Sunday, July 10, 2011

Cows On Parade!



Going through photos each week,
I never know what I will find.
Mr. Dragon had started putting photos in albums (the non sticky kind).
I'm trying to finish what he started.
This week I found photos we took of the Cows On Parade In Houston.

I just had to put the space shuttle cow in the middle to honor its final flight. 



Houston Cow Parade Mosaic

The cows were painted by artists and sculptors and were on parade 
in the late summer and early fall of 2001.
We took photos of the cows we found in the museum area of Houston...
just a few of the 325!
They were auctioned off to benefit Texas Children's Hospital.



***

This is a Better Homes and Gardens Recipe that I just had to share.
Chocolate and strawberries ... a combination that is hard to beat!!


Better Homes and Gardens


CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

6 Servings

Ingredients:

4 cups sliced strawberries
1/4  cup sugar
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 beaten egg
2/3 cup milk
1 cup whipping cream
Chocolate ice cream topping (optional)
Whole strawberries (optional)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Lightly grease a baking sheet.  Combine sliced strawberries and the 1/4  cup sugar. Set aside.

For shortcakes, in a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, the 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Cut in buter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg and milk; add all at once to flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Drop dough into 6 portions on prepared baking sheet.

Bake in 450 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool slightly on a wire rack.

To serve, split warm shortcakes in half crosswise. In a chilled small mixing bowl beat whipping cream, the 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Spoon a little whipped cream on shortcake bottoms. Top with sliced strawberries. Add shortcake tops and top with remaining whipped cream. Drizzle with chocolate ice cream topping and garnish with whole strawberries, of desired. Makes 6 servings.

MAKE AHEAD TIP
Prepare and bake shortcakes; cool completely on wire rack. Place in freezer container or plastic freezer bag; seal, label, and freeze up to 2 weeks.  To serve; wrap frozen shortcakes in foil. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes or until warm.


***

Thank you to our hostesses:
and 


Wishing YOU well and a wonderful, Joy filled week. 




45 comments:

Dianne said...

I just love when cities have local artists do this kind of thing. Nashville did guitars, New Orleans did fish, and I love Houston's cows! I immediately put that chocolate/strawberry recipe in my recipe box! Thank you for sharing it. Dianne

Anonymous said...

Must be sad to see the shuttle flights go, love them moos, they did chairs in Chicago one year we were there for our annual convention, but since Texas has more cows than people I think, a fitting tribute to the critter. I gained weight just looking at that photo, better not make that one! xox

Pondside said...

I love the cows - we have had a similar fund raiser here, but with Orcas and Eagles. I loved to see what each artist could do.

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
I did see the parade in Houston sweet lady. You do have a lot of photos ~~~ We have some great Artists in Texas. I love your recipe for the Chocolate Strawberries shortcake !!! I will be right over for some. Thanks so much for your lovely comments on my new Tablescape. I hope you have a Great day in Houston, we just had some rain down in League City !!!!
XXOO Diane

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Yes, these artist-painted animals auctioned off for charity were all the rage up here in Canada too! Here in Edmonton, we did bison. Vancouver did orcas, Winnipeg did bears. Someplace else did moose but vandals kept snapping off the horns.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Oh yes, and Calgary did cows. Calgary's nickname is "cow town," after all.

Anonymous said...

HI Snap! Oh, I love your wonderful mosaic of those cows! I think it's so unfair that Houston didn't get anything but some seats from the shuttle.
That recipe sounds so good.
B a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely laady. Im your newest follower on your lovely blog now.
I hope you come join my Blog also. Have a great weekend.
XXOO Diane

Sunny Simple Life said...

I might die that dessert is so heavenly looking. Yummo. Why didn't I think of putting chocolate on my strawberry shortcake?

Janet said...

Somewhere in my stash I have a book about those cows!

The shortcake recipe sounds yummy! But then that means I have to turn on the oven and that isn't going to happen until fall!

Janet said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Donna Heber said...

Hi Snap,

I enjoyed viewing your cow mosaic. Your dessert looks scrumptious!

Unknown said...

thanks for visiting and your nice comments on my blog...that recipe is a keeper for sure! Have a great week.

Denise said...

Hi Snap,

The painted cows are great -- I'm rather a fan of cows:) The strawberry shortcake looks wonderful and so summery; homemade strawberry shortcake is one of my very favorite desserts. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and taking time to leave comments. I really love visiting historical places, too. Happy Seasonal Sunday!

Denise at Forest Manor

The French Hutch said...

I love the cows, really cool. I remember stumbling into a town square, I don't remember where just somewhere in Europe and there was a huge artsy cow. I have a pic, somewhere. Your recipe for chocolate and strawberries looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.

~Emily
The French Hutch

Lynn said...

The cows are fun! They have some horses in Upper Bucks that are painted like that. The Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes sounds great:@)

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Wonderful post! Last time I was in Vermont I saw a town that had giant rocking chairs painted by artists that they auctioned for charity. I understand that the year before that they had giant pigs. That recipe is a great twist on a regular short cake.

genie said...

Happy MM Snap...I love your cows on parade post. I just love visiting a city where there is thematic sculpture on display throughout the streets. It makes the visit so festive and fun. Your mosaic is so appealing to the eye...fully of color, and just fun to view. Genie

ellen b. said...

love the cows on parade. We had a similar deal with pigs here in the Seattle area. That dessert looks really good, too!

podso said...

Strawberry dessert looks great. Your cows remind me of our decorating rocking chairs throughout our city, or the lizards in my sister's city. :-) Such fun!

Carol said...

Chocolate and strawberries are a perfect combination, looks amazing! And Cows on parade looks like a fun exhibit!

Natasha in Oz said...

Wow, those cows are amazing! Your mosaic has highlighted them beautifully!

We had an exhibition like that here around the time of our State Fair. I hope they will do it again this year!

Best wishes for a lovely week,
Natasha.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

What a wonderful recipe!!! Thanks for sharing. If I weren't leaving on vacation in two days I'd be making it tomorrow! Will save it until I return!!! Cathy

Mary said...

Omigosh, what a wonderful and whimsical group! I just love it when towns do that sort of thing -- we had the same thing with horses a few years ago, and it was always such a treat to come upon one when you happened to be on your errands... :)
xoxo

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Wonderful mosaic, Snao! We had a painted cow exhibit here in NYC about 10 years ago! I loved seeing all the wonderful varied designs--they were so imaginative.

BernieH said...

I was happily enjoying those wonderful cow shots ... how creative people are! ... and then I spotted that delicious chocolate shortcakes tower ... what a fabulous creation!

Barb said...

We had Cows on Parade in Denver, too. As for the shortcake - YUM!

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

Several years ago some painters painted moose like your cows. You can still see some of them today around. Cool. V

Vee said...

I remember those cows being on the news way back then. Is that cow on the right scrubbing something on her "hands and knees"?

Oh my...I am snagging that recipe. Chocolate and strawberries shortcake sounds wonderful.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

One of those cows in your garden would sure make a conversation piece. Nice to see how they were all painted differently.
I just may have to try your chocolate and strawberry dessert - it looks yummy.

Marlis said...

Oh wow.. chocolate and strawberries is right.. A perfect combination. Your photos make me want to jump right in there and take a bite! Many blessings and thanks for the kind visit.

My Little Home and Garden said...

Hello, Snap. I just laughed when I saw the cows, particularly the space shuttle one! Thanks for the giggle, and for the kind comments on my blog for Mosaic Monday. I really appreciate them!

Sarah said...

What a fun post. I remember the Cows on Parade in NYC in 2000. Such a fun idea.
The Strawberry Chocolate Shortcakes look fabulous. I'm going to make these. ~ sarah

Poppy @ With a Dash of Color said...

The cow mosaic look so wonderful and whimsical... love it! my favorite is the space shuttle one.We have a similar fundraiser in our town,different painted squirrels by local artisans. The strawberry shortcake made my mouth water... perfect summer dessert. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures... enjoyed going through them. Dropping in from The Seasonal Sunday's Party. Have a lovely week!~Poppy

http://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/

Cezar and Léia said...

Bonjour dear Snap,
So beautiful collage, these cows sculptures are wonderful!
Your collage is very well elaborated, congratulations.And thanks for the recipe, it looks delicious!Mommy is taking notes as my brother is coming from Brazil this week for his school vacations and you know..."he is "un bon gourmet"! :)
Hugs and a nice week
Luna - WE LOVE LUNA

Carol at Serendipity said...

Snap,
I love the cows. We had one here with chairs. Very neat.
Strawberries and chocolate? Definitely a good thing.
Have a good week.
Carol

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness... that chocolate shortcake looks sooooo good. Thanks so much for visiting!!

Pat - Arkansas said...

Love the painted cows!

I've gained two pounds just reading the recipe; so yummy!

Sarah Sullivan said...

OK Snap...I just finished my 157th mile of walking and you show me that deliciously yummy treat..first thing in the morning..LOL!! Maybe just the strawberries please:)
LOL You all got cows...we got moose up here...painted moose everywhere! I looove it!!
Moooooo!
Hugs, Sarah

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Love the cows! We had the horses here in 2008, and some of them are still displayed around town.
That cake looks wonderful.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

The cows are beautiful! We have bears along the sidewalks of our downtown! And sometimes Apples! lol! ♥

Wildflowerhouse said...

I am loving those cows. I wish I had one for our pasture. I could just hear the elk as they passed it by, "what the heck...."!

The Tablescaper said...

We had cows in NYC. Such a great fundraiser.

Thanks so much for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Lorrie said...

In Victoria, BC, they have orcas on parade in much the same way. What fun to feature local animals.

Chocolate and strawberries are a perfect match. YUM.

Barbara Rosenzweig said...

Great cows and what could beat that delicious dessert!

Have a great week,
Barb