The last two weeks have been unpleasant and I find myself reverting to my obsessions of reading and (this time) baking maraschino nut breads and cakes. I am still searching for the recipe of cherry cake made with buttermilk, but this recipe I tried today could use buttermilk in place of a cup of milk, I feel sure. I've been distracted by a hospital stay for my fourteen-year-old grandson, in Florida, who has an horrendous infection which kept us on pins and needles for two weeks during his hospital stay which was predicted to be four to six weeks. Thankfully, they are trying him at home with built in IVs inside his body, starting today with hopes of school next week. Thank God for that hospital and its staff.
When I am nervous I read and can plow through a book in a day, but if it is good, I want to stretch it out. For relief, I cook--hence a pile of cakes and loaves in the kitchen with ham and bean soup in the crock pot stewing away.
This Saturday Joe (Andy's brother) and Glenda are coming up from Cincinnati. Joe and Andy will go to the night game at The Ohio State and Glenda and I will do some shopping in Plain City with a meal at Der Dutchmen. I think they will stay on for Sunday's meal with the family too. I hope they are hungry with my cooking streak going on. I don't make pies, but Der Dutchmen offers Amish pies to go and glorious dinner rolls and...well, I could go on and on. Glenda and I will also firm up Thanksgiving in Hilton Head with 26 family members to date. I hope there is plenty of sun still left for a little beach sitting, the bikes have been rented, the rooms assigned and feast plans are being laid.
I have not learned how to label pictures so the first one is the cherry, nut loaf and the second is of JD's hand print from 2002. (JD is the one in the hospital.) He made this trivet for me for Christmas on year and I still use it often.
