Fruity Goodness Of A Weekend

Yum...doesn't this look good? It IS and the perfect thing for a Spring or Summer meal. Bill is out working in the yard, Grace is with a friend for the day, Daniel is getting ready for a date (Would you believe I actually purchased my son a hair gel containing pheromones? Yes I did. I was making a run (Okay, a slow trot) to the store and he asked me to pick up some of that slimy gunk. My words, not his, Ahem. I grabbed the tube that looked the most interesting, got home and voila! Gel with pheromones. Guaranteed to keep your hair frozen in place during a Category 5 hurricane AND attract females of every species at the same time. What a Mom I am right?) and I am inside futzing and puttering away. It is what I do best. Truly. I have a Master's Degree in both futzing and puttering. Graduated Summa Cum Laude in puttering. I am still having a great deal of problems with allergies this year and can not work outside too long so I am back indoors and planning dinner. Nothing better than a sneezing cook with red, weepy eyes is there? And yes folks, another couple will toss caution to the winds and brave dining with us. Poor souls. Neighbors who are very special to us are coming so I do hope I keep them alive. Fingers crossed! I apologize for being away from our sweet bloggy world so much this week. I am trying to make my rounds to visit all of you as I can. My allergy related eye problems are aggravated further by computer ! I can only be here a little at a time. Phooey. I had such a fantastic surprise yesterday evening! I had a call from the witty and glorious Mama P! I had the best time chatting her ear right off and even got to speak to her precious little guy, "Stink". Her daughter "Pip" had the good sense to decline a conversation with the "Bunny Lady" and I applaud her for that. We also plan on watching "Juno" after dinner. I have heard such wonderful things about it. Last night, we watched "Lars and the Real Girl". Such an engaging and heart warming film. Yes, Lars does order a "Real Doll" and begins to pass it off (To his family and the small town in which he lives) as his new girlfriend. That description might scare off some potential viewers but do not be mislead by this premise. This little gem of a film is anything BUT lewd or tawdry. It is sweet and absolutely delightful. Give it a try. I hasten to recommend films as not everyone adores indie, off the wall films as Bill and I do. So, I am simply *sharing* my affection for this little movie. Enough said! I do hope you are all having a sweet weekend...I just wanted to stop by and say hello and let you know that each one of you are so special!

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Fruit Tart

Cookie Crust
1	cup all-purpose flour
6	tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2	tablespoons sugar
1	egg yolk
Filling
1	package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
3/4	cup marshmallow creme
3	cups assorted fruit
1/4	cup apricot preserves
1	tablespoon water

1.	Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix all crust ingredients, using fork or pastry blender, until soft dough forms. Press firmly in 12-inch pizza pan to within 1/2 inch of edge of pan. Prick thoroughly with fork. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.
2.	In medium bowl, beat cream cheese and marshmallow creme until smooth. Spread evenly over crust. Arrange fruit on cream cheese mixture.
3.	In 1-quart saucepan, heat preserves and water over low heat, stirring occasionally, until preserves are melted. Cool slightly. Spoon over fruit. Store in refrigerator.

You can use refrigerated sugar cookie dough instead of the scratch cookie crust and it works just as well!

Variation

It is easy to customize this fruit tart by using fresh fruits of the season! Choose blueberries, raspberries or sliced kiwifruit, nectarines or strawberries to name a few. You can also vary the preserves to add your own personal touch.

I Stink, I Stank, I Stunk....

....and forgot to send a birthday wish to a special someone. An adorable little man turned 5 the other day. New Year's Day to be exact. I could ask his forgiveness for not posting about that by saying I have been snorting and hacking and wheezing. Some how the images this apology conjures up are not too pleasant like. I could blame age and menopause but he would just look at me with those great big eyes and say, "Who has mean old paws?" So let's just say I was silly and forgetful and will now attempt to make amends. 5 years ago, on New year's Day, a boy called Stink came into this world. Oh how cute he was...even cuter than Brian Dennehy. Well, almost. And gosh did he make his Mama and Papa happy. Still does. So, hop on over to Mama P's and wish her little stinker a happy one! Oh, and Stink? I wanted to get you a Scooby balloon. Do you think this one is big enough?

Love and Hugs, Susie Q

Stick What To Who? Or Is It Whom?

This was a bit from our Mama P's recent post, "Stick It": So who does it for you? (Okay, Susie Q, I know you'd stick your husband under a bus for Brian Dennehy.) But other than that wacky Rabbit Run Cottage woman - who makes your heart sing more than a Rudolph marathon? Oh dear Mama P! I could not be more shocked! Okay, I could but that would necessitate getting up and sticking my finger into an outlet and I am way too lazy to do that. I would never throw Bill under a bus after all, he is too big for me to lift him and toss. Push maybe but throw, never. Now *stick* under a bus I could handle. No lifting required right? Poor Billy. I do so love the guy. He has weathered this obsession I have...this teensy, tiny, little, small (Don't you just love redundancy?) love affair I have with Brian, for 33 years. Of course, Brian has no idea he is involved with me but a one sided affair has far fewer complications. No excitement but no problems either. My poor, sweet long suffering Billy has had a reoccurring dream for years that has me jumping into a cab with BD in NYC and taking off leaving him alone in Times Square. I would never do that sweetie! After all, you usually carry all the money when we travel and I would need you to pay the cabbie! Gee, you big silly! Now back to Mama P. This woman can write. Uh huh...w.r.i.t.e. She is a professional, gets paid to write and everything. And she is funny. Hysterical at times, deeply poignant the next. A loving wife and mom and dang diddly dang good writer. She is doing what I aspire to do and I am proud to know her. If you have never visited her, run on over and say howdy. Tell her that wacky cottage lady sent you. You will be glad you did.