What a pretty spring soap that A gave us. Almost too pretty to use!
In my planner on the month of April was a cryptic note: "Make lamb cake for Easter." I have no memory of what prompted me to jot this idea down, or what form exactly a lamb cake should take. It seemed like a nice idea, though, so I decided to make one.
Coconut flakes seemed essential. Maybe only because of the lingering memory of this cake from February, edged in coconut flakes, in honor of my roommate's grandmother's birthday. If she was still alive she'd be 100.
Fortunately R stopped me from cutting into the unfrosted cake thinking it was a pan of cornbread before I'd done too much damage. (This was before it was heart shaped.)
I was planning to cut a sheet cake into the shape of a lamb and frost it in white with coconut. But then I had an even better idea: lamb cookies! My mother makes coconut macaroons with egg whites, sugar, and coconut flakes. They would be perfect as fluffy little lambs. I imagined sliced almonds as their faces with a chocolate chip eye and black licorice whips for the legs and tail.
They didn't quite turn out as I planned. The almonds were too small to have chocolate chips as the eyes, so I made the chocolate chips the tails. The licorice didn't stick to the cookies after baking, I was afraid to put it in before baking for fear of it burning. But with a little imagination they sort of resembled sheep, and they tasted good, which is what really matters.
I'd invited A & her family, T, K, and L over for Easter dinner. R, K and I spent Sat evening doing most of the cooking so that we could just relax on Sunday. Then we ordered pizza and played Ticket to Ride. The dinner was nice, very good company. J made bread, T made a green salad and L & M made a fruit salad. I was too tired to do much but enjoy the food and conversation, but I think everyone had a good time. I meant to take photos to document the people in my life, but then it seemed like it would change the dynamic too much. I do wish that I'd managed to think of an Easter activity. But our church meeting was nice--I sang two numbers with the choir, and there were a couple numbers by the children and a piano solo. There were 2 short talks about Easter and spring.
Since I didn't manage to take any photos of people at Easter, here is a photo from February of A & J's darling children. I love having them come over and going to visit them. They were here for Easter. Notice my photos of other loved ones in the background.
Here's my mother's recipe, complete with her notes:
Coconut Macaroons
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
In a mixing bowl beat egg whites and vanilla till soft peaks form (tips curl). Gradually add sugar, beating till stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Fold in coconut. Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a 325 degree oven about 20 minutes or till edges are lightly browned. Cool cookies on a wire rack. Makes about 30. (It only made about 15 for me. I was impatient and didn't beat the sugar and egg whites until stiff, though. I could also have made them smaller)
It's a good recipe for Passover 'cause there is no leavening. Also gluten free.
Variations: I have made them with chocolate chips instead of (could be with) the coconut, tinted them green and added a little peppermint extract, added 1 tbs lemon juice instead of vanilla and put grated lemon peel with the coconut. I have never tried the nutty version where you add 1/2 cups toasted almonds, pecans or hazelnuts with the coconut but it sounds delicious.
I also saw a recipe where you shape them like birds' nests and then put jelly beans in them for the "eggs."
