Happy Easter!

 

I just love this cute, little vintage seaside (maybe lakeside?) image. 

 

A Visit To A Friends Studio

 

My Aunt and Uncle were visiting from Alaska and we always try to finds some interesting fun little day trips to do while they are here.  They are originally both from New England and are very familiar with the shore, the coast, the water etc. so we often have a chance to find something new and different that may not necessarily be Maine or "Coastal" every time they are visiting.  I contacted my friends Terrill and Charlie of Tandem Glass and asked if they were blowing glass on Thursdays...yes!   They are Tandem Glass of Dresden Maine, a wonderful husband wife team creating all this beautiful art in their Salt Box barn.   They sell at the same farmers market as me on Saturdays in the Winter. 

 

We were soo lucky to get to see them work!  Here are some pictures from our trip.

(Please forgive me for not using the correct terms for the "metal blowing pipe" or the "hot molten glass" I was too excited to remember it all).

 

http://www.tandemglass.com

 

 

Here is Terrill picking up a glob of molten glass on the end of one of her metal blowing tubes....

 

Checking out how it is shaping up and using her tools to manipulate the hot glass....

 

Charlie is in charge of blowing this one.   It is Terrill's piece and he is the assistant here...

 

Here is Charlie putting a small piece of glass on the end of Terrill's piece so she can then knock it gently off the blowing rod...

 

They use this mold for texture and shaping some of the hot molten glass, isn't is cool!

 

 

Terrill is assisting Charlie with his piece....

 

See, they take turns.  What a great partnership! Charlie is shaping his piece and Terrill is waiting for instructions to blow in the pipe...

 

 

Look at all the cool glass rods of color!  They will make little pieces of glass art to attached to the pieces they are blowing....

 

Like this super cool bucket of finished little pieces!  Each one a little work of art!  They will take a "glob" of hot glass and roll it around in a dish of these and they will stick.  As they blow and shape the piece, these little colored glass bits will morph and change shape a bit and randomly create the most gorgeous pieced of art!

 

 

Some of the beautiful items they create....

 

 

Vases...

 

 

Drinking cups....

 

Pitchers....

 

More pitchers (can you picture some fresh made lemonade in one of these!?)

 

Totally Maine - a Lobster Claw ornament!

 

and a super cute blue Whale!

 

 

Thanks Terrill and Charlie!  It was great to learn about your craft, thanks for all the information and the explanations.  I was super impressed with all that you do and wish you the best with your business! 

 

http://www.tandemglass.com

Rainbow / Easter Marshmallow Treats!

AND another fun recipe!  I am going to make this up for my sweet niece and nephew (and maybe the adults too) as a fun take home treat after Easter dinner.   A super fun and colorful twist on rice cereal treats!  I have NEVER even tried Trix cereal before.  I had to tell the cahier why I was buying this brightly colored, sugary cereal as it rode down the conveyor belt to be rung up among my avocados, lettuce, almonds, soy milk, cabbage, chicken sausage and other mostly healthy food.  I wanted her to understand that I was only buying it for a "special recipe".  Why did I find the need to explain myself to her?  I don't know!  Self guilt, I guess.  I'm silly.

So I found this recipe over on Pinterest (find and follow me here:  http://www.pinterest.com/cascobaysoap/  )  and it just looked soo fun!  I bought all the ingredients and am resisting the urge to open the bag of sweet vanilla marshmallows, grab a handful and pop them into my mouth.  Because an open bag is an empty bag.   So why should rice ceral have all the fun?  Why not try ALL the fun cereals out there!

Here is the link to the recipe:  http://momitforward.com/holiday-treat-celebrate-easter-with-trix-treats

I'll be making them soon!

Coconut Cake

Planning my Easter dinner and came across this beautiful (and I am sure delicious) Coconut Layered Pound cake with Passion Fruit Curd from Sweet Paul.  Coconut, Passion Fruit and Cake.  A triple winner in my book.  Mr. Casco Bay Soap  is not fond of coconut and would say that this "needs more chocolate"  (wink, wink) so I will be sure to find something chocolaty to make as well, but I know that I will enjoy this as well as my mom.   Plus, it's soo pretty! 

 

Photo and recipe found over at:

 

http://www.sweetpaulmag.com/food/coconut-milk-pound-cake-with-coconut-cream-cheese-frosting

A sunny coconut cake that sings with passion fruit curd filling.

Cake:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups superfine sugar
4 eggs
3 tablespoons cream of coconut (Goya or CocoLopez brands are best)
1 cup coconut milk
1 eight-ounce jar of store bought passion fruit curd (if you can’t find passion fruit curd, lemon curd works beautifully)

Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
2½ cups confectioners sugar, sifted (plus ½ cup for consistency)
3 tablespoons canned cream of coconut
½ teaspoon coconut extract
pinch of salt
2 cups flaked coconut

To make the frosting: 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until thoroughly combined. 2. Scrape down sides. 3. Gradually add 2 ½ cups confectioners sugar and beat until smooth. 4. Stir in cream of coconut, extract, and salt. 5. Adjust consistency with remaining ½ cup confectioners sugar, if needed.

Watch the 1.For the cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. 2.Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans. 3.In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 4.In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 6 minutes. 5.Scrape down sides of bowl. 6.Add eggs, one and a time, and beat until fully incorporated. 7.Add flour and milk alternately to bowl, beginning and ending with flour beating until just combined. 8.Divide batter in half. 9.Gently stir in food coloring to desired shade. 10. Transfer tinted batters to pans. 11. Smooth tops with a knife and bake for 25 to 28 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 12. Cool 10 minutes in pans, turn out onto cooling racks, and allow cakes to cool completely before assembling. 13. Using a serrated knife, slice each cake in half to create a total of four layers. 14. Place first layer on cake stand and spread with 3 tablespoons of curd. Repeat with remaining layers. 15. Spread coconut crème frosting in an even layer over the top and sides. 16. Before the frosting sets, gently press flaked coconut to top and sides of cake. Serve.

I first learned about Sweet Paul via Pinterst, he just kind-of stumbled into my Pinterst feed.  The recipes all looked delicious and the crafts too pretty!  Then I heard an interview with him on NPR and I just really liked him!  I even sat in my driveway with my car in park and didn't go into the house until the story was finished.  Learn more about him here:  http://www.sweetpaulmag.com/about