annie blog

February 27, 2006
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6 Comments

Pancakes, anyone?

Pancakes, anyone? Just wanted all of y’all to know that tomorrow, Shrove Tuesday, is also national pancake day. To celebrate, IHOP is giving each guest a free short stack of pancakes from 7am-2pm. I think that you can choose to … Continue reading →

February 27, 2006
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6 Comments

Pancakes, anyone?

Pancakes, anyone? Just wanted all of y’all to know that tomorrow, Shrove Tuesday, is also national pancake day. To celebrate, IHOP is giving each guest a free short stack of pancakes from 7am-2pm. I think that you can choose to … Continue reading →

February 27, 2006
by
6 Comments

Pancakes, anyone?

Pancakes, anyone? Just wanted all of y’all to know that tomorrow, Shrove Tuesday, is also national pancake day. To celebrate, IHOP is giving each guest a free short stack of pancakes from 7am-2pm. I think that you can choose to … Continue reading →

February 27, 2006
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4 Comments

Made me squall, in a good way…

Made me squall, in a good way… I *LOVE* this story. Look at this video even if you don’t usually take the time to do that sort of thing. Happiness with tears is my favorite emotion. 🙂

February 27, 2006
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4 Comments

Made me squall, in a good way…

Made me squall, in a good way… I *LOVE* this story. Look at this video even if you don’t usually take the time to do that sort of thing. Happiness with tears is my favorite emotion. 🙂

February 27, 2006
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4 Comments

Made me squall, in a good way…

Made me squall, in a good way… I *LOVE* this story. Look at this video even if you don’t usually take the time to do that sort of thing. Happiness with tears is my favorite emotion. 🙂

February 23, 2006
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5 Comments

Go Taylor Hicks!! I chose Taylor as who I wanted to win AI when he first tried out in Las Vegas. Didn’t even know he was from Birmingham at the time. He did a great job last night. Now I have “Levon” stuck in my head today. But that is okay. Today will be interesting. I have to do all my normal stuff — plus getting my dear neighbor home from rehab. I really hope that she does well at home. Jon and our handyman spent much of yesterday trying to get her apartment safer and more accessible by installing grab bars, etc. I hope that it is enough. I know that she will be glad to be home. And we’re so happy to have her back. I have to go. Everyone have a good day.

Go Taylor Hicks!! I chose Taylor as who I wanted to win AI when he first tried out in Las Vegas. Didn’t even know he was from Birmingham at the time. He did a great job last night. Now I … Continue reading →

February 23, 2006
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5 Comments

Go Taylor Hicks!! I chose Taylor as who I wanted to win AI when he first tried out in Las Vegas. Didn’t even know he was from Birmingham at the time. He did a great job last night. Now I have “Levon” stuck in my head today. But that is okay. Today will be interesting. I have to do all my normal stuff — plus getting my dear neighbor home from rehab. I really hope that she does well at home. Jon and our handyman spent much of yesterday trying to get her apartment safer and more accessible by installing grab bars, etc. I hope that it is enough. I know that she will be glad to be home. And we’re so happy to have her back. I have to go. Everyone have a good day.

Go Taylor Hicks!! I chose Taylor as who I wanted to win AI when he first tried out in Las Vegas. Didn’t even know he was from Birmingham at the time. He did a great job last night. Now I … Continue reading →

February 23, 2006
by
5 Comments

Go Taylor Hicks!! I chose Taylor as who I wanted to win AI when he first tried out in Las Vegas. Didn’t even know he was from Birmingham at the time. He did a great job last night. Now I … Continue reading →

February 20, 2006
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3 Comments

I made this cake for Jon for his birthday. It turned out to be yummy — but in the middle of making it I was not so sure that it would be good. I’m not saying that it looked pretty (I’ll have to get tips on doing ganache from Pastry Girl!) but it tasted really good. And now I’m done baking until I don’t know when. :) Jon’s Birthday Cake 1.Make a chocolate cake (use 2, 9-inch pans). I used a mix and added 1/4 t. cinnamon to the dry ingredients and baked it according to the directions on the box. When the cakes are cooled, slice each in half lengthwise with dental floss or a long knife. 2. Make the Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling and Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing and assemble with the cooled cakes. Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa 2 tablespoons instant coffee, without water 1 cup half-and-half 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Mocha Chocolate Cream Filling:. Whisk together first 4 ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened. Spoon mixture into a small bowl; cover surface of mixture with plastic wrap, pressin wrap onto surface, and let stand 30 minutes or until cool. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add cooled cocoa mixture, 1 Tablespoon at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add vanilla, beating until mixture is consistency of whipped cream. Makes 1-1/2 cups. Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing 12 ounces bittersweet chocolate squares, finely chopped 1 1/4 cups whipping cream 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (Kahlua) Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing:. Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium heat just until cream begins to boil. Pour over chocolate in bowl, stirring until smooth. Stir in butter and liqueur. Let stand 45 minutes or until spreading consistency. Makes 2 cups. Assemble the cake: Place 1 cake layer on serving plate; spread top with 4 Tablespoons Coffee liqueur Ganache Icing. Spread 1/3 of Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling evenly over ganache on cake layer. Top with second cake layer; spread top with 4 Tablespoons of Ganache Icing and 1/3 Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling. Top with third cake layer; spread top with 4 Tablespoons of Ganache Icing and 1/3 Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling. Top with final cake layer. Spread remanining Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing on top of cake and sides of cake. Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired.

I made this cake for Jon for his birthday. It turned out to be yummy — but in the middle of making it I was not so sure that it would be good. I’m not saying that it looked pretty … Continue reading →