I posted a picture a couple of years ago of my Santa Lucia Crown for Santa Lucia Day.  Beverly was interested in the recipe.  I cannot claim the fame for myself, but owe it all to Betty Crocker.  My cookbook is 31 years old now, with ripped and tattered pages, but each recipe is a memory and a treasure.

SANTA LUCIA CROWN

2 packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (105 to 115 F)
Pinch of saffron (or not)
1/2 cup lukewarm milk (scalded and cooled)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup butter, softened
4 1/2 to 5 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped citron (I use dried fruits, currents, or raisins)
1/4 cup chopped blanched almonds
1 Tablespoon grated lemon peel
Icing
Red candles and artificial holly and berries  (I get my little candles from JoAnn fabrics, they are like 5 inches tall)

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Stir saffron into milk.  Mix saffron-milk, sugar, salt, eggs, butter and 2 1/2 cups of the flour into yeast mixture.  Beat until smooth.  Stir in citron (or fruit), almonds, lemon peel and enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

Turn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth, about 10 minutes.  Place in greased bowl, turn greased side up.  Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down dough; cut off 1/3 of dough for top braid and reserve.  Divide remaining dough into 3 equal parts; roll each part into strand, 25 inches long.  Place close together on greased baking sheet. Braid strands; shape into circle and pinch ends to seal.

Divide reserved dough into 3 equal parts; roll each part into strand, 16 inches long.  Place close together on another greased baking sheet.  Braid strands; shape into circle and pinch ends to seal.  Cover; let rise until double, about 45 minutes.

Heat oven to 375F.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes.  When cool, make holes for 6 candles in small braid.  Drizzle braid with Icing; garnish with artificial holly and berries.  Insert candles.  Place small braid on top of large braid.

ICING
Blend 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 Tablespoon water.  If icing is too stiff, mix in a few drops water.

I had a lovely mother's day today. I had contact with all my children and my Mark made his lovely traditional Mother's Day breakfast of whole wheat waffles, fresh strawberries and cream, orange juice and milk. We went to church, and then he made dinner too. Marinated chicken and fresh cobs of corn on the grill accompanied by fresh green beans and red potatoes. Dessert followed as brownie sundaes with a cherry on top. Then the prize for being a mom....presents! He gave me a Byer's Choice doll, a woman in lavendar. She is just lovely. And he gave me a yogurt maker (it's what I wanted), and a lovely card from Lexy and one from him too. I am spoiled and blessed. I love Mother's Day. I can't help but reflect on my own mom too. How thankful I am for that little, frail, nearly 93 year old woman who bathed and fed and taught and loved me. I am truly blessed. I love being a mom.

Our little trip to the Delmarva Peninsula

Lexy went to NYC with the high school choir on Friday. So Mark and I went east. We went to visit a portion of the unknown (to us anyway) Delmarva Peninsula. Same peninsula as Ocean City, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes Beach, but we hadn't seen the countryside. We drove up to Annapolis MD and crossed the Bay Bridge over the Chesapeake. We visited the quaint towns of Easton, St. Michael's and the tip of Tilghman Island. We drove back up Rte. 33 and down 50 to Oxford where we spent the night at the Robert Morris Inn, circa 1710. This was such a treat. They had a room with a fishnet canopy! And steps up to the bed! No TV. It was so colonial. The room was on the third floor and overlooked the Tred Avon River. We had a lovely dinner of seafood and salad and bread. It was a very cozy night accompanied by a thunder and lightening storm and heavy rain. In the morning, we had breakfast in the same booth we had dined in the night before. Hot chocolate, fresh orange and grapefruit juices, pancakes, ham, eggs benedict with crabmeat and spinach. It was delicious. Then we drove down to Cambridge MD, which we weren't impressed with, though I did like the red, white and blue house. We went north to see the Wye Mill, Centreville, and Queenstown (for Queen Anne), and back to Annapolis where we explored and had a lovely mexican lunch. We will go back to St. Michael's. When the weather is warmer. We had a great time together.

 
 
 
 
 

Lexy's new look!

 
 
 

Flowers from my Valentine

On Monday evening, Mark brought me home a bouquet of beautiful red roses for Valentine's Day. He wanted me to have them to wake up to. Ahhh. Love that guy. 

Rippon Lodge, Prince William County

Rippon Lodge and The Cabin on the property. I'm starting here as a volunteer and have been to two training sessions and helped in the office one day. I am shaking off the dust from my Travel and Tourism Diploma. It's kind of fun!
 
 

My 2002 Mercury Villager

My Mercury Villager just had a big celebration on Sunday. She turned 100,000 on the way home from church. She's been a good transport for us. Love ya Big Red!


 

Summer in Park City, Utah 2011

 

Jamestown, December 28, 2011

A beautiful day in Jamestown. The museum was lovely, but I like being outside in the crisp and fresh air. Reenactors portrayed the native indians and others were British. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Christmas in Williamsburg, 2011

On Tuesday, December 27, we visited Colonial Williamsburg. It was a rainy and damp day, but we had a great time. It put Williamsburg in a new perspective for me. It gets very dark very early in the winter and candlelight only makes it more romantic. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

December 21, 2011

We secured a tour of the White House. It was so beautiful all decorated in Christmas greenery and 37 trees. I think I like every place better at Christmas time.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quiet Book pages for my grandboys

Here are a few pages from the quiet books I made for my grandboys.