The Fall weather just keeps me in the baking mood. Yesterday caught me making a strawberry Italian Cream Cake for our DIL birthday and the fresh apple cake is for a party we are going to tonight. When Mandy ask that I make either a strawberry cake or an Italian Cream cake, I went looking for either of these recipes and found a great recipe for a strawberry cake which had coconut and chopped pecans, which in my mind said, “wow, this is like a strawberry Italian cake” so I thought I would bake it. I ended up making the layers in 3 pans instead of two, which made them a little thin for my liking, so I went ahead and baked a two layer French vanilla cake mix and combined the two cakes, put together with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting with chopped pecans and coconut. Turned out so good, I wanted to share.

Strawberry Cake

1 package plain white cake mix

1 ( 3 oz) package strawberry gelatin

1 cup mashed fresh strawberries with juice (I used frozen)

1 cup veggie oil

1/2 cup whole milk

4 large eggs, room temp

1 cup frozen unsweetened grated coconut, thawed (I find this by the frozen fruit)

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package ( 8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (1 box)

3/4 cup fresh ripe strawberries, rinsed and mashed to make 1/2 cup, then drained well. (I just used the left over mashed strawberries that I didn’t use in the cake mix)

1/2 cup frozen unsweetened coconut, thawed

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Lightly grease 3 9″ round cake pans. Preheat oven to 350 (unless your cake pans are dark coated, then bake at 325)

Place cake mix, strawberry gelatin, mashed strawberries and juice, oil, milk and eggs in large mixing bowl. Blend together on low for 1 min, then scraping sides, increase speed to medium and beat for 2 more min. Fold in the coconut and nuts. Divide mixture between the 3 pans and bake until cake tests done. Cool completely.

At this point, I made a Duncan Hines French Vanilla cake, according to directions on box, except that I always substitute milk for the water. Make in 2 9″ round pans.

For Frosting:

Mix the cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar until well blended and no lumps remain. Stir in the coconut and pecans.

To assemble cake:

Place a white cake layer on the bottom of a serving platter. Frost the top. Place a strawberry cake layer on top and frost. Repeat with another white cake layer and frost, then end with another of the strawberry layers. Frost top and sides, using the rest of the frosting. *Also would be good to completely wrap the entire cake, after frosting, with a layer of fresh whipped cream, heh, just sayin). Store in fridge. Keep the 3rd cake layer for another time, wrapped in foil, zip lock bag in freezer.

BOO! today is not only Halloween, but our first grandson, Jaden’s, birthday and one of our daughter-in-laws, Mandy. I love it when the streets are full of children walking around with their parents, going door to door, asking for candy. It just makes life seem so normal, like we should look up and down the street and see “the Beav” and Wally. Although today, the costumes are a little different from when our kids grew up, I do love all the fluorescent necklaces and bracelets that you can see from 4 doors down. In fact, I will go ahead and admit that I love to wear those myself. When we lived in California, I used the excuse that I bought them to keep in the night stand so in case of an earthquake, I could put one on  to assure the rescue team would find me, as I would light up like an airport with all the necklaces I would be wearing. In fact, when we would be watching the fireworks at the Rose Bowl July 4th, I was probably the only one over the age of 12 wearing the bright glowing necklaces. Randy would just sit on the other side of the blanket and pretend I was a alien who had just obtained their citizenship and was still so excited about being an American. But here in Texas I don’t have an excuse. I just have to come forward and admit that I am a “glow in the dark” necklace junkie. Since our grandkids who are of trick or treat age live in other states…well that’s not true. We do have a 10 year old grandson that lives here, but his idea of dressing up for Halloween is putting on a suit and claiming to work as a financial advisor for American Express. He wouldn’t be caught dead in a glow in the dark anything. Our other grandchild who lives here is only 4 months old, so I have some time before I can go with her. I only hope that they make glow in the dark tennis balls that will fit on the wheels of my walker so I can still “party down” in a few years when Payton is old enough to go trick or treating.

So today I am baking birthday cake. Preparing to bring out the Christmas music (hello, tomorrow is Nov 1st), remembering the Halloween goodies we use to make when our kids were little, like popcorn balls, caramel apples, I will be having a grand time in the kitchen. You can’t miss me if you drive down our street. You will be able to see the glowing green necklace in the windows, baking pumpkin cupcakes and singing “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree.”

Had lunch with a friend today who is extremely involved with the political scene. She and her husband are now Precinct Reps to the State Republican  Convention and take their jobs very seriously. I was sharing with Peggy today about how I finally went to get my new Texas License so I could vote. She began to tell the ladies at lunch about the rules at the polling places and to be sure that my cell phone is off when we go in. She informed me that there are always “poll watchers” there to be sure that the rules are followed and said that they are always in need of poll watchers. Well, that was all I needed to hear. I came home to tell Randy that I had found the perfect place for him to volunteer…when he ask, I informed him that after a little training, he would be able to be a poll watcher. . Apparently he misunderstood, because the next thing I knew he was upstairs in the closet picking out an outfit. An outfit  that well, should we say, had the look of Tom Jones, with the shirt unbuttoned down to the waist. He had found a gold chain that was left over from the 70’s, that was now proudly displaced around his neck. He had polished his white patent shoes and was applying his favorite after shave lotion. When I ask him what in the world he was doing, he informed me that he was ready to go “pole” watching and wondered which bar we would be going to “help” as undercover helpers to be sure that rules were followed.

After I explained that the polls where he would be helping to be sure rules were followed, were voting precinct, he went back into the closet and changed into a tweed jacket and loafers. He likes to dress in case television cameras are there filming voters going in or out. He proudly displays his “I Voted Today” sticker as we head back to the car. Peter decided that since he is so nice and fun, he doesn’t think he would fit in very well with the grouchy elderly people that are there giving voting instructions. He says that the thinks “pole watching” would have been a lot more fun.

New Mexico! We are just arriving in one of our favorite places, Albuquerque. Seeing the sun rise over the mountains to the east and then again setting over another set of mountains to the west never gets old. Upon crossing over into NM, we looked at the car in front of us and noticed something in the back windshield of their car; a couple rolls of toilet paper. Randy said, “now there is something we don’t see often in Dallas”. We had beautiful scenery coming in from Arizona but just couldn’t leave there without finding one of those ole mom and pop restaurants that we love so much. And finally there in Holbrook we drove into town where we found just the place; Joe and Aggies. Truly some of the best Mexican food we have had. Randy ordered their green Chile chile which he said was over the top good. I ordered a Cheese Crisp. A deep fried flour tortilla with beans, green Chile sauce and cheddar cheese which was baked on the fried tortilla. Driving around this great country has allowed us to meet ladies who have served us great food, with the biggest smiles and men who manned registers who have shared some of their life stories of going off to college trying to get out of the small towns, only to find themselves back in these small towns after 30 years, running the restaurants that was started by their grandparents in the 40’s. Yes, I love the adventure of meeting people who show us that there are sweet kind folks everywhere. We just need to remember that we need to get off the interstate, leaving Burger King in the rear view mirror to experience what America is about…beauty not only in the scenery but in the hearts of people.

We are blessed to be spending 4 days at a friends house up in the mountains here in California. Right now I am sitting in their sun porch with the sound of waterfalls outside the open windows. What a awesome reminder of God’s beautiful creation. Because we have to come out here to get internet, we have had 3 days thus far of no phone service, which I truly thought would send me into withdrawals. How easy it was to just enjoy the sound of quiet. The sound of water falling over rocks as we sat out and enjoyed snacking on queso, fruit, dishes of candy at every corner of the cabin. We have barbecued rib eyes, had breakfast at 10 before heading out for hikes. Watching Blue Jays fly around the giant sequoia and looking for the small bear that we hear comes around has been exciting. Kathy, Dee and I have spent hours looking through recipe books, played cards and visited over pumpkin sliced coffee.
It is times like this that reminds me of just how blessed Randy and I have been. I remember fearing when moving to CA 4 years ago this month, might be a crazy idea and what were 2 people, in their 60 ‘ s doing moving across the USA to the unknown. We had truly felt a peace about it but when the actual move date came that feeling became fear. Now looking back 4 years later, we know that God had a plan. A plan to show us that if we step out in faith, the blessings that He has for us is so much more than we could ever imagine. We are so thankful for the wonderful memories that were made in these past 4 years and continue to be made with the precious Christian friends who will forever be in our hearts, no matter the distance. We are grateful for so many things that He has showered upon us, and today, a new memory of sitting around the dining table, unhurried, listening to waterfalls and laughter and remembering that God is in His Heaven’s and still in control, no matter how crazy the world seems sometimes. We just need to take the time to remember that. Streams of water have given us a chance to pause an remember the Springs of Living Water that can heal any soul.

What a special week this has been to visit our sweet friends here in California. We have eaten our way through LA, played hand & foot, laughed so hard we cried and just enjoyed the simple pleasures of friendship that means so much. We are determined not to get teary eyed as we leave in a few days but to just give thanks for the Lord for allowing us to come visit. It has been pure joy. We have found that people who live here make you feel like you are living in the 50’s. They just call you up, tell you to come over for a meal and then we end up staying for a couple of hours to play cards. If there is no dessert made…no problem, they just pull out ice cream from the freezer and don’t apologize for not having a Martha Stewart dessert made. Everyone is thrilled to just be among friends, catching up on their lives.
Life seems at a slower pace than in Dallas. Seems weird to say that, but people here seem to have more of a desire to just sit and visit. It makes me more determined to acquire that lifestyle when we get back to Texas. Not worry that I might not have a fancy dessert baked, but to invest more of my time in people’s lives instead of worrying about what to serve.
Seems That no matter where we roam, there is always a lesson to be learned. I need to wake up to the reality that instead of dreamin’ of a more old fashioned social life, it is up to each of us to help make happen what we wish “could be.”

Upon arriving at our friend’s house in CA, we were greeted with the awesome aroma of these short ribs cooking. They were fall off the bone and the gravy that it made was just the best. Had the rest of c the gravy tonight over the left over scalloped potatoes.
1 (16 oz) jar roasted red sweet peppers, drained (about 2 cups)
3 tables Mexican Chile Cocoa Spice
3 lbs bone in beef short ribs
1 Large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 cup red wine or beef broth
1 (14 1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
3/4 cup low sodium beef broth
1/3 cup dried cherries

in a blender puree sweet peppers and Mexican chili cocoa spice, set a side. Season beef with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 half teaspoon pepper. Coat a Dutch oven with Pam cooking spray; heat over medium high heat. Add beef. Cook until deep brown all over about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Drain all but 2 tablespoons fat from pan. Place sliced onion in pan and cook and stir over medium heat 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook and stir 1 minute more.add red pepper puree to onion mixture And cook while stirring 3 minutes. Transfer mixture to a 6 quart slow cooker. Add tomatoes, broth, cherries and ribs. Along with any juices on plate. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH 4 to 5 hours. Transfer ribs to a platter. Skim and discard excess fat from liquid. Pour Sauce over ribs.

We did it; as soon as we crossed over the border to Arizona we quickly noticed that we looked like the thousands of other Seniors that actually live here. We felt that we needed to change a few of our old habits to fit in a little better. We felt it coming on when we noticed the signs at a Frys grocery store selling $1 root beer floats to seniors. We didn’t know until we stopped that they meant high school seniors. We just assumed that because of where we were they meant the “wise” old geezers.Then we realized that not only did we feel like we belonged here since every neighborhood has a “over 55” gated community that wave us on in without stopping us; but our precious grandkids who we drove 17 hours to see tell us that if we really want to pick them up from school this week, they would appreciate it ever so much if we would park around the corner:
It was embarrassing to be seen getting in a car with grandparents. We paid them back by having t shirts printed up with their pictures on the front saying, “never fear..your grandparents are here.”
Randy has bought his first pair of stripped Bermuda shorts with black knee socks and ordered me a pair of gold tennis shoes.
We like to feel like we really fit in when we visit places. Better close, it’s almost 4 and Randy is ready to leave for the senior blue plate special at Applebee’s.
I better get him out of here before he trades in my car for a Buick.