Chocolate Cake

342.  Chocolate Cake!!!  Just the sound of those two words together can make your taste buds smile.  But I'm not talking just any cake...I'm talking moist, soft, chocolatey, rich.  So good that you take your fork and gather up every little crumb left on the plate.  Chocolatey Ganache settles on top like a crown.  And the secret is, "It's Vegan".  I didn't believe it either...till I made it.  Richa Hingle from Veganricha.com shares this jewel and her description sold me on the recipe.  Once I made it, I will always come back time and again to this easy but delectable cake.

The first time I made the cake I used almond butter in the ganache.  The second time, peanut butter and raspberry jam in the center.  Both cakes were lip smacking but I preferred the peanut butter in the ganache.

Here is the recipe for Vegan Chocolate Cake with chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache.  And what is great about this blog is that the recipes are in a great print format with nutrition facts.

I think you should bake a Chocolate Cake tonight!  You need it!

Walnut-Orange Bûche de Noël

23.  Do you shy away from challenging tasks?   I seem to gravitate to them.  But I must admit, my patience and tolerance levels have grown over the years.  Where once I would have thrown up my hands and walked away in tears, now I want to figure it out and accomplish the impossible.

On New Years Day a new challenge was taken on...a recipe 

for "Walnut-Orange Bûche de Noël" from the Martha Stewart Holiday Magazine 2008.  

You can find the recipe here.  It is a deliciously wonderful challenge!!!  My family enjoyed this tremendous treat while we played Scatergories and sipped espresso. 

 It did take a great deal of time, because of the steps involved...but it was so rewarding and absolutely delicious !

Take on a challenge this New Year...don't run and hide...make a new recipe...begin to write that book you know is in your mind...run in that marathon...read a whole book!  Or just challenge yourself to tell your family you love them every day.

"You may be whatever you resolve to be.  Determine to be something in the world, 

and you will be something.  'I cannot', never accomplished anything;

 'I will try', has wrought wonders." 

J. Hawke