Saturday, January 3, 2009

Family Weight Loss Challenge

If you are motivated by a little extra cash in your pocket, here's an idea that my family is doing to help us all lose a little weight.

We are doing a 12 week Family Weight Loss Challenge. The five participating family members have put $10 into a pot. The goal for each person is to lose as much weight as possible by the end of the 12 week period, and the person who has lost the largest percentage of their starting body mass will get the money. We decided not to base on pounds because some of us (me) have more to lose than others (my father-in-law), and this is the best and most fair way for all of us to participate.

The last challenge we did was $20 each, and my mother-in-law lost a whopping 21 lbs and won $80! I wasn't motivated during the last go around, but I definitely am this time! We weigh in on Monday and go until March 30.

Good luck if you decide to use this program!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake with Orange-Chocolate Ganache

This has become not only my favorite cake to eat, but also my favorite cake to make! I've made it twice in a two week time period now...the first was for our weekly dinner party with Josh and Katrina Welch, and our new friend Ed, and the second time was yesterday for Father's Day.

Let me tell you....it is all kinds of tastiness! I discovered it on one of the sites I frequent (click here) and have posted the recipe below for anyone who may want to taste how AMAZING it is! There are quite a few steps to it, and it takes awhile to make, but I promise, it is ABSOLUTELY worth the time and effort!

Ina Garten’s Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake
From Barefood Contessa Parties!

1/2 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1/4 cup grated orange zest (from 4 large oranges)
3 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3/4 cup buttermilk at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups good semisweet chocolate chunks

Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

Ganache:
8 ounces good semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

***My Personal Note: This recipe makes a ton of ganache, so I'm pretty sure you could cut that part in half and still have plenty to cover the entire cake!


1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.

2. Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, then the orange zest.

3. Sift together 3 cups flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, combine the orange juice, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately in thirds to the creamed butter, beginning and ending with the flour. Toss the chocolate chunks with 2 tablespoons flour and add to the batter. Pour into the pan, smooth the top, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, make the syrup. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, cook the sugar with the orange juice until the sugar dissolves. Remove the cake from the pan, set it on a rack over a tray, and spoon the orange syrup over the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely.

5. For the ganache, melt the chocolate, heavy cream, and coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over the top of the cake.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Tiger

Our cat, Tiger, was laying in our window the other day. He looked so content soaking up the sun!

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Sushi Saturday

We went to sushi at Wasabi's today and it was super tasty! Sam's only had sushi a few times, so we took him with us and he definitely enjoyed it. This is some raw tuna that Adam ate. Sam and I stuck to the cooked stuff! But I couldn't resist the bright colors of the tuna and had to take a pic, much to Adam's embarrassment. Check out my other blog (click here) for more pictures of Sushi Saturday and a few other things.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Friday's Image

I had to take Jack to the Vet today. This is the x-ray to see why he is bloated. Click Here to read the entire story about my silly boy and his first trip to the Vet.

Thursday's Image

Jack in the kiddie pool Kippy and Jeremy gave us. I love the water splash...Jack is a sucker for his toy and I'm pretty sure he'd follow it anywhere!

Wednesday's Image


I was driving to the store on Wednesday and this was the beautiful view on the street behind our house. I did do some work in photoshop on the image...if you have any input on the enhancements, feel free to leave a comment!