Redemption Achieved
If you read my post yesterday, you will know that I momentarily forgot my husband’s birthday and sent him off to work completely unacknowledged. But I made up for my oversight by spending the day in the kitchen preparing some of his favorite things. Of course, it had to be the hottest day of the year so far with the temperature reaching almost 90 degrees outside and about 125 degrees inside my non-air conditioned kitchen! And to think, it was snowing just two and a half weeks ago.
But it was all worth it in the end to see his smiling face when he walked in the door and spotted an over abundance of fried ravioli with homemade sauce. This is one of his favorite things ever and I don’t make it often because it is rather labor intensive, a bit messy, and it leaves the kitchen smelling like a greasy old diner for days. However, once you sink your teeth into that first piping hot fried ravioli fresh out of the fryer, all that other stuff doesn’t seem to matter anymore.
I also made a tomato, basil, and mozzarella appetizer. And then a plate of plain mozzarella cheese strips and fresh bread for dipping in sauce (this is Radical Ralphie’s favorite thing ever since he could eat solid foods).
And no birthday dinner would be complete without my blueberry-lemon muffins topped with lemon frosting. We don’t like naked muffins around here and the icing really does make all the difference. I have been told that my muffins are “like a shot of summer straight to the mouth.”
I also surprised Jeff with a bottle of Gosling’s Family Reserve Old Rum. At $70 a bottle, this was kind of a special last minute birthday gift. There are much more expensive rums that he prefers, but this was the most top shelf rum that my local liquor store carried.
Upon realizing just how far overboard I had gone with the cooking, we invited some neighbors over to join us for dinner and an impromptu birthday party happened on a Tuesday night in quarantine. Up next, my birthday is this Saturday. Then I think we are finished with all of these Spring birthdays in my house. Thank goodness. I am done!
Unfortunately, I cannot share recipes for the things featured today…they are sacred and holy and I will not divulge these secrets. But if you are ever in my area, just let me know. Maybe I will cook for you, too!
What have you all been up to lately while I am over here forgetting stuff and then scrambling to make up for my forgetfulness?
Feeling redeemed on the edge,
Shelbee
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Outfit Details: Dress-Torrid / Tee-c/o Half Tee / Shoes-Target / Necklace-LaLoop / Earrings-Old
34 Comments
Nancy
Ha ha, that is so good! I’ll bet Jeff was, as you say it over there I believe, a happy camper. No idea what it means, how it’s not insulting!! Otherwise I have to cook something too!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Nancy, you make me laugh! I had to go look up where the phrase “happy camper” came from. It is not insulting at all. Apparently, it dates back to around 1885 at summer camps for kids. Some kids hate summer camp and get very homesick while other kids love to be away from home and so were called “happy campers.” So, yeah, I think Jeff was pretty happy when he got home last night!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lucy Bertoldi
WOW- betcha your husband loved the redemption way better than a mere remembering lol!!! All that good food!!! And that sexy little dress must have helped as well;)
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Lucy! Oh, he took my forgetting all in stride because he knows this is how I respond to my own guilt! He reaps lots of benefits from it.
xoxo
Shelbee
eva @ StyleMyThrift
shelbee! you are quite the cook!! wow! super impressed!
now, what do i do for my husband’s 50th coming up?
xo Eva
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ha, thanks, Eva! I learned from the best…my big sister! She is magical in the kitchen and has taught me everything I know. 50 is a huge birthday! You definitely need to do something big, my friend! If I think of a grand idea, I will surely let you know.
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
All of that food looks so very yummy. You did good for him. Very nice. And the temprature has shot up here also. It has been pushing 90 also.
Looking very nice and ready for summer.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! It was all so delicious! We are supposed to be back into the 30’s at night by the weekend. I might actually welcome the drop in temperature after these past few days. Stay cool!
xoxo
Shelbee
jodie filogomo
You definitely made up for it Shelbee…I wish I lived closer to help eat up all the yummies.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jodie! It was all so good! I hope you doing well. I keep trying to make blog rounds and see what’s going on with my blogger friends, but I just keep running out of time every day. Arghhhh!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
So much awesomeness on your table! I know Jeff feels so loved and appreciated.
And that is an adorable dress!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so very much, Michelle! Jeff was a very happy and well fed man last night!
xoxo
Shelbee
Mireille
It looks delicious!! And labor intensive. I am sure everyone was delighted! Amazingly, our weather has not but 90 yet. Today a mere 75! I
I am a decent cool but don’t like to make anything that is too much work, a byproduct of always having a toddler aound.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mireille! I am glad I have lots of leftovers now so I don’t have to cook until the heat breaks! We are supposed to be back into the 30’s at night by the weekend. Silly weather. I do not miss those toddler days, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Darlene
Wow, I would say you sure made up for neglecting to say happy birthday in the morning! You are making me SO hungry–I am beyond sick of my own cooking at this point!! Lol! OK, how about the recipe for those muffins, girl?!! Yum. Your comfy striped dress looks perfect for summer! Love it!
xx Darlene
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Darlene! Isn’t it funny how we can get sick of our own cooking?! Haha. Jeff has been doing most of the cooking during quarantine and we needed a little change as well. Since we cook very different things, it was nice for me to finally takeover for a bit! Haha. I cannot give out the muffin recipe! My sister would kill me!
xoxo
Shelbee
Angie
Hi – You certainly slayed yourself making amends! It all sounds like a wonderful birthday celebration for your dear husband. Happy birthday to you both – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Angie! It was really, really hot in my kitchen all day with the oven and stovetop going nonstop for most of the day. But it was all worth it!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kellyann Rohr
Redemption majorly achieved!! That ravioli looks delicious – actually everything does! I cannot believe the change in your temps – isn’t that crazy? The weather is nuts. I think an impromptu party is the usually the very best, all the fun without the hassle of crazy planning! Drives home the point that it’s really the people that matter and not all the hullabaloo wrapped up in a big party!
xo,
Kellyann
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Kellyann! I am so glad that I don’t have to cook for the rest of the week. We have enough leftovers to get us to the weekend! It is so hot and humid again today and tomorrow with a high of 58 on Sunday. That seems so crazy to me! And I agree that an unplanned gathering is way better! I hope you are having a great week.
xoxo
Shelbee
Mica
What a fun striped dress! it’s nice you could make it up to your hubby by cooking some special food! 🙂 I’ve been obsessing over our family iso birthdays for a while, everything ordered far in advance as the post is understandably a bit slower here with all the changes around travel! We just have one more iso birthday next month and then I think by the time the next family birthday rolls around we will be able to catch up in person! I hope!!!
Hope you are having a lovely week 🙂
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mica! My birthday is on Saturday and then we will have celebrated all 4 of our birthdays during lockdown. But they will certainly be memorable ones! I hope you were able to make special memories as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
All of the food looks so good!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jennifer! It was amazing!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kathrine Eldridge
Girl, you outdid your self! You more than made up for this small snafu. I love caprese salad and dying over those muffins. I adore your striped maxi too!”
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Kathrine! Jeff just asked me last night if I hadn’t forgotten to say happy birthday in the morning, would I have made any food at all for dinner. And I answered a very emphatic, “No.” So he was super pleased that I forgot!
xoxo
Shelbee
ratnamurti
You are an amazingly thoughtful woman, Shelbee. I am grinning hugely reading this post xxxxxx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, Ratnamurti, thanks so much! I try to keep my loved ones happy!
xoxo
Shelbee
Bojana
What a great way to redeem yourself. That dinner looks pretty great! Happy birthday in a short bit.
bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Bo! The great thing about all the food is that I didn’t have to cook for the remainder of the week. We had so many leftovers!
xoxo
Shelbee
Ruth Josey
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL! Let’s see how Jeff tops this one! I know my husband would be happy if I forgot his birthday long enough to come up with an amazing meal and impromptu party like the one you put together for Jeff. And what a great bottle of rum, too. And what a pretty dress! And your sandals are so cute. They remind me that I have some “sandals” that have a ruffle across the front that I need to remember to pull out and wear more this summer. I hope you have an awesome weekend!
Ruth
VogueFauxReal
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Ruth! I might have made myself a little crazy with this food prep but it was so worth it! Jeff is attempting to make a pineapple upside down cake for me today. It has always been my favorite birthday dessert since I was a kid and I haven’t had it in years. I am excited to see how this turns out!
xoxo
Shelbee
jess jannenga
Awww happy birthday to your hubby!! I love that you made all of his favorites! So good! They look so good and I bet he enjoyed each bite! Love the ease of dresses in the summer and the colors are very pretty! Love the bows and pink sandals!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jess! We have been cooking so many amazing things the past few weeks that I kind of just want some plain old pizza or something now! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee