Chocolate Cappuccino Torte

This is the most rich torte I've ever tasted! It's delicious! It's a recipe from my dear friend Alli which was given to her by her sister. It has been a feature at my and my close friend's wedding and baby showers and important events. It's becoming a tradition!

Danny bought me my own spring form pan for my birthday so chocolate cappuccino torte can now be a family tradition as well.

Without further ado...

Chocolate Cappuccino Torte
8oz semi sweet baking chocolate (I used semi sweet chocolate chips)
12oz milk chocolate chips
1C whipping cream
2T instant coffee (decaf if you want to temper the caffeine from the chocolate)
1t vanilla
1/2C flour
1/4C sugar
5 eggs
1/4C coffee liquor

In heavy saucepan (or double boiler), heat chocolate, whipping cream, and coffee over low heat until melted, stirring constantly. Cool to room temperature.

In large bowl, beat eggs, coffee liquor, and vanilla with electric mixer until combined. Add flour and sugar. Beat on high speed for 8 minutes. Batter should be light and slightly thickened.

Fold 1/4 of egg mixture into chocolate mixture. Fold chocolate mixture into remaining egg mixture.

Pour into greased and floured 9" spring form pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes until slightly puffed around outer edge and soft in the middle. Cool in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove sides and cool completely.

Cover and chill up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

A few notes... bake on a cookie sheet. Chances are, the spring form pan will leak a bit. One torte can serve quite a few people because it is so rich!

Ahh... Friday!

Hello to my many readers! All two of you! (Hi Mom! Hi Danny!) :) I am so thankful today is Friday. It's been a good week, but I'm ready to have Danny home for the weekend!

I do have plenty to fill my day. I am still working on catching up laundry! It's too depressing to think how long it's been since I've been caught up. I made great strides this week, but with four people soiling laundry everyday, it just piles back up! I really really really want to see the empty bottom of my laundry baskets! I also need to figure out a new plan for Abby's laundry. We've had a basket by her changing table. It's super convenient when changing her, but her laundry tends to pile up while the rest of ours (which gets put in the baskets outside the laundry room) is much easier for me to get done. So, perhaps I'll just remove the basket and turn it into a hand wash basket in the laundry room.

I also need to peel potatoes and get them into the crockpot for some potato soup for tonight. We are going to a friend's house to prepare cookies and frosting for an ABF party tomorrow evening. So, dinner and laundry, that's all I'm going to try to get done today. If I get more done, hooray!!!

In kiddo news... Abby has learned to sit up on her own! If I can get blogger to cooperate, I'll attach some photos of the kids playing with their new Veggie Tales Nativity Set. Abby is so happy to be a part of the action while Joey is playing. It is amazing to watch her look at Joey in such awe. It's completely different than how she looks at us. She ADORES him! May I look to Christ like she looks to her big brother! We also have been letting her cry at night. It's so sad and she has quite the stamina for crying! But, this is what she's been looking like when we wake up in the morning (she's been sleeping late) and she doesn't look too traumatized!

I'm off.

STRIKEOUT!!! (My goal today)

Good Morning! I am sitting here this morning sipping my coffee and thinking through my day. It's going to be a busy one! We are having some new friends over who I met at the park. J is coming with her two daughters who are both less than a month from my kiddos in age. It shoudl be fun, although I confess I'm a bit nervous. So, I need to get my todo list written and get to work! I'll update later with how day 2 of my carb restricted diet is going. I usually weigh myself in the morning before breakfast, but yesterday I weighed myself at the end of the day and was 135. I'm happy with this as a starting point. I was expecting to see about 140!

Things to bless my family today...

1. Unload and reload dishwasher
2. Clean kitchen counters
   
3. More laundry
4. Clean guest bathroom
5. Christmas decor cleaned off the living room floor
6. Vacuum
   
7. Make lunch

I'll update with my new strikeout html skills as I get things done!

Happy Tuesday!

Whew! BORING!

I just looked at my blog and I was bored! I need some color in a bad way! I am hoping to post soon about Moms for Modesty, advent, pictures of our Christmas decor... but first I need to get though my house chores! Perhaps I can ask my sweet husband for some redesign help this week.

What am I keeping busy with today?
picking up the master bedroom
cleaning the living room and kitchen
conquering the laundry pile (23 loads folded, ironed and put away)
meal planning
playgroup (although I'm on a roll cleaning, so I may ditch today)(ditched)
jesse tree preparations
keeping up with a busy boy and girl!

Whew! That should be enough! I'm also working on keeping the television OFF all day long! Even after the kids go to bed! Time to pop in some Christmas hymns, email the playgroup host, and work some more!

Monday, Monday, so good to me

Happy Monday! I sure love the beginning of the week. It feels like a fresh start and I love new beginnings! Is it any wonder I love my Lord whose mercies are new every morning? Today is playgroup, shopping for Jesse Tree making materials, Monday pickup, and some catch up on my Bible study.

We had a rough night with Abby. She doesn't like to sleep alone. Danny and I ended up taking turns on the couch with her last night. I woke up with a headache. I think the couch puts my spine out of alignment and gives me a headache. It's time for Danny and I to bite the tough love bullet and let her do some crying at night. She's ready to sleep, she just has learned that if she cries, we'll come rescue her!

Saturday was my 27th birthday! My family and friends gave me a lovely weekend-long celebration. On Saturday morning, my love went and bought me doughnuts (because calories don't count on your birthday!) and I took Joey to the library. It's rare for Joey and I to go somewhere alone, so it was a special treat. We bought Safeway deli sandwiches for lunch and went and ate on the side of the road and cheered on bikers in El Tour de Tucson, a huge local event. It was SO fun to cheer on the riders. We got a nod or "thank you" from almost everyone we clapped and cheered for.

In the afternoon, we had a party for Danny, my dear friend Andrea, and me (all November birthdays) with a group of our friends we call "the crew." We played croquet at a park near our house and then came hone and had lasagna, bread, salad, pie and root beer floats! It was wonderful!

On Sunday morning, we had a nice time at church. I gave an introduction to an activity we are doing next week. (See previous post on Jesse Trees.) Our worship time was fun with a focus on Thankfulness. In the afternoon, we went to my parent's house and celebrated my birthday with my Mom and Dad, Aunt and cousin and Grandma. It was fun even with a testy two year old!

Speaking of two year olds, mine has disappeared, which probably means he just pooped. Lovely.

Update: Joey pooped and then came and asked to use the potty (successfully!) That's a good sign, right?

Have a great Monday!

Jesse Tree Information (For the ABF)

My dear ABF friends, here is your "homework" for next week.

• Talk to your spouse and decide what you want your Jesse tree to look like. Remember it can be a small tree, a branch, posterboard, your regular Christmas tree, a wreath, whatever suits you! There are a few examples of Jesse trees in the link list below.
  
• Please bring what you are going to use with you to ABF next week. For example, if you want to make your ornaments out of felt, please bring the felt and glue with you for our project day. I will make sure we have cardstock copies of what I used in ABF this week as well as crayons and markers, so if that is what you'd like to use to begin your tree, just bring yourself!
  
• Remember, this year could just be a start for your tree. This is a tradition you can add on to easily year by year.
  

Links to more Jesse Tree information and ideas

• Jesse Tree devotions and patterns(these are the symbols and readings I'm providing in ABF) http://www.rca.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=1628&srcid=1602

• Great Biblical Overview of the history of Jesse Trees http://www.cresourcei.org/jesse.html
• Another example as well as additional patterns http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/FRIDGE/FRIDGE1.HTM

• More pictures of beautiful Jesse Trees http://www.jesse-tree.com/

Some books about Jesse Trees

• Patterns for Jesse tree symbols http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=7214394&event=61984SBF|141216|55020

• Stories to share about the Jesse Tree http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=52884&event=55020CRS|1219782|55020#curr

• Jesse Tree Readings (includes devotionals for both adults and children) http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=7009081&event=61984SBF|122589|55020#curr

See you next week for our project day!
:) Martha

29 things I love about my hubby on his 29th birthday!

1. You love God first.
2. You love me and you've seen my worst.
3. You love our babies.
4. You cry at commercials.
5. You are a cuddler.



6. You do more than your share of housework.
7. You are a natural with kids.
8. You listen to me.
9. You're a peacemaker.
10. That little scar on your chin.

11. You fit in, are comfortable with, and love my family.
12. You pray with Joey.
13. You've stuck with the church you were raised in.
14. You have the patience of a saint.
15. You hold my hand during meetings.

16. You take care of those you love.
17. You ohh and aww over Joey's art.
18. You change poopy diapers.
19. You know how to grill.
20. You choose good friends with good wives.

21. You're willing to drive a paid for older car.
22. I relax in your arms.
23. You make coffee for me even though I'm the morning person.
24. You enjoy spending time at home.
25. Best. Dad. Ever.

26. You don't get irritated when I call you over just to look at our sleeping babies.
27. You asked.
28. You open the covers for me when I get into bed after nursing Abby.
29. You're my best friend.

I love you, honey! Happy birthday!