Outdoor Wednesday - August 26th - Our 25th Wedding Anniversary

This week is a very special post for me.

Oh gosh, I don't even know where to start!! I am just so blessed to have a wonderful, romantic husband and beautiful, sweet children. Last week we were in New York City (my husband had business there and our daughter and I joined him). Our son lives in the city and we were looking forward to spending time with him and his lovely girlfriend, which we did. Lots of fun - we went to the Museum of Modern Art, enjoyed lots of incredible food and fun along the way, even saw a show. But, nothing could have prepared me for our trip out to Long Island.

My husband is originally from Long Island. His brother and his wife live out there, and at the end of the week I knew we were going to take a train from the city out to see them. They were to pick us up at the train (my husband, myself and our two kids) and we were going to get something to eat. Upon exiting the train I realized we weren't getting off at the usual stop. My husband rushed ahead of me and promptly hailed a cab and mumbled something to the driver. Okay, now I was really confused, I was still looking around for my brother-in-law. No sooner had we got settled in the cab, the driver called in to dispatch and said we were on the way to the Swan Club. I promptly began to cry...my husband and I had our wedding reception 25 years ago this month at the Swan Club in Roslyn Harbor. We had never been back since!

What a terrific surprise and it was even more special because we could share this magical place with our kids for the first time. We had a beautiful lunch in a room right next door to the room we had our reception those 25 years ago.

The photo below was taken from the window at our table as we dined.

We had a champagne toast...

Check out the swans outlined in flowers. There weren't any real swans around last week. We asked and were told that they come and go throughout the year. The grounds are just beautiful - every flower and tree, and even the puffy clouds in the beautiful blue sky looked perfect.

Here are some photos my daughter scanned of The Swan Club 25 years ago! The top photo looks like it was taken from approximately the same place the photo above was taken.

We look like babies.

And here we are now... I will never forget this day at the Swan Club. It was too romantic for words that my husband arranged this and even more special because the kids could share this with us. Thanks for joining me on my truly special Outdoor Wednesday post!!

~Karen~

Foodie Friday - Baked Seafood Casserole

While on Cape Cod we had the pleasure of having dinner with some dear old friends in Falmouth. It was my birthday and wow, what a meal. I had all of my favorites!

We sat outdoors on a gorgeous night and here is the view from our table. It was just beginning to get dark.

All of my favorites ~

Baked Seafood Casserole (Scallops, Shrimp and Scrod)

Last but not least, a very yummy birthday cake!! Please be sure and visit Gollum at Designs by Gollum to see lots of great food on this Foodie Friday. http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/Thanks for stopping by!

~Karen~

Outdoor Wednesday in Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod

Please join Susan at A Southern Day Dreamer - http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ to enjoy many fun Outdoor Wednesday posts!

I was lucky enough to visit Martha's Vineyard during a very unexpected trip to Cape Cod. I love the fun, intricate emblishments on so many of the houses there. They are the gingerbread houses, the Victorians. My husband didn't share my enthusiasm for walking up and down every street and taking pictures of all the beautiful houses, so my time was very limited!!

This one is my favorite. I love these yummy colors against the blue sky.

The houses are the colors of the frosting on the top of cupcakes. The summer flowers on Cape Cod and the Islands are gorgeous. I will dedicate another Outdoor Wednesday to show you some of those pictures I took while visiting the area.

My photos really don't do these houses justice. The two houses below are in Woods Hole on Cape Cod.

This photo below was taken from the ferry as it left Woods Hole on the way to Martha's Vineyard. I hope you have enjoyed looking at these beautiful houses as much as I have. As always, thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments. Have a wonderful Outdoor Wednesday and I will see you next week. ~Karen~

Tablescape Thursday and a Rustic Peach Tart for Foodie Friday

This week I am combining my Tablescape Thursday post with a Foodie Friday post. Please visit Susan at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ to enjoy lots of fun tablescapes and Gollum at http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ to drool over some truly beautiful food!!

Walking through Marshall's the other day I found these placemats on clearance and knew they would look great with my green Bordello Pinneiro dishes from Portugal.

The dishes have an assortment of animals; rabbit, rooster, pig and cow.

Rustic Peach Tart I found a recipe for the tart on RealSimple.com and played around with it a bit.

Arthur Court pewter napkin rings - Butterfly.

Rustic Peach Tart Ingredients

1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

4 peaches, sliced

1 readymade refrigerated piecrust

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Rinse and slice peaches, removing pits. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon and ginger and add the sliced peaches and toss together.

Unroll the piecrust dough and place on a baking sheet covered with foil or parchment.

Arrange the peaches in the center of the dough and gently fold and pleat the crust about 2" over the peaches - leave the center of the peaches uncovered.

Lightly brush dough with water and sprinkle with 2 Tablespoons sugar.

Bake about 15 minutes at 425 degrees and reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue to bake for another 25 minutes or until golden.

Cool slightly before serving. Top with ice cream for a fantastic summer dessert!!

Foodie Friday Flan

We love Flan, and it is really so simple to make! There are many recipes with variations of ingredients with everything from cream cheese to bread crumbs, but here is a recipe I like to use that is quite simple.

Flan

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

2 large eggs

3 large egg whites

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1 -1/2 cups milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook without stirring until syrup turns a deep amber color (about 5-8 minutes). Immediately pour syrup into a glass pie dish (or 6 individual Pyrex custard cups). Tilt the dish to coat bottom with syrup. Whisk eggs, egg whites in a large bowl. Blend in remaining ingredients. Pour the mixture through a strainer (to remove any lumps) into the sugar syrup coated dish. Bake in water bath* for 60 to 70 minutes. Cool to room temperature and then place in refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight. When chilled, invert onto a platter and gently remove pie dish. Cut into wedges and serve immediately.

In water bath* *water bath = place dish in large roasting or baking pan. Add enough hot water to come halfway up sides of the pie dish.

Just out of the oven, cooling before going into the refrigerator.

Getting Ready to Celebrate July 4th!

We are having some friends over to celebrate the Fourth of July. It has been so hot here in the Houston area that we are going to have to cook and eat inside. I just can't ask my dear husband to stand over a hot grill!!

We are having homemade cupcakes for dessert.

Thanks for joining me for Tablescape Thursday. I have been having so much fun playing with my dishes!

Please be sure and stop by and visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/07/welcome-to-45th-tablescape-thursday.html to enjoy some beautiful eye candy.

I hope you all have a fabulous and safe July 4th.

~Karen~