Zwielbelkucken Recipe

I made a German Onion Cake for Garden Party this year.  It is traditionally eaten in the Fall with the new wines.  It was the easy part of the appetizers for me this year, so I thought I'd share.  It is a nice September recipe to eat with the bounty of the garden and enjoy with the new wines.

*For once in my life... I followed the recipe instructions!

If you look closely at the photo below you can see it in the background, I placed it on a cake stand and garnished it with nasturtiums. 

Ingredients

• 2 cups onions, coarsely chopped ( 3 large)
• 2 tablespoons butter ( 1/4 stick)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 3/4-1 cup milk
• 1 eggs, well beaten
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

Directions:

1. In medium skillet, saute the onions in butter over low heat until they just begin to brown, about 15 minutes.
2. Season with 1/4 tsp of the salt, the marjoram and the pepper.
3. Set aside to cool.
4. Preheat oven to 450°F.
5. In a food processor bowl place flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and the remaining salt; mix.
6. Add the shortening and process just until it is the texture of soft crumbs.
7. Add the milk and mix quickly to form a soft dough.
8. Oil a 10 inch round cake pan and lightly use your fingers to spread the dough out evenly.
9. Spread the cooked onion over the top.
10. Beat the egg and sour cream together.

11. Spoon the mixture over the onion, and spread it out to the very edge of the pan.
12. Sprinkle lightly with poppy seeds and paprika.
13. Bake for 20 minutes.
14. Let cool slightly, then cut into wedges.

Our Paratrooper

That Sam I Am has been jumping this week.  Tuesday, he ended up in a tree.  After hanging upside down by one arm and one leg he got himself flipped around and was rappelling  down when this photo was snapped.

He said someone came to his rescue and was reciting or reading the manual on what to do if you're stuck in a tree.  That wasn't helpful, just made him mad.  Uhm, don't you think he knows that information?  They sent for ladder assistance.  A step ladder is way too short.  

He eventually got himself flipped and rappelled to the ground.

His neck was sore and he has many scrapes but he's okay.  When we talked, he told me that one soldier was in surgery for facial reconstruction.  His poor mother!  There were many injuries on Tuesday.

He jumps again today and tomorrow.  I am hoping that if it's as windy as Tuesday that someone has the good sense to scratch the jump.

Today will be his 30th jump!  Go Sam!

'57 Aloha Progress

We've cleaned out the Aloha.  We've photographed every square inch of the Aloha.  We've measured everything in the Aloha.  The Aloha has new tires.  We've been researching.   We found birch paneling.  We've determined that we'll put everything back the way it was with one exception, we need two inches more width in the back bed area.  Then it will be 48 inches wide and that is the size of a 3/4 mattress.  I had no idea such a mattress existed.  It's the size between a twin and a full.

 Gerrit stopped by and told us to get 3 yards to recover the dinette cushions.  I'm thinking turquoise.  I have Formica samples and ideas for flooring.  We actually uncovered the original flooring and it's pretty cool.  It'd be great to find something similar.

 I want to save the ice box and the oven, Hubby isn't convinced.

Our next step is to tear everything out, down to the framing.  We plan to tear it out carefully so Hubby can use the existing cabinets as patterns for the new cabinets.

We have found some great sites to order parts.  And we plan to attend the Mt. Baker Tin Can Rally at the Northwest Washington Fair Grounds in September.  We're thinking that there will be a wealth of information from other owners at this event.

Oh!  And of course, I have a Pinterest Vintage Trailer board!

Thank You

 Thank you to everyone who shopped at our successful sale yesterday.  We were happy with results and shut everything down at one, cleaned up and voila, we were finished.

I think Melinda bought the NYC t-shirt for Dylan.  Shhhh, it's his souvenir from NYC.

Lissa is trying to decide why no one bought Jodi's Santa slippers.  After all, they were from Gap.

 Kathi was our cashier.  Oh, and yes, someone did buy the Mary Engelbreit light switch plates, so if you were wanting them, you're too late.  Bummer.

If we have as much fun in New York City was we did hosting a garage sale, it will be a blast.

A Martha Stewart Tag Sale...kinda

 The sista's garage sale is Saturday.  We are New York City bound and decided to raise a little moola to buy our Broadway tickets.  We cleaned out the attics, garages and closets to bring you our best.

Ghetto Barbie came to help us price, very kind of her, however; she was giving it away!  She priced my Mary Engelbreit switch plates at .25 each!  Sheesh.  I was a tad insulted, but she's right.  I don't want to haul everything home again.

 Needing some above the toilet storage?  We got it!

Or how about a freshly vacuumed rug?  We got it!

Lots of teen guy clothes, dishes, games, golf balls, a large RV cover?  We got it!

A tile saw or a salad shooter?  We got it!

Vintage china?  Ohhh, yeah baby, we got it!

Saturday only!  Brookfield Drive, follow the signs off Bender Road.  Sale starts at 8:30 a.m.

Please, no early birds.  We don't want Mel's kids to have to deal with you!

See you there!

Seattle Trips

Last week Hubby had to go to the city for business,  I had to go to the city for business.  So, we went together, then went our separate ways, then met at our favorite restaurant in the city, Dragonfish.  We decided to enjoy their small plates until traffic had lessened.

 We shared their dessert sampler before heading for home.

 We spent the night at home and then took off for the city again.   Except that  this time it was for fun.  We picked up Mark and Karen, made a Starbucks stop and then drove to Woodinville where we toured Red Hook Brewery and Chateau St. Michelle.  The tour at the brewery was led by David, who was hilarious.  The winery buildings and gardens were very pretty

 We had reservations at the Heathman Hotel in Kirkland.  They were gracious enough to upgrade us to suites.  I love a beautifully made bed in a good hotel.  Our rooms were very nice.  We explored Kirkland, including their Farmers' Market, parks. shops and restaurants.  

 On Thursday we took an Argosy cruise on Lake Washington.  It was a beautiful day to be out on the water.

 We had dinner at Carillon Point and then drove home.

Two trips to the city on one week, both were great, and so different.  

Now, we're home, Garden Party is over for another year, Summer is winding down, the days are getting shorter, Fall is on its way.  Our firewood gets delivered today.

It was a short but still a good Summer.

Garden Party 2012 Sparkling Dessert

 We always say that dessert is all about the lighting.  Mark and Karen created such a gorgeous table with sparkle and candle light that it left me speechless.  Everything was clear glass,candles, white flowers and water and white dishes reflecting and shimmering in the night.  It was challenging as the breeze picked up.

 Karen baked butter cookies and painted them with edible silver glittter and vodka for take home favors.  

Hearts and poodles!  Their dog, Shadow is a standard poodle.

The menu cards read as follows:

Dessert Bites

Mixed Berry almond cobbler, Chocolate cake with Almond cream filling, Cherry chip Amaretto ice cream tiramisu tipper, Shadow Butter cookies, cookie brittle, amaretto Florentines, Assorted chocolates, 

Orange blossom Muscat, Coffee.  

Textured paper and many fonts, pearls and shimmering flowers made for a pretty menu card.

There were bite sized treats for us to nibble arranged on crystal cake stands.

 Karen had glass candle stands, glass paperweights, bottle stoppers, glass insulators, crystal bowls and glass votive candle holders, all clear and sparkling in the candle light.

The round paperweight belonged to Mark's grandfather and was blown for him by a fellow chemist.

 My view on the patio is a peek at their cozy, sweet patio.  Wouldn't  you love to curl up on the sofa with a cup of coffee and a good book in this cheerful spot?

 Every single bite of the Dessert Bites was delicious.  Everything was baked and made from scratch including the ice cream.  No one bakes like Karen.  She is the best baker I know and I aspire to her level of baking.  In the left corner you can see the tiramisu tipper, it was served in a darling, tiny glass and was crazy good.

 It was another wonderful Garden Party year for everyone.  Every year I think it can't get any better than the year prior.  But it does.  Every. Year. Better. and Better.

Thank you, dear friends.

Garden Party 2012 Main Course at the Farm

 Vern and Shelly hosted main course at the farm.  We sat in a boxwood walled garden room off the kitchen. Shelly used old canning jars filled with purple and violet hydrangeas and candles.  They were hanging from galvanized piping planted in big pots of lavender with crystal butterflies and flowers twisted and vining over the piping.

 The dinner table was set with Shelly's Mom's Lily of the Valley china with purple glass accents.

 The menu place cards were wrapped around our silver and purple napkins and then tied with a pretty polka dot  ribbon.  The menu read as follows: 

fresh green pea soup with grape salsa, apple and arugula salad, prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin with blueberry-balsamic sauce, mashed sweet potatoes with lime chipotle topped with zucchini blossom, oven roasted vegetables... fennel, asparagus and haricot verts.

 I love to see the barn and the silo in the background of the photos.  A sweet reminder of the farm and the farmers, where we all get our food.

 Hubby and I were relaxing, our course is finished and all that is left is to enjoy.

The pea soup with grape salsa was delicious and so pretty served in a Lily of the Valley china teacup. 

 Their main course was gorgeous, it makes my mouth water to see it in the photo.  Stuffed zucchini blossoms are labor intensive and pretty.  The lime chipotle sweet potatoes had a spicy kick that went beautifully with the tender pork.  Everything was so delicious.

 Hops were twined through the center of the table's centerpiece for an added depth.

 I loved the dripping candles and the wax falling on the hops.

 As we dined, laughed and visited at the farm the Summer light grew dim I could see a glimpse of my favorite, Fall light, to come in the next season.

The quote on the menu cards sums it up for us.

"let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom" -marcel proust

Dessert will be posted early afternoon today.