I first met Sandra Sage while scrapbooking at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique.  My Mother and I sat at the table next to her and chatted all day long.  Sandra just happened to be catering the “All Day Crop” we were enjoying so much.  We learned about the restaurant Sandra used to own, her catering business, the Memory Books she makes for her elderly friends and most of all her daughters and grandchildren.  Sandra’s food was amazing and my Mom and I begged her for recipes!  That is when we learned about her Cook Book.  At that time it had not been released yet but she did jot down our addresses so that she could inform us when it was published. 

Less than a year later I received a beautiful invitation to her book signing.  My Mom received one also and called me at once!  I was taking a night class at the time and had to miss the book signing but my Mother and Sister went.  They told stories afterwards of how beautiful the tables were, how wonderful the food was and how touched they were when they listened to Sandra talk about her book. 

My Mom purchased my signed copy of the book and then held on to it for a couple of weeks (I think she was trying to torture me a little).  When I finally got my hands on the book the anticipation was so great that I had to starting reading right away. 

Sandra’s Cook Book is not only full of fabulous recipes, the first half of it is made up of her personal stories.  Sandra talks about her life’s journeys and inspiration while paying tribute to those she has served and have touched her life.  I mush admit, I didn’t get through very many pages without being touched to the point of tears.   While reading her book I felt an overwhelming need to serve love to my family.  I started serving our dinners at the table again, no more meals in front of the television.  I was amazed at how much my children responded to this.  Dinner time has become such a treasured time of closeness and conversation for me and my family.  Sandra reminded me how important that family time is.

Soon after I got my hands on Sandra’s book my family left on a trip to Idaho to stay with my parents.  I took “Love on a Plate” with me and read it cover to cover.  I felt an immediate bond to Sandra through the love of her Grandmother.  My relationship with my own Grandmother (Louise Crabtree) is so similar, I almost felt as though she was telling my story. 

I have had the oportunity to get to know Sandra because of our similar interest in Scrapbooking.  I’ve been blessed to spend time with her, talk to her about her book and witness her acts of selflessness and kindness. 

Over the weekend Sandra catered my brother’s wedding.  The tables were gorgeous, the presentation of the food was breathtaking and the food was incredible!  Best of all…I took pictures!

You asked for it…Seriously people, this is the BEST cake ever!  It smells WONDERFUL when it is baking.  This recipe is a treasure from the kitchen of my Grandma Louise Hobbs Crabtree.  Enjoy! 

Banana Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

The Cake:

Preheat Oven to 325 degrees

1/2 cup shortening

1-1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour, sifted

1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

Beat shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy.  Sift together flour, baking powder, soda and salt.  Add sour cream to batter, then add flour mixture alternatley with mashed bananas; beating at low speed until blended.  Batter will be thick.  Pour into greased 9×13 pan.  Bake for aprox 35 minutes. 

When the cake is cooled completely, make THE FROSTING!

Lemon buttercream frosting:

1/2 cup butter or marg. softened

1 box powdered sugar (not sure how many ounces…I use the blue C&H box)

1 tsp. vanilla extract (you can’t leave this out…it’s MAKES the cake!)

1 tsp. lemon extract

2-4 Tablespoons of milk.

Beat together with electric mixer adding milk slowly until the frosting is the consistancy you prefer.  I usually start with very little milk and add a little as needed.  Spread this lovely frosting over the cake and take a bite!  Mmmm mmmm  yummm mmmm  ohhhh  good!

It’s 10:15 pm and I just took these banana cupcakes out of the oven.   I used my Grandma Crabtree’s recipe…mmm mmm my favorite!  I love the smell of banana cake baking…it takes me back to when I was just a little girl, the smell reminds me of my Grandmother, she always had something baking.

This is the first time I’ve used her recipe to make cupcakes.  I’m participating in Relay for LIfe this weekend and tomorrow we’re having a bake sale.  I thought it would be fun to make cupcakes instead of cutting apart the cake into individual slices…I can’t wait to put the frosting on…they just need to cool off a little more.  Yum!

I actually get to visit with my Grandparents this weekend (driving from Provo, UT)…they’re coming out here to California for my brother’s wedding.  Yep…a Wedding, Relay for Life, and I have my cousin, her husband and their five kids staying at my house this weekend, they’re flying out from Salt Lake.  I’m not busy at all…really…

I hope you all have a wonderful day.  Don’t forget to enter to win my T. Collins Mini Album (click HERE for deatils).  You may comment on any post you chose and I will enter your name in the drawing!

…They’re just so cute!

I love the way my cuties are salivating over the homemade chocolate butter cream frosting (yes, I actually use real butter). Both my kids helped make this cake for my son’s “Birthday Celebration”. Basically we ended up going out to my parent’s ranch to BBQ, ride horses and eat cake. For my boy…that was a “celebration to remember”.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR CHANCE TO WIN! 

I just wanted to give a shout out to my sweet husband…he surprised me this morning by making my favorite breakfast dish “Country Potatoes” and served it to me in bed! What a sweetheart, right? Yeh, that’s my man.