Raining Thoughts
Saturday, 11 July 2009
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Another Cake
Here is a Coconut Cake.
Yeah. Creation of Another Cake...Yummy.
Saturday, 13 June 2009
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Cake #3- There is A Proof of the Crime Scene
Summer of Desserts Cont.
Okay, I really was going to feature carrot cake. But while the cake was cooling it already had been "snacked-into". I didn't even get it out of the pan or put any icing on it yet. :-O. Oie! Sorry there's no pretty presentation. Instead here's proof of the crime scene.Carrot Cake
Sigh, it was suppose to be layered and with maple cream cheese.
So I guess I'll do another cake in mean while... um Mountain Dew Cake sound interesting. Anyhow Cake #3 you everyday and ordinary (exception of I added toffee instead of nuts)Ingrediants
4 eggs
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped pecans (I did add any that just a personal thing, instead I used Heath-bars and sun flower seeds)
FOR THE ICING CREAM CHEESE
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly butter and sugar a pan or 9X14-inch pans.
-In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla.
-Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
-Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans (or your choice of cluster, ie. toffee).
-Pour into prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. (If your in a house like mine, may need to stand guard with spy cams. LOL)
Icing:
Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add icing sugar, juice and peel, beating until well blended after each addition. Spread on top of cake.
Remembrance of the Carrot Cake:
Well this is what was ableto make out of it...
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Black and White Cake
Summer of Desserts
This summer I thought to spend the summer learn and trying to bake various cakes. Well this cake in my option was not a "pictureques" but I assure you that it's very pleasing to taste buds (Family and Friends Approved). The technique the book gives for swirling is a big flop! So I'm going to share a different way to get those marble swirls...which didn't happen with this cake. Hey this is what is it's all about trying and learning. Now for The Cake:#2 Black and White Pound Cake
Ingrediants
4 1-ounce squares semisweet chocolate
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups (4 sticks) butter, at room temperature
3 1/2 cups superfine sugar ( I had split to 3 cups of sugar and 1/2 cups of brown sugar)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
10 eggs, at room temperature
confections' sugar, for dusting (I did add any that just a personal thing)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly butter and sugar a bundt pan or 2 8x4-inch loaf pans.
1. Melt the chocolate* in the top of the a double boiler, or in a heatproof bowl set over a sauce of hot water. Stir occasionally. Set aside. *Chocholate Melting Tip: when chocolate starts to melt, which mean there still lumps, remove from top stove and continue to stir because the heat of the boiled water will continue and you don't want burnt chocolate. . .that can happen very easily
2. In a bowl, shift together the flour and baking powder. In another bowl, cream the butter, sugar, vanilla with a an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, the gradually incorporate the flour mixture on low speed.
3.Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Stir the chocolate into the remaining batter, then spoon dropsinto the pan. With a butter knife or metal spatula, swirl the two batters for a marbled effect. * Oh, don't swirl so much that you are mixing the batter.
5. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour 45 minutes . Cover with foil halfway through baking.
-Cool cake for 15 minutes in pan on rack.
-Remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
-Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar
Next feature will be Carrot Cake...because this cake only lasted 2 days in the house. Am telling this are desserts are wounderful. YES, this week I've gone through three cakes already.
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My Applesause Cake Recipe : Bundt or Loaf
Summer of Dessert
This summer I thought to spend the summer learn and trying to bake various cakes. This is the first of the cakes:#1 Applesauce Cake
Ingrediants
1 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup chopped dates or raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2 whole peeled apples sliced or 1/2 cups of blueberries
FOR LIGHT SYRUP Pineapple Rum Glaze:
1/2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of butter
1/3 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon of rum extra
1/2 teaspoon of pineapple extra
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly butter and sugar a 12-cup bundt pan or 2 8x4-inch loaf pans.
- In a separate bowl shift together baking powder, flour, and spices.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, applesauce, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
- Stir in dry ingredients, gradually incorporate the flour mixture on low speed, until well blended.
- Stir in dates or raisins and chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Pour batter into prepared bundt pan or loaf pans.
- Place your desire of arrangement of the fruit on top of the batter. The fruits will sink while baking.
- Bake at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes, until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Afterward, about 10 to 5 minutes before the cake timers ends, prepare the light glaze.Pineapple Rum Syrup/Glazing
- In a sauce pan, heat over a medium heat.
- Mix in the sugar and water, stir continually until smooth and bring to a boil.
- Than add the pineapple and rum extract.
-Pull out the cake from the oven. Place the cake over a pan or baking sheet in case of overflow.
-And 3-4 spoons into the cake and the edges the light syrup. Place in the over for 5 five minutes.
-Repeat 2-3 times, the process of spooning the light syrup over the cake, with cooking in the oven for 3-5 minute.
-Cool cake for 10 minutes in pan on rack.
-Remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
-Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar or drizzle with sugar
Best served with ice cream
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
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It is more tragidy of no awareness of Spiritual Emptiness
I can't take any credit for this because it come from my Bible, The Spirit Filled Life Bible, New King James Version.
Just reading on Zephaniah, found it ever so shocking how what was going on then, it so parallel of today. Like the roads were side by side for today. Can see the similarity that are happening to day in USA, and well around. The influence of Assyria's religious, social, and fashion practice set the trend...alters worship to things had rooted into the temple. Yes, there was a reformation with King Josiah, revival led by King Josiah, purged of idolatrous practices. This the part were I start to ask God not just send reveal to America but to transform the heart in America. Cause just as the People of God had the reform, it was on of extranals, since the heart of the people had not been changed, There was a since that everything was right with the world, living in momentary peace and prosperity...into this complacent atmosphere the devastating message of Zephniah comes like a searing blast. I think what jumped at me was the part about complacency in ritual of a well-structed religious life with God's voice, receiving correction or draign near to Him, that really pulls at me and such. Cause it's true that is it more a tragedy to not be aware of the spiritual emptiness some can have even with "well being religious activities". Which may be a challenge to actually stop and examine ones self and see.
But for right now I want to share things that pop out to me in the Personal Application of Zephaniah. Lessons for believers and nonbelievers are found in Zephaniah.- God is perfect justice as well as perfect love (Zephaniah 3:5). If the call to repentance is continually ignored, God's judgment must consequently fall.
- Punishment is not God's choice for "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
- To settle into the complacency of financial prosperity (Zephaniah 1:10-13) and to participate in the ritual of a well-structured religious life without the obeying God's voice, receiving correction, or drawing near to Him (Zephaniah 3:2) is n ever-present possibility. Even more tragic is to have no awareness of such spiritual emptiness.
- Even to the rebellious, God offer last-minute reprieve (Zephaniah 2:1-3). The remnant who humble themselves and seek righteousness will be hidden in the Day of hte Lord's anger (Zephaniah 2:3). They will be gathered to Him and healed (Zephaniah 3:18), for God dwells in their mist (Zephaniah 3:18). This abiding promise to God's people is the essence of the gospel.
- The Spirit Filled Life Bible, New King James Version.
Sunday, 07 June 2009
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Smokey Mountain
Am truely amazed at that I can sit out by the creek and type. The only down side tis that bugs mainly masquiotes think i am treat. But that what off spray is all about. Everything out here seems so simple. So I started to thinkg about my life cause will I've got only one life.
Thinkg how one can take on more things and business to create destrations. As one purposely are avoiding things for say because ther are diffucult to face or hard to do. So in hope of doing everythings else that it would solve it self, go away or everything will ones mind "pretty again". I think this is what God meant for me when He started to strip away somethings, so can be tunnel vision and learn. Becaus He likes to teach sometimes out of our comfort zone. And I comfortable with multitasking. But I think God's laughing and say we're going to learn about one thing at a time, at a single pase. Seriously, could lately try to take on some "taskes" and objectives. Yet it seem slow each one either is closed on me or not all to the best. So perhaps it because need to just start one and finish on. my problem is which one to focus on and what to drop. Honestly. I've started with becoming a teacher, photography, and thing also about going back to school. At this point I think I am going to hold back on going back to school. Because, I thought I know just what I wanted but right now I done know. I think I should at least start perpare to enter school. But honestly don't know why I want to go to school for. Therefore I lack motavation. Another problem I have is am an idealist. I wake in the morning ro through out the day I dit ideas to create or make or do something. My current thoughts are to submit some photographs to a contest or try to submit work to a gallery or something along those lines. Hmmm, I don't have an artist concertration. I just look around me and snap picture. Perhaps once in a while I get an idea to do something.
This is off subject. But I gone to church today. And started thinging that I've never heard any pastor/preacher teach or talk from the book of Zechariah. Unless in a Bible study setting. Hmm, just thinking.
Well the verse of the day.
“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”- Psalm 90:2,4
Monday, 18 May 2009
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Part 2, It's Photo Shot, Not Photoshoped
My PHOTO SHOT and it's not Photoshoped...Ligh hacking and skills!
Yay, another sucessful test of a DIY Hacking Photography. This is going for the more professional that may be found in an advertising. I know there are some flaws. However, still I am thrilled and pleased with the results. To see the camera properties and settings on Flickr -->Grapes in a Cup
on Flickr page scroll to the bottom part of the page on the right side column in small print says: Taken with a Fujifilm FinePix S5700 S700." This where you click on "More properties" to see the settings. Ha, see it's not photoshop! Besides I don't have photoshop, lol.
This are my Grapes in a cup series. I know am tooting my horn but am seriously just really surprised, thrilled, and excited how it all turned out from a no studio, no "professional" equipment or camera.
LOL, seriously this was the set up, I took the shots.
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Trying for Professional Photograph with Poor Man's Equipment
It's Photo Shot, Not a Photoshop Image
I was reading an old photography book. I decided to test out what the author said about there is no " best camera" or "best equipment" only opinions of companies and that there are only tools. What does that mean? Well there is a basic photographer's needs. As in a camera that allows you control the aputure and shutter speed. Well, I have what would be consider a very low end camera, perhaps even labeled as the "worst". Which is because the image format is not very big. But anyways, I don't have a studio or any "lighting kit" that would be found in the professional studios. I have a lighting kit just hand made and the poor mans resources.
My camera is a "point-shoot" camera (Fujifilm FinePix S5700) with the ability to manuel settings. It has other things, but like the author said the others are extras to use as tools.
My fill light and flash ringer is made from a simple cut out milk jug and a piece of paper. No joke.
See the results here: (These photos are raw and not photoshop or altered)Without My Getto-Paper-Light Diffuser-Filler
And with the Getto-Paper-Differ-light Filler
I got this idea from an article:"DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers", and it did warn about light spots and such.
4. Party Bouncer Card
Another cool DIY Hack is this Party Bouncer Card (pictured left) which is so simple yet promises to be so useful and effective.
This one is for those of you with a camera which doesn’t have the capability for an off camera flash.
It allows you to bounce some light off the ceiling while also diffusing the light going forward - this will enable you to get a less harsh flash effect that many flashes leave images with. I like this one as it pushes the light out from your flash in two directions which can lead to a more even light rather than just diffusing it - a little more sophisticated.
Another quick DIY on diffusing a flash is to put a little translucent magic tape over a flash (or a piece of white tissue paper can do it too).
Any of these methods will decrease the amount of light getting out from the flash onto your subject - hopefully resulting in a more subtle light and a less blown out image.
Read more: "DIY Lighting Hacks for Digital Photographers" -
Here is the link to the DIY photography-->
http://digital-photography-school.com/diy-flash-and-lighting-hacks-for-digital-photographers
Monday, 04 May 2009
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Bye.
Gone. That's how I feel. Gone.
bye for now I guess.
Monday, 23 March 2009
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Half is not whole
Well that's the thought. A half is not a whole. I thought about how am made whole in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit fill my heart and places I am not. I was also thinking about how God is still making me into His image and His beauty. If I made whole in Christ Jesus, that I am not a half person. Therefore my opinion of thoughts of the expression "finding a better half" is hopeless. If you are share for a person to fulfill something inside, you bound to still be not fulfill. Thinking about how things we think will fill that empty spot is God. That needness is a God shape hole. I had to recognize it myself in me. With longs to go here and be this or that...it was a form of missing pieces. I had to come and ask God to take those piece and for Him to fill it. So I believe that I am not a half person. Perhaps at some point but the only better half is God in me. So I think it better for a person whole and operating in wholeness.
Lord thanks for the reminder. About how blessed and great it is to be able to come into your beautiful and peaceful and glorious presence. The tangible presence of God.
vidoes
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Pulse
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Okay Apple rocks! Helped with computer melt down issue. Thought going break the bank. Am amazed & thanks God it worked out. sigh.
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Okay Apple rocks! Helped with computer melt down issue. Thought going break the bank. Am amazed & thanks God it worked out. sigh.
About Me
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Quick summary of me...Love God. Love Art. Love People. I am a youthful joyful person!
