Let Them Eat Cake

Last weekend my family hosted a fundraiser, Let Them Eat Cake, in memory of my Mom, Deb. It's hard to believe that 2012 marks four years since her death. Some days it feels just like yesterday that I spoke to her while other days it feel more like an eternity since she last gave me a hug.

Through all the pain and heartbreak of her death I'm happy that we're able to keep her memory alive in so many ways and that we always take time to celebrate her life with friends and family.

Once my sister and I decided that it was a dessert party that we were doing, we started thinking about where to get the goodies. While we did contact several bakeries in the Pueblo area, only one donated, Mauro Farms. And donate they did! They gave us two potica's and 70 traditional Italian cookies. Don't they look delish? Well, they were!

After we either didn't hear back from the Pueblo owned businesses or were told no, we turned to Denver area business and they were more than generous! I love living in Denver and this is just another reason why; people are so kind and willing to help. I emailed more than a dozen different bakeries asking if they'd be willing to donate a dozen of their speciality. I was happily surprised with what we ended up with!

Gateaux, off Speer Blvd. donated a couple dozen mini pastries as well as several little speciality cookies.

Victory Love+Cookies donated three different types of cookies.

Sugar Bakeshop donated a dozen lemon bars, but it seemed like way more than a dozen!

Gigi's Cupcakes donated a dozen of their decadent cupcakes, all varieties.

Cakes by Kristine donated red velvet cupcakes.

And, Cupcake Dreamin' donated a dozen vanilla and a dozen lemon cupcakes.

We also had cake pops from Starbucks that were a huge success, thanks to my friend Rachel and my sister wrapped mini-Hersey bars with teal ribbons.

It was a great event and we were able to raise $815 that will go to the St. Mary Corwin Foundation to help women in Pueblo battling ovarian cancer pay their medical bills.

Thank you to everyone who supported us and help us to remember a very special lady.

Easter Brunch

This year I decided to host Easter brunch at my home. I was very nervous to do this because I've never hosted a holiday meal all by myself before. Last year my sister and I did a joint Thanksgiving which turned out great but doing an entire holiday meal all alone was a bit frightening!

Below is a picture of what I had set up. I did a cheese spread (herbed goat cheese, Dubliner cheese, horseradish with bacon cheese spread) a fruit spread (red seedless grapes, fresh pineapple, strawberries). The wine was a delish blush from the Abbey Winery in Canon City that my Dad brought up.

I also made a ham, asparagus, honey-ricotta turnovers, and my sister brought a wonderful pasta salad. She also made the desert that was a raspberry-lemon cookie thing which was pretty good!

I love spending time with my family and am lucky that we're all able to get together so often!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter celebration too!

No Sour Grapes in This Bunch

A couple of weekends ago, my sister and brother-in-law invited me to Divine Wine in downtown Denver because they had made their own special wine blend and it was time to bottle the goods! Here's a pic of my sister putting on the custom labels she made for their wine. She made two, one for each of her doggies called 1) Split Personality for Dexter and (2) Jealous Boyfriend for Chico. Very fitting names if you've met the pooches! And that big jug the guy on the left is holding, that's what had their wine it it... they were kind enough to share!
And here's a pic of the bottling process, I only did one bottle because I was scared it would explode all over me!
It was a really fun process and I'm happy they included me!