LA MIA FAMIGLIA BELLA

TODAY IS MEMORIAL DAY

When I was a child, my mother and my aunts and us kids would all pile into the car, loaded with lilacs and iris, and whatever else was in bloom. Together we made a day of going to all the cemetery's that all our family who have gone on before us were at. Somehow it was fun for us kids. One year I remember my mom and my aunts determined to find one little headstone that belonged to my cousin Mike who died long before I was born. When we did finally find it, it was covered with grass and about the size of a brick. The aunts, cleaned it up and graced it with a lovely live bouquet. Today I would like to honor my family with this portrait, that is the cover of our family's cookbook.  I LOVE YOU ALL!
In memory of: Mom and Dad (Fred and Louise)
Uncle Lloyd, Uncle Jess, Uncle Frank, Uncle Joe, the Aunt Mary's, Joe Hazel, Jess Hazel, Muncle Johnny, Aunt Teresa, Aunt Rosie, cousin Juanita, cousin Mike, cousin Tonya , Nana and Grampa.

LILACS LILACS EVERYWHERE

Our city is the Lilac City! Last weekend was our Great Lilac Torchlight Parade that winds through the streets of downtown Spokane. It's so much more than a tradition, it is also a tribute to our armed forces. When my kids were little they were taught to stand in honor of our country when the US flag passed by. So on their first time at the parade, it was a real calisthenics experience for them as the flag passes by many times.
I found this great LILAC BEVERAGE on a site that is on my side bar and wanted to share it with you, please check it out by clicking on the link below  and enjoy!

http://good4youtea.blogspot.com/

DECORATIVE ICE RING

LEMON SLICES
QUARTERED RED AND GREEN MARASCHINO CHERRIES
SPRIGS OF MINT OR HUCKLEBERRY

Arrange lemon slices and cherries along with the mint or huckleberry sprigs on the bottom of ring mold.
Add enough water to partially cover.
Freeze.
When frozen add water to fill 3/4 full.
Freeze.
Unmold.

In memory of our Lady Liz

Float Fruit side up in punchbowl.

JUNE PUNCH


4 cups sugar
4 cups water
2 cups strong black tea
six 6 ounce cans frozen lemonade concentrate undiluted
two-6 ounce cans frozen orange juice concentrate undiluted
2 number 2 cans pineapple juice (5 cups)
2 cups cut-up fresh strawberries and juice or 16 ounces of frozen strawberries, thawed
1 gallon of water
2 quart dry ginger-ale

Make syrup by boiling sugar and 4 cups of water for 10 minutes. Add tea and fruit juices. Chill 2-3 hours. Add remaining ingredients.
Pour over decorative ice block in punch bowl.

Serves 60-70

small things iced

Don't Shake the Champagne

handling the bubbly with care will pay big dividends

Chanel as seen in Classic Style

June is the Month of Misty eyed brides, gardenias and rice and       "popping corks" Per haps you'll be giving or going to a least one wedding festivity, or celebrating your own wedding anniversary. For any of these occassions a bottle of champagne or wine is in order. If you are serving champagne be sure you handle this lively liquid with care, and it will pay you dividends in sparkling bubbles. It's best to buy or order champagne a day or two in advance of the event, so it will not be churned about on serving day. Champagne should never, never be shaken.Store a champagne bottle in a cool place on its side or at an angle to keep the natural cork wet.

Champagne chills well on its side, in the refrigerator (it takes about 3 hours). Make sure your refrigerator is not colder than 40 degrees, (which is the best serving temperature for the bubbling beverage.) To open the bottle, remove the foil capsule and wirecap, then with the bottle at a 45 degree angle pointed away from you, hold the cork firmly with one handand twistr the bottle -not the cork-with the other hand. Pour the liquid into bone dry glasses, as damp glassware tends to vanquish bubbles!

WEDDING RECEPTION PUNCH

3 ripe fresh peaches, unpeeled

1 "fifth" saterne

1 tsp bitters

2 "fifths" champagne

Fresh strawberries

Rub peaches well with damp cloth, then pierce deeply and thoroughly with tines of fork; place on bottom of punch bowl. Put ice block in punch bowl on top of peaches. Combine sauterne and bitters; pour into punchbowl and add champagne.  Garnish punch and individual serving with fresh unhulledstrawberries. Makes about 25 servings.

WEDDING RECEPTION PUNCH #2
1 gallon lemonade sweetened
1 qt sparkling Catawba grape juice
1 qt plain catawba grape juice
2 qts gingerale
combine all ingredients together and pour over a small block of ice.
YIELDS:35 servings

WEDDING RECEPTION PUNCH#3
finally for that extra special occasion, when you want to pull out all the stopes, serve that showcase of all punchbowl beverages...CHAMPAGNE PUNCH
1/2 pound powdered sugar
1  1/2 ounces of orange curacao
1  1/2 ounce brandy or cognac
1  1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
2 quarts champagne
1 quart sparkling water
mixfirst four ingredients together in large punch bowl, stirring until sugar is dissolved, add cracked ice, stirring from time to time, until thoroughly chilled. Just before serving add champagne and sparkling water. Add fruits and berries in season, stir well, serve in champagne glasses
YIELDS:25 servings

FRUIT PUNCH GOES WELL WITH GRADUATION PARTY

BY Dorothy Dean from the Spokesman Review Homemakers Department 1960s


Junior proms and graduation dances are a main topic of conversation among teenagers this time of year. No doubt the young set at your house has been busy on the phone discussing corsages, dresses and pre-dance parties.
If you are giving your young folks a party, plan on serving a sparkling, tangy fruit punch. Select one of these recipes. Incidentally they're also good ones for bridal showers and wedding receptions or anniversary parties!

APPLE PINK PUNCH
2 quarts apple juice
2 pints cranberry juice
2 cups orange juice
2 tall bottles of lemon lime carbonated beverage
ice block
chill ingredients. At serving time pour juices over ice in punch bowl. stir, slowly add lemon lime beverage. YIELDS: 50 servings

PINK PROMENADE PUNCH
1 quart Hawaiian punch concentrate
2 quarts cold water
1 quart grapefruit juice or 1 tall bottle of carbonated grapefruit beverage
2 tall bottles of sparkling water
combine punch concentrate and water, chill. At serving time pour concentrate mixture over ice in punch bowl,slowly add grapefruit juice and sparkling water. YIELD: 50 servings

BUBBLING JADE PUNCH
2 packages lemon gelatin
2 cups boiling water
1 quart cold water
2  6-ounce cans frozen lemonade concentrate
2 cups pineapple uice
2 tall bottle gingerale
block of ice
dissolve gelatin in boiling water,stir in cold water, lemonade concentrate and pineapple juice, blend well.
Do not refrigerate! Just before serving pour over ice in punch bowl,slowly add gingerale. YIELD: 40 servings

Those do sound delightful and there are more to come!!

BRIDES DELIGHT PUNCH

For a large group this one serves 100 guests:
10 peaches pared and diced
6 pineapples, fresh pared and diced
6 cans grapefruit juice
2 gal lemon sherbet
1 qt brandy flavor
6 lemons the juice of and shredded peel.

place peaches and pineapples in large container. Pour in next 4 ingredients slowly whip in sherbet until creamy, add lemon and use shreds for garnish, just before serving.
http://dreamlifeincity.blogspot.com/

chef dennys pink cake

HOWS YOUR PROTOCOL IQ?

From an article out of the Air Force times 1950...something

take the test...
1) Should a woman precede her husband through a receiving line?
2) How long should a couple remain at a reception?
3) Should a woman remove her gloves when drinking?
4) Should a wife invite her husband's commander to a party?
5) When may one smoke at a formal dinner?
6) Should awoman accept all invitations to dance?
7) What obligation is there to return hospitality?
8) Do wives of junior officers owe any special courtesies to the wives of senior officers?
9) What form should calling cards take?
10)To whom should one speak during dinner?

I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

GRADUATION CALLS FOR CELEBRATION

Whether or not it's graduation from grade school, high school, college or medical school, it's a special time for those who have completed this stage of their life. Because of the importance of this day, a celebration party is in order.


PINK PROMENADE PUNCH
1 quart Hawaiian Punch concentrate
2 quarts of cold water
2 tall bottles club soda
1 tall bottle sparkling grapefruit drink
Ice block

combine punch concentrate and water, chill. At serving time pour over ice block and add club soda and grapefruit drink.
serves 50

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED SHERBET PUNCH
3 tall bottles lemon-lime carbonated beverage chilled
4 quarts lemon, lime or orange sherbet softened.
At serving time, pour lemon lime beverage into punch bowl.
Gradually stir in 3 quarts softened sherbet. Top with remaining sherbet in small spoonfuls.
Do not add ice.
Stir punch frequently during serving period to keep it from separating.
Serves 50