Pink Flowering Ninebark

Hi Everyone.  Sorry I’ve been missing in action for some time.  I’m taking a break and will be back in September.  Keep having a good summer.

Paz xoxo

One can find different advertisements at the bus stop.  The ads range from available apartments to exercise classes, to language or writing classes.  I suppose, while you’re waiting for the bus, you have time to check out the fliers.

Have a great week, everyone.

Paz

Menina

My last remaining dog recently died. She was 16 years old and her name was Menina, which means ‘young lady’ in Portuguese because she acted like one (most of the time).

Menina (a Basenji/Corgi mix) traveled from Africa and settled down in New York with her family. On the way there, she didn’t tell anyone that she was pregnant. Later, she had three beautiful pups.

She quickly got used to New York City life – riding the elevator to and from the apartment, taking cab rides, being walked on a leash and no longer being allowed to roam around the neighborhood as she pleased as she did in her native country (That’s how she got pregnant in the first place.).

When Menina was younger, she was very quick on her feet; fast as lightening. None of the dogs could catch up with her in the dog run. Her favorite past times included going to the park to play, sniffing everything within smelling distance, barking at the bigger dogs and showing them that she was queen of the neighborhood. She also liked to protect her family, so that when a stranger approached, she’d produce her scariest bark. It worked. The strangers stayed away.

She liked company but didn’t care for strangers touching her. In a room full of people, Menina would find an out-of-the-way spot to sit, watch and listen. With alert eyes and perked ears, she’d look back and forth at each speaker, as if she intently followed and understood the conversation.

Menina loved fish but didn’t care for vegetables. She loved bullsticks and large bones that she could chew on for hours.

Rest in peace, Menina. You were a really good dog. Say hello to Cadeau for me and see you, one day soon, at Rainbow Bridge.

Paz

Waiting to cross the sidewalk

Taking a cab ride to the vet.

Menina and her daughter, Cadeau.

Menina experiencing her first snowfall.

Menina (August 30, 1994 – June 20, 2010)

Stop and smell the roses and people watch for a little while at the Broadway Malls (a landscaped median strip on Broadway that stretches from 60th street to 168th street on Broadway).

Happy Monday, everyone!

Paz

Strawberries.  Cream.  Cake.  What more can one ask for?

Paz

Strawberry and Cream Cake
Lululu at Home

(makes a 6" cake)
Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
4 eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cups double cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh strawberries
1/4 cup icing sugar
few fresh strawberries for garnish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375F.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.

Cream butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar and beat for another 3 mins. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well. Fold in flour mixture.

Pour mixture into a greased 6" springform cake pan lined with parchment paper. Bake 45 mins until top of cake bounces back when pressed. Cool cake in pan for 10 mins. Release cake ring, let cake cool completely before halving the cake in 2 layers.

To prepare filling, whip double cream with sugar until the mixture holds soft peaks. Place into the fridge to chill.

Line parchment paper along the inside of the cake ring. Place the bottom cake layer in. Scatter the strawberry pieces on, then top with cream mixture and smooth the top with a palette knife. Place the other cake on top. Dust heavily with icing sugar.

Carefully remove the cake ring. Peel off the parchment paper. Garnish with whole or halved strawberries.

the beginning:  first layer of cake before the cream is added.

the end:  dusted with confectioner’s sugar and decorated with strawberry.