04 July, 2016

#Microblog Mondays: (More) Miscellaneous

I’ve been working on a number of longer posts (watch this space), and so haven’t posted mid-week this week, and didn’t have a pithy eight-sentence post ready for today either. Clearly, my plan to write a blog schedule has gone by the wayside, but hopefully you’ll see some evidence of my labours soon.

It’s my mother-in-law’s birthday on Wednesday, and I plan to bake her a birthday cake. I don’t get to bake birthday cakes for my never-born children, or for any nieces and nephews, so I’m quite happy to do it for my elderly in-laws. I’m thinking a lemon layer cake - because she lost a lot of her tastebuds several years ago with radiation treatment, but can still taste tart citrus flavours - but first I need to find a good recipe, and must remember to make sure I have the right pans before I start.

I am finally able to start thinking about where we might travel next, possibly in November or December when my husband’s contract will have ended. There are advantages to being unencumbered by the need to provide a memorable Christmas for any children, or to travel only during school holidays. Anyone have any suggestions of good destinations at that time of year?



14 comments:

  1. What a lovely gift of baking! I'm glad you're doing this for your MIL. Here's a recipe that I really like: http://www.wellplated.com/lemon-layer-cake/

    Looking forward to the future posts and hearing more about travel plans.

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    1. Ooh, thanks for the recipe. We don't really use buttermilk here, but I'll figure something out.

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    2. The cakes are cooling now. We'll taste tomorrow, and I will report back!

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    3. I think I read somewhere that if you don't have buttermilk, you can use regular milk plus a bit of vinegar. I Googled it for you & here's what it said:

      "For each cup of buttermilk, you can use 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to measure 1 cup. Stir, then let stand for 5 minutes. You can also use 1 cup of plain yogurt or 1-3/4 teaspoons cream of tartar plus 1 cup milk."

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  2. Somewhere like Australia or Thailand would be perfect around November/December.

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  3. So nice of you to bake for your MIL! :) I too will be in the kitchen later this week, baking for Oldest Nephew's Fiancee's bridal shower. Italian showers hereabouts always feature a massive cookie table, not only for people to eat at the shower, but to take home with them as well. I was tickled when she asked me to contribute. I won't be bringing anything traditionally Italian, but she said she doesn't want that anyway. ;) I'm in, lol.

    To me, an escape in November or December would be to somewhere warm, like Florida or the Caribbean. ;) Since it already WILL be warm for you at that time of year, you could always come to Canada for a real change of climate, lol. ;)

    Watching the EuroCup soccer reminded me that several of my friends have been to Iceland & recommend it as something really cool (no pun intended, lol) & different. Although that would really be getting away for you, wouldn't it?? -- it would be quite the distance!

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  4. That cake sounds amazing! How nice of you to bake it and think of her tastebuds in that way. I love all things lemon, Bryce is actually baking me a Lemon Chess Pie today. Not the most patriotic dessert, but it will be completely delicious and summery. :) Hmmm, my favorite place to go for Christmas is Grafton Vermont, but that's quite a hike for you. It's such a picturesque, traditional holiday spot though. I agree with Loribeth on Iceland, too -- I've never been but have had friends go recently and share photos and it's on my bucket list for sure. A little cold for Christmas might be a nice change for you!

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  5. The lemon cake sounds amazing! As for travel ideas, if you are considering the United States, I have a few ideas. Denver, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains is supposed to be beautiful in the winter and would have lots of snow. A snowy Christmas could be fun! I have not been, but was considering it for a mini-honeymoon in December last year. New York City is beautiful during the winter holidays. I went during the week just after our Thanksgiving and into the first weekend in December. It was all decorated and fun to check out the stores, window displays and the big tree at the Rockefeller Center. Saw the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall and it was a neat show. If you go there, be sure to dress in layers! The cost was fairly reasonable, as that is a week where a lot of people in the United States do not travel as it is between two holidays and the kids are in school. I also agree that Florida is very nice in November and December. One Christmas I was in shorts and flip flops, but then another in jeans and a sweatshirt. The weather (at least in Orlando), was generally mild with some ups and downs. Usually a bit warmer during the day, but cooler at night with maybe a light jacket. If you would consider the parks, they can be fun. Many adults visit in addition to families. However, there would be more family volume around winter break time. January and February are best to visit places like Walt Disney World or Universal as that is off season and that is when it is least busy and much less crowded and it is nicely cool. Not the best time to swim at the beaches, but you can enjoy being outside without a lot of humidity. Back to November, usually around the first week is when Disney is wrapping up Epcot's Food and Wine Festival. That is fun if you are a foodie. Then at some point the parks switch over to Christmas decorations and that is pretty neat at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Plus, my hubby and I just spent a day visiting the hotel lobbies checking out the decorations for free. On a non-Disney related note, the manatees winter in the springs and that is interesting to see. Plus, you get to enjoy some of Florida's nature. I believe we went to Blue Springs. Lots options all around for travel! I wonder what Germany and England would be like at Christmastime?

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  6. I am glad you are baking for your mother-in-law. I also often bake something for my MIL. She loves sweets. And because of her Alzheimer she lost ability to bake. It is good to have time to do something nice for someone.

    I am envious and obviously happy for your travelling planning. Though, I am going tomorrow to Italy for two days. Very close to the town in the north where you and your DH stayed for many weeks.

    regards, Klara

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  7. That cake sounds amazing! Your mother-in-law is lucky to have a thoughtful daughter-i-law like you!

    As for travel, I've always fancied spending Christmas at a ski resort in Vermont, but maybe that's because I've always loved the old Bing Crosby movie, White Christmas. I also think that Christmas at an adults only resort of some type would be fabulous too! I also love the Iceland suggestion!

    One thing is for certain, if you ever happen to find yourself in western Pennsylvania, I know somebody who would love to meet you (and just so happens to have a guest room).

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  8. So great of you to think of making a lemon cake (which sounds ab fab, by the way) for your mother in law.

    I have no suggestions for December destinations except to say, Yay for December destinations. :-)

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  9. Dear Mali, I just discovered that you have added my blog to your blog roll. Thank you so much! You made my day :-).

    As for the December recommendations, it probably depends on how far you want to travel, and whether you prefer a warm destination or a snowy place... Your own country looks pretty amazing, too, at least according to Google :-).

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  10. I love bleak places, so if it were up to me, I would be flying the two of you to the Faroe Islands. Or maybe some islands off of Scotland. At the very least, somewhere in Scandinavia. Yes, even when the days are so short and cold.

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  11. I think it's fun to travel anywhere around Christmastime. You get to enjoy special festivals and decorations and such that are different that what you have at home. I've been to Italy and Ireland in December, and enjoyed them both very much. In short, I don't think it matters where you go; you can have a good time anywhere!

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