DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

  This recipe was found at  www.passionateaboutbaking.com  .  I dessert that could be the centerpiece for your next party or gathering. The base was intended to be a sponge until I added melted chocolate to it. I panicked since it wasn’t light as air and soft … so it got a good sugar syrup soaking. Was the right medicine for the cake. It giddily drank up the juices on offer and was just right a base for the balsamic cherries and mousse filling! The mousse filling was adapted from a simple chocolate mousse recipe in my Thermomix cookbook. By the time I had the machine on, I was in panic mode again.  Something told me that it was too hot for it to set as a cake topping.  Goblets are different; chocolate mousse will always be delicious in any form, barely set in goblets too.I had to do better and couldn’t take a  cake chance and  eventually added a spoon of gelatin. It worked a charm and I was thrilled to see i...

    Carnival in Cologne  is almost as old as the history of the city itself. But the organized carnival celebrated today only dates back 178 years.     The Greeks and Romans celebrated cheerful spring festivals in honor of  Dionysos  and  Saturn  with wine, women and song. The ancient Germans celebrated the winter solstice as a homage to the Gods and expulsion of the evil winter demons. Later the Christians adopted the heathen customs. The period of fasting (Lent) prior to Easter was heralded in by " Fastnacht"  or  "Karnival"...carne vale = Farewell to meat!     In the Middle Ages, the celebration of Carnival, the masquerade, often took on drastic forms, very much to the displeasure of the city council and the church. Bans and ordinances did little to help, the celebration was wild and spirited.     The boisterous street carnival was extended in the 18th century t...

  This diy comes from  www.shanty-2-chic.com  .  How many times do we  forget where our keys are?  What better way than to have that special key hanger.  I know you can do it! This is one of my FAVORITE projects! It’s quick, easy and cheap! Lots of bang for your buck;)   I say cheap because I started with pieces from our scrap wood pile:) I used an old sheet of bead board, a 1×6 and 1×3′s. I trimmed out the bead board with the 1×3′s using Gorilla Glue wood glue and a staple gun to secure them. Next, I hammered a saw tooth hanger through the back. I attached the 1×6 with wood glue and drilled 2″ screws through the back (pre drill so the wood doesn’t split) I spray painted it with 1 coat of Rust-Oleum black gloss. I found these super cute glass knobs at Hobby Lobby (50% off of course;) and paired them with these pretty hooks from Home Depot. I...