spring break calls for bake date!

One of my good friends, Sam, was on spring break this week so we decided to plan something fun. We both enjoy baking and don't have too many opportunities to, so that's what we decided to do! We're both Pinterest-lovers so of course we're always seeing gorgeous desserts that look delectable, as well as FUN, and this was our chance to replicate them! ...or make our own masterpiece. But that's jumping ahead.

our plan a

After perusing various recipes and reminiscing on our favorites, we set out to make a chocolate cake with ganache topping and a layer of ganache in the middle. (My mouth has been watering for some ganache recently, and Sam had never enjoyed it.) 

the execution of plan a

We made our shopping list, went to the grocery, and began mixing!

First, the ganache. We started with the ganache so that it could have time to cool in the fridge. 

We used this recipe: http://littledelightscakes.com/ganache-cake/

1 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
2 TBL unsalted butter

It impresses me how simple ganache is to make! 

The ganache went into the fridge to sit for a little while.

The cake was then mixed up. For this we used a Devil's Food cake mix and split it between two 8x8 baking dishes. Our plan was to spread a layer of ganache on top of one cake and put the other on top with another lay of ganache. After the cake was finished baking - it looked and smelled great - I flipped it upside down over a cooling rack. 

Aaaaaand there is where our flexibility as master bakers comes in. The cake broke. I laughed. We groaned. I laughed some more. We both stood there giggling at the problematic twist. We discussed various options (us simply eating that cake and frosting the other one that was still in the dish), and then Sam came up with a winning idea! 

plan b

First step: crumble up the broken cake into the 8x8 dish.

Next: pour ganache (that has thickened a little from being cooled) over the cake. It seeps through the spaces and makes the already moist cake even more scrumptious.

Then: cut up strawberries in fourths or sixths and spread over the top.

For the record, we did go ahead and "ganache" (can that be used as a verb?) the cake that was still intact.

 the finished products

Devil's Food Cake & Ganache

Strawberry Ganache Galore

and LET ME TELL YOU, they were delicious. (personally, my favorite ended up being the Strawberry Ganache Galore).

Lip-smackin' goodness.

truly one of the best things in life: sharing chocolate with a friend

bread and wine

...the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.

He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

He gave him a tenth of all.

The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself."

Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for f ear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.'

Satan came out to meet me in the King's land.

And Christ king of Jerusalem sacrificed and gave His body and blood; He interceded to God Most High. He blessed me and said, "Blessed be Miriam of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

I gave Him an offering.

Satan said to me, "Give me your soul, and take the comfort and fun and ease."

I said to Satan, "I have promised the Lord God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not give into your temptations, or else you might say, 'I own Miriam's heart."

Mom's Banana Bread

I'm sure this is not my mom's original recipe... I'm thinking there are probably few actual original recipes. Kind of like quotes. Plagiarizers keep getting the credit.


So I'll perpetuate this tragedy and give Mom credit for this great banana bread recipe, or at least give her credit for passing it along to me, as well as the love of banana bread.
I've determined that most of the breads we eat are actually cakes that we call "breads" so we can eat them for breakfast. Kind of like how muffins are basically cupcakes. But I'm not complaining!



Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
3 bananas
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
(choc chips)


Instructions:
Mix all ingredients well.
Butter, vanilla, sugar, then add eggs, bananas, then dry ingredients.
Pour into greased loaf pan.
Bake @ 350 for approx. 60 min 
(makes one loaf pan)

life is our tutor to God

I have to wonder...

Did God call Himself our "Father" to show us how to be good parents? or did He give us parents to show what He does for us? to show how perfect of a parent He is?

Did God call us "children" to show us how dependent and needy our children are? or did He give us dependent, needy children to take care of to show us how much we depend on and need Him? to show us how we can't survive without Him and that He will take care of our every need?

Did Jesus use the idea of a groom and bride to show us how we should be loving, submissive, and committed to our spouses? or did He give us the marriage relationship and roles to show us how He feels about and how He treats the church? to show how perfectly He loves and sacrifices?


Therefore, the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:24

Why did God set up the sacrificial system, the tabernacle/temple, the priesthood, the laws regarding cleanliness, ALL the laws? Why did He allow His children to receive promises of a great blessing, nation, land, to become enslaved in bondage, to be saved miraculously, to enter into a covenant with Him, to wander in a wilderness, to be fed only by Him, to conquer seemingly impossibly battles, to be governed by kings, to reject Him, to be taken captive, to be recipients of grace and mercy, to be brought back into their land, to be allowed to continue serve Him, to wait and hope for a coming King?


WE are not hard to comprehend. GOD is. So He helped us out by giving us some "lessons" to guide us to Him. And His plan is so amazing and beautiful because all the lessons not only show us how good He is, but how much better He is than anything physical. We have so much to gain from learning to comprehend Him and so much to look forward to.

...what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
Romans 1:19

"Love is a choice..."

"The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

Deuteronomy 7:7, 8

The Lord did not set His love on me or choose me because I was great, for I was nothing, but because the Lord loved me and kept His promise which He made to my forefathers, the Lord brought me out by a mighty hand and redeemed me from the house of slavery, from the hand of Satan, the devil.