Planes, Trains, and Automobiles…..

Perhaps not in that order, but I was in all of them this past weekend.  My first time on a train!  Destination–Niantic, Connecticut for a bridal shower.

Started from Homosassa then Terry dropped me off in Tampa.  Airplane to Dulles Airport in DC and then to LaGuardia airport in New York City.  Taxi to Crown Heights in Brooklyn.  Overnight with Jes and Andrew, subway to Grand Central Station and we were outta there the next evening.

Trains are the way to go.  NO STRIP SEARCHING and I can take all the liquids I want–like four bottles of wine.

Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Me and Jes
Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Lindsey and Andrew
Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Add four bottles of wine, four sandwiches, popcorn, and chips….
Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Raucous Party on Wheels

Two trains and another automobile and we’re in Niantic.

Then Saturday’s Festivities….

Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Andrew’s idea of the best way to start the day.
Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Do you know how many hills he made me run?
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
The Guest of Honor
Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Terry Prior calling for quiet. Tapping her fork on a wine glass… And saying 1-2-3 all eyes on me. You know there’s a bunch of teachers in this crowd!
Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Nice Hat Jes!
Plane, Trains, and Automobiles
Oh yeah, this was supposed to be a girl party but Andrew keeps showing up!

The next day we took a quick tour of Niantic.  These pictures are especially for Lauri and Alan whom we are sharing a house with on a upcoming party in Connecticut.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles
This is the beach house of Geno Auriemma, coach of the UConn Championship Women’s Basketball Coach. Only one street over from the place we are renting!
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
And here’s the view of the beach from his house!
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
And here’s Andrew’s parents former home.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
And here’s the shack we are renting! Lauri, I already told Terry and Phil to expect to see us a lot!

I had such a great time.  Phil and Terry Prior are the best hosts ever!  And the shower was fun, fun, fun!

Then two trains back to NYC, a town car to the airport, fly to Reagan National airport DC, (I was in first class with Hillary Clinton!!!!) , onto Tampa.  Find the car that Terry parked conveniently since he left for Dallas that morning.

Crazy life.  And the party continues….

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle, The Polka-Dot Stunt Cake

In case you haven’t heard there’s going to be a wedding in Perfect this month. And as part of this event, I’m hosting a bridal luncheon. I have so much fun putting together parties and such – I can’t wait for either.

In my quest for ideas for my little soiree, I was surfing the latest and greatest black-hole-of-time site on the Net…Pinterest. Don’t get me wrong I love Pinterest. As I’d seen on a post “Pinterest makes me like people I’ve never met, and Facebook makes me dislike people I know in real life!” There is soooo much truth to that. I got that off of one of the boards that I follow of some woman from England that I’ve never met or even seen on tv, but I think we’re cousins somehow!

Speaking of cousins, this craziness to follow came from a link that I pulled from Lauri’s Board (once-upon-a-pedestal.blogspot.com). It’s one of those really cool ideas that makes you wonder, ‘Do people really DO that stuff?’ Uh, yeah – we do,….I do anyway. And I did. Yes, Lauri, it’s the Polka Dot Cake. I just couldn’t resist!! I have to do this for the luncheon! (so I guess this post means my secret’s out…oh well) My Mom said that I’d better try it first before attempting to make it for a party. Geee, twist my arm. This week the kids are out for Spring Break, which means I have many taste test victims. Perfect timing!

The Polka Dot ‘Stunt Cake’

First you’ll need cake pans. Three 8″ round cake pans and a Cake Pop pan. The kind that makes round ones, not the half ovals. I ordered mine off Amazon and it makes 18, a nice even number to split with 3 layers. It’s a moderately expensive for a cake pan, but every once in a while I need a new toy to play with.

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

Then you’ll need some white cake mix (2) and food coloring. Yes, next go round I’ll be flavoring each of the colors a bit different. I’m sure it’ll taste like a Fruit-Loop Cake!

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

Step 1: Mix up the white cake (1) and divide in half. Set half aside. Then put the other half of the batter into 3 bowls evenly. Add food coloring to each as you like. After you’ve sprayed the pan with a little BakersJoy (yes, I know it’s teflon…spray it anyway) Now scoop in the batter carefully, and make it heap a bit.

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

Step 2: Put the top pan on and clip. Set it on a cookie sheet and get into the 350deg oven. Bake them for about 18min. That’s more than what the Blog said, but way less than the pan’s directions called for. You want them a tad underdone, because they’ll get baked again.

step2

Step 3: Ok, another change from the Blog, she used a 6″ pan…which is tiny and not worth me firing up the oven for. Besides, the boys that are hovering around the kitchen today number 5, plus my sister, and my favorite taste tester Jon. So, a 6″ pan just means trouble. Mix up the other cake mix and add to that half of the batter you’d sat aside. Spray 3 pans with BakersJoy and spoon in batter to cover the bottom of each. Place the dots, mixed, in the pans and cover with the remaining batter.

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

Step 4: Get them in the oven and bake for 30 min. more or less…keep and eye on it. See what happens when you add a touch too much batter to one pan. (yummy, cake trimmings – where’s my coffee) See the other ones, the dots are peeking thru their bottom sides.

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

Step 5: Mix up some icing and get it thrown together – it’s a stunt cake, so the stucco icing technique is fine. Besides, I’m sick of chasing the boys out of the kitchen!

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

Finale: OMG – so funny! The guys loved it!!! Next time it’ll have a chance to be put in the freezer and the crust shaved off and I’ll position the dots a bit differently. But this is a super cool cake.

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

After: And this is all that’s left after the teenaged eating machines were done. Then I cut that piece in half and sent it home with my sister (my waistline is thanking her).

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

This was so much fun to do and I made some mishaps along the way, that’s ok too – that’s why it’s a stunt cake! Looking forward to that luncheon even more. This cake’s got my mind reeling though, I can’t wait to make one for Halloween….. filled with eyeballs !!!!

Heritage Village in Crystal River

Local Places, Local Faces

Jessica’s wedding is in a few weeks and most of my recent adventures in Citrus County have been meeting with caterers, discussing prices with tent people, and checking out queries from our out-of-state guests “exactly where is this rental house?” (There are a lot of houses for short-term rent in the Old Homosassa area!)

Last week I was headed off to a bridal shower in far-far away and totally unprepared.  No gift for the bride or even the groom’s parents and I’m staying at their house! Between packing and blogging I decided that I needed to squeeze in some shopping.  So I headed to Heritage Village in Crystal River—twenty minutes away and I knew I’d find the perfect present. 

I love Heritage Village. I’m all about shopping local and they have all these unique stores and cafes. I love that the owners are there and greet me like they know me. I’m excited when a new place opens and disappointed when a shop closes. I think the owners do a great job marketing the place. I bring my guests here, especially on Market Days when we can get fresh produce and check out some local artists.  I just wish more Citrus County residents would shop here so my favorite places wouldn’t be in danger of disappearing!

Heritage Village in Crystal River
A bike decorating contest was held in Heritage Village a while back and a few of the bikes are still there.

On this trip I was on a limited time budget and my objective was Heritage House, the heart of Heritage Village, to buy a unique gift. 

Heritage Village in Crystal River
These adorable aprons are typical of the unique items at the Heritage House.

Mission accomplished and I had a few minutes to peruse La-Te-Da’s and the Cotton Club.  (A girl can’t have too many clothes—especially with a wedding coming up. ) Then I saw a new shop, Dayz Gone By, that has both new and old wares that I quickly looked through.

Heritage Village in Crystal River
New Shop Dayz Gone By has old and new wares.

Time was up and had to get to an appointment so I didn’t have time to go to Just a Cupcake to turn in my card for a free birthday cupcake—I’ll save that for after the wedding and dieting is over! 

Heritage Village in Crystal River
Bakery and Cafe, Yum!

Also had to skip Backporch Garden Wine and Tea bar where I usually enjoy a glass of iced tea.  I’ll be back!

Heritage Village in Crystal River