Mayfly

I've been plagued with brutal headaches all week. I thought the problem was all the chocolate I sneaked from the kids' Easter baskets, but they persist even days after I stopped. Hmmmm.

But end-of-the-week strawberry milkshakes are a good cure for pretty much everything. (Milk, strawberries, vanilla ice cream) Yum! This weekend I'm looking forward to:

• getting back to the shred (the headaches kept me away the last three days)
• a girls' night on a friend's patio this evening
• a long hike and a picnic with a lively group of 6 yr old girls
• a soccer game
• a 40th birthday party
• a couple of long walks with the dog
• testing out the newly repaired (again) sewing machine!

Have a great weekend, friends!

Posted by Alicia at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Hello again.

It's been awhile.

Do you usually stick with the same few cookbooks like I do? I can't help it. My Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book that I received as a wedding gift is well-used and dogeared. As is the Betty Crocker.

When I read online someone raving over a cookbook I usually check it out from my library. Recently I'd read a lot about Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys, and Erin said she loves it. (I'd pretty much trust Erin with my life- she's just one of those people.) I waited quite awhile in the queue for that one, and brother, it was worth it! It's just my kind of cookbook- straight forward, not fussy, hearty food. It's the first cookbook in ages that I've wanted to buy for myself.

Honestly what usually happens is I check out a cookbook from the library and photocopy a recipe or two. (Or print one out from the internet!) If successful, I'll put them into my best cookbook of all time: the three-ring recipe binder my mom started for me when I went away to college. It's just a binder with dividers and blank paper. She gave it to me with several of my childhood favorites already inside. Yet another thing I need to thank my mom for. Fifteen years later, it's stuffed full of my favorite recipes- I've actually had to replace the binder a few times.

Thanks, Mom. : )

Posted by Alicia at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

It's a soccer ball cake! This cake has been requested by miss N since last soccer season. And it was just right for a little celebration.

J's soccer team played in a tournament this (very. incredibly. windy.) weekend, and they won their division!! They've worked hard; they deserve this bit of victory.

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Apparently, I'm still having much difficulty finding the motivation to write here regularly. Where oh where have you gone, my blogging mojo?!

Posted by Alicia at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)