Wildflowers at the Ranch

Wildflowers at the Ranch

We had a little R&R at the Ranch this past weekend. The weather was very pleasant and I don't think got up past 73 degrees. There will a little mist in the mornings which kept things cool as well. Due to some extra rain this year, our wildflowers should be flourishing with gusto. Definitely a plus for the some of the rainy, rather gloomy days we have had. This ranch is located in deep south Texas.

Looking forward to a good week!

Carmen in her handmade baptismal bonnet

Carmen

Our granddaughter is now six years old, but I was looking through old pictures and found this picture of Carmen when she was baptised in Mexico. She wore a beautiful dress with a bonnet that her maternal grandmother had made for her. It is not quite the typical bonnet worn by babies in the U.S., however, Carmen looked adorable. This is a favorite picture of mine.

Happy Birthday, to the man in the kilt!

My father, Calvin C. Boykin, Jr.

March 1, 1924 - October 23, 2008

This photograph was taken in Scotland during WW II. My dad loved this picture, but was always embarrassed that he didn't have the right shoes... his military boots were all that he had. He loved, loved, loved bagpipe music, so when he passed away I made sure that we had a "bagpiper" at the funeral.

Here is my dad's traditional birthday cake recipe below. It is delicious and so moist.

Daddy’s Chocolate Potato Cake

2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
4 eggs
2 c. flour
4 Tbsp. cocoa
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
2/3 c. milk
1 tsp. each ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg
1 c. hot mashed potatoes (not instant)
1 c. pecans, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream 2 c. sugar with 1 c. shortening. Add 4 egg yolks and cream well. Sift together: flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add alternately the milk to creamed mixture along with hot mashed potatoes. Fold in 4 stiffly beaten egg whites, pecans, and vanilla. Grease 3 round cake tins and line with wax paper. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Icing:
1 box powdered sugar
½ c. butter
1 egg yolk
3 Tbsp. cocoa
5 Tbsp. hot coffee

Beat sugar, butter, egg yolk and cocoa together and then add hot coffee.

P.S. -- My father grew up in West Texas, so even he called his father "Daddy" until the day he died. Me too! What do you call your father?

Update: Today as I prepared this cake I was just about to slip this into my nice and hot 350 degree oven when the power went out. Yikes!! I waited and waited... no power. I ended up calling a friend and I rushed my cake over to her house where she had her oven ready for me to slide in the cake. And by the way... I used an oblong Corningware casserole dish. Thank goodness I wasn't juggling three round cake tins. I am preparing this for a gathering of some of our church members at a friend's home on Monday night. Hopefully I will remember to take a picture of this cake ... and hopefully it will be suitable for posting. (I just keep wondering if those whipped egg whites were ruined by the delay in baking...) Wish me luck!

My Kitchen Kiskadee

The Great Kiskadee

http://www.nhptv.org/NATUREWORKS/greatkiskadee.htm

This commercial photograph of a Kiskadee does not do justice to my Kiskadee who appears at my kitchen window every morning that the sun is shining. He is larger and sleeker than this particular one. He is also very vocal. I wonder sometimes if he is alerting his friends, announcing to them that the fence is his and he dares any of his feathered friends to just try to perch on his territory. He might also be letting me know that the bird feeder is empty and it's time to make a trip to HEB for more off-brand wild bird seed. Thank goodness "my" Kiskadee is not such a gourmet and settles for a grocery store variety of seed. On a typical day there will be five to six of his friends on my patio, but I'm pretty sure I know "my friend" by his incessant sounds. He does brighten my day though with his beautiful colors. My camera is broken and I've yet to get a new one, but when I do... my Kiskadee will be one of the first pictures you will see here at Ladybug Creek.

I might also add that this is one of the benefits of living in the Rio Grande Valley of deep south Texas... just in case you want to look up where Kiskadees can be found.

Asking blogland friends for prayers....

Our dear and close friend, Neal, had a heart attack almost six weeks ago and has been in a coma ever since. He was without oxygen for approximately twenty minutes, so there was considerable brain damage. We went by the hospital today, as we've done nearly every day since this happened, mainly to offer support to his wife, one of my dearest friends. The doctors have concluded that it will not be long now and Neal's battle will be over. He is an amazing man who is a strong Christian, loves his family, his country and his friends. Please keep him in your prayers and pray that his passing be peaceful. He is only 59 years old and had so much more in his life to accomplish. Thank you.

"Apple core.. Baltimore!" - Two great apple cakes to try

My dear friend, Laura (White Spray Paint), who I am fortunate to have as my "sugar-borrowing" neighbor has requested that I post this Fresh Apple Cake recipe from the cookbook my cousin and I compiled in 1988. Actually there are two apple cake recipes so since I am having one of those sleepless nights I will post both recipes... so here goes:

Fresh Apple Cake

1 1/4 c. oil

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

3 c. apples (about 5), diced and peeled

1 c. chopped nuts

1 tsp. salt

Mix all ingredients. Batter will be very thick. Pour into greased and floured tube, bundt (lol... now remember "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding"!) or 9"x13" pan. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees.

Topping:

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. granualted sugar

1/8 c. milk

Bring to boil for 2 - 3 minutes. Add and beat:

1 stick margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

Beat until thick and add

1 c. chopped nuts

Spread  on cooled cake. If bundt or tube cake just pour on top and let spread naturally. Can double topping for heavier, thicker frosting.

My cousin, Norma Jean, got this recipe from our Italian aunt. She writes, "It's a wonderful, heavy cake and can be used as a coffee cake with or without the icing."

Apple Cake

1 1/4 c. Wesson Oil

2 eggs

3 c. flour, sifted twice

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

Mix all of the above. It will make a stiff batter.

Add:

3 Delicious apples, diced

1 1/3 c. nuts, chopped

Buttermilk Icing:

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 c. oleo

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 Tbsp. white Karo

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and boil for 4 minutes. Pour 1/2 over cake while hot in pan. Take out of pan and pour the rest over the bottom of the cake with a pastry brush. Cover well and cake will stay moist for days.