Bakin on a Saturday ...Brown Sugar Caramel Cake

Hi All ...well On Wednesday night ..I was over at Lowes getting a few things I needed ..on the way to the register ..of course I can never resist the magazine rack... !!! Of course the first thing I spotted was the Taste Magazine...and on the front the most delicous looking cake ..!!!

Brown Sugar Caramel Cake ...Yummmmm !!!!

So I decided to try my hand at baking it yesterday ..and thought I would share the recipe some picts and the tasting results with you all .

P.s. don't forget you can click on the picts to enlarge them and see a better view !

Just out of the oven ..My 3 layers....Of course the outer edges and bottom got a little to done ..I hate the stove we have but beings we are renting right now ..not a whole lot I can change about that ..can't wait til we get moved and get a good stove. Nonetheless they still came out good !

Ta Da ....here it is ...Nope mines not as perfect as the one on the magazine ....but that's o.k. ...the drizzles down the sides make it look sooo yummy ! I have to admit though ..I was getting a bit frustrated with it being messy on my hands ..I do like clean hands ..LOL !!

The 1st Piece was cut ...for the taste test ....

Yummmm !!!

Look at that Heavenly Goodness !!!

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O.k. this project took a little bit of my morning but was actually rather easy and if you haven't baked much ..you should find this rather simple to make ..really the only tricky part was the icing ..and I think the directions on making it could have been better so I'll share a little further on about that.

First the Cake Recipe

Brown-Sugar Caramel CakeYield: 1 (9 inch) 3-layer cake

Preparation: 15 minutes
Bake: 20 to 25 minutes
Cool: 2 hoursFrom Taste of the South, Aug/Sept 2009

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

4 large eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon maple extract

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with baking spray with flour. Line with parchment-paper rounds*. Spray parchment rounds. Set aside.

2.In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.

3.In a mixing bowl, beat brown sugar and eggs at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until smooth, approximately 3 minutes. Add oil and beat until combined. Set aside.

4.In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, and extracts.

5.Add flour mixture to brown-sugar mixture, alternating with milk mixture in 3 batches and beating well between additions. Pour batter into prepared pans, smoothing tops.

6.Bake until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean, approximately 30 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans for 20 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

7.Spread Linda’s Cooked Caramel Icing between layers, on top, and around sides of cake, working quickly†. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Note: †If icing becomes too stiff to spread, return pan to stove and warm over low heat until spreadable.



Cooked Caramel Icing

Yield: 5 cups (approximately)Preparation: 2 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
Cool: 1 minuteFrom Taste of the South, Aug/Sept 2009
Recipe courtesy of Linda Ables

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups sugar, divided2 (5-ounce) cans evaporated milk

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

Directions

1.Before beginning to make this icing, read the entire recipe, noting that two pans will be on the heat at the same time.

2.Place 1/2 cup sugar in a small saucepan or skillet. Set on stove.

3.Place remaining 4 cups sugar, evaporated milk, and butter in a large saucepan. Set on stove.

4.Cook sugar in small pan over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until caramelized or amber colored, approximately 4 minutes.

5.At the same time, bring ingredients in large pan to a boil over high heat, whisking constantly. (The objective is for these ingredients to come to a boil at the same time as the sugar in the other pan turns amber in color.)

6.When milk mixture begins to boil, carefully add caramelized sugar, stirring constantly. (Be careful; mixture is very hot and may give off hot steam that can burn you!)

7.Cook mixture for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

8.Remove from heat. Let cool for 1 minute.

9.Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer for 1 minute.

Use immediately.

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O.k. Now for my tips....

On baking the cakes ..if you don't have or have never used parchment paper ....I highly recommend using it ...It really makes a difference in your cake coming loose from the bottom. Simply tear 3 sheets of parchment paper big enough for your cake pans to sit on ,...then grab a pencil ..and trace around the bottom of your pan ..this gives you the exact size you need to cut the paper to fit inside the bottom of each pan ..once trace cut the three out ..and it's that simple and will save you alot of headache with a cake that sticks to the bottom of the pan and tears up.

If your like me you love to hurry so you can get the cake done and iced to enjoy ..but really the waiting time is a good thing...so go with it on this one.

As for the icing...On the recipe it says at the end to cool for 1 minute then beat with electric beater on medium for 1 minute ... well I did this ..and as they say the icing was so hot it would give you third degree burns if it got on you ..thus ..it was very liquified and not even ready to spread as is suggested in the recipe. I waited a good 15 minutes and still was to soupy ..so I sat my pot in a water bath to cool it and whisked it while it cooled so it didn't set up to quickly. Finally it got thick enough that I could pour it on ...and it would nicely and slowly flow out and over the cake and stop just as it hit bottom. However I didn't get it perfected until the top ..so my 2 inner layers didn't get near enough thickness of icing ..so make sure it's fairly thick yet still ..liquified enought to pour and spread. If it's to soupy ..it just won't go on thick enough.

Other than that I didn't find any other things that went wrong it was really very simple !

Well I hope you all enjoy one of these cakes yourself ...and stay tuned ..I'll be posting a super quick recipe for how to make your very own ..dark chocolate chunk chip ..Blizzard ..right at home.. Simpler than you think ..and you'll actually get some chocolate in your blizzard ..not the chincy amount they give you at the store ..!!!

Have a Beautiful Sunday ...Everyone ! Blessings ..Sara

Slowly getting back to work

Hello there Friends ....

Well I am starting to feel so much better ...as many of you may have read a few months back ..I suffered from sever burnout...relating to work. And I have been taking a much needed rest. Which I am so Blessed and Priveleged to be able to do. Thank You Lord !

Well Today was a sort of first day back to work for me. I got an order this week for 4 bowls of my Beeswax Pepperberries ...and of course ..needed to make them up as my supply had run out. So I spent yesterday and today ..getting them Ready ...

Here's how they look once they are finished and on display ....

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And here is the batch I'm working on. I know it looks like alot ..and when you are working on them it sure seems like alot but once I start dividing them into bowlfuls they go really quick ...The ones in the bowl are waxed and ready to go ...and the ones laying loose are preparing for their Beeswax dip ....The Beeswax is just out of this world good to smell ...I don't know why but the smell of it today ..kept making me think it should be cold and rainy outside ...I only wish ...!!!

If you would like to purchase some of our Beeswax Pepperberries to display in your very own wood bowl or tin pail ..or just anywhere your heart desires ...Visit our Website Sweet Magnolias Farm Or Visit our Etsy Store to purchase some.

Alrighty chat with you all real soon !!!

Sara

Faltering Firm Faith

Hello to all my friends...It's been a while since I last posted ...No I didn't quit and nothing bad has happened ...

Actually I have been putting my words of faith into action and taking the lessons the Lord has been teaching me seriously and I have been "Resting," "Seriously Resting."

I can't believe how tired my body has been. Since I finally gave in and did what the Lord has been asking all along.....through this Rest he has surely blessed me.

Each day I awake I am so thankful ! I try my best to learn something about myself and some days it's as simple as continuting to learn to keep on having faith, no matter what my mind tells me.

Last week while resting I was watching one of those History Shows on Egypt and a few things they said got me to wondering about Egypt and biblical times.

Well I began reading the book of Exodus in my bible to find out a bit more about Egypt B.C. and in searching out some answers to some of my questions, I not only got another History Lesson, but God helped me to see that not only I but all of us are much like Moses. It's strange how we look for one thing and find another...God is always at work to teach us if we only open our eyes our hearts and our minds.

Thus my titles today "Faltering Firm Faith"

Three words that adequately describe us all from day to day. We all falter at moments and we all stand firm at moments in our Faith. Moses had these same experiences.

Exodus 3:7-10

7 And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

First of all Moses was called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

WOW what an honor we would all think to be called by God for such an awesome Job. I think this corrolates in our every day life when we look around at other people in life and think what awesome jobs they have and wish we had that position. But the reality is the majority of us once appointed such a position of importance would feel the enormous pressures that go along with it and feelings of fear and inadequacy would begin to trickle in and that Firm belief we could do the job would begin to Falter and our Faith would begin to diminish...."Just Like Moses"

Exodus 4:10-16

10 Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” 13 But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” 14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Lemvite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. 16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.

In the beginning God Called Moses to to go Pharoh and speak to him ..but Moses believed himself incapable, not having faith that God knew best. Hew went as far as to make God Angry and finally God had to use his brother Aaron to help Moses. With Aaron Moses proceeded in Gods Calling.

I realized we all have that bit of Moses in us that just doesn't quite listen to God completely. We want his help, but on our own terms. Just like Moses we continually question "What if this or What if that?"

Exodus 3:11

11And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Exodus 4:1

1 Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”

Sometimes our Faith goes only as far as our own minds can concieve things to be. But we should be living by faith and believing that Gods Way is Truly the Best Way ! When we Falter we should immediately remember that our faith should be firmly place in him. Look at all God did for the Israelites in order to release them from slavery. Look how many plagues he brought upon Pharoh and the Egyptians....to not only prove that he was God but to also prove he was faithful in his promise to them.

Just taking this one instance of many from the Bible... and realizing God is Faithful to us. How much more do we want before we stop questioning his faithfullness for each of our lives !

I think it's all a matter of growing closer to God. Each day we add more of him and less of "Me and I " and eventually our minds and hearts will be firmly resting in his promises. Oh not to say there won't be bumps in the road...when we falter ever so often...but as we grow closer we will have a firmer foundation in Christ and I think the bumps will be there but our strength to endure and overcome them will be greater because our Trust and Faith in him will be greater.

One of my favorite scriptures that sums it all up...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Lean Not on your own understanding

But acknowledge him in all your ways

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5

Remember there will be times we falter in our faith ( we are human) But what is important is that we acknowledge these moments to God and ask for his strength ..that we may stand firm in his promises.

Are you Faltering or Standing Firm today ?

Wherever you are at...God is there with you ..He's made that Promise to each of us.

Hebrews 3:5 says:

Never will I leave you

Never will I forsake you

If you are struggling today or of late and you have walked away from God...or your struggling in your walk with him, Know this God is always there waiting for you to ask for his help. He's not a Pushy God, He's waiting on you. Knock on God's door today, he's always Home ready to welcome in his children and bind up their wounds. All you need do is just start talking to him.

If you want to grow in Gods word more or would like to accept him as your saviour and begin living for him ...then I would like to recommend a wonderful place to learn more about God ...the Bible...and begin anew in him. Please Visit the site of Pastor Dr. Jeremiah out of El Cajon, CA. He is a True man after God's heart and he is a Beautiful Bible teacher. You can watch his sermons online...purchase CD's and books. And if you are local to his church why not take the time to visit and make it your new church home.

Click here to visit Dr. Jeremiahs Site

May the Lord Bless you and Keep you my Friends...

Your Kindred Friend ...Sara

( I took this shot ...of the ocean while on vacation ...I loved the beauty of the white wash ..and just wanted to share it with you)

Rest for the Weary

~ Rest for the Weary ~

This Post I am writing today is my follow up to "Binding Up the Wounds" Post that I wrote recently ..If you haven't read it ...and have the time Read it first .

In the last post I wrote about Healing ..that post was Inspired By God ...the evening after I wrote that post I gathered myself into bed and pulled out my Bible and concordance and asked God what the next step in healing is ?

My Answer came quickly as I immediately had "Rest" as the answer.

( I took this pictures recently on our Vacation to Cambria and one evening while I was "RESTING" in the adirondack chair overlooking the ocean the clouds moved into a beautiful picture that I couldn't miss out on. This clouds Parted into this most beautiful opening that the Sun shone through and glowed upon the ocean with such Beauty. I wished at that moment that my Lord would reach a hand out through those clouds that I could grasp ..And then I realized that his Glory was all around me and his handiwork was showing in this unbelievable Picture of Beauty)

I don't know about you but "REST" is a bad word in my vocabulary ...or at least it was. I come from a long line of very hardworking family of physical laborers. I grew up seeing that falling into a chair, "Dog Tired" if you will, was a positive thing. I remember more than once hearing the addage "Idle hands are the devils workshop." This wasn't a saying used as a scare tactic in our home just a spoken fact that lazing around and doing nothing for too long could lead to undesireable behaviour. And that is true.

My Last name is Vanderwork. It is of Dutch origin and means " To-Work." I cannot even begin to tell you how appropriately that name fits our family, (man or woman).

Lay aside the last name and I'm sure there are many of you that can realte to a family of hardworkers' and I'm sure you can relate to what all that hardwork can do to a person rather it's been a loved on you have watched or you are the one working endlessly without rest.

Our bodies and our minds are quite amazing. The stamina a person can have physically and mentally is mind boggling. God created an amazing system !

But as I turned in my concordance to the topic of REST I was presented with a scripture that I already knew but definitely have not practiced.

Genesis 2:2

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he RESTED from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it Holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating he had done.

I had to ask myself how many years it had been since I read "In the Beginning," and it's been a long time. It was one of those things I guess I thought I didn't need to read again as I had heard it since I was little and I knew what happened ...

All I can say is, I have learned a valuable lesson. Re-reading something just because you have heard it a dozen times or more isn't a bad idea, there are new lessons to be learned and new seasons of life in which to learn them. God can speak to us through the same scripture many times over each time in a different way.

I realized that "Who am I" to think that I am above God ? Because really that is what I have ultimately been doing.

By not RESTING, nor thinking I needed to REST, working hours upon hours passing up lunch, working through dinner, filling every waking moment with work, "Addicted to Work" I was saying I was greater than God.

In Genesis 2:2 It says that God rested from his work of creating.

"God needed a REST" ...."God needed a REST"

The Creator, The King, El Shaddai, he needed a Rest ! (Now I know that this was his way of showing us what he wanted us to do and I completely understand that. But at this moment in time where I am at God helped me to see that he even took a REST rather he needed it or no ..he clearly laid out a perfect plan and I was putting myself above it)

We are told that He created us in his image. Then if we represent him I gather following in His Footsteps isn't such a Bad Idea !!! If God RESTED from his work how much more do we need to follow his lead.

I can't remember where I gathered this tidbit of info., but did you know that while you are sleeping your body is getting a maintenance job ? It's True, while we sleep our body repairs itself all on it's own ! Remarkable Hah ! Taking that into consideration "REST" is like getting a tune up on your care or doing a disk clean-up and defrag on your computer.

If you don't take Good care and maintenance to either of these Machines they will quite Running. A car with little Brake Pads or a Computer with a Virus would both be very bad ...Then why don't we consider or value our bodies in the same way ?

With that in mind, how much more emphasis should we put on caring for our own physical and mental well being and providing ourselves with "REST" so the mind (the bodies computer) can clean up and defrag..and so the body can Tune itself up for some more mileage, and so the Soul can be refreshed !

Rest is Key in healing ...rather it's physical or Emotional healing that is needed.

I lie down and sleep

I wake again

Because

The Lord Sustains me.

Psalm 3:5

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I will Lie down and sleep

in peace,

for you alone, O Lord

Make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

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Lastly I found that in one of the Beautiful Stories of the New Testament where Jesus feeds the Five Thousand, that "REST" is was an intrical and important part of this feast for the disciples. Something I have never noticed as an important part of this passage.

In Mark 6: 30-32 it reads:

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Jesus knew what the disciples were going to be facing and because he knew their bodies and capabilities better than themselves, he know they needed REST. so he took them to a "Quiet" place to get REST.

Here this Miracle was going to take place and the disciples were to be part of it and Jesus knew they needed REST. And he provided REST for them. What would have happened if the diciples would have told Jesus. " No Thanks, hey were good, were not tired in the least, we can handle it, we think were strong enough and know our bodies better than you ..So Gee thanks but lets just get on with things."

Would they have grown weary and Lost out on the opputunity of a life time to not only witness a miracle, but to be part of it ?

I had to turn that scenario around and ask myself, " How many times have I turned away REST and worked until I really was completely unproductive?" Answer = ALOT. Then I had to ask, What did I miss out on ? What oppurtunities did the Lord have in store from me that I "Turned Down" because I thought I was better, knew better that God and didn't need REST like him ?

I will never know what I have lost becausee of my choice of "UNREST" but from this day forward I can choose, (it is a choice) to do better and "REST."

"REST" another step in the healing process. Start "Resting" today, and a beautiful Oppurtunity just might come your way ..and while your resting take this precious time to Grow Closer to the Lord.

Your Sister in Christ ....Sara

Sweet Magnolias Studio Doll Workshop * New Class Fee *

Hello Dear Friends ...

As Many of you know I opened my first online workshop for Creating a Pictorial Sawdust Doll back in April. I started the Class out at a twenty five dollar one time fee ...and have had a beautiful response considering this is my first class.

Recently I have had alot of inquiries regarding the class ..however ..I have found that our tough economical times has hindered many of you unable to take the class because of the Fee. I know it's tough on everyone right now ..and We are all looking for things to keep us busy, that are fun and Yet are social at the same time from our homes. This Class allows you to learn some new processes right at home, allows your creativity to flow, and allows you to make new friends during the process by chatting with other members of the workshop.

I have decided to reduce the price of the class to $15.00 , I hope this helps many of you out that have desired to take the class and those of you who are finding it for the first time. The $15.00 a one time Fee... for the Lifetime of the class. You are provided with all the graphics and taught how to print them to fabric ..along with tips and tricks for the aging process if you so desire ...and I believe it's either 10 or 11 videos that I teach you the step by step process of creating your own Pictorial sawdust doll. Plus I am available at all times for any help you may need.

This Class will take you beyond making the doll ..as when you let your imagination go ..you can use the process I teach you to do a number of other creative projects.

Come Join the class when you get a chance ..and you'll be able to take those old family photograhs and make your "Early Finds Meet Modern Times"

Just click on the class Logo to be directed to the Main page of the workshop !