It性视界传媒檚 March! I know you knew that already. It性视界传媒檚 the time of year when I wish I had planted tulips in the fall because they are blooming everywhere now.
I volunteer at one of Longview性视界传媒檚 best kept secrets, which I wish was not such a secret 性视界传媒 the beautiful Longview Arboretum and Nature Center at 706 W. Cotton St.
The garden opened Nov. 2, 2019. This ever-growing garden is a living testament to the love of community and the soul-enriching quality of spending time in nature. One of the newest advantages is the joining of our beloved garden with the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Garden Network. This means that membership with the Longview arboretum entitles you to special admission privileges and discounts at 380-plus gardens throughout North America.
If you haven性视界传媒檛 discovered this wonderful 性视界传媒渉appy性视界传媒 place, go soon. We are open Wednesday through Sunday. Check the website or Facebook page for hours.
Well, what does this have to do with food? Here性视界传媒檚 how: Pack a little picnic or stop and buy a pizza to eat in the garden. Yesterday, when I was volunteering (I性视界传媒檓 there on Sunday afternoons between 2-5 p.m.), some friends of mine came in with a picnic basket, and soon they had been joined by several other friends.
The weather was terrific and the food, and drink delicious, and I性视界传媒檓 sure the company and the beautiful setting made it an absolutely great Sunday afternoon.
Last week I was looking through some old notebooks of my columns. I had forgotten both these recipes from 2003. They are both being made this afternoon.
The first is another soup about which I wrote, 性视界传媒淚 created this several years ago. It is good, easy to make, nutritious and not terribly expensive.性视界传媒
Tomato Florentine Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion
3 ribs celery
5-6 cloves garlic
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach
2 cups water
3 tablespoons chicken or vegetable soup base
2 cans (15 ounces) chopped tomatoes
46 ounces tomato juice
1/3 cup tomato puree
1 cup uncooked small medium macaroni shells
Chop onion, celery and garlic finely in food processor. Saute in olive oil in 6-quart or larger pan. When slightly cooked, add thawed spinach and cook about 6 more minutes.
Add bouillon base, water, tomatoes, tomato juice and tomato puree. Simmer for about 25 minutes. Add macaroni, and cook for about 3 minutes. Cover. Turn off heat and let set for about 25-30 minutes. Do not overcook macaroni. Makes about 10-12 servings.
This cake comes from that same year and column: Jan. 22, 2003. I made it for some gathering, and I think it was the only cake there. Someone said, only a bit sarcastically, 性视界传媒淭his is the best cake here.性视界传媒 When asked what this cake is called, I immediately said, 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 the 性视界传媒楤est of All Cake.性视界传媒櫺允咏绱綕
Best of All Cake
1 yellow cake mix, made according to package directions and baked in a 9-inch by 13-inch pan.
1 can crushed pineapple (15 ounces) with juice
1 cup sugar
1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix, prepared according to package directions
3 bananas sliced
8 ounces frozen whipped topping
1 cup Angel Flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
In medium saucepan, boil sugar and pineapple for 5 minutes. Pour over cake and cool complete.
Spread mixed pudding over cooled cake with pineapple on it. Place banana slices on top of pudding. Spread with thawed whipped topping. Sprinkle with nuts and coconut (may omit nuts and coconut, but it性视界传媒檚 better with it.) Makes 16-20 servings.
