Tag Archives: Marcia Williams Cromer

INSIDE THE AMBER FORT, JAIPUR

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Bucket List!!

michaelweening's avatarMichael Weening: a few pictures

Once inside the fort, it felt different than others we had visited. More opulent.

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You can read more of the forts history here. In a nutshell:

The aesthetic ambiance of the palace is seen within its walls on a four level layout plan (each with a courtyard) in a well turned out opulent palace complex built with red sandstone and marble consisting of the Diwan-e-Aam or the “Hall of Public Audience”, the Diwan-e-Khas or the “Hall of Private Audience”, the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace) or Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over the water cascade within the palace. Hence, the Amer Fort is also popularly known as the Amer Palace.[4] The palace was lived in by the RajputMaharajas and their families. At the entrance to the palace near the fort’s Ganesh Gate, there is also…

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Standing On Their Shoulders – Maya Angelou

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Maya Angelou 7Maya Angelou 4Maya Angelou 6Maya Angelou 5

Over The Hump Old School Sound Check – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

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Thursday never looked so good! Happy times!!

Lisa Lisa (born Lisa Velez, January 15, 1966) and her band Cult Jam are an urban contemporary band and one of first freestyle music groups to emerge from New York City in the 1980s. Cult Jam consisted of guitarist/bassist Alex “Spanador” Moseley, and drummer and keyboardist Mike Hughes. They were assembled and produced by Full Force.

Chocolate Chip Graham Cracker Snacking Cake

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This is an easy cake to make. This is not a high-rising cake at all. After spreading the batter out in the pan it is only abut 1 to 2 inches high, and it will not rise much more during baking. Don’t worry about this because it is a snacking cake, not a layer cake, and it comes out just fine.

Chocolate Chip Graham Cracker Snacking Cake

Ingredients – Cake

8 whole graham crackers, finely ground (about 1 cup)
¼ cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
6 tbsp (¾ stick) butter, softened
¼ cup sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup milk
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (I used mini choc chips)

Ingredients – Frosting

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup confectioners sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup marshmallow fluff

Preparation – Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Grease an 8 inch square baking pan and dust it with flour, knocking out any extra (or use baking paper like I did).
3. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
4. Combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. With the mixer on low speed, add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then beat until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, add a third of the flour mixture, then half of the milk, stirring until combined. Repeat with the remaining flour and milk, ending with the flour.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
6. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
7. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
8. Invert it onto a wire rack, and then turn it right side up to cool completely.

Graham Cracker Chocolate Chip Snacking Cake 2

Preparation – Frosting

1. Place the butter in a medium mixing bowl and beat until creamy.
2. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Stir in the vanilla and the marshmallow fluff and beat until smooth.
3. Use immediately or cover the bowl with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cut the cake into squares and serve each one with a dollop of frosting on top. (Bring the frosting back to room temperature first if it has been stored in the fridge).
4. Store any uneaten cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
5. Makes one 8 inch square cake.

Music from Kenya – Daddy Owen

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Xandi's avatarWorld Music - the Music Journey

Daddy Owen is a kenyan gospel and Kapungala musician, who was awarded with the MTV Africa Music Award in 2010. Listen to “Saluti”, featuring various artists:

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Sunday Reflections

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Proverbs 17.9

Nutella Buttercream Chocolate Cake

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Here is a fun recipe. Use a knife to cut the wafer cookies in half before adhering them with buttercream to the side of the cake. One last tip – maybe think twice about decorating with finely grated white chocolate on the top of the cake. I thought this would be a nice touch but I think it ended up looking like shredded cheese. Still tastes great!

Nutella Buttercream Chocolate Cake 1Nutella Buttercream Chocolate Cake

Ingredients – Cake
1 package (18.25oz) devil’s food cake mix with pudding
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup Nutella

Ingredients – Frosting

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 small jar Nutella
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
1/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
About 60 4-inch Pirouette Wafer Cookies, preferably Pepperidge Farm brand (2 cans, optional)

Preparation – Cake

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease two 9-inch round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pans aside.
2. Place the cake mix, sour cream, water, oil, eggs, Nutella, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
3. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides again if needed. The batter should look well combined.
4. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula. Place the pans in the oven side by side.
5. Bake the cakes until they spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 28 to 32 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and place them on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes.
6. Run a dinner knife around the edge of each layer and invert each onto a rack, then invert again onto another rack so that the cakes are right side up.
7. Allow to cool completely, 30 minutes more.

Preparation – Frosting

1. Place the chocolate chips in the microwave on high for about 90 seconds, stopping to stir every 20-30 seconds. Stir until completely melted and smooth. Set aside.
2. Beat the butter and Nutella on medium-high speed until creamy. Beat in the melted chocolate chips.
3. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time.
4. Beat in the cocoa, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
5. Once the cakes are cool frost cake and decorate with Pirouette Wafer Cookies.

Don’t Ignore Your Passion

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Mold Your Career Around Your Passion

Vogue Germany Editorial June 2014

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Check out this darkly avante garde shoot for Vogue Germany’s June issue. The editorial is titled Frida, and is modeled after the late mexican artist, from the beautiful flowers gracing model Guinevere Van Seenus locks, to the artistic styling of the wardrobe by Patti Wilson.

I love the sheer artistry that Daniele e Iango captured in this inspiring spread. Enjoy!!

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Credit: Style Pantry

I, Little Colored Girl…

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I’m feeling sentimental about Maya Angelou as well.