Scandinavian Almond Cake...Delicious Variations!

I'd like to believe that the biggest reason people come to my shop in Door County is to purchase my Santa figurines, but I admit that many people come in for the free cake and coffee! We have delicious coffee - flavored and ground right here in Door County - and I have a wonderful recipe for Scandinavian Almond Cake. I bake about six cakes a week, and our customers love them! Click here to see the original recipe!
www.pipkasofdoorcounty.com/Santa-Ornament-Collectibles/index.phtml?cmd=details&prodID=RehrPan&track=12%4016&catID=16&start=4&fID=0&sort_field

Here are some scrumptious variations on the original recipe: In place of almond extract, add any flavored extract of your choice, such as:

LEMON
- lemon extract and lemon zest
- top warm cake with a lemon glaze (powdered sugar & lemon juice)
- add 1 heaping teaspoon poppy seeds

ORANGE
- orange extract add orange zest
- top warm cake with orange glaze (powdered sugar & orange juice)
- add vanilla extract

* To the cake batter, add any of the following:
- mini-chocolate chips & chopped Door County dried cherries
- finely chopped dried apricots
- toasted & chopped nuts: pecans, walnuts, pistachios, almonds
- blueberries, fresh or frozen (dust with flour first so they don't stain the batter or sink to the bottom)

* Baked cake fillings - add these to the pan before baking:
- Turtle Cake: Pour half the cake mixture in the pan. Add a layer of caramel ice cream topping and chopped pecans. Top with remaining cake mixture and bake as directed.
- Streusel Cake: Pour half the cake mixture in the plan. Add a streusel mixture of brown sugar, raisins, and nuts. Top with remaining mixture and bake as directed.

* Cake fillings - Cut the cooled cake lengthwise and fill with:
- lemon mousse or lemon curd
- chocolate mousse
- strawberries and pink whipped cream
- Nutella

Simply Elegant!
Cut the basic cake into slices. Top with fresh raspberries, raspberry sauce, and real whipped cream sweetened with powdered sugar.

Raspberry Sauce
Cook 1 package of frozen raspberries, 1 cup water, and 1 cup sugar over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon red food coloring, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and cook until thickened. Force mixture through a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl to eliminate seeds. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. It will get thick but thins out again when reheated.

Enjoy! Eating is one of my great pleasures, and I'm glad to share these ideas with you!

Love,
Pipka

April in Paris

Paris metro stop designed in the art nouveau style by Hector Guimard. We took the metro everywhere but walking is also possible and much more scenic!

Our first 3 hour lunch in Paris at the locally famous Le Navigator near the Sorbonne. Wine and good food! These French meals require a long walk afterwards. The scenery is beautiful in this famous

area, coffee shops, book stores, museums and university student hang-outs.

A Paris street performer. This young lady was singing and playing in Monmarte, the artist district of Paris.More photos will be posted so stay tuned!

Love, Pipka

Springtime in Provence!

Here are my friends, Bob and Sara Larsen from Door County. We're just beginning our dream trip to France! We'll spend a week in Provence and a week in Paris. We rented a house in each place so we'll have all the comforts of home and can buy food and flowers for our dwellings.

Upon arrival in Isle de Sorge, we come upon a market to delight all the senses: flowers, meats, breads, clothing, antiques, olives, everything one could want is there! Of course, food is high on my list, so bread is purchased immediately, as are flowers for our kitchen table. Now I feel we are really in Provence. By the way, a loaf of bread is $1 and a bouquet of flowers is about $5 - a bargain!

Our village is surrounded by an ancient wall and castle ruins. We spend hours walking and exploring, a new sight around every corner. There's so much history here, it's awe inspiring.
I always love visiting the churches, the beautiful statuary is inspiring. This may very well be another Madonna in our line one day!


I'm obsessed with the architecture of doors. I don't know if it's because I live in Door County! No, I think I've always loved doors - their patina and architecture is so artistic in Europe. Each one has its own unique style and color and craftsmanship. The periwinkle blue is the color of Provence. It matches the blue sky and looks beautiful next to the olive groves on the stone houses and the climbing roses on the buildings.

We visited different villages every day, so I'll be posting more on the blog. Please visit again and come along to Avignon and Orange with me, and then later, April in Paris!

Love,

Pipka

Join me for our Collector's Weekend in Door County!

Ever since our last Collector's Weekend in 2007, I've had collectors asking me when we can do it all again...and the answer is: this summer from August 14-16!

At our 2007 Weekend events, my old friend Santa (Bill Motzer) joined us, and I painted a special "thank you" plaque for him. During our garden party, he posed for pictures.

We're going to have the best time, and August is just gorgeous in Door County. So far, we have a Celebration Registration and Welcome Party planned on Friday night, a traditional "Door County Breakfast" on Saturday, a special party on Saturday afternoon, and a gala 15-Year Celebration Dinner on Saturday night. Sunday morning will be our "New Friendships" breakfast.

We'll also have lots of surprises for everyone who attends. There'll also be time for you explore Door County and enjoy the beautiful water, parks, and spectacular sunsets...and, of course, shopping!

The registration price is $195 per person or $185 if you're a current Pipka Collectors Club member. This covers all activities Friday evening through Sunday morning. Travel and hotel is up to you, although we will have special hotel rates available in a few weeks.

Please come join me...I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. It will be such fun! Please call me toll-free at 800-829-9235 or e-mail me at pipkasofdoorcounty@charterinternet.com for more information! Deadline is coming soon!

Love,
Pipka

Welcome to my Blog!

Spring is just around the corner. I just got back from a quick trip to Florida, where the sunshine and visits with friends were very rejuvenating and inspiring. This is a photo of my friends and my daughter, Angie, having breakfast on the beach, just a few minutes from my house.

Now that I'm back, I've been in the studio working on one-of-a-kind jewelry and collage for our season in Door County. This is so much fun - I love doing this! Also still painting for Prizm, designs for the 2010 Collection. No matter what the season, I'm always inspired to design and paint Santas. In fact, in my china cabinet is my collection of cherry plates and Santas, which is colorful and makes me happy just to look at it all year round.

Tigger is basking in the spring sun, shining through the blinds. My little guy. He's 8 years old and greets me like a puppy at the end of each day when I come home and sleeps with his head on my pillow. He's the only man in my life right now!

I'm going to France in two weeks and will be posting photos of the trip, so stay tuned! I'll be going to antique stores and flea markets, looking for makings for my jewelry and collage. And there will probably be another French Santa in the near future!

Love,
Pipka