Santa Comes to Town!

A great Santa at Bayview Farm and Garden. Marina (4.5 yo) thought for a long time on what to ask for from Santa before we went to Bayview.  She came up with: a bunk bed and a toy squirrel. 

Easy enough!  Merry Christmas!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Flourless Chocolate Cake

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

For several years I made this flour-less cake for birthdays, Valentine's Day, and other special occasions. Since then it has become our traditional Valentine's Day cake. I love the rich and fluffy chocolate flavor; it is like a light and fluffy fudge. I originally got the recipe off of: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/flourless-chocolate-cake-recipe.html
and so far it is my favorite flour-less/ wheat and gluten free chocolate cake recipe. I am going to paraphrase the recipe here and you can checkout my pictures of the process, including the finished product!

3/4 cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
12 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, chopped small
6 eggs, separate the whites from the yolks, place in separate bowls
1 TBS vanilla
1/2 cup honey

Melt the chocolate in a double broiler on low with the butter (chopped). Set aside and let cool. Meanwhile mix egg yolks in a blender for 3 minutes with 1/4 cup of honey. Mix with the cooled chocolate mixture and then add vanilla.

Whip egg whites (by hand or mechanically) until soft peaks form, then add 1/4 cup honey Whip again until firm peaks form. Mix the egg whites/honey mixture with the chocolate/yolks mixture adding the whites in thirds until it is all mixed.

Have a well buttered and floured pan or heart-shaped cupcakes. Pour batter in and cover bottom of pan with aluminum foil. Cook at preheated 350F until toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cake will fall quite a bit. Don't let the top of the cake burn! takes 30-50 minutes depending on size pan.

Above: chocolate and butter melting in a double broiler

L: egg whites ready to whip R: honey and egg yolks (mix for 3 minutes in a blender)

L: egg whites forming soft peaks R: 1/4 cup honey being added to whipped whites


egg yolks/honey/chocolate mixture on the left, whipped egg whites/honey on the right, now mix the two together (see below):




Above: everything mixed together


Above Left: batter in the heart shaped pans, bottom of pan wrapped in foil. Above Right: finished cakes, with our homemade Valentine's Day cards.

Merry Christmas to youuuu!

Merry Christmas!
!




Merry Christmas!

Above Marina and Stella pictured with their new pony saddle (on me!) and new tunnel. Also, Stella hugging Yo Bear the dog. She really loves him! Well, she really loves everyone!