pansy cake

A friend sent me a recipe for her pansy cake and I made it for a block party yesterday. It was a big hit. Chocolate and bourbon are a divine combination. Start with a chocolate box mix, add almond cream and plenty of whiskey. (Don't skimp.) Decorate with white frosting and pansies from the garden. Kids love it, too. I had to keep Sally from taking a third!

rereading old letters

There's a bittersweet pleasure in coming upon correspondence from the past, don't you think? Usually, you see more than was apparent the first time you read it. What is it about Sundays that makes me nostalgic?

sun tea

As a little girl growing up in Philadelphia, the first sign of summer was a jar of sun tea glistening on our back porch. It's the easiest way to make tea. No muss, no fuss! All you need is:

a large glass covered jar (not plastic)
Lipton tea bags or loose tea
a sunny day

Fill jar with water. Add tea bags according to how big the jar is. (For 8 cups of water, use 4-6 teabags.) Cover and steep outside in sun for 4-5 hours. Serve over ice. You can add mint, sugar, lemon, whatever your fancy. Francine and I doctored it with a touch of Smirnoff's yesterday. Very refreshing!