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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Mark the Date: March 19th Zeppole Day!

For many of you who just read the title of this piece, you probably think I meant to write March 17th. After all, that is the day the whole world turns Irish, but I assure you I meant March 19th!

After all the green beer and shenanigans that went on just two short days earlier, we find ourselves again celebrating another Great Saint's Feast Day.

This one is St. Joseph's Day. He traditionally was known as the Foster Father of Jesus Christ. So from this auspicious beginning comes the Italian way of celebrating Father's Day.

Now St. Joseph's Day isn't celebrated like St. Patrick's, with parades and lots of drinking, but, as with any celebration, there is food! You cannot celebrate anything without some special culinary delight!

The Italians have this lovely pastry called Zeppole di San Guiseppe. If you have never tried one, I recommend that you make your way to the nearest Italian Bakery and ask for this lovely concoction. Traditionally it was only made for March 19th, but, as with anything that becomes successful, many bakeries now make this famous treat available at least a month in advance of St. Joseph's Day and some even make them all year round.

Here is my recipe for these delightful Zeppole, and I bet once you try them, you will be hooked forever. You will have another reason to celebrate the month of March. It will become the St. Patrick's, and St. Joseph's Day feasting. By the time you are done with that, it will be great to return to the practices of Lent and do a little fasting....because you know that Easter is on the way.

To Make the Pastry:

1 cup of water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups of cake flour
5 eggs
6 to 8 cups of good quality oil for frying

To Make the Cream Custard

3 1/4 cups of whole milk
Rind of one lemon
8 egg yolks
2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
3 1/2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
4 tablespoons butter cubed.

Brandied Cherries for decoration and taste.

Directions:

Pastry: In a saucepan, bring the water, butter, sugar and salt to a rolling boil. Make sure the butter is in small cubes as it will melt better and combine with the water, salt and sugar mixture. Add all the flour in one movement. remove from heat and using a wooden spoon blend in the flour until it is all incorporated. Put back on the heat and stir the mixture over medium, heat for about 5 minutes. Do not let the mixture dry out. Remove from heat and after allowing the mixture to cool completely put into a mixing bowl. There you can begin to add one egg at a time mixing well after each egg is introduced.

Place all of this mixture into a pastry bag with a star shaped tip (the tip should be at least 1/2 in diameter) Cut squares of foil or parchment about 4 inches square. If using foil you must spray oil on the foil before immersing in the deep fryer or frying pan.

Pipe out a circle of 3 1/2 inches around on each piece of foil or paper. Fry the zeppole on each side for about 4 minutes, removing the paper or foil after flipping them over. Do only two or three at a time and drain them on paper towels.

Let them cool thoroughly.

Custard: Place the milk and the lemon rind in the pot, leave for 20 minutes and then bring the milk to a boil. Remove from heat. Let the lemon rind steep in the milk of 10 minutes and then remove. In another bowl, whisk together the sugar and egg yolks until the mixture is fluffy. Add the cornstarch and flour and whisk to combine.

Once the milk has been cooled it can be added to the egg mixture . Return it to the heat and whisking constantly, cook for 2 minutes or more until it is thickened. Add the cubed butter to the custard and mix well. Remove from heat and place in a glass bowl covered with plastic wrap . Make sure the wrap is touching the top of the custard or it will develop a skin and we don't want that. Cool thoroughly. Place the custard into a pastry bag and pipe either on top of the pastry or the way I like it, in the middle of the pastry......

Traditionalists will fill the center of the Zeppole with the custard and place a brandied cherry on top and then dust it with icing sugar.

Some Bakeries do it the way I like them best, they slice the Zeppole pastry in the middle, add the custard to the inside, add brandied cherries on top of the custard and then replace the top part of the pastry, dusting all with icing sugar.


By Lucas81 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Traditional Zeppole, ready just for you!

Pictures: The top picture comes from my favorite bakery in Toronto, San Remo's (www.sanremobakery.com) and the picture at the bottom comes from Wikimedia.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Reviewing Two Hearts Wedding Theme Ideas

When Two Hearts Find Each Other

As many of our regular readers know, our family is looking forward to a wedding this fall. The mother of the groom and the mother of the bride (that's me) are both so thrilled that these two hearts have found each other and plan to walk life's journey together. We both admitted to one another when we met that we were beginning to wonder if either one of them would ever find that special someone, it had been a long search for both of them.

After having met my daughter's soon to be Mother-in-law, I kept reflecting on those two hearts that seem so perfectly matched. Wouldn't a two hearts wedding theme be perfect for the both of them to celebrate their special day? It just seems so fitting in my mind. Of course, it is up to my daughter and her fiance to make the final decision but I am loving the idea.

A two hearts wedding theme would be so easy to work with. There are a multitude of supplies to be found with this theme. One can easily find napkins, plates and cups for the reception with those hearts entwined. I particularly like the cake topper in lieu of a more traditional bride and groom one.

double heart cake topper

In my research, I have found that just about anything you would want to use at the wedding reception can be found with this endearing theme. A lovely guest book with a pen holder that matches could be placed at the church for the actual ceremony. Pretty champagne flutes for the bride and groom to toast each other at the reception are an option. Well, the list just goes on with choices. Personally, I think my daughter will love this idea when I present it to her. It may be a little on the sentimental and "soppy" side but it just so fits their lives.

Those two hearts who have walked alone through life are going to join as one to walk hand in hand on the path that they were destined to find. Two hearts who were just fine separate but together become complete and whole. Two souls who chose not to settle but to wait until "the one" came along. Well, to say that we are thrilled for both of them just doesn't seem to cover the extent of my emotions and it pleased me to find out that the mother of the groom feels the same way.

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Monday, February 22, 2016

Whale Music Book Review

Sex, drugs and rock and roll. After reading the innocent sounding title, Whale Music, you might be surprised to find that this book has all of those things and more. In the end, however, it turns out to be an interesting story of betrayal, of breaking away and of redemption.

Penthouse magazine called Whale Music, "The best novel written about rock 'n' roll."

In his award-winning book, Whale Music, Paul Quarrington tells the story of a successful rock star turned recluse, of the path that took him there and of his current reality.

"Naked, rich and fabulously deranged, he subsists on a steady diet of whiskey, pharmaceuticals and jelly doughnuts and occasionally works on his masterpiece, Whale Music."

If the plot line sounds familiar at all, that could be because it is based on a real person. My book club read this book and wondered aloud during our discussion if it was based on someone in real life and, as it turns out and according to Quarrington's own words, it was.

Whale Music was loosely based on the life and times of Brian Wilson of Beach Boys fame. Quarrington said that the book came after he thought, "I bet I can construct a set of circumstances where scurrying under the blankies and hiding your head for a year is the most sane and the most rational response to what's going on." Wilson is rumoured to have said that it is the best book that he has read about the Beach Boys. You can hear the author discuss Whale Music on CBC by clicking here.

Being the winner of prestigious literary awards like the Stephen Leacock award and the Governor General's award does not necessarily make a book one that you would recommend though I will admit to eventually being taken in my Quarrington's main character, Des Howell. However, I also spent much of the booking waiting to see what was going to happen. In the end, I did want to know whether Howell survived or even emerged from his destructive lifestyle and what happened to his alien friend.

Would I recommend this book? Well, I am not sure. If you have a keen interest in the lives of the rich and famous, yes I would though remember that this book is fiction. Other caveats are the drugs and alcohol though if sad I did not find them very disturbing to read. Also, you will have to be able to overlook numerous references to sex though I no longer remember if any actually took place in the book. Certainly they were not described in great detail, which makes the sex in this book tame, if you can say that though certainly referenced a lot. If you want an easy-to-read though because of the subject matter not exactly fluffy book that is often times funny, yes and it was funny from the very first lines...

"There is a toe sticking out from underneath a green blanket on my living room sofa..."

You can read more about Whale Music on Amazon by clicking right here.

Happy Reading!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Quick Links:

Read more about Paul Quarrington in this CTV article that appeared after he passed away in 2010.

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Sunday, February 21, 2016

How to Change the Look and Feel of a Room Without Spending a Fortune

A Simple Facelift to our Washroom: A paint job,
new accessories, de-cluttering and cleaning
Total Cost: $150

If you live where changing seasons are a part of life, you know exactly what it means to 'feel the coming change in the air.'

It is hard to explain what it does to the senses to someone who's never experienced this artful conversion and how it unwittingly triggers many emotions within us.

How Changing Seasons Get Us Thinking About Changing Our Homes or, at the Very Least, Changing Our Decor

Since, at the time of writing this, Spring is on its way, typically, many urges hit us. Some of them include renewal, freshness, cleanliness, and, in the case of selling and buying a home, the urge for a new beginning. However, before you jump into the often exhausting process of selling a home, read this article to test your resolve.

So, How Can You Make Changes in Your Decor Without Dropping Big Bucks?

Here are Four simple, inexpensive decor ideas:

Add an Area Rug to a Room: If you have a room with tile or hardwood flooring, changing your existing rug or adding one where one never existed can dramatically change the look and feel of the space. You may think that Area Rugs are just too expensive; however, be sure to check out these very popular and affordable rugs; you'll be surprised by the big bang you get for your buck!
Clean and De-Clutter Your Space: This one change costs nothing but time and effort. Stand back from your room, take stock of what's in your room, and remove any furniture and knick-knacks that overwhelm the space.
Re-Arrange Your Space: This makes the biggest change. Look at your space; look at the position of the window, the door(s), and how the traffic flows, then change the space by keeping 'traffic flow' in mind. In other words, keep any area where people naturally walk as they enter with furniture. This small technique will visually increase your space's size and give your room a greater sense of openness.
Add Accessories to Warm Up the Room: Point number two talks about de-cluttering, but that doesn't mean you must remove every decorative accessory. The items that generally add to the 'feel' of a space are Throw Blankets and Pillows. Sparingly include these items without overdoing it, and you'll soften the space.

There are many other ways to change the look and feel of a room without spending money, as well as an endless supply of DIY projects you can tackle; however, before you jump into these more complex tasks, start by using what you have - look around your house, re-use pieces from another room - creatively use the pieces you already own!

Change doesn't have to involve spending a fortune!

by Barbara Tremblay Cipak

Funkthishouse.com

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Saturday, February 20, 2016

The Final Cut - Book Review

by Catherine Coulter (and J.T. Ellison)

The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter

Author Catherine Coulter has written a series of suspense thrillers about continuing characters Special Agents Lacey Sherlock & Dillon Savich who are not only partners in their FBI roles as agents and computer specialists, but are partners in private life. This husband & wife team has given readers & fans exciting adventures since being introduced in the first book of the series (The Cove) in 1996.

My Catherine Coulter Books

I've followed Dillon & Lacey (who goes by Sherlock) through all 25 books (to date) as they meet during training at Quantico, fall in love, and get married. They work together as a married couple FBI team (most unusual and probably would only happen in fiction) solving crimes, and, as the series continues, become parents to the light of their life ~ their son Sean.

With The Final Cut, Coulter (and co-author J.T. Ellison) introduces us to what has fast become another favorite character and series. Nicholas Drummond, American-born chief inspector at Scotland Yard, comes to America and joins Dillon & Sherlock to solve an international crime.

Introducing Nicholas Drummond, a Brit in the FBI

An FBI Thriller

The first book in a brilliant new international thriller series starring that 'Brit in the FBI', handsome Nicholas Drummond, a dashing 'James Bond' type.

New International Thriller Series

In The Final Cut, our favorite team of Dillon and Sherlock joins Nicholas Drummond in his search for an international jewel thief (The Fox) who has stolen the Koh-i-Noor diamond, currently a centerpiece of the Queen Mother's Crown displayed at the Tower of London. The diamond was on loan for a special exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and, while heavily guarded, was snatched through a clever plot. Scotland Yard and the FBI combine to chase the jewel thief from New York to Paris to recover the diamond.

Koh-i-Noor Diamond - Wikimedia Commons

We learn of the diamond's long, complicated history, which once weighed an incredible 793 carets and was once the world's largest diamond and how it passed from hand to hand (perhaps beginning with the great god Krishna) ~ always coveted, but never bought or sold, only gained through conquest.

The title 'Final Cut' refers to the last time the diamond was cut. The diamond is real -- this story about the theft of the stone is fiction. Blended together, the facts & fiction make a very good story.

Introducing the character Nicholas Drummond to us through a set of favorite characters we already love is a unique and clever twist by an author – we fans of one series are easily led to meet a new (and delightful) permanent character. And judging by the fact that the second and third Nicholas Drummond books have already been published, us readers know that a new Catherine Coulter series has now begun.

An Interview with Author Catherine Coulter

In this interview with Catherine Coulter, the author tells us how she found her co-author, J.T. Ellison, and about how they joined up to write The Final Cut.

The Second Book in the Nicholas Drummond Series

The Lost Key (A Brit in the FBI)

Published in September 2014, The Lost Key is the 2nd book in the new Coulter series starring that 'Brit in the FBI', Nicholas Drummond! With help from his partner, Mike Caine, they are in an eleventh-hour race to stop a madman from finding a cache of lost World War I gold—and a weapon the world has never seen. I've already read this book as well.

Third Nicholas Drummond Book

The End Game (A Brit in the FBI)

As I write this review of the first book in the Nicholas Drummond series, I have just finished reading the third book in the series, The End Game. My original favorite characters (Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock) join Drummond, along with the CIA, the Secret Service, and Mosssad as they move to defeat remarkable enemies.

Fourth Book in the Series Starring Nicholas Drummond

The Devil's Triangle

Nicholas Drummond (the Brit in the FBI) and his partner Michaela Caine are now part of the Covert Eyes team. But their first case with the team may be their last when they once again come up against the dangerous thief known as the Fox.

Scene From My Home Collection of Mystery & Suspense Books

Catherine Coulter - One of my Favorite Mystery/Suspense Genre Authors

As you can see in the photo above, I'm a big fan of the Mystery Genre. I collect entire series of favorite authors, such as Catherine Coulter.

Are you a fan of Catherine Coulter's books? Have you read the FBI Thriller series with Special Agents Savich & Sherlock? Come meet a new character - Nicholas Drummond, the Brit in the FBI.