Oh, I wish you were here with me for a slice of this Coffee Marbled Bundt Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache. Swirls of yellow and coffee infused cake with a decadent dark chocolate ganache.Continue Reading
cake to celebrate.
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup boiling water
Chopped Snickers, sprinkles or other candy for decorative garnish, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Grease and flour two 9 inch round baking pans
In large mixer bowl, stir together dry ingredients.
Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Stir in boiling water on low (batter will be thin) Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes (I needed to bake 45 minutes) or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire racks. Allow to cook completely before frosting.
1 cup peanut butter
2/3 cups butter
2 Tbs. cream or milk
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups 10X sugar
Beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer. Gradually mix in the sugar, adding cream a little at a time; add vanilla and beat until fluffy.
When cake is completely cooled, spread frosting between layers and frost the top and sides.
Refrigerate cake for an hour or so before topping with the ganache.
Ingredients
16 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
Directions
Heat the chocolate chips, heavy cream, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until melted and smooth, stirring occasionally.
Spread the ganache over the top of the frosted cake allowing some to drip over the edge. Arrange chopped candy bar or other sprinkles as desired.
~ Happy Birthday, Erin Lee ~
And, because this girl doesn’t like traditional birthday cake, I made her an ice-cream cake.
 This delicious Amish Peanut Butter Spread was just a small part of a delightful day celebrating John’s birthday.  The day included a trip to Lancaster to see a play with precious friends and dinner in a lovely Amish home. On the table was Amish Peanut Butter Spread. What a delicious treat! 
You could peel and cut the sweet potatoes and boil in water, but I think it is easier to bake them.
Last week flew by! Jill and family were here and left for home on Friday. I did managed to gather a few photos from the week.
Jamie & Josh with their children
No, it was not warm enough for a sleeveless top but this summer/beach-loving mom cannot wait for hot weather ~ She soon put her sweater back on.
AJ and Erin went to Longwood Gardens for the day
Abbey went with Keri on a school trip this week
Brad and Jill relaxing a moment
Ryan’s birthday is earlier in April but we always celebrate here during his Easter visit
Shaela, Ryan and Brenna just being silly
It’s that time of year when green becomes the most popular color and little Leprechauns get excited about St. Patrick’s Day. Frozen Minty Mousse Pie in a chocolate graham cracker crust and layered with ice cream, chocolaty mousse and topped with whipped cream makes dessert magical!
Happy Birthday Joe (our nephew) and Brad (our son-in-law)!
These two little girls became instant best friends forever.
Does anyone know the genealogical relationship between children that share the same great-grandparents (their grandparents are sisters) ?
Cambrie is my grandchild and Olivia is my sisters grandchild ~ I think that makes them second cousins?
our niece, Toni (with her cousin, Jamie’s baby Jethro) (1st cousin once removed?)
my brother, Frank and our son-in-law, Brad
my sister-in-law, Arlene and our daughter Jill
Carol, me, Carol’s daughter Chris and Chris’ daughter Alexis
Little one enjoying a movie in Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s room
Many years ago, our sister-in-law began a tradition of snapping Christmas photos of my brother (her husband) my sister and I.
They have become cherished memories for each of us.
100 years ago.
The average life expectancy in the United States was forty-seven.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. A three minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars. Unbelievable expensive given that the average wage in the U.S. was twenty-two cents an hour. The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
There were only 8,000 cars in the US and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was ten mph.
The Eiffel Tower was taller than any building in the United States.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2500 per year, a veterinarian between $1500 and $4000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births in the United States took place at home.Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee cost fifteen cents a pound.The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were: 1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska hadn’t been admitted to the Union yet.
Drive-by-shootings, in which teenage boys galloped down the street on horses and started randomly shooting at houses, carriages, or anything else that caught their fancy, were an ongoing problem in Denver and other cities in the West.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was thirty. The remote desert community was inhabited by only a handful of ranchers and their families.
Plutonium, insulin, and antibiotics hadn’t been discovered yet. Scotch tape, crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn’t been invented.
There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
One in ten U.S. adults couldn’t read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine.
Punch card data processing had recently been developed, and early predecessors of the modern computer were used for the first time by the government to help compile the 1900 census. source
