SALUTE TO SPOKANE, WASHINGTON!!!

*My hometown-the 2nd largest city in Washington!!! We call it the Lilac city because of all the lilacs!!! (photos-Select Spokane magazine & google+)

REMEMBERING MOM ON MOTHER'S DAY :)

(photo-google+)

MOTHER'S DAY 2014

(photo-Kathy)

(photo-google+)

EASY LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES

*Ideal for Mother's Day!!!

1 cup of whole milk

5 TB butter, plus more for coating the cooking pan

2 TB granulated white sugar

2 cups of store bought pancake mix

3 large eggs beaten

1 TB of finely grated fresh lemon zest

1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

3/4 cup of whole milk ricotta

1. Heat milk in saucepan and melt butter in milk over medium-low heat. Add sugar, stirring to dissolve. Allow mixture to cool to lukewarm.

2.Mix milk mixture into pancake mix. Add beaten eggs, lemon zest and vanilla extract. Gently fold in ricotta cheese. The batter should be somewhat lumpy.

3. Heat skillet over medium heat. Lightly coat with butter. Scoop 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup (for larger pancakes) batter into the pan to form pancakes. Cook for about 4 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for 2 minutes more on other side. Serve immediately with butter and syrup, or powdered sugar and fruit compote. YIELD: 16 silver dollar or 8 regular sized pancakes.

(Source: Timothy Grayson & The Spokesman Review & google+ photo)

DUNGENESS CRAB and ASPARAGUS QUICHE

*IDEAL FOR MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH!!!

*** My mother-in-law Elizabeth would LOVE this!!***

19-inch pie crust thawed

1/2 cup fresh asparagus (blanched)

2 TB all-purpose flour

5 beaten large whole eggs

+Salt and ground pepper to taste

1/2 cup whole milk

1-2/3 cup pasteurized Dungeness crab meat

1 cup grated Swiss cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup chopped fresh green onion

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cut fresh asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Add to boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes then pour into colander under cold running water over to chill.

2. Combine flour, beaten eggs, salt and pepper, milk, crabmeat, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise, green onion and blanched asparagus. Pour into chilled pie shell.

3. Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool to room temperature. Cut and Serve. SERVES: 8 

(Source: Timothy Grayson-The Spokesman Review & photo also)

MOTHER'S DAY BOUQUET CUPCAKES

What is better than candy and flowers on Mom's special day? How about candy flowers? For each, start with a generously frosted mini cupcake. Press the candies listed into the frosting as shown:

1. PETALS:

large gumdrops

rolled flat and cut

into thin strips

  CENTER:

large gumdrop

2. PETALS:

M & M'S

   CENTER:

Sour Punch Straws

cut diagonally

3. PETALS:

raspberry candies and 

Sour Punch Straws

cut diagonally

   CENTER:

small gumdrop

4. PETALS:

mini marshmallows

topped with flower

sprinkles (attach them with frosting using a toothpick)

5. PETALS:

licorice twists cut

diagonally

   CENTER:

blackberry candy

6. PETALS:

Mike and Ike candies

    CENTER:

gumball

7.PETALS:

licorice pastels

NOTE: Follow clockwise* #3, #4 , #5, #2, #6 and #7 in center 

(Source: Family Fun Magazine & photo also)