I am the queen of mini desserts…they are easy, look cute, and there is nothing to cut, slice or scoop after dinner. For only the two of us, we each can have a mini dessert for a few days.
In February, I made those mini black forest cakes for Marty’s birthday, and they came out better than I thought they would. He had one every night for the rest of the week.
Today, I made mini strawberry shortcakes. I baked a very simple white cake that I cut into small squares. I opted for cake over biscuits just because GF biscuits turn to shit after one day. It’s a eat it or lose it type of thing.
This morning I requested one of Marty’s infamous dishes that he makes…German pancakes. I figured since I always cook, I’d have him make me breakfast on Mother’s Day.
I had my German pancakes the French way, which is with sugar and fresh lemon. Marty’s pancakes came out perfect as always. They were extra yellow today since we used fresh eggs from my friend Nicky’s chickens.
Today we mulched the property. The mulching project went true to Irion form. Whenever we tackle a project, we always run out of whatever it is we are doing. We underestimated when we bought 30 bags of mulch last week; Poor Marty had to go back for 15 more bags to finish the job. I used to be stingy with the mulch and couldn’t understand why it washed away and weeds popped through so fast. Now we add a nice thick layer every year with great results.
This morning I planted basil, thyme & sage that I got at the farmers market from our friend Danny at Crimson Valley Nursery. The way I plant my basil is how this old guy, The Basil Guy, used to plant his. He sold his basil plants at the farmer’s market and were only $6 bucks.
The Basil Guy used to cram 18-20 basil plants into a medium-size container. His instructions were to take it home and transplant it in the biggest container you can find. Our basil was gi-nor-mous that summer! I copied what he did last year and was pretty successful. This year we got a bigger container like the guy said.
I woke up to a sweet text from my son Noah this morning. Sam called me later in the afternoon. They both thanked me for being their mom, which is so nice it makes me cry. I tried really hard to be the mom I thought they deserved; I guess I succeeded.
As I type, we are sitting on our front porch having a cocktail while I have a pork tenderloin in the oven. We have blankets on because it’s so damn cold, but it’s where we want to end another hectic week.
Pork tenderloin is a go to dinner when I want something Sunday dinner-ish but short on time. I trim off the silver skin, rub the tenderloin with olive oil, then season with kosher salt, pepper, granulated garlic, onion powder and a little paprika. Bake at 400-degrees for 30-35 minutes or until it reaches 140-145 degrees. I cover with foil while I make a quick pan gravy. Mashed potatoes and glazed carrots completed the meal. One of our favorite Sunday dinners.
The upcoming week will be jam-packed. We have to have all our deliveries and production done by Thursday. Friday morning, we leave very early for Delhi, NY. Our youngest son Sam has his nursing pinning ceremony. As of right now, we can’t go into the college gym for the ceremony; we have to stay in the parking lot.
Standing in the gym’s parking lot is very hard for me to understand when there will be only 48 nursing students in a college-sized gym. Parents can’t go in even if everyone follows all the COVID guidelines. I get it, but I don’t understand it. Here is another thing I don’t understand; if we can’t go in, why can’t the pinning ceremony be held outside?
Sam’s official graduation is on Saturday; it will be done virtually. Sam said he and his friends consider the pinning ceremony in person their real graduation and the virtual one is no big deal. We are coming back late Friday night and will head back to NY in the morning for our market.
Time is flying by, and Memorial Day is only three short weeks away. Hopefully, the cold weather will pack its shit and leave by then. I know I mentioned that it did snow on Memorial Day before; please, Mother Nature, spread a little warmth and sunshine on us. Pretty please?
Applesauce with pork, for sure❣️