Black Forest Cake Recipe (w Mascarpone)

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

Serves 8 to 12

Chocolate sponge

2/3 cup cake flour

1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 large eggs, room temperature, separated

3/4 cup sugar, divided

1/4 teaspoon salt

Cherry compote

1 (approx. 24-ounce) jar sour (Morello) cherries in light syrup, drained, syrup reserved

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Frosting

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup mascarpone cheese, cold

2 cups heavy cream, cold

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 tablespoons kirschwasser, divided

1 ounce dark chocolate, shaved with a knife

* For an alcohol-free cake, substitute sour cherry juice for the kirschwasser.

To make the sponge: Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with a round of buttered parchment paper.

1. Sift the flour and cocoa together into a small bowl. In another bowl combine the milk, oil and vanilla. In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks and half the sugar together until thick and lemon-colored, about 7 minutes. Using clean beaters, in a separate bowl whip the egg whites, remaining sugar and salt until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture.

2. Sift half the flour mixture over the eggs and fold in until no dry patches remain. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture. Whisk a large spoonful of the batter into the milk mixture to lighten, then gently fold this back into the batter.

3. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake until a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool on a rack for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the cake and remove from the pan. Cool completely, then split horizontally into two even layers.

To make the compote: Set aside 12 cherries and 2 tablespoons of the cherry syrup. Boil remaining syrup until reduced to 1/2 cup. Add the remaining cherries and sugar, and simmer gently 10 minutes more. Stir reserved syrup and cornstarch together until smooth, then stir into cherries. Bring back to a boil and cook, stirring, until thick. Cool completely.

To assemble the torte: Beat the sugar, mascarpone, cream and vanilla together until stiff. Place the bottom cake layer on a platter and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons kirschwasser. Spread the cherry compote evenly on top followed by about ¼ of the whipped cream. Place the second sponge layer on top, cut side up, and sprinkle with the remaining kirschwasser. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining cream. If desired, reserve about a cup for decoration, and using a pastry bag fitted with the star tip, pipe 12 rosettes around the cake's edge. Top each with a reserved cherry and sprinkle chocolate shavings in the center.

Chill at least two hours before serving.

(This came from a seattle writer, but gosh if I can find her name again... urgh!! if you can find it, let me know so I can credit her.. )

Well now, THAT was interesting.

I was at the grocery, getting lunch stuff for dh. Basic task, and one of the ladies working at the grocery made a comment about the things I was getting at the meat counter, and it was an off hand joke, I know she meant in jest, but what she said was 'Well I guess we gotta give em something decent sometimes, eh?'. I know she was referring to dh and to her own husband  most likely, and I was ready to rip open a great tongue lashing!That was just rude!

This is the thing.. It's NOT funny to crack jokes or complain about spouses being gone, their being here being a pain in the butt, etc. It just isn't. My love isn't some second rate citizen, who only gets a decent lunch when I feel like it- if he needs a lunch made, I will make it the best I can. If he needs something done, I will take care of it for him.. the way that he works his butt off the best he can for our family. We are a team, working together to make our family succeed..  I will celebrate every day he is home with me, and bear through the days that he must be gone. That's what it is really- bearing it through... I'm frazzled with those who insinuate that the guys should deploy more, or that it's a hassle to have them home. I don't like it when people act like it's putting them out, if you didn't want a spouse to come home to you should have stayed single.. really.

OKay.. end rant I guess. Just tired of people bashing spouses like that- I hear it everywhere, and that is just lame. Ugh. So in honor  of the greatness of my own spouse, I am gonna go cuddle up next to him, and enjoy that he is right here..  and should he read this.. should you read this hon, you totally rock. Greatest guy ever!!

Fairy Cookie Recipe

Found this online and modified it a bit..

Fairy Cookie Recipe

2 stick butter (real butter not margarine)
1 c powdered sugar
1 T real vanilla
2 T rosewater (see recipe below- I used macerated rose petals in mine)
1 1/2 c flour (or flour alternative, which is what I usually use)
1/4 t almond extract (optional)
slivered almonds (optional)
whole rose petals, candied rose or borage petals (optional)

Blend butter and powdered sugar till creamy. Add rose water, vanilla, almond extract. Then slowly add flour. May need a little extra flour, dough should be stiff but not rocklike. Spoon into small balls onto a cookie sheet and bake till slightly golden at 350 degrees.

Rose Water:

1/2 C Hot water (tea water)
petals from 1 rose or 3-4 sm roses (fresh from the garden)

Steep 1/2 hour.  Strain. There you have it.

I mash up the petals in mine though, so I have bits of petally goodness, and use that in my cookies.. I also tend to use roses I grow organically myself, and those that are particularly fragrant.

Cheers!

Oh! For those who are looking for magikal properties: These cookies tend to carry purification, healing and protection.. excellent for lunches for those we love and can't be with :)

Again.

Gosh.. seems like the writing spirit has struck.. dunno if that's good or bad, but it is what it is. So here we go.. think this is the beginning of another creative streak. And believe me when I say it's the beginning.. for each one I post here there are like 10 more cluttering up notebooks at home. *sigh* Someday I might be famous, right? Probably posthumously, so eh, I was neeeeever appreciated. Leave a little love, tell me how messed up I am or how brilliant this is or just say wow. Feed the artist. Please.

Again.

Sitting in the dark
wishing it were later
thinking you should be gone
wishing you were elsewhere.
I don't know you,
I don't want to.
I'm not sure why
I thought I did.
Big heart, sleeve, me,
some combination I suppose
and it always gets
me into trouble.
Again.

This isn't the first time,
it won't be the last
I'm sure.
How do I save face
and walk away
and recluse into myself
again?

I keep reaching out,
part of the frail
human condition
thrust upon us,
wishing I could
thrust it back,
leave it alone,
I have enough
of those I want,
I think, for now.
I just want stasis,
to be a status quo
again.

One can hope
that the situation
will resolve
and you will
stalk away
somewhere else
look for someone else
and I can be alone
in my own small world
sheltered, and obtuse
the way I should be,
once again.

Running.

I write in tongues
subjected to the faith
of faithless zealots
hurtling towards
the ramparts of a shining
sea of endless flames
of solidarity.

There is no justification
in the spew of venom
that surrounds us,
no reason to be lax.
And yet we stand,
unable to depart
and walk away,
berated for our own
inborn beliefs.

It drives the wilted
into seclusion,
hermitage a last resort
for mothers and children alike.
We run from hate
to make a stand
and face the rage
perpetuated by
mindless lemmings.

Why do we shed tears
hot and salty, painful,
for those who drive the knife
the deepest into the wound?
Perhaps because
the will never understand,
or perhaps we weep
in tired desperation,
knowing what we
cannot ever change.

KC

Embark upon the quest of new coupons!

I am so tickled that there is going to be a coupon swap at the local community center.. you must have base access, of course, but, this is going to be really handy!! I love the idea of being able to share with those around me in person- not just by mail.

I'd like to take a moment to shout out my thanks to Rachel who deserves great accolade for putting together so many cool things there at the community center! Great Job!! You rock!!!

I thought too that this might be a good place to link up the places that I find some of my own savings, just in case anyone ever wants to know. I can just say- eh, check out the blog (like that sounds so smooth LOL)

1. Check out the commissary entryway for coupons. Usually the shelves are there if not cleaned out. If there are coupons there, PLEASE leave some for others.. don't be greedy.

2. Sunday paper inserts for coupons.

3. Email your companies! Tell them you loved, hated, want to try their products.. the response usually comes with a coupon.

4. Look on your purchases- I got TV diners that all had 20 bucks in coupons when people just grabbing randomly wound up with blank  ones.

5. Swap with friends

6.Print offline

7.All You Magazine (through Wal Mart, but coupons usable anywhere)

8. REMEMBER!! COUPONS ARE JUST ONE WAY!! Try also loyalty cards! Military discounts, teacher discounts, etc.

Arrrrrr... I be Calico Mary Bonney.. go me. heheheheheheheh...

My pirate name is:

Calico Mary Bonney

Often indecisive, you can't even choose a favorite color. You're apt to follow wherever the wind blows you, just like Calico Jack Rackham, your namesake. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
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