Thursday, April 26, 2018

Pinks and Greens~Boys♥ and recipes~








After my lacking butter fiasco..I made a good little pound cake..a great little poundcake.Yum Yum.
I made half the recipe and used a Le Creuset loaf pan.
I read the reviews..:)

I only put a pinch of salt because my butter is salted and I baked mine at 315 F,70-80 mins.Check w/ a toothpick..I use a skewer.

You can find the recipe here~
Jacques makes his own crème fraiche now;)


I've been painting pinks and greens for lack of them here the week of April 15th..

Cheap cheap paper I bought at Hobby Lobby..in November..
Daniel Smith paints.

Hard to scan WHITE paper:(It's never white it seems..like in person.
I don't mind my fuschia buds..I HATE the full bloom one;)
Hate.

And a scraper from when I did ceramics..to scrape some paint off;)
Ho Hum ..this winter has overstayed it's welcome.
But as if a miracle..Spring has seemingly arrived..along w/ the perfunctory rain:)
I did some chores in the rain that involved going outside and I see how beneficial the rain has been.♥
Garlic up..all of it:)
Irises pointing..
Scillas starting,some Pulmonaria blooming..

2 of the Alphabet boys came over after school..their dad was away on business..mommy works..so they popped by here.
I only had daughters;)

Boys are so different:)And funny! We talked about the girls in their school..lol let's just say they are not into girls..yet;)

I can't begin to say how grateful I am that they are so sweet with us.
We watched a good movie after football..Hoovey..perfect movie  as they all 3 play basketball too.I cried 3 times lol.Football season starts Saturday.Next winter Max will do basketball ..Oli soccer.But all 4 play football.
They are sports nuts and I like that.Move move move:)It's social for them also..





He's the baby..8 ..he is the only one that has something from my dad's side of the family ..in all 4 of them..


Made these for them:) Good.Find the recipe here..They are so good a couple of hrs after and the next day..like Costco ones;)

I knew the rain was coming..so I prepped Terry's No-Knead easy easy bread.This tme..no walnuts..no cranberries..but a tbsp of Vital Wheat Gluten and a handful of cracked wheat..the rceipe originated from Sally's Baking Addiction and it's a keeper.
I have mentioned it to you before..but it's worth repeating.
If you have never made one..try it..it's no-fail..easy and you will love it~


Have a nice weekend..happy gardening..happy real Spring..

55 comments:

  1. Your baking looks delicious and your paintings are beautiful. My grandson plays basketball, he has just been selected for the county team. The film looks so sad.

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    1. Hi Polly🙂The film ends on a fantastic note and it is inspirational and quite wonderful..the boys watched it a second time with their mom❤️I recommend it.
      For anyone👏🏻I
      Thank you 🌷

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  2. aaww Love all these beautiful and charming pictures and yours boys, what handsome boys !!
    Love this bread. I have to try, sounds wonderful.
    Hugs!

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    1. ♥ I hope things are good:)Bread is easy and always 100% You will like it:) Bon Weekend Gloria!

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    2. Thanks dear, have a nice weekend too ! xo
      BTW I print the bread recipe!

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  3. Oh my, how I have missed my visits here. Lovely pound cake and cookies, and bread! Yum!!
    xo Kris

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  4. Yum, that bread! And those cookies! Delish!!!

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  5. My bread never looks like yours. I've yet to add anything. I have one heel left then need to make some more. Love your bougainvillea painting including the open one. It is so frustrating. With oils, you can always repair;) Is that a recent picture of your beautiful boys? If so, I'd say spring has sprung. Is cream fraiche like sour cream. I have never met a pound cake I didn't like.

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    1. Tis is a different bread Donna..second time making it..give it a try:)It's easier almost than the other:)The pics are 3 days old..they were over for after school visits..it's so easy..the bus is acoss the street kittie corner.They are so FUNNY:).I hope they always will be..:) Have a great weekend!

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  6. Lovely pound cake.. I always love your painting..

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  7. You make everything so special. And I love the blooming ballerina. And your greens!

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  8. Oh, Monique, I am chuckling about your "hating" your full bloom Fuschia. I LOVE it! I think that is often the case with out painting, more than any other thing we can do. Why is it so? Your painting are BEAUTIFUL and I love that you are adding pinks and greens to your world when Mother Nature is withholding them. ;) Your food is always so visually delicious as well as tasting amazing I am sure. We are about to move to baseball from soccer. Oh, the joys! Wishing you a wonderful weekend. We are heading to Mexico for a week. I hope for sunny, warm days. blessings ~ tanna

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    1. Have FUN..My son-in-law returns today from Mexico..yes we are our own worst critics:) Tanna..we have the exact same stoves:)Take care!

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  9. What a gorgeous bread! Wish I had a proper oven.
    Do the boys ever help cook? That would be nice nice to see ��

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    1. No the boys ate:) They come home from school ravelous and they maintain I am a great baker.I make sure I have something fresh waiting for the..football..movie..chips:) They just want to chill w/ us..one on one MAYBE I could get oe to bake;)

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  10. Hi Monique, I love the buds AND the full flower!! Your work is really growing more and more beautiful! The first photo, a masterpiece! And the boys and cookies for them, you all are great! And bread too...
    PS Maybe I'll be able to post more often in the near future...too many fun things to do each day so I don't get to all of them...Thank you for visiting...

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    1. Enjoy the fun:) More important..you are getting out,being isnpired..I love that!

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  11. From girly pinks and greens to active, sporty boys ♥ All wonderfully happy to look at! The pound cake sounds wonderful and I love a good, simple cake. Not much of a frosting gal here ;) I love your full bloom fuchsia! Such a frilly ballerina beauty...and the single tulip, gorgeous. I was able to find some rannunculus this week and have them in a pot outdoors already. I didn't buy the pink ones which you would have loved and bought the sunset yellows and reds. Your boys, as ours, are so busy with sports, swim lessons, etc. So good for them to be active and social. Which attribute did Oli get from your father's side? ♥ All your boys are so handsome~ Off to see the cookie and cake recipes :)

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    1. We think the high forehead..shape of face and freckles..Max and Noah have the freckles too..Oli is the fairest of the three...time will tell:)
      Yes sports! Lucas is in Football after school w/ his Collège..and I love that too..I know your boys are sporty boys..I am not an icing gal either..ranunculus..mine ..I should soak the corms right now! Do you find we have to do everything at ONCE?:) LOL.
      So many similarities between we Gardenbuddies:):)Bon weekend!!

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    2. They are all handsome :) We are both blessed with good-lucking boys! I've never had luck growing ranunuculus so now I just buy flowering plants :)

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    3. Lol I am soaking my corms! I thought you did that:) We never find ranunculus plants in my area:)WE are lucky:):)with those good looking good/lucky boys;)♥

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  12. Trying not to look at all your beautiful baked goods! I am off carbs until I can fit back in to my summer clothes. I’ll focus on your beautiful paintings and handsome boys! It makes me happy to see children engaged in sports. Something we used to take for granted, but with all the technology today, children seem to spend so much time in front of a screen and less time outside. I worry about that and am grateful my little likes to play soccer. Your paintings are beautiful, but I understand the artists lament! We are sometimes our own worst critics.

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    1. The artits lament♥I love that!!
      I bet you are slim and trim and fit as a fiddle..My linene has led the way to thinking I am not gaining weight;(..Loose clothes are so forgiving..it's when you try and slip on the slim jeans..then you know..and I know.;)
      Hope to see your Little soon:):):)

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  13. I always love your blog posts, they are filled with so much wonder! The poundcake is pretty, particularly in your photo. Those cookies look good, and your watercolors are lovely. Even those that you hate would be lovely to me. I tried my hand at watercolor a couple of weeks ago, and my efforts were pathetic! You are so talented.

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    1. Well..not really but I try and try:)And thank you:):)Keep trying Pattie!!

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  14. Monique-can you email me at chocolate and croissants at yahoo. I am headed to Provence and wanted your opinion about whether to base myself in St. Remy the entire time or pick a 2nd location. thank you.

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  15. Your pound cake looks gorgeous and so does the bread and cookies. Those boys are very handsome and I know you must be so proud. Have a fantastic weekend!

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  16. There is so much to love here, cookies, cake, bread (three of my favourite food groups!) your beautiful paintings and your handsome grandsons. My boys were into soccer, rugby and hockey. My oldest son played football for a while. My youngest could outskate every player on the ice. He skated his heart out. My youngest daughter played Varsity volleyball and now Ultimate. Oldest daughter an award winning special Olympian. I am so happy that all my kids are athletic. I could never do sports because I always had to come straight home from school to take care of the house and my brother and sister. I probably wasn’t very athletic anyways! My talents lie in other areas! I always enjoy your posts so much! It looks like you are finally getting some lovely Spring weather! Yay! Xoxo

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    1. PS - I meant to say that the chocolate chip cookie recipe is the same one I always baked for my boss's husband down south. You are right, they are the best chocolate chip cookies! I used to double the recipe and would have to bake a couple of times a week. They were inhaled, and not just by him, the other staff also loved them. I think the original recipe came from the package of chocolate chips!

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    2. It is good..we all have so many THE BESTS lol..I bet you are just like me and have baked at least 50 different choco chip cookies through the yrs!
      I have loved reading about your daughters..both of them..prowesses in the athletic field..me? Not so much..just swimming and ballet..the rest I literally failed at..I love watching kids skate..:)

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  17. Hi Monique....
    All handsome boys....he is only 8? He looks older....
    I thought his fairness would be the link to your Father....
    Love your paintings...you are FAR too hard on yourself...it is amazing to me!
    I really must try that bread...love the look of the crispy crust!
    The boys are so lucky to have freshly baked cookies with their Nana...💕
    We miss Vivian....so much fun having her....and today is just downright miserable here...☔️
    Gonna be cold overnight...this seesaw weather is crazy!
    Enjoy your evening...
    Cheers!
    Linda 🌸

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    1. It's Miz here too Linda..I know how much you adore her company..isn't the house quiet after? I always notice the lull;)
      He acts older too because of his big bros..butis still in many ways our bébé♥ Happy Sunday! We celebrate both son-in-laws bdays today..;)I didn't crochet them anything;)

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    2. My sons birthday today! 🎈
      Best wishes to your SIL’s....🎂

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  18. Monique, your boys are handsome, actually adorable, but doubt they appreciate that word. The girls will be around!
    I'm glad that spring has finally arrived. I think of you in that cold, long winter. Our spring has been perfect! We are predicted to have rain all next week, but that's good. We need it, and with my garden now clean and ready, the rain will be the icing on the cake. Longing for one of those cookies!
    My sweet bluebonnet and poppy painting is on a table in the sun room so I see it as I sit there to relax, read, stitch, or visit blogs. 😘

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    1. :):)
      Since our winter has been so long..I spied fellow bloggers climates w/ my green eyes..(they are:) )..and Texas..your area..seems top nothch climate wise♥Enjoy your glorious gardens Sarah!

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  19. The paintings are great M. Love your style. Spring has been evasive here as well but I finally took the snow brush out of my care about a week ago. and btw: I do like the open fuschia. It looks like a ballerina!

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    1. I can't be in my garden and not think of you! Since you have been here:) Things are looking a bit older..lol..less freh..pulled out a lot of things last fall..I may replace w/ just lavender..I will see.. yes our snowbrush came out last week too:)
      Have a nice Sunday A!

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  20. Quelles jolies photos, j'adore tes aquarelles c'est très beau :)

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  21. Yes to that bread! I have to make it again, I forget...lol
    Your baking looks delicious and your paintings are beautiful.
    We had Spring, and then it turned back to winter. Wednesday will be in the 80's and everything is ready to pop.
    Those boys :-) So sweet to you and J.

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    1. Wednesday is to be a good day here too☀️☀️Rainy for a while..Thank you!And I think I find this bread even better than Ricardos😳☺️Have a great week Debbie!

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  22. Your paintings are so beautiful! And your baking irresistible. Hugs

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  23. Pound cake, cookies and bread - they all look delicious! xo

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  24. Lovely blog ...wonderful photography and beautiful watercolours!
    Kindest regards, Jacinta

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