My Mother’s Day
long weekend
(they should always last longer than a regular weekend!)
was perfect… slow and simple:
♥book club and a cute crab-cup appie
♥a favorite banana bread recipe for my friends at the hospice
♥an art show and dinner out with friends
♥a busy afternoon Open House at my new listing
♥an evening at Vertigo Theater where my lovely niece played “Young Lucy”
in the smash-hit “Sweeney Todd”
♥another sunny day for a family brunch
♥these pretty flowers and cards from Dave and my sweeties
♥
I’m not sure what got into me this weekend,
but I decided it was time to do some
Blog Spring Cleaning
as well
while baking in the sun on our front patio
♥
I’ve accumulated so many Desserts
that I needed to do some sub-categorizing
for easier navigation
♥
I also wanted a new place for my non-food (gasp) Photos,
even though some are already on
and I needed easier links to my poems and videos..
so that meant a few New Headers up there in my menu bar ↑
♥
I spent a little time getting used to the Video Mode on my new camera..
so I can work on that
Rose Tutorial Video
that you’ve been asking for.. hopefully later this week
♥
And I’ve started a little “project” for an indoor herb garden
reusing pretty tea tins… (my kind of “projects” usually take a few minutes
)
Simply line with plastic wrap, scoop in soil and plant. Water carefully because there isn’t drainage at the bottom.. unless you add a few stones in there first!
without further ado.. or much ado about nothing..
here are my latest recipes
♥
My mom is one of my most relied upon source of new recipes to try. This is one she made for us last summer at the lake. It came in so handy last week when I realized I hadn’t planned for an appetizer to take to Book Club yet.
Incidentally, “The Cat’s Table” was underwhelming for all of us. Our next book is “The Virgin Cure” by Ami McKay, I’ll let you know how that one goes…
Ingredients
32 wonton wrappers
Cooking Spray (Pam)
1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 egg
1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
5 drops hot pepper sauce (Tobasco)
2 can premium crabmeat, drained, rinsed
¼ cup thinly sliced green onions
¼ cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.
Lightly spray tiny muffin tin with cooking spray. Press the wonton wrappers into miniature or regular muffin cups. Very lightly spritz entire pan of wrappers with cooking spray.
Bake for 8-9 minutes until lightly browned.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, cream, egg, mustard, worcestershire sauce, and pepper sauce until smooth.
Stir in the crab, green onion, and red pepper. Spoon into wonton cups. Sprinkle with parmesan Cheese.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until filling is heated through.
Serve warm.
Refrigerate leftovers.
{Printable Copy} Crab Wonton Cups
♥
This one is my newest addition to the Banana Bread Family.. and now my favorite! It is one of those recipes that my friend’s mom has had for year.. diligently typed up on an old typewriter and photocopied. Not only is it lower in fat, but the texture and flavor is so light and fluffy. She makes it for her family and it’s gone in minutes. I love it!!
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup bran flakes cereal
1 1/2 cups well-mashed ripe bananas
1 tbsp orange zest
2 tbsp water
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease one 9x5x3 loaf pan.
Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg together.
Cream shortening and sugar together in another bowl.
Bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
{Printable Copy} Judy’s Banana Bread
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by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
The wonton cups look super!
Thanks.. they’re yummy!
Sounds like you had a good day – Mother’s day is so much bigger there than it is here. That’s a wonderful looking loaf cake bread thingy
Oh no, now I think I need to do some blog housekeeping too. Your top menu makes me so envious. And I’m hungry for banana bread now and not a banana in the house. Or crabmeat. Those look deliciousssssssss. I love the bouquet your family gave you. White hydrangea—lovely!
Your kind of projects are my kind of projects, smidge. So glad you had a nice weekend. I am on Atkins just now, or else I would try both of those recipes! Happy week to you!
What a beautiful mothers day my friend – filled with tribute foods and awesome people and lovely flowers
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Oh my you have been busy and your weekend sounded wonderful. Love those little won tons…will have to see how I can improvise!
Looks and sounds as if you had a wonderful Mother’s Day! The crab wontons…oh how my heart aches…Ha!
Hi!
Just came upon your lovely blog! So many good things, I don’t even know what to start with! Love the indoor herb garden tins, that banana bread sounds/looks delicious (and one can never have too many banana bread recipes!),… and that rose petal cake?? whoa! so impressive and beautiful! 
Glad you had a lovely Mother’s Day weekend.
I kept meaning to post some of my pics but still haven’t got round to it. I have loads of parsley and a few chives but unfortunately my thyme died. But I’ve got some more seeds and some basil to try next. I do so love watering them just before I go to bed. There’s something very soothing about the ritual of it at that time of day.
Snap! I started a herb windowsill garden a couple of months ago. I took so many photos every time they dared grow a new leaf nearly!!
I really love the look of that banana bread. Lovely photos, as always.
It sounds like you had a lovely weekend and some lovely recipes to boot! The crab wontons sound really tasty, perfect for finger foods.
Yummy, my mother is watering…but no carbs for me…will save the banana bread recipe though because my girls and grandsons love it…have been making one with chocolate chips for years…and your photography is wonderful…do you use just natural light or any special lenses for them?
2 lovely recipes to try! Happy Mother’s Day!
I am fuming! The email of a new blog post from you went to my spam folder and I found it by complete accident. Can you imagine?
good thing I come here regardless of the email feed, but still….
Loved the herb garden in old tea cans (which of course, I’ve been trashing for years, silly Sally)
mouth…lol
Your weekend sounds positively busy but lovely! And now I know what to do with the wonton wrappers I bought the other week and put in the freezer as I was lacking in inspiration. And all the way through I was wondering, what the book was, we just read Julian Barnes, The Sense Of An Ending to much debate
That’s interesting.. I would have thought it was big almost everywhere?? Well, mom’s are loved no matter what:)
Thanks! It took a while, but now it’s done and I’m glad:) I love hydrangea, can’t wait til they grow in my garden!
Good luck with Atkins!
These are the best weekends..
I’ll just bet you make something fantastic:)
Ahhhh:)
I am sooo lazy.. I started with a bigger plant, lol!
They were yummy!
Thanks!
WordPress is driving me crazy!! Crazy!!! Anyway.. I just posted, so no worries:)
Hahaha.. it felt slow because Sunday was quieter.. but you’re right, it wasn’t really quiet, was it:D Always stuff to do around here it seems!! Now I’d better go do a few more chores! Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, Barb! Yours was an event-filled Mother’s Day, to be sure. Those crab wonton cups sound tasty with just the right amount of crunch from the crispy wontons. Now I need to find an excuse to serve them. When are you coming for a visit?
I wish I had more time to follow your work… You rock!
The wonton cups look so wonderfully brown and crispy. The herb garden looks nice, too, but how do you keep your tins from rotting out from the water? Do you punch holes in them? I didn’t see any drip trays. I’m asking because I’ve saved old tea tins and might want to try this.
It is, but I don’t think us British go for things quite as much.
Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday
Sounds like you had a great day! I did my filial duty back in March (mother’s day in the UK is back in March!)
Love the wonton cups… well, the banana bread looks fab too, but the little crispy cups are especially stealing my heart right now
The magazine I used said to line with plastic wrap, so that’s what I’ve done.. I’m suspicious that it’s not good because the roots could get a little saturated without some sort of system.. If this doesn’t work, I’m going to do plastic.. a few pebbles or marbles then soil and plant.. I’ll let you know how this one does!
I think we’re inundated with Hallmark commercials.. it plants the seeds of guilt and remorse if we don’t do something..
They really were good.. I’m thinking of different variations as well..
Wonderful post dear Barbara… I loved to read you and also your amazing recipes… Thank you, with my love, nia
Haha! I usually just send my mum a card
You have been busy .. bee there – Wonton Cups & Banana bread. Like the looks of both – when I think I will struggle with finding wonton wrappers – but the banana bread .. I will try. So into the file with an other.
These pre-made wonton wrappers are in the fresh produce section of most grocery stores.. Thanks for stopping by:)
Doubt I will find them over here …
What a great day!! You definitely deserved it. I love the addition of the bran flakes in the bread, that looks delicious!!
Hahaha… I’m due for a trip:D
Thanks!!!
Thank you nia.. I’m always happy to read yours:)
I am going to try the banana bread out on the kids here at Cal-Wood.
Sounds like you had a really terrific Mother’s Day weekend. Hope this book turns out to be a good one. I’m reading “Pillars of the Earth” (which was recommended by a friend) and really enjoying it. Have you read it? I also read Russian Winter and the The Twelfth Tale because they were on your reading list — both were great!
Looks like a wonderful Mother’s day weekend. And you’re right, mother’s day weekends should always be longer. You are so blessed to be surrounded by so much love.
What a beautiful weekend, and I love the way you have used the tins!
Hi Smidge. Sounds like you had a wonderful Mothers day. I brought a tear to my eye when I saw the card in the flowers….. Arrrrr! How lovely. Fabulous recipes tfs.
Have a wonderful day.
Regards Florence x
What a beautiful, love filled weekend you enjoyed Smidge. I love the way you are using your tea tins – so clever! As for those crab wonton cups – scrumity!
Mandy
You gave me a fright there, Barbara! For a minute, I thought I had missed Mother’s Day. Then I remembered we had ours in March this year… PHEW! Sounds like you had a great weekend!
Q. Can I substitute butter for shortening in the Banana Bread?
Very lovely flowers, it does look like your family appreciates you.
Another creative use of the wonton wrappers, Barb. And it’s so nice that you put a high brow filling in them like crab. I really love this and will likely make it on the weekend for our cocktails at the cottage. Have a great week.
Oh… So sorry about that! I did read somewhere earlier that you Mother’s Day is in March, so much more civilized I think;)
I believe butter would be fantastic.. I’m not “pro” but I always think butter/margarine are interchangable.. In fact I used margarine (shhhh)
I am a lucky gal:) And they know I adore flowers.. So I am easy to please..
Yes.. They were at our cottage the first time and would be perfect at yours.. Photos please of your cottage when you go… I think we are going to ours this weekend.. Just to help “open it up”. Xo Smidge
It sounds like you weekend was really productive. You certainly ate well
. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Haha, that didn’t seem slow and simple, it looks like someone was busy!!
This all looks delicious!!
Your blogg taste delicious! Thanks!
Two, TWO recipes in one post! And they both look so good. I’m so glad to hear you had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend – I know you deserved it.
Oh dear. I’m not getting emails of your new posts Smidge….actually I’m not getting them for several blogs. This makes me sad….
But the crab wonton cups have cheered me right up! Ohhhhh, those sound sooooooo good. Must. make. ASAP. I love what you wrote about your weekend, it sounds like it was busy, but fun! Your flowers are breathtaking!
And I love your herb garden idea too, that’s adorable Barb! Great idea. One I just might have to copy
Happy week to you dear!
Oh, my . . . your blog is beautiful! I instantly adored your header and knew this was a place I could likely spend hours perusing.
Your mother’s day celebrations sound lovely. I can imagine the food and decor were decadent and delicious! We kept things simple around here, ordering pizza from a local restaurant and a few home-made desserts.
Ah, the series finale season . . . Is it terrible to admit that this time of year actually saddens me for that reason alone. I feel as if these friends, these lives I’ve invested in for the better part of 3 months just leave me high-and-dry. And not only that, it’s as if they’ve picked up the phone, announced their pregnant or dying, or both, and then hung up! LOL. Terrible . . . Hopefully you will find another show or hobby to occupy your time while Desperate Housewives is on hiatus.
These wanton cups and banana bread recipes look much too good not to try. Thank you for sharing them!
Blessings,
~ Cara
What wonderful recipes! The crab wontons look amazing, and the banana bread does too! So healthy, and definitely a unique recipe with the added bran.
That banana bread looks delectable
Those crab wonton cups look delicious.
Smidge, what a productive weekend you had! And what beautiful flowers! The crab cups look very yummy.. x
Glad you had such a nice Mother’s Day, beautiful flowers, and kudos to you for your blog house cleaning! I’m loving this banana bread recipe and will have to try it out. Seems like I always have overripe bananas left at the end of the week! The crab wontons look pretty special, too. Bookmarked!
I have in mind to plant some of the green-tinged hydrangea this year. All of mine are white. There are new blue strains that can stand the winters, I may have to try one of those too.
I would have loved to try this banana bread in our quest last year. I may still try it anyway – it looks so different than any I’ve made. I’m definitely hungry now!
Glad you had a great Mother’s Day weekend!
Amazing recipes, especially the wontons! It’s nice knowing you had a great mother’s day!
That would have been fun! If I had it I would have sent it to you:) I think it’s the orange zest that makes it different.. And you can’t beat a healthy version with less fat and bran;)
How did you like Sweeney Todd? When my son auditions for music theatre roles he often sings a song from Sweeney Todd – it’s the one about his knives being his special friends. He loves that musical. It sounds like you had a busy but productive weekend. I need to do some blog sorting too. Lovely baking Smidge xx
Your blog is always beautiful…And I don’t know how you make time to do any cleaning up! I’d love to spend a little more time going through your blog roll, and I’m sure I will…I’m almost afraid I’ll find more that I love, and I don’t know how much more creativity I can take!
I must have that banana bread, Smidge! It looks just delicious. Sounds like your Mother’s Day was perfect, indeed! Debra
Wow, Miss Smidge! That was one crazy, busy weekend for you. So glad to see it was the smiley kind of busy! ~Ruth
The crab wonton cups look amazing. Perfect appetizer (that I’m sure everyone will love) I just might have to try sometime soon.
Love the look of those little wontons Smidge! Am thinking those will have to be served at our open house party this summer! You’ll be here right? Like your spring-cleaning efforts too. One day next winter I may get around to it too! xoxo!
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