Easter is less than 2 weeks away~

Are you starting to get ready?
I am.. I started sugar cookies,painted with Wilton Colors.
These keep very well..in tin boxes..in my cold room at this time of year.
We still have lots of snow ,but since Jacques snoblows pathways..those parts are to the grass..so the children can at least walk and pick and find their eggs on snowbanks..
Things could change though.In our province snow can leave in one week.With heat..
Fingers crossed.
I've started growing grass in baskets..and after only one week..it has sprouted..and growing..and I may need to mow;)
Donellas hyacinths are blooming ,I am one that loves their scent.
Smells like heavenly Spring.
Saturday ,we went to Caroline and Frédérick's with our family♥
The boys had made posters for grandad..and we were served a feast.
Caroline had cute black and white checked napkins and w/ our cutlery they were wrapped with the menu for the evening.
Mylène made a pumpernickle loaf w/dip..Caroline made these..Presented exactly like this..she used edamame though..the platters looked like spring on a plate..and even Lucas loved them.Times are a changing.
I cannot even imagine their food bill later on~
Not sure you can read the menu..I took the pic w/ my Ipad..
We had an apple fennel salad w/ breads..Ricardo's was the hit bread of the night.
Then the main course was a fabulous risotto..the serving trays for the risotto were bones that Fred obtained from the butcher..used the marrow..cleaned ..washed..cut..filed and polished..the presentation was superb.. we each had a medley of root vegetables including Jerusalem artichokes..half a roasted cornish hen and thin veal scallops that were fried and leaning over the cornish hens..
BEAU..I can never get over his artistic presentations.
And his finesse in the kitchen.Like second nature..no first.
I had made the Maple Cake Roll..but used a different cake recipe..no baking powder..and you beat 10 full minutes..again..no cracking..and you bake 10 full minutes...but add the flour after by spoonfuls,folding in..
The filling I made creamier..so the mélange soaked a bit more into the cake..that was Marie's idea.
I love when someone makes something I tried..but gives itan even better vibe.:)
I decided to add another dessert..while I had hungry people around me..
I fell upon a most beautiful blog..Fork and Flower..exquisite taste..the photography..the styling..♥..anyway I had pinned this recipe a LOOONG time ago..but didn't have a suitable mold..
Lo and behold I didn't find a recommeneded springform..but I did find this set..
and went ahead and made half the recipe and used pan #2.
So we had 2 smaller desserts instead of one big one..
The cake turned out beautifully.

My notes..as I said I mde half..I didn't have Calvados and I knew that...I can't bring myself to buying Calvados to make a few recipes..I used Sortilège,which is a QC liqueur ,maple flavored.It worked harmoniously.
In her recipe..if you can find when to add the caramelized walnuts please let me know.I went ahead and added to the batter(mine were pecans)..
And asked if that was right..I think so.
Beautiful cake..wonderful taste.
My glaze is that liquid gold I made a while ago and keep in the fridge..a thin burnished caramel you make stovetop and keep to glaze cookies or dishes such as these.
Yes ..yet another apple cake;)
I really do not think we can have too many.
I'll pull out the spring wreath..fresh cushions for the wicker..and hope the weather cooperates for Easter~

PS ..the adorable digital emebellishments were found at We Lived Happily Ever After~
I love her work..and they have just been blessed with a new baby boy~
Thank you Hannah.