It's a lazy day on Hilton Head Island...

It's a lazy day on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Golfer's are taking time to enjoy the game.

Weather is cool and Azaleas are in bloom

Even the birds are enjoying some quiet time at the lake.

I am off to sit on my patio and think about how beautiful life is on this magical island!

I believe in Guardian Angels....

What exactly is a Guardian Angel? Can you feel her presence at times when you need comfort? Can you feel her warm hand upon your shoulder in the quiet hours right before sunrise? Perhaps you can hear her whispering into your ear guiding you in the right direction? I can't explain it but I know she is there. My daughter's Guardian Angel has been working overtime the past few weeks. Thank you Guardian Angel for keeping my loving daughter safe!

When the moon hits your eye like a Big Pizza Pie!

It's Friday so it must be Pizza Pie night. To accommodate different tastes and lent I usually make a few different types of Pizza Pies to please everyone. Since I am originally from New York I can rarely find a Pizza Pie in my area of town that compares with the texture or taste of the Pizza Pie my Grandmother use to prepare. The secret is in the dough and also the gravy (sauce). So let me share with you a quick and easy pizza dough recipe. Your family can have fun putting their own spin on the toppings but please no Pineapple!

Ingredients for one pizza pie crust:
1 pkg fast acting yeast
2/3 cup warm water
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil

Dough:
Dissolve yeast in warm water.
Blend four & salt in food processor. Add oil & blend.
With processor running, add yeast mixture, blending until dough forms a ball.
Knead on a lightly floured board for 5 minutes. Shape into a round ball.
Place in a bowl that had been oiled and turn to coat.
Let dough rise, covered in plastic, in a warm place until doubled, approx 1 1/4 hours.
Place dough on a floured surface, shape into round shape to fit pizza stone.

Assemble Pizza with toppings.

Preheat oven 500 degrees. Bake approx 12-15 minutes.

MANGIA!

It's Snowing Pink Petals....

As I look out of my windows today I see a sea of pink

Petals are falling softly like pink snow & I am enjoying the moment

Little Prince plays food critic with Nanny.......

Today is Tuesday so it must be pancakes for the finicky Little Prince. Children learn to negotiate at a very early age. The negotiations for lunch started an hour prior to the actual serving of food placed upon the palace banquet table . Only the best and brightest plastic ware from IKEA was ever displayed for the Little Prince. The word "NO" seemed to be very dominate in the Little Prince's vocabulary today. So what's a Nanny to do? I tried to juggle the Tupperware, as I double as his court jester, but that did not help to entice him to consider having lunch. The court wizard was out of state on important business. I often turn to him to advise me in these delicate situations as he is a wise man and professes to know all things. So, what is a Nanny to do? I asked one last time using magic words to entice the Little Prince. "Little Prince do you want Mickey Mouse Pancakes "? The Little Prince jumped into his booster seat and shouted out to his public with the sweetest words that Nanny's of all the lands love to hear "YES EAT NOW"!

He likes them so no dungeon for Nanny today!

BANANA PANCAKES

4 large ripe bananas
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, optional or spray
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Mash two bananas and set aside.
Blend dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add banana and wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend until everything is moist. Batter will be lumpy. Coat pan with oil/spray and heat. Drop spoonfuls of batter on the pan into one circle with two small circles to form Mickey's ears. Cook on both sides until golden and cooked through. Add sliced bananas and top with Maple syrup. ENJOY!

Celebrating Spring at Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, Georgia!

The weather was picture perfect this first weekend of Spring. We took our first trip to Callaway Gardens. You can walk, hike or bike. You can picnic, swim, play golf or tennis and stay at the lodge complete with spa.

At the Butterfly Center it was fun to view so many species of butterflies.

We enjoyed the informative bird of prey show with demonstrations containing a hawk, owl & buzzard. Did you know Owls do not make any noise when they fly?

Large topiary bunny at the Horticultural Center in anticipation of Easter.

A relaxing view of the lake & time to reflect upon the beauty of Mother Nature.

Be my guest and journey with me

I am so EXCITED to finally be posting for my first time. I am jumping into uncharted waters with my baking pan and cookbook in hand. Inspired by my Mom, and her Italian sisters, I started to learn the art of baking and cooking at a very young age. My Mom was from a family of twelve. We lived with my grandparents in their house in New York. The Sunday dinner table was always set for 12 in the dining room. Twelve would be the least amount of people to show up for dinner. We ate in shifts with large colorful platters of homemade meatballs, Italian sausage and peppers, gravy (we never called it sauce) and lots of fresh made Ravioli or pasta. Dessert was always a homemade cake and local Italian pastry. Who could forget Aunt Millie's famous rice pudding which was so rich and creamy. So please be my guest and journey with me to memories of cooking past and present.