The holidays are becoming bitter sweet. In just a few more years Hubby will retire full-time. This is his last year of working five days a week. His retirement package is in place. Beginning next year Hubby’s work schedule will gradually transition from 5-day work week to 4, then 3 then 2 until at last he’s fully retired.
When he does retire, we will be leaving California permanently. Where? That has yet to be decided, but it is looking more and more like Tennessee rather than Texas. So every family gathering, it sinks in just a bit more that those days are numbered. Unlike our move to Las Vegas Nevada, a day’s drive away, Tennessee isn’t next door. From state line to state line is almost 2,000 miles. We won’t be coming back to California for a weekend visit. Knowing each experience moving forward might be the last makes me sad in a way. When I looked out from Alameda as the fog rolled in off the bay, I realized that might be the last time. So I held the image in my heart a little longer. I will miss California. Not the politics or the crime or the big cities. But I will miss the quiet of the country side, the flowers, the ocean and the small town people.
For the next several years I will take the time to treasure every moment remaining, California is where I grew up, it’s my childhood although that California no longer exists. And I know all sort of new adventures await us. It might take a little while to get our bearings, to find a strong parish and put down roots. But in the end, God will be leading the way. And we will faithfully follow.
Every year for the 4th of July I make at lease one Patriotic Dish, be it dessert or a salad or something that screams Red White and Blue. This year, while still in keeping with a somewhat patriotic theme, I made a trifle that had a bit more kick and a little more pizzazz. This is one of those summertime desserts that would go with any barbecue. Enjoy!
Lemony Berry Trifle
2 (3 oz) packages Instant Lemon Pudding
3-3/4 cup cold Milk
2 teaspoons Lemon Juice or to taste
4 cups Strawberries, divided
4 tablespoons Sugar, divided
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice for berries
1 cup Blackberries
2 cups Heavy Cream
3 tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 loaf Angel Food Cake
Chill a large mixing bowl for the pudding. Place a stand-mixer bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for the whipped cream.
Once everything is nicely chilled, empty the contents of the pudding packaged into the bowl. Add cold milk. Whisk by had to blend. Continue to whisk for about 5 minutes, until the pudding has reached a soft-set stage. Add lemon juice. If a more pucker flavor is desired, add more juice until the desired lemon kick is reached. Cover pudding with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes to an hour.
Rinse strawberries. Remove stems, set aside five or six of the best looking strawberries for the finish. Slice remaining strawberries thinly. Place in a bowl, drizzle with lemon juice to brighten the color; sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons of sugar for sweeter berries. Rinse blackberries, sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar if not sweet enough. Refrigerate berries until ready to assemble.
When ready to assemble, make the whipped cream. Remove the stand-mixer bowl and whisk attachment from the freezer. Pour heavy cream into the bowl. Sweeten with 3 tablespoons of sugar. Add vanilla extract, whip until firm peaks from. Set aside. Remove the pudding and bowls of berries from the refrigerator.
Cut the angel food cake into cubes. Layer the bottom of a trifle dish with cake cubes. Using a slotted spoon, spread a third of the strawberries over the cake. Spread a third of the pudding over the berries, then a third of the whipped cream. Repeat layering twice more, ending with whipped cream. Smooth out the top of the trifle.
Arrange whole strawberries and blackberries as desired over the top of the trifle. Cover and chill well before serving.
Enjoy!
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good He has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
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