FABBY: My Favorites on the First

Hello sweet friends!

How exciting.. today, February 1, 2013 is Favorites On The First, at The Polo House; where beautiful Alyson hostesses once a month, on the first, her great meme...and my contribution is a small collection of mostly Oriental boxes I love, as you all know, nothing better than little boxes, where we can store our treasures, although,  I include this small collection among my treasures. Here they are, I hope you like them. Thank you Alyson for hosting this great and fun party!

 Three Oriental boxes, the large one was a gift from my best friend Stephanie around five years ago for my birthday. The bronze box is a Chinese one with a sign on top and the last one is an antique, in wood also, that belonged to Alejandro's aunt.

 I love the larger one because it has two compartments to store silk scarfs.

 Here it is opened and Stephanie said she bought it at the China Town in NYC...my fave town!

 Hubby gifted me with this pretty Indian wooden box with metal, and bone insets. The lacquered wooden small box at your right, was my Mil's.

The antique , hand decorated, "canphor Chinese chest", which are from the 18th. and 19th. century, is where I display these two boxes. I love this chest as is like a box in itself and I'm sure it's from the 19th. century too and it was a gift to my husband from his mother, several years ago.

 Here in our foyer's vintage, French table is another small box in porcelain and it's a special one for me... closest to my heart, as it was made back at our past Ceramic Co., Monte Turi.

 A better shot of the porcelain box with a pretty hand made orchid. I love it, as it was made back at hubby's ceramic co. and many, many years ago too. The stunning roses are from my Bil's rose farm, Altaflor.

Here you have it..my small collection of boxes and I think I have somewhere a couple more.. and I hope I can add some more if I ever find something that catches my eye and screams...TAKE ME HOMEEeeeeee...

LOVE,
FABBY

Come join the fun at Alyson's for, FAVORITES ON THE FIRST at,  http://thepolohouse.blogspot.com

Thank you gracious hostesses for your great parties!

Beverly for Pink Saturday at,  http://howsweetthesound.typad.com/my_weblog
Susan for Metamorphosis Monday at,  http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Marty for Tabletop Tuesday at,  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
Meet Me Monday at,  http://youaretalkingtomuch.blogspot.com
Motivate Me Monday at,  http://becolorful.blogspot.com
Make the World Cuter at,  http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com
Wednesdays Adorned from Above at,  http://adornedfromabove.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop at,  http://hibiscushouse.blogspot.com
Beautiful Sunday at,  http://dianewantstowrite.blogspot.com
Overflowing With Creativity at,  http://itsoverflowing.blogspot.com
Sunny Simple Sunday at,  http://sunnysimplelife.blogspot.com
Seasonal Sunday at,  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com

FABBY: Hubby's Favorite Birthday Cake

Hello sweet friends!

This is Alejandro's favorite birthday cake, it's called Delicious Banana Layer Cake and it's from an old baking book, with the title of, "The Southern Heritage CAKES Cook Book", my friend Stephanie gave me a copy of the book, I mean; as it was her aunt's vintage great baking book, although she was from NJ, not from the South, lol.. believe me, every cake is fabulous, all American heritage cakes and desserts. This Monday, January 28th. is my hero's birthday and there's going to be a tea party held at his sister's house, with all their siblings...hope I can take some pics, as I will be busy helping her. I will try, though. I baked hubby's fav cake today to take, obviously. We're also going to celebrate the youngest brother's birthday that was last Jan. 20th. I'm sharing the recipe at the end of the post. Believe me, it's fabulous!!

I fixed a vignette for tea, (although hubby will have coffee) in our alabaster breakfast table, as hubby loves the alabaster top of it, more than he does tablecloths, lol..

The teacups, saucers and cake plates are from my Multiple Choice dinner china; in black and white. The teacups are so cute, they look like they have black stitchings running  up and down them. The sterling antique, French teapot with warmer was my In laws, as I think it came from my Fil's family. The sterling creamer and sugar bowl came from my own silver teaset.

 I forgot how you called crystal pieces with sterling inlays as the platter standing in the back..it's antique and Italian, from my Mil's. I remember dear Bill, from Affordable Accoutrement's, has a collection and he posted about it a while ago, as he hasn't been blogging for a year and I really miss him...don't you...remember him?

Isn't it a pretty cake with the pecans? This cake makes a great dessert too, for after dinner, as it's very moist.

Here you can appreciate the alabaster a little more. Ecuador has lovely white alabaster and marbles, like our black and white flooring is.

Thank you for dropping by and always leaving me such wonderful and kind comments, my dear friends.

I'm thanking the lovely hostesses for having me each week and for been so generous.

LOVE,
FABBY

                                                          DELICIOUS BANANA LAYER CAKE

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup chopped pecans
Caramel Frosting

      Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yokes one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Dissolve soda in buttermilk, add to creamed mixture alternately with flour, starting and ending with flour. Stir in mashed bananas and pecans.
Beat egg whites at room temp., until stiff peaks form, fold in batter. Pour batter into two greased and floured 8´inch round cake pans.  Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, or until pick inserted comes out clean. Cool cakes 10 min. in pans. Remove from pans and let cool completely.
     Spread caramel frosting on between layers and on top and decorate with pecans, like in my pic, but you don't have to, though.

Caramel Frosting:
 1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
About 1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter or margarine

    Combine all ingredients in a heavy sauce pan; cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture reaches soft ball stage, (240). Remove from heat and beat until spreading consistency; add additional milk if necessary. Spread immediately on cooled cake. Yield: for a 2 layer cake.

Mix It Up Monday at,  http://flourmewithlove.blogspot.com
On the Menu Monday at,  http://stonegable.blogspot.com
Make It Pretty Monday at,  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Mop It Up Monday at,  http://ishouldbemoppingthefloor.blogspot.com
Masterpiece Monday at,  http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com
Marty's for Table Top Tuesday at,  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
Martha for Tea Cup Tuesday at,  http://marthasfavorites.blogspot.com
Tea Time Tuesday at,  http://sandymyyellowdoor,blogspot.com
Tea Time Tuesday at,  http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com
A Return to Loveliness at,  http://adelighsomelife.blogspot.com
Valentine's Feature and Linky Party at,  http://isabellethorntonlechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com
Tea Time Tuesday at,  http://rosechintzcottage.blogspot.com
Tuesday Cuppa Tea at,  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com
Kathleen for Let's Dish at,  http://cuisinekathleen.blogspot.com
Angie for Knick of Time Tuesday at,  http://nickoftime.blogspot.com
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at,  http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com
You're Gonna Love It at,  http://kathewithane.blogspot.com
It's a Party at,  http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com
Share Your Cup Thursdays at,  http://haveadailycupofmrs.olson.blogspot.com
House and Garden Thursday at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Vintage Thingie Thursday at,  http://coloradolady.blogspot.com
Open House Party at,  http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Thursday Tea Things at,  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com
Simple and Sweet Fridays at,  http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com
Richela for Grace at Home at,  http://impartinggreace.blogspot.com
Home Sweet Home at,  http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com
Feathern Nest Friday at,  http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Thrifty Things Friday at,  http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com





 I'm participating in Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.