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Monday, October 22, 2012

Rainy Days and Mondays

Front porch wreath, burlap wrapped for fall
Today I am relaxing and working at home on this rainy Monday to recover from a whirlwind weekend.  Both children blew through for a couple of days to celebrate the husband's birthday. When they are here, it's a firestorm of cooking, laundry, and activity.

Will we ever need to eat again?  Big breakfasts of sausage cheese balls, omelettes, and pancakes.  Lasagna stuffed with cheese and meat sauce.  An enormous dinner at the local steakhouse.  What a dinner that was!  I tried flaming saganaki for the first time and think I'm smitten!  For those of you who are unfamiliar with saganaki, as I was, it's a dish of fried kefalograviera cheese, flambeed in brandy and topped with lemon juice.  If only our waitress had been a little more exuberant with her "Opa!"

Just a sample of the leftover goodies.

And the baked goods, which are still around.  I had made shortbread, the daughter brought a coffee cake, I made a fresh apple cake for the birthday boy, then the son wanted chocolate chip cookies to take back, but he left behind the slightly overcooked ones, and I had a craving for chocolate haystacks.  I didn't use enough chocolate in the haystacks, but they are still pretty tasty.  Daughter took some of the cake, shortbread, and haystacks away, but there is way too much still here.  My waistline does not need this!  I'll have to try to get a little disciplined again before holiday feast time rolls around!


36 comments:

  1. I know how you feel after a crazy weekend like this! Your heart is happy and your tummy full! :) Those sweets wouldn't last 5 minutes around here. I am wondering what haystacks are. They sound like they would be fun to make.

    Happy Birthday to your son! I hope you have a wonderful day!

    XO,
    Jane

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  2. Food and family, can't get better than that.

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  3. OH---I love those little haystacks. My mother-in-law used to make them.. Haven't had them in years since she died...

    Sounds like your hubby had a great birthday... Glad the kids got home... Glad also that you can RELAX and RECHARGE today!!!!! (I know about those busy weekends!!!! ha)

    Hope you have a great week.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  4. I'm glad we aren't the only ones with leftovers! All ours are savory rather than sweet. Good to have the family home, and happy birthday to hubby

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  5. Hopefully you can get rested up today. Sounds like you guys enjoyed some great food over the weekend. I love your Autumn wreath.

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  6. I totally hear you. Tomorrow is my DH's birthday which kicks off a non stop food fest till the end of the year with birthdays and holidays!

    That's such great fun to have your family visit.

    I may have to try the haystacks! Chocolate and pretzels, yum!

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  7. Looks like a wonderful celebration darling! :) Happy Birthday to the husband. Let's enjoy the Holliday Season to the fullest. We'll go back to the diet on January ;) XOXO

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  8. Nothing in the world more fun than spending time with our kids. Just love it.
    Wish I had one of those haystacks right now with my iced coffee...:))

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  9. I fell in love with saganaki the first time I tried it. Yum!

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  10. What a fun whirlwind! I love it when my kids are in town. I normally don't like things is dis-array but when they are there, I don't mind.

    Happy birthday to your husband!

    PS...with all the good food you have for these occasions, I might just happen to stop by during the next one.

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  11. Well I can see you had a feast, and it looks delicious.

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  12. Saganaki sounds delicious. What a fun weekend you had. I love those times when the grown kids come home. Now, mine bring the grandchildren so its extra whirlwind fun. Happy belated birthday to hubby.

    Hugs,
    Laura

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  13. I love that burlap wreath! So simple and classic.

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  14. Wow, what a great feast! The food all sounds delicious. I hope that your husband had a good birthday.

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  15. Your post title reminds me of the Carpenters song...hope you're doing well!

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  16. Glad you had a great time! Know what I am thinking? You could make french toast out of that apple cake.....HELLO AND YUM!

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  17. That sounds like such a fabulous weekend. How lovely to have your children home for a few days to celebrate your husband's birthday. He must have felt very special. We've been celebrating family birthdays back here to and it's been a very exhausting time. I'm so looking forward to an early night tonight! xx

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  18. Sounds like a very busy but fun-filled weekend. Tell your hubby Happy Belated Birthday! All of those desserts sound so wonderful. Perfect with a cup of hot tea or coffee. Ummm...I'm only imagining all of the yummy goodness. :-)

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  19. It all looks delicious! Sounds like a great weekend for all :)

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  20. Goodness! I'm impressed! Sounds wonderful. I never cook when our kids are visiting except for the holiday dinners. I think about it, but we just go out to eat.

    Love your wreath, too.

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  21. Sounds like a blast! Glad you were able to spend the weekend with your family. Now I'm going to check out that shortbread recipe!

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  22. A tiresome but happy weekend! Apple cake would be lovely for my afternoon tea ;-)
    Happy Birthday to your hubby!

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  23. I bet you all had a fabulous time....your pastries look so good this morning.
    Happy Birthday to your hubby!
    I bet all is quiet again.......

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  24. Oh my, that sounds like a lot of delicious food -- and a great visit!! That apple cake looks like one that my daughter bakes for my granddaughter on her birthday -- it's become a yummy tradition!

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  25. Oh my goodness! A whirlwind indeed! I always love having folks over to cook for:)

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  26. I love the wreath (and the food looks delicious - as usual).
    Thanks
    Angie

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  27. Don't you just love a good family weekend! But the aftermath is brutal. My family is in town this week for my daughter's birthday. So I understand. Liz

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  28. I love your wreath . . . so simple and natural. There is something about burlap, that is so appealing :)
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  29. The wreath is beautiful and the food looks yum!!!

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  30. Glad you had a great time with the family. Those chocolate haystacks look yummy!

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  31. Kids always blow in and out too fast! I have one living in the Midwest I only get to see once a year and one in optometry school..thank goodness for Facebook! So many goodies!My husband can't eat them anymore (diabetic) so I have to be careful not to bake more than I am willing to eat..

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  32. Ooh, cake! So much food, it all looks, and sounds, scrumptious!

    I am loving the wreath, really simple and elegant and very effective :D

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  33. Looking good, but I sooooo know what you mean about the waist line. I am a yo-yo with the weight!

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  34. Lynette that wreath looks amazing! So simple yet beautiful!

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  35. I know the feeling. When my boys are back home we seem to eat loads and time just flies by. Great times though :) Maggie xx

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  36. Looks delicious!!
    You can always cut them into pieces and freeze them for later - that is what I do when I bake too much and everyone is fed up with it :)

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