Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake

Here's a good pound cake recipe that I found in the March 2011 Southern Living magazine. I think it was even better the next day.

Amaretto-Almond Pound Cake

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups butter, softened
• 1 (3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons almond liqueur
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 large eggs
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• Amaretto Glaze (see recipe below)

Preparation

•  Preheat oven to 325°. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add liqueur and vanilla, beating just until blended. Gradually add flour to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.
•  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition. Sprinkle almonds over bottom of a greased and floured 12-cup Bundt pan; pour batter into pan.
•  Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
•  During last 10 minutes of baking, prepare Amaretto Glaze. Remove cake from oven, and gradually spoon hot Amaretto Glaze over cake in pan. (Continue to spoon glaze over cake until all of glaze is used, allowing it to soak into cake after each addition.) Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 1 hour and 30 minutes).

Amaretto Glaze

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup almond liqueur
• 2 tablespoons water

Preparation

• Bring sugar, butter, almond liqueur, and water to a boil in a small 1-qt. saucepan over medium heat, stirring often; reduce heat to medium-low, and boil, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and use immediately.

NOTE: I saved some of the glaze to drizzle over the cake after it was removed from the pan.

Back in the Kitchen

Randall has been waiting on me while I have been lying on the couch reading recipe books and blogs since my surgery. He has brought me every meal on a tray. Last night I thought I would give him a break and get in the kitchen myself to try out some new recipes I found. It was a little harder than I expected. I can't believe how many little things we take for granted. 

 

 

I  made mango-spinach salad with warm bacon vinaigrette that I found in the March Southern Living magazine. (see recipe below) It was really good even though I couldn't get Randall to try the vinaigrette on his salad since he likes his dry. I followed the recipe as printed except I chopped the onions instead of slicing them and that was only because I misread the recipe.

The other new recipe I tried was baked fish from the April All You magazine.(see recipe below) It is a simple recipe with crushed corn flakes. The only thing I changed was that I added Tony Chachere's to the crushed corn flakes.

 

I had to take a pain pill after cooking but other than that it was nice being back in the kitchen making the new recipes.

 

Mango-Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 4 thick bacon slices, diced
• 1/2 medium-size red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 (9-oz.) package fresh spinach
• 1 mango, peeled and diced
• 1/3 cup crumbled queso fresco (fresh Mexican cheese)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

• 1. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat 6 to 8 minutes or until crisp; remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 Tbsp. drippings in skillet.
• 2. Sauté onion in hot drippings 2 to 3 minutes or until soft. Add vinegar, lime juice, and honey; cook 2 minutes, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet.
• 3. Place spinach in a serving bowl. Add warm vinaigrette, and toss to coat. Top with mango, queso fresco, and bacon; season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Baked Fish

Ingredients

• Salt
• 1 1/2 pounds firm fillets of whitefish such as tilapia (thawed if frozen)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups crushed cornflakes (from about 3 cups cornflakes)

Preparation

• 1. Preheat to 450ºF. Line rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty foil.  Top with a wire rack and mist rack with cooking spray.
• 2. Sprinkle both sides of fish with salt, dredge in flour and dip into eggs, letting excess drip off. Coat fish with crushed cornflakes. Place on wire rack on baking sheet. Mist fish with cooking spray.
• 3. Bake approximately 16 minute or until fish is cooked through. Serve immediately.

 

After we ate we rode to the lake to watch the sunset. 

 

 

 

Antique Car Show

Saturday morning started off cool but then turned into a pretty day so Randall and I went downtown to the antique car show.

Birthday Girl

Just two years ago on April 8, 2009, we received the most precious gift.. Avery Isabella Montgomery.

 2 days old

 Meeting Tony while he was in China

  

3 days old

 

Here's the birthday girl on her 2nd birthday. She is growing up so fast. 

 

Her party that was planned for Saturday has been postponed until I am up and around. I am looking forward to making her Minnie Mouse cake, cupcakes and cookies.

Broken Hip

After the Hit-a-Thon on Saturday, April 2nd, we went back to Ross and Amy's. When we were leaving their house to go out to eat I slipped outside and fell. Even though in pain, I was able to get up with the help of Ross and Randall and we went ahead and went to Papa Poblanos. Looks like nothing will keep us away from our favorite Mena restaurant.

Still hurting the next day we decided or I should say everyone else decided for me that I was going to the walk-in clinic in Mena. From there I was sent to the ER where an X-ray confirmed that my hip was broken. The Mena hospital wanted to transfer me ambulance to Hot Springs or Ft Smith, but we decided to come back to East Texas and go to the hospital in Marshall.

So after making what seemed like a long trip back by car (and after making a quick stop by the office) we made it to the Marshall ER and got checked in. Dr. Duncan did my surgery the next day on Monday.

At the hospital I received pretty floweres from Mother; Ryan, Randi & Tony; Ross, Amy, Luke & Avery; Wesley and Janet. 

 

These cute measuring spoons with cupcakes on them were hanging from the flowers mother sent. She also brought me a bag or dark chocolate candy bars to the hospital.

Paula knowing how I love to read recipes and how I love dark chocolate brought me two cooking magazines and a big dark chocolate candy bar to the hospital.

I was released from the hospital on Wednesday. 

The Mad Doctor 

Just kidding. Randall has been great. Don't know what I would do without him. He waits on me, cooks for me, helps me get around and gives me my shot everyday. 

After I got home both Jodi and Janet brought delicious meals to the house. Billy made a cabbage rice soup and Janet made a noodle chicken casserole and garlic bread. If I get her recipe I will post it later.

Jodi also brought me a cute basket with cute eggs and a package of jellybeans.
 

Becky, Karry and family sent me this pretty plant.

Ross, Amy, Luke, Avery and Lindy came to visit for the weekend. Mother made a chocolate cake, Mexican casserole, cream corn, and homemade rolls for all of us to eat.

A physical therapist is coming in three days a week. I can not put any weight on my left leg for 8 weeks. I came home from the hospital with a walker then Monday a wheelchair was delivered to the house.

I am on the road to recovery.  Thanks to everyone for the flowers, cards, calls, gifts and food.

Hit-A-Thon

On Saturday, April 2, we went to Mena to the Bearcat baseball Hit-A-Thon. Ross was one of the VIP hitters. Ross did great and showed them what a "old" man can do. Somehow I didn't get a picture of him..sorry Ross. He only got 10 swings. Wish he could have had more. I could have watched him all day. I miss the old baseball days.
 
Ross then took Luke and James on the field to help shag balls.

After the high school players and all the VIP hitters finished they let the younger boys hit. Both Luke and James got to hit.

Next to the field there was a skate park that the kids played on and rode their scooters. I wish I could find some old pictures of Tony during his skateboard years.

We had a great time in Mena as always except for the part where I fell and broke my hip. That will be another blog entry later.

Sand and Makeup

Avery loves playing in her sandbox and playing with cousin Joyce and Joyce's friend Kayla.

Avery also likes makeup. Here she is with her great grandmother putting make up on her.
 

I don't know who enjoyed it more... Avery, mother or me watching them.