This little bee sure is living large in my one pot spring garden!
But enough about spring. Spring is so… um, last season? No… not exactly.
Let’s talk about summer! What’s your favorite way to kick off summer?
Me? My favorite way to greet summer is to have a rip roarin’ good time Memorial Day Weekend!
I’m diving into this one, two, THREE day weekend by celebrating my birthday and throwing down with my family in the kitchen. My Dad is making chicken and waffles. Holy heck! Chicken and waffles will be followed promptly by family board games and… nap time. What could be better? A pool!? You’re right! How is it that I don’t have a friend with a pool in this town!?
My weekend will be full of family, fun and loads of kitchen time.
I hope that you’re able to take time this weekend to enjoy your families. Maybe you’ll even have a moment to hop in the kitchen and throw together a late breakfast or gorgeous cake. Do it… it’s important.
Here’s some inspiration.
Click on the picture and go to the recipe… that’s how this whole deal works.
Above: Mocha Coffee Coffee Cake
Below: Whole Wheat Banana Walnut Pancakes
Above: Cardamom Scented Sugar Paper with Strawberries and Cream
Below: Raspberry Almond Cupcakes
Above: Mint Chocolate Chip Mini Ice Cream Cupcakes
Below: Southern Style Strawberry Cake
Have a most lovely holiday weekend!
{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
It all looks so lovely, gives me a few ideas for my own birthday next week! 1st!
Happy BIrthday! My weekend will also be full of cake and kitchen time – my son had his 1st bday yesterday, mine is Saturday and my mom’s is thursday :) A fantastic time to be born and to eat cake with fresh whipped cream and ripe strawberries!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADY!!!
sometimes I stop by to look at all the yummy pictures and you did not let me down with this post!
ps I’m jealous because my garden is on the fourth floor in the back of the building, so I’m not sure it has a bee like yours ~ hopefully I’ll still get tomatoes :)
First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY :}
I hope you have a wonderful memorial/birthday weekend.
I’m going to spend the weekend with my boyfriend and his grandmother. She is so sweet, so I’m thinking banana pancakes for a surprise breakfast at her house.
Happy happy birthday! Sounds like you’ll be having an awesome weekend :D
Wow! Now those recipes scream SUMMER! I love it!
Oh, and Happy Birthday! =)
Great post! Summers my fave. season (right after Autumn that is!) I think I’m gonna try the raspberry almond cupcakes…I’m a sucker for anything raspberry (always have been), Happy birthday! Summer bdays are THE best!, oh! bty, are you a gemini?? if so, super duper cool, so if my mom, lol
Chicken and waffles? Is it strange that I’ve never heard of that combo before? It sounds delicious! Have a great weekend!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Naps are the best dessert! Well, after cakes and cookies and things such as. lol. Now I’m channeling Ms. SC. I should go… :-)
Thanks for the inspiration, they all look delicious! And of course, Happy Birthday!!
Yum- that coffee cake would be perfect with the cup of Joe I’m drinking right this second!
Enjoy both your long weekend and your b-day.
wow these all look delicious. I was looking for something to make for memorial day so thanks for the suggestions! The mint chocolate chip mini ice cream cupcakes look amazing :)
Mint chocolate chip ice cream mini cupcakes – I think I’ve officially died and gone to heaven. I will definitely be making those this weekend to accompany my awesome-ly amazing BBQ chicken, corn-on-the-cob, and salad fresh from my garden (how stoked am I?!?!). Oh, and how can I forget the huge pancake breakfast? My hips will suffer, my tummy will be thankful.
I hope everyone gets a chance this weekend to thank a veteran – it’s so important to those who have and continue to serve (I should know, I am a vet!). I will be spending some time at Arlington visiting my grandparents, so if anyone will be doing the same, I’ll see you there.
Joy, thanks bunches for the dessert inspiration, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Can you please post about the chicken and waffles? This is a food combo that intrigues me every time I hear about it.
Love that picture of the bee in your one-pot garden… but is it now your “one pot SUMMER garden”?
Oh, and happy birthday!!
Yay for summer! It’s funny being an adult with a full-time job and full time life, all that business that life brings still can’t silence that kid voice in me! I get home from work with just enough daylight to sit out on the patio and daydream of running through the sprinkler.I said daydream,heck no I wouldn’t do it now…well maybe :) One morning this weekend I will be making your dad’s biscuit recipe and enjoying them with a big cup of coffee on the screen porch! Hooray for long summer mornings too!
It’s my birthday today :) (ripe old age of 31..)
I would like a southern style strawberry cake of my very own, I shall have to get working on it!
Enjoy a wonderful birthday weekend with your family! I’ll be here pining for your Cardamom Scented Sugar Paper with Strawberries and Cream…
Happy birthday! I’ll just be thankful that I don’t have to go open a record store first thing in the morning on Monday and fight local rednecks in line for coffee. I really don’t like Memorial Day in my hometown.
I’ll take it all! Everything looks just amazingly DELISH!
Have a Happy Holiday weekend!
~ingrid
Summer is here at last. Oh that mocha cofee cake looks so delicious :)
OMG, it is hard to decide where to begin! Perhaps the pancakes :)
Happy birthday hun!! Hope its a wonderful year full of pleasant surprises!
Happy, happy birthday, Joy! I’ve always wanted to try chicken and waffles. Maybe I should make that my new goal in life :) Enjoy the weekend.
OMG…chicken & waffles is the perfect birthday meal!! Have a fantastic weekend!
Oh I’ll be in the kitchen alright, making 70 wedding cake cookies for my brothers wedding. WooHoo. But I think I’ll make some whole wheat banana pancakes for the kids first (Mickey Mouse shaped with a chocolate chip smile). Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Chicken and waffles sound wonderful. I’ll bet you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend.
Have a great birthday weekend! Nothing better than food, food, food to celebrate.
Happy Birthday!
Thank you for your wonderful blog full of inspiration and yumminess!
Happy Birthday Joy!
I thought I’d send you a recipe for your birthday. It is unusual.
Berrie’s and Cream Cake
1-15 oz can Eagle Brand condensed milk (1 1/3 cups)
1T grated lemon rind
1 pint fresh strawberried, hulled and quartered
1 c heavy cream
8 ladyfingers
Compbine first 3 ingredients in bowl. Fold in berries. Whip 1/2 c of cream until stiff. Fold into mixture. Split ladyfingers, line a 9x5x3 in loaf pan. Pour mixture in keeping ladyfingers inplace. Refrig firm, 3 hours at least. To remove, run spatula around cake pan, invert on plate. Whip remaining cream and spread on top. Decorate with berries.
Long lost recipe from my mom’s recipe box I got back just yesterday.
EnJoy!
And a song too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSsiS-v6_6M&feature=related
Percy Faith – Theme From A Summer Place
Hi! I just discovered your blog and it’s so much fun! I love your pictures!
Thanks for this lovely recipe round-up Joy! They all look so enticing! I’m new to your blog but I can see why you’re so famous: it’s absolutely lovely and cute and approachable and honest! The quick peek-around I’ve taken has been most delightful and I can’t way to start trying some of your recipes.
Thanks!
Have a nice weekend you too :)
Happy Bday!! Have a fabulous time with your family. Chicken and waffles–how totally wonderful and SOUTHERN (yay South! even though I don’t live there anymore). Sounds like you have the perfect celebratory weekend planned. Maybe you’ll even find a pool!! Thanks for the recipe inspiration, by the way.
Happy Birthday!
My “weekend” doesn’t officially start until after the church picnic on Sunday (I’m a pastor… youth pastor to be specific).
Monday will include some culinary adventures as I make my favorite (at least until I try some of yours) pancake recipe!
i once made the southern style strawberry cake and the amazingness was overwhelming
you’re guaranteed rave reviews with that one!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to YOU! :) I’ll be makin’ pancakes in the morning and spending time with the fam all weekend. Truly lovely. ?
p.s. The recipes look scrumptious!
Happy Birthday Joy, and also Jennifer & Kate ;) Have a wonderful three day Memorial day weekend.
Welcome to summer :)
Have a wonderful, fabulous, fun birthday!! I hope you get your wish. :)
happy happy birthday <3 and an awesome memorial day 3-DAY-WEEKEND to you!!
I join all you blog fans in wishing you a fab birthday. Wish it was Summer here. In Oz we are fast approaching Winter and the rain and 78mph winds are already here. Hope you are spoilt rotten this weekend.
I’m clicking like a madwoman…everything looks fantastic. Happy Bday!
They all look so good. Happy Birthday!
Summer starts this WEEKEND!!! imo, heheh. Happy Birthday Joy!
happy birthday! sounds like you’ll have a great long weekend!
Happy Birthday!!!!!
Have a lovely weekend!!!
Happy birthday Joy! I hope it’s a great one! I will definitely be in my kitchen this weekend (going to try the root beer float cake now) and I just need to run and grab some self rising flour for the lime cake. Have a great weekend!
Happy Birthday!! The strawberry cake looks amazing!! I cannot wait to go pick some more fresh strawberries.
happy birthday! hope the weekend is going splendidly.
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