Temptation Tuesday

Chocolate Ganache Recipe

I love chocolate ganache because it is super simple to make and looks sooooo fancy.

Here's how I do it:

I take:

 one bag of chocolate chips (12 oz.)
1 cup of sour cream
and add one shot glass of grand marnier

Put the chocolate in the microwave and heat until melted, then add the sour cream, blend until smooth and add in the grand marnier.

Let it cool a bit to thicken and then simply pour over your cake. Wah-lah fancy-pants pretty cake.

Mouthwatering Monday

Chocolate Grand Marnier Cheesecake

Creamy Baked Cheesecake

1 1/4 c crushed Oreo cookies

1/4 c sugar

1/3 c butter melted

2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese softened

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

3 eggs

1/4 c lemon juice

1 (8 oz) sour cream

Preheat oven to 300 egrees. Combine Oreo cookie crumbs, sugar and butter and press into bottom of springform pan

In mixer combine cheese and beat until fluffy. Add in sweetened condensed milk, eggs and lemon juice. Pour into pan and bake for 55 minutes or until set. Cool and chill before pouring ganache over the top then decorate with raspberries and left over cookies :D

I wanted to make a chocolate cheesecake and didn't want the crust to distract from the look so I used Oreo cookies for the crust. I wrapped the pan in foil so I could bake it in a water bath. The foil was to keep the water from seeping into the pan. And the water bath was to help the cheesecake release easily from the spring form pan.  It worked too. The cake popped out perfectly.

It all started Friday when I was talking with a gfriend about cheesecake. She used to bake for Moonstruck Chocolates and came up with a few winning recipes on her own. So that got us talking about recipes and what we like in cakes and cookies.

I thought "everything's better with chocolate" so . . . that got me thinking about chocolate ganache and I added a little Grand Marnier to the frosting. To top it off, I added a few red raspberries.

But then I got carried away and added more raspberries and a few cookies. I thought I might as well make it more fun with a smiley face using the cookies for hair :D My husband said next time I should use a little Rum...hum...that sounds good too.

The Chocolate Grand Marnier Cheesecake was super yummy but super rich too. So, now I'd better go for a run :D

Artichokes

Artichokes have great nutritional value. They aid in digestion, strengthening of the liver function and gall bladder function, and raise HDL/LDL ratio. They also reduce cholesterol levels, which diminishes the risk for arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Artichoke leaves have also been shown to reduce cholesterol, lower blood cholesterol and more. But besides being good for you they are also beautiful. If you let them flower they are striking - just look at them.

Body Blocking...Come on

So Thursday morning I was running to work - the route I always run. I just happen to run over a bridge and on the downhill side I run through a "seamy" side of town. But, like I said, this is a route I always run and I've never had a problem until today.

This guy jumped in my way, trying to block me. I tried to shift to the side - but he did too. And, I was going fast! For me, I was going super fast and I couldn't quite stop. I raised my arm and sort of body checked the guy. I wasn't thinking, I was just reacting. He wasn't hurt, I barely touched him, because as my arm connected with his chest. I pulled back. He was like, "Exxxxcussse ME!" But what the heck did he expect? Body Blocking a runner going at full speed...?!

It put a damper on my day...

Have you ever had a similar experience?

Cleaning out the Clutter

Clutter has a way of creeping its way into . . . everything. We do a little spring cleaning to declutter the living space but what about decluttering our mind...? It's not always so easy to remember to set aside some time to clean things out up there. The best way to do it is to give yourself some space...and I mean some time to run through your thoughts and organize your projects inside your mind.

We all get busy in the hustle and bustle of every day life but we have to remember to take a little "time-out" for ourselves--if we want to have a mental health break--remember you can't always be busy... You need some down time to unwind.

So, how do you unwind, declutter and destress your life?

I run....and run....and run... it gives me time to think all by myself and plan out my day before I even go to work. 

Contagion - Movie Review

I wanted to see Contagion when it came out but never got around to going to see it. It has an all-star cast with Matt Damon, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Gweneth Paltrow and more.

It seemed like a plausible premise but the show was a little slow for me. I think it's worth watching and enjoyed the way it made me think "wash your hands," "wash your hands," "wash your hands"!
But I'm glad I didn't pay to see it in the theater.

There was one point I thought was over-acted. It was when the doctor was talking to Matt Damon about his wife dying. I thought he suddenly flipped-out and although Matt is a wonderful actor that part stands out in my mind as Mwha...

So, have you seen it...? What did you think?

Pants too tight?

How 'bout using some fun fabric to fix the problem and go retro at the same time?

Back in the 60s we used to make skirts and pants with extra fabric in the inserts - it looks like everything old is new again...and why not? It's fun to add some wacky fabric that expresses the inner self...right?

Well this is a carpenter - "sew" what could be more perfect than a fabric insert that looks like a tape measure?

Fun fabric to fix the too tight fit.

Plus it's being sustainable. Why waste a good pair of pants that just needs a little help to fit properly?
No need.

If you are a quilter - you could think of piecing the pattern together to create a work of art...

And these pants make me smile. So much fun in one little piece - okay maybe two - pieces of fabric. :D