Southern Steak with Watermelon Relish

A man and his meat is a basic concept and in my man’s case it is much deserved. The tall one started his new gig today with the Gators Girls Prep as their Ceramics teacher. So the short one and I decided he deserved a special dinner as a thank you for providing for us. I am working on teaching gratitude and appreciation right now and while I am also working on banning all concepts of greed I did allow her to select her favorite for his special dinner. Steak. Pure and simple the girl loves the beef. I never cook it since I don’t eat it and I don’t like the smell. So technically this evening the tall one had to cook his own dinner out on the grill but it really was the thought that counts and my effort to head out to the local market and purchase said steak. To make the experience more fun for me I pared it with a lovely watermelon relish and a cucumber/feta side salad. Both of which I found in a brand new cook book I recently received called Frank Stitt’s Southern Table: Recipes and Gracious Traditions from Highlands Bar and Grill. I love this cook book and it isn’t as fatty as it sounds. It is full of really fresh dishes. I ate the two sides and let me say yum – so happy! Plus there is enough left over for lunch.

Book Cover Designs

First let me say, next to my home/studio, I spend most of my time at either one of the two public libraries in my hood or my local book store. I love books, libraries and book stores so much and the short one does too. I am working on the smallest one, she just turned one so really it is just a matter of time. Since I spend so much time around books I have started to take a lot of pictures of some choice book cover designs and of some great kids books too. I thought I would kick off this picture frenzy with great book covers of some classics.  Some photos are a little fuzzy – please keep in mind I have a babe on the hip and another one pulling on me to get to the Fancy Nancy section! A gal has gotta snap quickly.

Lemon Cupcakes

Since I had left over mascarpone in the fridge from all the fig recipes I thought I should use it up.  I made some delicious lemon cupcakes and frosted them with the mascarpone and topped with slivered almonds and drizzled with honey. Yum! My baking studio is getting a lot of use these days. I am sweating anyway so I might as well bake!

Lemon Cupcake Recipe

6 Tbls softened butter

6 Tbls mascarpone cheese

2 tsp lemon zest

2/3 Cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 Cupall-purpose flour

1/3 Cup self-raising flour

slivered almonds

1. Pre-heat the oven to 325oF

2. Line cupcake pan with paper liners.

3. Beat the butter, cheese, lemon rind, sugar and eggs until smooth

4. Sift the flours. Add the flour gradually to wet mixture

5. Pour into cupcake liners

6. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until tooth pick comes out clean

7. Allow to cool

Frosting

Mix 2 Tbls of Honey with a small container of mascarpone cheese. Spread in top of cooled cupcakes. Top with 3 slivered almonds and drizzle with honey.

Mmm . . . enjoy!