Frosting a cake with whipped cream can be problematic because of its instability and susceptibility to humidity and heat. This recipe uses gelatin to increase the stability of the whipped cream. In the refrigerator, it should keep its whipped shape and texture up to 48 hours wit
This is one of my favorite fall recipes. It’s relatively simple to bring together and very popular with my friends and family. The pecans really shine here, though you could swap the pecans for walnuts or your favorite nut (though, depending on the size and shape of the nut, you
With a few simple tools and ingredients, you can make fresh cheese at home. For years, I’ve made queijo fresco, a fresh, soft, and moisture-rich Portuguese cheese. Recently, I learned how to make mascarpone cheese. Mascarpone is a rich, thick, and creamy Italian cheese.
This week, Maraine started a kinder exploration program. Her school district holds six, 1/2-day sessions over two weeks for kinders to get to know the school before kindergarten actually starts in September. Maraine has had mixed feelings about kindergarten. She loves learning, and she was excited to ride the school bus. But, she's sad to leave her pre-school teachers and friends. Her anxiety has been manifesting in different ways, and we've been doing our best to support her and to be patient and understanding. One thing we started doing is drawing and coloring together as a family. On the morning of her first kinder exploration day, Maraine drew this (shared with her permission 🙂): She told me she was feeling nervous, happy, and sad (tears on that third...
This past week marked the beginning of Lent, a fasting season in the Christian calendar lasting about 40 days and concluding with the Easter holiday. Lent is often preceded by revelry and celebration. Depending on where you are in the world, these celebrations are known as Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, and more. Growing up, I knew it as Carnaval. Many people in the United States associate Carnaval with Brazil and its spectacular celebrations; but Carnaval is not unique to Brazil. Pre-Lent festivities grew out of communities around the world heavily influenced by the Catholic Church. Carnaval precedes Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten period associated with sacrifice. Historically, observers of Lent would stop or limit their consumption...
