A year ago today, I sent my first blog post of Life at Bella Terra.  It was an intimidating moment, because I thought “who would ever want to read this?”  I don’t consider myself a very good writer and I’m really trying to improve upon that.  But your words of encouragement have brought me back to the computer to post again and again.  If it wasn’t for your kindness and support, it would have been easy to just quit.  Thank you for your loyalty and feedback and comments. Truly. From the bottom of my heart.

Each time I send out an email letting you know I’ve created a new post, I am praying you find it interesting, enlightening or even motivating.  I try to share a small piece of loveliness in hopes that I can brighten your day. As I look out into the world, I believe we each need to find sources of joy and create our own beauty.  Whether it be feeling the warmth from a freshly picked tomato, or the scent of a homegrown flower, these moments of perfection can only help feed the soul.

Blogging for me, is a chance to stop and capture a sliver of time, an exquisite photo or a recipe that bursts with flavor. Plus it is forcing me to attack those cluttered corners of the house or undone projects while showing you my progress. But I can honestly say, I am still a long way from feeling confident about creatively illustrating that to you. But I will keep trying.

So here is a look back at the year and some of my favorite photos and posts.

My very first blog post was about the New York Times Bestselling author, Rhys Bowen and the fundraising English tea we had here at Bella Terra.

And other events we happily hosted here…..

Recipes shared…..

My Renovations and Restorations….

Travel and leisure…..

Decorating and Design…

The holidays….

Cleaning, Organizing, and Updating…

Sharing our home and yard….

My attempt at art….

Flower arranging..

Our pets…

And a few DIYs….

My online store….

There is still so much to learn, especially better photography, writing and getting my watermarks the same size on every photo.  So thank you again for following me and sharing my blog with others.

PLEASE send in your comments~~What area of interest would you like for me to expand? What are your favorite topics? How often should I post (trying to do a maximum of twice per week)? What can I do to be better for you?  My goals for the next year are to do a contest or giveaway and conduct a real survey into your likes and interests.

Here’s to one year and onto the next!! I couldn’t have done it without you.

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I hope you had a wonderful Easter holiday weekend.  I love this holiday as we get the opportunity to blend family traditions from both sides of our families while creating new ones for our children.

We had a very relaxing day which included attending Easter service and the annual egg hunt in the orchard.  My girls also colored eggs~~ it is the only time of the year we buy store bought white eggs, which color and peel easily.

So what to do with all those beautiful hard boiled eggs?  There’s a breakfast tradition in my husband’s family passed down from his mother, Mabel.  A life-long educator, Mabel, wasn’t a gourmet chef, but a simple, straightforward cook.  She didn’t waste much and came from a generation where less is more. She learned to cook in a Home Economics class in school (remember those?) and this recipe is one of the first meals she made as a new bride for her husband, John (Scott’s father). This recipe, entitled Goldenrod,  is straight out of the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.  We have the 1968 printed edition, and yes, Goldenrod is on page 267.

Scott makes his mother’s Eggs a la Goldenrod recipe for Easter and Christmas and it has become a family favorite.  This recipe utilizes all aspects of the hard boiled egg (except the shell of course!) and makes a wonderful special breakfast.

First, peel the eggs and slice in half.  Separate the yolks from the egg whites. Chop the egg whites and reserve. Smash the yolk with a fork until it is crumbly (or press through a sieve).  Make a white sauce and then add the chopped egg white.

Toast a slice of bread, butter it if you’d like.  Pour egg white/white sauce mixture over the toast and then sprinkle with the egg yolk (the goldenrod).  Season with salt and pepper to your liking.

Here is the recipe for Mabel’s Eggs a la Goldenrod.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:7]

Have a wonderful weekend!

Easter lamb cake (known as agnuszek or baranek wielkanocny in Polish) is a traditional Eastern European dessert. Every year during my childhood, we looked forward to Mom making the traditional Easter Lamb cake.  The cast iron mold was a cherished gift from her mother.  I knew, being one of 5 children, that I probably wasn’t the one who would inherit the lamb cake mold, so I purchased mine online several years ago on eBay.

The mold came in the original box and was made by Griswold Mfg. Co. from Sidney, Ohio. The price tag is still on the box~~~original price was $4.95 marked down to $3.95!!

In previous years I experimented with cake batter made from scratch and boxed cake mix, but this year I decided to make the recipe that came with the mold, which I believe to be from the 1920s.  Pound cake or firmer cakes seem to work best.

I seasoned the mold by greasing it and then baking it for 20 minutes on 375 degrees.  I poured out the excess melted shortening and then let the mold cool.

I made the batter according to the recipe, and put it in the face side of the mold (after I re-applied shortening and flour). In order to make sure the ears don’t break off, I put a toothpick (or shortened wooden skewer) between the ears.

With the leftover batter, I made a small bundt cake.  After I put the back side of the mold on top of the front side, I baked the mold face down on a baking sheet for 25 minutes and then turned the mold over for the last 20 minutes in the oven.

For the frosting, I made a Vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream from Tessa Huff’s cookbook, Layered. 

I then coated the lamb with coconut, making the eyes and nose with Jelly Belly jellybeans.

Here’s the finished product!!! Isn’t he sweet? I am so happy that I can create this tradition for my family while bringing back fond memories of my own childhood.

I have purchased 3 lamb cakes molds over time that I will give to my children with hopes that they will continue this tradition when they have their own families.

Have a blessed Easter Sunday!