Bake, Bake, Bake

Seems like a weekly thing now.

Tonight will be

• marble pound cake...a fluffy, moist, simple pastry with a hint of chocolate swirl
  
• candy bar brownies...a sinfully wicked treat moist brownies with caramel
• cupcakes...made with pound cake batter and decorated pretty.
  

No, it's not for my family, it's for our hotel lobby... I know that will be a bummer for my peanut... he just looooooves these brownies.

The cup cakes are another story, I really need only two... we are having a wedding couple stay here, normally I do a little gift box with chocolate that I make... but this time I'm thinking I will do a little extra, I'll stick a "bride" chocolate lollipop on one decorated cupcake and a "groom" one on another... and put a few "congratulations" bars all around. I can't imagine anyone not liking that. I guess I'm going out a little more for these two because this is the first time both the bride and groom came to see the room, along with mommy...and they were so happy, there was no mistaking the love there.

Another delight that will be in our little "goodies" showcase, is Mrs. Emily's Lemon Pie...
boy it's good..but now a days her presentation is a little off... I saw one made by someone else the other day that made me want to devour it just because it looked so good...with perfectly formed browned tipped peeks...
if only I had the time, I'd make it myself. Who knows... perhaps this weekend.

Images to come soon, but now I wait for my night shift to come in and I'm off to go swim...yes I know it's 6pm and I'll probably end up with a cold, but who cares.... Thank God for oranges, vitamin C in a pill, Robitussin...or Contac...or Tylenol Cold or Cold- Eze w/zinc

Easter 2007

Where were you last Easter? Sometimes its hard enough to remember what happened yesterday let alone a whole year ago. However, thank the good Lord for photographs. Our first Easter with Rashidah was spent together at home we played in bed and watched our 9 month baby grab and tear at the easter basket her grandmother had gotten her. If I could recall correctly she opened her Easter basket the night before and then Sunday morning we got ready and went to Church...Rashidah even joined the choir.

This Easter was not quite like that. When I woke up this morning, I knew what I needed to do, after all I had obligations....turning my kitchen upside down to do so. I had almost forgotten the events of the past night... although I would have loved to. I mean, living a sweet fantasy that everything is good does seem better than enduring the harsh reality that it isn't. Don't you think.

Just when I thought that perhaps getting out of bed was a bad idea, I couldn't help being snapped back to reality that there is someone young and innocent that is craving attention. Her little crys go unheard within the bedroom inwhich she was sleeping. The sadness that she felt of being in solitude even though she was not alone in there, was evident in her sobs. "Not yet" I thought "I'm almost finished." I had just enough time to finish up, wash my hands and go to get her, what I didn't have time for was our normal morning ritual (crawling back in bed with her and cuddle with her until she is satisfied that she is fully awake and her morning tears turn to sweet smiles and giggles) no, not today, I know it's a special day. But I can't and this is much to her dismay. One, last nagging request and her diaper is changed.

Rashidah is a small thing and only 20 months old but she is so determined. Spoiled if you may because she is use to getting her way. Fine, you don't want to put on your close, so be it. In diapers alone, we hurry out the front door, with our cargo to deliver, and her special treats to get hidden.

Rashidah's first Easter Egg Hunt. Weeks ago we prepared for this, scattering eggs in the living room chanting "Hurry Rashidah, find the eggs and put them in your basket." She is a smart one, because no sooner did she find the first one that she knew what she was to do. But that was weeks ago, would she remember that she's is to find the egg and put it in her basket? What a silly question, after the Easter Bunny scattered the eggs all over her grand parents yard, she was set free to go find the lovely presents. "Mo, mo" she begged as she picked up one precious egg at a time, looking and looking to see if more can be found. What a shame it was only her and I, yet what a small blessing to my heart to give her such joy. If I could have only held it in, things would have been different.
As I stood there taking photos of her and hinting where others may be, I couldn't help but think how fast time goes. How big she seems, yet how so very small. This Easter she went to church with her grandparents...and again they said she went up with the choir... Her sweet little smile touches my heart in a way I can not discribe. All I can do is thank God above, for allowing me to spend this time with her.

I know that the world still turns even after my own world seems to have suffered yet another earthquake. The reality is everyone will get out of it alive and well...how well? That is yet to be seen.

Why Kissing is Important

Before we get into this topic, just a few things have to be said.

1. Further research needs to be done in order to confirm what you are about to read.
2. This is based on a chocolate-loving monkey's opinion and confirmed by some links below.
3. Considering there is a time and place for everything, the type of kiss being referred to is not so much the tight little closed-mouth perfunctory ones. Today's discussion is based on the type of kissing that searches souls and the ones that,at times, make knees weak, heads dizzy, and bodies quiver...the ones that stops time and convince one that everything can wait and nothing is important except you and your partner, right here, right now. Ultimately, the type that makes you go out and buy chocolate to satisfy your unsatisfied desire.

When thinking about how exquisite being engaged in a kiss is, it only causes one to wonder why couples don't do it often enough. Or why does it seem to end after courting.

The relationship:
Boy meets girl. Boy likes Girl. Girl likes Boy. They share a first kiss, sweet, innocent, wonderful. They continue getting to know each other. Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. Kisses become more passionate. Boy & Girl feel like life would not be the same without each other. Time passes. Whether they get married or not, the relationship has its ups and downs. Problems go unsolved. Kisses come less often. Kisses become perfunctory or stop all together. Arguments continue, you fall out of love. Relationship/marriage ends. Boy and Girl are left to wonder "What happened? Where did we go wrong."

Depressing I know. Really and truly sad, but it doesn't have to be that way. I don't want to make it seem so trivial, I mean the mighty creator above knows that many factors could cause disagreements between a couple, from petty things like not taking out the trash, to major things like infidelity, yet so many disagreements could be solved, prevented or repaired with an intimately passionate kiss. Ha, I can even say a scowl on your partners face could disappear with a few playful kisses on the cheek or by the ear.

This is why I second the motion that:

Work + Kiss = a healthy marriage/relationship.

I mean if you, while young, let passion die then what other glue do you have to help keep that relationship going? Of course, friendship, communication, and trust are vital and I can't really speak on behalf of men, but for womankind KISSES are very essential. They comfort us, remind us that we are loved and desired. Kisses really do ease the mind, not only after a fight, but especially out of the blue, just because "I love you."

A relationship is hard work, "fights" do happen. There is a reason why they say "kiss and make up." An affectionate kiss gives you a chance to feel each others soul, to awaken the spirit of desire, and remember the love that you found in each other in the first place. Granted, the passion of kissing will in reality fade meaning that kisses won't always cause the same knee weakening effect it did at the start of the relationship, however that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to keeping the passion alive by kissing.

On a side note "Kiss and make up" may lead to "make up sex"... but not the other way around. The other way around could lead to an unsatisfying mental state...not a good thing.

In conclusion, couples have forgotten one of the things that set them together in the first place....the first kiss... So, why not continue kissing your partner? Why not engage her/him in some tender and intimate soul searching?

If you or someone you know may have forgotten how to kiss direct them to the link below, it may help save their relationship.

How to Kiss someone passionately (humorous but not intended for the eyes of minors)
"Work + Kiss = a happy marriage" (Dan Cornin's comment)
Kissing Connectivity (Makes so much sense)