The Necessities

The Necessities

Connections are important.

In the business world they are often a necessary evil, but in our personal lives they are just a necessity, period. No man- or woman- is an island. Well ok. I guess I wouldn’t mind "being an island" if I could be alone on the island of Mauritius (que c'est beau!) but my chances of that happening are slim to none. Emphasis on the NONE.

My Friends here in Savannah that I connect with have been in my life for a minute...when things were good…and bad; especially when they were bad. They’ve stood with me through school, a career change; raising the kids, (STILL raising the kids) becoming a grandmother (One. Two. And THREE), moving (repeatedly), a divorce, a wedding, and now that first year of married life with Mr. Wilson. They’ve seen me laugh, cry; they’ve done both with me and loved me no less because of either.

Definition of necessities: Bare essentials required universally for subsistence or survival, or for maintaining a certain minimum standard-of-living.

Humans are social creatures, and being able to trust, to share, and to love are essential to our emotional and spiritual growth. We need people who love us, forgive us, encourage us, people we can grow with, who are honest with us- and in this department my life has no lack…I love my People. They make me "more". A humble ‘Thank You” to each one of you, near and far, old and new, teacher and student both, who continue to travel with me and mine.

So…it’s the Holiday. We gather to feast, to remember our Veterans and Soldiers, to celebrate our connections, and the friends who grace our path.

Let’s party, Witches!

Bain sult as! (Enjoy!)

*NOTE* What incredible food we were blessed with today; everything was wonderful and all the more so when made with love by friends. Thank you Angel & Rick for the veggies and the bananas & ice cream (COMPLETELY sinful), please save that recipe...Sara & Gator for the broccoli salad, A-Mazing! Alex and Amber for that unbelievable potato salad...we hope to see that one again soon...

Listening to:

Skillet

Goal for the day:

Bike ride with Lil' Man

Thinkin' bout:

Mango Margaritas...

Joke of the day:

A young couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word.

An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position.

As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the husband sarcastically asked, "Are they relatives of yours?"

"Yes," his wife replied. "I married into the family." Hahaha...you ain't ready!

The Lineup...

Hemingway's Mojitos

Cuban Mojito Recipe; the authentic recipe from Havana Cuba

1 teaspoon powdered sugar

juice from one lime

4 mint leaves

1 sprig of mint

Havana Club white rum

2 ounces club soda

Place your mint in the bottom of a tall glass and squeeze the juice from one lime over it. Add powdered sugar and use muddler to mash. You can use a wooden spoon handle or whatever works- not everyone has a muddler handy...

Add crushed ice, rum, stir and top off with club soda and your sprig of mint.

Hemingway would have loved adored worshipped Mr. Wilson.

To make filling- Combine strawberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, the zest and lemon juice. Let sit 10 minutes. In medium bowl, mix whipping cream and 4 remaining tablespoons sugar until firm and stiff peaks form.

Assemble cake

Using a serrated knife, slice both layers in 1/2.

*NOTE* This is easier if you slightly freeze your layers, and if NOT freezing, use a sharp wire to cut layers, not a knife.

Set rounded tops aside to use as middle layers. Place a dollop of whipped cream onto the plate to start with. This will hold your cake in place. Place 1 layer of cake on plate, cut side up. Spread with about 3 tablespoons jam. sprinkle with about 1/4 of the cut berries mixture and 1/4 of the whipped cream mixture. Repeat with second and third layers.

Place final layer on top of cake, cut side down. Mound the remaining whipped cream in the center and spread to about one inch from edges. Sprinkle with remaining strawberries.

*NOTE* This is NOT a neat cake...but it has the most wonderful flavor and a quaint, country, homemade look about it! It tastes like it might have liquor in it, but it doesn't. It was perfect for a BBQ.

Best Butter Cake

2 1/4 cups cake flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups sugar

About 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2/3 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Using a stand mixer, beat sugar and 1/2 cup butter till creamy. Crack eggs into a bowl (DO NOT BEAT) and add vanilla. Add eggs and vanilla to mix, scraping down bowl as needed. Beat in flour and milk, alternating and ending with flour mixture.

Butter and flour 2 eight inch round cake pans. Divide batter evenly. Bake approximately 20-25 minutes. Cool cakes in pan 5 minutes, and then invert and cool on wire racks at least 40 minutes.

Tracy Wilson on Facebook

J.C. Wilson on Facebook (My incredible sexy cool Mojito makin' Man)