Marbelized Pound Cake

On Sunday, I try to make a dessert for my family to eat after dinner. It had been several months since I made a pountd cake, so I decided to make a marbelized pound cake. Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a try.

Ingredients

      2 cups white sugar

1 cup butter, softened

3 1/2 cups cake flour

1 cup milk

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, with electric mixer at low speed, beat sugar and butter or margarine until blended. Increase speed to high, and beat until light and fluffy. Add flour, milk, baking powder, vanilla, salt, and eggs; beat at medium speed until well mixed. Increase speed to high, and beat batter 4 minutes longer.
2. Remove about 2 1/2 cups batter to a medium bowl. With a wire whisk or fork, beat cocoa into batter in medium bowl until well blended.
3. Grease a 10 inch tube pan. Alternately spoon vanilla and chocolate layers into prepared pan. With a large spoon, cut and twist through batters to obtain marbled effect.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan, and on a wire rack, for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan, and cool completely.

My Local Farmers Market

This past weekend I had a chance to go to my local farmers market. It has been sometime since I have been. Our family has had many activities these past few weekends. As you can see from above this farmer has all sorts of yummy vegetables for sale.

 

I just made the very end of the market day. In the early morning it is so full of people.

 

 

This vendor's company name is Daily Bread. They make the most delicious loaves of bread and rolls. Their bread is yummy!

Origami Owl

Earlier this summer my neighbor hosted an Origami Owl  jewelry party. I only knew of one person who lives out of town that was selling this jewelry the past few years as well. The company was founded by Isabella who was fourteen at the time with her mom. At the party, after our designer Wendy explained the process, we were allowed to build our very own personalized locket. There were little saucers with the different themed charms in the individual bowls.

There were little mannequins like this with finished lockets on display.

Here is my finished locket. I chose a silver plate with the word Faith in the back. The charms I picked are all three of my kids' birthstones, the letter T for my husband Todd, and an artist's palette. I want to add another charm or two to complete my locket a little later. That is what makes it so fun! There are all of types of themes no matter your interests. There are also small and large sized lockets. My locket is the medium size.

There is a hint of an Asian theme with the packaging. Once you buy one it is placed in a satin looking fortune cookie, and placed in an adorable little carryout box. Isn't it so cute! I purchased one later for my mom as well for her birthday. Go check out their website for great gift ideas, or just pick out one for yourself!



Back to the drawing board

Since the kids are back in school, it is time to get back on track with my drawing. 

Drawing is like being an athlete, you have to keep practicing in order to get better over time.

My goal is to draw at least ten minutes a day. I look forward to getting into that routine, I also look forward to getting back to my physical exercise as well!