Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Catching up

Some things you know, but you just don't catalogue them efficiently. At least, I do (and don't).

One of those is our wedding anniversary, June 27, which is incredibly close to the fourth of July, but I never seem to remember that. The fireworks catch me off guard every time.

Another one is David's birthday, May 22, and Memorial Day. I never realize that these two go together, either. Maybe next year I will.

When I get hit with a double whammy that I wasn't expecting (even though I should have been), it takes me awhile to get it together and do something about it. Hence, I am posting about David's birthday and Memorial Day nearly a month late. But they do say, "Better late than never." Don't they?



David is big on healthy eating. Not that this is particularly healthy, but, I guess, compared to chocolate mousse or creme brulee, it gets a few points. Some people call it fruit pizza, but we call it Fruit Tart, just because it sounds nicer. (For a bigger, more mouth-watering view, click on the picture...)

If you want to know how to make it...

1. The Crust

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. lemon extract (don't skip this)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
2 cups flour

Soften butter. Beat all together in a large mixing bowl with an electric beater (do the first five ingredients first, then sift together the dry ingredients and beat in). Spread in a 14 in pizza pan with high sides. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes, until lightly golden brown in spots. Cool before proceding.

2. The delicious layer

Soften 6-8 oz. cream cheese.
Beat with 2-3 Tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate.
When smooth, stir in about 1 cup of Fluff (marshmallow creme).
Spread on the cookie crust.

3. The fruit

Wash and cut up a bunch of your favorite fruit. Arrange beautifully on the tart (or "pizza"). I am allergic to kiwi, or I would use it, because it adds a nice color contrast to most fruits. For this pizza, I first laid down a layer of bananas and mandarin oranges. Then I heaped on fresh strawberries, because they are delicious and they happened to be on sale that week. I garnished with fresh raspberries and blackberries.

4. The finish

Buy a carton of pre-made glaze for strawberry pie (at Wegman's, you find this in the produce section, right next to the berries). Pour it over all the fruit. It is delicious. I know it isn't particularly healthy, but it is worth it. I also have a recipe for making a glaze, but you have to boil it to thicken with cornstarch and then pour it hot over the fruit and chill it forever while praying it will actually set up in the end. It is tasty, but time consuming and unpredictable. I go with the store-bought strawberry glaze now. It works every time. I think you could also try using a can of lemon pie filling.


A happy birthday boy. Augh. He is EIGHTEEN.


The Memorial Day Story

Jonathan is in mandatory marching band (this is middle school). They march in the Memorial Day parade. All our kids have done this. It was our last year of it this year.

Shawn and I set out for the parade, late as always. About halfway there, we realized we had forgotten the camera. I figured that if we went home to get it, we would miss the parade entirely. So I called Shannon (mind you, the older kids were all sleeping in). She said she would bring us the camera. To make a long story short, with all the hitches and roadblocks that had been set up to accomodate the parade, it took her so long to get to us, all I got was a shot of the back of Jon's band marching off into the distance...


Oh well. She did her best. And it proved that I had been right not to decide to try to go home and get it myself... that would have been disastrous. At least I saw Jon marching and playing, even if I didn't get a photo of him.

4 comments:

Ruth MacC said...

ell, the most important thing is that you saw it, enjoyed it and got a picture too:0)


I have something to ask you about...


I can't continue to teach my son after the age of 13. He will have to go to secondary school. He has been accepted into the one that we really wanted him to attend, I am very glad to say. I am thinking of having a party for him just before his 13th birthday in 2011 to mark the end of his learning at home, his journey into being a teenager and the start of his regular school life. Have you any ideas? What do people usually do in the US?

Would be grateful for any ideas or advice you can give.

Thanks

ruth said...

I haven't heard of anyone doing this, but it seems like a really nice idea, and it will make the transition positive and exciting for Sean.

At the end of middle school, we do have (at school) what we call a "moving up" ceremony. Which, given the age of the students, doesn't usually end up being very ceremonial. :) But it is fun and exciting for them and they look towards going to high school. The big thing they do is a slide show (which elicits a great deal of cawing and screaming from the kids).

You might like to include a slide show of things Sean has done during his homeschool years, focusing on people he has worked with and met, and his friends. People at the party have the most fun watching slides when they get a chance to see themselves, so try to get in as many photos of the guests as you can (I say as I plan a slide show for my graduating son which will mostly contain family pictures... do as I say, not as I do... I am terrible at remembering to take my camera places).

If you have people in your life who have been specially involved in Sean's spiritual growth and upbringing, you could have a time where they lay hands on him and pray (maybe before you eat)?

Gott go....

Ruth MacC said...

I love the idea of the slide show. I have thousands of photos and videos of Sean's home schooling. Also, there are certain Christian adults who have taken an active interest in Sean's spiritual life that have prayed for him over the years. I think recognition should be given to them on the night.

Also, I get what you are saying about photos of family and friends:0)

Do you mind if I copy and paste your suggestion onto my blog?

ruth said...

No problem. Sorry I wrote it here instead of there...