Treat of the Week: A Groundhog's Day Feast

The groundhog may have said we were going to have some more weeks of winter, but that didn't keep my mother from creating a springtime-themed feast for this week's Treat of the Week.  

It did, however, keep Bertie and me from actually attending the feast.  The weather forecast looked grim, and, after the rather vicious ice storm which had taken out our power for several days, my parents decided it best to leave me in my own location and bring the feast to me instead of bringing me to the feast.  

But, first, my mother very thoughtfully plated everything as she would normally do and my father photographed it as I normally would do so I could share it with you.  

The meal began with a truly delightful and flavorful salad of Yellow and Red Cherry tomatoes with Avocado, Mozzarella, Cucumber, Radishes, Green olives and chiffonade of spinach in a dressing of olive oil infused with sautéed garlic, lemon juice, grainy mustard and herbs and spices.

This was joined by a "Super Bowl of Pasta."  Ha.  This delecatable dish of gnocchi  was topped with sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, and spinach in a sauce of creamy diced mushrooms, herbs and vermouth and sprinkled with Romano, Parmigiana and Mozzarella cheeses.

A semolina Ciabbata “Slipper Bread” rounded out the meal.

As always, the star of the show was the cake.  This springtime-themed cake looks quite a lot like a gorgeous tapestry.  A Scotch Chocolate cake containing raisins and nuts, it's adorned with  Chocolate icing decorated for the spring that Punxsutawney Phil says won’t come for six more weeks.  

Stupid Groundhog.  He’s actually spending the winter in St. Thomas because Pennsylvania is too darn cold.