A to Z Challenge: Good 'n' Gooey!

Today I am going to talk about something that's Good 'n' Gooey. I am also going to challenge you to attempt said Good 'n' Gooeyness in hopes that you can experience, first-hand, the delicious joy I've been enjoying for the past week.

Every year I make Easter cake. This cake is highly reminiscent of the Hostess Snowballs I loved as a child.

Hostess Snowballs. Yum.

This year, my cake-making was a disaster thirty-six ways to Sunday. First, I mistook bulk-buy pudding mix for my bulk-buy chocolate sponge cake mix, (Raw eggs and pudding mix do not a cake make.) Then I completely fuffed up an easy six-egg sponge by sifting the sugar (considered a "wet" ingredient) into the dry, instead of into the beaten eggs. Result.... um, let's just call them giant cookies. And really, you don't need to hear about the rest of the disasters. Far too many, and far too depressing.

In the end, I went to bed in disappointment. No Easter cake.

The next day I picked myself up and thought I'd try again. I wasn't game to try for a sponge cake, after four disasters yesty, plus I was nearly out of eggs.

Alas, this was Good Friday. Australia shuts down for Good Friday. Completely shuts down. There was no way I was able to go buy a chocolate cake mix, so I was going to have to make one from scratch.

So I googled any recipe for Devil's Food Cake (what? Devil's Food on Easter?  Well, yes. After all, Angel's Food Cake is for my birthday).

I found one that claimed to be "The Only Chocolate Cake Recipe You'll Ever Need."

This one here: 

http://www.food.com/recipe/the-only-chocolate-cake-recipe-youll-ever-need-devils-food-26370

It was rated five stars.

F I V E  .  S T A R S .

Not 4.8 or even 4.9.  Five. Stars. By hundreds of people.

So I gave it a go.

SUCCESS!!  Oh, my goodness! It was so easy to make up, baked up delightful, and was an absolute dream in moistness, texture, you-name-it. This one earned its place in the Family Cookbook.

YOU MUST TRY THIS RECIPE!

I only baked up the cake. I didn't give their icing a go, because, after all, this was my Easter Cake.

And Easter Cake must be topped with marshmallow.

Home Made.

Shop-bought marshmallows are nothing compared to home-made marshmallow.

This recipe is out of the Wessman Family Cookbook. It's simple, though requires a touch of precision. If you've never made candy before, I recommend giving it a try as it's difficult to mess up, but I recommend using a thermometer for getting the temperature right.

Note, my original recipe is in American. I translated it into Australian for those metrically-minded (which is, let's face it, most of the world).

Marshmallow

2 envelopes Knox unflavored gelatin (15 g powdered gelatin)
1/2 cup cold water
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup Karo syrup (Glucose syrup)
3/4 cup water
1 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
dash of salt

In a large mixing bowl sprinkle gelatin over the 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit and absorb for about ten minutes or so.

Bring to a boil: 3/4 cup water, glucose syrup, sugar and salt.  Boil until softball stage, approx 235°F (115°C).  You do not need to be exact in this temperature.

Pour boiled syrup over gelatin and beat with a beater at highest speed until it becomes light and fluffy with stiff peaks. This'll take about ten minutes or so. (Recommend a stand mixer for best results.)

Once you've made your marshmallow, you can do whatever you want with it. Pour it into a buttered dish, let set for 30 minutes in fridge, then cut into squares. eat plain, or roll in Jello crystals. Or pour into individual moulds, to be dipped in chocolate later. Or, as I intended, cover the World's Best Devil's Food Cake with it.

So there you have it. Cover a Devil's Food Cake with Marshmallow and coat with coconut.  This is Her Grace's Easter Cake.

Okay, I couldn't find any coconut in my pantry. I could have sworn I had some, but it was not making an appearance.

I can forgive myself that slight oversight. As you can see, this cake has been delighting Our Graces for a few days now.

Your Challenge:  Try this cake recipe and let me know if you agree it is one of the best.

_____________________________
Her Grace has contented herself over her earlier disasters with a successful cake.

A to Z Challenge: Forgiveness

I'm religious. I quite enjoy how my particular faith fills my life and gives me meaning, purpose and direction.

My faith has a lay priesthood, so every member is trained to be a leader. I like this method of leadership, because, on the whole, it makes us strong and capable as individuals and as a group. Currently, I serve as a teacher. One of my more powerful lessons is one I taught last year (or two years ago?) on Forgiveness. I thought I'd share bits of it again here, because not enough people in the world understand what forgiveness is or how to apply it.

Forgiveness is simply this: letting go of the negative feelings in your heart. And that's it. Nothing more.

Forgiveness is an individual practice that has nothing to do with other people.

The biggest mistake people make regarding forgiveness is thinking that it has something to do with other people. Often the negative feelings in our hearts have something to do with something someone else did to hurt us. But to let go of our negative feelings doesn't depend on other people.

People think that forgiveness means saying that whatever it is that someone did to us is like saying what they did is okay. It's not okay. Their actions, whether deliberate or accidental, caused you pain. Forgiveness is not excusing what they did or even giving it justification. Sin cannot be justified. The person who believes this will often say, "I can't forgive him," because they believe (erroneously) that to forgive is to give justification to the wrong that was done them.

Every time you use the word "forgive", try substituting, "let go of the pain" and see if your meaning shifts.

Forgiveness is letting go of the pain in your heart so you can progress. Holding on to the pain does not punish the other person, or even vindicate the wrong that was done.

Forgiveness has nothing to do with other people. It's all about you. The pain you feel hurts you, not them. Do not hold on to that pain.

To truly forgive is to let go of that pain. It does not eliminate justice, it has no bearing on the effects of another's sin on that other. They will have to deal with that, either through true repentance or consequences and punishment. And that will have to be between them and God (and their confessor and maybe the laws of the land).

Even if the one who offended you doesn't get brought to immediate justice, that doesn't mean you must continue to hold on to the pain. They will receive their just desserts sooner or later regardless of how long you are suffering. You hurting for five minutes or five years will not change the severity of what was done.

But you holding on to that pain will affect you, and not for the better. Why suffer longer than you need to? And the longer you hold on to it, the harder it will be to let it go, as it becomes familiar and a habit.

Forgiveness is letting go of the negative feelings in your heart. It's that simple. Not necessarily that easy. It takes practice.

Sometimes you can forgive for thirty seconds. Sometimes you can keep that negativity away for a short while. If you can do that, you've started on the road to permanent forgiveness. The longer you can let go, the better off you'll be. Get into the habit of releasing the negativity every time it tries to creep into your heart.

And creep back it will. Every time it does, push it away. You do not deserve to be unhappy, but happiness isn't granted. You've got to maintain it. The longer you work at releasing negativity, the easier it becomes. Eventually, you'll be able to forgive for thirty years. Or three hundred. Or permanently.

Letting pain settle in your heart as a permanent resident will hinder your progress through life.

Do not let your ability to let go of pain be dependent on the justice of whatever it was that brought you pain. Do not be deceived into saying, "I'll only forgive her after she apologises." "I'll only forgive them once the judge pronounces them guilty." If you do, you might be waiting an awfully long time.

Not forgiving will harm you spiritually, mentally and physically. It is in your best interest not to get tangled up in whatever grief you have been given.

Let it go.

You will be happier for it.

_____________________________
Her Grace believes in Christ and the healing power of His Atonement. This belief gives her strength when she needs to forgive.

A to Z Challenge: Envelopes

I confess a fondness for envelopes.

Whenever we get post, I'll carefully slit open the envelope at the left end (never the top!) and slide out the post. Most of the time it's something like a bill or school communication or even well-dressed junk mail. Whatever. That gets filed (cabinet, folder or round) depending on its significance, but the envelope is what I truly wanted.

On my desk, under my keyboard, is where the empty envelopes go.

This is my collection of scratch paper. I will sketch out my lists and notes on the backs of these envelopes (that's why they must be opened carefully, so to preserve their neatness and integrity).

I tried a regular notepad, but it simply didn't do. I don't know what it is about the envelopes, but they have an appealing charm. Maybe they are the right size and heft, to give my lists a substantiability.

The envelopes have to be used. I cannot use a pristine, unposted envelope. I feel I'm ruining its potential when I use it thus. But the posted ones, the ones that most people would simply throw away?

To me, they are gold.

___________________________________
Her Grace is a listmaker. Also, for brainstorming, she prefers the sturdiness of an old envelope, as napkins, the traditional brainstormer's stationery, are too flimsy for her taste.

A to Z Challenge: Double-spacing after every sentence

I learned to type about thirty-something years ago on a real typewriter. Loud clackety thing it was. I was about ten or so, and took a summer class. I loved to type, even though I wasn't very quick at it.

A couple of years later I took a typing class at junior high. Alas, I was the slowest kid in class, clocking in at a very slow thirty words a minute. I barely passed that class because of my (lack of) speed.

Yet I continued to keep typing. I loved typing because it make me feel like a real writer. So I typed lots and lots.

Pretty soon, I got up to a decent speed. Then someone introduced me to computers. I was hooked.

With the ability to make on-the-go corrections, I was able to get my speed up to a respectable 100 wpm, a speed I can still maintain to this day when I'm in the Zone.

One of the earliest skills I learned was to double-space between sentences. This was a practice left over from the early typesetting days and is called English-spacing. In typesetting, the em-space was often used between sentences to make it easier to read the text. On a proportionately-spaced typewriter, this was indicated by two spaces.

Since I practiced typing for years and year, you can bet that practice of double-spacing after every sentence was well-ingrained. Single-spacing was used after typesetting for stylistic purposes. It was called French spacing. After all, anything odd or out-of-the-ordinary must be French, right?

Computer really changed the art of typing (or 'keyboarding' as it was later called). Suddenly one did not need to have to know how to set tabs on a machine, and carriage returns at the end of every line became a thing of the past. Word processors enabled formatting of all sorts, and one did not have to apply formatting as one went.  Finished typing a document? You could go back and make changes of all kinds. Including replacing all those double-spaces with singles.

Mignon Fogarty, the Grammar Girl offers this easy suggestion: "On a typewriter, double-space. On a computer, single-space." So, what happens when you have one of these?

I have seen editors who insist that double-spacing is a No-No. (Fortunately, a search'n'replace can get rid of them.) But as much as I would love to please them, I can't seem to get rid of this double-spacing habit.

______________________
Her Grace is grateful for Ctrl-H.

A to Z Challenge: C is for Cookie!

...is for Cookie.

I love Sesame Street and I especially love Cookie Monster.

I therefore present a plethora of C is for Cookie videos for your entertainment.

I can't be bothered with the usual history and background today. So sit back and have some fun watching YouTube.

Enjoy!

The original:

A clever remake:

Featuring Pentatonix:

(more Pentatonix on Sesame Street)

Featuring Marilyn Horne in an operatic version:

In reverse (subliminal messages optional):

________________________________
Her Grace just wants to chill out sometimes.

A to Z Challenge: Backstage at BREC

A few weeks ago I performed at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre.

My most favourite place in the world is a backstage, standing in the wings, just before going onstage. Naturally, I took a few moments to enjoy the ambience before I went onstage.

Backstage at BREC, they have a fish tank.

A fish tank! Backstage! Cool!

I've seen lots of things backstage of many a theatre, but this was the first time I saw a fish tank.

Had a chat with one of the stage hands. This fish tank was their little corner of Zen, a bit of peace in what is normally a fraught zone of impatience and nerves. "It has a calming effect," the stage hand explained. Sure, it was a bit of hard work, and sometimes it took up real estate that could have been put to better use, but nobody wanted to get rid of it. Also, unlike the theatre cat, fish didn't go wandering across the stage during a performance.

I'm glad it was there. I took a moment of peace from it.

I don't know when I'll ever get back to BREC, as we usually perform at ManPAC. But if I do, I'm looking forward to seeing those fish again. Friendly little fellows who enjoyed coming out to say hello.

_____________________________
Her Grace loves the mystery and history of a backstage.

A to Z Challenge: April-is National Poetry Month

I enjoy poetry.

I love that April-is (Inter)National Poetry Month.

To celebrate, I am subscribed to the April-Is... mailing list. This list mails out a poem for every single day of April. There's an April-Is Tumblr with every poem they've done for the past ten-plus years. I think I've been a member of that list ever since it got started.

Of course I wrote poetry as an angty teen. Here's a stanza from something I've written:

"Gather your blossoms and kiss them goodbye.
They fall away in splendour blown.
Say gone, gone, we are dead.
Wake me nevermore."

And another one:

"Take care, for they may get loose,
The unleashing of a thousand dreams
To teach those wise and baffle the ignorant into insanity.
The blind leading the blind. They are lost in their own reality.
So take care, for they believe not in what is not,
Oh, but lives! in our hopes and thoughts."

Yep. I was one of those teens. I confess, I'm much better at being a novelist.

___________________________
Her Grace is participating in the Blogging from A to Z challenge. She'll post at least one post a day (excluding Sundays, her days of rest) featuring the themed letter of the day. Today's letter is A.