a small token of thanks, memories, moments shared with family, moments shared with friends, moments shared with a stranger, bi bim bop, sun rise, stars, mountain streams, chocolate cake, the ocean, creamy tomato soup with Thai sweet chili sauce and white beans, a child’s laughter, kindness ~ the random kind, good music that moves my soul ~ rocks my body ~ triggers a memory, a 5 minute shower and shave ~ complete with leg lifts and standing Russian twists :>, a really good doughnut, church on Sunday mornings ~ singing hymns where I can imagine my Grandma Margaret singing beside me, church on Sunday mornings ~ singing a praise song that moves Toren and I to grin in delight ~ singing loud, a really luscious cup of Italian style cioccolato caldo, a good book ~ or three, horses, Birch trees ~ family style and dendrology, being able to give ~ even if there is little to share.
Merry Christmas Season ~ how ever you chose to celebrate this season ~ blessings to you and your families… Remember to remember, love, share ~
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/boy-meets-grill/bibimbap-recipe/index.html
Val’s Tomato Soup with Thai Sweet Chili and White Bean
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1/2 carrot, shredded
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, sliced thinly
- 4 T unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1 sprig thyme
- 5 leaves of basil, torn or cut into ribbons
- 1 c heavy cream
- 2 cans good quality diced tomatoes (Muir Glen or San Marzano)
- 1 can good quality tomato paste
- 1 c Thai Sweet Chili sauce or more to taste
- 2 cans Cannellini beans (or dry beans, soaked, cooked, drained)
- 2 c chicken broth, separated
- salt and pepper, to taste
In a large stock pot with 1 T olive oil, place butter, onion, celery, carrot, thyme, garlic over medium flame; cook about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove thyme stem. Add a pinch of salt and pepper in, stir; add flour, stir to incorporate, cooking until flour turns golden, about 5 minutes. Slowly whisk cream and broth into roux, stir until thickened slightly; add remaining ingredients; simmer over medium low heat for 30 minutes. serve with sweet corn muffins ~ enjoy!
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 3/4 cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup whole milk
Frosting
- 1 1/4 cups whipping cream
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 pound milk chocolate, chopped
- 4 1.4-ounce chocolate-covered English toffee bars (such as Heath Bars or Skor), cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 7 ounces milk chocolate (such as one Hershey’s bar or two 3- to 3.5-ounce milk chocolate bars)
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 3/4-inch-high sides. Line bottoms of pans with waxed paper; spray with non-stick spray. Combine chocolate and 1/2 cup hot water in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool to lukewarm, stirring often.
Whisk flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then vanilla extract. Beat in chocolate mixture. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, beating just to blend after each addition. Divide batter equally beween pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean and cake just begins to pull away from sides of pan, about 35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 5 minutes. Cut around pan sides. Turn cakes out onto racks; peel off waxed paper. Cool cakes completely.
Combine cream, corn syrup and butter in heavy large saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer. Add chopped chocolate. Reduce heat to low and whisk until frosting is smooth, about 1 minute; transfer to large bowl.
Fill another large bowl with ice. Set bottom of bowl with frosting atop ice. Whisk until frosting is cool and begins to thicken, about 8 minutes. Place bowl of frosting on work surface. Using electric mixer, beat until color lightens and just until frosting becomes thick enough to hold peaks when beaters are lifted, about 2 minutes (frosting will continue to thicken as it stands).
Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on 8-inch-diameter tart pan bottom or cardboard round. If desired, place pan bottom with cake atop 8-inch-diameter cake pan to make simple decorating stand. Top layer with 1 1/2 cups frosting, spreading to edge. Sprinkle evenly with diced toffee. Top with second cake layer, flat side down; press slightly to adhere. Spread thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake to seal and set crumbs. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake (if frosting becomes stiff, stir gently with spatula to loosen).
Stand chocolate bar on 1 short end. Using vegetable peeler and starting at top edge of 1 side, run peeler down length of bar (chocolate will come away from side of chocolate bar in curls). Pile chocolate curls atop cake. Chill at least 2 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome and keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)
delectablediction 