Fun Stuff

Just the other day, we decided to go on a family adventure to a new playground for Ev.  We went to the playground/picnic area/beach at TVA, which was pretty nice (and would've been better) if only we had our bathing suits.  But, as for just a playground, not anything to write home about!  But here are a couple nice pics:

 So, we decided to hop on the Highway over to Athens for some dinner at my favorite restaurant (Cracker Barrel).  After we filled or bellies up, we we headed over to the Athens playground...and let me tell you...that place is the bomb-diggety!!!   Sorry no pics there, my phone was jam up full with pics already!  Maybe next time!   ;)

Our garden is doing good (other than the blasted deer over in our large garden area - who have been feasting out on OUR vegetation!  So, yeah, I am a bit ticked about that!!  :^{  

But Anyhoo...  My best gardening/canning/yard saling/etc. buddy Jessica told me about putting cardboard down all around her plants and then putting some sort of mulch (our favorite-free, pilfered pine needles from walking tracks and neighbor's yards) a year or so ago...  So this year I finally decided to do some 'closer gardening" to my house (in one of my old flower beds), and take her word on it!  And, I am loving it!!  I have only had to pull about 15 weeds out of there so far!  :))  And that makes a gardener very happy!!  But as for my large garden, unfortunitely the weeding must go on...  And thank you Jessica and Jennifer so much for your help in that!  :)  p.s.  Are you available to do it again this coming Monday morning?   ;)

Our large garden area.  The plants are tiny here, and a lot bigger now! 

A very large and loaded blueberry bush. 

A sign I made for my future "Rustic Bakery", featuring an antique rolling pin.  

Ha!  If that ever really happens...

Oh, and here's my pillow craft from the Craft Weekend I told you all I would later post a picture of once I'd finished it.  :)

Goodnight to all!  :^*

Strawberry, Champagne and Rose Cake

This was the second year in a row I decided to enter in the Strawberry Festival Baking Contest...  Last year I had made Strawberry Topped Black Bottom Cheesecake, and this year I made a Great British Baking Show dessert called (you guessed it) Strawberry, Rose and Champagne Cake.  It was the first time I had made it and boy, was it good!!                                 

 
This picture was before I put tiny roses on top, I am showing it because the lighting is much better on this photo. ;)

  


Recipe:

Strawberry, Champagne & Rose Cake

Ingredients

FOR THE SPONGE:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups super fine sugar
3 1/8 cup all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 1/2 cup milk
3 medium eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract


FOR THE SYRUP:

5/8 cup super fine sugar
1 tsp rose water


FOR THE DECORATION:

14 oz white chocolate
5 strawberries
Hot pink gel food color
Freeze dried strawberries and rose petals for garnish


FOR THE BUTTERCREAM FILLING:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup Champagne or Proscecco
6 tbsp strawberry preserve


Method

~ Grease and line 3 - 8 inch round baking tins with baking parchment, and preheat the oven to 340*, gas mark 3.
~ Place the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment. Mix on low until all the butter is rubbed into the dry mixture and it has a sandy texture.
~ In a separate bowl, beat together the milk, eggs and vanilla. Keeping the stand mixer on a low speed, pour the mixture down the side of the flour and butter bowl. When all the liquid has been added, beat on a high speed for 2 minutes until it is light and fluffy.
~ Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared tins and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
~ While the cake is baking, place the sugar into a saucepan with 100ml of water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and stir in the rose water.
~ When the cakes are cooked, leave them to cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then liberally brush with the cooled rose syrup. Leave to cool completely.
~ To make the white chocolate decorations, melt the chocolate over a bowl of simmering water until smooth. Dip the strawberries into the chocolate and place them onto baking parchment to set. To make the shards, take a quarter of the remaining white chocolate and mix in the food colouring until it is one uniform colour, then transfer this mixture into a piping bag. Pour the rest of the white chocolate into a large, lined baking tray, then drizzle with the pink chocolate and scatter over dried strawberries and rose petals. Leave to set at room temperature for 30 minutes, then score 12 large triangles into it with a sharp knife. Chill until completely solid.
~ For the buttercream, beat the soft butter and icing sugar in a stand mixer until it clumps together. Add the Champagne, a few tablespoons at a time, until the icing loosens up and becomes fluffy. Beat on a high speed for 3-4 minutes to get air in.
~ To assemble, place the bottom layer of sponge onto a large plate. Spread the top with buttercream and 3 tbsp strawberry jam, repeat with the second layer of sponge, then add the third on top. Cover the whole cake with a thin layer of buttercream, then place in the fridge for 20 minutes to solidify. Then, using a large palette knife, coat the chilled cake with more buttercream to achieve a smooth, clean finish. Arrange the chocolate shards and strawberries on top, then sprinkle over some dried berries and rose petals before enjoying.

Tennessee Strawberry Festival 2016

 We had a wonderful Strawberry Festival this year!  Lots of cool, decorated floats, with the theme 'Strawberries in Candyland'.   It was the best one I can remember!  Evelyn also had a fantastic time, especially gathering up candy from the parade for the first time!  :)

 

Thomas the Train

Thomas is in Chattanooga at the 

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

for 'Day out with Thomas'!  Much to my surprise, Evelyn lllooovvveeesss him!  So, this past Saturday, I decided I'd take her down there to see Thomas and her daddy, who works it every weekend of this event.

We had a traintastic time!  :)

Fizzling Fireboxes, who knew this train actually talked?!?  See, you can tell his mouth moved in these 2 pictures...

Ev handing out tickets to the Conductor. 

She loves conversating with animals!   ;)

A kid getting some milk.  (A kid is also a baby goat for those of you who may not know)  ;)

Chattanooga Zoo

Evelyn and I had a great time with some friends at the Chattanooga Zoo on Monday!   Here are just a few pictures of the exciting animals we saw...

Prairie Dogs...  Our favorite!  ;)

This funny bird was looking at itself in a mirror.  Pretty funny to watch. 

Evie was having a conversation with this little blue creature.