Lemon curd is pure ambrosia. I'm sure I've mentioned before the lemon cheesecake with a gingersnap crust, dolloped with lemon curd. Made it 1x, never again, and I still have the Bon Appetit with its cover photo and recipe within.
Filoli - wasn't "Heaven Can Wait" also filmed there? Should Google it, but it's one of my favorite movies with Warren.
I like to keep lemon curd handy in the fridge so I can just take a nice big spoonful of it when needed (which seems to be a lot these days).
And the 1978 Heaven Can Wait was indeed used as a location for it. I have a persnickety issue with the film because it's a remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) and NOT the delightful Heaven Can Wait (1943) directed by Ernst Lubitsch. I mean the nerve of that Warren Beatty!
Second: I totally think the lemon curd/goat cheese thing could catch on as a must-serve appetizer at finer weddings, restaurants, and cocktail parties. But you'll have to give it a fancy-sounding name, like faux œufs au plat sur un cracker.
I’ve baked exactly one wedding cake and that was for a dear friend. The wedding was outdoors in Tilden Park on a fall day. The cake was layered and covered in fondant (a first for me and my decorating-skilled spouse.)
The day arrived unseasonably hot. The buttercream crumb coat melted and left the fondant looking like so much cellulite. We used edible flower petals to camouflage the corrugations.
Thankfully, it was a giant community of friends and the cake’s plight went unremarked.
I think being a spiritual parent is everyone's primary job. Whether we actually have or adopt children is a lesser priority (I mean if we have kids they are job one of course - but whether or not we have kids, I feel we are supposed to parent/godparent those we encounter in life, whether it's our duty or meeting a need. Maybe nurture is a better word than parent. But you're such a godfather, Michael - down to your bones it sounds like).
On the morning of Zelly's baptism, I rang Shannon & Craig's doorbell and heard Craig call out that the door was open. What I witnessed was the entire family situated around the couch like a scene from the Godfather, the theme song of which they all began to hum. As a sensitive person of Sicilian extraction, I may or may not have accused them of being racist and slowly closed the door with me safely on the other side of it.
Didn't my dad play the Godfather theme? That was kind of his thing, e.g., when Craig's grandmother came to our home for the first time he cued up Maurice Chevalier's "Mimi."
Of COURSE he played "Mimi" for her. And he may have played the theme, but you guys were absolutely doing the whole "Na na na na na na na na na na na nahhhhh..." thing.
Traditional wedding cakes in Canada are fruitcakes with boiled icing. Gack! I can’t remember my first two but if my beloved and I ever need to have our love sanctified by our government I’m going to secretly ask each of my friends to make us a wedding cake. That’ll be a party.
Cooking for people you love the most is hardest but also the most satisfying when they are pleased with the results. Just remember, in these circumstances, the about you part and the about them part is hard to separate. 🩷
Recipe?
I'll send it to you. ;)
For the cake? Goodness no .
Lemon curd is pure ambrosia. I'm sure I've mentioned before the lemon cheesecake with a gingersnap crust, dolloped with lemon curd. Made it 1x, never again, and I still have the Bon Appetit with its cover photo and recipe within.
Filoli - wasn't "Heaven Can Wait" also filmed there? Should Google it, but it's one of my favorite movies with Warren.
I like to keep lemon curd handy in the fridge so I can just take a nice big spoonful of it when needed (which seems to be a lot these days).
And the 1978 Heaven Can Wait was indeed used as a location for it. I have a persnickety issue with the film because it's a remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) and NOT the delightful Heaven Can Wait (1943) directed by Ernst Lubitsch. I mean the nerve of that Warren Beatty!
First: I love this piece!
Second: I totally think the lemon curd/goat cheese thing could catch on as a must-serve appetizer at finer weddings, restaurants, and cocktail parties. But you'll have to give it a fancy-sounding name, like faux œufs au plat sur un cracker.
I like the way you think, JDH3!
This is lovely, Michael. 🎂 (show up and shut up is a great mantra)
Thank you, Jolene. I just wish I'd come up with that mantra earlier!
Yes! Of course it was good, and everyone enjoyed it, even, eventually, you.
A wonderful remembrance, well written. Thank you.
Thanks, Duffey. And if would have been so much better if I'd have just shut the hell up.
Oh, but would that have worried others, too, by being out of character?
OOF! Fair point though.
I’m sure the cake, like this story, was a treasure.
Thank you, Brian. My self-doubt get to high-octane levels sometimes and I'm grateful my friends deal with it kindly.
I’ve baked exactly one wedding cake and that was for a dear friend. The wedding was outdoors in Tilden Park on a fall day. The cake was layered and covered in fondant (a first for me and my decorating-skilled spouse.)
The day arrived unseasonably hot. The buttercream crumb coat melted and left the fondant looking like so much cellulite. We used edible flower petals to camouflage the corrugations.
Thankfully, it was a giant community of friends and the cake’s plight went unremarked.
Oh, we are practically wedding cake twins. The big one I made was also for an outdoor Berkeley wedding on an extremely warm day!
I’d say “twin powers, activate!” but can you imagine the resulting destruction…?
it was the best cake we could’ve asked for :)
I am VERY RELIEVED to read this from you. Also, is the term goddaughter-in-law a thing?
I became intoxicated reading this. God bless them and their families, and especially you, Godfather Michael. What a good soul you are.
I take my role as godfather very seriously.
SO MUCH EASIER than having actual children!
I think being a spiritual parent is everyone's primary job. Whether we actually have or adopt children is a lesser priority (I mean if we have kids they are job one of course - but whether or not we have kids, I feel we are supposed to parent/godparent those we encounter in life, whether it's our duty or meeting a need. Maybe nurture is a better word than parent. But you're such a godfather, Michael - down to your bones it sounds like).
On the morning of Zelly's baptism, I rang Shannon & Craig's doorbell and heard Craig call out that the door was open. What I witnessed was the entire family situated around the couch like a scene from the Godfather, the theme song of which they all began to hum. As a sensitive person of Sicilian extraction, I may or may not have accused them of being racist and slowly closed the door with me safely on the other side of it.
But of course I loved every second of it.
Didn't my dad play the Godfather theme? That was kind of his thing, e.g., when Craig's grandmother came to our home for the first time he cued up Maurice Chevalier's "Mimi."
Of COURSE he played "Mimi" for her. And he may have played the theme, but you guys were absolutely doing the whole "Na na na na na na na na na na na nahhhhh..." thing.
That is an unnecessarily grimdark photo of a lovely little jewel of a cake. And I remain ever grateful to you for interceding.
There is still plenty of Costco Prosecco in the fridge, should you need to attend to your poor cake-addled nerves. xo
Shannon, when it comes to booze, you can always count on me to lend a helping hand.
Traditional wedding cakes in Canada are fruitcakes with boiled icing. Gack! I can’t remember my first two but if my beloved and I ever need to have our love sanctified by our government I’m going to secretly ask each of my friends to make us a wedding cake. That’ll be a party.
Fruitcake?! Egad.
Cooking for people you love the most is hardest but also the most satisfying when they are pleased with the results. Just remember, in these circumstances, the about you part and the about them part is hard to separate. 🩷
It would seem so!
I can confirm the finished cake was delicious, but we already knew that it would be from eating all the cutaways and leftover ingredients!
Which I actually did not do. The components, yes, but not combined.
Beat eggs, not yourself.
HAHAHAHAHA. I really should have that done in needlepoint and hung on my kitchen wall.