Outside my door.

Spring is my absolute favorite time of year.

A time of rebirth and renewal and hope.

We have so much to be thankful for.

We have so much to be happy about.

So many little things to take joy in.

Things don't always have to be perfect.

But, let's choose to be happy.

We can bloom where no one would expect us to.

We can wait patiently for a better tomorrow.

Some days are really difficult and hard.  Things happen that are beyond our control.

We cannot dwell on the negative.  God gives us a spirit of hope.

One of my favorite quotes is one by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God."

Easter is coming.  Let us be very silent.  Let us strain to hear God's whisper.

There's just no telling what He might say.

See you soon,

Tommye

Happy Easter!

Easter in the dining room.

I wanted to share my dining room table with you.

It's all dressed up for Easter.

Frosted pink glassware and chocolate bunnies.

I hand pour the bunnies each year and paint the bags that they are gifted in.

There is one at each place setting.  Some are white chocolate and some are dark chocolate.

The glassware, trifle bowls and cake plates are just waiting to be filled.

My big chocolate bunny is not real chocolate, but that didn't stop my grandson Scottie from offering to bite off his ears!

This little white bunny is real chocolate and just waiting to have his ears bitten off.

I started with a large ivory tablecloth to cover the entire table.

Then I placed a vintage peachy-pink table cloth in the center for a little color.

Lastly I over laid the pink cloth with sheer embroidered organza tablecloths left from my daughter's wedding.

I added some pink napkins for a little extra color.  Now all I need is for guests to arrive.

Well, I guess I should cook something, don't you think?

See you soon,

Come back and visit any time.

If I don't talk to you before Sunday, Happy Easter!

Tommye

I am joining Tablescape Thursday at

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

White Chocolate Cake

Are you ready for an absolutely wonderful recipe?



My sweet friend,Wilma Manus, sent me an old Southern Living magazine.

When you first look at the recipe, you will think it to be super difficult.  It's not.

I served this at my Spring Open House.  Every one loved it and some of you asked me for the recipe.

Well, here it is. The March 1994 Southern Living calls it Cameo Cake.

Cameo Cake

1 1/2 cups butter

3/4 cup of water

1 four ounce bar white chocolate, broken into pieces

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting

Combine butter and water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat.  Add white chocolate, stirring until chocolate melts.  Stir in buttermilk, eggs , and vanilla; set aside.

Combine 1/2 cup flour and pecans, stirring to coat; set aside.

Combine 3 cups flour, sugar, and soda in a large mixing bowl; gradually stir in white chocolate mixture.  Fold in  pecan mixture.  (Batter will be thin.)  Pour into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks. 

( It may just be me or maybe it's my oven, but I can never bake anything at 350 degrees without burning it.  I usually bake at no more than 300 degrees, some times a little less.)

Spread White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.  Store in refrigerator.  Garnish, if desired with pecans or white chocolate curls.  Yield: one 3 layer cake.

White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting

1 four ounce bar white chocolate

1 eight ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 three ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter, softened
6 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Melt white chocolate in a heavy saucepan over low heat, (I melted mine in the microwave in thirty second intervals) stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.  Gradually add white chocolate, beating constantly until blended.  Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth.  Stir in vanilla.  Yield: about 5 cups.

Now, if you were here last Saturday for the open house, and if you tried some of this cake, and if you want it to be exactly like mine, then instead of adding vanilla extract to the cake batter, you close your eyes and accidentally pick up the coconut extract instead of the vanilla and add that to the cake batter instead.  Things happen.  What can I say?  Everyone thought it was great.  Next time, I'm going to use vanilla.

This recipe makes a fabulous super tall recipe that wouldn't fit under any glass cake cover that I have (and believe me, I have several.) 

Hope you enjoy the recipe
See you soon,
Tommye

I am linking back to Sweet as Sugar Cookies for Sweets for a Saturday at

http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/04/sweets-for-saturday-14_22.html



Spring Open House

I just thought I show you a few of our sweet spring things.

                                

Hydrangeas, morning glories and pansies with a precious nest that was abandoned last year.

Vintage linens and pillows made from exquisite old pillow cases.

Peter Rabbit, below, went home with one of my most precious customers, Grant Nunley, to help him celebrate his second birthday.  Happy Birthday, sweet Grant!!!

Spring dinnerware and vintage tablecloths.

A peek into the well room

Our new baby corner with sweet baby toys and hand painted onesies.

New placemats, napkins and runner for your table.

And last but not least, beautiful french milled soaps from Sweet Dawn at The Feather Nest.

The soap was a big hit!

Yes, I know, I have a terrible smudge on my camera lense.

I have since cleaned it.  I would remake the pictures, but after an open house, nothing looks quite the same.

I'm just pitiful aren't I?

I hope you have enjoyed the short tour.  I will be posting the recipe and photo of the White Chocolate Pecan Cake that I served later on.  It was also a big hit.  Three tiers of deliciousness!!!

Talk to you soon,

Tommye



I just had to show you a couple of pictures of my sweet granddaughter Chelsie. 
She was taking a much needed break while helping me make coconut cupcakes.

Look at that precious face and just try to tell me she's not beautiful!

Here chocolate milk with whipped topping and a strawberry and a watermelon gusher on the side

Looks yummy, don't you think?

Scottie, my handsome grandson was not too willing to pose.

If you look real close you can see one eye.

Spring break, it only comes once a year.

See you soon,

Tommye