Care Package

My friend had a baby last week and she happened to have a c-section. I thought it would be a nice idea to make her some homemade goodies. I made her Italian wedding soup, snicker-doodles, and banana nut muffins. It just so happens that you can find all of these in our recipe index. Maybe you can comfort someone with your homemade favorites as well!

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In My Own Little Corner

This weekend I broke what has been kind of a Broadway draught for me.  My mom and I went to see the new production of Cinderella!  It’s not the Disney version, but rather the Rodgers and Hammerstein version that has only been shown as a TV movie.Great White Way

You know it, it’s the version that was most recently re-made with Brandy and Whitney Houston in 1997.  There are some great songs like “Ten Minutes Ago” and the “Stepsister’s Lament.”

It was a very enjoyable girly affair.  Definitely a show to see on a girl’s night, unless for some reason, your Prince Charming is willing to make the trip.  I thought overall the actors were good and they had nice voices. The costumes were elaborate, but I sort of wished they made a more artistic decision with all of the big dresses and done something a little more interesting.  Like do all the chorus girls in shades of the same color, rather than have one in each color of the rainbow.  I felt like they made some safer choices when it came to costumes and sets, which were fine, but they could have re-invented it in a better way.

The lead actress really looked like she walked out of Disney world.  She even had one dress that was very reminiscent of Belle’s gold dress from Beauty and the Beast.  The prince seemed a little nerdy at first, but he grew on me.  By the end, I felt like I wanted to be his Cinderella.

Hearing the songs again was very nostalgic, but they added a couple new ones that were not as great as the originals.  They also added a little political sub plot about helping the poor, and voting for a Prime Minister to advise the King. That part wasn’t my favorite. I felt like they tacked it on to beef up the plot, but I just want to see pretty dresses and balls and princes.

Something new to add to the wall!
Something new to add to the wall!

All in all a festive choice for a girl’s night out! Here’s to a lot more Broadway in my life this year!

Have you seen any good Broadway shows lately?

Have Some Ham…Make Croque Madame

This weekend I was having some girlfriends over for brunch.  I decided to try Paula Deen’s Croque Madame Casserole.  Let me tell you.  This is a must have for your next brunch menu.  It is rich and delicious.  Mind you, it is not something you should make if you are counting your calories!

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Ingredients
8 tbsp butter, 1/4 c flour, 2 c milk, 2 tbsp mustard, 3/4 tbsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 10 slices bread, 3/4 lb ham, 8 oz grated swiss, 6 eggs
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400. Grease an 8×8 square baking dish. (I used an 8×11 baking dish instead).Melt 6 tbsp of butter in a large skillet over low heat until bubbling. Whisk in flour and cook for one minute. Whisk in milk and cook until thick and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes more. Whisk in mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

Pour a thin layer of sauce in the baking dish and cover it with 5 slices of bread. Then top the slices of bread with half of the ham slices and half of the swiss. Repeat the layers once more and finish the casserole with another layer of sauce to cover the entire dish. Bake for 30 minutes.

In a large skillet, cook 6 eggs over easy. You can work in batches. Season with salt and pepper to taste. After the casserole is finished baking, cut the casserole into 6 portions and top each portion with an egg. You have a delicious meal ready for your guests.

Check out this cute grater that I found at Love the Cook in Cape May!
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