All Cakes Considered

Lately I have been having some major craving for cakes. I don't know if it's because it's cold outside or because of hormones. But today when I went with hubby to the market and I quickly picked up a pound cake. I know that a pound cake doesn't sound that exciting. Though for me it's like a big treat!

There are several reasons why we are keeping sweets away from our home. The first reason is because of health reason. For almost over 10 years I pretty much stopped eating cakes. But it didn't mean that I couldn't try other alternatives. Though over time I also had to stopped eating sweets.

My hubby on the other hand could eat everything he wanted. And he still can. Though he is reaching that age where if he eats too much sweets he feels it the next day.

Like the other day he had bought a chocolate chip cookie at his favorite book store. And the next day he had a tummy ache. I had asked him what he had eaten the night before. After he listed all the things he ate he then added, "Oh, and I ate a chocolate chip cookie." Then I asked him, "how big was the cookie?" He said that it was a big cookie. I said, "That is probably why you are not feeling good today. Perhaps the cookie gave you a stomach ache."

What was hubby response? "Oh no I don't think it was the chocolate chip cookie, perhaps it was something else that I ate. But it wasn't the cookie." All of the sudden I felt that I was trying to reason with cookie monster. Yum, yum cookie! At the end I couldn't reason with him.

The story didn't end there. Just last week hubby again had the chocolate chip cookie from the bookstore. And guess what happened the next day. Yes, cookie monster had a tummy ache. And he wasn't happy about it. So I reminded him what had happened before. And do you think that he remembered? Not only did he forgot the incident with the cookie, but he defended it. Yes, sugar can do that to you sometimes.

That is why we refrain from buying certain sweets. It's true that once in awhile we do bring some ice cream for hubby and some Dove chocolates for me. For us it is a sweet-luxury to bring
these items into our home.

This book All Cakes Considered, is a great book for those who love to try different cake recipes. Doesn't these cakes look delicious? Although I don't bake cakes, I wouldn't mind having this book in my kitchen. Perhaps I could substitute the flour and yeast with other alternative ingredients.

Today after dinner we are having several slices of the pound cake. I will have mine with a sugar free strawberry jello. And hubby is going to have his with a sugar free pudding.

I believe in once in awhile having a sweet treat after a meal. And a lot of love in the family!




Chao,


Carmen

Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions For Homekeeping

Mrs. Dunwoody sat down at her kitchen table one spring of 1886 and penned down her first entry in a notebook that took fifty years to complete. She was able to impart advice and words of wisdom, recipes, household tips and etiquette from women of her day. Her notes were meant to to be passed down to each generation of women as they married and took up housekeeping while they nutured their family and home with love and joy. This wonderful book by Miriam Lukken would be a delight to explore. It will bring you back to an era were things were simple and household shores were not a shore but a privelege to perform. This book will inspire the inner homemaker in you!

From the Dust Jacket:

A delightful and practical compendium of homespun advice, cleaning and etiquette tips, traditional recipes, and Southern wit, Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping will bring warmth, gentility, and order into your home. Today many of us yearn for the home-centered values of yesteryear-homemade desserts, family traditions, and sparkling clean rooms that radiate comfort and good cheer. Now you can bring the wise, unhurried ways and charm of an earlier time into the 21st century with:

Mrs. Dunwoody's Judicious Cleaning Hints: Make every room in your house shine with homekeeping tips that include a recipe for organic furniture cleaner made from lemon and mineral oil and an easy way to help prevent tarnishing with a piece of white chalk in your silver chest.

Mrs. Dunwoody's Useful Notes from the Kitchen: From choosing the freshest foods at the market to seasoning and cooking, delight your family with such delicacies as Big Mama's Baked Country Ham and Ambrosial Pecan Pie.

Mrs. Dunwoody's Advice on Etiquette: Brush up on letter writing, table manners, and timeless social rules like "Always stand at the doorway and wave good-bye until your departing guests are out of sight."

Mrs. Dunwoody's Tips on Laundry: Protect linens and clothing with ingenious homespun techniques-rub ink stains with a sponge soaked with milk, use stale bread to remove fresh spots from leather or suede.

Mrs. Dunwoody's Guide to Entertaining: Make every kind of party a success. Learn formal table settings, proper service, and toasts that will charm your guests.

Your home can be a place where you and yours truly feel surrounded by tranquillity, cleanliness, and love. With hundreds of time-tested and fun-to-read nuggets of advice on everything from keeping your home organized to gardening and making homemade health remedies, as well as special pages for your own words of wisdom, Mrs. Dunwoody will take you back to an era where good things take time, but the wait is always worth it.

Whenever I want to get inspired and get into the Housekeeper mood, I sit down and read my Mrs. Dunwoody's book.

Then I am ready to tackle the dirt!

You can pick one today at Amazon.com:

Mrs-Dunwoodys-Excellent-Instructions-Homekeeping

Have a great weekend!

A Helpless Romantic

What girl is not a helpless romantic? I totally fall into that category. And what best than Miss Jane Austen to inspire us through her novels that there is hope in love. Jane Austen novels are my favorite! Her stories are sweet, funny, proper and of course romantic. Jane Austen stories has gone from the pages of a book to the big screen. When you see one of Austen's novels you will be swept off your feet to cloud nine while a wave of emotions overpower your senses. And that my dear, is what a good story does.

Introductions of My favorite Austen's Novels

Sense and Sensibility:

Elinor and Marianne are two daughters of Mr. Dashwood by his second wife. They have a younger sister, Margaret, and an older half-brother named John. When their father dies, the family estate passes to John and the Dashwood women are left in reduced circumstances. Fortunately, a distant relative offers to rent the women a cottage on his property.

The novel follows the Dashwood sisters to their new home, where they experience both romance and heartbreak. The contrast between the sisters' characters is eventually resolved as they each find love and lasting happiness. This leads some to believe that the book's title describes how Elinor and Marianne find a balance between sense and sensibility in life and love.

Pride and Prejudice:

Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's five daughters are all unmarried, and when a rich, amiable young man moves into the neighbourhood, Mrs. Bennet hopes to secure him as a husband for her beautiful, eldest daughter, Miss Jane Bennet. The growing relationship, however, is sabotaged by the young man's haughty friend, Mr Darcy, who regards the match as unsuitable.

When Mr Darcy in turn falls in love with the second Bennet daughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, his condescending offer of marriage is rejected by Elizabeth with scorn and the connection seems over. However, events conspire to bring the various parties together despite the obstacles and misunderstandings that separate them. Pride on one side and prejudice on the other are slowly overcome and the characters come to a better knowledge of themselves and each other.

Emma:

Was used as a loose adaptation for the movie "Clueless" with Alicia Silverstone.

Emma Woodhouse is a young woman in Regency England. She lives in Surrey in the village of Highbury with her father, a valetudinarian (one who is afraid they will become ill) who is principally characterized by excessive concern for the health and safety of his loved ones. Emma's friend and only critic is the gentlemanly Mr. Knightley, her neighbour from the adjacent estate of Donwell, and brother of her elder sister Isabella's husband. As the novel opens, Emma has just attended the wedding of Miss Taylor, her old governess and best friend. Having introduced Miss Taylor to her future husband, Mr Weston, Emma takes credit for their marriage, and decides that she rather likes matchmaking.

Jane Austen World:

Are you a Austen's Fan? Jane Austen's World is a lovely blog that talks about everything of Jane Austen. In this blog you will find excerpts and reviews about Jane Austen novels, historical details of the 19th century, social customs, dress, food and extra things about the Regency Era. I am sure that you will enjoy this open invitation into Jane Austen World.

Step into Jane Austen World: http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/

You can visit The Jane Austen Center gift shop at:

Jane Austen Gift Shop

Information:Wikipedia

Photo: Audrey Hepburn Life Magazine