Reformation Day Celebration Cake...Black Forest Cake! (Indulgence Cake--the good kind! ;)

I know so little about celebrating Reformation Day as some do and have for years... but I love the idea! It is a wonderful alternative to a "Halloween" observance... and another option besides the "Harvest Festivities" which are fine, but I just thought this was a great option as well.
Reformation day marks the separation of our faith from the hands of the Catholic Church and its control and oppression... and brought God's marvelous truths and the Truth of His Son's grace and redemptive work on the cross back into the minds and hearts of the commoners of the time. We now have a Bible that we can read ourselves without interpretation from the popes and cardinals or any church hierarchy. Thank you Lord and Thank you Martin Luther for being obedient to the call of the Lord on your heart...

So, to commemorate, we're gonna do our own "indulging" on this delectable German cake!
It's been stated by a native from Germany that this specific recipe is the closet to the authentic German rendition of this cake as she has ever seen... only difference being the cherries in the original recipe were soaked in high proof alcohol for an extended period of time.
...and I'm sure if my daughter Noelle has her way ... we will all be relaxing after dinner and dessert to the annual showing of the film "Luther" starring Joseph Fiennes and Sir Peter Ustinov. It is a little off on the Katherina and Martin's relationship... but I hear the documentation of the facts through out are close to authentic. In any case, it is an inspiring work. (Note: I do have a few concerns to share about some of the contents of the movie for youngers...email me for details if interested at vintagemommy@gmail.com)

So, Here's the recipe...

Black Forest Cake Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Ready In: 2 Hours 10 Minutes
Yields: 12 servings

"Wonderful chocolate layer cake which is soaked in Kirsch liqueur, with cherry filling.

"INGREDIENTS:1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
t1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups buttermilk 1/2 cup kirschwasser
1/2 cup butter
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon strong brewed coffee
2 (14 ounce) cans pitted Bing cherries,
drained 2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon kirschwasser
1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Line the bottoms of two 8 inch round pans with parchment paper circles.
Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt.
Set aside.
2. Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.-- Beat in eggs and vanilla. --Beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, until combined. -- Pour into 2 round 8 inch pans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.-- Cool completely.
Remove paper from the cakes.-- Cut each layer in half, horizontally, making 4 layers total.-- Sprinkle layers with the 1/2 cup kirshwasser.
4. In a medium bowl, cream the butter until light and fluffy.-- Add confectioners sugar,-- pinch of salt, and coffee;-- beat until smooth.
If the consistency is too thick, add a couple teaspoons of cherry juice or milk.-- Spread first layer of cake with 1/3 of the filling.-- Top with 1/3 of the cherries.-- Repeat with the remaining layers.
5. In a separate bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks.-- Beat in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon kirshwasser.-- Frost top and sides of cake.-- Sprinkle with chocolate curls made by using a potato peeler on semisweet baking chocolate.

Yum!

I asked the Lord

I asked the Lord that I might grow

In faith and love, and every grace;

Might more of His salvation know,

And seek more earnestly His face.

I hoped that in some favored hour

At once He'd answer my request;

And by His love's constraining power,

Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel

The hidden evils of my heart,

And let the angry powers of hell

Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with his own hand He seemed

Intent to aggravate my woe;

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,

Blasted my hopes, and laid me low.

"Lord, why is this," I trembling cried --

"Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death!"

"Tis in this way," the Lord replied,

"I answer prayer for grace and faith."

"These inward trials I employ,

From self, and pride, to set thee free;

And break thy schemes of earthly joy,

That thou may'st seek thy all in Me."

~and now for something new and totally different...

The Great Soy Deception

...because I feel so strongly about this topic...
Below is an article I found of interest...
It couters popular opinion on the health benefits of soy. Please read and judge for yourself. being a premenopausal wonaman and hearing so many others lauding soy as a remedy and treatment option for symptoms most of us know all know too well... I had to share this.

The Great Soy Deception
The article posted below gives a great overview of the confusion and misrepresentations put out by the soy industry in this country. Their propaganda has been so successful that even many in the natural health field have been duped into thinking soy is the holy grail of health foods.It is critical to understand that the soy used in the vast majority of food products here in the US is not the same as fermented soy used in Asian countries, and that the way soy is consumed is completely different than the way it is used here. Cheap, unfermented forms of soy are one of the favorite ingredients and fillers used by food manufacturers and processors in the West, and despite their attempts to convince us this is beneficial for our health, the main reason they do it is because this type of soy is almost always genetically modified, thus cheap and plentiful. Rather than being a healthful choice, soy consumption has led to an onslaught of concerns, and is a factor in a multitude of disease conditions. The mass consumption of soy has led to an epidemic of unhealthy situations that is the direct result of the hormonal imbalances triggered by an excess of soy in our diets.

Six Surprising Facts About Soy
by Ella Andersen

(NaturalNews) When people think of living healthfully, usually what comes to mind is eating tofu or drinking soymilk. Why wouldn't they? After all, the popular magazines point to soy consumption as the ultimate form of health. This article will show some surprising facts that many do not know about soy, and facts that are actually contrary to what the magazines print and the health "officials" promote.

Soy is not the cornerstone of Asian diets

This is probably by far the most common misconception about soy products. Many of the fitness magazines, and even some dietitians, overplay the role of soy in the Asian diet. In China and Japan, people only eat about 10 grams (2 teaspoons) a day. What's more, soy is viewed and consumed as a condiment, not as a replacement for animal products or as an entire meal. Basically, soy in those regions would be like ketchup or mustard, rather than the main dish.Additionally, the type of soy that is consumed in the Asiatic region is quite different from the way it is eaten in the West. The soy that is prepared in Asian countries is fermented. More will be revealed below about fermented soy.

The soy that westerners eat is unhealthy

Yes, that's right. The popular soy-mantra that "soy prevents osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer," is what the soy industry would like you to think, but in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Above, fermented soy was mentioned. The reason it was mentioned is because raw, unfermented soy contains anti-nutrients that pose great risks for those who consume soy on a regular basis.The main anti-nutrients that are in soy are phytates, trypsin inhibitors and phytoestrogens. Soy processing results in some undesirable components as well: toxic lysinoalanine, carcinogenic nitrosamines, monosodium glutamate or MSG (a potent neurotoxin), and aluminum (a toxin to the nervous system and kidneys).The phytates in soy reduces the assimilation of the minerals copper, iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium, creating deficiencies. Methods such as soaking and sprouting are ineffective at reducing the phytate amounts in soy.The trypsin inhibitors make digesting proteins problematic and can lead to pancreatic disorders.Phytoestrogens are potent anti-thyroid agents that interfere with the endocrine system, along with causing menstruation problems in women. Furthermore, women who consumed soy during pregnancy had a higher chance of giving birth to babies born with hypospadias, which is where the urethral opening of the penis is misplaced (near the base of the penis instead of at the tip). Also, phytoestrogens, along with PCBs and DDE, contribute to premature development of girls.

In Asia, soy is fermented, so many of the above problems, with the exception of the phytoestrogens, are eliminated.

Soy does not contribute to bone health

Despite popular belief soy does not contribute to bone health. Soy increases the body's need for calcium and vitamin D, actually taking away from bone health! Also, Westerners are deficient in vitamin D as it is, eating soy foods will just make the problem worse!

Soy contributes to infertility

This fact is what many men and women need to know because if you are consuming large amounts of unfermented soy products, you will likely experience this effect. Since the phytoestrogens interfere with the delicate hormonal systems of healthy individuals, such problems are not uncommon. In fact for women, painful and irregular periods are common and for men, a decreased sperm count can be found among heavy soy consumers.Additionally in Japan, when housewives want to decrease the virility of their husbands, typically they give them soy products.

Soy is not good for postmenopausal women

Since soy contains high amounts of phytoestrogens, a potent anti-thyroid agent and endocrine disruptor, the problems of low thyroid function during postmenopausal years is heightened. Also, tumors that require large amounts of estrogen can feed off of the phytoestrogens in the soy.

Soy formula is not a good substitute for breast milk or even milk formulas

All infants should be fed breast milk for at the very least, the first year of life. The best substitute after breast milk is raw goat's milk. Soy formula should not be considered. This is because soy-based formulas are high in phytoestrogens and the other anti-nutrients.

Bottom line, feeding an infant soy formula is comparable to giving the baby five birth control pills. For girls, this can cause premature development such as breast buds, pubic hair and even menstruation before age eight. In boys, this can retard sexual development and even cause learning disabilities.At the risk of being redundant, the point must be made again: soy formula is not a good replacement for the highest form of infant nutrition, breast milk. It is also poor when nutritionally compared to wholesome raw goat's milk.SummarySoy has been upheld for many years as the pinnacle of health and wellness. It has been over-glorified by being placed on a pedestal above foods that truly should represent health. Through all of its promotions, through all of the publicity, it has failed many people, leaving them with problems that are difficult to treat. Not every health fad is what it is cracked up to be. A little research into these effects goes a long way.

http://www.naturalnews.com/z024407.html

Cute Mug!

~ this sweet little mug is one of our neighbors ...her and her bother & sister were the subjects of a great photo shoot my daughter Noelle did for them the other day. It turned out just fabulous!... see her pics of the kiddos on her blog! :)



She was a natural... just knew exactly how to pose! How fun1 I took these few here ;)

My dh, and best friend Tom shopping our local grocery store...
I have always thought of taking the camera on a shop with me... Something different, ya know?
um...well maybe not.. but I know some of you out there might relate?!
~well, till this day, I hadn't had the nerve.
I guess I was in a nervy mood! :)
I had fun... and my husband took the cart and humored me.. (he's a good sport) :)
(not to mention we were only running on for a couple of items)













Like I said, he "is" a good sport... and a great husband ;)

What the World Finds Unbelievable

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

--Anonymous--

Tagged!

I've been tagged by Susan at Safe Thus Far! :)

Here's the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

So here's my six trivia:

1. One of my favorite songs is The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot.
2. I like ice cream heated up (slightly) in the microwave. Tastes richer! Try it! :)
3. I adore pictures of sheep.
4. My hubby and I married after 30.
5. I almost died giving birth to Noelle (and she had a true knot in her umbilical cord and had to be resuscitated).
6. I cook pretty well, and never use a recipe. To me, it's art.

And I tag...

Whoever wants to participate! :)

a few pics from my trip :)

Brandi & Noelle at Brandi's in Pgh PA
Hi all, I want to thank all who might have seen my daughter Noelle's blog and prayed for me and my trip to PA this past week. I am happy to be home and am thanking the Lord for all.
I got to visit my son Josh and my mom and step-father Bill and my dad and stepmom Leslie as well. besides almost missing my flight, (They had the wrong person on my seat and had began taxying down the runway before I got to the gate! (they fixed the problem (wink) and I got home (on time!) -- to coming down with the bug during the trip... and my sweet husband having to drive down to get me -- to the hard but needful things that were discussed by my dear daughter Brandi and myself during my visit that lightened both our loads and cleared up many things that needed to be cleared up...and to her being even somewhat receptive to the message that she isn't gonna be able to do the things or be the mom/wife that she desires to be without Christ in her life as her Savior and Guide-- It was a very necessary and successful trip!
Thanks again to all who lifted us up. :)
I wanted to post a few pics in memory of my trip and as a tribute to these people that I love and hold up in prayer.



Noelle took care of my flowers before I left (before the frost) here in the U.P.!
She hung them for me to dry and arrange into into gifts later... somehow ;)
Jacob and to the right of him, Jocelyn, my grandsweeties

My Mom and Bill (and below-- her kitties that hid in the wardrobe in the basement) :(

and lastly, my 2 adult kiddos, Josh and Brandi...