Birthday Almost Here

My birthday is tomorrow 

We are going to my favorite Texas winery 

San Martino in Rockwall 

There is something wrong with this picture

Saturday, March 20th (gerber daisy day)

my birthday

the 1st day of Spring

&

the high is 48 degrees

with 80% of rain

even talk of potential sleet

c'mon

this is TEXAS

it's going to be 73 degrees today

can it just wait one more day???

It can be cold on Sunday

I'll be sleeping in

because I will have fun

no matter how cold it is

Fishin' Buddies

These pictures bring a smile to my face
Ryan fishing at Grandpa's pond

Goose stayed by his side the entire time he was fishing!

I don't think it was just for his company

I think he was hoping to catch a fish too

Birthday Discounts & Freebies

Being my birthday month,

I've been inundated with free dinners, desserts and discounts

* La Madeleine - Free Pastry

*Maggiano's - $10 off next meal

*La Duni - $10 off

*The Grape - Complimentary Dessert

*Celebration Restaurant - Complimentary entree

*The Melting Pot - Free Chocolate Fondue for 2 - with purchase of any combination dinner for 2

*Pappasito's - Free Dessert with adult entree

*Blue Mesa- Complimentary Sunday Brunch (my fav)

*Texas Roadhouse - Free Appetizer

*Macaroni Grill - Free Piece of Chocolate Cake

*The Keg Steakhouse - Free Prime Rib Classic Dinner

Just for signing up,  

I received a free cookie from Corner Bakery

&

another free appetizer from Texas Roadhouse

Check out

Thankfully Thrifty's blog  

she posted an article on birthday freebies as well

Wine Snob Confession #7

In addition to buying wines for their silly names

I am also on a quest for good French wines under $20.

I found this one at Whole Foods for under $10.

I liked it okayyyy...

If you can read french, click here to go to their website

Spring Table

I've decided to start decorating my breakfast room table for each season!

Here's what I have so far for my Spring table

I'm still playing with it, but I am loving the blue and green 

These dishes were given to me by Aunt Janae.

I just love them!

Chocolate Pistachio Bundt Cake

I know that I said that I'd try to stop talking about bundt

but I just can't get away from the topic

Check out these cute pans that Target has right now

I sooooooooo wanted to get one

but how could I justify it

when I have this

Enough of the bundt banter

Here is the cake

I got this recipe from P is for Party blog

It is also on Bakerella's blog

Chocolate Pistachio Bundt Cake

I just love the colors

chocolate and green

(btw, I used Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Syrup)

You do not have to do anything at this stage.

The recipe says to top it with powdered sugar

but I topped with.. 

Chocolate Ganache Glaze

3oz bittersweet chocolate (chopped)

1/3 cup heavy cream

1/2 tablespoon corn syrup

1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter 

Directions

In a small pan, bring the cream to a boil. In a heatproof bowl, combine the chopped chocolate with corn syrup and butter. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let stand until melted, about 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Let the ganache cool until thick but pourable, about 5 minutes. Pour the ganache over the cooled cake. Let the glaze set about 30 minutes before serving.  

I did not wait for it to cool properly

I just couldn't

I had to taste it

and

oh

my

gah

Utterly delicious

You can taste the hint of almond that makes cakes soo yummy

and

yes

I even got

"this is the best cake I've ever tasted"

from more than one person

Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche

Another early birthday present

Ryan & I are big Stars fans

My friend got tickets & immediately thought of us...

Totally Cool...

It was an afternoon game, so we ate lunch at Chuy's

(one of my fav-O-rite mexican restaurants)

It was a good game even though the Stars lost!