Welcome To My World!

I am so happy that you have stopped by for a visit!

It is here that I will try to share with you my creations, a bit of my home, my gardens and what inspires me.

Periodically, I will feature those dolls and creations that are available for purchase on my other blog:

EVI'S COUNTRY SNIPPETS SHOP ... click HERE

Thank you for visiting!
I hope you enjoy your stay here!


Saturday, February 26, 2011

OH DEAR, DEER ME !



This Winter has been brutal !!!!!
It has been snowing and snowing...
it has been icing....



the temperatures are mostly in the "deep-freeze",
and the winds are often howling.




Even though some snow has melted in a brief thaw,
there are still deep piles everywhere.......




here the heights of the fence by the walk-up to our entrance.

It is no wonder, that the deer are starving and eating
everything in sight, even things they normally
don't eat.


We often have at least ten or more deer feeding at the
bird station.
This mom and her one year old little girl have chosen
to make our property their "main base".



This is the mom...we call her Dopey.
She got over all the netting and is laying on the
door mat, keeping warm.
Her baby is always close by, but on the outside
of the netting.
I think Dopey ate something not to her liking!



She really does not scare easily and stood
there looking at me for the longest time.
She also was not budging from the mat.
I think it was cozy there for her.


And because some of you have asked.....
this was our girls get-together Valentines table.
We were missing three friends,
Laura @52 Flea, Carole @ maynardgreenhouse,
and Deanna from Gather in CT.

The weather played with our plans,
and the date was changed three times.
We had a wonderful day, but missed
the rest of the girls !!!!!!
Plus, Laura and Carole are our photographers.
With them missing, and I as the hostess
being busy, not many pictures were taken.


Paula made these lovely cones for all of us.


She tied little metal hearts to each bag..
( they came from an antique floor mat ),
and each cone held hand-made buttery toffees.
Yum !!!!



After a meal of cream of wild mushroom soup....
( Ina Garten's recipe),
spinach quiche, quiche Loraine, a nice salad and rolls......
we indulged in dessert....
and what would Valentines day be without heart-shaped
chocolate cakes.
I sliced and filled these with seedless raspberry jam
mixed with Chambord, chocolate ganache,
whipped cream and raspberries.



Kathleen's nails matched the strawberries......



and if that was not enough,
an apple cake from a baking book, that my nice
send to me from Germany.

It is called ...German Baking Today..
and is by Dr. Oetker.
It is written in English.
The women in my family are great cooks and bakers.
Stephanie, thank you my love, for this great book
and always sharing recipes.
And so, I want to share this recipe with all
my blogger friends.
APPLE CAKE, VERY DELICATE
For the topping 2 tbsp butter, melted
1 1/2 lb apples..I used firm Golden Delicious
For the cake...
4 1/2 oz ( 5/8 cup) soft butter
4 1/2 oz (5/8 cup) sugar
1 tbsp vanilla sugar, 1 pinch of salt
freshly squeezed lemon (from 1 small lemon)
or a few drops of Natural Lemon Extract
3 medium eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
2 level tsp baking powder
1 - 2 tbsp milk
For the glaze:
2 tbsp apricot jam ( I used more )
1 tbsp water
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease the bottom of a 10 " springform pan....(removable sides)
Whisk butter until soft. Add sugar, vanilla sugar, salt,
lemon juice or extract little by little, whisking all the
time until you obtain a smooth mixture.
Whisk in the eggs, one after the other, for about 1/2 minute
each at the highest setting on your mixer.
Mix together the flour and baking powder and whisk briefly
in 2 instalments on medium setting, alternating with the milk
into the batter.
Transfer to springform and smooth to make even.
Melt butter, peel apples, cut into quarters, remove cores
and make several length ways incisions.
I use the tines of a fork.
Arrange the apple quarters in two concentric circles
on the cake and pour melted butter over apples.
Put cake in the bottom third of the oven.
Bake for about 45 minutes.
Heat apricot jam till warm and strain through a sieve.
Put back on stove and bring to boil with a little water,
stirring all the time.
Pour or brush on the cake immediately
after taking cake out of the oven.
Release, then remove the ring of the springform.
Loosen the cake away from the bottom of the springform,
then leave to cool on cake rack.
Enjoy.....this cake is great!
Blessing,
Evi

12 comments:

  1. Awwwwww... the deer are just precious! I live in the city, so I never come this close to them. I really enjoyed these pictures, Evi.

    Your party looks like it went wonderfully. The food looks exceptionally good! I am sure all of you had a great time. And thank you for the wonderful recipe!

    XO,
    Jane

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  2. Oh Evi I wish I could have been there. It's hard to look at all I missed. sigh!
    Leave it to Paula to make something so thoughtful and beautiful. Now we need to get her to start a blog too:)
    You're new little pet dopey has made herself right at home....though the poor thing looks like icicles are flowing from her face. Proof of how cold it is.
    I will pass on the recipe to George the family pastry chef.....and the realy sweet tooth.
    Great post!

    hugs,
    Carole

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  3. Evi, I know deer are not always welcome in one's yard, but seeing that poor creature in this cold would soften anyone's heart. She is probably looking into that cheerful warm kitchen wishing she could walk right in. The party table looks soooooo inviting. And that food looks both beautiful and delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
    Stay warm. ~ Sarah

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  4. Evi,

    It all looks delightful and delicious...and another D the deer, oh sweet dopey with those icicles. I know they can be destructive but oh so adorable at the same time.

    Hopefully next year's party won't be sabotaged by Winter. : D

    xx
    z

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  5. Hi Evi, my have you had to deal with a lot of snow......you will remember the snow when the heat sets in this summer. I love the dear, I am glad you are warm to the animals and do not mind they are eating things that you have not protected them from. The meal you made for your frinds sounds wonderful......and the hand made gifts from Paula what a extra specail treat. I hope all works out next year for all of you to spend your special time together. Take care Hugs Mary

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  6. Evi, you did very well on the pictures! The deer are so precious. We finally had to put a deer fence in our backyard because 3 year old plants were still tiny thanks to our herd. Love your table setting and the food looks delish. Hope next time you have all your friends together.
    Annette

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  7. The pictures of the deer in your garden looks wonderful, but I'm sure they are causing some damage. Looks like you had a fantastic meal, even though some of your friends were missing. I have a dinner party on 19 th March and am going to make the apple cake as one of the desserts. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

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  8. How lovely to see the deer so close to the house. We have deer here but they tend to stay in the forest, although I have occasionally seen them in the road.
    Your party looked wonderful with so many delicious things to eat and such good friends.
    Hope you are continuing to feel better.

    Love to you.

    Diane.
    x

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  9. Oh wow, Evi, what fun and so nice to share time with your friends....it was too bad the others couldn't come...hope all is well with them.
    Poor doe, she does look soooo cold!
    Lovely food and thank you for the recipe......awesome!
    Hugs,
    Mags
    xx

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  10. Dear Evi,-
    I alwayes enjoy, visiting your home, you made a beautifull table, for your friends, and the food looks so yummy--
    The dears, are poor, in this cold winter,- we have them, in our garten,too :)-
    Oh you ,do have too much snow, dear friend- I so hope it will soon be on its way-away!
    Stay warm- blessings,Dorthe

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  11. .. what a lovely post ... just lovely ... thanks

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  12. Hi Evi, Wow I am sorry its been awhile. I believe I am behind an email or two. Soon i promise.
    And it looks like you have a lovely time.What fun it must have been.
    Julie

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