I LOVE NY!!!

It's been said by many. It's been misunderstood by many. For instance, my mom was in town a couple of weekends ago to see the opera I was in and kept saying how she doesn't understand how I can live in NYC. She can only deal with the tall buildings and close surroundings for about 3 days.

There are just so many things I could say about NY. Today I shall just share one experience.

I was in my kitchen this past Sunday looking at my sifter and thinking about a line from the opera I was just in. It was in old English and the father said, "I shall go and sift her." I'm sure it means "I will go and set her straight" but I couldn't help but think about baking. lol

All of a sudden I heard tons of honking from the street below. I ran to the window where my beautiful cake was cooling.

I stopped to admire its beauty and thought how lovely the top of it would be for wall paper on a computer.

I was shaken out of my state of admiration with the noise of music. There was an accordion outside!!!
There was dancing outside!

On this dreary Sunday, the superintendent's family was celebrating and I had a bird's eye view. It was like the whole street was celebrating and the gray clouds were a thing of the past. Then the bride arrived and a even fresher breath of air flowed through the street. And wouldn't you know it! She started dancing too!

I forced myself from the mesmerizing scene to finish my dessert that I was bringing to a board game night I was attending in Brooklyn that evening. Yep! Another reason I love NY. One second a street dance party, the next Bananagrams!

Oh, and by the way...yes, the dessert I made WAS messy.

Peanut Bars (from my Mom's Best Recipes Book)

Sponge Cake:

2 eggs

1 C sugar

1/2 C milk

1 T butter

1 t vanilla

1 C flour (bread flour is good)

1 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

 

Frosting:

half and half

powdered sugar

unsalted peanuts

 

Cake:

In a small saucepan, scald milk, add butter. Beat eggs until light, add sugar and beat well. Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt that have been sifted together. Stir in vanilla and milk mixture. Bake in greased pan (about 7 1/2 by 10 inches) for about 20 minutes at 325 degrees. Cool well. Cut in narrow bars.

 

Frosting:

Frost sides and bottom with frosting made with powdered sugar and thin cream (half & half). Roll in unsalted peanuts that have been ground in a food processor.

Bake well and prosper!