#26: Bake something from scratch once a month for 6 months (month #3)

I was waiting until today to write this post as today is the birthday of one of the most important people in my life:  my best friend, my mom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!  I LOVE YOU!

My mom has been there through it all:  the good, the bad, the happy, the sad, and everything in between.  And since I think, unfortunately, it's not always a given - I must mention how open-minded, understanding, compassionate, and caring she is.  She never comes to me in judgment, instead she approaches me with the willingness to listen and the openness to accept. 

On one of my favorite shots of my brother, mom and me

Me and my beautiful mom

My mom is also one of the most hardworking women I have ever encountered and her job (as an ER physician) is one of the most grueling out there.  She unfortunately had to work her entire birthday weekend so this past Thursday, she and I went out to Home 231, a restaurant in Harrisburg, to celebrate her birthday.  The night we went was actually the last night that the restaurant was BYOB was they got a liquor license and were planning to transition the next evening. 

As a present to my mom, I decided to make her favorite dessert, creme brulee.  This was my first time ever making creme brulee and it actually was a lot easier than I thought it might be!  I searched the internet for what I thought might be a good recipe and ended up deciding to make a version from Alton Brown.  My mom did have to bring over her kitchen torch (which my brother and I got for her one year for Christmas) to get that beautiful carmelization that really makes the dessert one to remember!  Mom gave the creme brulee two thumbs up!  Obviously she could have been lying to me but judging by the fact that she ate the entire dessert and took 3 home with her for later - I'm fairly certain she was being forthright!

Cooking away with ramekins in the background

The finished product

I'll end this blog post with a video of a favorite song of both me and my mom.  This song will always remind me of my mom because I know how much she loves when I sing it.  It was in my repertoire when I would sing at school concerts and when my Mum Mum and I were on "the nursing home circuit." 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!  I love you so much.  Thank you for being you!

"Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world..."