BLACK FOREST CAKE

The demure and conservative "Miss Apron" asked the naughty "Christmas Apron" what was on the menu.
"OH MY BLACK FOREST CAKE! Sounds positively sinful!"


From Wikepedia:

A Black Forest cake is the English name for the southern German dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (literally "Black Forest cherry torte").

Typically, Black Forest cake consists of several layers of chocolate cake, with whipped cream and cherries between each layer. Then the cake is decorated with additional whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings. In some European traditions sour cherries are used both between the layers and for decorating the top. (This is what I do!) Traditionally, Kirschwasser is added to the cake, although other liquors are also used (such as rum, which is common in Austrian recipes). In the United States, Black Forest cake is most often prepared without alcohol. (I however DO USE alcohol! Kirschwasser is a Cherry Brandy!)

Getting the ingredients together for Black Forest Cake

The layers are cooling.

Ready to assemble

Draining the cherries

Whipping the cream

Cherries in between the layers!

The finished product, complete with grated chocolate!


BLACK FOREST CAKE
2 15-16 oz Pitted Tart Cherries, drained
1/2 cup Kirschwasswer
Chocolate Cake Layers (recipe below)
4 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1 Square semi-Sweet Chocolate, grated
12 Maraschino Cherries, drained
2 Squares Semi-Sweet Chocolate, made into curls

In medium bowl place drained cherries and 1/3 cup of Kirschwasser: leave at room temp for 2 1/2 hours, stir occasionally.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350. Prepare cake layers as recipe directs but pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9" round cake pans. Stagger pans on 2 oven racks so no pan is directly over another. Bake 20-25 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely!

With fork, prick the top of each cake layer and drain the Kirschwasser from the cherries, saving liquid. drizzle over the tops of the cakes to absorb.

At medium speed, beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and 2 TBL of Kirschwasser until the cream stands in stiff peaks.

Place one cake layer on serving plate and spread whipped cream over the top, top with 1/2 of the cherries.

Repeat with the sen=cond layer and then top with the third layer.

Frost sides of cake and gently press grated semi-sweet chocolate with a spoon around the sides. Frost the top, and with a decorator tube, squirt 12 dollops of cream on top, top with a cherry and curled chocolate. I make smaller dollops around the bottom as well.

Chocolate Cake Recipe
2 cups Cake Flour
1 3/4 cups Sugar
3/4 cup Cocoa
1 1/4 cups Milk
3/4 cup Shortening
3 Eggs
1 1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Baking Powder

With mixer on low speed,beat all ingredients until well mixed, constantly scraping bowl; at high speed, beat 5 minutes more, scraping occasionally.

HOPKINS FAMILY PORTRAIT

Here's a SNEAK PEEK at our family portrits that our tlaented daughter Jessica did the day after Thanksgiving!

O TANNENBAUM, O TANNENBAUM

Today, Dave and I took off early and got our Christmas tree. We don't normally get it this early but we will be gone over 10 days on our trip and we wanted to enjoy the tree as much as possible. Dave and I both grew up with artificial trees as kids so we have had real trees our entire marriage!

Dave checking out the trees.

This might be the one!

YUP, it's the one!

Dragging it to be trimmed up for us.

Trimming it down for us!

While Dave bangs out all of the dead needles, I got the tree stand all prepped.

In the stand and ready to have the lights strung.

The lights are all in place!

The first ornament to be hung on our tree is the Christmas Nail. The apron wondered why it was hanging on the tree and so I explained it to her:
"This is the Christmas Nail. It is to be hung on a sturdy branch, a branch near the trunk, a branch that will hold such a spike without being noticed by well-wishers dropping by to admire one's tinseled tree. The nail is know only to the home that hangs it. Understood only by the heart that knows its significance. It is hung with the thought: The Christmas tree but foreshadows the Christ tree which only He could decorate for us, with nails such as this."
Our Christmas Tree 2009

THE APRON LANDS IN TEXAS! YEE-HAW!

TEXAS GREETINGS Y'ALL! The apron has arrived safe and sound here in the Lone Star State! Imagine my surprise last night when I got the mail and there it was! Apron JUST missed Thanksgiving as well as "Kit-Kat and Sweet Tart's" visit! (They went home early because Corey's cousin's funeral is today). It IS here in time for the Christmas festivities! She will be watching as we get our tree this weekend and then she'll watch as Dave and I decorate it while eating German Lebkuchen. She will help me make a Black Forest Cake which is a traditional German dessert and absolutely fabulous! She might even still be here when I have my annual Christmkas Cookie Bake a thon day. Remember how SCARF was here last year for the event? By the time her visit here is over she'll probablly smell like pine trees, brisket and Lebkuchen! I have taken pictures and am trying to find my CANON software for downloading them. It's MIA right now since switching out to the new computer!


These came srtraight from my memory stick and are only being read, they've not downloaded. I will have Dave show me how to do that once he's up so I can go in and edit all my photos. Otherwise, there would be two side ways pics in here as well!

APRON sists as I figure out how to download pictures on the new-fangled computer!


APRON brought gifts with her on her visit to Texas! Miss Trish somehow knows that these rustic ornaments will go perfectly in our house!


OTHER PICS

ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!

For your Christmas viewing pleasure, this family lives about a mile from our daughter Jessica and her husband Steven's house in Frisco, Texas. Their 2009 display begins this evening and I am eager to see what they have in store! Enjoy the video below from a previous years display!
Merry Christmas!

Worried

Where in the world is Miss Apron!? I am getting a wee bit worried. If she doesn't arrive at the next Sisters house soon, I will send out the Pony Express...seems they would be faster than the U.S. Postal Service!
Waiting, watching and praying too!

I Am Thankful For My Sisters

i have so many things to be thankful for and so i am going to use the american thanksgiving to thank the lord for all of you, my dear sisters.
thank you for all of your prayers, thank you for sharing your families, your family pets and your prayer requests that are such a privilege to pray for.
for some reason i can not explain in my words so i will just leave this scripture with you.

Philemon 1:4
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers.

and this song.


have a blessed thanksgiving mrs.mac, donna, felisol, maria, char, deb, kell, cindy, crown of beauty, rebecca, julie, margie, trish, cheryl, miss patty, sara, connie, diane and amrita.
dear arlene is not here but i am still thankful to her too for all of the blessings she left to us. she is in heaven singing her own thanksgivings to the lord.
we love you all so much...love bernie and terry and the cat!

Giving Thanks

Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
- James 1:17

My dear friends,

Today, Thanksgiving Day, I thank God for the friendship that we all share.

I thank God for allowing our paths to cross.

Your love has added color, joy, and sunshine to my life.


May I be God's messenger of peace and hope to your hearts!


"I will pass through this world but once…
If there be any kindness I can show
or any good thing I can do.
Let me do it now;
Let me not defer it, or neglect it
for I shall not pass this way again."


A HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!

Love,

Lidj

PLEASE PRAY!!

UPDATE:
JENNIFER & COREY ARE IN ROUTE TO TEXAS AS PLANNED. DEPENDING ON WHEN THE FUNERAL IS, THEY MAY HAVE TO ALTER THEIR RETURN DATE, IT WILL BE DETERMINED AS ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE. THE INITIAL CAUSE OF DEATH IS HEART ATTACK SINCE HE HAD SOME SYMPTOMS AND DIZZINESS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AS WELL AS A LOT OF HEART RELATED DEATHS IN COREY'S FAMILY! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AS WELL AS YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS! YOU GALS ARE THE BEST!




While I was at the grocery store this morning, getting everything stocked up for Thanksgiving as well as our daughter Jennifer and her family's visit, I got a phone call from Jennifer. She was crying and told me that they have had a very unexpected death in the family on Corey's side. Corey's cousin Nick whom he is very close to and is only a couple of years older than him, has died. His wife found him dead in bed next to her this morning!!!! They have 3 young children and this is a real shock to everyone!

Corey and Jennifer and the kids were going to hit the road today after "Kit-Kat" was home from Kindergarten. Obviously we will support whatever they decide but I am asking for prayers for the obvious..

His wife, their children, his parents and siblings as well as Corey and Jennifer.

Please also pray for the logistics of travel and the Thanksgiving Holiday as regards to making arrangements.

Thanks sisters!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Traveling Sisters.
From Felisol

She's On Her Way

Well Sisters, our Apron has been dropped off at the Post Office. She will now make her way, to visit with another of us and her presence there, will as always...Bless us all!


So, Dear Sisters...I leave you with a final shot of our fair city. Fall in "Historical Heritage Park."
Watch your mail ladies a Thanksgiving Blessing may be heading your way!

Dropping in to introduce myself...

I feel blessed to be included in this group of women and look forward to getting to know each of you. It will be fun to discover the common ground we share as well as embracing the differences. Thank you for having me.

I'm 52, married 31 years to my college sweetheart, and mom to four kids. We have three daughters ages 27 (married, no kids yet), 24, and 20 (engaged, wedding in June); and a son, age 15 who is a freshman in high school. I do some freelance writing but am mostly a mom at home who enjoys trying all kinds of arts and crafts with counted cross stitch, card making (rubber stamping) and photography being my favorites.

I've enjoyed visiting your blogs and hope you will stop by to visit mine. I write more than one to accommodate my various interests and because I have an opinion about everything!

Happy Birthday Sister Diane..Nov 22, 2009

today is our sweet sister, diane's birthday and we all want to wish her a very happy day.
she is recuperating at her sisters house and we have missed her voice here at the sisters.
the times that she does come though have always been the times when one of us has requested prayer.
she may be weak and not feeling well these days but we are so thankful that she is there praying for us!
happy birthday dear friend!....you are our sister, beloved!






love from all of your sisters... mrs. mac, miss patty, sara, donna, felisol, maria, cindy, julie, rebecca, char, deb, trish, cheryl, kell, connie, margie, amrita, crown of beauty and terry..

Giving Thanks

Well ladies, our time together is almost done. Friday, our Apron will be on her way to the next blessed Sister! I didn't do much heavy cooking this week...Tomer was in the Woods of Bronson Hunting for 4 days. And I do not, mess up the kitchen for just little ol' me. No, No, Never!


Today, I did roast a Turkey for our Jr. High Youth Group..."Pulse8's," Thanksgiving Feast. The smell of Thanksgiving fills our home just a bit early but we have so much to give thanks for!


Surprise...this is about the only thing you will find my Tomer doing in the kitchen...other than eat! Well, he does make a pot of coffee now and again. Or maybe, a slice or two of toast...he does not enjoy cooking a lick!


The Turkey's all cut up and ready to go. Tomer, will deliver it to the Pulse8 Center and head on over to Bible Study. I don't go on Wednesday nights it is my alone time...sigh. Well, ladies it has been a pleasure.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
1 Chronicles 29:12-14

Love to All!

Tuesday Is...Take Out Night

Come on in and sit a spell...Tonight is take out night. Every Tuesday night at Happy's Pizza it is "Two for Tuesday Night."
That means two large Pizza's with two items for $9.99 and I love me some Pizza!
(But we only eat it once or twice a month.)


Everything is ready and the Apron and I are waiting for Tomer to bring home the Pizza's. I don't even have to go out because he picks them up on his way home from work.


And here is tonight's Supper...I worked so hard!!!


My plate is made and I am more than ready to eat...Mmm.


I leave you with a shot of my Emilee who loves to help in the kitchen...she is preparing dessert for her and I. Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream and sliced Banana's with just a wee drizzle of honey over it. Isn't she creative? I went in to check on her and she had donned our Apron. So, of course, I had to grab my camera!

There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 12:6-8

Welcome To Our Table

Hello Sisters...Welcome To Faith Christian Assembly! Our Tree is decorated and we are preparing for our Christmas Program. This photo was taken on my way to Sunday School Class...where every Sunday we gather round our table of 6 and 7 year olds and feed them the Word of God. Thank you Miss Terry for the photo correction!


Me wearing our Apron as I prepare for class...setting the table with lesson activities and craft supplies.


My sweet Emilee came in to hug her ol' grammy before going down the hall to her own class.


And here we are gathered together at the table...what sweet faces. I love them so...


Snack time...cheese and crackers. Oh, and juice to drink!
Now, I leave you with our Memory verse...
With God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26

Drum Roll Please

Guess what Tomer pulled out of the mailbox today? Yes, I now have our Apron.
By the way...the leaves have been cleared away since the taking of this photo.


Along with our apron, Char sent me a nice variety of postcards and an Army sticker...I am proud to say that she is retired Army and works at Fort Bragg. Thank you, for your service to our Country Char!


Now, here hangs our Apron. This is the place of honor where she will be on display for all to see! Isn't she lovely? I will wear our Apron...just not today, because I looked really frumpy in my sweats.


Our Supper tonight was Roasted Chicken with Potato Wedges, Onions and Carrots. All cooked together with a nice sprinkling from this package of spices...Mmm.


Just out of the oven and ready to serve. Maddy, is here for a visit. So, she, her Papa and I enjoyed one another's company while eating our meal. Nothing fancy for Dessert just Boston Coolers...Breyer's Vanilla Ice Cream with Vernor's Ginger Ale poured over top.
Now, it's off to start the Dishwasher and have a nice cup of coffee. Pray all is well...Have a pleasant, peaceful evening.

Love to All!

Wedding Bliss

Twenty-nine years of memories with my beloved have made our hearts grow stronger for each other.

Pic: I present to you, Mr. & Mrs. Mac ... you may kiss your bride .. (a very happy Mr. Mac;) 11/8/80

Is it tacky?

First let me please note that I did NOT do this (nor do i have any intention of doing this!!!) ... but I have a question for my sisters...

Is it tacky to throw a shower for someone and ask them to pay for part of it?

I totally think it is... but I wondered if I am out of line for thinking that the shower is part of the gift and asking someone to pay for part of it is tacky... if you can't afford it, you shouldn't throw it, correct?

I'M BACK!

I got back yesterday from my Beth Moore weekend and the first pictures are up on my blog if you're interested! Now, it looks like I have TONS to catch up on. You sisters have apparently been busy in my absence!

Happy Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Mac

november 11th is canada's memorial day and in idaho there is another memorial day and that is the anniversary of scarf sister mrs. mac and her sweetheart...and here is one of their favourite love songs......

For All Kit Kat Lovers

This is so funny. These kitties are pros.

The One you've all been waiting for...

What you see simmering away below is a very aromatic and delicious mix of red cabbage and bacon. There were probably some onions in there for good measure too. Excellent, and something I would never have thought of putting together.

The end result was pork chops smothered in gravy. stuffing [from a box!], and the cabbage. The pork chops were cooked on the stove in a pool of brown gravy.


And now, the one you've all been waiting for....Ta-da!!! Chef Steve. He is the love of my life and a wonderful daddy to David. Not only is he an excellent cook, he does dishes and sews too!!! And he still fixes stuff, cuts the grass, and does all that 'manly' stuff too!


I hope you're enjoyed our time together. I'll be sending Miss Apron on her way [sans tomato sauce stain] as soon as I get the word from Ms Mac. May God's love and peace sustain and comfort you through all of life's peaks and valleys.

The Chili Recipe and Baked Spaghetti

Here is Chef Steve's Chili recipe, for those who would like to have it:

1 pound hamburger, browned
1 14.5oz can of Kidney Beans
1 14.5oz can of Diced Tomatoes
McCormick Chili Spice Mix
1 small-medium onion, diced [red onion is best]
1 green pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
salt to taste

garnish [optional]:
Jalapeno peppers, sliced
grated cheese
sour cream


Brown the hamburger and drain off the fat. Then add the onions, garlic, and peppers until browned. Next, add the canned tomatoes and kidney beans and do NOT drain them first - add the juice. Stir in the spices and simmer for an hour or so. Taste frequently, and add spices to taste.

The McCormick Chili Spice Mix is a good one, but there are many others out there. Buying a mix takes all the measuring out of it, and often includes spices you may not have in your kitchen. The main ingredient in the mixes is usually Chili Powder. Other spices would include cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, dehydrated onions and bell peppers, just as an example.

I like to add some grated cheese, sliced jalapenos, and a dollop of sour cream after the chili is served up in a bowl. I like the jalapenos fresh, rather than cooked in with the chili, but that's just my preference.

Here is what we feasted on tonight, Baked Spaghetti:




This is another easy [quick] recipe to put together. Boil the spaghetti first, and combine with your favorite sauce, meatballs, and a generous covering of grated cheese. Bake in the over for about an hour or so.

Neither of these recipes needs a very high temperature, as the ingredients are already cooked. They just need time to warm through and meld together.

And YES, Steve and I are both overweight. No mystery there...

I'm gonna knock you out...

I need a PUNCH recipe! Get it?

I am hosting a shower and I really don't have a punch recipe... can you guys send me one or post it in the comments or on the web page!

Thanks!!!

Margie

Happy Birthday To The Scarf Sisters' Beloved Poet

Chili today, yum!

Tonight we feasted on Steve's delectable chili. A mouth-watering combination of ground meat, kidney beans, onions, peppers and a boatload of spices!!

I don't think Steve actually has a recipe, it just evolves every time from whatever spices, etc. we have on hand. He loves cooking in his Dutch oven though. The chili actually slow-cooked in the oven, inside the Dutch oven. There you have it, folks! Break out the antacids and join the feast!!!