Sunday afternoon...

I am a big fan of Sunday afternoons and this week was no different. Our church starts at 11:00 now and I'm absolutely loving it. I'm really trying to slow things down in my life and enjoy the journey more, so having extra time Sunday morning is a great help.

 While I was preparing dinner, Hazel and Marie were playing dress-ups, only Hazel was the only participant. I think she's a lovely, colorful bride.

Marie did a great job on Hazel's makeup....don't you think?

She also posed her for the camera :)

I'm so glad I was blessed with 2 sweet girls. I am the only girl in my family and so was my mom. It's wonderful to watch these two sisters interact and love each other. Don't' get me wrong, it's not always candy and roses. They can really go at it too, but I guess that's the beauty of a sister. 

After dinner, Joe was hard at work making dessert. He decided to make something new and follow his craving for custard. 

Can I just say, "WOW"!

He made the best dessert I think I've ever had and the evidence is soaking in my sink......completely gone!

So, I'm going to walk you through the magic and hopefully you'll try a "slice of heaven" at your house sometime.

First,

He baked a yellow cake (from a box)

Next, 

He made a homemade custard

Custard recipe:

1/2 C. sugar

3 T. cornstarch

1/2 t. salt

4 egg yolks

3 C. milk

2 T. butter

2 t. vanilla extract

Directions:

Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat (about 20 minutes), whisking constantly; boil, whisking constantly or until thickened.

Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla.

Place heavy duty plastic wrap directly on surface of custard to keep "skin" from forming. Chill for 2 hours.

Then, 

He starts the process. 

He calls it a Trifle and I call it Heaven on a plate.

Layer some crumbled cake on bottom, then add a layer of custard, then a layer of whip cream, then a layer of strawberries and bananas. Repeat the process as many times as you have room for. 

I think the homemade custard makes this dish. It's amazing! I had 3 servings last night.

Can't wait to see what he thinks up next Sunday.....

Hope you try it! Enjoy...

I'm begging you.......please

Late last night I was on the computer goofing around because I couldn't sleep. I decided to design a new background for my blog. I spent a few hours and well, little did I know, I forgot to save all my important information and now it's...... GONE!

So, here is my plea to you.

Will you please e-mail me your blog address??? I really can't remember anyone's info and I will be sad if I can't keep up with your families. I'm sure you're thinking, Oh I don't think she wants mine, but you're wrong! If I've EVER commented on your blog...... I want your address!

Send it to utopiapictures@aol.com

Thanks!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

You've got to try this...

This is really cool, but you have to click on the picture to make it work because it needs to be larger. Try it and let me know what you think!

It's the little things that count...

Last night around 5:00 p.m. I got a phone call from Joe and this is what he said, "Hey hun, pack an overnight bag and I'll be home at 6:00 to pick you up, bye!"

 Huh?

 I was a little shocked, but obeyed like a good girl because I was excited to see what he had in store for us. 

Well, he got home right around 6:00 and had everything planned out. He called his brother Max and sis-in-law Vanessa to come stay overnight with the kids. (thank-you, thank-you)

We left the house in a flash,  both of us feeling giddy and energized. So, basically we had a great night. We went to Martine's for dinner, an excellent tapas(appetizers) restaurant. We ate everything from stuffed quail to crab and sea bass and then topped off our dinner with gingerbread and flour-less chocolate cake with caramel and blackberry sauce smothered in vanilla Gelato! It was Heavenly and the best part......it was just the two of us!

After dinner, we checked ourselves in to the Marriot Hotel and the rest is history......

-Not exactly what you might think- We fell asleep at 9:15 and woke up today at 8:15. Wow! You do the math. It was a lovely little get-a-way and we got some muchly needed rest. It really is the littlest things that pack the most punch!