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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Snow Day . . .
Monday, February 18, 2013
I Have Promises to Keep . . .
illustrated by Lois Maloy |
Friday, February 15, 2013
A Winter Walk . . .
large naturalized park nearby. ~ Diane
Linked with A Piece of Heaven
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
My Pink Valentine . . .
Monday, February 11, 2013
Chocolat the Movie - A Valentine Treat
It was the basis of my 'Chocolat' theme party and Girls Night In! We enjoyed plentiful chocolate and this decadent movie! I love everything about this movie, the setting, the actors, the theme and the music! Take a look at the trailer below.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is the sermon by the priest....
Enjoy with a little Johnny Depp on the side...
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Song for Sunday - Falling Slowly
I have to admit that I have been in love with this guys voice since the moment I heard him over ten years ago. He was singing with Charlotte Church on her special and I thought, who is this scrawny teenager with the enormous voice? I told my husband that this guy was going to be a huge star. Well Du-aah! Obviously I was not alone in thinking this and now he is adored by millions around the world. His music is not everyone's cup of tea, but it is mine and even though I have not seen him in concert in person, I have followed his career and purchased most of his albums.
I remember talking to a friend a few years ago about his music, she mused that she wanted her daughter to marry him! Well her daughter may have a chance, she lives in NY now and I guess he's still available. It's kind of sad that a guy that constantly sings love songs is still single. I feel bad for him! Poor Josh, I hope he finds true love some day.
A very humorous article titled Reasons Women Love Josh Groban
Don't mind me, I'm going to wander off and listen to my early Valentine's present from my husband, Josh Groban's new CD "All That Echos". Have a lovely day!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
We Love Double Chocolate . . .
We love chocolate! We love to get it, we love to give it! And remember, Valentine’s Day is one week from today. During these somewhat gloomy winter days, what could be better than an easy and delicious chocolate dessert to share with your loved ones? Before we get to the recipe, I wanted to cover a bit of background on the history of chocolate.
Scientists have discovered that chocolate was invented at least 3,100 years ago in Central America and not as the sweet treat people now crave, but as a celebratory beer-like beverage and status symbol. Unfortunately, chocolate languished as this sorry, bitter concoction from about 600 AD until 16th Century Europe when the Spanish began to add cane sugar and flavorings such as vanilla to their sweet cocoa beverages. From this point the French, Swiss, Irish, English and Americans all had a hand in creating the chocolates we know today. All I can say is, Thank You!
We’ve all heard that chocolate is an aphrodisiac. It contains an endorphin called phenylalanine, levels of which in the brain have been linked to falling in love. Chocolate has been used as a gift since the days of the Aztecs and Mayans and was used in marriage and fertility ceremonies. Yes we Love Chocolate! It tastes good and it makes us feel good!
Now it is possible to find several brands of Organic and Free Trade Chocolate available. I always try and use as many organic ingredients in my recipes as possible. I find that the resulting product is tastier and healthier too. If you would like to see some of my favorite organic products, visit my board on Pinterest. So without further ado, here is the recipe.
Double Chocolate Butter Cake
2 cups sugar
5 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 egg, plus 2 eggs
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened (neufchatel works well also)
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Lightly spray a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and 8 tablespoons (1 stick) softened butter, and stir until well blended. Pat mixture into prepared pan and set aside. In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the remaining 2 eggs, and the cocoa powder. Lower the speed of the mixer, and add the sugar. Continue beating until ingredients are well mixed. Slowly add the remaining 8 tablespoons (1 stick) of softened butter, and the vanilla, continuing to beat the mixture until smooth. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips with a rubber spatula. Spread filling over cake mixture in pan.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Do not over-bake the cake; the center should still be slightly soft when finished baking. Let cake partially cool before cutting into pieces. Top with whipped cream or ice cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon for a little spice.
Linked with The Charm of Home
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
February Nature Notes . . .
Image by Edith Holden from The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady |
The cold depths of our winter all too often bring depressingly low cloud cover like we have today. The sunlight struggles to break through and make up for all the energy lost during the long, dark nights. Today the sun is nowhere to be seen, the sky is a flat white, no clouds, no blue skies. The Roman mythology goddess of Spring, Flora herself appears to be locked in ice!
It's nice to know that she will eventually make her spring time appearance in April, even though that seems so far away. While I wait for her, my thoughts will be wandering and for the next week or so will be occupied with red hearts and chocolate candies. Thank goodness for Valentine's Day!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Song for Sunday - Little Boxes
You know how sometimes a song pops into your head and you don't know why? Something triggers a memory and suddenly you are humming a tune. That happened to me the other day. At first I was humming the tune and those of you around my age (no spring chicken) can relate to this, I couldn't quite remember the words or the name of the song.
Eventually after a few minutes of humming, words started to form and then I was a kid again singing this song. Some of the words still escaped my aging brain, so I did what everyone does these days. I looked it up on YouTube and sure enough here was my song from childhood. Little did I know that it had been refreshed by a show called 'Weeds' which I had heard of but never watched. Most of you have probably heard of this song but I am including a link for more information about Malvina the song writer and a cute little treasury that I made of some darling little 'boxes' from some of my fellow Etsians.
Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1990.
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.