Sweet Magnolias Farm ~ Limited stock left for our Valentine Flour Sack Towels

I just wanted to give a quick shout out for those who have been taking the time contemplating one of our New Valentine Flour Sack Towels for yourself or for a gift...

 

We are down to limited stock on 2 of the towels that is regarding the ruffle choice.

 

 

The above and below towel .. "Love is" and "Homegrown Love" .. each only have 2 available with the ruffle choice that is shown in these pictures ..the cute red with white circles bottom we only have enough left to make 2 each of these towel with ... and are unable to order more . So if you are lovin this cute fabric paired with the aqua dot ... make sure you get in on these last 4 available...

 

After these 4 are sold we will be offering the towel designs still just with a different under ruffle ... and we do offer all the Valentine Towels with a choice of Double White Ruffles if you prefer .you can make that choice when checking out ..

 

And don't forget the cute "Made with Love" towel ... there are still a fair quantity of those left too !

 

You can find all of our offerings including the Valentine Flour Sack Towels ....HERE

 

 

Countdown to Valentines Day only 13 Days left ...

 

 



 

 

Free Valentine Printables @ the Beehive Cottage

 

 

Tie up your VaLenTinE   ....

 

With Some Free Printables over at Mary Janes "Beehive Cottage" 

 

Mary Jane has some of the most darling vintage ephemera offerings that she recreates into the most darling gift tags, Clipboards, and Garlands ... that you can purchase in her Etsy shop HERE

 

However if you are wanting to work on some of your own creative projects for Valentines gifts for the Kiddos ..or at work for your Co-Workers .. etc ... then hop on over to the Beehive Cottage for some of Mary Janes Free Printables she's offering.

 

You just can't go wrong with FREE , now can ya !

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Buttermilk Cake ... Mmmm Mmmm Good ~ In the Kitchen with Sweet Magnolias Farm

Well it's that time again ...

 

Time for

 

~N~ the Kitchen with Sweet Magnolias Farm...

 

Today we decided to try a recipe that we have been longing to taste for some time now ...

 

Chocolate Buttermilk Cake with Chocolate Ganache Frosting ...

 

 

Once again this recipe we are offering up today is easy to make ..and all the ingredient are easily found at your local grocery store ...

 

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Ingredients:

 

Vegetable Shortening & Flour for

Preparing Pans

 

~

 

BATTER

 

3 cups all purpose flour

2-1/2 cups granulated sugar

4-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt
 

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder ( we used Nestle Dark Dutch Process Cocoa)

1-1/3 cups of Vegetable oil, Canola Oil or ( We used Corn Oil it's what was in the Cupboard)

1-1/2 cups buttermilk

3 large eggs
 

1-1/2 cups freshly brewed extra-strong hot coffee
( we used instant coffee ..since we are not coffee drinkers it's all we had.. We are sure different coffees will have a definite effect on the taste)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

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GANACHE

 

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

1-1/2 cups (Heavy) Whipping Cream


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Directions:


First off you will want to Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare two 9-inch round layer cake pans; lightly grease the pans with shortening and dust with flour. ...(Abbey and I ended up taking 2 of our small round glass bowls that are oven proof and filled them with some of the batter in order 2 make 2 small personal size Gift Cakes... This still left enough batter for a complete 9 x 13 Cake pan.) ( The small bowls were approx. 4 inches in diameter by 5 inches tall)

(Tip: to make baked cake easier to remove from pan, lightly grease the pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, and then lightly grease the top of the parchment paper and dust the pan with flour.)

 

 

To Make the Batter:

 

 

In a large bowl we combined the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder; sift or whisk together to mix the dry ingredients.  Using an electric mixer on low speed, add oil, buttermilk and eggs; mix well. Add hot coffee in a thin stream, pouring down the side of the bowl. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula so the mixture blends evenly.  Add vanilla and mix until batter is smooth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the batter was complete ... 

 

It's time to Bake our Cake: 

Start by Spooning the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the surface with the back of a large spoon. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a long toothpick, wooden skewer, or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and place pans on a wire cooling rack to cool for 10 to 15 minutes then remove cake from the pans and place the cake on the wire cooling rack to finish cooling.

We simply inserted a knife around the edges of the glass dish carefully as not to puncture or damage the cake by cutting into it so that it would release easier and turn out onto the rack for cooling..

Below is the cake after it cooled and wasn't covered in it's ganache yet ..it turned out to be such a beautiful cake ..that we wanted you to see it before being dressed ...

Next it's Time to make the yummy Ganache Frosting .....


To make the Ganache:


In top of a double boiler, combine chocolate and heavy whipping cream. Place pan over simmering water (the upper pan should not touch the water.) Heat and stir the chocolate and cream together until the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.


(Tip: If you don't have a double boiler that's o.k. it's simple to create your own with just a sauce pan and a bowl ..Create a double boiler by filling a saucepan with 2 inches of water and heat to simmering. Place a stainless steel, ceramic, or glass bowl on top of the simmering water, the upper pan should not touch the water.)

( We used a package of our Semi-Sweet Ghiradelli Chocolate Chips) I imagine the cake will take on a different chocolate flavor depending on the brand of Semi-Sweet Chocolate you use. As I can say from experience there is a huge difference in taste between Ghiradelli semis and Toll House Semis... Ghiradelli tends to be more to the dark chocolate side which is our favorite.

Remove from heat; cool to room temperature and ganache becomes thick enough to easily spread.

(Tip: Place bowl in a larger bowl of ice water to speed cooling and thickening, stirring Ganache as it cools. )

Once Your Ganache has cooled it's time to start frosting your cake ...


Using an offset spatula, that is if you have one ... Or a butter knife or Plastic Spatula will work too...  spread ganache between layers and over top and sides of cake.

We cut our small cakes in 1/2 and added the Gananche frosting to the center for a yummy bite of goodness ...

We didn't cut the tops off our cakes .. we left the wonderful domed cracked tops on and frosted right over them and they came out absolutely Beautiful ...! or so we Think !

See the Ganache in the center of the cake slice ... we recommend adding the center layer of ganache.. The cakes is absolutely moist and delicious but the combination of the cake and ganache in each bite is what makes this cake absolutely wonderful.

Lastly we just wanted to share with you how much cake this Batter makes ... we were able to make our 2 small personal size gift cakes and a full 9 x 13 Cake as well .. This would serve a few families with ease !!!

 

 

 



Well We all dug in to try this new recipe ...and to our delight we have another winner here at the farmhouse ..We must admit with as dark and chocolaty looking as it was we were expecting this extravagantly deep rich chocolate flavor ..but to our delight this cake has a very light chocolate taste. Between the Buttermilk in the cake batter and the Heavy Whipping Cream in the Ganache it really lightens the Chocolate Flavor . This cake is Unbelievably Moist ..and has just the right density to it ..not too heavy and not too airy ... !

 

This recipe takes about an hour to complete ..and I'm sure with practice can be finished quicker... it's well worth the hour it takes and We're sure you will enjoy it...

 

What a perfect way to say "I Love you" for Valentines day !

 

 

From our Kitchen to yours ...

Our Daily Bread ~ it's time to Rise n' Shine Psalm 143:8

 

"Our Daily Bread"

 

Yesterday Morning as I arose ..I once again opened my "Jesus Calling" devotional and read the day's devotion. And Before I stepped away from my bed I read a scripture that was given to me many years ago and has been an encouragement to me for many years ...

 

It's a scripture that is tucked away in the book of Pslams ...and possibly is read over without much meaning ... as it doesn't correlate with any special story in the bible that is told ..or isn't one I have heard spoken of in Church on a regular basis ...but it touched my heart at a time in life when I needed to know that the Lord was with me every moment.. and that If I kept me eyes on him ...he would guide me throughout my day.

 

 

 

 

I thought I would share this favorite scripture of mine with all of you ..that it might touch your heart as it did mine ...

 

"Let the Morning bring me word of your unfailing Love, for I have put my trust in you, Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

Pslam 143:8

 

It meant and still means a lot to me to wake up and know that even when I awake in the morning through his word I am surrounded by the "UNFAILING" LOVE of the Lord ..his love never fails. And that I can call on him each morning and tell him that I have put my trust in him for the day for the week for the month for my life ....and call on him to direct me to show me to make my path straight ... because to him I give myself ..my soul ..my life ...

 

For a long while I must admit I cried this out to the Lord when life was bleak and uncertain .. and he heard me and answered in his perfect timing not mine and that season of life passed as I have learned all seasons do .. and now each morning I read this scripture which reminds me of where I was and where I have come because of him .. and it reminds me to put my Trust in him ..and His Unfailing Love will always be there to hold me in times of sadness or despair and to be Joyful in my times of Joy and Happiness ... He is always there ...

 

Wishing you all a Life Filled with His Unfailing Love...

 

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P.S. .... There is only 2 days left to enter the SUGARPIE FARMHOUSE FREE GIVEAWAY

click HERE... to enter...

 

 

 

 

A Nice Day Away At the Mammabellarte Soldering Class

 

I must admit I don't get out all that often ..between being a true Homebody in every sense of the word .. I spend my days working most of the time which I do admit I enjoy. When you Love what you do work isn't so wearisome however it is rather nice to have a day away every now and again ..

 

I was so blessed to be asked to come and help Rita of Mammabellarte with her Saturday Soldering Class . She had a full house of ladies 9 in all

 

 

 

All the Ladies came for a full day of fun ..learning how to make and  solder 2 styles of Necklaces ..Rita's Bubble Charm and her Message in a Bottle Charm Necklace...

 

It was a full day starting at 9 in the morning and lasting until 4:30 that afternoon ... with a Lunch Break around noon where are tastebuds were tempted by all the lovely dishes the gals brought for a good old fashioned pot luck.

 

Everyone did an amazing job at soldering .. their charms and their necklaces came out beautifully .. everyone hung their necklaces together for this Lovely photograph below ...

Nancy and Jaqueline ..Mother and Daughter did an awesome job and were an absolute delight to spend the day creating with ..

 



 

 

Thanks again Rita for the invite to help you with class I thoroughly enjoyed it and thanks for letting me participate and create my own soldered necklaces ..!!!

 

If you would like to take one of Rita's Classes and learn to Solder and create your own charms ...visit her Blog HERE and check out the Sidebar for her soldering classes ..

 

Credit for photos goes to Cynthia Shaffer... Checkout her photo classes HERE

 

Until next time...wishing you ..