't any parking available near by is not the answer...especially with shoes that are not the most comfortable. I missed stepping off a curb, and literally "wiped out"...sigh...so embarrassing...and to top it off, it was in the school yard. Luckily, a friend gave her a ride home whose daughter is in the same class. In the meantime, my daughter called me on my cell phone and wanted to know why I was late...there I am on the ground...can't get up, people around me, and so much excitement...plus my phone went dead, so I could not explain what happened.

Long story...short, this is how I look now, badly sprained ankle...went to the walk in clinic with my daughter-in-law Cara. She left work early to take me...did not want to go to the ER and wait for hours. Tomorrow I have to go to the orthopedic, and probably be fitted for one of those cute orthopedic boots. In the meantime, Lora found a "walker" for me at a local thrift shop (takes after mom with thrifting) brand new, it cost $8.00. What a bargain! I cannot stand on the left foot now, at all...just hobbling around.

Linking this to: Swathi @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen  Hearth and Soul Hop #44  
                                   Home Sweet Farm , Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop

A Nice Salad, and "WOMEN FOOD AND GOD"

I've been obsessing the last couple weeks, about my life,  and doing a little (lot) of soul searching, what is it with us women that we always have to be worrying about our weight? It should be more of a problem how you look, and how you feel, not because of that magic number which could be either joyful, or detrimental to our self image. If you feel good, and you are comfortable with yourself, no matter the size, (except obesity)-which is another subject, then why torture yourself, "what if I loose 10 lbs, 30 lbs, or maybe 50? Well, if you set your mind on it and you really want to do it, then by all means set your goal.
I ordered this "gently used" book from Amazon.com ( remember? I'm a thrifter.) I just cant' seem to put it down, it is really intriguing, and tugging at your "heart sleeve" about these stories of women that have been trying to lose weight for years with all the diets that are out there, only to lose it and gain more weight back. So, stop dieting, and concentrate on being happy with who you are, the way you are, and get to know YOU! You will start to have a clearer focus of what you are actually feeding your stomach, and your soul.
Since I've been blogging about FOOD, and THRIFTING, just for about a few months, I've been so focused with all the helpful information out there, through my Twitter friends, and my Foodie friends, from Foodbuzz. I did not even imagine all the wonderful people out there that have so much to give, and share. So, do yourself a favor, and check out all these amazing food blogs, and the great people that contribute them from the heart. You will not be sorry...and you will make lots of friends in the interim.
Note:
I did not express this minor confession for the reason that I have these issues, but then we all have some sort of issues that we have to, or have had to work out, and FOOD is one of them for most people. Either you get passionate about it, and start realizing that there are so many fresh and nutritious things are out there, there is no excuse for any of us not to start a new chapter in our lives, with our love of GOOD FOOD, and not obsessing about it like a "lost love"...maybe a lost puppy! ...hope not.

Here are some deep excerpts, from WOMEN FOOD AND GOD by: Geneen Roth


I don't believe in the God that most people call God, but I do know the the only definition of God that makes any sense is one that  uses this human life and its suffering--the very things we believe we nee to hide or fix--as a path to the heart of love itself. Which is why the relationship with food is a perfect doorway.
While I realize that some people find the word God explosive and potentially divisive, and that others have a deeply satisfying relationship with God, I us the word in this book because it evokes a vast expanse that we cannot penetrate with our minds, although we can know it through silence or poetry or simply sensing what is always here.
And because pairing food with God fizzles the mind--the two seem as unrelated as titanium computers and scarlet peonies-- all that you believe about food and God can fall away.
UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD IS A DIRECT PATH TO COMING HOME AFTER A LIFETIME OF BEING EXILED.
PERHAPS THAT HOME IS WHAT GOD WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE.

After reading a few chapters of my book, I wanted to be more aware of what I'm going to make for lunch for myself. Romaine salad, always on hand in the frig, better than the ready bags of salads. This one, you cut it yourself, and it's more economical, and lasts longer,. Three nice heads of Romaine, is equivalent to a bag of cut up salad, and (you can feed an army with the Romaine)...and lasts longer when it's not cut up. Cucumbers, sliced red onions, sliced tomatoes, and a few olives Top it off with hard boiled, sliced eggs, and freshly grated carrots...use nothing but your best extra virgin olive oil, and a little drizzle of your favorite vinegar. I like white balsamic, lately. Oh, and the plate, I bought 2, just to make myself happy...it looks so nice on the photos. Isaac Mizrahi plates, from Target, purchased ate Goodwill, for 79 cents, each. Now, isn't that special!?

A simple Lipton ice tea, made with the real tea bags, specifically just for ice tea. One tea bag will make a huge pitcher of ice tea. I love it with lime, lately, since lime is so cheap to buy, you can get about 10-15 limes for just $1.00. The glass is a Coca Cola collectible glass, @ 69 cents a piece, I was able to get two, so now I have a set of two special collectors glasses.