For Thursday, May 19th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MAY 19TH, 2011

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's THURSDAY!

Today is May Ray Day, a time to celebrate the beginning of warm outdoor days.

Celebrate and enjoy the warmer days of summer, thanks to the sun's longer rays. Or just pay tribute to everyone you know named Ray.

This is a day I'm going to celebrate with open arms. I sure do hope that the end of our cold wet rainy days is here. A little rain now and then is needed but here they say that out of that last 47 days 38 of them have been rainy. Enough is enough.

Welcome Sunshine!

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

NATIONAL DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE DAY

What makes devil's food different from regular chocolate cake? In many recipes, nothing! But authentic devil's food recipes typically use cocoa instead of chocolate, and hot water instead of milk in the ingredients. The result is a rich, chocolate dessert that's nevertheless light and airy. Why do they call it devil's food? Probably because it's so sinfully good!

This is an old-fashioned, but easy-to-make devil's food cake recipe. Pound cake like texture and sinfully chocolately. This is from an old Philadelphia Bakery. Great when frosted with Chocolate Fudge Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter

3 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate

2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 cup water

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour one 9x13 inch pan or two 9 inch round pans. In a small pan melt the butter or margarine with the unsweetened chocolate. Set aside to cool slightly.

Cream together the sugar and the eggs until light in color. Add the chocolate mixture to the eggs and temper mixture by beating well, so you don't end up with scrambled eggs! Add 1 cup boiled water (still warm) and blend well. Mixture will be very liquid.

Mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this mixture to the chocolate mixture and blend well.Mix together the vinegar and the milk and stir into the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan

Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cake divides well for filling with mousse, or ganache, or black forest fillings.

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

AROUND HOME

It's true -- the rain is supposed to clear out and make for some sunny days ahead. We may get only 2 days before the rain returns to us, but it is better than nothing.

With all the clouds around, I missed the full moon of May, The Full Flower Moon, which was the 17th. We may still get a peak at it before it's gone.

COUNTING THE DAYS

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.

Anthony J. D'Angelo

35 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER!

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma